And the next Fresno State number to be retired is...

A great point brought up recently on the Bark Board by "fsudog86" -- it's long overdue that Fresno State retired Lorenzo Neal's number. Neal wasn't a first-round draft pick like former teammate Trent Dilfer, but Dilfer's was retired years ago. And even David Carr's is already retired.

Neal has had a long NFL career that's proven him the best fullback in NFL history. Seems like merit enough to me. Not to mention how he carried 3-5 USC players on his back at all times in the Bulldogs' 24-7 Freedom Bowl win over the Trojans in 1992.

So we ask you, the fans and blog readers, which Fresno State athletes most deserve to have their numbers retired? It doesn't have to be just football -- any sport?

This is getting absurd

This whole changing offensive coordinators every year habit -- it's a bad one. When Fresno State hires its next O.C., the one who will replace now-departed Doug Nussmeier, it might be wise to get a true 'Dog to come back home and stay a while. But who are the candidates?

Trent Dilfer? Sure would be a huge get on the recruiting and QB tutelage end, but the former Fresno State QB is probably a longshot with his new TV gig and the rave reviews he's been getting. Plus, when he spoke at an Easter service in Fresno last year, he talked about the likelihood he'll spend a few years on TV before considering a coaching job.

Mike Martz? How exciting would that be to get a guy just a handful of years removed for the Super Bowl with the Rams? Is an assistant's job at Fresno State too much of a drop in stature (and pay) for the former 'Dog to consider it?

Kelly Skipper? The 'Dog from the '80s might jump at the chance to join younger brother Tim on the Fresno State coaching staff. But is he the best candidate?

Jeff Grady? Long assumed to be in the grooming stages for eventually landing this job, Grady has just two years coaching experience and only started a few games for Fresno State in his career as QB. But not all great coaches were great players. Grady is definitely a loyal guy with solid character. Would other coaches on staff resent it if he got the promotion?

As one final note, good riddance to Nussmeier. Speaking from a fan's point of view, I'm offended that he came in here, didn't do anything extraordinary, and then took a giant demotion in title and stature to be QB coach at Washington, a program with all of zero wins last season. Maybe it's time to talk to Jim McElwain about signing back on as the Fresno State "coach-in-waiting" since that seems to be the popular trend...?

Bouncing around the headlines

In a new feature I'd like to start -- and in playing along with the Bulldog Bounce theme -- let's bounce around some of the biggest Fresno State headlines this week:

Huge news on the diamond is 2nd-round pick Tanner Scheppers, Fresno State's best pitcher (who didn't even get to play in the postseason because of a shoulder injury), didn't sign with the Pirates before yesterday's deadline and now could start talk of a repeat College World Series run for the Diamond 'Dogs if he returns next season.

Scheppers' teammate Justin Wilson (5th rounder), who pitched the Diamond 'Dogs to the national title, did sign with the Pirates. So the 'Dogs plucked Clovis East product Cody Kendall from Fresno Pacific as his replacement for '09.

Seriously though, what's the deal with the overkill of stories mentioning Beau Sweeney, who smeared the infamous Fresno State family's name by signing with Cal? The Bee just can't stop brining him up.

A new San Luis Obispo Tribune blog noticed Pat Hill's comments about Cal Poly possibly one day joining the WAC. Makes for cheaper travel than La Tech, but c'mon Coach Hill, then we wouldn't be the only D1 football program in the Valley!

For the first time all year, there was a non-boring play in an NFL preseason game. And it was Fresno State's Richard Marshall picking off a fake field goal trickery pass and burning 78 yards for a TD. Brings back this memory of last season -- one of the most bittersweet NFL moments I've ever witnessed (from one 'Dog to another). P.S. Marshall is the best corner in school history.

And just as one additional reminder why I no longer subscribe to Sports Illustrated, the mag released its college football preview, listed the top 20 (no Fresno State) and then broke it down conference by conference. One problem - after listing the six BCS conferences, it lists the coalition conferences as, "The Rest" and jumbles everything into a few sentences. That's weak SI, and so was not putting the 2008 College World Series champs on your cover.

What did I miss? Just leave a comment with your own recent Fresno State links...

All-time Fresno State Dream Team results

The results are in. Thanks to everyone who voted and made this a great way to pass time in the offseason. While we obviously can't all agree on who the best 'Dogs are at each position, this helped us remember just how many great ones there have been.

