Mathews could be the 2009 BCS Buster
.jpg "Logan Hopkins")
Saturday night’s football game was a new experience for me. Yes, I have seen Fresno State win a football game before.
And yes, I have seen Pat Hill call the same zone-blocking running play 17 times in a row before. Nothing noteworthy there.
But I have never before seen it with three generations of Fresno State Bulldogs. Let me explain. I watched Saturday night’s matchup between Fresno State and New Mexico State with my grandma (Nana) and my parents – all three are Fresno State alums.
You see, the game was only televised on ESPNU, a rather obscure television channel that about 103 people between Bakersfield and Sacramento actually pay for every month. One of those people is my (grand) Pa Hoppy.
When the Fresno State game was switched over a few weeks ago to the channel that I don’t get through my cable service provider, I called my go-to guy. Pa Hoppy has more than 900 channels and a 65-inch high definition projection screen that will probably be outlawed when 2011 rolls around.
It’s pure, beautiful, televised sports heaven in all its glory. He could have charged admission.
Instead of just going over to watch the game, my Nana decided it could be a family get-together and we could break bread and enjoy some old stories before the football game. Nana took the breaking bread part very seriously and bought 14 loaves of bread for seven people. I have never gone hungry in a Hopkins’ house before.
After dinner it was business time. It was time for the ’Dogs to go to work and the nation’s leading rusher, tailback Ryan Mathews, to wow three generations of fans.
The Aggies received the opening kickoff and were quickly stopped by a stout Bulldog defense that only gave up three points all night. New Mexico State was forced to punt the ball to Fresno State.
The ’Dogs got the ball and it was time to watch the Valley’s Heisman candidate pad those stats. But he only had two carries for seven yards on the opening drive and the Bulldog had to punt the ball right back.
I could feel it in the room. Nobody wanted to watch New Mexico State’s offense. It is literally the worst offense in college football.
I was hoping that Pa Hoppy would have some space-aged fast forward function on his TV, but no luck. We agonized, waiting for Mathews to get back on the field.
Fresno State got the ball back after New Mexico State kicked a field goal, taking the lead 3-0 in the first quarter. All right, here we go, here’s the answer.
But wait, no Mathews. No number 21. No electricity in cleats. No Heisman.
Mathews was on the sideline for the Bulldogs’ next two drives – two drives that both ended with a three-and-out. Panic ensued.
“Is Ryan hurt?” my dad asked.
“Why would Hill take out his best player?” Pa Hoppy shouted.
I saw it in all three generations’ eyes and at that moment, I learned something about Bulldog fans.
Mathews means a whole lot to this community of Red Wavers.
Mathews came back into the game after those two drives and my Nana was able to put the Pepto-Bismol back in the medicine cabinet. We still don’t know why he left the game, but no one cared. He was back.
Mathews had some decent runs in the first half, but the family room erupted after his 68-yard burst in the fourth quarter.
It wasn’t the game winner. It was actually the last seven points of the game, putting Fresno State up 34-3. The run didn’t put the Aggies out of contention – that happened much earlier.
Mathews finished his night with 157 yards and two touchdowns – stats good enough to keep his name in that Heisman discussion, at least for another week. And that 68-yard run was nearly half his total.
The run gave Bulldog fans hope. For another week, the team’s best player is still in the running to be the best player in college football.
It may be far-fetched, but who really believed Boise State could have beaten Oklahoma in a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) game three years ago?
A player from a non-BCS conference hasn’t won the Heisman Trophy since 1989, nine years before the crooked BCS system even began. Mathews has a chance to do it for generations of dedicated Bulldog fans who are all behind him.
Who needs a perfect season and the help of biased voters and computer rankings?
Tailback Ryan Mathews is college football’s 2009 BCS buster.
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Heisman talk again? We can elevate the discussion all we want, but pigs have yet to fly.
And remember many current non-BCS schools once played in top conferences under older systems. TCU in the old SWC—–that was like today’s SEC prior to the SMU death sentence. Texas college ball was king.
The classic argument that BCS system advocates attempt to push in justifying their system is that teams like Boise and Houston and TCU and BYU can’t play week in and week out at the kind of level necessary to compete with the name schools. Their logic is almost always founded in the quality of player argument. Better athletes, faster, stronger, and so forth. I’m surprised nobody states the obvious: Recruiting is easier at USC, and Bama, and Cal, and Rutgers because those schools have a shot at winning something worthwhile. Those coaches can at least provide their recruits a chance to win out and make it into a title game. The flawed system at the present time maintains an unfair recruiting balance and availability whereby the Fresno States of the world are competing to get the second and third tier recruits.
The answer is simple. Keep current conference alignments—–add a four week, 16-team playoff. Each conference champion has a spot in the playoff (can be seeded 1-16, Troy State probably gets the 16th seed annually), and five at-large bids from any conference but selected based on rankings. All neutral site game locations though the upper seed will have a closer chosen venue for rounds 1 and 2. IE Florida as this year’s number one would play the Sun Belt winner in playoff game 1 in Jacksonville.
Heisman talk again? We can elevate the discussion all we want, but pigs have yet to fly.
And remember many current non-BCS schools once played in top conferences under older systems. TCU in the old SWC—–that was like today’s SEC prior to the SMU death sentence. Texas college ball was king.
The classic argument that BCS system advocates attempt to push in justifying their system is that teams like Boise and Houston and TCU and BYU can’t play week in and week out at the kind of level necessary to compete with the name schools. Their logic is almost always founded in the quality of player argument. Better athletes, faster, stronger, and so forth. I’m surprised nobody states the obvious: Recruiting is easier at USC, and Bama, and Cal, and Rutgers because those schools have a shot at winning something worthwhile. Those coaches can at least provide their recruits a chance to win out and make it into a title game. The flawed system at the present time maintains an unfair recruiting balance and availability whereby the Fresno States of the world are competing to get the second and third tier recruits.
