'Dogs' special teams lacks special part

By Jeffrey Christian
The Collegian

FRESNO STATE Coach Pat Hill’s motto heading into the 2006 football season was aptly titled, “finish the job!” If the Bulldogs don’t turn things around quickly they might be forced to take an incomplete before supporters go on strike.

The Bulldogs vaulted themselves to the top of the WAC standings with their revenge victory over Nevada, but back to back disappointing losses against PAC-10 opponents have left Fresno State with many unanswered questions for the remainder of the season and have left the special teams unit feeling a little less than special.

The disappointment doesn’t come simply from losing the game. Instead, it stems from knowing that both games were squarely within their grasp, only to slip away.

The losses against Oregon and Washington can’t be blamed on biased referees or the effort of a Heisman Trophy candidate. The last two losses are more painful because they are the result of a lack of execution in a segment of the game that has been a staple of excellence and pride since the beginning of the Pat Hill era. The Bulldogs have thrived on game-changing performances from their special teams, in fact it is that outstanding special teams play that has created much of the Bulldogs success over the past few seasons.

However, for the second straight week the Bulldogs outplayed their opponent for most of the game only to be defeated due to miscues on special teams.

Poor execution on special teams began last weekend with the botched blocked field goal and subsequent fumble that turned a great momentum stop and opportunity to take the lead and control of the game for good into a go ahead touchdown for Oregon. The missed opportunity continued with the game tied and only minutes to play with a misread and execution of stopping a fake field goal option that ultimately resulted in the losing touchdown.

The special teams disasters followed the team on their road trip to Washington and once again kept them from defeating a BCS Conference team. The special teams breakdowns began once again during a field goal attempt. Down by a touchdown with only three minutes to play in the first half, kicker Clint Stitser was given the chance to cut the deficit to four. Stitser wasn’t able to provide help on the scoreboard with his strong leg due to a poor snap that messed up the timing between he and holder Jordan Christensen.

The woes continued for Stitser and the rest of the Bulldogs special teams unit in the second half as well. With less than four minutes left in the Stitser faked a 48-yard field goal attempt, successfully dropping a pooch kick inside the Washington five-yard line. Pinning the Huskies deep in their own territory would have continued Fresno State’s momentum and more importantly given the defense a chance to make a stop and give the Bulldogs offense tremendous field position.

Unfortunately, instead of pinning Washington deep in their own territory, the punt was ruled a touchback after Fresno State player’s in position waited too long to down the ball and it was touched by Christensen, who was standing in the end zone. That play was a game-breaker because it nullified the great special teams execution by Stitser and gave the Washington offense and fans the relief and momentum that they needed to march down the field and take the lead for good.

Finally, and most disappointingly, after marching on a 52-yard touchdown scoring drive to potentially tie the game with just over four minutes left, the Bulldogs had their extra point blocked after Christensen bobbled the snap. That blocked extra point was the difference in the Bulldogs one point loss, but special teams cost Pat Hill’s team a minimum of four, but probably 11, points and the win.

The lack of focus and execution carried over to the ensuing kickoff when Stitser’s kickoff went out of bounds and gave the Huskies an extra 15 yards of field position. Those penalty yards came back to bite the Bulldogs as they struggled in their attempt to get into field goal territory at the end of the game.

The Bulldogs now have two weeks to stop the hemorrhaging on special teams before they host Colorado State.

For the Bulldogs, knowing and displaying at certain times that you are the superior team is beginning to grow tiresome. The breakdowns have come in the execution and are not do to a lack of effort.

Unfortunately, moral victories are no longer good enough, especially for a program with BCS aspirations.

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