Is Playing Anyone, Anywhere a Foolish Model?
College Football August 21st. 2008, 3:00pm
Fresno State has become a media darling, and it isn’t because Trent Dilfer went there. Intern Parrish examines the Bulldog phenomenon.
Aside from current powers like USC and Florida, few teams—and coaches—elicit so much love from the national media (read: ESPN) as Pat Hill and Fresno State. Hill has brought his “anyone, anywhere” mentality to scheduling opponents and those in the media have lapped it up. But has it really paid off?
I went back at looked at Fresno’s last five years and found that while there are some historically powerful teams on past schedules, there are few wins against good teams and very little to show for such a solid rep. Since 2003, Fresno State’s biggest win came over 9-4 Boise State in 2005—a conference foe. When they step outside of the WAC, the Bulldogs’ biggest win was over an 8-5 Oregon State squad.
This begs the question: why do they have such a solid rep from ESPN and the mainstream media? Well, they did beat 1-10 Washington in 2004, a Kansas State team that won four and five games in 2004 and 2007, respectively, and they have bowl wins against a 6-7 UCLA team in 2003 and a 7-6 Georgia Tech team in 2007. Not exactly murderer’s row.
Well, once again Fresno is getting love from ESPN and is pegged as the WAC favorite above Nevada and Boise State. Look, I am not anti-Fresno—frankly I am rather apathetic towards them—but this rep that they will play any one at any time apparently comes from playing once-dominate programs when said schools were bad and, in some cases, downright dreadful.
It seems to me that – much like Charlie Weis and Notre Dame – Pat Hill and Fresno State have earned their respect by losing in a tight game to USC—which says a lot about the Trojans, I suppose. While Hawaii and Boise State schedule cream puffs and wind up in BCS games, the Bulldogs play in the late-December Diamond Nut bowl which nobody’s watching.
This year, Fresno opens up at Rutgers followed by hosting Top-15 Wisconsin. Possibly they get by Rutgers, but the likely scenario is an 0-2 start. Until Fresno actually beats these teams that it schedules, all of this talk about playing anyone, anywhere amounts to nothing. [Ed. Prediction: Victory at UCLA!]
42 Responses to “Is Playing Anyone, Anywhere a Foolish Model?”
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August 21st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
K-State begged Fresno State to cancel their contract and back out of their series. Fresno State let the kittens off the hook and scheduled Rutgers instead this year.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I’ve always thought Fresno’s rep was odd. I think it has more to do with who won’t play them than who they’ve played. And Hill’s mustache. You roll with the handlebar, you get respect.
KSU bought their way out of the next scheduled meeting with Fresno. It would appear KSU is back to being a dead program. Of course, Fresno kicked the snot out of them.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Get out of my fucking head, AZ. That’s twice today. And our posts were essentially the same. Funny that they were both about KSU’s cowardice.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Doesn’t this fact dispprove your entire thesis?
Also, I would want to know how far in advance some of the games were scheduled. They beat Washington in 2004, but Washington was Rose Bowl champs in 2001, so maybe they scheduled the game then. Same thing with Kansas State, they were really good around the turn of the millenium.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:13 pm
no kidding?
August 21st, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I’ll be at the RU/Fresno St game this year. I think Fresno’s a bit overrated and RU starts off the season strong, Schiano will have his team ready for sure, it just depends on them executing.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
people like fresno because (unlike florida for example) they have the balls to go outside their state and conference and play a decent team on the road.
plus, when you are trying to build a program into an elite program from a glorified mid-major, it always helps to emulate how bobby bowden built florida state, by going on the road and playing much bigger, stronger schools.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Fresno State = JUCO transfer university (thinks to self…junior college transfer university…good enough for me).
August 21st, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Fresno St will never be a powerhouse, but by going on the road and playing the big boys, they’re making mad cash for their university and athletic department. I think that’s what it boils down to.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
That’s funny KC. Even last month during WAC media day Hill was still venting about KSU pulling out of their contract and how tough it was to find a quality replacement. I’m guessing they could have found a smaller school and paid for a win, but instead Fresno State decided to take the Rutgers game to start the season.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Good article. I didn’t realize the lack of recent wins Fresno has had against their play anyone schedule.
They ARE a difficult team to play against. It seems that they get up for big games, but struggle against lesser competition.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
was it fresno or boise that played at georgia a few years ago and got their clock cleaned?
