Bulldogs are more a threat than USC thinks
What I really meant to say
By Darrell Copeland
The Collegian
One sports writer had said if Fresno State were in the Big 12 conference this season, it would finish second only to undefeated and second-ranked Texas.
That is likely right on because as it currently stands, the Fresno State football team would sit in second place to both USC and Texas, while it would share at least a tie, if not the outright lead in any other conference.
The only loss for the Bulldogs this season is a 37-34 defeat at the hands of 10th-ranked Oregon. The is also the game in which a Pac-10 official in charge of referees admitted to at least five very bad calls in the game, costing the Bulldogs a victory.
With this said, why is it that every fan of an opposing BCS school thinks Fresno State can’t beat their team, because the Bulldogs are not as deep as them.
But, when the Bulldogs take the field against the Trojans tomorrow, I can assure you the talent level will not be much of a concern for Fresno State.
The Bulldogs will have the two best cornerbacks on the field, the best receiver on the field and the best center on the field, in addition to other arguable positions.
USC has been very poor on special teams this season, an area that Fresno State has excelled in for years.
The Trojans can also be susceptible to the run, yet another area the Bulldogs excel in.
Lastly, the Trojans are fairly weak at the cornerback position, whereas the Bulldogs, especially quarterback Paul (Pinegar) and receiver Paul (Williams), have been dominant as of late.
That’s not to say USC has no talent. In fact, they have the best in the country, including the likely number one and two picks in next year’s NFL draft in Reggie Bush and Heisman winner Matt Leinart.
In anticipation of this weekend’s match-up, I watched a replay of Fresno State vs. Boise State, to evaluate what must be done to knock-off the top-ranked Trojans.
As I watched and listened to the game last night via Tivo, I couldn’t help but notice how loud the crowd was, almost bursting at the seams and ready to explode. And I can’t help but think a victory over USC would be the bursting point.
A victory over USC has already been the bursting point for the Bulldog football program once before, as the Bulldogs traveled to Anaheim Stadium for the Freedom Bowl IX, beating the Trojans 24-7.
For that game, Fresno State brought 28,000 loyal and faithful fans, carrying signs and definitely wearing that Bulldog red.
One witty Bulldog fan had a sign reading “Practice safe sacks, use Trojans.” Fresno State did just that, as they manhandled the Men of Troy for four quarters.
For the 1992 meeting, Trojan fans refused to show any respect to the people or team from Fresno, instead choosing to degrade the city and its team to make themselves feel better for being in what they considered a ‘low-end’ bowl.
Today, with a meeting between the two teams on the brink, the view of Fresno on behalf of USC fans and alumni have not changed.
On a popular Fresno State message board Web site, it is not uncommon to find Trojan fans belittling the spirits of die-hard Fresno State fans with personal attacks and claims that the Bulldogs do not deserve to play the Trojans.
On a local news station last night, comments by USC students on the Bulldogs’ chances of upsetting the Trojans were aired.
“Between none and none,” smirked one USC student.
The scenario this year is quite similar to that of the scenario during the 1992 Freedom Bowl, but the most important similarity needs to be the ‘W’ on the Bulldogs’ record.
But I, and the rest of the Bulldog faithful, have no doubt Fresno State will once again “practice safe sacks”—using Trojans of course.
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