Some are of the opinion that the Bulldogs shouldn’t be playing BCS teams like Wisconsin, Oregon or the like. That they should schedule more FCS teams like Portland State, Sacramento State or UC Davis, in other words “tune-up” games.
With all the complains about Fresno State not getting any national respect, especially with running back Ryan Mathews being the nation’s leading rusher, that opinion surprises some. If you’re getting little respect now, why lessen that by scheduling easy non-conference games?
Then again, it seems in this day in age, it’s all about making a bowl game at the end of the season. Not just any bowl game either, teams want to make a respectable bowl game.
Pat Hill and company have decided to stay on the path he created when he was named the head coach at Fresno State back in December 1996. He’s continued to schedule the tough teams and continues to be unwavering in his beliefs, even being under the most criticism in his tenure.
The question, if Fresno State continues to lose non-conference games like they did against Wisconsin and Cincinnati, becomes will Pat Hill remain the head coach at Fresno State or will they look to go in another direction?
I recently talked to Paul Loeffler, the voice of the Fresno State Bulldogs, about this very subject and he is of the opinion that Hill will survive this.
“Hill will be the head coach through the rest of his contract, said Loeffler. “If this team and the 2010 team perform to their potential, I think he'll be offered an extension.”
Tell that to a lot of Fresno State fans and you can just imagine how many of them would roll their eyes or wonder why Hill deserves an extension. Their focus continues to be on the lack of an outright WAC title.
Most of the complaints you’ll hear is on the types of teams Hill schedules.
You’ll hear a lot of fans wanting Fresno State to back off teams like Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Wisconsin and schedule teams that they can more easily compete with like San Diego State, UNLV, and Wyoming among a few others.
What does that accomplish?
Do you as fans really want Hill to lessen the schedule just to pad the record and perhaps get into a better bowl game at the end of the season?
If you’re wanting a WAC title so badly, schedule teams that will teach you how to get up for a big game. Schedule teams that will challenge you and make you play above and beyond what you’re used to playing.
Why schedule teams below your level?
What exactly does that teach a team like Fresno State?
If you’re blowing out teams that are below your level of ability just to face the “Big Boys”, you won’t be ready for what kind of competition they bring to the table.
So, where does Fresno State go from here?
The same place they’ve been since Pat Hill became the head coach. They’ll continue to schedule the touch non-conference games and they’ll continue to be consistent.
Fresno State can win the big games; it’s just a matter of discipline and making the big plays when it matters.
“Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime.” Get used to that mantra, because it’s not going away anytime soon.
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