The REAL Fresno State All-Decade Team

Sure, gobulldogs.com recently released its all-decade football team as voted on by 575 fans. But what do Bulldog Bouncers think? I can't help but think they're just a wee bit off on a few. Post a comment with your votes (here are the candidates):

Quarterback (Pick 1): David Carr, Paul Pinegar, Tom Brandstater, Ryan Colburn

Running Backs (Pick 2): Paris Gaines, Rodney Davis, Bryson Sumlin, Wendell Mathis, Dwayne Wright, Clifton Smith, Lonyae Miller, Anthony Harding, Ryan Mathews

Fullback (Pick 1): Roshon Vercher, Nate Adams, Reynard Camp

Wide Receivers (Pick 3): Rodney Wright, Charles Smith, Bernard Berrian, Marque Davis, Deandre Gilbert, Jermaine Jamison, Adam Jennings, Joe Fernandez, Paul Williams, Chastin West, Marlon Moore, Seyi Ajirotutu, Devon Wylie

Tight Ends (Pick 2): Duncan Reid, Jesus Tapia, Devyn McDonald, Stephen Spach, Bear Pascoe, Isaac Kinter, Vince Pascoe

Offensive Line (Pick 5): Mike Stovall, Rodney Michael, Joe Schey, Logan Mankins, Dartangon Shack, Chris Denman, Kyle Young, Cole Popovich, Ryan Wendell, Kenny Avon, Bobby Lepori, Joe Bernardi, Andrew Jackson

Defensive Line (Pick 4): Alan Harper, Jake Probst, Jason Stewart, Nick Burley, Brian Morris, Garrett McIntyre, Louis Leonard, Jason Shirley, Claude Sanders, Marlon Briscoe, Tyler Clutts, Jon Monga, Ikenna Ike, Cornell Banks, Chris Carter

Linebackers (Pick 3): Tim Skipper, Maurice Rodriguez, Sam Williams, Marc Dailey, Bryce McGill, Dwayne Andrews, Manuel Sanchez, Alan Goodwin, Marcus Riley, Ben Jacobs, Nico Herron

Cornerbacks (Pick 2): Davon Banks, Tierre Sams, Therrian Fontenot, Raymond Washington, Awan Diles, Damon Jenkins, Elgin Simmons, Richard Marshall, Marcus McCauley, Damion Owens, A.J. Jefferson, Desia Dunn

Safeties (Pick 2): Vernon Fox, Kendall Edwards, Cameron Worrell, Nate Ray, Dee Meza, James Sanders, Tyrone Culver, Vince Mays, Josh Sherley, Moses Harris, Lorne Bell

Kicker (Pick 1): Asen Asparuhov, Brett Visintainer, Clint Stitser, Kevin Goessling

Punter (Pick 1): Jason Simpson, Mike Lingua, Kyle Zimmerman, Robert Malone

Return Specialists (Pick 2): Rodney Wright, Charles Smith, Bernard Berrian, Richard Marshall, Clifton Smith, Marlon Moore, Chastin West, A.J. Jefferson

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)

Fresno State Dream Team: Safeties

Who are the best safeties in school history? Let's find out. 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're going 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?

Next up is safety, and the nominees are:
--Steve Cordle
--Tyrone Culver
--Vernon Fox
--Cory Hall
--Marquez Pope
--James Sanders
--Michael Stewart
--Omar Stoutmire
--Sam Watson
--Rod Webster
--Cameron Worrell

The Bulldog Bounce selects James Sanders and Marquez Pope as the two best safeties in Fresno State history. Each had three first-team votes and one second-team. Omar Stoutmire just missed first-team honors with one first-team vote and three second-team. Rod Webster also received a first-team vote, and Michael Stewart, Cory Hall and Vernon Fox also received 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.

My brain might implode

If there weren't former Fresno State players in the NFL, well, there'd be no reason to watch (and we'd be more like San Jose State). But this year, the AFC championship game is mind-boggling. Who do I root for?

Pro-Bowler Lorenzo Neal, who miraculously came back from a broken leg in about a month, starts at fullback for the Chargers and is one of my all-time favorite 'Dogs. He's a legitimate good guy of the sporting world and I even got to grapple with him when he was the No. 1-ranked heavyweight wrestler in the country -- and I was a curious elementary school fan.

Billy Volek is the "best backup QB in the NFL" and should be heading into the game for the Chargers at ANY minute ('cause Rivers stinks). He led the Chargers to a win over the Colts last week when Rivers went out, and if he leads SD to a win over the Pats, the publicity he gets will be unmatched by any other player in the next two weeks (good for Fresno State).

But don't rule out rooting for the Patriots yet -- they've got THREE 'Dogs!

Pro-Bowler Logan Mankins, arguably the best guard in the NFL and best lineman in Fresno State history, leads the charge for New England up front. He's got a mean streak on the field that is the antithesis of his humbleness off of it. And anyone who was in his group in biology lab has to have a soft spot for the big guy...

Couple that with starting safety James Sanders, the ultimate team player at Fresno State, and reserve tight end Stephen Spach, one of the all-time great walk-on to MPC Computers Bowl-game-winning-touchdown-catch hero stories, both also on the field for New England and it's just too close for comfort.

Who do I root for!? I'm so confused...