August 21st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
@jimmy
I don’t think it has anything to do with balls. For Fresno St to have had any chance at being nationally relevant they needed a way for people to get interested in their program. They did that by the whole “play anyone anywhere” gimmick, which should be “we lose to anyone good anywhere”. Teams like Florida are already nationally relevant and play a bear of schedule. While I do respect a team like Auburn for traveling to WVU this year and my Hokies for going out to Nebraska I don’t hold anything against Florida for playing Miami and FSU in state.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Southern Miss isn’t impressed.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Boise – and to think they beat OU only one year later.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Fresno gets a lot of love? Where have I been? Besides, who cares who ESPN picks to win the WAC? The answer is no one.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Anytime, anywhere seemed to work out pretty well for the former JuCo that was Florida St.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
What I was saying was that more than likely they will lose to both so while they may schedule some tough teams–and I stress some–they don’t beat any of them whereas Boise and Hawai’i don’t play anyone and get to BCS bowls. So while Hill may love his rep it really has gotten him very little.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
The notability of the team is significant in and of itself. Would anybody know who Fresno State was without doing this? It’d be hard to quantify, but people being able to at least name your school’s gotta help with recruiting.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
people like fresno because (unlike florida for example) they have the balls to go outside their state and conference and play a decent team on the road.
When you wake up with 3-5 top 25 teams on your schedule every year, why the hell would you travel to play another one?
August 21st, 2008 at 3:36 pm
is gene upshaw really dead?
August 21st, 2008 at 3:38 pm
is gene upshaw really dead?
unreal
i saw Dilfer on TV last night. He needs a toupee
August 21st, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Bingo. I don’t understand why people don’t see this. UGA plays Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, LSU, Alabama and South Carolina as well as going to Arizona State in week 4 or 5. If you had that schedule would you want to go play Fresno?
August 21st, 2008 at 3:43 pm
when you want to be known as the meanest dog in town rather than a big dog in a little neighborhood you do.
all i know is, bear bryant always scheduled a tough out of conference road game each year (usc, penn state, nebraska). yeah, i know: bear bryant is dead. but he knew that even though you might win the sec, you have to venture outside your back yard once in a while.
and bryant always considered the sec the best conference each year.
if lsu didn’t play va-tech (and crush them) last year, doubtful they ever get to the bcs championship after two losses.
that crutch the florida people use (fsu and this year miami) used to hold water… that is when they scheduled miami (what, once every five yearss?). but those two programs are no better than kentucky now.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I love it when people question, especially the SEC, the balls of teams to travel and whatnot.
The point was made – UF, etc. already plays 3-5 top-10 teams in conference…plus the SEC Champ. game. This was brought up ad nauseum in 2004 with Auburn. We played UL-Monroe and the Citadel in our non-conference games. Nobody brings up the fact we beat 5 teams who were in the top-10 until we beat them and knocked them out. How many top-10 teams did OSU play to get to the title game the last 2 years?
August 21st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I honestly didn’t realize Fla had dropped Miami from it’s regular schedule…
August 21st, 2008 at 3:53 pm
If Virginia Tech didn’t play and get crushed by LSU and had lumped on say JMU by 30 we would have been in the MNC last year.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:54 pm
@Gods
Hell no. Nor would they need to. The bottom line is, until the SEC has its downturn (which will happen at some point), there isn’t a need to load an out of conference schedule with BCS conference teams. Sure, throw in one (ie. LSU v Virginia Tech, Tennessee v Cal/UCLA, Bama vs Clemson)but when your conference is fairly strong top to bottom there’s no reason to add another.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:55 pm
and had auburn played even some half-assed team on the road (i dunno, like oklahoma state or ucla?) outside the deity that is the sec it would have put them over the top instead of slapping around some weak sisters of the poor.
i finally figured out what is is about the sec crowd: it took how many generations to figure out they lost the civil war? now, by god, they will take over the football world. the south did rise again!
look, i love watching sec football. it’s clearly the best conference in the country. but citing auburn 2004 why florida shouldn’t travel outside the southeast region of the country just reinforces my premise.
sadly, when you are dealing with people like beano cook who decide your destiny, better to prove to the nation, not just the southeast, that you are the best football team in the land.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:57 pm
they play only miami sparingly. not each year.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I’m not saying that’s why UF shouldn’t travel…I’m saying it’s ridiculous for people to take into consideration the non-conf. schedule when SEC teams are already playing 5 top-10 teams in conference. What’s better? – Ohio St. playing UT on the road and playing a terrible Big 10 schedule or Auburn playing 5 top-10 teams and a horrible non-conference schedule?
