When highlighting the key early season games in the Pacific-10 Conference, one prominent preseason magazine selected Oregon at Fresno State, noting that it’s “never a good thing when the Pac-10 visits the Central Valley.”
In fact, it hardly ever turns out well for any visiting team at Bulldog Stadium. Fresno State owns a 128-30-2 home record since 1980 and a 43-8 record since 1997.
The wins haven’t just come at the expense of the Bulldog’s Western Athletic Conference opponents, either. During that stretch, Fresno State recorded wins against Colorado State, California and two against Oregon State. On the road in recent years and in bowl games the Bulldogs have defeated the likes of Wisconsin, Colorado, Washington, Kansas State, UCLA, Georgia Tech and Virginia to become one of the most feared mid-major conference teams in the nation.
Fresno State is 18-26 all-time against Pac-10 teams and 18-18 since 1980.
A big reason for the home success is the atmosphere created at Bulldog Stadium. Though not a relatively large stadium at 41,031 capacity, it’s a hostile environment nonetheless. Following Oregon State’s 44-24 loss in 2001, Beavers’ players and coaches were vocal about the unruly fans who, among other things, threw objects at the Beavers’ sidelines prompting then-coach Dennis Erickson to declare that the program would not make a return trip to Fresno. They did return in 2003, though, and lost again 16-14.
“I know Fresno’s a tough place to play,” Bellotti said. “I know some schools will not go in there. But I think we’re pretty much a mirror of (Bulldog) coach (Pat) Hill’s philosophy: We can play
anyone, anywhere anytime.”
Fresno State recently implemented changes to control fan behavior by no longer selling beer inside the stadium and moving the student section away from the visitors’ sideline in accordance with a conference rule.
Another factor concerning coach Bellotti is California’s often sweltering heat. The temperature for Fresno’s 5 p.m. kickoff last Friday against Nevada was 100 degrees. The Ducks may catch a slight break with the kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. and cooler temperatures expected in the area this weekend. The 10-day weather forecast predicted a high of 92 degrees on Saturday.
Bellotti said his team benefited from playing in similar conditions last Saturday against Stanford and will be prepared for the worst.
“I thought Saturday’s game, certainly over 100 degrees on the turf, was one of the most difficult games from the standpoint of heat and lack of wind I’ve been involved in the 18 years I’ve been here at Autzen Stadium,” Bellotti said. “So I thought it was a great thing for us to overcome that.”
Oregon is 4-2 all-time against Fresno State and 1-1 at Bulldog Stadium. The Ducks last trip to Fresno resulted in a 30-27 overtime victory in 1996.
Putting them on the map with a fearless philosophy, 10th-year head coach Pat Hill has put the once-struggling Fresno State program into the national spotlight.
Need proof?
For starters, the Bulldogs have made 41 national television appearances since 2000, and are scheduled to play five games on ESPN or ESPN2 this season including the season-opener, a 28-19 win against Nevada last Friday. Saturday’s game against the Ducks will be broadcast on ESPN2.
How has Hill changed a program he took over after it had suffered three consecutive losing seasons?
First he vowed to change the academic mindset of the program, something he’s done by raising the team GPA from 2.21 to 2.87 and ranking fifth among Division I schools in the west with a 950 Academic Progress Rate.
He also stuck to his promise to recruit heavily in the Central Valley and instill pride in the area. A Fresno State trademark both on its helmets, logo and field at Bulldog Stadium is a green “V”, representing “pride in California’s San Joaquin Valley” and for a local fundraising organization.
Finally, Hill instituted his philosophy of play “anybody, anywhere, anytime,” and it has worked.
He owns 10 wins against BCS-conference schools since 2001, the most by any non-BCS team. His coaching record stands at 72-42 and is 18th best on the list of top active college coaches in terms of winning percentage.
Hill has led the school to a record seven consecutive bowl appearances, a school-record 11 wins in 2001 behind the arm of a top NFL draft pick in David Carr, a school best No. 22 final ranking in 2004, and has produced at least one All-American in seven of the last eight years.
Behind enemy lines Oregon’s roster boasts two players – Palauni Ma Sun Jr. and Pat So’oalo – who played at nearby Fresno City College before joining Oregon. Ma Sun is a 6-foot-6-inch, 335-pound senior and the starting right guard along an experienced offensive line. So’oalo, a 6-foot-5-inch, 355-pound junior, is the backup at left guard.
“We’ve been able to recruit many great athletes out of that school,” Bellotti said. “We have a great relationship with the coaching staff and the people there.”
Welcome in and welcome back Fresno State returns eight starters on each side of the ball, including four on an offensive line that surrendered a school-record fewest sacks (14). Senior center Kyle Young, at 6-foot-5, 330-pounds, is one of the nation’s largest players at his position. Among the country’s best centers, Young may well conclude his career as the greatest offensive lineman in school history, Hill said.
Also returning is wide receiver Paul Williams, a senior standout, who caught five passes for 122 yards and a touchdown last season at Oregon. In that game, the Fresno State offense racked up 530 total yards of offense, including 418 through the air from then-senior quarterback Paul Pinegar, who threw three touchdowns and completed 33 passes – an Autzen Stadium record at the time.
Oregon will face a different signal caller behind center on Saturday in sophomore Tom Brandstater, who passed for 124 yards on 16-of-24 passing with no interceptions and one touchdown in his first career start.
“I thought Brandstater was very efficient,” Bellotti said. “They didn’t ask him to throw the ball a lot, but he threw the ball very accurately and scrambled well. In fact, I think he’s more mobile than Pinegar.”
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FSU brings bullishness to UO
Daily Emerald
September 13, 2006
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