LINEBACKERS

Returning lettermen: 6

Incoming: 8

Lost: 1 (Nick Bates)

Fresno State gave up a whopping 5.6 yards per rush last season – unacceptable for a team that expects to win. Part of the blame sits with a linebacker corps that was young and inexperienced last season, and is still young now. The difference is the youth now has starting experience under its belt, and a large crop of even younger prospects has added depth to a position sorely lacking a season ago. Coach Tim Skipper takes over the linebackers – a much more natural fit for the former Bulldogs standout – after spending the past two seasons as running backs coach.

The on-field leader is junior Ben Jacobs (6-3, 225), with two years of starting experience in the middle and second-team All-WAC honors in 2008. Jacobs turned his aggressiveness up several notches last season, and though his one weakness is speed, it didn’t stop him from collecting a team-high 113 tackles last season. He came to fall camp noticeably leaner and stronger and should be poised for his most successful season. When he has guys on offense looking up to him, it’s safe to say he’s doing things right.

One guy who did some things right in the offseason is junior strong side linebacker Nico Herron (6-3, 240). Though his listed at the same weight, it’s hard to believe he didn’t weigh more than 240 last year. Herron, too, is noticeably trimmer. His lack of speed was even more of a liability than Jacobs’ last year, in his first season as a starter, when he finished fourth on the team with 65 tackles. With highly-touted true freshman Travis Brown (6-2, 235) in the mix and battling for time, it should be easy for Herron to stay motivated and push himself. Brown, the son of the late longtime defensive coordinator Dan Brown, was expected to offer instant depth, but showed his youth (along with some promise) during fall camp. But it’s no secret coaches expect big things from him eventually.

On the weak side, sophomore Kyle Knox (6-1, 215) takes over as the full-time starter. Knox had lots of experience in 2008, but was in more of a reserve role as Chris Carter toggled between linebacker and defensive end. Now, Knox has the position to himself, and has quickly established himself as a wreckless hitter who loves to make big plays – see his team-high eight tackles for losses last year. He should be the unit’s best pass rusher. Sophomore Shawn Plummer (6-0, 200), a former walk-on, is the only reserve with much experience. Plummer can compete for time at weak or strong side after adding muscle to his frame. Frankie Manquero (6-1, 205), another former walk-on, converted from safety in the offseason and entered fall camp second on the depth chart. Manquero has been predominantly a special teams player, but might offer help in passing downs.

Backing up Jacobs in the middle is junior Sonny McCree (6-0, 230), yet another former walk-on, with very limited experience – five tackles last year. The way true freshman Daniel Salinas (5-11, 205) stands out in practice, it’s hard to imagine him not working his way up the depth chart this season. Salinas graduated high school a semester early to participate in spring camp, and has a knack at flying to the ballcarrier – something that used to be typical of Bulldog defenders.

The most noticeable thing about the incoming freshmen is their size – none of them look like Fresno State’s freshmen linebackers of recent years. They’re bigger. That’s the case with Salinas and Brown, as well as Patrick Su’a (6-2, 215), who has monster calves, Jeremiah Toma (6-0, 215) and Ibe Nduka (6-0, 220), whose physical build resembles former standout Bryce McGill. Another guy, currently behind Brown at strong side is freshman Damion Whittington (6-1, 235). While Su’a, Toma and Nduka are likely to redshirt, Whittington might be ready to see the field this season.

Though redshirt freshman Mario Moore (5-11, 180), a walk-on last year, might be the fastest linebacker, it’s odd to see someone his size not playing defensive back. He’ll battle to find a niche that gets him on the field this year, but new walk-ons David Halopoff (5-11, 210) and Steven Plevney (6-2, 205) have a long way to go.

Rating: 7 of 10

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Returning lettermen: 9

Incoming: 3

Lost: 3 (Sharrod Davis, Will Harding, Jake Jorde)

It’s the biggest fundamental difference in Fresno State defenses now and in the recent past. Why the poor record in 2006 and the mediocre one in 2008? A lack of playmaking on defense. The Bulldogs have intercepted just 14 passes in the past three seasons combined (2006-08). In the three seasons prior (2003-05) Fresno State recorded 41 interceptions – a difference of 27 potentially game-changing turnovers.

So what gives? Do the ‘Dogs not have the guys capable of making plays anymore? While that’s possible, another explanation is a lack of emphasis on forcing turnovers, something coaches have tried to change during fall camp by instituting a rule that the defense has to do conditioning drills after every practice in which at least one turnover is not forced – incentive at its finest. Randy Stewart (who takes over as defensive coordinator this year) is a great, passionate, hands-on instructor who will focus on safeties this year while new assistant Micah Alba coaches cornerbacks.

The team has at least one star talent who has yet to emerge at corner – A.J. Jefferson (6-0, 190). Jefferson looked like a blossoming force in last year’s opener at Rutgers, showing that he had coverage skills and not just speed. But, somehow, Jefferson fluttered out of the starting lineup by season’s end. If Jefferson commits to working on the nuances of the position, and not just relying on raw talent, he might have NFL scouts paying attention for more reasons than kick returning.

Playing his way in to a starting role last year was sophomore Desia Dunn (5-9, 190), a former walk-on who had one of the team’s five interceptions last season. While Dunn was susceptible in isolation situations at times last season, he seems more confident this year and has looked far more aggressive in making plays on the ball. Also competing for a starting spot is Damion Owens (5-11, 200), whose 68-yard interception return during the first series at Boise State last year was one of the team’s only highlights. Owens was as impressive as any defender during the first fall scrimmage, making multiple open-field tackles to snuff out would-be big plays. That said, he’s not the fastest corner and was a liability in downfield coverage last year.

A crop of youngsters are itching to show their stuff, and it starts with sophomore Isaiah Green (5-10, 180), who’s said to be one of the team’s fastest runners but has been used mostly on special teams so far. Green picked off a Ryan Colburn pass in the end zone during the first fall scrimmage and also recovered a fumble. Expect him to be in the regular rotation. Coaches are also high on athletic freshman L.J. Jones (5-10, 170), who was practicing with the veterans from Day 1 of fall camp.

The Bulldogs will need some youth to emerge within a crop of inexperienced corners that also includes sophomore Jermaine Thomas (5-11, 180) and walk-on redshirt freshman Cris Wilson (5-10, 180). A couple of true freshmen have already impressed in camp in J.B. Dock (5-10, 170) and Erik Brown (5-11, 185).

While the interesting competition at corner is for the reserve spots, several safeties with starting experience are battling for a job. One spot is locked down by Moses Harris (6-1, 205), a second-team All-WAC performer last season who was third on the team with 75 tackles. With three years starting experience, Harris needs to become more of a sure tackler and work on shedding blocks, but his fitness is almost unparalleled.

There’s a three-way battle for the other job between two experienced starters in junior Lorne Bell (5-10, 205) and Marvin Haynes (6-2, 205) and redshirt freshman Phillip Thomas (6-1, 205). Bell has been in on first-team reps all fall, but Thomas looked like the man in summer voluntary workouts. Bell was hampered last season by a nerve injury in his leg, but seems to be healthier and faster, and remains the defense’s hardest hitter. Thomas excels in pass coverage, as he showed with a 60-plus yard interception return for a touchdown in the second fall scrimmage, and might be too good not to start. He’ll make an impact this season either way. Haynes, while athletic and talented, looks to be playing catch-up with his competition. He had two interceptions in the opener at Rutgers last season, but injury kept him out down the stretch.

But depth-wise it’s hard to ask for more.Sophomore Zak Hill (6-2, 200), Pat Hill’s youngest son, has been exposed often in pass coverage during camp, and might even be better off with a switch to linebacker. Redshirt freshman Terrance Dennis (5-11, 180) will have more of a chance to stand out next season with Harris and Haynes graduating, but walk-on redshirt freshman Justin Webber (5-9, 180) has already made some noise. Webber, a converted running back who’s bounced back from multiple serious injuries, flew around the field in the first fall scrimmage, making two tackles for losses.

