Fresno State Football: Fans Should Adopt Short Memory, I'm Just Saying!

When Fresno State football fans first laid eyes on the Bulldogs' 2011 schedule, the opponents lined up for them looked like a daunting task.  It still does, but after four games, things have been put into perspective.

Coach Pat Hill’s group has proven that it will fight to the whistle, game in and game out regardless of the opponent and the previous game’s outcome.

One Game Does not Define the Season

After a lackluster performance against the Cal Bears, fans went into panic mode and seemed to think that the performance in the opener was a big enough sample size to gauge the entire season.  I’m not trying to call out Bulldogs fans, but the fans that were on the proverbial ledge after that first loss, you know who you are.

The Bulldogs rebounded with a hard fought loss against the No. 10 ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers. The loss was followed by a 27-22 win over the North Dakota Fighting Sioux and the grumbling started all over again.  The thinking around Bulldog country was the team underachieved against an inferior opponent.  They may be right, but a win is a win and the Dogs moved on to Idaho and put up big numbers in a 48-24 win in a game that was a tad bit closer than the score indicated.

The Nebraska game is proof positive that no team should be taken lightly and a bad outing may not be a microcosm of the entire season.

The Bulldogs are set to take on the Ole Miss Rebels at Bulldog Stadium on Saturday, making it the first time an SEC team has set foot on Bulldog soil.

With Ole Miss limping in with a 1-3 record, the Bulldogs need to have the mindset that they are facing an SEC team, and that alone should be enough to motivate the team regardless of the Rebels' record.

One Game at a Time

I know it’s the most over used cliche in sports, but it definitely should be the theme for the Bulldogs in 2011.  The Bulldogs have had to deal with injury after injury to key players this season, starting with their starting center Richard Helepiko going down in the first series of the season opener after losing their star safety Phillip Thomas for the season prior to that game.

So, taking things one game at a time is not a bad idea for a team that has had to make adjustments every time they turn around.

The Bulldogs have taken their lumps this season, and more will appear, maybe before the others heal, but the season is young and no one is saying wait until next year.  An 11-2 record is probably not in the cards, but a WAC title may be.

The point of this rant is to get fans to enjoy the moment, the Bulldogs have a huge upside.  They are loaded with talent on offense led by quarterback Derek Carr who has taken giant strides every time he steps between the lines.  Running back Robbie Rouse has been outstanding and the deep receiving corps has made big plays when called upon.

If you thought the one game at a time cliche was tired, try this one on for size: When they win, don’t get too high, when they lose, don’t get too low.

I’m just saying!