USC Scouting Report from PE.com

Who's next: Fresno State (8-1)

At: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (92,000, sold out), 7:15 p.m., Saturday

TV: FSN

Radio: 1540, 1370, 1510, 1010, 1450

About Fresno State: This game is about, as both coaches noted Tuesday, a couple of programs that have trouble finding people to play them. With 53 wins this decade, Fresno State has equaled USC since the 2000 season although there's a big difference, Fresno coach Pat Hill pointed out.

Can't-miss Fresno State players:

QB Paul Pinegar (6-4, 230, Sr.) has a 32-9 record at Fresno and is only the seventh starting quarterback in NCAA history to lead a team to three straight bowl victories. He's directed Fresno to 14 wins in the past 15 games, completing 65 percent of his passes with 35 TDs and just eight interceptions.

TB Wendell Mathis Jr. (5-10, 215, Sr.) has 932 yards on 160 carries (5.8 yards per carry) with 13 TDs.

WR-KR Adam Jennings (5-10, 175, Sr.) is the only player in the nation ranked in NCAA top 10 in kickoff returns (30.7-yard average) and punt returns (15.3).

What Fresno State coach, and UCR grad, Pat Hill said he admires about USC: "College football has turned into a situation where you have to go undefeated. That's why I have so much respect for the Trojans and what they have done in the arena of Division I football. We've won (23) of our last (28) games and that is really nothing in comparison to what USC has done."

What USC coach Pete Carroll said about playing a ranked Fresno State team: "Fresno has wanted this game for a long time, and a lot of people didn't want to play us, so it seemed like a good matchup."

Area Player:

OT D'Artagnan Shack (6-2, 280, Sr.) from Riverside (Riverside North High) is a strong, athletic, if slightly undersized, veteran who has switched back to left tackle from right guard and has handled the likes of Oklahoma All-American Dan Cody and UCLA's Dave Ball as a Bulldog. DAN WEBER -PE.com


The Press Enterprise fails to mention wide receiver Paul Williams or any player on defense, especially, defensive end Garrett McIntyre and cornerback Richard Marshall. Probably just an oversight, as the PE just named the player with gaudy stats.

That is what happens when you write a preview just by looking at the stats, and not watching film or doing any further research.

Center of Attention

There are so many players on the USC offense that deserve special attention. First Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Matt Leinart is having a better year this year than last. Reggie Bush is the most explosive player in the country. His counterpart, LenDale White, is an all-American candidate, and both tailbacks, each, have over 1,000 yards rushing.

Wide receivers Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett are two of the best in the country. If that was not enough tight end Dominque Byrd and fullback Brandon Hancock are the best at their respective positions in the Pac Ten.

With all that offensive talent it is not a surprise that Pat Hill points his attention to center Ryan Kalil.

25 Years of Great Football

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Bulldog Stadium. Next week after all the USC hype is over, I will put together an all-Fresno State Bulldog Stadium team and a list of the biggest games, biggest upsets, best moments, and etc.

So please send in your comments, nominations, suggestions, or any feedback you believe would be vital to this all-time team and list. I was in preschool when the Stadium opened, and my first game was not until the 1982 Cal Bowl.

Heck, I was six-year old Keith Byers and Ohio State fan in the early 1980's. For what reason I can not recall, but I am not much of a Buckeye fan these days.

All-time Bulldog Stadium stuff coming next week.......

Is This the Best Trojan Team Ever?

It very well could be, and Fresno State has a chance to make college football history with a victory. One thing is for sure, the 2005 USC team is a lot better than the 1992 USC team.

How do this year's Trojans stack up against the best USC teams of the past?

IMO, 1972 team is tough to beat.

A Major Need

For those who still discount this Saturday's showdown of California teams as merely a tune up for the Trojans, check out the story by the AP. Both teams have a lot to gain and much to lose. Fresno State is not playing the roll of the little with everything to gain, and USC is not playing the big guy with everything to lose.

Granted a loss by USC would likely kill the Trojans chance at a third consecutive national title, but the 16th ranked Bulldogs are not exactly chopped liver.

