Fresno State to the MWC? Yes.

UPDATE: Surely you've heard by now, Bulldogs accept bid, Red Wave approves; chip on shoulder just got bigger

Starting last night, all hell has broken loose in WAC/MWC conference realignment.

Bottom line: Fresno State (and nevada) has been extended an offer to join the Mountain West Conference. The Fresno Bee and ESPN television have each reported that Fresno is expected to accept the invitation tonight.

The Bulldog Bounce will have more on the story in the coming days. In the meantime, we've been on top of everything all day via twitter and will continue that trend as news continues to pour in.

Fall Scrimmage Reflections

Why, oh why, Pat Hill, did you decide to close fall camp to the public so soon? We here at the Bounce are bummed about it, but feel confident we saw enough live practice to gain valuable insight into the season (check for our position-by-position breakdowns in the coming days).

As for Saturday's fall scrimmage, there were more takeaways than a Richard Marshall career. And it's tough not to feel optimistic about the effort on display. Check out the categories below...

Give him a 'Dog bone decal now!

• QB Ryan Colburn for leading the offense on a commanding first possession and being the Mr. Encouragement of the team with his "Good job ____" quotes. Oh, and for the crackback block he delivered after a bubble screen to Jamel Hamler despite wearing a yellow jersey so defenders knew not to hit him.
• QB Derek Carr for taking advantage of his late scrimmage snaps by zipping passes in places others can't and being on the money on the bulk of his throws (if only we can get those WRs to hang on to them now...).
• QB Greg Watson for not wearing one of those sissy-looking yellow don't-hit-me jerseys.
• WR Josh Harper for having perhaps his best showing of camp, making the redshirt decision that much more tough on coaches.
• WR Jalen Saunders for burning the heck out of CBs twice on go routes, culminating with a 65-yard TD from Greg Watson (his other burn notice ended in an incompletion when he was underthrown by Ryan Colburn).
• RB Robbie Rouse for being really good at football.
• RB A.J. Ellis for showing he's going to be a heck of a weapon catching passes out of the backfield.
• TE Michael Butler for reeling in a ridiculously good pass from Derek Carr deep downfield in traffic, and holding on after a big hit.
• C Joe Bernardi for making forming a hog circle and making the young linemen dance in front of 1,000 fans during warm-ups.
• G Matt Hunt for easing our worries about next year's starting line.
• DE Tristan Okpalaugo for picking off a pass at scrimmage the way opposing D-linemen used to against Tommy Brandstater (sigh...).
• DT Cornell Banks for being our best hope for a dominant interior lineman.
• LB Pat Su'a for starting and looking the part, making us wonder who the better prospect is between Su'a and Jeremiah Toma (go future Fresno State LB stars!).
• LB Ofa Fifita for reminding us of Dwayne Andrews (he's a beast).
• CB Sean Alston for being possibly the most impressive player of the evening, sticking with giant Victor Dean on the fade-to-the-corner-of-the-end-zone route that works every time and batting the pass away, and then for picking off a pass in zone coverage later on. Alston just might be the most under-the-radar stud of this recruiting class, and showed great progress the past 3-4 days of camp.
• CB Jermaine Thomas for being the team's best CB so much so that the Bulldogs' QBs didn't throw his way all night.
• CB Isaiah Green for turning in a heck of an effort, and being a sure tackler, after being sidelined with a minor injury much of the week.
• S Derron Smith for once again impressing as a true freshman, with a would-be pick 6. And he even got CB Desia Dunn to tweet about him live from the sideline.
• P Andrew Shapiro for booming a 48-yarder with serious hang time after having a punt blocked. Consistency will be key for him.

Fall Camp Notebook '010: Days 7 & 8

Did you notice we added our twitter feed to the right column of this blog? Rad huh?

Quarterbackin'

• Freshman Greg Watson, after eight days of camp, has arguably surpassed Ebahn Feathers' throwing ability already. We like to compare the two because they're similar in stature and skill set. Still, our guess for now is Watson redshirts this year.
• JC transfer Kelly O'Brien is vastly improved from his first several days of camp. The accuracy is starting to come along on intermediate routes and he's throwing a prettier ball (for those of you after the aesthetic appeal).
• Ryan Colburn continues to show poise and has become Mr. Encouragement out there to his teammates. He's got command of the team. That said, Derek Carr is still making throws no one else on the team can, as was the case on a quick snap and throw to the sideline to A.J. Johnson in tight coverage Thursday night.

Here, try on Ryan Mathews' shoes...

• UCLA transfer Milton Knox, who has to sit out this year per the transfer rule, is so quick, so fast and so good that he caused one Bulldog Bouncer to question whether the 'Dogs should consider redshirting Robbie Rouse next season to prevent a mass graduation of RBs after 2012?
• Speaking of Rouse -- he's grabbed the starting job by the reins. Cal transfer Tracy Slocum, who will play this year, continues to get first-team reps, but he hasn't yet shown the big-play ability Rouse and Knox (and even Michael Harris) have. Slocum also needs to work on holding onto the ball (we don't want him getting a case of the Lonyaes on us). On one play Wednesday evening, when Slocum was hit by Lorne Bell and Cornell Banks and fumbled, Banks yelled, "Send his [butt] back to Cal!"
• A.J. Ellis has had a knack for breaking off big plays the past couple days. He seems to be the fourth back right now, but is likely to find a niche in the offense.
• Freshman E.J. Schexnayder was thought to be an immediate playinig time contender, but ball security problems as well as the learning curve may force him to redshirt. Even if coaches want to use him right away, he just doesn't look ready from a toughness perspective, though he did lower the shoulder and deliver a blow in Wednesday's workout.

They are who we THOUGHT they were!

• That's right, Jamel "Melly" Hamler, Devon "Wiggles" Wylie and Rashad "Shad" Evans are without question one of the top two trios of WRs in the WAC. Hamler had too darn many drops Thursday morning and night, but these three are legit. And FAR too many of the "experts" around town forgot how good Evans is.
• Newcomer prediction (you heard it here first): Victor Dean and Jalen Saunders are the top two freshmen candidates to play right away. That's not to say Josh Harper, Davon Dunn and Isaiah Burse aren't ready (they could be too) but the Bulldogs can't dress everyone and it makes more sense to space these talents out. Dean's 6-foot-6 height has tortured the defense in recent days with his ability to go up and get the fade in the corner of the end zone -- it's a lethal advantage for him. And Saunders' performance so far this fall reminds us of the way Rouse burst onto the scene early last camp.

Hey, stop hogging all the pancakes...