The answer is simple. Keep current conference alignments—–add a four week, 16-team playoff. Each conference champion has a spot in the playoff (can be seeded 1-16, Troy State probably gets the 16th seed annually), and five at-large bids from any conference but selected based on rankings. All neutral site game locations though the upper seed will have a closer chosen venue for rounds 1 and 2. IE Florida as this year’s number one would play the Sun Belt winner in playoff game 1 in Jacksonville.
totally agree with he hate me.
totally agree with he hate me.
Great story Hopkins, I learn a lot about your family but little the actual game and how Matthews comes into the picture. Keep trying, maybe eventually you’ll be a better sports writer.
Great story Hopkins, I learn a lot about your family but little the actual game and how Matthews comes into the picture. Keep trying, maybe eventually you’ll be a better sports writer.
He Hate Me has a point, but interesting that you included Rutgers. They aren’t known for Football, but since they are in a BCS conference (Big East) I guess that does make recruiting a little bit easier for them. I don’t think they get any better Athletes than Boise or Fresno State gets however.
He Hate Me has a point, but interesting that you included Rutgers. They aren’t known for Football, but since they are in a BCS conference (Big East) I guess that does make recruiting a little bit easier for them. I don’t think they get any better Athletes than Boise or Fresno State gets however.
vote for him here:
http://promo.espn.go.com/espn/contests/theheismanvote/2009/
vote for him here:
http://promo.espn.go.com/espn/contests/theheismanvote/2009/
Let’s come back to reality. Ryan Mathews doesn’t even have a chance of winning the heisman. He Hate Me what world do you live in Fantasy world. Sounds like your another person that watches to much College Game Day. By the way the idea you came up with was an idea presented by Lee Corso 2 years ago. Secondly, it was a great article hell I am a 3rd generation USC Trojan so I know the feeling of attending the game with family. Fresno State does have spirit but being bottom feeders in the WAC is getting kind of tired. It gives the average Fresno State fan an excuse to go out and get drunk. Recruiting, Fresno State can’t even recruit the high profile players that come from the valley so that is the first mistake.
Let’s come back to reality. Ryan Mathews doesn’t even have a chance of winning the heisman. He Hate Me what world do you live in Fantasy world. Sounds like your another person that watches to much College Game Day. By the way the idea you came up with was an idea presented by Lee Corso 2 years ago. Secondly, it was a great article hell I am a 3rd generation USC Trojan so I know the feeling of attending the game with family. Fresno State does have spirit but being bottom feeders in the WAC is getting kind of tired. It gives the average Fresno State fan an excuse to go out and get drunk. Recruiting, Fresno State can’t even recruit the high profile players that come from the valley so that is the first mistake.
Nickname for Ryan…Buster.
Nickname for Ryan…Buster.
I LOVED this article, Logan. It all tied in very well, and I could picture it all…made me actually want to read the entire article. Football for most of us is not about BCS and divisions and schedules, it is about the beauty of the game. The beauty of a well executed play. The excitement of your favorite player and the potential of what might happen. My family was drawn together because of watching sports, too, and my fondest memory of my dad and football was so profound I talked about it at his memorial service. I Just Love Football. And no, girls aren’t just cheerleaders, some of us can throw a nice, tight spiral too.
I LOVED this article, Logan. It all tied in very well, and I could picture it all…made me actually want to read the entire article. Football for most of us is not about BCS and divisions and schedules, it is about the beauty of the game. The beauty of a well executed play. The excitement of your favorite player and the potential of what might happen. My family was drawn together because of watching sports, too, and my fondest memory of my dad and football was so profound I talked about it at his memorial service. I Just Love Football. And no, girls aren’t just cheerleaders, some of us can throw a nice, tight spiral too.
Eddie, the Sports Editor position will be open next semester. You should consider applying.
Eddie, the Sports Editor position will be open next semester. You should consider applying.
Logan!
Great story! Now you know one of the many reasons why I “wannabe-a-bulldog”!
Logan!
Great story! Now you know one of the many reasons why I “wannabe-a-bulldog”!
Writers write, fans complain. I’m a fan.
Ahhh nah, all this BCS buster talk and two new contenders this year in Houston and TCU. Will all go to hell if either loses a winnable game and everything will go out the window.
The system will only change if the better schools cede from their respective conferences and create a 7th BCS-type conference
Boise State, TCU, BYU, Utah, Fresno State, Hawaii, Houston, Tulsa, and one or two wildcards.
Writers write, fans complain. I’m a fan.
Ahhh nah, all this BCS buster talk and two new contenders this year in Houston and TCU. Will all go to hell if either loses a winnable game and everything will go out the window.
The system will only change if the better schools cede from their respective conferences and create a 7th BCS-type conference
Boise State, TCU, BYU, Utah, Fresno State, Hawaii, Houston, Tulsa, and one or two wildcards.
Maybe this lineup for a new BCS—–
WAC: Boise State, Fresno St., and Hawaii
CUSA: Houston and Tulsa
MountainWest: Colorado State, Utah, and UNLV, BYU, and TCU——NCAA football needs the Vegas market to be more visible.
Not sure if Nevada would be a better replacement than Tulsa.
Maybe this lineup for a new BCS—–
WAC: Boise State, Fresno St., and Hawaii
CUSA: Houston and Tulsa
MountainWest: Colorado State, Utah, and UNLV, BYU, and TCU——NCAA football needs the Vegas market to be more visible.
Not sure if Nevada would be a better replacement than Tulsa.