"This is a great matchup. I don't know if the rest of the country realizes that," Pete Carroll said.

"How much more difficult can it be, playing two 9-1 teams (to finish the regular season)? We'll earn everything we get this year."

Fresno State is 8-1, but same difference. The respect is not just coming from Carroll. The Trojan players know what their up against.

"They've wanted to play us for a couple years. Now they have a chance," USC guard Fred Matua said.

"We know that they're very capable of beating us. I think they're underrated; they should be in the top 10. We feel we have everything to gain."

Fresno State head man Pat Hill will not this go to his player's head. The Bulldogs will be focused for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

"They are the best team in the country," Hill said.

"I've got a lot of respect for them as a team and as a philosophy. They've got great strengths. That's why they've won 32 in a row."

Bulldog Stadium Turns 25 years old today and...

the best defensive end to ever play in that stadium is Jethro Franklin. Franklin is now the defensive line coach at USC. He joins another former Bulldog, Lane Kiffin, on the Trojan staff.

Franklin you are loved as a former Bulldog, but hated as a member of the Trojan staff. I will never forget the sack you missed on San Jose State's Mike Perez in 1986, as he threw the game winning touchdown pass for the 45-41 win.

As for Kiffin, he never got to play much for the Bulldogs, but has become a great coach. Don't be surprised if he becomes the next "Tedford".

CFN and Matthew Zemek Jumping on...

First it was Mark May, and then Kirk Herbstreit saw the 'Dogs in person and he is a big believer. But now, Collegefootballnews.com has jumped on.....

Bulldogs Seen as Legitimate

The Southern Cal players don't seem be overlooking Fresno State. Fresno State is just not Fresno State anymore, many Trojan players see the Bulldogs as a legitimate threat.

Lots of Talent from the Inland Empire

Fresno State does have a lot of talent from the Inland Empire, including head coach Pat Hill, a UC Riverside graduate. This article I copied and pasted because it requires subscription.



Fresno rich in area talent

11:49 PM PST on Monday, November 14, 2005

GREGG PATTON

The glow from USC's bright light certainly extends into the Inland area, a region that, presumably, has glommed on to the Trojans' football success story as much as anywhere in the Southland.

But when USC tries to extend its impressive win streak to 33 Saturday night, it will be against a Fresno State team unusually rich with local talent. No less than 10 Riverside County and San Bernardino County athletes underpin the roster of the No. 16 Bulldogs.

They are Us.

"It's one of our favorite areas to recruit," Fresno State coach Pat Hill said of our backyard. "The brand of football there is outstanding. The teams are well coached. And we've found out that the further we get from the major airports, the more success we have."

It sounds funny, but there's a scientific method involved.

"We don't have a big-city atmosphere, which is similar to what your athletes are used to," said Hill, in his ninth season running the under-publicized but perennially strong program in the Central Valley. "We don't do well in Orange County or San Diego. Fresno is more of a blue-collar place, similar to Riverside-San Bernardino.

"And (Inland) athletes are used to playing in the heat. It's hot in Fresno."

He would know. His roots run deep here.

Hill played his college football at UC Riverside, before the school gave up the sport. The 1973 graduate was an All-America center and has a spot in the UCR sports Hall of Fame.

Also, Fresno's defensive coordinator, Dan Brown, is a Norco High School graduate.

"We've got a lot of great relationships there," said Hill, who said he has been trolling the region for talent since he started his major college coaching career as an assistant at Utah in 1977. He even recalled getting Rialto Eisenhower High product Ronnie Lott -- who would go on to star at USC and build an NFL Hall of Fame career -- to come to Utah for a visit.

"We had to send him home early after a skiing accident," remembered Hill. "He got a ski pole stuck in his leg. His father was furious. That was about it for our shot at him."

No chance for a ski-slope mishap in Fresno. It may not be a glamour spot, but the Bulldogs have quietly built a respectable program. Even before Hill arrived, Fresno State had its moments. Notably, it knocked off USC in the 1992 Freedom Bowl in Anaheim.