Rating: 6 of 10

SPECIAL TEAMS

Returning kickers: 3
Incoming: 1
Lost: 1 (Stephen Ferdinandi)

It’s hard to fault a special teams coach who has been so revered for so long at Fresno State, but John Baxter let his stubbornness get in the way of Fresno State’s success last season. It will be crucial for the Bulldogs to clean up their uncharacteristic kick and punt coverage woes from a year ago, when they allowed three touchdown returns and two near-misses at UCLA. Still, Baxter continued to challenge the opposing team’s best return men, even when it was hurting Fresno State’s chances.

The good news is Fresno State’s own return men are better than anything they’ll face, and it starts with All-America candidate A.J. Jefferson (6-0, 190), who was recently highlighted in ESPN the Magazine. Jefferson led the nation with a whopping 35.8 yards per kick return as a sophomore, before averaging 29.3 yards last year, including a 92-yard touchdown against Nevada. Jefferson’s three career touchdown returns are the most of any active NCAA player.

He’ll likely be joined deep by either junior Devon Wylie (5-9, 170), Chastin West (6-1, 215) or sophomore Rashad Evans (5-9, 180). Wylie had just two returns last year, but has improved his speed to a personal best 4.25-second 40-yard dash in the offseason. Evans averaged 21.6 yards and West averaged 19.2 last season.

Evans, who’s nursed a hamstring injury throughout fall camp, took over punt return duties last season, averaging 13.2 yards. West and Marlon Moore (6-0, 190) each averaged a few yards more on about half the attempts. All three returned a punt for a touchdown last season. The X-factor could be true freshman Robbie Rouse (5-7, 185), who’s wowed pretty much everyone in fall camp with a body type similar to former ‘Dog and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer Pro Bowler Clifton Smith. If Rouse doesn’t redshirt, which is a strong possibility, he’ll compete for this job right away.

Like the return game, the kicking game returns fully intact. Punter Robert Malone (6-2, 215) showed just how strong his leg is when he boomed a 74-yarder at San Jose State last season. Malone had a breakout power year, averaging 42.8 yards and placing 20 of 54 punts inside the 20-yard line. Expect him to have fewer punts behind a higher-scoring offense this season. Freshman walk-on Matt Williams (6-1, 190) will get a shot in practice to prove whether he’s worthy of inheriting the job next year. Long snapper Bobby Shepard (6-1, 235) returns for his sophomore campaign after a solid 2008 season. Malone and Shepard seem to have great chemistry, though their signature games of playing catch (with a baseball and mitts) during summer voluntary workouts was a bit odd.

Sophomore kicker Kevin Goessling (6-0, 195) rebounded from early-season adversity last year – missing potential game-clinching kicks against Wisconsin and Hawaii in consecutive weeks – to bury a school-record 58-yarder to beat Utah State. The turnaround was likely due to maturity and experience, and landed Goessling on the Lou Groza Award watch list. He finished 15 of 22 last season, with two misses coming from beyond 50 yards. The biggest concern with Goessling is kickoff power – he had just two touchbacks in 73 attempts. Backup duties go to redshirt freshman walk-on Andrew Shapiro (6-1, 185), the chatterbox of the group, who’s looked solid in practice and scrimmage situations kicking and punting.

Fresno State’s 44 blocked kicks since 2002 rank tops in the country, three ahead of Texas. Since Pat Hill took over as coach in 1997, the Bulldogs have 79 blocks.

Rating: 8 of 10

Shut up and boob somebody

Someone just came up with the new slogan for the new Fresno State dance team!

Yes, it's been confirmed for a while: The Bulldogs are getting back their dancers.

Really, it was only just a matter of time for a couple of reasons.

1.) Because every major university has a dance team — even the cheap ones like Arkansas-Little Rock, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Cal State Fullerton (which doesn't have a hyphen but, trust us, is just as sucky.)

That's Fullerton over there on the left. The ones with the knockers. They swept the national championships. In dance.

And...

2.) Because the old geezers who got the Fresno State dance team suspended in the first place couldn't have been that far off from croaking. Apparently, they did.

See, Fresno State used to have a dance team back in it's glory days, the early-to-mid 2000's. The team was great. They competed in competitions and even won some sort of national championship.

But most of all, they looked/dressed skanky/skankily.

As the urban legend goes, that was their undoing. They dressed and performed so provocatively that people started to complain.

One of the whiners must have been a skybox suite owner. Either that or some of those old fogies that sit in the red seats and never stand up to clap. You know, the people with the money.

The dance team went away. It did. They said at the time it didn't. They said they were "combining" the dance and cheer teams. But if that were true, then there would be no reason to announce a new dance team, only an "uncombining."

Anyway, enough boring stuff. The point of our post is this: This new dance team better damn well be skanky. We're pretty sure we learned this equation in Calculus 1: Boobs + legs = fun. Exhibit A to your right. And that's what sports competitions are supposed to be, fun.

That's just the way it is. It's the circle of life. Didn't anybody here watch the Lion King?

No, we don't NEED it. Not as much as we NEED good football. But T&A is what the dance team's for. That's what we want. That's what everyone wants. Dare say, that's what the dancers want. To flaunt.

The only fans who don't admit these facts are married guys whose wives intimidate them into flaccidity.

We really aren't that worried. The new dance team is being headed up by a former Raiderette. And they are asking for head shots and references. They're serious.

If there's any time left to make sure the team is grade A, then let us submit evidence of our two favorite dance teams. The Arizona State Sun Devillette's (I just made that up), and the LSU Golden Girls (that's their real name.)




And a blast from the past, the old Fresno State dance team.


Don't let us down marching band organizer people and old Raiderette.

Nothing to Do with FSU but O'Canada

This post has nothing to do with Fresno State or its athletic department but its something that I think is very interesting. I am from Fresno and I am definitely Bulldog Born but after a year of going to Fresno State I decided to transfer schools. I was ready for a change and decided to transfer to a Canadian school (I know, I know, why Canada) but I came across this story while going to school in Vancouver, British Columbia and just heard on the news today that Simon Fraser University from Burnaby, B.C. (Not the school I went to) has joined to NCAA. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_lemire/08/05/canadian.hoops/. Another school from the Vancouver area,The University of British Columbia, is also trying to gain admittance to the NCAA.

This is obviously a big shift in policy for the NCAA to allow non-US schools to compete in athletics. It is also a policy shift for Canadian schools because they, by rule, are not allowed to give full athletic scholarships. Now that SFU is apart of the NCAA (they starting in Div 2) they will be allowed to give full ride scholarships which is huge for recruiting. It is no secret that most elite level Canadian athletes attend US schools for the scholarships and the higher level of competition. I wonder if this move will entice more elite Canadian athletes to stay in Canada and play for a SFU or UBC (if they gain admittance)??

I am happy and intrigued by this decision by SFU and the NCAA because I think this could be a great addition to college (for the zero Canadians who will read this university) sports. Could you imagine the rivalries that could emerge between the Washington and B.C. schools? Not only would there be a school rivalry but all the sudden it becomes the US versus Canada on the hardwood, field, tennis court, etc. That would be awesome to watch!

I'm not exactly sure how well schools like SFU or UBC would do recruiting American players but if they could get their top athletes to stay home I am more than confident that they would be competitive. Actually, while I was going to school up there American D-1 hoop teams would come up every August-September and play exhibitions against the local schools and the Canadian schools would knock off a team or two each summer. So for the Americans who think it would be a joke competition wise, don't be so sure. I have the first hand knowledge of watching many of those exhibitions as i just stated and believe me the Canadian schools hold their own and that is without their top talent.

Now I fully realize that most of you could care less about any of this but If you do happen to read this and have an opinion I would love to hear what you think. I am a bit of a Canadian homer because I went to school there but I just find this story really interesting. Also if you have any questions about this I will try to answer them as best as I can.

Saturday Night D-omination

Well that sure was a pleasant display of Defense (yes I capitalized the D) last night. Over the past three plus seasons now our defense has been......ummmmm.... lets just say less than stellar. I can still remember watching the piece that ESPN did during the 2001 season on our defense and it was all about the motto "shut up and hit somebody." That motto has become a bit cliché, especially in the Fresno area, but I believe we have to get back to that defensive mentality. 