• One thing has become glaringly apparent -- Fresno State has to find a backup center who can snap in shotgun. Joey Bernardi is money, but Richard Helepiko, Leslie Cooper and Lars Bramer have struggled with accuracy thus far. That wasn't expected after the strong camp each of them had in spring.
• We're about ready to petition the school to retire Bernardi's jersey after this year. He might not even go to the NFL, but he's off the charts on the Bulldog-Pride-O-Meter.

Hurry, hurry, step right up

• Who's gonna be the D-lineman who steps up and becomes that superstar difference-maker? It's got to be someone if this D is going to turn it around. DE Donnie Pritchett has shown unique quickness and agility for someone his size (think larger Nick Burley). Now, if he can play like Burley, watch out! Pritchett's been taking the lion's share of first-team reps with Chris Lewis sidelined the past couple days.
• The next most likely breakout candidate is DT Anthony Williams, the strongest player on the team and a guy who dominates his opposing lineman regularly in practices.
• Keep an eye on the development of DE Tristan Okpalaugo, who also took a few first-team reps in place of Lewis. He's steadily improving and has added size in the offseason, but it still pretty thin.
• And a big boost might come from a guy who's been around for years. Watching DT Cornell Banks practice, it's hard not to get the feeling he's poised for a breakout (pleasebethenextAlanHarper, pleasebethenextAlanHarper...).
• One thing is for sure. The whole D-line is hustling and vocalizing more than it has since the days of Garrett McIntyre and Brian Morris. That's a good sign, and a lot of it can be attributed to the strong leadership of Chris Carter (who we've decided will now be nicknamed "C Twice").

We go deep...

• Despite what Matt James said in today's Fresno Bee podcast, there is one position on defense where the 'Dogs have tons of depth, and it's linebacker.
• The starters are Ben Jacobs, Kyle Knox and Travis Brown. And of course there's Shawn Plummer with lots of experience and ability to help in passing situations. But as hard as it might be to believe, redshirt freshmen Jeremiah Toma and Pat Su'a are good enough to start. Toma could be the best LB on the team. Then you've got Daniel Salinas, who has a bit of experience and great lateral movement from sideline to sideline, Damion Whittington who had a very strong spring, Sonny McCree who's an experienced reserve and talented newcomers Ofa Fifita (huge) and Lester Fontenette (athletic).

Raise your hand if your like interceptions...

• What are the odds CB Jermaine Thomas has more picks this season (his first as a starter) than all DBs combined did last season? Don't laugh, it's not out of the question. Thomas had five interceptions in three days earlier this week.
• Thomas and L.J. Jones have taken all the first-team reps with Desia Dunn and Isaiah Green sidelined. Green returned to action Thursday night, but don't be surprised to see him as the third or fourth corner.

We're special

• Andrew Shapiro got extensive live punting work and showed capability to boom a couple, but was inconsistent. The hang time is there, but the distance and placement need work.
• Bobby Shepard is big-time as long snapper, but behind him there are question marks. H-back Austin Raphael is the second-stringer but struggled Thursday morning and stayed after practice to put in extra work.

Player from future opponent has head in the clouds

Without knowing the height or weight of the man on the left in the picture above, what is your reaction?

I'm guessing it was something like this, with emphasis on seconds :11-16 ...

His name is Terrell Brown, and he is potentially the ole miss offensive line, but for now, listed only as an offensive tackle. And included in that listing is a height of 6'11" and a weight of 390 pounds.

Brown is a junior college transfer and is supposedly relatively raw still when it comes to football. He will also potentially be in uniform when Fresno State visits The Grove later this season. I'm just hoping he and Robbie Rouse are old elementary school buddies and exchange greetings at some point.

Regardless, it seems pretty clear that there is only one explanation for Brown's mass. Now, I'm no doctor, but it seems as though the only logical explanation is that Brown's mother was presented with two options during her pregnancy -- have twins, or have the twins combined into one giant "twin." Clearly, she opted for the latter.

Another observation, take another look at the picture. Tell me that gatorade cooler in the background couldn't serve as just a cup for him. A quick swig in the mouth, a splash in the face and boom, he's ready to go back onto the field and provide shade for anyone within a 10-foot radius of him.

Happy Gil-mo-my-God indeed.

Fall Camp Notebook '010: Days 5 & 6

Two days. Three practices. Seemingly infinite updates after the first day of full-squad, joint practices...

QB:
Gotta love the vocal leadership and encouragement shown by returning starter Ryan Colburn. Colburn is looking sharp and confident, and it's pretty difficult to see a difference between he and Derek Carr right now (besides speed). JC transfer Kelly O'Brien had a rugged start to camp, but has shown progress in the past few days. While he's still struggling to keep short and intermediate throws off the ground, his deep balls are a plus attribute.

RB:
Cal transfer Tracy Slocum, who's eligible to play right away, is shooting up the depth chart. He's been mixed in first-team reps and is sure to have a role. Michael Harris had some great runs in Tuesday's evening practice, but Robbie Rouse seems like the obvious choice at starter. E.J. Schexnayder has the size to play right away, but has gotten very few reps in game situations and needs to be more careful in how he holds the football. Keep on keepin' an eye on redshirt walk-on FB Dylan Cruz. The guy is huge, has wheels and can catch it out of the backfield.

WR:
At some points on Tuesday, it was difficult to tell the veterans and rookies apart. Freshman Jalen Saunders has quickly separated himself from the pack, showing what could amount to some of the best speed in school history. Despite his skinny frame, Saunders is fast enough to play right now and received some first-team reps Tuesday in certain personnel groupings. He seems to beat at least one corner per day by 10-plus yards on a route. Don't count out Victor Dean from playing as a freshman also. With his 6-foot-6 height, he can go up and get it and be a matchup nightmare for opponents. With Davon Dunn finally cleared to play, it'll be interesting to see if coaches want him in the special teams mix sooner than later. And Isaiah Burse also offers potential in the "tiger" (wildcat) formation. Rashad Evans is the X-factor a lot of preseason prognosticators forgot about -- he's really fast.

TE:
David Gory spent Tuesday on top of the berm doing non-contact rehab work with the rest of the injured players (no word on what happened to him). Ryan Skidmore (surprise, surprise) was involved in the first practice scuffle of the young season, mixing it up with S Phillip Thomas. On Monday, Michael Butler showed solid blocking skills but also faced the wrath of Pat Hill after an unnecessary block behind the ball carrier.

