The NFL has come to Fresno

March 17, 1994
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)

Get ready to cheer your favorite Bulldog gridiron heroes next year in the pros. The National Football League has come to Fresno.

Okay, it's not going to be a pro team, but several NFL scouts were on hand Tuesday to set their sights on strong-armed star quarterback Trent Dilfer.

The junior led the Bulldogs to two of the finest seasons in FSU history and last December announced his intention to enter the NFL draft, ending his Fresno State career and putting him right up there with ex-'Dogs Mark Barsotti, Jeff Tedford, and Kevin Sweeney.

While several representatives from 16 NFL teams watched, Dilfer put on a quarterback clinic in a pre-draft workout that had him running and passing with precision and poise.

The low rungs of the league particularly were watching with great interest, as head coaches Dave Shula of the Cincinnati Bengals and Bruce Coslet (formerly of the New York Jets) looked on with watering mouths.

Equally impressed were Los Angeles Raiders quarterback coach Tom Walsh and new Washington Redskins head coach Norv Turner, who left the Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys to take over the struggling 'Skins.

"If he doesn't get picked (earlier), he will be a Redskin," Washington general manager Charlie Casserly said.

"I peaked today," Dilfer said. "I feel I did as well as I could and I wanted to make this workout set apart."

In 1992, Dilfer led the Bulldogs to an 8-4 record and a share of the WAC title. That culminated in FSU pulling off one of the biggest shocking upsets in college football last season.

The Bulldogs were pitted against perennial stronghold USC in the Freedom Bowl that December. Experts gave FSU two chances of winning--slim and none.

But while the Bulldogs didn't light up the scoreboard as typical that year, their defense did the job and Dilfer was cool and efficient in leading FSU to a stunning 24-7 win, which coast Trojan coach Larry Smith his job.

Dilfer had led the Bulldogs to a comeback win over San Diego State to deny them the Holiday Bowl and FSU's point-a-minute offense was turning heads around the country.

Heads turned even more when the 'Dogs trounced the Trojans in Anaheim.

The 1993 season saw the Bulldogs being highly touted, what with their Sports Illustrated 10th ranking.

Dilfer was sharp in the opener against Baylor, but the 'Dog defense died late and FSU was dealt a 42-39 upset.

Dilfer was shackled by a shoulder injury early in the season and while he couldn't bomb away as usual, he guided the 'Dogs to wins in the early going and ended up leading the NCAA in passing efficiency.

He also set a record for passes without an interception as FSU again won a share of the WAC title and gained entry to the Jeep/Eagle Aloha Bowl in Hawaii against Colorado.

While the 'Dogs didn't pull out another upset win, they gave Colorado all they could handle in a 41-30 loss. Dilfer set an Aloha Bowl record for passing, nearly single handedly shredding the Colorado defense.

On the practice field Tuesday, Dilfer was even more impressive as he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.73 seconds. He followed that up by throwing passes to fellow Bulldog receivers Tydus Winans, Malcolm Seabron, and Lee Harris.

The Bulldog wideouts ran their routes while Dilfer spent his time in the pocket. Of his 90 passes, 85 were right on target. The passing workouts lasted an hour and 20 minutes.

"I wanted to see if I could go (the whole practice) without missing," Dilfer said. "It didn't turn out that way, but I didn't do too badly with all the time I spent out there."