1986_09 The Daily Collegian September 1986

              Expectation's great for Bulldogs
By Mike But well
Sports Editor
How do youtopoffthe spectacular season the Fresno State Bulldogs had in 1985?
FSU Head Coach Jim Sweeney's answer is short and subtle: you dont.
Don't get him wrong. He plans on going undefeated and defending both the
Pacific Coast Athletic Association title and winning the Cal Bowl again.
What he doesn't like is comparing this year's team to the "85 Bulldogs.
"When you talk of improving, you're talking about goal-setting," said the Bulldog
mentor, "The key to goal-setting is to focus on improving yourself, not comparing
yourself to another person. If our team is to improve, if will be by not comparing
itself to last season. '  v
The BUlldogs return 33 lettermen and many have already captured many
noteworthy achievements. Non, though, have gained the fame quarterback Kevin
Sweeney has.
Having already broken both the school and PCAA passing records, the 6-foot
S*
Kurt Hegrel The Daily Collegian
While Kevin Sweeney eyes Doug Flutie's passing record, the entire FSU team is
gunning for another championship season. It all kicks off Saturday night at Bulldog
Stadium versus Montana State.
senior is on the prowl of breaking Doug Flutie's NCAA passing yards record. He
needs only 2.320 to be the new all-time leading passer in the nation.
Sweeney's clearly the most recognized quarterback in the West, having been
selected UPl's All-West Coast quarterback and co-Offensive Player of the Year.
But to have such a boastful offense, Sweeney will have to rely on needed help from ,
various positions. r—s'
At wide receiver, the younger Sweeney is blessed with the marvelous targets ot
either the tall, speedy Gene Taylor or the small, swift Stephen Baker. Either weapon
can be deadly on opposing secondaries.
Both were named the PCAA's first team, while Baker was also recognized on the
second team as a punt returner. Baker averaged over 29 yards a catch, while Taylor
led the squad in catches with 30.
Passing the ball though isnt the only way the 'Dogs plan on putting numbers on the
scoreboard. In the backfield. the Bulldogs return five of the team's top six rushers.
The talented crew is headed by returning yard-gainer James Williams. Williams
chalked up 1,017 yards (5.7 average yards per carry) last season. And besides being
selected to the all-PCA A first team, he became only the sixtb^back in FSU history to
run for over 1,000 yards in a season. He also tallied 13 touchdowns and set a school
record with seven 100-yard games.
Sophomore tailback Kelly Skipper and senior fullback Anthony Mosley poise the
odd problem of having three potential starters.
Mosley rushed for 264 yards and nine TDs as a part-time starter, but his biggest
asset to the team could be blocking. Skipper's coming off a fantastic freshman year of
totalling 474 yards and 10 touchdowns.
However, for all the above to excel, the six men on the line must effectively open
holes and protect their prolific passer. And the offensive line is the one area the 'Dogs
must rebuild. Center-turn-tackle Mike Savage (6-4, 267), the one returning starter
(although nursing a hamstri. ng injury)-
is the core. Mike Chuhlantseff (6-2, 258) is looking to nail down the left guard job
and he does possess some game experience. From there, Mike Withycombe (6-6,
284), Paul Portesi (6-3,263) and Brad Heier (6-2,246) will be vying for the remaining
spaces .x
Over at tight end, FSU returns starter Paul Pflug and back-up Paul Duga.n.
Pflug's known for his blocking, a needed punch that could motivate the entire line, j
Looking at the defense, FS U returns six starters, five of which were mentioned by
the PCAA. Safety Michael Stewart was honored as a first team all-PCAA selection,
while linebackers Cliff Hanneman and David Grayson grabbed second-team
honors, as did defensive end Greg Ramsey. At free safety. Rod Webster was selected
as honorable mention and linebacker Anthony Nunn also received honor mention.
Upfront, the team will have bigshoes to fill in the loss qf all-conference nose guard
Chris Pacheqo and second-team defensive end Victor Buyiett.
Nose guard Mark Olson steps into the giant hole left by Pachcco and should
contribute vastly. Besides Ramsey, junior college standout Jethro Franklin hopes to
fill the vacancy at right end.
Ai linebacker, Chris Rinehart is battling with Nunn. who left the team a couple of
days before returning. While at the other inside position, junior John O'Leary hopes
to plunge into the starting role. Incumbents Hanneman and Grayson show no signs
of letting up and their consistency will affect opposing ground attacks.
In the secondary. Webster and Stewart wil be aided by senior Greg Williamson at
left cornerback and Bryon Nichols at the right corner.
