Spring Break
Bring on the bulldogs
Rams ready for first bowl game since 2005
Adam Bohlmeyer
Issue date: 12/15/08 Section: Sports
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The Rams are set to take on the Fresno State Bulldogs in the third annual New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque Dec. 20. With bragging rights and a potential winning record on the line, the Rams are taking the match-up seriously.
Head coach Steve Fairchild, who is coaching in his first collegiate postseason game since the 2000 Liberty Bowl, explained that it is easy to compare the Rams and Bulldogs.
"Scheme-wise, we're similar (on) both sides of the ball," the first year CSU head coach said. "When you watch them it looks like us and when you watch us it looks like them. They are still a good football team but from a scheme point we're not going against something drastically different."
Tight end Kory Sperry agreed with Fairchild's assessment, adding that playing a similar team is a mixed blessing for the Rams.
"We have a good idea what they run and it's an advantage and a disadvantage both," the 6-foot-6 senior said. "We'll know some of their looks but I'm pretty sure they will come up with some different things. We can't be set on what they've shown this year."
Senior Mike Pagnotta said that Fresno State plays the type of offensive football the Rams match up best with. The senior is expected to return to CSU's lineup to play against the Bulldogs after being sidelined with an injury since late October.
"The way they play football suits us best, especially defensively," Pagnotta said. "They kind of want to line up and pound the ball at you and I think we respond well to that type of team. We'll be ready for them."
Fresno State enters the game at the end of a somewhat disappointing season. The Bulldogs were once expected to compete for a Western Athletic Conference title, but fell out of contention after dropping three of their final five games, including a 61-10 thumping by the Boise State Broncos to conclude the regular season.
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