Hill has compiled a 72-39 record at the Western Athletic Conference school, including a numbing 17-9 blow to Karl Dorrell's first UCLA team two years ago in the Silicon Valley Bowl.

This year, the Bulldogs are 8-1, losing only to No. 10 Oregon by three points two months ago.

Among the more prominent area athletes at Fresno State are all-conference tackle Dartangon Shack from Riverside North, sophomore nose tackle Jason Shirley from Fontana Kaiser and freshman linebacker Quaadir Brown from Lake Elsinore. The roster includes a pair of ex-Norco players -- Adam McDowell and Cameron Harris; two from Moreno Valley Canyon Springs -- Andrew Jones and Richard Pacheco; Shannon Dorsey of San Bernardino San Gorgonio; Nick Neal of Riverside North; and Rich Owens from Ontario Christian.

The 10 area athletes are more than there are at USC and UCLA combined.

Hill knows blue-chip guys tend to favor USC, UCLA and other Pac-10 schools, but he doesn't begrudge those schools' success. In fact, he said, he's enjoying USC's streak as much as anyone -- at least until Saturday.

"I'm a big promoter of West Coast football, so I'm proud of USC," he said. "It's great that we've got three highly ranked teams in California."

Hill doesn't think Saturday's game in the national spotlight against the No. 1 team, by itself, will earn the Bulldogs any residual glitter in the recruiting process. But he knows there is value in matching up well against major conference teams.

"Beating a Pac-10 team doesn't make guys jump ship from them to us, but it does help us keep our own guys," he said, noting that late in the recruiting process, more heralded programs do woo some top athletes away from mid-majors -- a fact of college football life.

"Sometimes the Pac-10 will cherry-pick on our guys," Hill said. "It's hard going head-on against the tradition and the frills of those programs. Beating Pac-10 schools gives you credibility to keep kids."

Over the years, Hill's teams also have beaten Cal, Washington, Oregon State twice (once when it was No. 1), Kansas State, Colorado, Georgia Tech and Virginia.

An improbable win over 24-point favorite USC, though, would be more than just for "credibility." It would be an upset for the ages.

Hill just calls it "an opportunity. That's the best program in the country, a school we'd like to build toward."

And as long as Hill is there, the building materials figure to look familiar -- in this part of Trojans-Bruins country.

Pat Hill Looks, Talks, and Acts like a Hillbilly...WTF?

Ims gointa shut me sum Trojan.

Why is that former citizens of the Valley have to go out of their way to put down the very place they called home. The latest idiot is Mr. Doug Krikorian of the Long Beach Press Telegram. His Fresno hardly raisin' my fancy is just a rant about how Pat Hill looks, talks, and acts like a hillbilly(literally says this) and Fresno is the armpit of the world because there is nothing to do there.

Mr. Krikorian is from Fowler, about 10 miles south of Fresno, and has not been living in the Valley since 1966. He says he is proud to not call the Valley his home anymore, but has the nerve to mention LA Times writer Mark Arax as a person who left LA to come back to Fresno, not to mention his note about William Saroyan.

I have met Mark Arax and he is a class guy, who lives in my neck of the woods northwest Fresno. Mr. Krikorian your about twice Arax's age, put down Fresno, but you only write for the Long Beach Press Telegram. You probably have written better work for bigger media sources, but I do not give a shit.

Do you put the Irish-Catholics down when Notre Dame comes to town? How bout the Islanders when Hawaii visited the Coliseum two years ago? I am sure this article was written to just stir the pot, but this is some old news. Fresno has changed, and there are a whole lot of LA and Bay Area transplants that call the Valley their home.

I am glad you do not reside in the Valley anymore, and just remember the next piece of fruit or vegetable you bite into, its from the Central Valley.

Nice Article, but who in the F^(k is Coach Tim Hill?

