Fresno State

July 19, 1999

94: Fresno State scored 94 points in a 94-17 win over New Mexico in 1991, the most points scored against a major college opponent since 1968. In that game the Bulldogs tied an NCAA record for most points in a quarter with 49 in the second quarter.

200: Former head coach Jim Sweeney celebrated his 200th coaching victory with a 41-7 win over Boise State in 1996. Sweeney was the 16th college coach to reach the 200-win plateau.

Academic Gameplan: A system devised by assistant coach John Baxter, Academic Gameplan is a system that actively involves students in the study process. The system involves ôFundamentals,ö ôMagic of Why,ö ôPower of Howö and the Gameplan Notebook. After two years the number of players and team GPA have risen each semester and the number of student-athletes achieving an academic personal record (highest GPA a student-athlete has achieved in a given semester) reached a high of 28 in the spring of 1998.

Air Raid Siren: When the horn sounds, you had better be ready because the æDogs are coming to play.

All-Americans: 74 Bulldogs have earned All-America honors over the years, including the likes of Kevin Sweeney, Trent Dilfer, Ron Cox, Marquez Pope, Lorenzo Neal and Henry Ellard.

Aloha Bowl: The 1993 Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl is just one of 13 postseason contests the Bulldogs have participated in. Their first bowl game was a 27-26 win over Arkansas State in the 1937 Little All-American Bowl in Los Angeles. In addition, the æDogs made five appearances in the hometown California Bowl. They are 8-5 in bowl games.

ôBeware of Dogsö: The imposing signs greet opposing teams as they make their way into the stadium, reminding them they are in the Doghouse and are in for a fight.

ôBone Yardö: A remembrance of all the great victories of the past and where the opponents are laid to rest.

ôBubbaö: Former ôIn the Heat of the Nightö star and home-grown valley product Allan Autry begins his second year doing color commentary for Bulldog football on KMPH-FOX 26. Autry was a college quarterback and had a brief stint in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers.

Bulldog Caravan: For the third year, coaches and administrative staff will be hitting the road, traveling to neighboring cities like Visalia and Madera to meet with the fans and share opportunities on how to get involved with Fresno State athletics.

Bulldog Foundation: The fundraising arm of Bulldog athletics, the Foundation has been ranked No. 1 in the nation since 1986 for fundraising using an all-volunteer force. This past year the organization topped their goal of raising $7 million, and have raised nearly $50 million since 1971. Monies go toward scholarships, facility and equipment improvements, support services and summer school programs.

Bulldog Shop: All your Fresno State souvenir needs are no more than a few feet away at the Bulldog Shop, located on the corner of Cedar and Barstow. Across from all three stadiums, the store offers every Fresno State item imaginable, including clothing, toys and videos.

Bulldogs: The story goes that in their initial 1921 season, student body president Warren Moody and friends were continually greeted outside the main campus building by a white bulldog. The dog adopted the group and they decided to make him a mascot. Arids Walker made the motion to adopt ôBulldogsö as the official nickname in a student body meeting.

Central Valley: Fresno is located in the heart of Central California, which extends from the Sierra Nevadas on the east to the Coast Ranges on the west û just south of San Francisco and north of Los Angeles. Fresno County population boasts nearly 800,000 people and 4.5 million total in the surrounding areas.

Cheerleaders: No game would be complete with out the Fresno State Cheer Squad out on the field, pumping up the crowd. Tryouts for the squad are held every year and in addition to football, they appear at menÆs and womenÆs basketball, volleyball and other campus and community events.

Community Service: Whether it is signing autographs or visiting children at Valley ChildrenÆs Hospital, the Bulldogs are always out and about representing the team and the University.

Cox, Ron: A 1989 finalist for the Butkus Award (given to the top linebacker), Ron Cox left a mark not only on the Fresno State record books, but also on quite a few opponents. Cox still ranks No. 1 in the Bulldog records books in sacks with 28 during the 1989 season and 50 for his career. A second-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 1990, Cox spent seven seasons with the Bears and two with the Green Bay Packers, including their Super Bowl year of 1996-97.

