Aug. 4, 2008

FRESNO, Calif. - While Pat Hill doesn't relish all of the pressure and expectations heaped onto his football team, he's also not one to back down from a challenge.

Heading into the 2008 season the Fresno State Bulldogs are ranked No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Some are saying Fresno State will be the next team to break into a BCS bowl. That's fine with Hill, who enters his 12th season as head coach and has built a nationally respected program.

"It goes with the territory," said Hill. "We are going to have a good football team and I think our reputation nationally has grown to the point that people have high expectations for our program. I'd rather not have a target on our chest, but we can't do much about that. Our goals remain the same. We want to play as tough a schedule as we can and play our way into a BCS game. That won't change."

To win the WAC and reach a BCS game, the Dogs will have to navigate a treacherous path. Of the first four games, three will be on the road at tough venues. Three of the games are against teams that are in the Top 25 or receiving votes. Wisconsin, the Bulldogs home opener on September 13, is ranked No. 12 while Rutgers is receiving votes and ranked 29th and UCLA is receiving three votes.

The Dogs open the season on September 1 at Big East powerhouse, Rutgers and then host Wisconsin at Bulldog Stadium. The Badgers will be the first Big Ten team to play in the Valley. The Dogs then travel to Toledo and UCLA for back-to-back road games. The WAC schedule will again prove challenging to the very end, where Fresno State plays at Boise State in the season finale.

"We are used to playing a tough schedule," said Hill. "Our players like it. They love the challenge. But we have to take care of business every time out. That's the thing about college football. Our playoffs begin on Labor Day. We are looking forward to the challenge."

Also on the home schedule this year is last year's WAC champion Hawai'i, who represented the WAC in the Sugar Bowl. Idaho, Nevada and New Mexico State also visit Bulldog Stadium. Other WAC road games are Utah State, Louisiana Tech, San Jose State and Boise State.

Rutgers: 1 p.m. ESPN
Head Coach: Greg Shiano
2007 Record: 8-5 (3-4 Big East)
Starters Returning: 15 (7 offense and 8 defense)
Key Returner: Mike Teel, quarterback. Last year he set a school record with 20 passing touchdowns. He is 21-8 as a starter and last season became the second player in school history with three consective 300-yard games and six for his career. Teel completed 203-of-349 passes for 3,147 yards and ranked 17th nationally in passing efficiency.
Key Note: Last year the Rutgers defense ranked fifth nationally in pass defense, 12th in sacks, 20th in tackles for loss, 16th in pass efficiency defense 17th in total defense and 30th in scoring defense.

Wisconsin: 7:30 p.m. ESPN 2
Head Coach: Bret Bielema
2007 Record: 9-4 (5-3 Big Ten)
Starters Returning: 17 (8 offense, 9 defense)
Key Returner: Travis Beckum, Tight End. Last year he played in all 13 games and was a finalist for the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end. Beckum earned First Team All-American honors by Walter Camp and Rivals.com and Second team All-American honors by The Sporting News. He led the nation in receiving by tight ends in receiving yards with 982.
Key Note: This is the second straight year the Badgers have started the season ranked in the Top 15 and the fifth time in school history.

Toldeo: 4 p.m. BSN
Head Coach: Tom Amstulz
2007 Record: 5-7 (3-5 conference)
Starters Returning: 15 (6 offense, 8 defense, 1 specialist)
Key Returner: Barry Church, had 163 tackles and seven interceptions last year. He earned All-MAC First Team honors and this year was named to the Nagurski and Jim Thorpe watch list.
Key Note: Toldeo was picked to finish fourth in the MAC's West Division.

UCLA: 12:30 p.m. ABC
Head Coach: Rick Neuheisel
2007 Record: 6-7 (5-4)
Starters Returning: 5
Key Returner: Kahili Bell, tailback. Bell led the Bruins in rushing last year 795 yards on 142 attempts. He had a team-high five touchdowns in just eight games.
Key Note: Last year UCLA averaged a school record 76,379 fans a game at the Rose Bowl.

