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Nov. 14, 2005
No. 16 Fresno State (8-1, 6-0 WAC) vs. No. 1 USC (10-0, 7-0 Pac-10)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 19
Kickoff: 7:15 p.m. PT
Site: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (92,000)
Radio: KMJ (AM 580); Dog Talk at 5 p.m.; Countdown to Kickoff (6:30 p.m.)
Play-by-Play: Bill Woodward; Analyst: Mark Barsotti; Sideline: Ron Shapley
Television: Fox Sports Net (Comcast Cable Channel 14)
Play-by-Play: Barry Tompkins; Analyst: Petros Papadakis; Sideline: Jim Watson
Up Next
In one of the most anticipated games in Bulldog history, Fresno State will play two-time defending national champion USC. It's the first meeting between these two schools in the regular season.
Television Tale
Saturday night's contest will be televised live locally on Comcast Cable (channel 14) and nationally on selected Fox Sports Net affiliates choosing to air the game. For satellite cable subscribers, tune to channel 452 (DISH network) and channels 652 or 655 (DIRECT TV). In addition, Comcast Cable (channel 14) will air a replay of the 1992 Freedom Bowl on Saturday at 3 p.m. that will preced the game at 7:15 p.m.
Dogs Climbing Polls
Fresno State made a significant jump in national polls moving up to No. 16 this week in both the AP poll and USA Today Coaches Poll this week. The Dogs picked up four positions in both polls. The Dogs also advanced four spots in the Harris Interactive Poll, ranking 16th this week. This is the highest Fresno State has been ranked since 2001, when the Dogs peaked at No. 8, the highest ranking in program history.
About the Trojans
USC is ranked No. 1 in the nation by all polls and has won the last two national championships. At 10-0, the Trojans are looking for their second straight perfect season and have won 32 consecutive games, the longest streak in the nation as well as the longest in Pac-10 history. Matt Leinhart, the 2004 Heisman Trophy Award winner, leads a powerful Trojan offense that averages 577.6 yards and 48.4 points per game. Adding to the USC firepower are running backs Reggie Bush and LenDale White, who each have rushed for more than 1,000 yards and receiver Dwayne Jarrett, who has caught 14 touchdown passes and has more than 1,000 yards through the air.
Series History
There has been just one game in this series, a 24-7 win by Fresno State in the 1992 Freedom Bowl, considered by many to be the most significant win in the history of the program.
Taking on No. 1
This is the second the Bulldogs will play against a No. 1 ranked team. The Bulldogs played at No. 1 Oklahoma on Sept. 13, 2003, a game the Sooners won 55-28.
Fast Start
This is the best start (8-1) by a Bulldog team since 1991. That season, the Dogs finished with a 10-1 regular season record.
Streaking
Fresno State enters this week having won 14 of its last 15 games dating back to last season. The only setback was a three-point loss (37-34) at No. 10 Oregon. In their the last 15 games, Fresno State is averaging 45.9 points per game in since starting that run. The Dogs' defense has been equally impressive, allow just 16.4 points per game. The Dogs have won 11 straight WAC games.
Media Advisory - Schedule Update
The Bulldogs will leave Fresno State Thursday night after practice and bus to Los Angeles. Fresno State will headquarter at the Hilton Los Angeles/Glendale (818) 956-5466. The Bulldogs will hold a walk-through at the Los Angeles Coliseum at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18. Head coach Pat Hill will be available to the media briefly before the walk through. The team will return to Fresno immediately after the game.
Breaking the Broncos
The Bulldogs continued to dominate WAC competition with a 20-point win over three-time WAC champion Boise State. It snapped the Broncos' 31-game WAC winning streak. After allowing a touchdown on the game's second play, Fresno State's defense was stellar, shutting out the Broncos for the remainder of the game and holding them to a season-low 292 total yards. Boise State entered the game ranked No. 8 in the NCAA scoring offense and No. 15 nationally in rushing yards. Paul Pinegar threw for 307 yards and found Paul Williams for two touchdowns, including a school-record 98-yard play.