OL:
The highlight of camp over the last two days was C Joey Bernardi's celebration on the first play of 11-on-11s Tuesday. Colburn threw a TD pass and Bernardi ran downfield to celebrate with his WR, screaming and humming the fight song the whole time he was running and while he embraced his teammate. Redshirt freshman C Lars Bramer (Buchanan HS) has struggled a bit with his snaps in camp. His development will be worth keeping an eye on. The second scuffle Tuesday broke out between OL Max Devlin and DL Tyeler Davison, prompting Hill to throw 'em both in the bull ring to go heads up.

DL:
With DE Chris Lewis not dressed out today (limping), JC transfer Donnie Pritchett, who redshirted last season, got first-team work. The Bulldogs could greatly benefit from a young defensive lineman stepping up and shining -- and he's a candidate. Another camp highlight came when Pat Hill did a running chest bump with DT Logan Harrell after a nice play. Interesting to note that Nikko Motta, who's having a strong camp, has taken reps at both DT and DE. Andy Jennings still isn't participating in contact drills.

LB:
Freshman Lester Fontenette did rehab work on the berm during Tuesday's practices. On Monday, one of the great moments in my decade of attending camps happened when LB Kyle Knox and DE Chris Carter called the entire team to circle around on a knee and gave an inspiring, expletive-laced speech about playing hard, focusing and being ready to compete at a high level to beat the boise states and Cincinnatis.

CB:
Jermaine Thomas is proving to be the team's top corner. He's collected five interceptions (yes, five) in the past three days. He makes plays on the ball and stays in position. Thomas and L.J. Jones teamed up with the starting group for part of game situations Tuesday. Young corner Anthony Riggins has blazing speed, but plenty of technique work to do before he's ready to hit the field.

S:
While Zak Hill had no business starting over Phillip Thomas, it's heartbreaking to see him hobbling around Valley Growers Field on crutches with a left knee brace. Our prayers go out to him for a speedy recovery. Justin Webber now gets an increased role and the Bulldogs sorely need him to capitalize. Keep an eye on whether freshman Derron Smith can crack the dress list this year after he had his best day of camp on Tuesday.

K:
Kevin Goessling broke out the stump today, connecting on three straight 52-yard field goals without a rush. Goessling also bombed a 55-yarder with extra room to spare at the start of practice, resulting in special teams coach Pete Alamar losing a bet between the two and having to do 5 push-ups.

Fall Camp Notebook '010: Days 3 & 4

There comes a time where you need to get straight to the point. We've waited long enough for football season, so for today at least, I'm going to put aside my usual style of writing entertainment (reading for you) to give you all the nuts and bolts a hardcore fan desires from his/her team.

While Thursday's opening practice provided more of a methodical introduction to camp, each of Friday's, Saturday's and Sunday's efforts have been increasingly confidence-inducing for fans.

Practice continues to be split into essentially two sessions, bridged in the middle with a collaborative effort between vets and newcomers with special teams work. Continue reading below to learn about practice nuggets and some cumulative thoughts after observing the first 4 fall camp practices.

8/7: 'Dogs beginning to Turn up the Dial

Most of the players are beginning to settle in and become more comfortable with the high-tempo, intense practices that are Fresno State football practices.

Here are some nuggets from Saturday's events:

• Isaiah Burse, Jalen Saunders, Alex Jefferies, Victor Dean and Josh Harper were all head-turners. Each has been a sponge for WR coach Keith Williams, which can only bring good things.

• In both newcomer and vet sessions, the team got extensive work in the wildcat formation. Burse, Milton Knox, Michael Harris, Robbie Rouse, Rashad Evans and more all received reps in their respective sessions.

• At this point, Burse (a high school QB) would appear to present Bulldogs coaches with a tough decision on whether or not to dress for games this year. He runs solid routes, has showed good hands and has made several quality throws to his fellow receivers out of the wildcat formation, the latter of which may be his most valuable asset at this point. He has also taken frequent reps as a return man during special teams work.

• Zak Hill made several standout plays in 11-on-11s. Hill made a diving, arms fully-outstretched interception of a pressured Ryan Colburn, followed up by a nice read and tackle on an outside handoff.That being said, Hill continues to get beat deeper in the secondary, especially in 1-on-1 situations. Many times, the culprit on the offensive side has been WR Matt Lindsey.

• Kyle Knox made his presence felt as well, squaring up a few guys in "tag off" situations and simply out-muscling a couple of the offensive skill players while stripping the ball on a couple of plays.

8/8: Another practice applauded, 'Dogs tuned up for debut of full pads

For the second consecutive day, the vets ended practice minutes earlier than the planned agenda called for. It should please you to know that is has been due to an in-shape team practicing with a good tempo and great efficiency.

In fact, Sunday's practice ended with an impressive amount of effort, inspired by a quick team huddle with a few words on behalf of Pat Hill before the final 10 plays. Hill urged his team to finish strong and push themselves to new limits when they felt they were tiring.

Here are some nuggets from today's events:

• It was heartbreaking to see and hear Zak Hill clutch his knee in pain during an 11-on-11 play today. Hill's left knee was motionless as he grabbed it and yelled audibly from across the field. Hill was eventually helped up and used crutches to make his way to a cart, where he was lifted on with assistance and without ever putting any pressure on the leg. Hill had been the first-team SS in each of the teams' first four practices.

• TE Michael Butler performed well in half-line running game work. One of Butler's most impressive plays was a block on the edge of the line that included a loud collision, followed by coaches praise.

• FBs Dylan Cruz and Austin Raphael also earned quite a bit of praise today for both high-impact blocks and blitz pick-ups.

• Jermaine Thomas made a jump-out-of-your-seat interception on a Ryan Colburn pass that was intended for Jamel Hamler in the back of the endzone. Thomas was initially beaten on a beautiful fake corner post route by Melly before showing tremendous recovery speed to cut in front of Hamler, make a leaping deflection of the ball, return to his feet, make a 180 degree turn and secure the interception.

• In the newcomers session, Victor Dean made a leaping, hands-over-head reception over a CB while getting tackled to the ground. Dean earned cheers from his veteran teammates stretching on top of the berm above the field.

• Jalen Saunders had the highlight of the day, however, when he ended the newcomers session with a touchdown catch in the very same corner as Dean. Saunders ran a corner route of his own, turned, and skied for a ball well above him. As he grasped the ball, Saunders was well up in the air and almost parallel to the ground, hands stretched out above his head, before gravity took over and his heels dragged behind on the grass below for a touchdown. His veteran teammates once again erupted in approval before taking the field.

• Tracy Slocum, much as I expected, is a pretty complete back. Slocum always takes quality reps in every drill and has initiated loud collisions on some runs and shown impressive elusiveness on others. He will add definite value to the depth of running backs.

