Returning the favor: Interview with a bronco (OBNUG)

How hard is it to like anything boise state? 10 out of 10 doctors say it's impossible. 


But the closest thing to an exception comes via OBNUG, the boise state-themed blog led by Kevan Lee (to which I explained our relationship in a previous blog). OBNUG produces a generous amount of boise state-related content, which is generally pretty entertaining until they get to talking Fresno State. Then the double standard kicks in. 


It has become OBNUG tradition to Q&A and blog bet opposing teams throughout the football season. We accepted the opportunity exchange opinions on our programs, but said no thanks on the blog bet (for which we have several reasons, none of which is fear of an opposing blog appearing here). 


Kevan posted my answers in his Interview with a Bulldog blog yesterday, so check that out. (We appreciate his compliment that we cover FS athletics from a smart fan's perspective.)


Today I share Kevan's answers to our set of questions. So take your preemptive does of Pepto Bismol and stomach the continued humility and thrown your way from the perspective of a boise state fan. 


The Q&A:

1. What is the perception of Fresno State athletics in boise? Perception of Fresno in general?


I don't think I would be understating myself in saying that Boise State fans do not think too highly of Fresno State football. I assume you meant football when you said athletics because, as a Bronco fan, I am not aware that any other sports exist.

For quite some time, we Bronco fans harped on the "overrated" Fresno State teams that always seemed to be ranked preseason Top 25 and favored to win the conference. Those days are gone, so I think the resentment has softened. Like I've seen you mention on your site, Fresno is not lacking talent, and Bronco fans are aware of that. So our new thing is ripping the Bulldogs for underperforming every year. And of course we can't stand Pat Hill. But I hear that neither can you.

Fresno in general gets a bad rap in Boise because of the Fresno fans. They come across as arrogant, rude, offensive, inconsiderate, and poor sports. And yes, I recognize the irony in a Boise State fan saying all those things (really though, Boise State fans come in all shapes and sizes and it just so happens that the poorly shaped and poorly sized ones make the most noise nowadays).

2. What things do you like and/or respect about Fresno State? Things you hate?

Things I like:

Recruiting and community involvement. I hear these are the only things keeping Pat Hill around, so he must be good at it. Maybe it's just me, but it seems like every year Fresno beats out USC for a high school player. Gotta respect that.
Old-school offense. I am a traditionalist, so I appreciate that Fresno hasn't completely abandoned a semi-traditional approach to offense. Yet.
Checkerboard end zones.

Things I hate:

The V on the helmets. I just don't get it. I mean, I know what it stands for, but I just don't get it.
Whining about Boise State. Seems like Fresno fans hate on our schedule, our players, our fans, our city, etc. It just gets tiring.
Fresno blowing games they should win. Sometimes it is incredibly enjoyable. Other times, it is infuriating.

3. What is the difference between Fresno State's and boise state's football programs right now?

I think the difference is in leadership. Coach Pete trumps Pat Hill a thousand times over with his management of the team, his football coaching, and his considerable god-like qualities. Boise State really hit the jackpot with Petersen. I don't think that the Bulldogs should fire Hill and go out and get a Petersen of their own because I don't think that other Petersens exist. But the Hill-Pete dynamic is going to keep the two programs apart as long as the two coaches stay at their respective schools. Now, that isn't to say that Fresno won't beat Boise ever over the next decade, but from a macro level, the two teams will remain quite different.

4. Flip-flop the successes and failures of Fresno and boise since 2001. What is a boise fan's evaluation of the broncos in the current state Fresno State is in?

If I read the question right, you want me to pretend that Boise State is Fresno State? OK. If I have to.

Fresno seems to have better inroads with nonconference scheduling, and I wouldn't mind that at all. Anyone, anywhere, anytime is really the only way that a non-BCS school can overcome its conference schedule.

Attendance seems about on par with Boise State's, although you do have us beat on stadium capacity. A 41,000-seat stadium in Boise would be sweet.

Fan support in Fresno appears, to an outsider, to be kind of depressing. You don't like your coach. You are tired of underwhelming seasons. It doesn't sound like much fun to be a Fresno fan.

Perhaps the biggest thing I wouldn't like is the athletic budget and state deficit. That would be very hard to work with.

Other than that, Fresno isn't in too bad of a place. You recruit good athletes, you play a decent schedule. The losing would get tiring, but if I get to bring Coach Pete with me, we could fix that.

5. From an opposing fan's perspective, what does Pat Hill appear to do well, and what does he appear to do poorly? If he was the boise coach, at what point, if at all, would he no longer be your coach (or would he still be), all things considered?