I was very happy and encouraged watching our defense during last nights scrimmage. The emotion and leadership shown by Chris Carter, Nico Herron, Ben Jacobs, and Moses Harris was exciting to see. For the first time since the 2005 season (when we had Richard Marshall, Garrett McIntyre, Marcus McCauley, Tyrone Culver, etc) I am optimistic that we are going to have a solid defense. Last night the "D" was flying around the field, getting pressure on the QB, making interceptions, and the biggest part they were actually wrapping up and making solid tackles. 

There were quite a few guys that stood out to me last night but a few i'll briefly mention..... 

1- Justin Webber (Great to see the local guy out there flying around and making tackles in the backfield, great story)

2- Chris Carter (Showed great emotion and leadership)

3- Logan Harrell (I have not seen a Fresno State D-Lineman get in the backfield like that in years)

4- Moses Harris (Work-horse, always ready to play)

All-in-all the entire defense played solid and I hope they can continue to carry that passion and intensity into the season and throughout. So from this Bulldog fan to the defense ATTA BOYS all around. (PS... hopefully last nights performance was not just an indictment on how bad our offense is.... that is the scary part of a scrimmage)

  

Defense yelled loud & hit somebody

So maybe it wasn't the 'Shutup & Hit Somebody' of 2001 lore, but let's be real, Fresno State has always had its share of defenders who like to talk after popping an opponent in the mouth. Tonight, Chris Carter led the rallying cry as the defense got stronger as the scrimmage went on, allowing just two scores (none by Carr or Colburn).

The defensive front is forcing much more pressure than a year ago. Hopefully that's due to the defenders' improvement and not the offensive line's regression. D-tackle Logan Harrell was impressive tonight getting into the backfield, but the most eye-opening performance was by true freshman Terrance Kindle who consistently raced into the backfield and even recorded a sack. Chris Lewis saw extensive reps at d-end, including one play where he hit Ryan Mathews late out of bounds when Mathews was already on his hands and knees. Mathews popped up and swiped at Lewis' helmet, raising the heat a bit.

Another true freshman, and a Texas high school teammate of Kindle's, stood out at linebacker in Daniel Salinas. While Travis Brown sometimes hesitates and looks like he might not trust his ability in the open field, Salinas consistently flies to the ball. One play in particular tonight was when Brown stepped gingerly toward a churning Robbie Rouse and got juked before Salinas drove Rouse to the turf.

Nico Herron seems to have a firm grip on the starting strong side spot for now, and fans had to like the emotional effort he put forth in the scrimmage. Shawn Plummer joined the highlight reel when he leveled Devon Wylie from behind after a reception.

The continuing improvement of Desia Dunn at corner is encouraging, but more encouraging tonight was the play of sophomore Isaiah Green, who intercepted a pass in the end zone that Ryan Colburn intended for Ryan Skidmore and also recovered a Wylie fumble. Damion Owens, who seemed stagnant in his growth as a player last year, had to put smiles on coaches' faces tonight with his sure-handed tackling that ruined several of the offense's plays.

And how 'bout walk-on safety Justin Webber, who forced a fumble and made two plays behind the line of scrimmage. Safety Marvin Haynes got beat bad after taking a questionable angle on a long run by Michael Harris, and Lorne Bell showed why he's considered the Bulldogs' hardest hitter when he caught Darren Newborne breezing across the middle and took his breath away.

No special teams drills took place during the scrimmage, which was attended by about 1,000 fans and several notable alumni -- Bobby Lepori, Asen Asparuhov and Paul Pinegar to name a few.

Fall scrimmage sketchy for offense

Ryan Colburn took first-team reps to start the scrimmage, but the offense sputtered most of the night no matter which quarterback was in. Though Derek Carr had the best stat line on 8 for 12 with 101 yards, compared to Colburn's 8 of 14 for 57 yards, Carr missed on a few should-be surefire completions. One thing to note is Colburn throws a flatout pretty ball, tight spiral. But Carr can really zip it in there, as he showed.

In Ebahn Feathers' first series at the helm, he led a touchdown drive. Feathers looked better running option plays than passing (as per the norm) but nearly made a fantastic throw down the sideline. The toss was a smidgen out of reach of the diving J.J. Stallworth. Coaches have got to work with redshirt freshman center Douglas Spacht, who constantly snaps the ball over Feathers' head -- and seems to be the only center Feathers gets reps with. Luckily, Feathers jumped to grab 'em all, but it gives the defense the advantage every time his fleet feet leave the ground.

The biggest passing play was a 35-yarder from Carr to Jamel Hamler across midfield. The ball was underthrown by Carr as he tried to avoid a sack from a defender in his face, but Hamler showed how special he can be by adjusting and going after the ball and yanking it down.

Still way too many dropped passes by receivers, though Chastin West did a great job of hanging on to one around his waist in traffic. Devon Wylie had a couple nice catch and jukes, but fumbled away one of his receptions. Seyi Ajirotutu, Marlon Moore, Rashad Evans and Matt Lindsey were all sidelined and not dressed out.

One of the few bright spots for the offense on the otherwise frustrating night was redshirt freshman tight end Tapa Taumopeau, who showed he has deceptive football speed and solid hands. Expect him to push Ryan Skidmore, Cub Pascoe and Isaac Kinter (who also didn't dress) for playing time at tight end/H-back.

Ryan Mathews looks to be running at a different level than everyone else -- when he takes that first burst it's obvious he's an elite caliber of football player. He broke off one of the most impressive runs of the night, zig-zagging and straight-arming his way for 17 yards. True freshman Robbie Rouse continues to impress, scoring one of just two touchdowns in the game on a would-be broken play where he improvised and scooted outside the tackle and into the end zone.

The only other touchdown was a late pass from walk-on QB Tyler Stirewalt to converted tight end Austin Raphael.

Redshirt freshman Michael Harris probably won't see much time this year as he's being groomed for a chance at a featured role 2011, but he showed a glimpse with a 46-yard scamper and some breakaway speed. Anthony Harding and Lonyae Miller, as well as Mathews, saw limited action as coaches favored getting younger guys reps.

The offensive line is a concern. Bryce Harris, Leslie Cooper, Joe Bernardi, Andrew Jackson and Kenny Wiggins worked the first series. Though some jobs are still being battled out, the line looked suspect throughout the scrimmage. Freshman Matt Hunt didn't dress, but could battle for the left guard spot. Richard Pacheco saw first-team reps later at center, as did Devan Cunningham at left tackle. Across the board, this might be the most size Fresno State has ever had on the o-line. The 2008 signees -- Max Devlin, Austin Wentworth, Trevor Richter, Richard Helepiko -- are all flatout huge.

Friday Rundown

Fresno State practice was all over the fields today -- literally. The first part was at Valley Growers Field, before the whole squad was herded into Bulldog Stadium with a good turnout of fans.

Lots of scrimmage situations today with 7 on 7s, 11 on 11s and live-hitting with piped in crowd noise (though most of it was Bulldog gameday songs, unlike the annoyance of opponents songs they played in years past...I never want to hear "Rocky Top" again). So who stood out? Read on...

While neither quarterback starred today, true freshman Derek Carr continues to outshine junior Ryan Colburn (a trend the past four days). Colburn overthrew several receivers on would-be touchdown routes, even when there was no live rush.

Carr also threw one behind a receiver and later should have been intercepted (Marvin Haynes let the pass bounce off his chest after a nice jumped route in the end zone). But Carr made a nice play on the run to end the day, recognizing that safety Moses Harris had his back turned and zipping a touchdown pass to the sure-handed Jamel Hamler.

That said, both Colburn and Carr led the offense on touchdown drives, while Ebahn Feathers stalled inside the 10-yard line when he took the reins.

The receivers as a whole dropped a ton of balls today. Marlon Moore, Seyi Ajirotutu and Rashad Evans didn't participate in drills, while Chastin West had a case of the dropsies.

Ryan Mathews stood out in the passing game. And Robbie Rouse and Lonyae Miller each broke off long touchdown runs in tag-off drills.

Lots of moving parts throughout the depth chart on defense today, so it'll be interesting to follow how the pecking order unfolds. Can Travis Brown work his way into competition with Nico Herron?

Live from Bulldog Stadium (and 1430 ESPN)

Bulldog logo'd chair backs were being installed, the Bulldog Stadium grass was working its way from not green to almost green and the Fresno State football team got in its first "live" workout of fall camp on Wednesday.