• Defensive end Donnie Pritchett busted through for a sack on QB Derek Carr today. Pritchett has been steady throughout camp, but has yet to really standout until today.

• True frosh DT Tyeler Davison has looked slow and sloppy in defensive line agility drills. However, in half-line work today, Davison showed great strength and controlled the line of scrimmage on several occasions.

• True frosh RB E.J. Schexnayder injured his ankle early in practice Saturday, but played through it. Schexnayder spent Sunday rehabbing the ankle, though, and appeared to struggle through it. It took quite a bit of trainer motivation to end his claims that he couldn't make it through the session. It would be nice if Schexnayder can work through this like a Bulldog, because he has very nice size to be an effective RB, if only in short yardage situations.

Digesting the thoughts after 4 days:

When you've watched fall practice on a daily basis for year after year after year, you tend to notice certain trends, routines, styles and vibes. This applies to trainers, videotape collectors, coaches, players and well, you get the picture.

There is a reason for prefacing with that last graph. For whatever reason, it has become smack-in-the-face obvious that the initial practice personality of this team (through 4 days) is different than any other to date. As mentioned earlier, the team has completed each of its first two half pad practice sessions with great tempo and efficiency, resulting in practice ending minutes earlier than scheduled. There has been far less joking between players, much fewer wasted reps and an overall focus and intensity that really has been absent in many Fresno State teams within the past decade.

And now for more nuggets and thoughts from the first 4 days of practice:

• Linebacker Mario Moore has been impossible not to notice in pass coverage during newcomer sessions. He routinely jumps routes, bats down passes and has at least two interceptions in live situations.

• Many players are donning the relatively new Revolution Speed helmets, made by Riddell. Players such as Ben Jacobs, Travis Brown, Phillip Thomas and more have upgraded to latest model of football helmet technology.

• True freshman Andrew Gustafson, an offensive lineman from Arizona, has the prototypical body type for his left tackle position. Gustafson has also shown an unexpected mean streak in practice and is grasping his new role very quickly.

• JC transfer QB Kelly O'Brien is very tall (6'6") and very skinny. He possesses a very thin, wiry frame in addition to an awkward throwing motion. O'Brien appears to almost shot put the ball out of his ear. On out throws and throws at about 12 yards or less, O'Brien has the tendency to throw the ball very low with a downward trajectory. That being said, he has showed improvement early in his Bulldogs career, and throws a decent ball downfield. He is definitely still adjusting to the skill and speed of the Division I level, however.

• On day 2 of camp, Matt Lindsey showed up to the field in a new jersey number -- 2. But that has been the least of the headlines he has made. The young receiver out of Clovis High School has showed immense progress from the last time we saw him, enough so that he might push for some time on the field this year. Lindsey already had been a very good route runner and possesses great hands, but his acceleration and explosiveness after the catch has come as an eye-opener, considering the extent to which he has improved.

• Tracy Slocum never takes a rep off, and he appears to be earning the respect of his new teammates rather quickly because of it. Slocum initiates loud contact on tough inside runs while maintaining great balance, but also shows great quickness on slashes through the line and elusiveness in 1-on-1 situations. Slocum has also made several solid blitz pick-ups and received praise from both teammates and coaches in that area.

• An under-the-radar presence in this camp has been Justin Webber. Yes he is shorter that your typical safety, but he is a tough, smart player that will not hurt the team. Webber is more athletic than he has been given credit for and is constantly locked in on his assignment. Webber is currently working with the vets as the 2nd string free safety behind Lorne Bell. It will be interesting to see how his role is affected by the recent injury to Zak Hill.

• Last season, Jermaine Thomas made arguably the most impressive interception by a Fresno State defensive back during his late-game action at home against san jose state. Seeing him apply his abilities in a game situation only reaffirmed my view of him as the best cornerback in the Fresno State defensive backfield. He is outstanding in man press situations, has great closing speed and has a great instinct for making a play on the ball. Offensive skill players have told me "you're done" when he gets his hands on you.

• Offensive lineman Trevor Richter has moved to the guard spot this season. In previous seasons, Richter had worked out mostly at the tackle spot, but has since been getting work at both the left and right guard positions. His move may be partly due to theemergence of Marcel Jensen as a tackle.

• Speaking of Marcel Jensen, the former defensive lineman turned offensive tackle appears to be getting comfortable in his new spot. Jensen, who also had a lower leg injury to recover from, seems fully healthy and has shown a newfound strength and athletic ability to go with a fantastic frame (6'6" 260-270ish) for his position.

• It would be nearly impossible to pinpoint any one individual at wide receiver in the newcomer group. Jalen Saunders has shown dynamic, game-breaking speed and fits the mold of Devon Wylie. Victor Dean has been the slowest to acclimate to Coach Dub's outstanding route running teaching, but only because the rest are picking it up so quickly. That being said, Dean is a tall (6'6") receiver with pretty sticky hands and can definitely go up and get the ball. Josh Harper has looked impressive from the get-go, but has yet to make the spectacular play. Isaiah Burse is yet another true with well-rounded receiving abilities and is a big-play threat every down. Alex Jefferies is developing extremely quickly and has been arguably the most impressive in drill situations.

• In the TMI realm comes the debut of some new performance shorts the guys are sporting. The new Nike Pro Combat football short has made its way into the locker room, and appears to be widely accepted, after over-hearing Pat Hill's confirmation with team veterans.

• Nikko Motta doesn't appear to have the size you would expect from a defensive tackle (yet), but he has shown an ability to get into the backfield and generally be disruptive from his position. He has played with a great motor and is easily a defensive lineman to keep tabs on.

• Lorne Bell has displayed a noticeable improvement in his ability to change direction in coverage. Bell has often been a blanket in 1-on-1 coverage situations and has broken up several passes in addition to an interception.

• Derron Smith is becoming noticeably more comfortable and confident at his safety position while working with the newcomers. He is among the most active in the secondary and pushed the limits of half-pad physicality by laying several hits to players on the offensive side of the ball. If his rapid improvement continues, it will be interesting to see where he lands on the depth chart, given Zak Hill's injury is as serious as expected.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to get interactive as well on twitter, where we're always available at twitter.com/BulldogBounce.

Fall Camp Notebook '010: Day 2

A much better looking performance by the 'Dogs at Valley Growers field today. Lots of news & notes that are blog-worthy, but in the interest of keeping your interest, we'll focus on the newcomers and less experienced players...

QB: Kelly O'Brien displayed a unique arm motion that appears almost like a shotput (which wasn't as clear watching his JC film), and again had trouble throwing passes into the ground in front of his targets. He did show the ability to throw deep, but the accuracy hasn't been there just yet in drills. He was also picked off on a nice play by LB Mario Moore cutting underneath. Greg Watson had a chance at an early touchdown in drills but underthrew his target and got picked off by S Ed Dillihunt.