It's hard to tell what it would take to get a coach fired at Boise State these days. I can't remember the last one who got booted. Most seem to leave for better opportunities. I guess that the one area that would be taboo is losing fan interest. That's what happened to the men's basketball program and Greg Graham got the boot because of it. Of course, fan interest is tied to wins and losses and performing as expected, so I'd say that a decade worth of Pat Hill mediocrity would be enough to lose fans and get fired.

Like I said above, I believe Hill recruits well and has cultivated a strong tie to the community. I don't believe he coaches football well. In fact, he reminds me a little of Dan Hawkins in that regard. Hawkins was a great motivator and great recruiter, but he lacked a certain something on gameday. Fortunately for him (and for Hill), much of a college coach's job extends beyond gameday.

This next portion includes some of Kevan's questions posed to me, which subtle changes in the details for certain questions:

 6. Describe your team's season to date in 100 words or less. "Just turns me on" must be four of those words.

Hearing poll results just turns me on. Not! Boise State has done everything as expected this year - great QB play, stellar offense, dominating defense - but the overarching theme has always been the polls. It's too bad. This Bronco team may be the greatest in school history. Fans have learned (or are learning) to appreciate that and block out the rest.

7. If Fresno State could pick one player from your team to come play with them, who would it be? If you could pick one Fresno State player to go play for your team, who would it be? Explain.

I'd give Fresno Austin Pettis. Partly because I'm mad at him right now for dropping some balls, but mostly because he is an offense's best friend and someone who could keep drives alive by moving the chains and making solid catches. He's like a better version of Devon Wylie.

I'd take Ben Jacobs if I were Boise. The Broncos lost Byron Hout for the season and could use some depth at linebacker, especially a player of Jacobs' caliber.

8. Imagine for a moment that your team is ESPN's college football coverage. What part is Ron Franklin and what part is Pam Ward? (In other words, strengths and weaknesses.)

Ron Franklin: Defensive line. It is incredible.

Pam Ward: Personal foul penalties. We get a lot of them.

9. On a scale of boy bands, with O*Town being not at all and N*Sync being supremely, how confident are you that your team will win on Friday?

I have what you would call cautious optimism. Or cynical realism. Or tempered pessimism. I guess there's really no easy way to explain it. I have every belief that the Broncos will pull off the win on Friday night, considering how thoroughly they have beaten teams this year and how completely in control they were against Hawaii. In my opinion, Fresno is not as good as Hawaii. Now that doesn't mean that the Bulldogs won't play the Broncos closer than the Warriors, but it does mean I'd be shocked to see FS win outright.

Mark me down as a Backstreet Boys in confidence this week. But not the bad Backstreet Boys, the good ones. Like the "Backstreet's back" Backstreet Boys.


We thank Kevan for his contribution and for his continuous respect and support of our blog.

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Bulldogs arrive in boise, walk on water marked with yard lines in walkthrough

Fresno State has finally arrived to the land of better-than-you, where pinky fingers aren't allowed near the drinking glass and the manliest man is the one who thumbs his nose up first to pick up the tab.

However, Kevan over at OBNUG and myself have created sort of a weird "Bring it On" mutual respect sort of thing. Kevan just recently posted my answers from our recent Q&A exchange over on OBNUG, with his answers to our questions to follow shortly here on our blog.

In the meantime, Kevan and the guys over at OBNUG have been talking 'Dogs/broncos all week and the rimshots are working overtime in the comment section to try and keep up.

Check back soon for Fresno State vs boise state related updates, but for now, feel free to praise my connections to the underground. Exclusively for Bulldog Bounce readers, a portrait of a young Kellen Moore. Amazing what a simple set of donkey ears can achieve.

Kellen Moore as "Donkey" from Shrek

Halloween 2001

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Keys to beating nevada down

Let's talk keys to the game. And understand, Saturday is a big, big game. The type of game the lowly nevada program is not used to. The type of game the drunken morons sitting behind the end zone cheering for the wolf pack in last year's debacle won't be able to comprehend.

No. 21 nevada, in its highest ranking since the 1940s, visits Bulldog Stadium. Last year with Colin Kaepernick at QB. Coming off two straight wins over Fresno State for the first time (ever?) and last year's beatdown when Ryan Mathews was lost to injury.

Comment and let us know what you think the keys are? Here's how we break it down:

Will Ault be 'Colin' passing plays?
A somewhat overlooked stat from the past two meetings between these teams is Kaepernick's lack of passing prowess. He's 13 for 29 with 173 yards. Numbers like that remove the cape from Kaep and make it a wonder how he could be a legit Heisman candidate. If Fresno State makes nevada pass, the 'Dogs win the ballgame.