For the first hour, practice was held as usual. A little stretching, a little 7-on-7, a little special teams and even a little 11-on-11 tag-off. But at the end of the day, the 'Dogs finally went live, meaning the defense could let loose and finally bring somebody to the ground.

No real big waves were made during the practice session, so we'll skip ahead to some thoughts on the live portion of practice:

• Until today, it's been tough to see how good the defense is going to be. A no tackling rule will create that kind of indecisiveness.

• Quarterback Ryan Colburn was intercepted twice on the day, once in 11-on-11s and once live, courtesy of Mario Moore and Damion Owens, respectively.

• I can't emphasize just how athletic and burstful/speedy Ebahn Feathers is. The fact that opposing schools will have to prepare for him should make a difference for the Bulldog offense. He made one run today that had people looking at friends next to them to confirm they indeed were witnesses to it.

• The defense controlled the offense for the most part in the live session, especially when it came to preventing big plays and stopping the run. End Kenny Borg will be forgotten no more after sitting out last year with a knee injury. Chris Lewis, Anthony Williams and a host of others had at least one impact play for the defense.

• Robbie Rouse is a jump out of your seat type of guy, because you get the feeling he can score on any given touch.

• Crowd noise was pumped into the stadium via speakers for the duration of the live portion of practice.

• The receivers continue to show their improvement, and their versatility as a group is remarkable. Deep threats, possession guys, jump balls, reverses ... the list goes on and on. And there is no plan currently known to man to stop the 2009 version of Devon Wylie.

• Kevin Goessling has looked phenomenal all camp, and was drilling everything from 35-51 yards with room on Wednesday. His inconsistency at the beginning of last year was a tough developmental period for everyone, but the real concern should have been his depth on kickoffs. That part remains to be seen.

I (DC3) made an appearance on 1430 ESPN with Guy Haberman to discuss Wednesday's live practice, then had to go make money, which is why the tardiness on the blog. The Bulldogs will return to two-a-days on Thursday, and I will once again be on 1430 ESPN to talk Fresno State football, most likely during the 5 o'clock hour.

Tuesday Two-a-day: Session 1

First, the bad news. Fresno State had an 8-10 p.m. practice session Tuesday night, but the Bounce was unable to attend. We're not happy campers about that.

That being said, there was two and a half hours of practice to enjoy in the a.m. And it was on this day, day 6, that the rookies finally joined the veterans to create a full squad. With that said, here are some news, notes and observations:

***UPDATE: So I left something out that I was reminded about this morning. The hit of the day came toward the end of practice during the 11-on-11 "tag-off" session in the compete zone (25 yard line to the goal). Ebahn Feathers jumped for a high snap out of the shotgun, came down with the ball and handed it to Robbie Rouse. As Rouse planted for his first step, Matt Akers came flying from around the left end and steam-rolled Rouse into the ground for the biggest collision of the day. This play sort of epitomizes the anxiousness that can be observed watching the team that they want to hit. The tag-off session is a full speed session, with defensive players making contact, wrapping up or stripping and letting the ball carrier continue with the play. Needless to say, as the period got more competitive, so to did the urge to hit. This is a good thing.

• With Matt Hunt and Devan Cunningham still not ready for full speed action, Leslie Cooper and Charley Robbins received time at left guard. Both played the position admirably, with Cooper taking home one of the plays of the day. In a nutshell, Cooper drove linebacker Ben Jacobs back 15+ yards away from the ball and line of scrimmage until the whistle blew.

• Joe Bernardi also received first team reps at center today. The always reliable Bernardi had a solid day as well.

• Quarterback is obviously the story of camp, but the linebackers will also eventually make a splash. Ben Jacobs seems to have the middle locked up, but he still seems to me missing a dimension from his game that would make him great. On the outside, Kyle Knox is showing great growth, although he and Nico Herron will at least be pushed for their jobs.

• True freshman Travis Brown may be the biggest contender, as he was given reps as the second team strongside backer. Fellow freshman Damion Whittington is also flashing talent out there.

• Also making noise in camp, and again on Tuesday, are the wideouts. New coach Keith Williams is pure hilarity, but his coaching methods are top flight. Route running has never been better across the board, and their improvement should only help the defensive backs compete at a higher level as well. Jamel Hamler is still looking prime to be big-play material.

• After watching a new wrinkle in the offense involving Devon Wylie, I'm starting to think that his school-record 4.25 40 speed is a tad bit slower than his true time. Defenders will thank the football Gods that the field is only 100 yards, because chasing Wylie will not be a fun chore.

• Bulldogs coaches also seem to have increased their aggressiveness for turnovers this year, a very much welcomed mentality. This should suit this team's new decapitating personality just fine.

• Speaking of the new personality, let's speak on it for a second. After having attended many years of Fresno State fall camps, the 2009 version has easily been among the most focused and effort-giving ones. Coaches have been dishing out praise for execution and effort frequently. That being said, they are still pushing the players to set the bar higher every practice. Bottom line is you couldn't ask for a better run camp right now.

• Finally, let's get to the QBs. After a few days of neck-and-neck competition between Ryan Colburn and Derek Carr, it seems as though the competition has heated up, with Carr doing most of the fueling. He has looked more poised, comfortable and shown more leadership each day. As a result, he has seen reps with the first team on consecutive days. On Tuesday, Carr made ridiculous throws at a torrid pace, flashing some of this teams enormous potential for big plays. Can a true freshman really be this good? Seems to be so. That being said, Colburn has also look fairly consistent, and should be able continue a high-scoring offense should he get the job.

• And for you Ebahn Feathers fans out there. Feathers has legit speed and can breakaway at any time. The noticeable and encouraging thing the past couple of days has been his arm strength and spiral quality. A lot less ducks being shot lately. He is still frustratingly inconsistent, because at times he shows flashes that prove he could be a monster impact player. He is getting plenty of reps, almost all of which he is throwing in, in an attempt to get him more seasoning for his strong right arm. He'll need to find accuracy to see the field more than a couple times per game.

Day 5: First day of full pads in the books

It should be an unwritten understanding, but just in case, let's start off with what I deem the necessary fall camp disclaimer. We've already got four Fresno State football camp wrap-ups, and excitement on the Barkboard is beginning to build steam.

So with that, let's remember than for probably every team in camp, everything is looking positive (except for idaho and other cheap "division I" teams). It's the nature of the beast we call fall camp. A fresh start and new and/or more improved players will do that to you. We at the Bulldog Bounce try to keep that in mind, but like you, we have Bulldog Red pumping through our veins. So don't be afraid to get excited, we are too. Just remember not to climb all the way to the top of the mountain too soon. Take it day by day, as we hope the Bulldogs do.

Today was the first day of full pads, which means somewhere, behind the fence and bushes surrounding the practice field, was an out-of-town homer TV station (likely oregon or boise) scouting the team.

It also means that today was finally an opportunity to see the guys put their talents to use at full speed, so to speak. Collisions are more violent and the spotlight shines a little brighter, so these are presumably key days for coaches to evaluate. Let's get to some nuggets:

Ebahn Feathers got a ton of throws in today. He threw to ghost coverage, one-on-one coverage, 7-on-7s and finally 11-on-11s. He threw a very nice ball. Very strong arm, but was finally more consistent on delivering a tight spiral to his receivers. QB coach Jeff Grady still had to work with him on gripping the ball though, which means he's not quite where he needs to be yet. He's shown definite improvement though, but his inconsistency is enough for me to hold my breath should he see time. That being said, opposing defenses will have to do the same.

For people familiar with previous fall camps, it's pretty obvious that this year's group of rookies is more advanced than in years past. They are bigger physically, more athletic and more adaptive to the college practice style. Competition for jobs should be heated for years, which should only make this team and players better during the season.

Running back Mike Harris had the play of the day on the second to last play of the rookies' session. He broke free on a run for about 40 yards before lowering his shoulder and flattening Terrance Dennis, igniting a host of screams from teammates. As a response, DT Anthony Williams busted through the line on the next play for a 3-4 yard tackle for loss.

Special teams (as always) remains a focus for the Bulldogs. The return game should be more lethal than ever and ideally set up the team with excellent field position to make it easier on breaking in the new QBs.