August 21st, 2008 at 4:02 pm
well, if you beat a decent out of conference team on the road and win the sec, there’s no room for argument whatsoever. (see bear bryant reference above).
georgia might be crazy for scheduling asu on the road. but you know what, if somehow they run the table it doesn’t matter if there are five other teams with an undefeated record, georgia’s in the bcs championship.
again, if lsu doesn’t wax va-tech last year, they may never have gotten over losing two games.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:02 pm
i’ve had a special place in my heart for fresno state ever since they went toe-to-toe with ‘05 USC. reggie bush had nearly 500 all-purpose yards in that game, but fresno had the lead at half time and the game was tied in the 4th.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Jimmy – I think you are right on a team-by-team or year-by-year basis. I want to see big non-con games. I think every team, no matter of schedule, should strive for one a year…and most teams are doing it. I’m just saying no team should be punished for their non-con schedule if, at the end of the year, they’ve played a schedule like ‘04 Auburn. Would a big non-con win in ‘04 put us over OU for that No. 2 spot? Maybe. But who could’ve planned for that? I’m saying citing the ULM game, etc. that year is a terrible argument for why we shouldn’t have been in the MNC.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Teams like Ohio State must go out and play someone like Texas or USC because if not they will have nothing but bull shit teams from Ohio on their schedule and then the Big 10 slate that is not that tough. If they had 5-6 top 25 teams in their conference every year then they could do as SEC teams do…but that is not the case.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:14 pm
@ ritty:
if there was even a final four-type playoff system, you would be absolutely correct. but, being an auburn fan that you are, just relying on winning your conference no matter how strong it may be still leaves the possibility that a handful of clowns will not vote your team in the bcs title game.
plus, like my lsu reference, it’s a form of CYA in case you lose a game (or two) in the sec.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
You guys are acting like the Big 10 has been terrible for 20 years, it hasn’t. It’s had 2 really bad years back-to-back from top to bottom. But the year OSU won the title, the Big 10 was hands down the best conference in the country and OSU beatup on WSU (who was a top 5 team by the end of the season).
The SEC has been the top dog the last few years, but let’s not act like that’s a given that it will continue. And does anyone really think Alabama, South Carolina, Kentucky are so head over heels better that MSU/Iowa/PSU? Of course not.
The SEC gets away with high rankings at the beginning of the year. Think about it, they start high, they refuse to go out of conference, and they then beat up on eachother like every other conference does. There’s no basis of comparison until the bowl games to see if the teams ever belonged there in the first place.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
i’ve got a feeling cursedcleveland.com just kicked a hornet’s nest.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:35 pm
The Big 10 is damned close to the SEC outside of the past few years… no doubt about that.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:58 pm
@cursed
I don’t think any rational SEC fan (I consider myself one) would say that the SEC is, historically, better. I do believe however, that you have a very thin argument trying to say that they haven’t been better in the last 5 years. College football is cyclical, it always has been and it always will. I have witnessed the cyclical nature of College Football in both of the teams that I follow. (UGA grad, lived 13 years in Lincoln, Neb). It is what it is.
August 21st, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Actually dwaltlhi, I always used to think it would be cyclical. But the South is booming in population growth (at least it had over the last 20 years), and where are those people coming from? The Midwest and other rust belt areas. So when Joe Tiller said that Midwest football is “down,” that might be a part of the explanation.
I agree that the SEC has been extremely strong over the past few years, maybe even five. But what does that mean? We see Big 10 teams beat SEC schools in Bowl games (maybe not the higher profile ones the last two years). My problem like I said is that all these SEC schools are set up for success with the preseason rankings. I’m not saying they wouldn’t otherwise obtain that success, I’m just saying that it helps the perception big time.
People tell me OSU would have lost 4 or 5 times in 2006 if they were in the SEC, but they weren’t saying that before the title game, only after. That OSU team was dominant all season, DOMINANT. Then they laid an egg with 55 or so off-days, and now the Big 10 is forever harmed in the national perception. Doesn’t add up.
August 21st, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I think it is a case of most SEC fans don’t give a shit and, quite frankly, don’t pay much attention to football outside of their “region.” I don’t agree with it but after living in Atlanta for 12 years now, you can see it. They piled on Ohio State because one of their own was playing The Buckeyes. I will be honest with you, I don’t really care about the whole “Whose conference is better?” debate. All I care is that my team wins and the opposing team loses. I will say one thing though, OSU is going to be a beast this year, especially, if they get through USC. They should be glad they get the rest of the Big 10 and not the SEC this year. I would be glad for Georgia to switch places with them.