Hawai'i: 7 p.m.
Head Coach: Greg McMackin
2007 Record: 12-1 (8-0)
Starters Returning: 12 (4 offense, 5 defense, 3 specialists)
Key Returner: Adam Leonard, Linebacker. Last year he garnered First Team All-WAC honors as he had 105 tackles and 11.5 tackles for a loss. He also had four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.
Key Note: Fresno State leads the overall series 20-19-1.

Idaho: 7 p.m. BSN
Head Coach: Rob Akey
2007 Record: 1-11 (0-8 WAC)
Starters Returning: 20 (11 offense, 5 defense, 4 special teams)
Key Returner: Adam Korby, Center. He was voted to the Rimington Watch List, which honors the nation's best center, for the third straight year. He has started every game in his career at Idaho.
Key Note: Idaho has 43 letterman returning to this years team.

Utah State: 12 p.m. BSN
Head Coach: Brent Guy
2007 Record: 2-10 (2-6 WAC)
Starters Returning: 17
Key Returner: Jake Hutton is the top returning tackler as he had 102 last year.
Key Note: Utah State defeated the Bulldogs 13-12 in Logan in 2006.

Louisiana Tech: 11:30 a.m. BSN
Head Coach: Derek Dooley
2007 Record: 6-7 (4-4 WAC)
Starters Returning: 13 (8 offense, 5 defense, 2 specialists)
Key Returner: Patrick Jackson, running back. Last year he led the Bulldogs with 950 yards rushing and eight touchdowns while also recording 227 yards receiving on 31 receptions with one touchdown.
Key Note: The last time the two teams met in Ruston, Fresno State came away with a 34-27 victory.

Nevada: 6 p.m. ESPN 2
Head Coach: Chris Ault
2007 Record: 6-7 (4-4 WAC)
Starters Returning: 14 (8 offense, 5 defense, 1 specialist)
Key Returner: Luke Lippincott, running back. Last year he rushed for 1,420 yards on 267 rushes and touchdowns. He earned First Team All-WAC honors.
Key Note: Nevada has nonconference home games vs. Texas Tech, Boise State and Grambling State.

New Mexico State: 2 p.m.
Head Coach: Hal Mumme
2007 Record: 4-9 (1-7 WAC)
Starters Returning: 15 (8 offense, 7 defense)
Key Returner: Chase Holbrook, quarterback. This year Holbrook was named to the Davey O'Brien Watch List. Last year he passed for 3,866 yards, 26 touchdowns and averaged 322.2 yards a game through the air. He was fifth in the nation in passing yards per game, second in pass completions and fourth in pass completion percentage.
Key Note: Fresno State leads the overall series 14-0.

San Jose State: 6:30 p.m. ESPN 2
Head Coach: Dick Tomey
2007 Record: 5-7 (4-4 WAC)
Starters Returning: 15
Key Returner: Kevin Jurovich, wide receiver. Last year he caught 85 balls for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns. He earned Second Team All-WAC honors this year.
Key Note: San Jose State was picked to finish fifth in the WAC.

Boise State: 3 p.m. ESPN 2
Head Coach: Chris Petersen
Starters Returning: 12 (4 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams)
Key Returner: Ian Johnson, running back. Last year he rushed for 1,087 yards on 207 carries while tallying 16 touchdowns. For his career, Johnson has rushed for 3,463 yards and 45 touchdowns, while catching 37 passes for 388 yards and two touchdowns.
Key Note: Boise State leads the overall series 6-4 and was picked to finish first in the WAC by the media.

"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The first Big Ten team will travel to the Valley as the `Dogs take on Wisconsin in the home opener on Saturday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m. The game can be seen nationally on ESPN2. Be sure to reserve your seat for the Wisconsin game by purchasing a season ticket, family plan or 3-game mini plan for just $99. In the month of August, get your official Wisconsin game day t-shirt at the Bulldog Shop for only $10 with any purchase. To purchase tickets, click on the tickets icon at the top of this page, call the Bulldog Ticket Office at (559) 278-DOGS, or stop by the Bulldog Ticket Office.