Is it Pat or Tim? I'm confused

Real Football 365 has a good piece on the Bulldogs upcoming game with the Trojans, but who in the fuck is Tim Hill? Zack Jerome, that better be a fucking typo, because who in the fuck does not know who Pat Hill is? Just dont' think evil thoughts about him.

from the article by Zack Jerome:

Reports of the Bulldog faithful chanting “we want SC” after their last victory over Boise State shows how badly Fresno State and coach Tim Hill want this game.

The article might be corrected by tomorrow, but I'm telling you that is one fucked up typo. Unless he confused tight end coach Tim Simmons with Pat Hill, not likely.

'Dogs Crack ESPN Power 16

Fresno State is 15th in the latest ESPN Power 16 poll, ranked just ahead of fellow non-BCS school TCU.

Get the Facts Straight, Cleveland!

from Cleveland.com

More From The Plain Dealer

Games of the Week

Monday, November 14, 2005
No. 16 Fresno State (8-1) at No. 1 USC (10-0), 10:15 p.m.

Fresno State has won six straight by an average of 27 points. USC has won 32 straight. Guess which streak will give? Fresno State could offer the element of surprise - the teams have met only once before, a USC win in 1992.

-WTF? What an idiot, do the research, it is the biggest game of the week and can not even get the facts right. Damn! The winning quarterback of the 1992 Freedom Bowl plays in the f^#k!n& city!

Need More Info....

If the Fresno State Football Blog is not enough, check out the Big Game, it will give you even more links to all the news about the upcoming FS-USC game.

Trojan Fans, Remember, Fresno State Leads 1-0

USC vs Fresno State Preview

A quick preview of the upcoming game from Boi from Troy.

USC Glad to Play Fresno State...yeah right!

USC glad to play Fresno
By Scott Wolf Staff writer Whittier Daily News

...like USC had any other choice besides Fresno State. The Trojans were practically forced to play Fresno State. To think that the former inept Athletic Director's greatest achievement is considered getting this year's game at USC. That is why he is out of a job. I am so glad that dip$h!t is gone. The athletic department finally has a real leader to be proud of in Thomas Boeh.

BCS Rankings Out, 'Dogs 17th

Fresno State jumped a remarkable five spots in the latest Bowl Championship Series rankings. Fresno State is still not getting the respect from the computers, ranked only by two of the six. The Bulldogs remained unranked among the average computer rankings, but the jump to 16th in both the Harris and USA Today Coaches polls have fueled their rise to 17th in the BCS rankings.

USC Wary of the Red Wave?

USC wary of Fresno State's red wave

No time for a letdown for Trojans against No. 16 Bulldogs.

By Phil Collin the daily breeze

McIntyre WAC Defensive Player of the Week

Garrett McIntyre was named the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Fresno State should have swept the offensive award too, but I guess the WAC did not want to give both the awards to Fresno State. Paul Williams 98 yard touchdown reception, alone, should have earned him the WAC Offensive POW. Williams was nominated but finished behind Nevada running back B.J. Mitchell.

Fresno State has had a player earn a WAC POW award every week the Bulldogs have been in action, except for one. The muddy, rain soaked game at New Mexico State was that game, but running backs Bryson Sumlin and Wendell Mathis did gain over 100 yards, a piece, rushing in that game.

USC's Head Man said what?

Pete Carroll's quote after the Cal game:

"And," he said, "Fresno may be the best team we've played all year."


That is some respect that is earned, and it is not just words. If I remember correctly, the last time Fresno State played a no. 1 team the head coach didn't even mention the Bulldog's by name. That team the 2003 Oklahoma Sooners, and the coach Bob Stoops.

The Stage is Set...

Southern Cal took care of Cal with ease, 35-10, setting up the huge matchup with Fresno State. The game could not have come at the better time. Texas is gaining ground in the media and polls. Many are saying the Longhorns are the best team in the country, just ask Mr. Corso.

Reggie Bush's Heisman hopes have been on the back burner the last three weeks and he needs a huge game on a national stage against Fresno State to get back in the picture. His teammate Matt Leinart could repeat as the Heisman winner, but both seem to be trailing Texas quarterback Vince Young.