Can Fresno State make nevada pass?
The answer the past two years has been overwhelmingly no. But make no mistake, this year's Bulldog defense is a far cry from the last two years' (and they made us cry a lot those two years). DE Chris Carter and DT Logan Harrell are both among the top six sack leaders in the country. That bodes well if nevada is forced to pass, but can it be forced? Perhaps. Travis Brown is a huge upgrade at LB, Phillip Thomas is one of the WAC's best players at S. The Bulldogs have playmakers throughout the defense now. But S Lorne Bell, who doesn't have top end speed, will have to be near flawless in his assignment discipline to prevent the giant runs nevada rode to victory last year. It helps that the Bulldogs' defense has played so many running QBs (cincinnati, utah state, ole miss, cal poly) but the one opponent that ran nevada-esque plays was ole miss -- and the 'Dogs got burned multiple times on big runs, including a read option up the middle for a huge gain. Another X-factor on defense would have been CB Jermaine Thomas, but the 'Dogs could be without him for the rest of the year after he was injured on the final play at louisiana tech.

Can 'Dogs replace J.T.?
Jermaine Thomas is really, really good. Most in the local media don't realize how good. Maybe no one in the local media does. Thomas is the best CB the team has had in years, and is not only lockdown capable in pass coverage, but has helped in the run-stopping game, namely against cincinnati. Think about it -- how many times have you seen Thomas while watching TV this year? It's rare -- because opposing QBs don't even throw to his side of the field. He usually goes unnoticed with his side of the field locked down (save for the TD he gave up to that ole miss receiver who was like 8-foot-6). Replacing Thomas in the lineup on Saturday will be either Isaiah Green or L.J. Jones. Green has lots of experience, and is one of the team's fastest players. But as recently as the san jose state game, he got burned for a big play TD pass. Can't have that this week. The good news on Green is he's a very sure open field tackler, something the 'Dogs will need. Jones is less experienced but will be a very impactful player before his career is over.

What other keys would you add...?

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Red-White Scrimmage Round-up

"Meet the Bulldogs" has never been so perfect a saying for Fresno State's basketball team. It's easier this year to name who all is returning than who all is incoming. And all the new faces made the Red-White Scrimmage extra fun and intriguing Tuesday night.

There was a decent turnout compared to last year, but if you were one of those who missed it, you came to the right place for a breakdown of what you missed.

The White team, which seemed to consist at least mostly of reserves, jumped/ran/bolted/shot its way out to a 19-0 lead en route to a 30-12 win in the 12-minute, running-clock scrimmage. The White consisted of newcomers Kevin Olekaibe, Tyler Johnson, Bennie Rhodes, Givon Crump and Bracken Funk. The Red started Tim Steed, Garrett Johnson, Jonathan Wills, Ned Golubovic and Greg Smith, with Steven Shepp subbing in.

0, Jerry Brown, So, F (6-7, 205): "The Governor" (let's hope this name doesn't stick after the next couple weeks) sat out the scrimmage still recovering from a back injury that coach Steve Cleveland said happened months ago. The 'Dogs will need him for the season, as he's a potential starter or first forward off the bench.

DaCo: Word is he's improved a lot too, but we didn't get a chance to see. Hopefully there's little rust to brush off when he's ready.


22, Givon Crump, So, F (6-7, 210): Now that we heard Coach Cleve say it, we know his first name is pronounced "Jivon," which will come in handy the next three years. Crump has to sit out this season after transferring from Baylor, but has the ability to be an immediate starter and impact player as soon as he gets on the court. He participated in the scrimmage on the winning team, but didn't get a lot of chances on the offensive end with all his teammates scoring. He did make a brilliant pass down low to Bracken Funk for a wide-open layup.

DaCo: Strength of game and preference appears to be as a sniper for 3s. He does handle the ball well for his size and made fundamental passes. Good stamina, good energy and good complement to the rest of the team.

45, Bracken Funk, Fr, F (6-7, 240): The wait for the two-year LDS missionary is over as Funk took the floor tonight as the White team's starting center. He's not likely to play that position much if at all during the season, but was forced to tonight because of John Ryan's injury. Funk's role has been a bit of a mystery thus far, but he was one of the eye openers in the scrimmage, showing more speed than expected and a motor that should rub off on teammates. He goes hard every play, offense of defense, and doesn't give up in transition. He looks shorter than his listed height, probably closer to 6-foot-5 or 6-6, but has a wide body that allowed him to hold his own guarding Greg Smith in the post. Cleveland wasn't kidding when he said Funk will remind fans of a Utah State-type player. And that's a darn good asset for this team.

DaCo: Always nice to get a pleasant surprise like this. Love the hustle, love the scrappiness. There are going to be so many potential scorers on the floor, but he is perfectly happy to fill a role of defense, rebounding, screening, etc. Does have that strong body that plays bigger than he looks, and could easily be one of the new fan favorites, not only because of his game, but because of his big personality as well.


