Football team gets a WAC Title

Fall 1993

Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)


Well, they did it again, didn’t they?


After a highly publicized season with tough losses to swallow, Fresno State football showed its resolve Saturday night. In the process of socking it to San Diego State, the Bulldogs did a lot more than just win a big game.


The ’Dogs not only improved to 8-3, they also clinched at least a share of the WAC title, they also clinched at least a share of the WAC title for the second straight year. Which means that FSU is bowl-bound once again. They needed to make an impression on the bowl committees, and they did.


The Bulldogs had slipped and lost a big game earlier (Wyoming) and they’re prone to that. Because of their inability to stop people at crunch time, they are vulnerable on the road. That especially holds true against option teams that run the ball. After that crushing blow in Laramie, last rites were being read to the ’Dogs. They had all but fallen out of the WAC race.


With the horses on offense to outscore anybody, an improving defense plus the most consistent kicker in its history, FSU could have gone unbeaten this season.


So what was the problem? They took weeks off against teams that should not have been allowed to step on the same field, much less compete.


They would get bored with the style of offense that kills them: run, run and run some more.


Defensively, the Bulldogs are quick but not mighty. With their speed in the secondary, the ’Dogs can shut down a passing team but can’t stop the run. The Bulldog D is not a rock ’em, stop ’em unit.


The Bulldogs like to score. They like to score big. And they don’t seem to care if you score on them--that only means they get the ball back.


And this is the type of team the ’Dogs like to play: an offensive-minded group that puts points on the board and moves the ball. In short, a team that will test their manhood and make the game fun to watch.


But teams that run the ball all day usually will give the Bulldogs problems. With the clock moving and the ball in the other guys’ hands, that means Dilfer and company have to sit on the sidelines for stretches at a time, watching a slow drive.


The ’Dogs are the type to get suicidal when their point total doesn’t get into the 30’s and 40’s and the yardage doesn’t get racked up.


When any team gets taken out of their offensive game plan, they find themselves stuggling, and that is what happened to FSU in the three upsets.


But enough of that. Let’s replay the highlights that brought FSU from the low point in midseason to bowl-bound.


The Bulldogs broke the Aztecs’ hearts--again. It was really no contest. Marshall Faulk vowed to steal the spotlight and play the whole game this time, but he came up short because the ’Dogs have too many weapons. But give him credit. He almost singlehandedly brought the Aztecs back in the game when they closed to 35-30 late in the third quarter.


That was when the ’Dogs finally came through. Dilfer ensured his NFL status by taking FSU on four nicely-done drives. In all that, his coolness was the trademark.
No penalties, no confusion and no mistakes were made. Just basic execution and a crunching running game as Rivers and Daigle took over.
This was Dilfer’s night--maybe his last at Bulldog Stadium. So he did what any QB bound for the pros would do--made it a great one. From what I see, Dilfer is headed for Cincinnati in 1994 given the Bengals just keep on losing.
Why Cincinnati? Because Dilfer has nothing left to prove. In just two short years, he has been maybe the biggest gun in the country leading the best offense, helped get the ’Dogs program into national prominence with big wins, and gained media attention going for the Heisman Trophy.
Dilfer won’t win, but missing out on that trophy is one of the few things that wouldn’t have gone his way this year. And the ’Dogs are back.
The Red Wave can relax with the best offense putting up points, and the defense has improved, which is why they should make it two straight impressive bowl wins.