Bulldogs bust into BCS poll
Staff Reports
The Collegian
With a 6-1 record, the only loss coming to No.13 Oregon, the Bulldogs have cracked the BCS poll for the first time in school history. In the latest rankings, Fresno State is No. 24.
“When I first got here, I said we were bringing big-time football,” head coach Pat Hill said. “We’re not where we want to be but it’s a great accomplishment, especially with the one loss. That says a lot about our guys.”
The Bulldogs are also ranked No. 22 in the USA Today coaches poll. Hill said the BCS ranking has been a long time coming.
“It’s been a building process. It’s taken nine years,” Hill said. “In our first preseason prediction, we were 108 out of 118 [Division I programs.] We started low in the pecking order.”
After the loss at Oregon, the Bulldogs beat their next four opponents by an average margin of 30 points.
The 14-point margin of victory at Hawaii was the lowest since last season’s 27-17 win over Portland State.
“We still have five real tough games left. San Jose State’s coming here with nothing to lose,” Hill said. “It’s not over yet. We have to keep winning and we have to finish [in the BCS poll].”
Also: Wendell Mathis, who rushed for 229 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-13 win over Hawaii, was among five other players nominated for USATODAY.com’s Player of the Week.
This week’s winner was Texas’ Vince Young, who had 506 total yards of offense and four touchdowns in the Longhorns’ 47-26 win over Oklahoma State. His 80-yard run for a score sparked Texas’s comeback in the second half when it was down 19 points.
“Wendell had an awesome game. He was a big spark,” Hill said. “Our backs have done that all season.
We’re very fortunate to have more than one capable back. It’s either one or the other with us. Wendell just had the hot hand that night.”
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