A Fresno State win would be the shock heard round the world. It would be the biggest upset on a national stage since probation struck Miami upset UCLA in 1998. That Miami team like the this year's Fresno State was very talented but not given the chance to beat the unbeaten Bruins.

UCLA's loss at Miami, the first week of December, cost them a shot at the national championship in the Fiesta Bowl. Granted Fresno State's name does not carry the weight of Miami, so in theory the Bulldogs win would be bigger, especially considering the magnitude of two time defending national champion USC.

I am sure the Trojan faithful could not have fathom back in February how important this week's game with the Bulldogs would be. USC is not getting a tune up prior to facing UCLA. The Trojans will be in a dog fight and it will take an all out effort to lay a big on Fresno State.

Since Alabama lost style points are not needed. USC just needs to win out, but anything less than a 21 point by USC over the Bulldogs will have many thinking..............

What Lies Ahead........

A flash of the Trojan history, tradition, and all that BS.....

<bgsound src="http://ajsportsbar.com/pac10/USC__Fight_On.mp3" loop="1">

....with all that said what an amazing win Fresno State can get November 19 in the Coliseum.

"This is a Man's Offense!"

Boise State vs Fresno State highlights, over 9 minutes of rejoice, direct link here. File is quite large, may take a while to load, and you need Divx Codec to view.

As if the 'Dogs Needed Proof........

( pic courtesy of Steven Castaneda)

Does Fresno State Belong in the Gang of Six?

Heismanpundit has a theory on college football that has caught the attention of college football bloggers. The theory stems from the idea that complex offensive schemes will be the next wave of college football dominance.

Precisely six schools have broken away from the rest of college football with their specific scheme. His "Gang of Six" theory caught the attention of the College Football Resource and has many other fans wondering why their school is not among the six. HP and CFR have been put on the defensive this year. The Gang has not done so hot in 2005 compared to their great run last year. HP has even gone so far to put one of his original six on probation for changing the offense.

Fresno State just beat the heck out of one member of the Gang and have another next week. Does Fresno State belong among the Six? There are some basic principles a team has to meet to be included in this group, but just look at number two.

More Pics

"Coach! We can't move the ball!"
NFL Pro Bowl Fullback and Fresno State Alum Lorenzo Neal
Cam "Awaiting Trial" Hall

I never thought I would have seen Hall at Bulldog Stadium, considering he was suspended for the season back in May for his involvment in a accident that resulted in the death of three people.

Lorenzo? Predicition for the game?

Raining 'Dogs

BOXSCORE

Boise State's running back Jeff Carpenter raced 67 yards on the second play from scrimmage, as the Broncos jumped out to early 7-0 lead just :47 into the game. It would be the only carry Carpenter would have in the game and the only points Boise State would score on the night.

In a driving rainstorm, Fresno State totaled over 300 yards of total offense in the first half alone and built a commanding 27-7 lead at the break. Wendell Mathis averaged over 10 yards per carry on his first seven carries, including a 15 yard touchdown run that tied up the score at 7. He finished with 121 yards, his fourth straight game with at least 100 yards rushing.

Paul Pinegar had his second straight 300 yard passing day and had two touchdowns throws, both to The Freak Paul Williams. Pinegar broke David Carr's career touchdown record with his 29 yard touchdown pass to Williams in the second quarter.

The highlight of the game, which also was named #2 on ESPN's top 10, was Williams record breaking 98 yard touchdown reception. Pinegar launched the bomb from the two yard line and found an open Williams in stride. Williams shook off a tackle from Boise State's free safety Marty Tadman, like he was nothing more than a rag doll, and cruised into the endzone. That play was the dagger and killed just about any momentum Boise State had in the first half.

Kyle Zimmerman added two field goals to complete the scoring.

