The Bulldogs will say so long to 2007 in Idaho while playing in the Humanitarian Bowl.

The opponent: Georgia Tech (7-5).

The list of injured Bulldogs is pretty lengthy, with the most notable being top running back Ryan Mathews, out with a torn muscle. That injury will force the Bulldogs to play their bowl game without him.

Sure the Bulldogs have a chance, but without Mathews, it̢۪s going to be tough.

Defense will have to step it up and stop Georgia Tech̢۪s top running back Tashard Choice, who has 1,310 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns.

In the last seven games, Choice averaged 131.9 yards per game and is the leading rusher in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

The pay-out for this bowl game is a pretty $750,000, so despite the outcome, Fresno State athletics will get a good chunk of change.

Of course its no $17 million, but it̢۪s better than nothing.

Also representing the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in a bowl game is 12-0 Hawaii. They will play the University of Georgia Bulldogs in the Nokia Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

That game has a payout of $17 mil.

Hawaii̢۪s success is awesome and they make the WAC look good. Not that that would mean anything to anyone else, but it̢۪s a pretty big deal.

The Sugar Bowl ranks up there with the Rose Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl.

It would be pretty fabulous if one day we could get there.

Being an optimist gives me the ability to hope and imagine that anything is possible.

Until that day comes though, we take what we can get and make the most out of it.

For all the injuries and struggles the Bulldogs suffered this season, they sure have come a long way.

And what could be better then celebrating the last day of year cheering for the ̢۪Dogs at Bronco Stadium.