Defensive Dogs
For the second straight year, the Bulldog defense is the class of the WAC. Fresno State's defense ranks 8th in the NCAA in scoring average (14.8 ppg). In WAC games, the Dogs are allowing just 10.8 ppg. Fresno State is 17st nationally in total defense, allowing just 305.6 yards per game. For the season, the Dogs have allowed a WAC-low seven rushing touchdowns while leading the WAC with a 3.5 yard per rush average. Fresno State is 14th in the NCAA with 28 quarterback sacks.
Who's Conservative?
For an offense that has been described by some as "conservative", the Bulldogs are averaging 40.4 points per game this season, good for fifth amongst NCAA teams. This marks the third time since the Dogs joined the WAC they have averaged 40 points per game or better. Last season, Fresno State averaged 40.2 points per game, and in 2001, the Bulldogs averaged 40.0 points per game, setting a single season school record with 560 points. Fresno State has scored at least 50 points in six of its last 15 games.
Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere...Literally
Under Pat Hill's tenure, Fresno State has taken this motto to new heights, especially "where" the Bulldog will play their games. Since Hill became head coach and beefed-up the Bulldog non-conference schedule, they haven't dodged anyone. In most cases, the Bulldogs have to hit the road to play BCS conference schools. Of the Bulldogs' 29 non-conference games under Hill, 19 have been on the road at places like UCLA, Ohio State, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Colorado, Oklahoma, Washington, Kansas State and of course, Oregon. Fresno State has never had more than two non-conference home games under Hill, and has twice played three non-conference road games in a season.
Hill Climbs Career Victory List
Pat Hill's win total with the Bulldogs stands at 72, the second-most in program history. Only Jim Sweeney, for whom Hill was an assistant from 1984-89, has more wins. The legendary Sweeney, who served as Fresno State's head coach from 1976-77 and 1980-96, had 143.
Location, Location, Location
While the Bulldogs have scored a lot of points this season, their total offensive numbers are not as eye-popping. Thanks to outstanding defense and excellent special teams, the Bulldogs average drive start has been their own 41 yard line. Of Fresno State's 112 drives this season, 40 have started in opponent territory.
Jennings Jukes
Senior Adam Jennings is the only player in the nation to be ranked in the NCAA top 10 in both kickoff return and punt returns. Jennings averages 30.7 yards per kickoff return, third-best in the NCAA, and 15.3 yards per punt return, No. 9 in the NCAA rankings. He's averaged 18.6 yards every time he's touched the ball this season.
Best in the West This Decade
In the last five years, Fresno State has established itself as one of the best college football programs on the West Coast. Only Boise State has more victories than the Bulldogs. The top three teams on this list are on Fresno State's schedule this year. Here is a breakdown of the five schools with the most wins in the Western United States this decade (includes all Division 1-A teams in the Pacific, Mountain and Hawaiian Time Zones).
Pinegar Leads WAC, Among NCAA Leaders
Senior quarterback Paul Pinegar is off to an excellent start of the season. Through nine games, he leads the WAC in passing efficiency and 10th in the NCAA in pass efficiency (155.5). Last week he broke David Carr's career touchdown record (70). Pinegar set a University of Oregon Autzen Stadium record by completing 33 passes and established a career high of 418 passing yards in the Dogs 37-34 loss to the Ducks. It was the first 400-yard passing game for Fresno State since the 2001 season. He had 458 yards of total offense against Oregon, the sixth-best total in Fresno State history, and the ninth-best game in the nation this season.
Pinegar Among Program Best
Fresno State has been blessed with some outstanding signal callers who have produced in many ways. One way a quarterback is judged is how effective a leader he is and in how he helps his team win. Paul Pinegar is in excellent company in that regard, winning over 78 percent of the games he has started, the second-best number in program history. Pinegar has several quality wins, including No. 13 Kansas State, No. 18 Virginia, No. 22 Colorado State, Washington, Georgia Tech and UCLA, the latter two coming in bowl games. In fact, Pinegar is 3-0 in bowl games and 6-3 against BCS opponents.
Rocket Richard
Richard Marshall is making a habit out of making big plays on defense. The junior cornerback has three interception returns for touchdowns in his career, already a program record, and his 205 return yards last season set a school single-season record. Marshall has nine career interceptions for 305 and is within shouting distance of the program record of 340, set by Rod Webster (1984-87). Marshall ranks third in the WAC in interceptions and second the WAC in fumble recoveries this season.
