Bulldogs looking to turn tide
Andrew Riggs / The Collegian
Facing intense pressure from a tough Colorado State defense was the theme of the game for Bulldogs’ quarterback Tom Brandstater in Saturday’s 35-23 loss to the Rams. |
By Greg Beacham
Associated Press
Fresno State has long been the little team that could — until this season, when the Bulldogs suddenly couldn’t.
Coach Pat Hill’s team dropped to 1-3 Saturday night with a listless 35-23 loss to Colorado State in front of a curiously subdued home crowd.
The decisive defeat was the latest disappointment in a two-year losing string that began with a stirring near-victory at USC last fall.
The Bulldogs have lost seven of eight games for the first time in Hill’s impressive decade at the school, also dropping consecutive home games for the first time since Hill brought his signature sweat-stained caps and defiant attitude to Fresno.
“We need to find something,” tailback Dwayne Wright said. “I don’t know what it is, but we’re going to be looking for it on the film.”
Nobody in the San Joaquin Valley is entertaining thoughts of busting into the Bowl Championship Series this season. Instead, Fresno State’s faithful are wondering whether the school’s streak of seven straight bowl appearances is in jeopardy — and whether Hill’s seemingly unstoppable momentum has slowed.
“I think we’ve got good football players,” a subdued Hill said after Colorado State dropped his record at Bulldog Stadium to 44-9.
“But are we a good football team right now? The answer is no.”
Fresno State is just 10 months removed from last season’s tantalizing near-upset of the top-ranked Trojans, when the 16th-ranked Bulldogs got within one late touchdown of ending USC’s 32-game winning streak. But
Fresno State still hasn’t recovered from what should have been an energizing trip to Los Angeles.
Instead, the Bulldogs lost their final four games last season, including the Liberty Bowl. And now Fresno State is 1-3 for just the third time under Hill, who transformed a sleepy program into a mid-major powerhouse with his tireless desire to take on any big school.
Fresno State followed a season-opening win over Nevada last month with close losses to Oregon, Washington and Colorado State despite a talented defense and Wright’s outstanding play.
Other Western Athletic Conference schools would be happy just to keep it close against two solid Pac-10 programs, but the Bulldogs expect more.
“It’s hard. We worked real hard during the week,” linebacker Dwayne Andrews said. “We put a lot of stuff in the bank, and we expect to get dividends. We’re not getting the payback right now.”
Fans are lobbying for a quarterback change just four games into Tom Brandstater’s tenure. However, Hill is determined to focus his players on most smaller schools’ biggest goal: contending for a conference title, with a trip to face LSU in between.
The struggles have dampened a tremendous comeback season for Wright, who missed most of the last two years with a knee injury before rushing for 525 yards and seven touchdowns already this season.
Colorado State loaded its defense to hold Wright to 77 yards, and Brandstater couldn’t make them pay for it.
Despite jaw-dropping arm strength, Brandstater has been unimpressive in four games since taking over for four-year starter Paul Pinegar. His struggles peaked against Colorado State, when he went 19-of-42 for 205 yards with three interceptions.
Hill and Brandstater’s teammates remain supportive.
“The young-quarterback situation is over with,” said Wright, who also caught five passes for 96 yards
. “Tommy has played three games. He should be used to it. He just needs to settle down, and he’ll be OK.”
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