Gameday

(Photo Courtesy of Laura's Eye Photography)- 1430 ESPN

Boise State (7-2) at (20) Fresno State (7-1) - 8:00 p.m. (et) ESPN HD

Boise State travels to Fresno State for a Thursday night ESPN contest between two teams that are 5-0 in WAC play. It's the latest into the season that two teams with no conference losses have played each other since Arizona State (4-0) beat Brigham Young (5-0), 24-13, on November 12, 1977. Both teams are currently riding impressive winning streaks. Boise State has won its last seven games overall and a WAC-record 31 consecutive conference games. Fresno State has a six-game winning streak and has won its last 10 WAC games. The Bulldogs' last conference loss came last year at Boise State, 33-16. -wacsports.com

GAMEDAY

Has there been a bigger game at Bulldog Stadium than the one that will take place tonight? Fresno State has hosted top ten teams in the past and other ranked teams including #20 Boise State in 2003. Cal and BYU were big home games in the past, and who could forget Marshall Faulk and San Diego State in 1993. The 63-37 win capped the Bulldogs WAC championship season. Maybe only the 2001 game against #10 Oregon State could rank side by side with today's game.

The hype has carried over to the ticket office, where it looks like just standing room only tickets will be available for today's game. The 5pm start will make it difficult for everyone to be in their seats by kickoff, but there should be no excuses. There has not been a game this big with so much on the line in a long time. In 2001 a packed house showed up on a Friday night to see the Bulldogs and Broncos. That game was moved to a weekday from a Saturday just weeks before kickoff. This year the Thursday kickoff has been on thcalendarer since the summer, no freakin excuses.

After the game join Paul and the gang at the 1430 ESPN tailgate for post game interviews and live post game talk. It is located on the third baseline of Beiden Field and has some great fanfare. Props to 1430 ESPN owner and former Bulldog nose guard Chris Pacheco for bringing the tailgating experience at Bulldogs Stadium to a whole other level.

TALKIN SMACK

Boise State defensive tackle Alex Guerrero was talking a little trash to local TV about the preseason hype Fresno State always gets. It seems Guerrero is a little jealous that ESPN analyst Mark May is always on the Bulldogs nuts.

Hey Mr. Guerrero if you and your boys would actually beat someone else other than a WAC school, maybe the love will go your way. As it stands Boise State had one chance to get the nation's attention and failed miserably at Georgia.

It is really a shame for the Broncos because they are a good team. The Broncos are not getting any respect nationally and a win over the Bulldogs would be huge.

Despite not winning a WAC title this decade, Fresno State is still considered the class of the conference. A win today would finally give them a ring to actually show it.

INJURIES

Linebacker Ahijah Lane (ankle), defensive tackle Jason Shirley (ankle), and kicker Clint Stitser (hip flexor) are all questionable for today's game. Joe Fernandez is still nursing a sore ankle but should play against the Broncos.

NCAA 06 PREDICTION

According to Sony Playstation's NCAA Football 06 Fresno State comes out on top for the first time in five years. Adam Jennings breaks open a scoreless ball game with a 48 yard punt return for a touchdown. Paul Pinegar adds a 16 yard touchdown pass to Jaron Fairman for a commanding 14-0 lead.

Boise State strikes back fast with a 76 yard drive in just 3 plays. Jared Zabransky finds a wide open Derek Schouman for a 61 yard touchdown pass. The Broncos tack on a field goal with only 15 seconds remaining in the half and cut the Bulldog lead to 14-10.

After a great kickoff return to the Bulldog 40 yard line, Paul Pinegar finds a streaking Fairman on a post pattern. Fairman breaks two tackles at the Boise 30 yard line and races to the endzone for the 60 yard touchdown. Bulldogs up 21-10 at the half.

Fresno State holds the Broncos scoreless in the second half, and Pinegar caps the scoring with a 1 yard sneak in the beginning of the fourth quarter. The defense stood tall intercepting three Zabransky passes, including one in the endzone, preserving the 28-10 win.

Stitser Named a Finalist for Groza

Injured sophomore kicker Clint Stitser has been named one of the twenty finalists for the Lou Groza Award. In just his first year as a starter, Stitser has become one of the premier kickers in the country. He has hit on 10-12 field goals this year, despite missing the last two games with an injury.