The 2008 Fresno State football team (variously "Fresno State" or "the 'Dogs") represent California State University, Fresno and the Central Valley in the 2008 college football season. The team is coached by 12th-year head coach Pat Hill, who has a contract lasting though the 2010 season.[1] This season is the Bulldogs' 28th in their current home of Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California.
[edit] Pre-Season
The Bulldogs have enjoyed success as one of the most highly regarded Mid-Major schools in the country in the past decade. The 2007 team finished with 9 wins, 4 losses, including a victory in the 2007 Humanitarian Bowl. The annual spring game for the 2008 season took place on April 18, and the Bulldogs concluded spring drills on April 21.
Going into the summer, the Bulldogs already begun to draw attention to their team in the post-spring preseason polls released by sports pundits, drawn to the large number of returning starters, along with the impressive finish, beating the Georgia Tech in the 2007 Humanitarian Bowl to finish the season with a record of 9-4. Athlon has released their preseason 25 poll with the Bulldogs listed ranked #25;[2] Dennis Dodd of CBS Sportsline has ranked the team at #24;[3] and Mark Schalabach of ESPN placed the Bulldogs in the #21 spot.[4]
[edit] Coaches
At the end of the 2007 season, former offensive coordinator Jim McElwain resigned to accept the coaching position of offensive coordinator at Alabama, replacing former Texas Longhorn Major Applewhite. On February 28, 2008, Fresno State announced the hire of Doug Nussmeier as the Offensive Coordinator at Fresno State.[5]
[edit] Schedule
| Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
| 09/01/2008 |
1:30 pm |
at Rutgers* |
#25 |
Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJ |
ESPN |
W 24-7 |
42,508 |
| 09/13/2008 |
7:30 p.m. |
#10 Wisconsin* |
#21 |
Bulldog Stadium • Fresno, CA |
ESPN2 |
L 13-10 |
42,387 |
| 09/20/2008 |
5:15 pm |
at Toledo* |
#25 |
Glass Bowl • Toledo, OH |
ESPNU |
W 55-54 2OT |
20,096 |
| 09/27/2008 |
12:30 pm |
at UCLA* |
#24 |
Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA |
ABC |
W 36-31 |
73,963 |
| 10/04/2008 |
7:00 pm |
Hawaiʻi |
#22 |
Bulldog Stadium • Fresno, CA |
|
L 29-32 OT |
40,572 |
| 10/11/2008 |
7:00 pm |
Idaho |
|
Bulldog Stadium • Fresno, CA |
|
W 45-32 |
37,015 |
| 10/25/2008 |
12:00 pm |
at Utah State |
|
Romney Stadium • Logan, UT |
|
W 30-28 |
14,071 |
| 11/1/2008 |
11:30 am |
at Louisiana Tech |
|
Joe Aillet Stadium • Ruston, LA (Battle for the Bone) |
|
L 38-35 |
20,300 |
| 11/07/2008 |
6:00 pm |
Nevada |
|
Bulldog Stadium • Fresno, CA |
ESPN2 |
L 41-28 |
33,207 |
| 11/15/2008 |
2:00 pm |
New Mexico State |
|
Bulldog Stadium • Fresno, CA |
|
W 24-17 |
36,137 |
| 11/21/2008 |
6:30 pm |
at San Jose State |
|
Spartan Stadium • San José, CA (Rivalry) |
ESPN2 |
W 24-10 |
24,384 |
| 11/28/2008 |
3:00 pm |
at #9 Boise State |
|
Bronco Stadium • Boise, ID (Battle for the Milk Can) |
ESPN2 |
L 61-10 |
32,412 |
| 12/20/2008 |
11:30 am |
vs. Colorado State |
|
University Stadium • Albuquerque, NM (New Mexico Bowl) |
ESPN |
L 40-35 |
24,735 |
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Pacific Time. |
[edit] Game notes
[edit] Rutgers Scarlet Knights
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| #25 Bulldogs |
0 |
0 |
10 |
14 |
24 |
| Scarlet Knights |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
First ever meeting
[edit] Wisconsin Badgers
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| #10 Badgers |
7 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
13 |
| #21 Bulldogs |
0 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
1-1 all time. Last meeting 2002 (21-23 in Madison)
[edit] Toledo Rockets
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
OT |
2OT |
Total |
| Bulldogs |
14 |
3 |
17 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
55 |
| Rockets |
7 |
14 |
3 |
17 |
7 |
6 |
54 |
1-0 all time. Last meeting 2005 (44-14 in Fresno)
[edit] UCLA Bruins
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| #24 Bulldogs |
7 |
13 |
16 |
0 |
36 |
| Bruins |
7 |
12 |
5 |
7 |
31 |
1-6 all time. Last meeting 2003 (17-9 in San Jose in the Silicon Valley Bowl)
A Derrick Coleman fumble in the redzone in the fourth quarter took away the Bruins' hope of keeping the Bulldogs from winning a game in the Rose Bowl stadium. Fresno State won its first game there by five points, taking control of the final 8 minutes and 55 seconds and not allowing a UCLA comeback.