Derek Carr and Ryan Colburn are going to make Pat Hill have a tough call. The two of them can make all the throws, though Carr seems to have more velocity. Carr seems to be more comfortable with his position (both as a QB and leader) every day, and is making up ground if not passing Colburn. Both make out throws, fly routes and fade/corner routes with ease. The offense has already been opened up in practice. Either way, it's hard to imagine QB being a weak spot this year.

Richard Pacheco has taken most of the first team reps at center, but Joe Bernardi is just plain good.

The defensive line should have much more depth this year, in addition to size, speed and experience. Expect much better production.

Wide receivers coach Keith Williams is paying and will pay huge dividends for the wide receivers. I feel like I've improved ten-fold as a receiver just by watching him work. Now apply that to the receivers.

Ryan Skidmore continued where he left off today. By my count, he leads the team in fights when the team is dressed in full pads, going back to last year. He can really run though, and will be a very tough cover. Vince Pascoe and Nico Herron also got testy today.

Kyle Knox looks much bigger, faster and most importantly, confident on the field. Not the best year to be an opposing running back.

Jamel Hamler will be great by the time he leaves here. Awesome routes, great hands and can run.

No Richard Marshall-types at CB (yet), but the depth appears to be better than it's been in a while.

Looking forward to the day rookies mix it up with the vets. Robbie Rouse has been making some noise, and the linebackers are more seasoned than anyone thought.

All in a day(s) at Fresno State football camp.

Let's get physical (but not too physical)

Practice seemed to start out a little lazy (Sunday afternoon style) on Day 4, but that quickly changed when Pat Hill went off on the guys for just going through the motions. In typical Hill fashion, he usually gets loud and gets after the guys at some point during fall camp (tough love style).

Today was that day for the "rookies" as he called 'em. Hill didn't like the way guys weren't going 100%, using a popcorn analogy to get his point across. He said he wanted to hear "one big explosion" as guys were hitting each other, not a few pads popping on one side followed by more hitting on the other.

The players defintely responded as true freshman linebacker Daniel Salinas slammed into the O-line on the next play, and redshirt freshman offensive lineman Max Devlin pancaked true freshman defensive end Terrance Kindle.

Robbie Rouse is still wowing pretty much everyone. Yesterday he had Bulldog Bouncers wondering aloud if he should be the punt returner this year. Today, he blocked a punt in special teams drills.

One of the most impressive parts of the day were the fade routes to the corner of the end zone thrown by Derek Carr and Ryan Colburn. Interesting to note that Carr took the first reps with the offense today. But both looked far better than Tom Brandstater ever was at putting touch on passes.

Cornerback coverage was encouraging -- Desia Dunn seems to have progressed quite a bit since last season. There's no reason A.J. Jefferson shouldn't be a dominant cover corner. He has the speed, length and athleticism to be one of the best in school history...it's an absolute mystery why he didn't play more defense last year. Isaiah Green made one standout play to jump a route and bat a pass to the ground.

That said, Seyi Ajirotutu did some damage of his own, with two acrobatic catches in the corner of the end zone in tight coverage. Jamel Hamler is a weapon in press coverage, which is encouraging considering the lack of seperation receivers got the past three years.

So much to talk about already, but let us know what questions you have and we'll address those in comments and future posts...?

Half pads, full contact

OK, well not completely full contact, but the 'Dogs were out in half pads today (waist up) and hitting. Sounded good to hear pads popping, and hope those of you following on twitter enjoyed the instant updates.

O-line got a bit interesting today with Leslie Cooper getting first-team reps at left guard and Devan Cunningham at right tackle.

True freshman Lars Bramer (at 6-foot-5) is getting scout team work at center.

Absolutely love the hands on, fundamental, energetic coaching styles of Will Plemons (D-line) and Keith Williams (receivers). And loved hearing Randy Stewart continually yell for his defense to cause "chaos!" during 11-on-11 drills.

Although JC D-line prospect Donnie Pritchett (highly touted out of Santa Rosa JC) was participating in summer voluntary practices, today was his first real practice with the team. He wasn't in pads yet (per the rules) but is defintely a big, athletic looking guy.

Three days into camp, and I'm already willing to argue for true freshman Robbie Rouse to start at punt returner. He's just awe-inspiring with his slashing around defenders and into the open field. He had darn near every coach oohing and aahing at some point today.

Still way too many open receivers being underthrown by Ebahn Feathers. But he broke off some nice runs today. Don't underestimate Derek Carr's wheels either.

Very surprised how built Ibe Nduka is (No. 59) and how tall Pat Su'ua is (No. 30). Scout team drills started with Damion Whittington, Jeremiah Toma and Travis Brown at linebacker (with Toma in the middle). Food for thought...

Live fall camp tweets

Follow the Bulldog Bounce blog on twitter, and look for live fall camp tweets through next week!

http://twitter.com/BulldogBounce

Campin' on Day 2

Let's start with the scout team (since those guys are first to hit the field in the mornings during split squads).

True freshman running back Robbie Rouse is flat out agile. Think Clifton Smith's body type...but shorter. And he's wearing No. 8 (what's up with that David Carr)? If anyone should get to don the 8, it should be Derek Carr.

Redshirt freshman receiver A.J. Johnson is good. He'll be the next relative unknown to emerge at receiver, but the corps might be too crowded for an emergence this year. No doubt though, the kid has legit speed and route-running ability. He's a guy to get excited about.

Redshirt freshman QB Ebahn Feathers is still workin' scout team reps, and not really spending time running the ball for now. Passing wise, he's been picked off by true freshmen each of the first two days -- J.B. Dock got him yesterday on a pass into double coverage and Erik Brown got him today, smothering a walk-on receiver on a short route and just snatching the ball away. Don't get too hard on Feathers though, the pick came in a drill with just one receiver and one corner, so it's not like he could look the guy off and throw elsewhere.

O-line coach Derek Frazier seems to be happy with Buchanan's Lars Bramer's effort in drills, but was on Sanger's Nikko Motta early for a lack of effort as Motta half-heartedly jogged through a rep.

As for the veterans:
Interesting to note newcomers Matt Hunt (offensive guard) and L.J. Jones (cornerback) are already working with the vets.

Tons of praise being shouted out for receiver Jamel Hamler today. Hamler was forced to sit out last season (academics) but is talented enough to be the No. 1 receiver.

Highlight of the day: the team worked 11-on-11 drills briefly (in shells, not pads) and a gaping hole was opened by the O-line, allowing Anthony Harding to burst one up the gut and go the distance.

A heck of a battle is unfolding for the starting free safety spot between junior Lorne Bell and redshirt freshman Phillip Thomas. Both seem to have passed Marvin Haynes on the depth chart.

Should be interesting to see if Logan Harrell and Chase McEntee hang on to the starting defensive tackle spots, considering last year's starters (Mark Roberts and Cornell Banks) also return, as does former starter Wilson Ramos.

Random musings from Day 1 of fall camp

Welcome to Fresno true freshmen! Just don't expect 82 degree highs in the forecast, well, ever again. It was a rarity for August in The No (which I prefer to call The Yes) and Pat Hill let the newcomers know it.

Though there's no official word on it, this blogger suspects we also won't see Ebahn Feathers leaving the practice field with the scout team many more days. Sure, practicing with the reserves gives Feathers a chance to get the lion's share of reps, but he's going to need work with the guys who will be on the field when he enters the game for special packages.

Let's hope we don't see too many more dropped passes, especially by Marlon Moore, who got off to a rocky start on Thursday. Devon Wylie (who new receivers coach Keith Williams calls "Tim Dwight" all too often) looked polished and pristine.

Speaking of Williams, mark my words now the 'Dogs found themselves a special young coach. He's boisterous and energetic, but most importantly pays attention to the tiny details that were lacking last year under John Baxter's direction.

WAY too early to decide the Ryan Colburn-Derek Carr battle, but after Day 1, Carr gets a point for the speed with which he drops back to pass. Colburn gets a point for handling Joey Bernardi's snaps more cleanly.

Though we hear Devan Cunningham dropped 30 pounds every offseason...this time, I believe it. Other guys who look slimmer, trimmer and more defined: Ben Jacobs, Kenny Borg, Damion Owens, Nico Herron, Richard Pacheco.