Dilfer: as in Trent Dilfer. Currently the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Bucaneers, Dilfer was the sixth pick overall in the 1993 NFL draft after an outstanding career with the Bulldogs. Dilfer ranks third in school history in passing yards (7631) and total offense (7785). He holds the single-season record for passing yards with 3799 in 1993.

Dual Sport Athletes: Who says football is life? Three members of the 1998 squad competed in other varsity sports this past year, making for a busy schedule. Sophomore defensive back Tierre Sams competed with the track team in the spring, earning a letter as a sprinter and member of the 4x100 relay squad. Anthony Limbrick played in 7 games with the Bulldog baseball team, making three starts in the outfield. Finally, defensive lineman Ramsey Venner had a brief tour of duty with Jerry TarkanianÆs basketball squad.

Duncan Training Room: A large-scale improvement is underway at the training facilities in the Duncan Athletic Building. Almost complete, the new facilities include more room to accommodate football, soccer and baseball.

Family Ties: Several Bulldogs come from athletic families. Quarterback Billy Volek is the son of John Volek, the head football coach at Sacramento State. Linebacker Giachino ChiaramonteÆs older brother, Giuseppe, was a baseball standout for the æDogs and is currently in the San Francisco Giants minor league system. Linebacker Tim Skipper is the son of Jim Skipper, offensive coordinator with the New York Giants, and his brother, Kelly, is a former Fresno State assistant and is currently an assistant at UCLA.

Family Value Pack: It has never been easier to take the family to a football game thanks to the family value pack offered by the Bulldogs. For just $150, two adults and two children under 18 can enjoy a season of Fresno State Football in a special family section where they wonÆt miss a minute of the action.

Fee Referendum: A referendum passed in April raised student fees to $24 this year. That fee progressively increases by $6 per year through the 2002-2003 school year to a peak of $58 per year, which ranks below the current 22-CSU system average of $67 per year. One third of the money will go to the athletic department, with another third going to the students and one third to financial aid programs.

Freedom Bowl: One of the greatest triumphs in Bulldog football history is the teamÆs 24-7 win over 23rd-ranked USC in the 1992 Freedom Bowl in Anaheim, Calif. The Bulldogs dominated in every statistical category, including yards (405-183), total plays (84-50) and time of possession (37:32-22:28). Fresno State turned in its best defensive effort of the year in the contest, allowing a season-low 183 yards and recording four takeaways.

ôFresnoö: is Spanish for ash. The county was founded in 1856 out of the then Mariposa Territory. Fresno became an incorporated city on October 27, 1885.

Grapes: When people think of Fresno, they think of raisins. Located in one of the most fertile valleys in the world, grapes are just one of the many crops grown in the area. Several of the leading wine makers in the country use grapes from the Fresno area. Fresno State is the only school in the country where you can earn a degree in Entology, the making of wine.

Green ôVö: The green ôVö on the back of the playersÆ helmets is a tribute to the farming community that continues to support the home team. Local businesses were instrumental in raising the funds needed to build the San Joaquin Valley Growers Field, the teamÆs NFL caliber practice facility. The San Joaquin Valley is the worldÆs richest agricultural valley in export dollars.

Green and Gold?: Believe it or not, those were the original school colors of Fresno State Normal School. The green was typical of the vineyards in the spring and the gold was for the Golden State. Several changes in the colors occurred between then and 1921, when the present colors of cardinal and blue were selected. Early yearbooks refer to the colors of ôflame and buffö and orange and gray.

ôThe Hammerö: The large sledge hammer is awarded weekly to Fresno StateÆs outstanding special teams player.

Hillith Fair: Last yearÆs spring game found a new home and a new theme. Thanks to the resodding of Bulldogs Stadium, the game was played at the ponding basin in a carnival-like atmosphere. There was plenty of hard-hitting football, games, contests and prizes to keep the whole family entertained. Look for the same sort of fun this year.

