Bulldogs unleashed for UH
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Sports Columnist
FRESNO, Calif. — The high opaque fence that surrounds the Fresno State football practice field permits no outside view of what happens inside the bowl-shaped interior.
Neither does the large man by the gate, said to be the team's strength coach.
To the walled-off world, the four tall video towers appear much like sentry posts, guarding the Bulldogs' secrets.
But as joggers up and down Bulldog Lane and North Millbrook Avenue make their rounds past the facility this week, there is no mistaking the significant change taking place inside.
From the echoes of popping pads and unmistakable sounds of collision, it is apparent that the Bulldogs have returned to "thudding" again.
That is head coach Pat Hill's favorite expression for hitting, something the Bulldogs have returned to with relish this week in preparation for tomorrow night's important ESPN2 game against the University of Hawai'i.
"It (a return to full contact) was needed, 'cause we got away from who we are and what we do," said Nick Burley, the Bulldogs' all-conference defensive end.
For several weeks, ever since injuries from the early part of the season depleted their ranks, especially on defense, the Bulldogs had pulled back in practice, reducing both the frequency and ferocity of their contact.
This uncharacteristically by a man from the blood-and-guts school of coaching whose slogan last year for the Bulldogs had been, "Just shut up and hit somebody."
"Thudding," as Hill likes to call it, was replaced by "tagging." Defenders pulled up on their men in practice and shells or light pads were worn. And it showed dramatically at Boise State last week when Fresno State absorbed its worst loss in Hill's six-year tenure, 67-21.
Now, much in the manner of a man standing before a self-help group and confessing a problem, Hill is telling the Bulldog Nation, "I got soft."
On his weekly radio show Tuesday, Hill apologetically said, "I got a little soft there for four weeks. It was my fault (for the blowout at Boise).
"After Oregon State (on Sept. 21), we got to the point where we were down to seven defensive linemen and three or four linebackers that were healthy. I backed off a little bit (in practice) to try to keep them healthy and we didn't go out in full gear. Over four weeks that softened us and we didn't get exposed until (Boise)."
During the somber plane ride back from Boise, the offensive and defensive coordinators said, " 'Pat, let's worry about the healthy ones; you can't worry about the injured ones,' and that's the truth," Hill said.
Whether the return to "thudding" will restore the Bulldogs to their string of double-digit victories over Hawai'i in Fresno remains to be seen, but it has noticeably lifted spirits and returned an edge to the team.
"There's a big difference in the intensity," Burley said.
"This is more like us," said linebacker Marc Dailey.
For when there is "thudding" to be heard on Bulldog Lane, the Bulldogs have come to believe that winning can't be far behind.