RB: UCLA transfer Milton Knox showed up and worked out with the veterans today (wearing jersey No. 20). Knox is built in a similar mold to likely starter Robbie Rouse, but won't be eligible until the 2011 season. Freshman walk-on FB Tim House (6-3, 240) is one to keep an eye on as camp progresses. On high school film, House showed great power, tackle breaking and ball carrying ability. He likely won't carry the rock at Fresno State, but could develop into a high-level FB. Especially when keeping in mind how Pat Hill and Co. always seem to dig up talent at the position.

WR: A MUCH better day today with far less dropped passes. Coach Keith Williams was in his element teaching technique and motivating. The crisp route running and cuts of Isaiah Burse, coupled with his tools to play "alien" QB, makes him an immediate playing time candidate as a true freshman. Josh Harper still looks the most physically ready to play right away, and Jalen Saunders got a chance to show just how speedy he is in 7-on-7 drills burning cornerbacks.

TE: It'll be interesting to keep an eye on David Gory and Michael Butler to see who emerges as the team's top blocking tight end. That title could also belong to Tapa Taumoepeau, but he'll need to show drastic improvement from a season ago.

OL: Freshman Mariposa product Cody Wichmann (6-5, 275) dressed for the first time today, getting work along with fellow newcomer Andrew Gustafson (6-6, 270). Both are likely to redshirt with all the depth at the position.

DL: It's tough to tell a ton from non-contact drills, but Matt Akers (6-2, 225) was competing at a higher level for much of the morning. The problem is still his lack of size. Redshirt freshmen Ben Letcher, Nikko Motta and Tristan Okpalaugo also turned in strong repetitions. Okpalaugo looks to have added a lot of size to his previously rail-thin frame.

LB: More than any other position, it's a mystery how all the young talent will unfold. With three experienced starters, there will be a battle for playing time between Jeremiah Toma, Daniel Salinas, Damion Whittington, Pat Su'a and true freshmen Ofa Fifita and Lester Fontenette.

DB: Redshirt freshman Erik Brown was exploited in coverage today by true freshmen receivers. His redshirt counterpart J.B. Dock fared better. S Ed Dillihunt had a nice play on the interception, but in 7-on-7 drills stood on the sideline while Terrence Dennis and true freshman Derron Smith took reps. True freshman CB Anthony Riggins also was burned on a couple routes.

Fall Camp Notebook '010: Day 1

First of all, let me just start off by saying, "WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" It's college football time! And now for our regularly scheduled Fresno State camp breakdown...

Unfortunately, today was the most disappointing practice I've seen in years. The guys need to step it up and show some character tomorrow.

QB: Maybe the most disappointing position of all. Two guys return who we know are very capable in Ryan Colburn and Derek Carr. Neither were particulary "on" today, with Colburn overthrowing guys and Carr getting picked off in 1-on-1 drills. We know they'll look better soon, but the scary part was the backups. If Carr is going to redshirt this season, a capable No. 2 must emerge. Today, it was walk-on Tyler Stirewalt who looked most capable. Lauded JC transfer Kelly O'Brien, tall and lanky son of former Jets star Ken O'Brien, showed messy footwork and a propensity to throw into the ground. True freshman Greg Watson showed quick footwork, but struggled with accuracy (bringing back memories of now-departed Ebahn Feathers).

RB: It was great to see senior Cal transfer Tracy Slocum (Clovis East HS) dressed and competing in jersey No. 22. The next most noticeable thing was the impressive size of true freshman Emery Schexnayder -- he's big. It's tough to imagine Schexnayder won't get looks this season in short-yardage situations. Walk-on fullback Dylan Cruz, who redshirted last season, showed off tailback-esque footwork in agility drills.

WR: The wideouts presented another messy situation. With so many of last years standouts gone, possibility the most talented crop of freshmen in school history arrived. But they've got work to do. Dropped passes were the name of the game all morning for newcomers and vets alike. The two brightest spots were likely greyshirt freshman Alex Jefferies and Devon Wylie. Jamel Hamler and Victor Dean didn't get a ton of balls thrown their way. True freshman Josh Harper looks more game-ready than any of the newcomers, but had a bad drop. And, as reported by Guy Haberman, Davon Dunn had a clearinghouse issue and isn't expected to participate until sometime the next couple days.

TE: With Pete Alamar replacing John Baxter as assistant coach, expect to see a whole lot more of Ryan Skidmore -- sure to be a welcome target for the quarterbacks.

OL: The usual suspects all return and will be the team's strength. Only glaring mistake of the day was a Lars Bramer snap over the QB's head.

DL: Happy to learn of Nebraska transfer DT Quintin Toailoa -- keep an eye on him in the coming days. DE Matt Akers seems to be dropping on the depth chart, while redshirt freshman Nat Harrison is on the rise. DT Mark Roberts also got second-team reps today, after falling to third team last season.

LB: Loaded with depth and talent. Surprised to see Daniel Salinas, who had solid experience as a true freshman last season, working out with the newcomers in the morning. He's got starter potential in the next two years, as does Jeremiah Toma. Toma is still getting plenty of first-team MLB reps, swapping in and out with Ben Jacobs.

DB: 1-on-1s showed several highlights, including Desia Dunn running step for step with Jamel Hamler to bat down a corner route. Lorne Bell picked off Derek Carr on a poor route run by Matt Lindsey (who's now wearing No. 2). Defensive coordinator Randy Stewart singled out L.J. Jones after a couple mistakes, likely picking on him because he's got such huge upside. But by far the biggest head-scratcher of the day was Zak Hill getting first-team reps, while Phillip Thomas took second team (note to coaches: that's a horrible gameplan). Thomas showed he can line up at corner in nickel packages during spring camp.

Here's the deal and ... welcome back, welcome back, welcome back

Although there has arguably been enough time since our last blog to require a re-introduction of who we are and what we do, we're going to go ahead and pretend that's not the case, brush it under the proverbial rug and just welcome you back.

And just like that, the time has come. Your last night of sleeplessness and Fresno State football withdrawals is upon you.

When morning hits, the 2010-11 version of the Pat Hill-led Fresno State football team will take the field for what will be day 2 of 100 degree "fall camp." Day 1 sort of sneaks by under the radar with paperwork, drug testing, equipment fitting and other go-through-the-motions fillers.