[edit] Hawaiʻi Warriors
20-19-1 all time, 7-9 as WAC members. Last year 30-37 in Honolulu
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
OT |
Total |
| Warriors |
9 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
32 |
| #22 Bulldogs |
3 |
6 |
13 |
7 |
0 |
29 |
[edit] Idaho Vandals
6-4 all time, 3-0 as WAC members. Last year 37-24 in Moscow
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Vandals |
3 |
7 |
7 |
15 |
32 |
| Bulldogs |
7 |
14 |
14 |
10 |
45 |
[edit] Utah State Aggies
12-10-1 all time, 2-1 as WAC members. Last year 38-27 in Fresno
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Bulldogs |
7 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
30 |
| Aggies |
7 |
6 |
0 |
15 |
28 |
[edit] Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
7-2 all time, 5-2 as WAC members. Last year 17-6 in Fresno
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Bulldogs |
7 |
7 |
10 |
14 |
38 |
| Bulldogs |
7 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
35 |
[edit] Nevada Wolf Pack
24-14-1 all time, 7-1 as WAC members. Last year 49-41 in Reno
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Wolf Pack |
7 |
10 |
14 |
10 |
41 |
| Bulldogs |
7 |
0 |
14 |
7 |
28 |
[edit] New Mexico State Aggies
14-0 all time, 3-0 as WAC members. Last year 30-23 in Las Cruces
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Aggies |
10 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
| Bulldogs |
3 |
14 |
0 |
7 |
24 |
[edit] San Jose State Spartans
36-33-3 all time, 12-1 as WAC members. Last year 30-0 in Fresno
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Bulldogs |
3 |
0 |
7 |
14 |
24 |
| Spartans |
7 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
[edit] Boise State Broncos
4-6 all time, 1-6 as WAC members. Last year 21-34 in Fresno
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Bulldogs |
7 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
| #9 Broncos |
7 |
6 |
28 |
20 |
61 |
[edit] Post Season- New Mexico Bowl
[edit] Colorado State
4-6 all time, last meeting 2006 (23-35 in Fresno)
[edit] Players
|
Defensive Starters
| FS |
| Marvin Haynes |
| Jake Jorde |
|
| WLB |
MLB |
SLB |
| Qaadir Brown |
Ben Jacobs |
Nico Herron |
| Ricky Pemasa |
Nico Herron |
Nick Bates |
|
| SS |
| Mosses Harris |
| Lorne Bell |
|
| CB |
| Damion Owens |
| Will Harding |
|
| DE |
DT |
DT |
DE |
| Wilson Ramos, Jr |
Cornell Banks |
Jon Monga |
Ikenna Ike |
| Chris Carter |
Bryce Harris |
Mark Roberts |
Chris Lewis |
|
| CB |
| A.J. Jefferson |
| Sharrod Davis |
|
|
|
|
Offensive Starters
| WR |
| Chastin West |
| Jason Crawley |
|
| LT |
LG |
C |
RG |
RT |
| Bobby Lepori |
Cole Popovich |
Joe Bernardi |
Andrew Jackson |
Kenny Avon |
| Kenny Wiggins |
Pierce Masse |
Richard Pacheco |
Adam McDowell |
Devan Cunningham |
|
| TE |
| Bear Pascoe |
| Isaac Kitner |
|
| WR |
| Marlon Moore |
| Seyi Ajirotutu |
|
|
|
|
| FB |
| Anthony Harding |
| Reynard Camp |
|
|
| RB |
| Ryan Mathews |
| Lonyae Miller |
|
|
[edit] Awards
[edit] First Team All WAC
Bobby Lepori- Sr. OL
[edit] Second Team All WAC
Bear Pascoe- Sr. TE- 2007 1st team
Chris Carter- So. LB
Ben Jacobs-So. LB
Moses Harris- Jr. DB
[edit] Coaching staff
- Pat Hill - Head Coach
- Doug Nussmeier - Offensive Coordinator
- Dan Brown - Defensive Coordinator
- Jeff Grady - Tight Ends
- John Baxter - Special Teams/Wide Receivers
- Will Plemons- Linebackers
- Kerry Locklin - Defensive Line
- Tim Skipper - Running Backs
- Randy Stewart – Secondary
- Derek Frazier – Offensive Line
- Mike Kelly - Graduate Assistant
- Mike Schepers Graduate Assistant
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