Junior kicker Barry Belli will oontinue to boot himself further and further in the
record books as he generously adds another-
dimension to FSU scoring. He holds the school record for longest field goal (55
yards versus New Mexico State). And he set a new PCAA kicking recordvwith 100
points. Also to his credit is a streak of 14 games with atleast one field goal,
the kick-offs.
The destiny is in the beholder, and talent-wise the 'Dogs look simply awesome on
paper. Even their schedule, which
features seven of the first eight games at home, two televised games on ESPN and
eight home games in all, looks promising.
The skies is the limit and the blast-off is set for Saturday at Bulldog Stadium
against Montana State.
Yes AP, there are Bulldogs in Fresno
BULLDOG
BARK
Mlk* Butwell
Somethings just don't make sense.
The Fresno State football team had one
of those phenomenal seasons; a season a
coach can only dream of.
Yet, barely anybody outside the San
Joaquin Valley knows about Coach
Sweeney's materpiece season. Only, of
course, Barry Switzer and a handful of
citizens from Bowling Green, Ohro.
What will it take to put the Bulldogs on
the map? How can FSU earn the national
recognition next to the likes of Oklahoma,
Penn State, UCLA, or Notre Dame?
I had pondered about the issue often
and, might I add.lost many night's sleep
over it.xMy only t^sort <o the re>stless
nights was to gaze wide-eved at my tele¬
vision set. I knew, though, I was in trouble
when I pictured our chimney as a giant
"-M " and the plant dangling from the right
ledge formed the faint abbreviation "TV".
1 decided this whole thing had gone too
far. Professional help was needed.
I immediately grabbed the nearest phone¬
book and dialed my close friend and
expert advisor. Dr, X (real name changed
for obvious reasons.)
Briefly, 1 told him the problem and X
Interuptcd me quickly.
Dr. X: Kid. kid, if you guys dont play
the powerhouses (1 informed him who we
played), at least blow out the easier teams
you do play.
Myself: Well, ah, we did. We outscored
our opponents 430-202 and seven times
beat the opposition by 20 points or more.
Besides tying Hawaii (24-24), we breezed
through our schedule and went 11-0-1.
Dr. X: Ah. you've got to use television,
though. It's a major media source. Romp
all ovef a team in a game covered by a
national TV network. Let the whole
country see Fresno State doing their
destruction.
Myself: Check. We squashed Wichita
State 47-6 on ESPN Nov. 21. Next?
Dr. X: Hmmm... What bowl did you say
you guys played in? The New York Bowl?
The Texas Bowl?
Myself: No, no, the California Bowl.
Even there we cruised to a 51 -7 mauling of
Bowling Green, who. by the way, was
previously undefeated and had the nar
tion's No. 2 all-time leading passer (Brian
McClure). Still, only the UP1 recognized
us at No. 16 in their final poll. AP.
however, completely ignored us.
Dr. X: Snubs, I guess. Bingo! Here's the
solution. You need a #name player. A
bonafide Heisman Trophy candidate. Hqw
about a quarterback who will surpass the
McMahons, the Elways. the Fluties, even
the McClures in passing records.
Myself: (Impatiently) Ever heard of
Kevin Sweeney? He already is the all-time
leading passer in the Pacific Coast Athletic
Association and needs just 2.320 yards to
pass Doug Flutie's NCAA record of total
passing yards. He IS a legitimate Heisman
• Trophy prospect.
(Long Pause)
fir. X: Geez. you do have a problem.
Maybe 1 should refersou to Jimmy "the
Greek", Howard Cosell, or... hold it. 1 got
it.
Myself: (Sigh) Go ahead, let's hear it.
Dr. X: This is a real long shot, kid. Might
have to pull a few strings for this one, but
hear me out. How about a TV series about
the grand city of Fresno? A takeoff Dallas.
except instead of the oil capital, the grape
capital. Fly in Carol Burnett, Dabncy
Coleman and Terri Garr.
Even Coach Sweeney could get in an
episode as Coach J.R. Sweeney and his
son, "Cannon" Sweeney, the celebrity
quarterback and his quest for the Heisman.
Throw in the flashy Stephen "the Touch¬
down maker" Baker and a Nielsen rating
of 54. and the Bulldogs could very well
replace Dallas as America's team, not to
mention America's show. Toss 'Fridge
mania out the door, how about the fleet-
footed five-foot eight-inch Kelly Skipper
as "the flashlight" — faster than light?
(Click)
Dr. X: Hello? Mike? You there? Ho-
hum. probably never would have worked
anyway. Oh well, just an idea.