So right now you̢۪re probably looking to refund those season tickets you just bought.
But, before making any hasty decisions, let̢۪s take a look at the situation at hand.
Yes, this was the biggest game in Bulldog Stadium history and no, Fresno State did not come out victorious.
Are the BCS dreams probably gone? Yes.
But, just because Fresno State will most likely not be playing in a BCS bowl game does not mean the whole school should just desert the team.
Let̢۪s put it in perspective.
Fresno State is still looking for its first outright conference title since 1999, there are still 10 games left this season and the Bulldogs only lost by three points to a top 10 team.
Plus, the old Timeout is back!
See, things are starting to look better aren̢۪t they?
And if you think Pat Hill is discouraged by the loss, nothing could be further from the truth. He is just hoping people will still show up for games this season.
Joseph Edgecomb / The Collegian
“We still got a lot of season left,â€Â Hill said. “College football is a playoff that starts week one and one loss can’t end the whole season for you and it’s not going to end it for us.â€Â
Hill even went so far as to say he believes freshman Kevin Goessling, who was 1-for-4 on field goals Saturday night, will be the best kicker to ever come through Fresno State.
Now if that̢۪s not optimism, I don̢۪t know what is.
Quarterback Tom Brandstater̢۪s mood isn̢۪t exactly optimistic right now, but he̢۪s not going to dwell on the loss either.
He has been a part of several heartbreaking games in his three-year career as a starter, but said this loss hurt more than many he could remember.
“The season isn’t lost,â€Â Brandstater said. “It’s going to take the leaders on this team to step up and take over. I’m going take this night and be pissed off and be down about it, but as a member of this team, I have to pick my head up tomorrow and get us rolling in the right direction.â€Â
Ever since the baseball team won its national championship in June, many Fresno State athletic fans have believed the football team̢۪s manifest destiny is to follow suit.
Hate to break it to you, but football doesn̢۪t work like that.
The way things are right now, mid-majors have to run the table to even be considered for a BCS game. There are no Cinderella runs because there̢۪s not a playoff system.
But, that doesn̢۪t mean the Bulldogs can̢۪t play in a respectable bowl game.
Representatives from the Holiday Bowl and Poinsettia Bowl were in attendance Saturday night and were pleased with what they saw from Fresno State.
The Bulldogs were able to hang on to the No. 25 spot in the AP Poll and could play in one of these bowls if they finish strong.
Not too many teams will be able to hold Wisconsin to 13 points this season, I can assure you that.
But, the entire community put so much emotion and stock into this game that you can̢۪t blame fans if things are starting to look dreary.
The Fresno State offense still hasn̢۪t put up any points in the first half of play and the Bulldogs are back on the road for two consecutive games.
Senior tight end Bear Pascoe believes the offense will start to take form soon and said the team will need to have a very short memory this week.
“We just need to put this behind us and after that it’s done,â€Â Pascoe said. “We need to get on to Toledo and we still got a couple games to play and a big season ahead of us.â€Â
The rest of this season could go one of two ways.
Either the Bulldogs mimic their 2006 counterparts and head into a downward spiral, or dust themselves off and pick up a win Saturday night in Toledo.
Just a safe guess, but I think Hill is hoping for the latter.
“It’s not the end of the world,â€Â Hill said. “We’re gonna wake up tomorrow, we’re gonna get back to work, learn from this game and we’re gonna move on. We’ve got a real tough assignment next week at Toledo.â€Â
JSV • Sep 15, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I was disappointed but, the team needs to get over and move on to the next opponent. It was a good game except for the three missed field goals. Fresno State has a dang good Defense so far this year.
JSV • Sep 15, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I was disappointed but, the team needs to get over and move on to the next opponent. It was a good game except for the three missed field goals. Fresno State has a dang good Defense so far this year.
TacoNoodleDinner • Sep 15, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Though I was disappointed at the multitude of lost opportunities, I agree that there were some key important and positive elements that came from the game. YES! Fresno kept a #10 team with a potential Heisman candidate to just 13 points. Way to go DEFENSE!! GRRRRRRR!!! YES! Fresno proved that they will support this kind of event and that they are great hosts in a great town with a superb facility. HOO-HOO. Yes! There is an entire season of football ahead, including a game at UCLA. Can you prove you are winners? YES!! Only real losers would drag their feet and mope at this point. So lift your heads up and know you played a great contest against a great football school, and yes, you could have won the game many times over…but like coach said, it’s not the end of the world. Keep life in perspective. Play hard and play proud.
TacoNoodleDinner • Sep 15, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Though I was disappointed at the multitude of lost opportunities, I agree that there were some key important and positive elements that came from the game. YES! Fresno kept a #10 team with a potential Heisman candidate to just 13 points. Way to go DEFENSE!! GRRRRRRR!!! YES! Fresno proved that they will support this kind of event and that they are great hosts in a great town with a superb facility. HOO-HOO. Yes! There is an entire season of football ahead, including a game at UCLA. Can you prove you are winners? YES!! Only real losers would drag their feet and mope at this point. So lift your heads up and know you played a great contest against a great football school, and yes, you could have won the game many times over…but like coach said, it’s not the end of the world. Keep life in perspective. Play hard and play proud.
LOOKING IN • Sep 15, 2008 at 10:58 am
Initially let me begin by saying that even though I am a Badger fan out here in the desert, my college allegiance is to the California college system, because that’s where I went to school.
So it makes me feel good when some of the quotes from the Wisconsin players after the game indicated their thoughts as ….. having just played at one of the best venues they’ve ever been around, etc, etc. They absolutely loved the fans getting into the game and into their face as they were headed to the field. It was done with restraint and good taste.
F.S.U. is so close to the big time in football you can almost feel it and if your stadium were a little larger……I’ll bet Wisconsin would love a home and home series?
LOOKING IN • Sep 15, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Initially let me begin by saying that even though I am a Badger fan out here in the desert, my college allegiance is to the California college system, because that’s where I went to school.
So it makes me feel good when some of the quotes from the Wisconsin players after the game indicated their thoughts as ….. having just played at one of the best venues they’ve ever been around, etc, etc. They absolutely loved the fans getting into the game and into their face as they were headed to the field. It was done with restraint and good taste.
F.S.U. is so close to the big time in football you can almost feel it and if your stadium were a little larger……I’ll bet Wisconsin would love a home and home series?
Wannabe Bulldog from Chico State • Sep 15, 2008 at 10:42 am
With this game and like many things in life you have to have a short memory. There is not much you can do about Saturday night but learn from those mistakes AND move on. In reality the true test, in my mind, is not how you dwell on a lost contest but are you going to GET UP and get after it AGAIN. I think Fresno State football will respond.
Go ‘Dogs!
Wannabe Bulldog from Chico State
Wannabe Bulldog from Chico Sta • Sep 15, 2008 at 5:42 pm
With this game and like many things in life you have to have a short memory. There is not much you can do about Saturday night but learn from those mistakes AND move on. In reality the true test, in my mind, is not how you dwell on a lost contest but are you going to GET UP and get after it AGAIN. I think Fresno State football will respond.
Go ‘Dogs!
Wannabe Bulldog from Chico State