15, Ned Golubovic, Sr, F (6-8, 240): We knew Ned had an improved physique this season, but didn't realize he'd lost 25 pounds and chiseled up so much, as Cleveland told the crowd Tuesday. The Bulldogs' lone senior and team captain and Academic All-American supposedly shed the weight to improve his defense. That, along with rebounding, is what the 'Dogs need most from him. If he can establish himself as another low-post threat alongside Smith, he'll likely hold onto the starting job. He was quiet all around in the scrimmage, as he's had a history of on-again, off-again nights, but the good thing is this year's team has the pieces to mix and match until it finds a combination that works and a guy with the hot hand on a given night.

DaCo: I didn't notice 25 pounds of difference, but part of that is because he leaned up and added a lot more muscle mass, in addition to an apparent tan. His leadership and coach on the floor knowledge are his best traits, but I'm hoping Funk's game rubs off on Ned as much as possible. How that his hands/wrists are healthy, his shooting ability should come back into play as well, which is clearly a good thing.


20, Garrett Johnson, So, G (6-4, 195): Cleveland called G. Johnson the most improved player on the team. He received sparse minutes as a freshman last season but showed the ability to play at break-neck speed tonight. He has the skill to be a 3-point threat, but will have to prove himself in game action before he sees a big increase in playing time.

DaCo: Biggest thing for Johnson appeared to be his comfort with this level of ball now. He handled the ball fine, to where there wasn't a noticeable concern with it in his hands, and seems more capable with his shot. He missed a bad layup on a contested fastbreak, where he over-thought the defender's play on the ball, but that's not likely to be a plaguing recurrence.


25, Justin Johnson, So, F (6-6, 205): J. Johnson, son of NBA great Eddie Johnson, was in his team-issued warm-ups for the third straight year. Cleveland told the crowd Johnson has had his last surgery and is still fighting to overcome injury and that we'll learn this year whether it'll be something he can bounce back from. Fans still have little to no idea what this Johnson is capable of.

DaCo: If you assume the worst case, at least we only have one player who is not good/able/whatever. Even if he recovers from this injury, he'll still be the 15th-best player on the team, which for the first time speaks to the rest of the talent rather than his lack of still-to-be-determined ability.


3, Tyler Johnson, Fr, G (6-2, 170): After one night, T. Johnson is the early leader for the Most Likely Johnson to Make an Impact Award. The freshman is a bit scrawny (think Brandon Sperling only WAAAAY more athletic and skilled), but plays the game at a relentless pace and can jump out of the gym. Guys his size aren't supposed to jump like that, says the law of physics. But he does -- he proved it with two breakaway dunks and a couple leaps into passing lanes on defense. If Johnson sustains this type of effort, there's nothing stopping him from becoming a dominant defender at the college level with his quickness and athleticism. Whatever he does on the offensive end will be a bonus.

DaCo: I definitely wouldn't go as far as the Sperling body comparison. Sperling was straight frail. Johnson lacks muscle but at least has the capacity to add muscle if he works hard in the weight room. I still like my comparison to Devon Wylie on the basketball floor, as they have similar athletic ability and directional cuts and movements. He is a very scrappy, energetic, non-stop effort player. Hands are always active on defense, and on offense has a very nice little left-handed jump shot.


1, Kevin Olekaibe, Fr, G (6-1, 165): First things first, Olekaibe (or K.O. as they call him) is not 6-foot-1 as listed. He's probably not even 6-foot. There's no doubt the freshman has scoring potential, but after seeing his small frame, it's hard to imagine him playing any position other than point guard. If he does, he'll be presented with some tough matchups physically. Olekaibe showed range and an enthusiastic spirit that makes you want to root hard for him on the court. He can shoot the 3 and can push the tempo. Too early to tell what type of ball-handling and passing ability he has.

DaCo: Also so much to like with KO. He's a rare confident freshman, and he often smiles and enjoys his time on the floor. KO handles the ball very well and shoots an outstanding 3 ball. Passing ability in the half court offense is still a mystery, but like Funk, has the potential to be another fan fave.


11, Bennie Rhodes, Jr, G (6-6, 190): Arguably the most impressive player of the night, the San Francisco City College transfer and former SMU recruit put on a show. Early in the scrimmage he took a questionable shot or two, but as soon as he started letting the offense develop he was unstoppable, hitting from inside and out, making passes and "wow" plays. And he knocked down a deep 3 to make it 19-0 White. Rhodes looks like the type of player who is comfortable being the go-to scorer. Can't wait to see how he performs with Smith (the two were on different teams for the scrimmage). Oh, and did we mention Rhodes had hands down the dunk of the night, reaching down with both hands below his feet for a power jam from just a foot or two in front of the free throw line? The dunk drew all 10s from the five judges.

