Fresno State on roll entering bowl
Associated Press
Virginia offers the perfect matchup for Fresno State coach Pat Hill: a Top 25 opponent and another chance to knock off a team from a Bowl Championship Series conference.
At least this time Fresno State faces the 18th-ranked Cavaliers of the Atlantic Coast Conference on a neutral field at Boise, Idaho, today in the MPC Computers Bowl. Usually, the Bulldogs play these games in the other team's stadium.
But if anyone thinks Fresno State (8-3) from the Western Athletic Conference has nothing to lose, think again.
"We've got plenty to lose," Hill insisted. "When we played Washington in the opener, our fans wouldn't have accepted a loss. The expectation at Fresno State is to win, and a win over Virginia would salvage our season at 9-3."
Boise isn't your typical bowl trip.
The weather is frosty, though this year it's rather warm with a forecast of 41 degrees and partly cloudy skies. Rather than strolling the beaches, players can ride snowmobiles in the mountains.
"The sky is as blue as the field," Virginia coach Al Groh marveled when the Cavaliers arrived last week.
Yep, there's that eye-popping blue field, which must startle some TV viewers. Nothing's wrong with your television — the Smurf Turf of Bronco Stadium matches the colors of host school Boise State.
As for the game itself, it's a solid matchup.
Virginia (8-3) is making its third straight bowl trip, and the Cavaliers' only losses this season were to ACC heavyweights Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech.
"They're a couple of plays away from winning the ACC," Hill said. "They have an outstanding team. We feel very fortunate to get the fourth-place team from the ACC. Here at Fresno State, that's a great matchup."
Virginia is led by quick-footed quarterback Marques Hagans, a versatile threat who averages 197.4 yards in total offense per game. He completed 63 percent of his passes this season, throwing for 1,862 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Cavaliers split rushing duties between two backs. Alvin Pearman had 985 yards rushing and nine TDs while Wali Lundy ran for 801 yards and led the ACC with 16 rushing TDs.
"They're the most talented team we've played," Hill said. "Boise State is as good of a team as we've played in a couple of years. But Virginia? On paper, the talent level is unbelievable."
That's not to say the Bulldogs won't compete.
Fresno State's offense is rolling, averaging 56 points a game over a current five-game winning streak. In their last seven games, the Bulldogs have 31 TDs and two field-goals on 33 trips inside the 20.
"They're really clicking," said Groh, the former New York Jets coach who is 30-20 in four seasons at Virginia.
"They do a good job in their third-down pass package. They're very good in the red zone. They really have done everything well that a football team has to do for scoring points," Groh said.
Bulldogs quarterback Paul Pinegar is 2-0 in bowl games and 5-3 against BCS schools, including three straight wins. He's 23-8 as a starter, rivaling Fresno State stars Trent Dilfer, Billy Volek and David Carr — all in the NFL.
"He's a strong quarterback," Groh said. "He has a good pocket presence. Their system requires the quarterback to throw with a good sense of rhythm, and he's been able to get into a rhythm."
Bryson Sumlin and Wendell Mathis took over when standout tailback Dwayne Wright sustained a season-ending knee injury in the second game at Kansas State, and Fresno State averaged 228 yards rushing per game.
No question the Bulldogs will be up for this opponent. Fresno State, making its sixth straight bowl trip, has won nine of its last 15 against teams from BCS conferences.
VANDERBILT
Running back Doster shot to death in Tampa
Vanderbilt running back Kwane Doster was shot to death early yesterday when someone fired at the parked car he was in, Tampa, Fla., police said.
Doster, 21, of Tampa, died at Tampa General Hospital after being shot near the Ybor City nightlife district, police spokesman Joe Durkin said. Detectives were trying to find the killer and determine a motive.
Doster and two friends had stopped their car while "cruising around" when another car pulled up beside them, Durkin said. Several shots were fired at Doster's car, and one hit him in the chest while he was sitting behind the driver. No one else was hurt.
"I don't believe any words were exchanged," Durkin said, adding that investigators didn't know if Doster was the intended target. Police believe three people were in the other car.
"Kwane's death is a terrible and tragic loss to our Vanderbilt family," Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said.
The junior running back ran for 427 yards and one touchdown this season for the Commodores (2-9). He became the first Vanderbilt player named the Southeastern Conference's freshman of the year after a school-record 798 yards rushing in 2002. For his career, Doster had 1,621 yards rushing, 256 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.
MIAMI
2 players unhurt after crash on way to game
Miami linebacker Willie Williams and defensive back Rashaun Jones escaped injury yesterday when Williams lost control of his vehicle while driving to join the Hurricanes for bowl preparations in Atlanta.
The crash happened about two hours south of Atlanta and Williams and Jones eventually reached the team hotel, athletic department spokesman Mark Pray said.
"They're fine, which is the important thing," Pray said.
Miami plays Florida in Friday's Peach Bowl.