I-5: Once you hit CaliforniaÆs main north-south interstate, Los Angeles is just three hours south and San Francisco is just two hours north, putting Fresno in between two of the largest media markets in the country.

Ladies First: Four of the first five Athletic Directors at Fresno State were women. The BulldogsÆ first AD was Josephine Woodfine who held the position from 1911-1912, followed by Marion Gay (1913-1914), Mary Isabelle Bovee (1914-1919) and Imogene Kriskey (1919-1921). It is unknown who held the position from 1912-1913.

Little Heroes: A popular program with the community, student athletes are matched up with children in the area and correspond with them, attend functions together and work to build positive relationships. Each semester culminates in a party for the student-athletes and participants.

ôLvcem Accipe Vt Reddasö: The school motto, it translates to: ôReceive the light that you may give it forth.ö

Neal, Lorenzo: The fourth-round draft pick of the New Orleans Saints in 1993 was a two-sport athlete while at Fresno State. In addition to ranking fourth in school history with 2,405 rushing yards, Neal was a two-time WAC wrestling champion at heavyweight and was an All-American in 1992 after finishing 7th at the NCAA Championships.

The ôNewö WAC: This yearÆs Western Athletic Conference will feature eight teams: Hawaii, San Jose State, Rice, Tulsa, TCU, SMU, UTEP and the Bulldogs. Last year the eight remaining WAC teams won 11 of the conferenceÆs 21 team championships. Fresno State joined the WAC in 1992.

NFL: On any given Sunday you are bound to see a former Bulldog making tackles and scoring touchdowns in the NFL. During the 1990Æs, 22 Fresno State athletes have been taken in the NFL draft, more than any other WAC school. In 1999, defensive back Cory Hall was a third-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Out of breath?: You shouldnÆt be. Fresno is just 328 feet above sea level.

Pat Hill: Now in his third year at Fresno State, head coach Pat Hill continues to implement plans to work toward his vision of where the Bulldogs should be, a national power. His unique and tireless efforts to raise funds have resulted in a new practice facility and have allowed record numbers of student-athletes to attend summer school in pursuit of their degrees. An assistant for the æDogs from 1984-89, Hill came back to Fresno after five years in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens. Hill is a 1973 graduate of UC Riverside where he was a three-time all-conference center.

Paw Prints: YouÆll never lose your way to the stadium thanks to a trail of paw prints that lead right to the field. The prints line the bike paths on Cedar and Bulldog Lane, leading right into the stadiumÆs south entrance.

Pigskin Classic: In 1994 the Bulldogs faced Ohio State in the Disneyland« Pigskin Classic V in Anaheim, Calif. The æDogs were invited to the preseason game after an 8-4 season and appearance in the Aloha Bowl in 1993. The Buckeyes won the game, 34-10.

Quarterback Club: A supportive arm of the team, the club allows fans to get an insider preview of the happenings with the team. Special perks of club membership include weekly luncheons during the season, organized trips to road games and fundraising opportunities.

Red Wave: Fresno StateÆs fans are known as some of the most vocal and loyal supporters in the country. For instance, in 1992 almost 30,000 Red Wavers made the trip from Fresno to the Freedom Bowl to cheer on the æDogs.

>Retired Numbers: Over the 76 years the Bulldogs have put a team on the field, four players have had their numbers retired: halfback Dale Messer (No. 21), placekicker Vince Petrucci (No. 14), split end Henry Ellard (No. 83), and quarterback Kevin Sweeney (No. 9).

Schedule: No one can accuse the æDogs of hiding from the æbig boysö as they tackle some of college footballÆs biggest powers over the next few years. This year the æDogs will travel to the Rose Bowl to take on UCLA on September 18 with a return engagement set for next season. In 2000 the Bulldogs will open the season at Big Ten power Ohio State and will host another Big Ten school, Wisconsin, in 2001.

Sears Cup: The Bulldogs have finished in the Top 50 for the past five years in the annual competion sponsored by Sears and the National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors. This year the Bulldogs were 45th, accumulating 200 points. Schools earn points based on finishes in NCAA tournaments.

