After Fresno State lost yet again to Boise State on Friday, this time a 51-34 defeat at Bulldog Stadium, Bulldogs coach Pat Hill conducted his post-game news conference in a melancholic tone.
Hill and his Bulldogs have now lost eight of the past nine, including four straight to Broncos coach Chris Petersen, in this one-sided Western Athletic Conference series.
Hill said he believes the Bulldogs have narrowed the gap with the Broncos, which is true considering when the teams last met in 2008, Boise State won 61-10.
But Fresno State still has plenty of work to do to reach Boise State's level. And it's unclear if or when Fresno State will get the best of Boise.
But as Hill tried to explain reasons for the Bulldogs' latest defeat and answer other questions that pertained to the game, the coach who always has a certain fire in his tone of voice, a certain defiance in his responses, no longer had it this time for whatever reason.
Maybe this loss stung even more than before? Maybe Hill, too, has grown too frustrated by another loss to Boise.
Even when Fresno State has lost big in the past, like when the Bulldogs were blown out 52-21 by Oregon at Autzen Stadium, Hill had a snap in his response, a reassurance in his voice that things would be OK and that the loss bothered him at the time but would not get to him.
Friday's loss seemed to affect Hill.
All of which had me thinking ...
For a coach who's done so much for a program in regard to graduating players and keeping them out of the police blotter, Hill has rarely gotten a chance to enjoy a big part of coaching --
the milestone victories.
Is that getting to him, as much as it gets to hardcore Fresno State fans?
Sure, Hill been a part of close, exciting, sometimes heart-breaking losses. Going toe-to-toe with No. 1 USC in 2005 will forever been entrenched in Bulldogs fans' minds as the greatest, most-exciting LOSS in Fresno State history.
But the greatest, most-exciting WIN? When's that to come? Will Hill get to be a part of it? The Bulldogs certainly have had or will have the schedule to provide memorable moments.
But will it ever be done? A big win over a ranked team at home? A win over Boise State anywhere? A bowl victory in a game that Fresno State fans would be excited to attend?
When will Hill get his moment? Or has his greatest moment passed?
Feel sorry for Hill? Or does he deserve every single bit of criticism he and the program receives?
In sports all that matters is winning....
fresno state did a good job against boise and hill has done wonders for the program as a hardcore BULLDOG fan im excited about this team and this season!
Winning is great. Knowing how to accept losses is better. The emphasis on College sports, particularly football, is all out of whack compared to academics. Why don't we fire all the professors because our students don't match up to other universities. Compare them to UC Berkeley, Stanford, and Harvard graduates, for example. Or as we do in sports, why don't we recruit higher paid professors to solve the problem?!!
Mr. Hill is a Lightening Rod, it is his nature. You can't blame the fans. If he wasn't related to somebody at ESPN and getting all the TV exposure over the years, I am guessing he would have been gone by now.
It is his tone, tenor and personality. He is tuff to listen too when being interviewed and no matter what the topic of discussion, when he is through you always have the feeling that what ever went wrong is your fault.
He is a very good coach. But you don't hire this guy as a Maitre D.
Pat Hill is NOT related to someone at ESPN and I know this for a fact. He is respected at ESPN, through this profession he knows people at ESPN but he is NOT related by blood or an in-law to anyone connected to ESPN. Get your facts straight before you spout off.
Give the guy a break. Oregon has moved on after losing to Boise State.
Be glad you have whiners, Dick Tomey was supposed to have his best team since he arrived, yet San Jose State hasn't been able to run against USC, UTAH or STANFORD and only a few in Silicon Valley are calling for his head on the end of a Spartan spear.
Maybe this weekend against your old central coast rival we'll find out if a team that can't run will be able to beat a team that can't pass. (Cal Poly)
Go Dogs, Coach Hill is Bulldogs Football, The grass isn't always greener!! GO Hill, Go Dogs!! Don't listen to the haters!!!