The readers say:
QB: David Carr (255 votes), Trent Dilfer (99)
TB: Dwayne Wright (109), Michael Pittman (86)
FB: Lorenzo Neal (293), Roshon Vercher (15)
WR: Bernard Berrian (251), Stephone Paige (84)
WR: Henry Ellard (235), Rodney Wright (75)
WR: Stephen Baker (93), Paul Williams (41)
TE: Bear Pascoe (171), Scott Scambray (47)
OL: Logan Mankins (208), Joe Schey (62)
OL: Kyle Young (140), Jesse Hardwick (53)
OL: Ryan Wendell (125), Rodney Michael (47)
OL: Chris Denman (103), Tom Neville (45)
OL: Chris Conrad (77), Mike Withycombe (40)

DL: Garrett McIntyre (145), Nick Burley (72)
DL: Alan Harper (131), Bryan Robinson (60)
DL: Jethro Franklin (85), Jason Stewart (48)
DL: Tyler Clutts (75), Zack Rix (38)
LB: Ron Cox (122), Sam Williams (49)
LB: Marcus Riley (103), Tim Skipper (43)
LB: Orlando Huff (77), Tracy Rogers (36)
CB: Richard Marshall (100), Marcus McCauley (43)
CB: J.D. Williams (71), Carl Ray Harris (10)
S: Marquez Pope (64), Omar Stoutmire (38)
S: James Sanders (58), Tyrone Culver (13)

K: Brett Visintainer (36), Asen Asparuhov (29)
P: Mike Lingua (36), Jeff Roberts (17)

Coach: Pat Hill (65), Jim Sweeney (15)

I read a very funny joke today

It appeared in Matt James' column in The Fresno Bee, where he wrote that more people know who Jerry Yang is than know who Trent Dilfer is.

Done laughing yet? Or maybe you're not laughing? Maybe that made you mad? It kinda did me, until I realized it was probably just a joke. Hyperbole of sorts. I think?

Because unless I'm really out of touch with reality, Dilfer is pretty much a household name amongst NFL fans (which these days live in seemlingly every house, apartment and condo in America). And not one single person I know watches poker on TV on more than a casual basis. Heck, most people I know are actually annoyed if poker is on TV.

Granted, Yang seems like a super guy -- a real giving person and a great Fresnan -- and someone who Fresno should brag about. But I just find it incredibly hard to believe he's in the same realm of famous-ness as Trent Dilfer.

1994 NFL Draft (this is good)...

So I came across a draft preview from Pro Football Weekly yesterday from 1994. Trent Dilfer was on the cover and I opened it up to check out the QB rankings. What I found brought a smile to my face for two reasons.

I began to peruse the top 10 QBs, and it looked like this:
1. Trent Dilfer
2. Heath Schuler
3. Doug Nussmeier

...Doug Nussmeier!?!? Well whadaya know, Fresno State's new offensive coordinator was rated the third-best QB prospect that year behind our beloved Trent Dilfer. I knew he had a great college career, but wasn't expecting that. And I didn't realize he came out the same year as Dilfer.

So what are we gonna nickname our new O-coordinator? Nuss the Magic Dragon? The LochNuss Monster? Nussy...?

As good a guy who's ever worn Bulldog Red

Trent Dilfer. If he's not your favorite 'Dog of all-time, he should be. Or at least one of them. Just a flat-out good guy. The kind of dude you'd look up to even if he'd never quarterbacked the 'Dogs or the Bucs/Seahawks/Browns/Niners or won a Super Bowl for the Ravens.

Trent spoke at Fresno's Northside church today. He talked about finding God while he was in college, his influence in NFL locker rooms, what's next in his football career and losing his then 5-year-old son Trevin. The thing about Trent is he's this nationally famous millionaire sitting up in front of you and it seems like he's just another guy you've known your whole life.

You might be starstruck, but at the same time you're comfortable to just walk right up to him and start a conversation. Because you know he'll converse right back. He'll pause to take a photo with you and your buddy, he'll shake your hand three times before you part ways, he'll compliment you and thank you for telling him he's your favorite 'Dog of all-time. He's thankful for his roots, for Fresno, for his past -- even his "failures." That's what the sermon was about tonight, letting go of the failures in one's life and looking to the future.

That was the true message tonight as Dilfer gave his testimony. And it will be Sunday too (you can check him out at two Easter morning services; it's definitely worth it). Yes, he talks about his plans for next season (let's just say the silver & black and a few notable TV stations might come up), but if ever there were a guy who could put all that superstardom into perspective, it's Trent Dilfer.

TIME TO VOTE: Fresno State Dream Team

We've been teasing it for a while now, and, as we're between seasons here, we're going to open up the voting. Each Bulldog Bounce blogger has turned in his own votes for each position already, but we want to hear what you -- the readers -- think.

Then, at the end of all the voting we'll compare our results to yours. We'll go position-by-position with the idea of starting healthy debate about why so-and-so is better than such-and-such?

YOU decide the criteria! What's more important? College stats or pro? Four-year starters or JC transfers? Single-season greatness or consistency?

It all starts at quarterback, and the nominees are:
--Jim Arellanes
--Mark Barsotti
--David Carr
--Trent Dilfer
--Paul Pinegar
--Kevin Sweeney
--Jeff Tedford
--Billy Volek

The Bulldog Bounce selects David Carr as Fresno State's all-time greatest QB. Carr received 3 first-team votes and 1 second-team vote to beat out Trent Dilfer (1 first-team vote, 3 second-team votes).

Have fun, voice your opinion and let the voting begin! The nominees will remain posted in the right-hand column for you to choose from, but please add comments to this blog entry as well.