DaCo: Starting with my concern first, I hope Rhodes is cool with being a selfless player as well, because he seemed to want to take over the scrimmage. His skills are undeniable, however, and he seems like a huge steal at the moment. Rhodes loves the 3 ball, but goes hard to the basket on fastbreaks as well, where he had what I thought was the most impressive dunk of the night, launching from outside the key past one defender and over another on a powerful tomahawk jam. Rhodes is a pure scorer with shooting ability as well. If he molds comfortably into a team system, this team can grow much faster.


32, John Ryan, Fr, C (6-10, 270): One of the guys we were most looking forward to seeing, the big man sat out the evening recovering from a broken nose. He doesn't look to be anywhere near the listed weight of 270 since dropping some weight in recent months, but is a big body who should provide valuable bench minutes in relief of Smith. If he can handle the role as a freshman, he'll be a huge asset for this squad.

DaCo: It could have been eye foolery, but Ryan appeared to be the tallest member of the team. Since he didn't play in the scrimmage, it's hard to tell if he has skill on either side of the ball, but his body and low post presence is a need for the team.


12, Steven Shepp, Jr, G (6-2, 175): Shepp sat most of the scrimmage before coming in for the Red team, trailing 19-0, and sparking four straight points. The returning starting point guard is academically ineligible until December. It'll be interesting to see if he still has a starting job after Steed or Olekaibe get a crack at it the first handful of games.

DaCo: The surrounding talent should make Shepp a better player, considering his up-tempo style and preference to pass the ball to others to score. Those scorers appear to be in much larger numbers this year. It'll be interesting to see how Shepp competes with KO and maybe Steed when he becomes eligible.


4, Greg Smith, So, C (6-10, 250): Smith, the Preseason First-Team All-WAC selection, is a physical specimen who Cleveland called one of the great big men in the nation. While true, Smith has a lot of room for improvement after last year's inconsistencies. But he also has the upside and potential to be the catalyst for returning Fresno State to basketball relevance on a national level. Especially if they get him to stay beyond this season and solidify the core of the program. With his Red team trailing 19-0, Smith still had not touched the ball, a major concern. The Bulldogs have to become experts at working the ball inside to their best player or they'll be denied that way all season by opponents. Smith finally took his frustration out down low, bumping Funk back with his butt to clear space before turning around and delivering a trademark power jam.

DaCo: Good big men are rare, but a blast to have and watch on your team when you have one. Smith has low post skills galore, can run the floor and can defend. Fresno State needs to find a way to use Smith as a force and intimidator for other teams, before he resorts to his kryptonite of not being fully matured yet, which means occasional pouting and reduced effort.


5, Tim Steed, Jr, G (6-4, 215): We're looking forward to seeing more of what Steed can do on offense. For now, it looks like he'll be the starting point guard in the exhibition season opener against Fresno Pacific on Nov. 6, with Shepp out. Steed made a nice play to the basket late, but didn't have a lot of other opportunities before that. The most encouraging thing from him, though, was a powerful physique and business-like demeanor on the floor.

DaCo: Steed is the kind of player I love having on a basketball team. He is athletic, muscle-bound and skilled, but he's business-like, a leader and tough as nails. Steed is not the best at any one thing, but he's reliable at everything. And he dunks with power.


2, Jonathan Wills, Jr, G (6-6, 185): Wills, the New Mexico transfer who sat out last season, has been much ballyhooed by Cleveland, who said last season he was the second-best player on the team. Wills was fairly quiet offensively tonight but has immediate starting potential and will play a large role on this team.

DaCo: Wills has been touted as a true scorer, but didn't break out on the scoreboard in the scrimmage. That said, you could see his ability to run the floor and handle the ball while running the floor. Wills worked hard and was very active, and won the men's side of the 3-point contest with a very nice score of 17. Once he finds his comfort zone on this team, there's no doubt he can be very productive.

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'Dogs headed for unofficial 8th home game

On a sunnyish, shadyish, hotish, coldish fall day in beautiful Fresno, your friendly neighborhood bloggers were gchatting it up about Fresno State football and other things of that nature. The convo went a little something like this ...

FSDogs1: Hey DaCo, what's blueish, yellowish, has 22 hands in its starting lineup and stinks...bad?

DaCo: You know what, I think I know where you're going with this, and I have to say, I think it's rather insensitive in today's world to make fun of what I can only assume is a team with special needs.

FSDogs1: You know what? You're right. That was insensitive of me and I apologize. San Jose State does have many special needs -- offense, defense, special teams...