Day 2, however, consists of everything you've been craving and more. Here are your vitals for day 2 of camp:

• Start time: 9 a.m. (True freshman and underclassmen and/or guys who haven't seen the field yet)
• Start time 2: Approx. 10:45 (Veterans and guys atop the depth chart)
• Location: Valley Growers Field
• Bathrooms: Just pee on the fence
• Snacks: Bring your beverages and snacks

And now for the here's the deal part ...

As the ultimate cravers of Fresno State-related news, we've felt your pain. Going a day in-season or out of season without Fresno State football, baseball, basketball, etc. news just leaves an empty space in your heart.

So while we've been out of touch with you readers for longer than we'd like, we're hoping that the eventual finish line to where we would like to be will result in empty space-less-ness for us all.

As was first hinted in the most recent (if you can still call it that) entry by FSDogs1, we here at The Bounce are in the midst of some big-time modifications. While we would have like to have been unpacked, revealed and full speed ahead into this season with the mods already completed, it just wasn't in the cards.

Therefore, we've decided to try and commit to producing consistent blogs throughout the season, all the while working behind the scenes to try and complete our master plan. So don't be surprised if you log on one day and things look a bit different around here. The timeline isn't set in stone.

So for those of you who know what we deliver in our blogs, you already know. For those of you who don't, you've stumbled upon the right place.

Out with the old, in with the Spring Camp

We apologize, oh loyal readers, for the huge gap since our last blog post. The blog is currently undergoing a makeover with improvements planned for the fall. However, the start of Fresno State football Spring Camp is just too fun to ignore.

During the blog makeover, don't forget you can follow our micro-blogs on the BulldogBounce twitter page. We've been out in force for the first three days of spring practice and we're sharing the knowledge below:

• QB: Despite getting picked today in drills, Derek Carr has outplayed Ryan Colburn (a pretty unanimous thought amongst those at the Bounce). Colburn had some nice, crisp throws toward the sideline today in 11-on-11s, but Carr was on fire hitting wideouts for TDs in the back of the end zone on touch passes. In Friday's 11-on-11s, Colburn was picked off on a nice play by Jermaine Thomas before Carr nailed A.J. Johnson in blanket coverage for a TD. Makes us wonder if the coaches really will consider starting the guy who plays the best in practice...? Oh, and Kelly O'Brien, the incoming JC recruit, is incredibly skinny.
  
• RB: It looks like a two-'Dog race for the starting job between Robbie Rouse and Mike Harris, who looks bigger and faster than last season and has been flatout making plays. A.J. Ellis seems a distant third, but did have an eye-popping TD on a screen pass he took down the sideline, outrunning the defense to the end zone. That said, don't count out Cal transfer Tracy Slocum (formerly of Clovis East), who has been watching practices this week -- Bulldog Bounce first broke news months ago when we heard talk of Slocum transferring in, and now it looks to be true. And it wouldn't make sense for the 'Dogs to bring in a guy with just one year of eligibility remaining unless they think he can factor in right away.
  
• FB: Former LB/former TE Austin Raphael is working out at fullback now, with preferred walk-on Dylan Cruz as the competition.
  
• WR: It's the usual suspects (Devon Wylie and Jamel Hamler) doing big-time damage. This offense is just unreal in the open field, and Rashad Evans is healthy again and shiftier than ever. Not enough people realize yet the type of WR A.J. Johnson could be, and Alex Jefferies was looking like a potential weapon too until he got a little banged up Friday and was sidelined today. J.J. Stallworth continues to have trouble holding on to passes.
  
• TE: Great to see David Gory healthy and catching passes, wouldn't be surprised to see him end up starting. Ryan Skidmore is still a great receiving target, but his blocking isn't there yet. Hopefully they're working on blocking assignments with Tapa too after the debacle in last year's bowl game. Michael Butler had a nice catch on a pass from Carr on Friday.
  
• OL: With the whole starting crew back, we know what to expect. Andrew Jackson is really, really good. Devan Cunningham has shown a lot of growth the past couple years and Kenny Wiggins should turn in another All-WAC season. So far though, Joey Bernardi might be having the most impressive spring. Reserve C Douglas Spacht, who frustrated with his lack of development the past couple years, is nowhere to be seen (shouldn't be a big loss). Richard Helepiko and Lars Bramer are competing for the backup center spot. Bramer's added some size, but both are works in progress right now. Marcel Jensen is getting second-team reps at left tackle.
  
• DL: Interesting to see Ibe Nduke moved to D-end (body type, around 6-foot, seems more suited for the FB switch we expected last season). By sight, Donnie Pritchett brings back memories of Nick Burley (only larger). Pritchett is taking second-team reps at D-end. Chris Lewis has wowed at times with his quickness off the ball and disrupted several plays over the first three days of camp. Young DT Andy Jennings has progressed much quicker than expected, stood out in individual drills today while matched up with Max Devlin and received praise from Pat Hill for breaking up a running play in 11-on-11s. Look for a bigger Logan Harrell and quicker Mark Roberts. Chris Carter still seems to be in a league of his own though.
  
• LB: Most interesting thing of camp so far has been seeing Jeremiah Toma getting first-team reps at MLB alongside Travis Brown and Kyle Knox. On multiple days, Toma has been inserted in place of Ben Jacobs on the second series run by the first-stringers. Daniel Salinas and Damion Whittington have also seen reserve reps at MLB.
  
• CB: Desia Dunn and Isiah Green are getting first-team reps, with L.J. Jones and Jermaine Thomas second-team. That said, Thomas and Jones might end up being the team's best corners and the position should be an upgrade from last year.
  
• S: As expected, Lorne Bell and Phillip Thomas are working first-string. With Terrence Dennis injured, Zak Hill and Justin Webber are second-team (at least until the newcomers join in the fall). Hill remains a huge liability for the defense, but Webber has made a couple nice plays.

If you were Mike Batesole for a day...

How would you pencil in Fresno State's opening day starting lineup? The Diamond 'Dogs take the field against Nebraska at 6:05 p.m. Friday in Game 1 of a four-game series.

Is this the best lineup coach Mike Batesole can run out there? Or would you like to see the order flip-flopped, positions flip-flopped or starters swapped? Here's what we're likely to get Friday night:

1. LF Bobby Coyle, L
2. 3B Garrett Weber, R
3. 2B Danny Muno, S
4. CF Dusty Robinson, R
5. RF Brennan Gowens, L
6. 1B Jordan Ribera, L
7. DH Kenny Wise, L
8. C Trent Garrison, L
9. SS Isaac Vivas, R

Starting pitcher: RHP Derek Benny

Bulldog Stadium leaves lasting memory with Wisconsin standout

So what's Wisconsin safety Chris Maragos' favorite place to play on the road?