Smittcamp Alumni House: Ground was broken in the fall of 1998 on the Smittcamp Alumni House, expected to be completed in the fall of 1999. The 10,000-foot structure will bring the campus and community together with the alumni associationÆs offices, conference rooms, reception and social areas and an alumni library. Earl and Muriel Smittcamp, owners of Wawona Orchards, donated $1 million to the project.

Snow: Despite the 100-degree summers and relatively mild winters, snow has been known to make an appearance in Fresno. During the winter of 1998-99, Fresno recorded two snowfalls, the first in 30 years. If a few flakes every few years isnÆt enough for you, skiing facilities are just an hourÆs drive away in the Sierra Nevadas.

Strength and Conditioning Center: Fresno State athletes have the opportunity to work out in one of the finest conditioning centers on the West Coast since the opening of the new Center in the summer of 1996.

Sweeney, Jim: A legend among Bulldog coaches, Sweeney was at the æDogs helm for 19 years until his retirement in 1996. Over that span he accumulated 143 wins, eight conference championships and five bowl titles. By the end of the 1996 season he was 16th among Division I-AÆs all-time winningest coaches with 200 victories.

Sweeney, Kevin: A quarterback for the Bulldogs from 1983-86, Sweeney set or tied a total of 30 school, conference and NCAA records. He finished his career in 1986 as the all-time leading passer in NCAA history (10,623 yards), breaking the previous mark of 10,579 set by Doug Flutie. Sweeney, who finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy balloting his senior year, still holds Fresno State career records for touchdown passes (69) and total offense (10,421 yards).

ôThumbs Upö: a symbol devised by head coach Pat Hill, the rhythmic motion of the thumbs up symbol in time with the band is a growing tradition involving the crowd in crucial parts of the game.

Torch of Excellence: Each year student-athletes are honored at the banquet, sponsored by the Fresno area Kiwanis, for their academic achievements. This past spring 33 members of the football team were honored as Fresno State Scholar Athletes, WAC Scholar Athletes, Academic All-WAC selections and/or DeanÆs List members.

Tower District: In the heart of downtown Fresno, the revitalized Tower District is home to some of the cityÆs finest dining and entertainment establishments. Concerts, theater and other recreational activities can be found in the area.

Used Cars: Anyone need a car? Head coach Pat Hill sure hopes so. Twice a year Hill teams up with local dealerships to hold a large used car sale on the Fresno State campus. The brainchild of coach Hill, for every car sold the dealers donate $100 to the Bulldog football program. Through two sales, one in July of 1998 and one in March, $60,000 was raised to send players to summer school.

Victory No. 1: According to Fresno State records, the BulldogsÆ first win came in their first official game in 1921. The 12-0 victory at Cal Tech was one of three wins that year. The æDogs defeated Cal Tech again, 12-0, at home and Modesto JC, 28-0.

Walk-ons: Who says you need a scholarship to have an outstanding career? Some of the æDogs most successful players started out as walkons. 1998 WAC Offensive Player of the Year Jaime Kimbrough walked on to the program in 1995 and later earned a scholarship. Receiver Eric Mahanke, currently with the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL, went from a walk-on to one of the teamÆs top pass catchers in 1998.

Wide Receiver U: Fresno State is known for producing some of the top receiver talent in the country, including All-Americans Henry Ellard, Ron Jenkins, Brock Smith, David Dunn and Charlie Jones. Ellard set an NCAA record in 1982 with 1,510 receiving yards that season and was a second round draft choice of the Los Angeles Rams. Other receivers who have been tabbed by the NFL in recent years include Dunn, Jones, Jahine Arnold, Malcolm Floyd, Kelvin Means, Latario Rachal, Brian Roberson and Tydus Winans.

Yosemite: Just 90 minutes north of Fresno you will find the scenic beauty of Yosemite National Park. With the Sierra Nevadas just an hour away and Sequoia National Forest two hours south, some of the countryÆs best camping, skiing and natural wonders are just a short drive away.