DaCo: Let me stop you right there. It's clear that my time is of no value to you, otherwise why would you jump into a list that quite possibly, might never come to an end? We are talking about a team whose head coach admits to fielding a JV squad you know.

FSDogs1: This is true. Let's just hope Pat Hill & Co. see to it that Fresno Sate pounds this opponent like a JV squad, unlike last week when they essentially sat on the ball the entire second half and let it look closer than it ever was against New Mexico State.

DaCo: (Pause for reader chuckling and that'll be the day thoughts ... ... ... OK that's enough)
I understand there is a vicious game of paper rock scissors going on already between Rouse, Harris, Slocum and Ellis to see who gets the chance to do some stat-padding against the team from the valley of stuff used for fake boobs.

FSDogs1: Speaking of Rouse, Harris, Slocum and Ellis, what's the deal with the RB situation? Isn't it pretty obvious, despite Rouse's recent big game, that Slocum or Harris should get starting carries with Rouse sprinkled in? That's obviously when he's most effective.

DaCo: Now it's getting serious. And there's no easy answer, which is mostly due to the running backs not taking the job and making it easy. I agree with the Rouse sprinkling, or change of pace theory if you want to call it that (which I do). He's essentially play-action for the run game. That adds more danger to his dangerous potential. On a side note, here's yet another reason not to keep teams "in the game" by running and punting to preserve leads. Reserves lose time to show gamer ability for upcoming games and seasons. Gamer ability > other time ability.

FSDogs1: Absolutely. I was just pondering this over my Chipotle burrito today at lunch. Why does Boise State seemingly have the same team each year? Same abilities, same talent, same strengths? It's because they play all their players. They get big, huge leads and put in everyone they can. Players get used to executing in live game situations and when it's the reserves' turn to be starters, they have that maturity.

DaCo: I lost you after Chipotle burrito. All I saw was Chipotle burrito blah blah bloo bloo blee blee. Nevertheless, I agree with that. To bring myself back on track, I'll say this about the game this weekend — there is a bottom line to the result. A good win against the spartans will be one where their weaknesses are exposed, where Fresno State's will is imposed and an obvious butt-kicking ensues, both on the scoreboard and on the video proof. I tried to make that somewhat generic, so you can have fun filling in the blanks in between those generalities with as many hypothetical's as your imagination will allow. Ah, Devan Cunningham touchdowns...

FSDogs1: Speaking of imagination, was it my imagination or did we see the Swamp Thing lurking around Spartan Stadium back in the day when it was a soggy, muddy mess there? It could be a mess again, with a 30% chance of rain Saturday. I hear they have Field Turf now though -- I guess those hippies from up the road at Cal weren't too worried about destroying Swampy's natural habitat...

DaCo: I have a few thoughts and theories about that, you know. Wasn't it only fitting that a team that consistently played like crap had a muddy field that resembled ... well, poop? I'm guessing Fresno State finally had enough of playing road home games on a mixture of chocolate milkshake and wheat grass, and told the sparta AD to use the ticket revenue from Fresno State fans to install turf. It's OK though, because we still have those flexible wooden aisle steps and PlaySkool benches to enjoy before, during and after the game. Hooray luxury!

FSDogs1: OK, OK, I can see this convo has turned to poop, which I think is our cue to wrap it up and head to the game. My only question is, which quarter are the wooden trampolines which they call stadium stairs going to snap and break from the Red Wave celebrating all the looming touchdowns?

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Grading the 'Dogs (4-2, 2-1) vs. New Mexico State (1-5, 0-2)

FRESNO STATE 33, New Mexico State 10

Quarterback: C-
After wowing fans through the first four games, Ryan Colburn looks to have regressed in the past two. Hopefully that trend ends next week, because 12 of 20 for 132 yards doesn't cut it -- certainly not when he's struggling with accuracy. Colburn missed a wide-open Rashad Evans behind the entire defense for a would-be TD, threw nowhere near a wide-open Vince Pascoe squatting in between coverage and was late in his progressions on numerous other throws. He's better than that. And coaches didn't help him by sitting on the ball much of the second half.

Running Backs: B+
Mighty Mouse Robbie Rouse returned to a form we hadn't seen since last year en route to 150 yards and 2 TDs on 16 carries. But the fact the team struggled to overpower New Mexico State in the second half was disappointing, as were Michael Harris' 1.3 yards per carry.

Receivers: B
The wideouts just didn't really get a chance to do much. The highlight was a double "reBurse" to Isaiah Burse for a 30-yard TD. Another true freshman, Jalen Saunders, led the team with 64 yards receiving on 3 catches. Tight end Tapa (I won't attempt spelling the last name) had the only TD catch.