Penn State? Nope. Michigan? Nope. Ohio State? Nope. You can find the answer in this excerpt of this story from the Badger Herald student newspaper:

Chris Maragos: Camp Randall Stadium. You can’t beat Camp Randall, but if I had to say an away game, because I’m biased toward Camp Randall, I have to say — you see, I didn’t go to Penn State, so that’s one stadium I haven’t seen — Michigan was just average I thought, Ohio State was pretty cool, that was definitely a cool one. But I’ll tell you this, though, when we went and played Fresno State last year, that was crazy.

Their fans were so nuts, we’re coming out and their fans were like on the cages banging it and stuff, ripping over the security guards and barking at us. It was intense; that’s probably the rowdiest I’ve ever seen.

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

20 wins for 'Dogs hoops team?

Don't laugh. If Fresno State's 87-77 shellacking of Nevada wasn't enough to show these young pups can beat anyone in the WAC on a given night, then Thursday's 83-64 win over first-place New Mexico State certainly proved just that.

Now, if they could just add consistency to the mix. It's a marvel how a Bulldogs team that scored just 49 points in Boise a couple weeks ago and only 43 against Utah State can turn around and dump 83 on a New Mexico State squad that stayed in a trapping full-court press the whole night. But that's what the 'Dogs did behind Paul George's career-high 30 points in his first game back from injury.

Suddenly Fresno State has improved to 13-12, 6-5 WAC, with seven games remaining. So is 20 wins out of the question? Heck no. If the Bulldogs simply take care of business at home that gives them 17 wins. Winning out would give them 20 in the regular season. That's not counting WAC tournament play.

But what's realistic for this team? What will it take to win 20 games? How high can this group finish in the WAC standings? Are they even a threat to (gasp) win the WAC tourney and go to the Big Dance ... ?

Fresno State of Affairs: Running Backs

It's never too soon to look ahead to next year -- especially when us Bulldog Bouncers are always thinking years in advance when it comes to Fresno State football. So we'll examine each position, whether fans can expect an improvement or a drop off next year and touch on the up and comers. As always, we encourage your opinions as well.

Key Losses: Ryan Mathews, Lonyae Miller, Anthony Hardng, Jamaal Rashad

Fresno State of Affairs 2010: Large drop off

Not to say there will be a lack of talent in the 2010 Fresno State backfield -- that's almost never the case with the Bulldogs running attack -- but any time a team loses a player of Ryan Mathews, there's going to be a drop off. Mathews declared a year early for the NFL Draft after rushing for a school single-season record 1,808 yards (6.6 per carry) and 19 touchdowns (nation-best 150.7 yards per game). Couple that with the departure of Lonyae Miller and Anthony Harding and the Bulldogs lose 6,766 career yards and 70 touchdowns.

The most experienced back attempting to replace that prolific trio will be sophomore Robbie Rouse (5-7, 185), a strong, quick, elusive back who used his lack of height as a leverage advantage on his way to 479 yards and 4 touchdowns as a true freshman (5.8 yards per carry). Though he's by far the most seasoned returnee, some still question whether Rouse can carry the workload, or if he's better suited to be a change-of-pace guy. Rouse will be pushed for starting duties by sophomores Mike Harris (5-11, 200) and A.J. Ellis (5-11, 180).

Harris is likely to give the biggest push, as he fits the featured back mold more than the slimmer, shifty Ellis, who was recruited two years ago with thoughts of replacing Clifton Smith (Buccaneers). Both redshirted their first year in the program, but Harris shined in last year's Spring Game, breaking off the day's biggest run. Harris had 12 carries for 26 yards this season, while Ellis had 2 carries for 7 yards. Both are sure to see a big increase in workload this year. Harris appeared to have jumped past Ellis on the depth chart this past fall, but Ellis will get plenty of chances to prove himself.

If you're looking for excuses to go out to spring practice and fall camp in the coming months, watching the competition between those three will be fascinating. During the fall, look out for two incoming freshmen who have already given verbal commitments to join the Bulldogs next year, in Leslie Rogers (6-1, 180) out of Point Loma Senior High-San Diego (video) and Emery Schexnayder (5-11, 210) of North High-Riverside. Both look to have a high ceiling on high school film, with Rogers displaying a running style similar to Mathews' hit-the-hole-and-go mentality and Schexnayder showing an even more physical style with size similar to Miller's.

Point guard help in the Bulldogs' own back yard?

Longtime Fresno Bee writer Andy Boogaard says in his blog that Clovis East High's Robert Sandoval would start at point guard for Fresno State today. He's that talented, Boogaard writes.

Recruitniks have heard about Clovis East's point man for more than a year, but is he the guy to come in and turn this program in the right direction? And is he really better than sophomore Steven Shepp, a JC transfer from Allegany College in Maryland who as of this past Saturday was the WAC's leader in assists with 5 per game?

In the comments section on Boogaard's blog, he says, yes, Sandoval is better. Actually, he worded it, "To repeat: Sandoval starts for the Bulldogs today." Question is, how familiar is Boogaard with Shepp?

Have you seen both Sandoval and Shepp play? What do you think?

Fresno State of Affairs: Quarterbacks

It's never too soon to look ahead to next year -- especially when us Bulldog Bouncers are always thinking years in advance when it comes to Fresno State football. So we'll examine each position, whether fans can expect an improvement or a drop off next year and touch on the up and comers. As always, we encourage your opinions as well.

Key Losses: None
Fresno State of Affairs 2010: Slightly Improved

Once again this will be the most magnified position at Fresno State in the offseason. But this year it won't be because there's no experienced starter -- it'll be because people are questioning whether the incumbent is a better starting choice than the much ballyhooed youngster? And whoever does get the nod will have more responsibility now that Ryan Mathews is headed to the NFL, and the Bulldogs will be less reliable on the run.

Senior Ryan Colburn (6-3, 220) started all 13 games for the Bulldogs in 2009, throwing for 2,459 yards and 19 touchdowns while completing 61% of his passes. The one downside -- and it's a big one -- were his nine interceptions, many of which came at the most inopportune times. Namely, there was the double overtime pick that cost the Bulldogs a win at Wisconsin, the game-opening pick-six against Boise State and the pick near the 5-yard line that ended a go-ahead drive at Cincinnati. As a second-year starter though, it's likely Colburn will improve his decision making and ball security. Taking that into consideration, Colburn still proved to be an upgrade from Tom Brandstater the previous three seasons. Colburn's competitive spirit, leadership and presence among teammates makes him an ideal leader. But the question remains, is there an even better option waiting in the wings?