Fresno State will always be a loser until they start recruiting out of State Athletes and stop recycling those pampered Bakersfield [athletes] to put on the field.
Their standards for academics suck, as they consistently recruit dumb jocks that they sneak in as grey shirts, their current star is a prime example, dumb as a rock, but can he run.
Feel sorry for Hill no, he knows what he recruits… good losers.
Pat Hill is a great coach and has received tremendous results with what he has to work with. Boise State was a heartbreaker, however, the talent and speed at Boise was much better on both sides of the ball.
Fans and alumni will eventually bring even the best coach down. That seems to be our social mandate. Build them up and knock them down.
Fresno should be proud. Good luck coach Hill.
Coach doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for him. He brought recognition and yes, respect to Fresno State. Before him, who really outside the area knew of Fresno State Bulldogs. He has done this without ever a hint of controversy and has brought education first back to the football program. He recruits good players from the area and they play their hearts out for him and his staff. How can Fresno State compete in the recruiting field with colleges who have stadiums that seat 80,000+? You need a fan base to bring in the crowds and recruiting from the Valley brings in that fan base. Without the crowds, the stadium will never expand. It's all about the mighty buck. Even in the Carr era, the seats weren't always filled. Everytime he gets in an assistant coach, bigger schools offer more money and they go on to those greener fields. Feel sorry for him?, no...he is a great coach and Fresno should be proud to have him.
I am a Bulldog alumni who lives outside the Fresno area, so it is great seeing the Dogs on national TV two to four times a year on ESPN, other national broadcasts. If it wasn't for Pat Hill, the only ones who would ever get to see the Dogs would be those within the Fresno TV market. I like the national attention, as long as they are competitive and entertaining, which due to Hill, they usually are.
To answer the question, no I don't feel sorry for Pat Hill. He got all the glory when they were making their run in 2001 and he deserved it. Now he's getting all the blame and he deserves that, too. Hill has had plenty of years to take the program to the next level. They made great progress but since have done very little except lose close games. At this point I think most fans would rather see 1 marquee game rather than 3 difficult non conference games a year. This year Wisconsin,Cinci, and Illinois. Not to mention Boise St. who seems to be ranked a lot lately. I'm not saying play teams like UC Davis, or Portland St. the other weeks like the SEC does. I'm saying there has to be a happy medium. Rutgers, WAS good, but is still a solid program. Schedule them more. What about a team like AZ, or AZ St. Still PAC-10 teams but not quite USC caliber. Get some 9 and 10 win seasons back to back to earn more respect then you would if you lost 3 close games every year to big time schools. Pat has to change so many things, but the bottom line is if he doesn't change a lot of his ways he'll be on his way out soon, and nobody is going to miss him. And the only reason the WAC is still on ESPN is because Boise St. is carrying the conference. ESPN has a contract with the WAC, not with Fresno St. So, if Boise goes down hill the next couple of years the bulldogs won't be on ESPN for long. Fresno St. should have left the WAC while they had the chance a couple of years ago. Even Conference USA gets more OVERALL respect than the WAC. Pat, I'm glad that you've done what you have, but it seems like your not going to be able to do any more. Do yourself and this valley a favor and walk away while we can still put a positve spin on things. And as far as the local media go, quit kissing Hill's behind. Call it what it is when coach Hill makes moronic coaching mistakes and make him accountable. You don't have to be his friend. Have you ever heard the local media for other markets get on their coaches and players? It seems to work. Do you remember the "I'm a man" speech from the OSU coach? I'm done.
Fire Pat, Hire 1 of these 3
Kevin Wilson – OC Oklahoma
Current Salary 225,000
Wiki Page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_R._Wilson
Ed Orgeron – Tennessee
Associate Head Coach/Best Recruiter in Country
Current Salary 650,000
Wiki Page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Orgeron
Gus Malzahn – OC Auburn
Current Salary – 350,000
Wiki Page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Malzahn