Offensive Line: B
The first half was flatout impressive -- the second half was far from it. Granted, the Aggies knew the run was coming when the 'Dogs were being overly nice to not run up the score, but this unit should have been able to manhandle its counterpart. Overall, it was still a very strong performance with the backs averaging 6 yards per carry as a team. Also good to see Matt Hunt and Richard Helepiko get valuable time. Unfortunately, Helepiko's time came after an injury to C Joey Bernardi.

Defensive Line: A
On Chris Carter's performance alone, this group deserves an A. Carter earned national defensive lineman of the week honors with 9 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles. Beastly. Logan Harrell and Chris Lewis also teamed up on a sack, as the 'Dogs deployed constant pressure on the young, inexperienced Aggies QBs.

Linebackers: A-
The unit helped hold New Mexico State to 30-something yards rushing in the first three quarters before the reserves entered. Kyle Knox turned in a stud performance before an injury cut his night short. Still, he finished with 7 tackles and 1 for loss. The Aggies averaged 3.1 yards per carry as a team.

Defensive Backs: A-
Starting QB Andrew Manley had just 1 yard passing, while backup Matt Christian, the former Fresno State walk-on, had 155 (most in garbage time). In his first career start, in place of safety Phil Thomas, true freshman Derron Smith was tied for second on the team with 7 tackles and 1 for loss. His development will be a big plus as the season continues.

Special Teams: B-
Against a good team, Rashad Evans' first quarter botch of a punt, when he fumbled the ball away, could have been far more costly. Luckily, the Aggies couldn't capitalize. Andrew Shapiro was money on all but one punt, which took a favorable Aggies bounce. He's quietly having a heck of a season.

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Pre-game Walkthrough: Collecting our thoughts as the 'Dogs take on The Grove

Fresno State's annual hold-your-breath game with utah state is over and done with, complete with a new breakout star and all.

The Bulldogs' attention has now turned to ye olde Miss, thee of the SEC. It's a good thing Fresno State coach Pat Hill and co. enjoy playing the toughest possible games, because the Rebels will be as dangerous as can be this weekend.

What would a 'Dogs game be without an opponent at its best?

You might have noticed the labeling of the Rebels above as "as dangerous as can be." That's because quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is just one hole punch away from filling up his frequent visitor card and getting a free, all expenses paid night in the slammer.

OK, so maybe the Rebels (1-2) present two kinds of danger. They also present a daunting on-field task this week. The rationale? It's do or die for the Rebels. With losses already to an FCS team in Jacksonville State and a usual SEC doormat in Vanderbilt, Ole Miss already has an uphill climb just to become bowl eligible. A loss to Fresno State may very well bury the spirit of the Rebels, making this game the potential turning point in their season and thus, making them as dangerous as they're gonna be.

The stupid elephant in the room

There is one BCS conference left in the world that hasn't been blessed with a loss at the hands of Fresno State — the SEC. That's right, of all the "helmet scalps" the Bulldogs have collected and displayed on the walls of their football complex, none come from the dirty south.

That seems to be a valid enough reason to identify the elephant, who probably has a secret or two to share with Kool-Aid on how to enter a room quietly.

Rebel depression: what Ole Miss fans are saying

The words Fresno State haven't been thrown around much this week by the Rebel faithful. When they have, it is usually as the final accessory to a full-fledged meltdown. Good news san jose state fans, you no longer have to feel alone.


Message boards are full of "what if we fire this coach" topics, I give up claims and overall general confusion about the current state of the Rebels.


The flagship blog for Ole Miss is Red Cup Rebellion of the SB Nation family of blogs. Nowhere have the losses to Jacksonville State and Vanderbilt been more heartfelt than by the younger community of Rebels. All week long, these guys have been sorting through the debris of depression, hoping to find the source of the wildfire. The result has been almost a week's worth of ignoring the opponent that will provide them with the toughest, most physical game they will play all year.


To get an idea of exactly how much these guys new about Fresno State this year, I tuned into their weekly Red Cup Radio podcast. Essentially, during the Fresno State portion of the show, the guys read off stats from the stat sheet and declared which players are starters and what they're capable of based on this. That led to them thinking things like A.J. Ellis missed last week's game and that Ryan Colburn is a dangerous dual threat quarterback. Still, they're probably more reliable than Wes Bunting.

All in all, Rebel fans are dazed, confused and talking each other off of the ledge that each of them is standing on. An Ole Miss win will bring hope. An Ole Miss loss will produce record alcohol sales.

Fresno State players with extra important roles

Ryan Colburn + A.J. Johnson/Jalen Saunders/Matt Lindsey: Colburn will need to find at least one other go-to receiver to distribute the ball to in this game, as Devon Wylie remains out and Rashad Evans is doubtful for this game. Colburn is also facing a defense that has struggled defending the big play at times, and like the Bulldogs defense, has yet to intercept a pass this season.