It's now clear that all the hype about Derek Carr (6-3, 190) during his true freshman season was merited. While Carr got few opportunities to prove himself in game situations (especially late in the year), he displayed more tools and ability than any other quarterback on the roster in fall camp. Carr finished the season having completed 10 of 14 passes (two of which were drops) for a 71% completion percentage and a total of 112 yards in five games. It's unfortunate he didn't get more live game looks, because now Colburn has the decided experience advantage and it would be tough to justify starting over developing a quarterback. Still, Carr can be expected to develop quicker than the average prospect -- he's a special talent. And even if he's not the starter again in 2010, it'll be fascinating to see how coach Pat Hill handles his situation (please Hill, if you're not going to start Carr, redshirt him so he can start the next three years instead of two).

The X-factor of the group remains in sophomore Ebahn Feathers (6-0, 210), who has now become somewhat of a mystery regarding his status in the program. The most attentive fans noticed he wasn't on the sidelines for the home finale win over Louisiana Tech or the road finale win at Illinois. Word on local radio shows was that Feathers had some personal matters to take care of, and he said on 1430 ESPN it wasn't a matter of grades. However, Feathers did dress for the New Mexico Bowl, but didn't play. Assuming he's back at the quarterback position next season (we have no reason to believe otherwise right now), Feathers still poses a huge threat as a runner, but needs to prove how bad he wants playing time by putting in the offseason work on his passing skills. Feathers played in seven games in his first season of action, running for 57 yards (5.2 per carry) and a touchdown and passing for 7 yards and a score while completing 2 of 3 attempts.

In the two games Feathers didn't dress, he was replaced on the sideline by walk-on Tyler Stirewalt (6-1, 190), who saw no action. Stirewalt isn't likely to see playing time unless an emergency situation comes up, but did show he can hold his own against the scout team during the Spring Game.

Rounding out the depth chart looks like it will be verbal commitment Marcus McDade (6-3, 195) out of St. Mary's High in Stockton (it won't be official until he signs on National Letter of Intent Day Feb. 3). McDade was rated by one scouting service as the fifth strongest high school arm in the country (see video). It would be ideal for the Bulldogs, and for McDade, if he greyshirted this year, redshirted in 2011 and then had two or three years to potentially start once Carr graduates.

Bozo State gets Paul Georged

With the adrenaline of Fresno State's 71-68 come-from-behind, WAC-opening win tonight against Boise State still lingering, I present my keys to a successful Bulldogs men's basketball campaign.

Tonight's game in front of nearly 8,000 fans was a nail-biter pretty much from tip off to final buzzer. And for a while, it looked like the Potato People were going to sneak out of the Save Mart Center with a win (not a common thing for Boise State). But the Bulldogs -- namely Paul George -- were clutch in the final minute as George completed two straight 3-point plays. Fresno State will need the clutch magic, as the parity-stricken WAC is set for a tough, hard-fought, gritty conference season. Here's what it'll take for the 'Dogs to stay in the WAC race:

Paul George: It's no secret George is considered lottery-pick material, but so far in his career the sophomore hasn't proven that he can consistently take over games. Even tonight he started 0 for 6 from the field before finishing 5 of 11 with 21 points. Fresno State needs George to reach a new plateau, where he's leading the team in scoring most every night and taking and hitting the biggest shots. And he had zero turnovers against Boise State, a huge step in the right direction for someone who's been bothered by turnovers all year.

Sylvester Seay: Seay played beautifully in the WAC opener, with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Most importantly, he wasn't forcing shots and playing 1-on-1 in situations that took his teammates out of the mix. Seay's had a tendency to do that in earlier games, and also a tendency to complain and blame others when things go wrong. A better attitude from Seay will only grow this team closer -- and there's no excuse for the team's only senior not providing that leadership.

Greg Smith: The freshman isn't quite a sensation yet, but he will be as soon as he becomes an imposing defender. The ineffectiveness of Boise State's big men are a credit to what a difference-maker Smith is already, but he's not a fear-inducing defender yet. And he certainly has the potential to be.

Mychal Ladd: It's no coincidence that when Ladd scores points, the Bulldogs are tough to beat. Ladd had 18 tonight and was on fire from downtown again. The Bulldogs need at least one of their guards scoring to keep defenses honest against the three bigs inside. Ladd creates one too many worries for opposing defenses.

Steven Shepp: Shepp to My Lou has developed nicely since the first few games of the season when he was plagued by turnovers. He's since turned himself into the WAC's leading assist man, and showed a sweet stroke from well beyond NBA rang on the perimeter. Steve Cleveland says Shepp is the team's best shooter and he needs to capitalize on more opportunities to prove it. If he can develop his penetrating game (both finishing and kicking out to open shooters) it will go a long way in solving the Bulldogs' offense woes.

Bench: There is basically no bench production offensively right now. That's a huge problem, and one that only a few guys are capable of fixing. The most promising change might be giving freshman Garrett Johnson more minutes than sophomore Brandon Sperling. Sperling has been a huge liability with his poor ball-handling and 3-point shooting -- Johnson at least deserves a chance to show if he can be an upgrade. Both get after it on defense, but Johnson is also stronger. Ned Golubovich has been hindered by hand/wrist injuries and won't be effective until he's recovered -- especially since he's still nowhere near the level of aggression he needs to be to turn into a solid rebounder and role player. Right now, he essentially is a role player without a role. "The Governor" Jerry Brown Jr. brings added intensity when he's on the floor, but still doesn't look completely comfortable in the offense. Big man Brandon Webster has seen very little playing time recently, but is making the most of his opportunities with much improved effort and aggression. He could be helpful against teams like Louisiana Tech with bigs the 'Dogs need to keep out of the paint.

Fresno State gifts for Christmas?

This time of year we always see a ton of lists with the best sports moments of the past year and biggest stories of year, etc. So let's put a little twist on our list -- Bulldog Bounce style!

Did you receive any Fresno State-related gifts for Christmas? If so, what were they?

Me? I got a red Fresno State T-shirt from a buddy, a Fresno State hat, BBQ sauce and table coasters from good ol' Mom and of course the wonderful $50 gift certificate to the Bulldog Shop from the mother-in-law. Oh, and of course that ever-so-special 12 x 18 print of Ryan Mathews leaping over a ucla defender in last season's Bulldogs' win (thanks photographer buddy of mine)!

Did Ryan Mathews make the right decision?

The Fresno Bee followed a report by ESPN that star Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews is declaring a year early to the NFL.

Was it the best decision for Mathews? Did he have anything left to prove at Fresno State? Will the money be too much to pass up? What round will he go in during April's NFL Draft?