So far, the battle for the sweatiest shirt is neck and neck between Bernardi and new defensive coordinator Randy Stewart. Bernardi is the first person to give Stewart a run...ever!

Weighing in on McMackin

Hawaii second-year football coach Greg McMackin made national news for all the wrong reasons last week at WAC Media Days when he used a gay slur to describe a cheer done by Notre Dame.

Fresno Bee columnist Matt James ripped the coach in this column, writing:

"... he used a word that is meant to humiliate gay people, to put them in their
place, to let them know they aren't as valuable to the human race as straight
people.
If a gay person died, they wouldn't deserve as much sympathy as
someone else. That's what that word means."

Fair enough. The word McMackin used was a hateful one -- one used to put someone down or hurt someone's feelings. I can only hope he truly realizes why he shouldn't have said what he said.

But it was the use of the word "humiliate" in the column that really got my attention.

As an avid reader of sports stories and columns over the years, and a student of journalism, I've come across far too many stories where hurtful words and phrases have been used to describe people's looks. Is there a double standard to address here?

Take this story as an example. It's another from the Matt James collection (which overall I really enjoy might I add). But this one uses the term "fat" to describe Fresno State baseballer Steve Detwiler as a child:

"Detwiler grew up a fat kid, no other way to say it, short and 40 pounds past
plump. He took a verbal beating every day. Years passed, and the kids at Sun
Valley Elementary in San Rafael never let up.
The couple friends Detwiler did
have picked on him, too. His little sister, Samantha, called him "Bubble Butt"
and, compared to the other names, it was almost cute."

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there another way to say it? While it might not be as colorful to say "overweight," it might be less hurtful than "...a fat kid, no other way to say it, 40 pounds past plump." Reading the story, it sounds obvious Detwiler was affected by the name-calling. Maybe it still hurts him?

Going back to James' column on McMackin, couldn't it be said that "fat" is a term used to humiliate overweight people, put them in their place and let them know they aren't as valuable to the human race as normal weight people?

If so, then why is that terminology acceptable when other terminology is chastised?

Summer position changes

With Fresno State football fall camp mere weeks away, it was interesting to see guys getting work at new positions today at Valley Growers Field.

Most notably, perhaps, was Porter Hill working out at right tackle and getting lots of hands-on attention from starting center Joey Bernardi (who, along with quarterback Ryan Colburn, has been a de facto coach during voluntary workouts). Hill was a highly touted defensive tackle coming out of high school, but now is playing alongside his cousin Leslie Cooper on the offensive side.

Another interesting development is former linebacker Austin Raphael making the move to tight end. Raphael has seen bits and pieces of playing time at linebacker, but with younger talent coming in he might be better utilized at tight end -- as long as he can work on the hands.

The other transition is former Sanger High product Justin Webber moving from running back to safety -- not a huge surprise considering his was a 'tweener coming out of high school.

Volunteering the Harding way

Nice write-up from the Turlock Journal today on Fresno State running back Anthony Harding, who took a couple days vacation from offseason workouts to give back in his hometown.

Great choice by Harding to choose Fresno State over Nevada. Harding 1, Colin Kaepernick 0.

Can't wait 'til The Bee follows suit and gives us some Fresno State news...

By George, don't go!

Let me take this opportunity to be greedy and jump the gun. Paul George's sophomore season hasn't yet started, but already there's a ton of talk about the Fresno State wing being an NBA lottery pick, and even as high as No. 6 overall according to this mock draft. Thanks a lot nbadraft.net...

And now, in a Q&A, George says he'd like to "test the waters" after this next season.

Now, granted, a 19- or 20-year old young man can't ignore millions that would be dangled in front of him if he is indeed a lottery pick, but I sure wish Fresno State could get a break. Coach Steve Cleveland finally looks ready to rock with incoming recruits Greg Smith and Steve Schepp joining George and Sylvester Seay (also projected in the draft), who are two of the WAC's best players.

Seay is a senior, and definitely gone after this year. But losing George too, after just two years, would be a huge setback in Fresno State's plan to return to national prominence for the first time since Tark "retired." Fans want it bad. Hopefully, the players want it just as bad.

George thinks the 'Dogs have a shot to win the WAC this year, and so do I -- a real, true last-to-first story could be on the horizon. But they key thing is, with George and Smith as a young nucleus, the Bulldogs would be set up for a two- or three-year run of winning big. And that would set the table to turn the program around and be the start of something really special.

George is talented enough to be the catalyst and leave a long legacy. Either way I wish him the best, but hope he can look back at Fresno State in 10 years and see a program regularly in the Sweet 16, know how huge a part he played in building that, and say, "Hey, I led that program in its transition years, and look at it now."

Can't wait to read Pat Hill's next tweet

Ah shucks, Pat Hill isn't on Twitter yet? Well what are we waiting for Coach!?

Look at this recent message from USC coach Pete Carroll's Twitter account:

oh, one more thing... here's the fall camp practice schedule... open to the public! come on out! http://bit.ly/mwYE23:41 PM Jul 1st from web

So simple, yet so effective. I mean I don't have market research and statistical analysis of how much fan buy-in and interactivity Carroll's tweets lead to, but I do see that he's got more than 30,000 followers on Twitter -- that has to result in some plusses in fan relations and building a connection with the community.

As much as I dislike USC and the pompous attitude that program stands for, and as much as I'm irked by Carroll's hesitance to schedule Fresno State, I have to applaud him for being on the cutting edge.

Tweeting, texting, facebooking, video-ing ... it's the marketing and advertising wave of the near future. Coach Hill, let's get it done ... our fans are welcome to fall camp too, right? Let's get the word out and builid a more connected, larger and stronger fan base.

It's almost here!

August is just around the corner and that means one thing (besides 100+ degree temperatures in Fresno)....... COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!!

I am very excited to see what is in store for the 2009 edition of the gridiron 'Dogs (by the way what is the deal with Washington and Georgia spelling dogs ... dawgs???). It is my hope that the fans of Fresno will continue to come out and support the football program. I know, as a lifelong Bulldog fan, that year in and year out they never seem to reach their full potential but that doesn't mean that Bulldog Stadium has to be half empty on Saturdays.

I believe that it is very important that our fans come out to support the university and the players who represent our community. It would be a tremendous show of support for Fresno State, the city of Fresno and our whole valley if we had Bulldog Stadium packed out every Saturday.

Now I understand that we are in tough economic times and not everyone can afford to take their families out to a college football game but those of us who can should be out supporting our team. Those who have season tickets and know they wont be going to certain games should try and give their tickets to people who will use them.

I hope I am not coming off sounding self-righteous but I have a love for our community and for Fresno State and I just want to see Bulldog Stadium filled with red (not that crazy black-out crap they tried in '07 against Boise State) Aaaahhhhh college football is almost here.....its a great time of year!!

Why the BCS is more fair than a playoff

Now that I got your attention, OF COURSE the BCS is not as fair as a playoff would be!

But, to humor us all, I wanted to draw your attention to perhaps the worst pro-BCS argument I've ever read. It comes from a Penn State blog, and suggests if schools like Fresno State are unhappy with being discriminated against by the BCS they should just join the Pac-10.

Wow! Now that we know it's that simple, let's do it. Oh, wait, it's not that simple. Der!

Fresno is all the talk in Chicago these days

Sorry, but I ran across this blog and had to share. The number of Fresno references and tie-ins is just too much.

First I get peeved when this blogger compares Abilene Christian to Fresno State. Who even knows what Abilene Christian is (with all due respect)? His point is in comparing some new Chicago Bears wide receiver to former Bulldog Bernard Berrian (now with the Vikings).

Come to find out the original comparison came from Chicago Tribune writer Vaughn McClure. Oh, name sounds familar does it? That's because McClure is the former Fresno Bee beat writer for Fresno State men's basketball.

So I perused my way down to the blog comments and came across someone pumping up Heidi Watney as being "better" than Erin Andrews. Well whadaya know!? Heidi Watney is an ex-Fresno sportscaster herself, for KMPH FOX 26.

But I'm still mad about that Abilene Christian comparison...

Cal Poly wanna a clue?

"What the heck is this junk?"