Jermaine Thomas and/or Desia Dunn: Thomas and Dunn are each responsible for their respective sides of the field, so whomever receives the assignment of the Rebels' Markeith Summers has his work cut out. Summers is a 6'3" big-play receiver who has 10 catches for 235 yards and 2 touchdowns this season.


Fresno State offensive line: Ole Miss is giving up more than 140 rushing yards per game, an average accumulated by the trio of Jacksonville State, Tulane and Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs have yet to have true success running the ball in their previous SEC meetings, and will need to do so this game to keep the defense fresh and out of the humidity, maintain possession and provide the option for big plays in the run game should Colburn fail to find suitable receiving options. The Bulldogs will also plug in Leslie Cooper — who is replacing All-American Andrew Jackson — at right guard for his first start of the 2010 season. Those nervous about Cooper's performance need not worry, you don't name a man Leslie unless you know he can physically dominate other humans or that he'll be the future star of The Naked Gun series.


*Wildcard pick — Derron Smith: Fresno State strong safety Lorne Bell practiced all week, but without contact. His status is still unknown for this game and his replacement is a true freshman in Derron Smith. Smith is faster than Bell and a better defender against the pass, but he has never seen game action for the Bulldogs as a safety. If Smith's first plays at SS come on the road in an SEC venue, his performance will be something to keep an eye on.

Intangible factors


Some of the intangible factors for a Fresno State game are constants, but the significance of their role varies from game to game and opponent to opponent. Come to think of it, that's probably the reason they're called intangibles.


Fresno State players live for games like this. Fans like me live for every game, meaning I also live for games like this. What does that mean? It means I, along with however many Fresno State players, coaches and fans in Mrs. Sippi, will be oozing with the bravado and machismo Fresno State is known for. Fear, confidence and effort will not be a factor. That can't be a bad thing right?

Both Fresno State and Ole Miss combine for a grand total of 0 interceptions through five games. However, Ryan Colburn and Jeremiah Masoli have combined to throw 6 this season. A struggling Rebels team could use the extra possessions to get right and a resurgent Bulldogs defense could use the turnovers to get over a major turnover hurdle. Does this stat even matter? And if so, who needs it more?

On offense and defense, Fresno State's strengths and weaknesses have been the exact inverse of the Ole Miss strengths and weaknesses. The Rebels have been stronger in the first half on all accounts, while Fresno State has largely been a second half team. This trend offers an interesting contrast in styles. 

The Ole Miss tangible factor


Jonathan Cornell: The senior from California has been a one man wrecking crew on defense. How the Bulldogs handle him could determine how well-oiled the offense can be. So far this season, Cornell has  collected 27 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 pass break ups and 1 forced fumble. 

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium: Home of the Rebels


Ole Miss is best known for having the best tailgating experience around in The Grove. Fans dress up and congregate in huge numbers, in a nice setting, doing fun things, apparently. 


Vaught-Hemingway Stadium seats 60,580 fans. According to Phil Steele's 2010 homefield advantage formula, that number is part of what makes up a 3.75 point homefield advantage for the Rebels, good for 62nd-best in the country.
In contrast, Fresno State's Bulldog Stadium is credited with a 4 point homefield advantage by Steele, 46th-best in the country.

The stadium does, however, possess a 48 ft x 84 ft video board, a $6 million dollar gem that should provide great high-definition replays of the SEC officiating crew's homer-jobs. The Rebels also play on an artificial FieldTurf surface, one of the few teams in the SEC to do so.

Bottom line: Fresno State has played in the toughest stadium's in the country, and Vaught-Hemingway isn't one of them. Noise won't be a factor, and intimidation won't be a factor. But at least the Fresno State fans making the trip to Oxford have a nice place tailgate right outside of it.

Injuries Schminjuries

Out:

• Devon Wylie: Wylie injured his foot in the opener, and has since had surgery to correct the problem.

• Andrew Jackson: Jack suffered a high ankle sprain against utah state and also had minor surgery.

Doubtful:

• Rashad Evans: Shad has been nursing a hamstring injury all week. He's been practicing this week, but only minimally, and hasn't tested it with the same explosiveness he uses in games quite yet.

Questionable:

• Lorne Bell: Bell appears to be making a quick recovery from a shoulder injury, also against the aggies. He says he'll be good to go, but coaches haven't confirmed it quite yet. He'll be evaluated in Mississippi when the team arrives to see if he's a go.

In:

• Robbie Rouse: Mighty Mouse has been practicing at full speed after taking much of the last two weeks off to recover from shoulder and ankle injuries. Rouse will be ready to go, and at best will share carries with A.J. Ellis and Tracy Slocum.

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