The quotes represent the thought that immediately popped into (or out of?) my head when I read this story from the San Luis Obispo Tribune. It starts like this:

John Madden’s deepest desire for the Cal Poly football program has long been to
see it return to regularly playing and upsetting well-known California schools —
namely Fresno State, San Jose State and San Diego State — like it did when he
was a lineman for the Mustangs in 1957 and 1958.

Excuse me? Regularly beat Fresno State? Not in my lifetime.

First of all, the two teams did meet in '57 and '58, each winning once. Second of all, what qualifies as regularly? Fresno State is 30-10-2 against Cal Poly all-time. But the Mustangs have pulled off no such feat since Fresno State moved up to Division 1-A in 1980. Since '80, Fresno State is 5-0 against Cal Poly, with a combined total score of:
Bulldogs 160
Mustangs 48

Cal Poly did pretty much own the 'Dogs in the '70s but the difference between then and now with the Fresno State program is nothing short of enormous. Is anyone out there looking forward to the rebirth of the Cal Poly series in '010 at Bulldog Stadium?

Bray could set Fresno State at QB for most of decade

Intriguing. Can Fresno State keep another huge local talent home and bolster the quarterback position for, possibly, the next 6 years?

Possible it is. Kingsburgh High's Tyler Bray was reportedly offered a scholarship and is quickly becoming one of California's most sought-after slingers. And if he follows in Derek Carr's (Bakersfield Christian High) footsteps and helps paint the Valley Bulldog Red, Fresno State will have by far it's deepest and most exciting group of young QBs ever.

Arguably, the Bulldogs already do have their most depth at the position ever with junior Ryan Colburn (Central Valley Christian High), redshirt freshman Ebahn Feathers (Washington Union High) and Carr. Adding Bray to the mix next year would seal the deal at the most important position on the field. Especially if Bray is willing to wait his turn behind Carr/Feathers, by possibly greyshirting and redshirting (as Tom Brandstater and Paul Pinegar did in years past before earning starring roles).

Amazing that all four QBs would be Valley products if Bray does indeed commit to becoming a 'Dog.

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?

Who are you? Who, who? Who, who?

Anyone else catch this tidbit from the newly released Athlon college football preview magazine:

For all the crazy talking (coach Pat) Hill does about playing anyone anywhere and all his cute slogans, he really is a pretty conservative offensive football coach. They've just tried to grind it out, and that's not working anymore." — an opposing WAC assistant coach

While we all know the conservative offense criticism of Pat Hill has some truth to it, for cryin' out loud don't say something that harsh of one of your WAC coaching peers and then remain anonymous.

I know part of this Athlon feature is to let coaches be anonymous in their responses, but when it's one of your conference rivals saying it, knowing who that person is might shed some light. If it's an Idaho or Utah State assistant (for example) it might just be sour grapes. But if it's a Boise State assistant maybe there's some more validity since the Broncos have had the Bulldogs' number most of the past decade?

So let's hear Mr. Opposing WAC Assistant Coach ... who are you? Who, who? Who, who?

2011, 2012 WAC basketball tournament headed to Vegas

What do y'all think about this? News is the 2011-2012 WAC basketball tournaments will be held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

Moving the tourney to Vegas, long rumored to be an option, is good for all the fans of the non-hosting team, but as a Fresno State fan who's seen just ONE WAC tournament in the Save Mart Center, I feel cheated.

The Save Mart Center is too nice and too large a facility to have less hostings under its proverbial belt than Las Cruces, N.M. and Reno, Nev. Maybe that's just it though? Is the Save Mart Center too large an arena to host when Fresno State isn't in the upper echelon of the WAC standings (which has been the case 2 of the past 3 seasons)?

Same ol', same ol' for Edison High products

The trend continues at Edison High, where some of the best and brightest college football prospects are aiming for UCLA and USC instead of Fresno State. Obviously a kid should be able to choose whatever school he wants to go to, but one of these days a group of guys at Edison will buck this trend and truly represent their hometown the way Clifton Smith did in his awe-striking Bulldogs career that culminated with a rookie Pro Bowl appearance in the NFL.

Unfortunately for Fresno State, the local high school producing incredible athletes on a regular basis puts more talent at UCLA and USC than its hometown university. The latest in this line, a week after it was announced Tevin McDonald is headed to UCLA, is Wesley Flowers.

You might remember just a couple years ago a talented cornerback by the name of Courtney Viney also chose the Bruins over the Bulldogs. But a funny thing has happened in the past decade or so, just as Ryan Mathews (pictured) leap-frogged Viney, Fresno State has leap-frogged UCLA in program success.

Fresno State has beaten UCLA the past two times the teams played, and before last year's meeting at the Rose Bowl, a newspaper headline screamed a dose of reality: "UCLA seeks upset of 25th ranked Fresno State," it read.

Yes, that's reality now. When UCLA plays Fresno State, UCLA is the underdog. But for some reason, so many of these Edison High kids just aren't feeling the same way.

When restaurants get irritating

Are you like me? Do you love to support the Fresno area's local restaurants? I try to go local as much as possible (and it helps that my favorites are unique to Fresno).

But you know what's irritating? When local businesses put up decor of non-local schools. Case in point -- I went to the new Red Zone Sports Grill shortly after it opened and vowed not to go back until the nean USC sign near the bar is removed. Yes, there's also a Fresno State neon sign, but why have the USC one at all? Do you think bars in LA have Fresno State neon signs?

We all know how great Dog House Grill is, but what's with the Cal football jersey on the wall? The fact that it's former Clovis High standout Zack Follett's jersey doesn't ease the irritation for me. And the Jeff Garcia 49ers jersey doesn't make up for the fact Garcia is a San Jose State alum. This is flatout offensive to any Fresno State fan.

Been to Casa Corona lately? There's a painting of Pat Hill, David Carr and Tim Simons on the wall representing Fresno State. And there's plenty of old team photos and jerseys in the men's restroom, but none from other rival schools. Just another reason to love Casa...

McDonald picked interesting way to rep his city

I wasn't aware Edison High's T.J. McDonald (aka Tim McDonald Jr.), the son of former 49er/Cardinal Tim McDonald, was interested in representing his city. But according to this quote in The Fresno Bee about the annual City-County football game, he is:

"It's a big deal to me. You play for four years, you have to represent your
city," said T.J. McDonald, also a defensive back. "Now it's my turn and I didn't
want to miss it."

But McDonald chose a strange way to represent Fresno -- by signing on the dotted line to represent Los Angeles.

McDonald signed a national letter of intent to follow in his father's footsteps and play at USC. And then news broke that his younger brother Tevin McDonald is headed to UCLA. For those keeping score at home, that makes three very gift McDonalds, none of which truly represented their hometown in college.

Fresno isn't some small town with no one who's ever made it to big-time sports fame -- it's loaded with well-known athletes. And Fresno State's not some football program no one's heard of -- it's nationally known and is 1-1 all-time with USC (including the '05 cardiac arrest loss at the LA Coliseum when the Trojans were thought to be the greatest team ever assembled). If you're a high school star, you don't have to leave the Valley to "represent" your city. You do it by actually giving back to the place you came from.

When are more Valley kids going to be like Clovis West's Travis Brown, Bakersfield Christian's Derek Carr, Edison's Nat Harrison, Buchanan's Lars Bramer and Sanger's Nikko Motta? The latest Bulldogs recruiting class showed more local kids dream of becoming Bulldogs, but what about the elite talents still drifting away like the McDonalds, Edison's Cliff Harris and Clovis West's Nate Fellner? Be the hometown hero. Give back. Or go to some college outside the area if you'd like -- just don't claim to be "representing" your city if you're not.

ESPN perpetuates BCS inequity

At least that's my opinion. Have you checked out ESPN's College Football Live 50 States Tour? Apparently USC, UCLA, Cal and Stanford are the only college football teams that really matter in the Golden State.

As a Fresno State alum, I find that odd. You ask any college football guru in the state which programs are the most successful in the past decade and they'll put USC No. 1 (wonder how that NCAA investigation of Reggie Bush is going?) and then it's either Cal or Fresno State. UCLA is next and Stanford is a distant, distant fifth, just above San Jose State with San Diego State bringing up the rear.

But check out ESPN's voting polls. They ask who is the best Stanford player ever? Who's the best from USC? Cal? UCLA? And then, "Who is the best player to play college football somewhere other than Cal, UCLA, USC or Stanford? That's offensive to me. Right now Marshall Faulk is running away with victory over second place David Carr. But cramming all the non-BCS conference programs into one question while giving less talented, less successful, less prestigious programs like Stanford more attention is whack.

It's just like the college football preview magazines that write several pages on all the cheap BCS-conference teams and then put a half-page on non-BCS teams -- garbage rags. Perpetuating the inequity of college football.

If you agree with me, I say write to ESPN and let them know you don't appreciate the unequal treatment.

Props to Arash Markazi for calling it like it is

In Arash Markazi's SI.com Game 4 report card, he calls out Stan Van Gundy for sitting Rafer Alston for more than a quarter, coming off a 20-point performace in the Orlando Magic's Game 3 win.

Replacing Alston (the former Fresno State standout under Jerry Tarkanian) in the lineup, Jameer Nelson gave up an uncontested 3 to Derek Fisher that sent a game the Magic should have won into overtime. Smooth move Stan.

Concerned about lack of recruits in MLB draft?

If you were like me, you spent the first day of the Major League Baseball Draft hoping to not hear the names of any Fresno State signees who will be joining the Diamond 'Dogs for the 2010 season. Not 'cause you wish negativity for the newest 'Dogs to be, but because you want to see them in Fresno State uniforms instead of seeing them lured away to the minor leagues.

But, after all 50 rounds (yes, 50 rounds!) of the draft were completed, and only ONE Fresno State recruit was chosen -- there might be cause for concern.

Clay Cederquist, a Fowler High product who is one of the most exciting recruits in recent history because of his pure hitting ability, was chosen by the Seattle Mariners with the 1,373rd pick. Granted, he was injured most of his senior season at Fowler, which dropped his stock, but for the Bulldogs to not have any other signees chosen is strange.

Definitely not the norm for a Fresno State program that just last year lost star pitching recruit Graham Johnson to the draft when he was chosen in the fifth round. Especially coming from a recruiting class that is supposed to be the first result of a College World Series national championship...

You tell me. What do you think? Are you concerned about the lack of draft attention the new recruits got? Are you less optimistic on this class now? Or is it nothing to worry about?

Skip to my stardom

"Skip to My Lou" skipped to his NBA Finals stardom last night in the Orglando Magic's four-point win over the L.A. Lakers.

After Rafer Alston was forced to sit the bench half of each of the first two games (both losses), Stan Van Gundy finally decided to leave Alston on the floor, and sit Jameer Nelson. Coming off a labrum injury, Nelson returned for the Finals and played almost as many minutes as Alston, the guy who led the Magic to its playoff run.

The result was lots of missed shots by the two point guards in the first couple games, and a lack of productivity. But Alston, the former Fresno State point guard, was more aggressive with the ball Tuesday night, finishing with 20 points on 8 of 12 shooting as the Magic set a new NBA Finals record with 62.5% shooting.

Texas Rangers feelin' Bulldog Bred

The Texas Rangers just got quite a number of Fresno State fans in their corner. In the compensation round of the MLB Draft, with the 44th pick overall, the Rangers selected former Fresno State pitcher Tanner Scheppers.

Then, in the second round, 62nd overall pick, the Rangers added Fresno State third baseman Tommy Mendonca.

The Scheppers pick is an absolute steal. Draft prognosticators had him going as high as fifth overall, and he was arguably one of the top two pitchers in the draft along with San Diego State's Stephen Strasburg. But Scheppers' shoulder injury from a year ago and signability questions might have scared teams off so much that the Rangers got a potential top of the rotation arm with their 44th pick.

Mendonca was passed up for two high school third basemen earlier in the draft, but is far more ready than any other third baseman in the country to jump up the ranks. Expect to see him in the majors before any others on the board.

Mendonca to be drafted today ... ya think!?

I had already planned to get a little MLB Draft blog goin' today, but when I opened a recent Google Alert email with this story from KMPH I decided to rush it:

Fresno's Mendonca Expected To Be Picked Up In Draft KMPH Fox 26 -
Fresno,CA,USASeveral valley stand-outs are expected to hear their names called
over the three-day draft, including Fresno State third baseman Tommy Mendonca.
...

If that's not the most "duh" headline of all-time, I don't know what is. But I was glad to see that wasn't actually printed atop the story when I clicked and followed the link.

Today's draft is an exciting one for Fresno State fans -- although bittersweet being that we'll close the chapter on The Great Wall of Mendonca at third base. All-time Fresno State home run king. 2008 College World Series MVP. He made defensive plays so good, so consistently, that ESPN put (count 'em) at least three Mendonca fielding highlights in its postseason package that has been playing during every postseason game this year.

Mendonca, a junior, is as good as gone with 7 figures likely awaiting him in a signing bonus. Pitcher Tanner Scheppers, who was lost to injury during the final homestand of 2008 and missed the CWS glee, has rehabilitated his shoulder while making a handful of appearances for the independent St. Paul Saints. Scheppers was drafted by the Pirates last year, but they refused to give him the first-round money he deserved and he didn't sign. This time, expect Scheppers to go as early as the top five picks. Just take this quote from Fresno State coach Mike Batesole in today's Fresno Bee:

"People call me nuts, but I saw Strasburg pitch again for the second time and
there's no doubt: Tanner is the best [pitcher] in the country," Batesole said.
"With all due respect to Strasburg, I'd pick Tanner."

Other 'Dogs to watch for on the draft board are junior first baseman Alan Ahmady, who was suspended at the end of the regular season, junior pitcher Matt Morse and senior pitcher Holden Sprague.

Who's the king of the court?

A couple friends and I were sitting around this weekend, somewhat depressed the Diamond 'Dogs weren't back in the Super Regionals, and a little excited the preseason football mags are out.

Then we got to talking about Rafer Alston (aka Skip to My Lou), the Rucker Park streetball legend turned Fresno State point guard under Jerry Tarkanian. Much of the talk on local TV news this week has been how Alston is the first former Bulldog to play in the NBA Finals, as he's starting for the Orlando Magic against the Lakers. (Note: While he didn't play in the Finals, Melvin Ely is proud owner of a championship ring with the San Antonio Spurs a couple years ago).

The question is this:

Which former Fresno State star has had the best NBA career?

--Rafer Alston

--Ron Anderson

--Rod Higgins

--Melvin Ely

--Dominic McGuire

--Courtney Alexander

--Other

A news flash for Kevin Frandsen

Hey Kevin Frandsen, guess what, we don't blame you for despising Fresno State so much. Like many san jose staters (the school doesn't deserve capital lettering), you're jealous of the Bulldogs.

And, in case you forgot, the all-time series between Fresno State and san jose state now stands as:
Bulldogs 147, spartans 70

Enjoy the video of the Red Wave celebrating at your favorite restaurant, just across from the Fresno State campus, Dog House Grill...

Ping! That's the sound of credibility out the window

As if Fresno State fans weren't irked enough over last week's announcement that Tommy Mendonca was a second-team All-America selection, todays Ping! announcement was even more unjustified to the beloved Turlock Tommy.

Both the official All-America team and Ping!Baseball chose Louisville junior third baseman Chris Dominguez first-team, ahead of Fresno State junior third baseman Tommy Mendonca.

Now, consider Dominguez has comparable stats, hitting .359 with 23 homers and 79 RBIs. Mendonca hit .345, 27 homers, 78 RBIs. Although I vehemently disagree with the Dominguez over Mendonca All-America decision (which we'll touch on soon), I can handle the decision. What I can't handle is Ping!Baseball choosing four other guys ahead of Mendonca (Tony Thompson, Joey Bergman, Anthony Rendon and Mark Krauss). Ridiculous I tell ya!

Since when does the reigning College World Series MVP get tossed aside like this? Especially when that reigning MVP had a far higher batting average, more home runs (broke the school career record) and cut his strikeouts down by darn near half? Weird huh?

Here's the X-factor -- Mendonca also happens to be the nation's best defensive third baseman -- drawing such comparisons as a human vacuum and a brick wall on one side of the infield. If it ever rained baseballs, Mendonca would replace tarp as the best way to keep the field clear. Shouldn't that bump him ahead of a guy with generally the same stats?