Grading the classes: Fresno State

This week, OBNUG will be grading the recruiting classes for each WAC team. Our research may be spotty, but as you can see from the final result, there is no questioning our loyalty.


Fresno State

Pat Hill and Co. have outdone themselves this time. After what many felt was his best recruiting class in 2007, Hill and the Bulldogs reeled in an even better one in '08.

By recruiting-service standards, Fresno State assembled its best class in football coach Pat Hill's 12 seasons.

Of the 22 high school players signed, nine are considered three-star recruits by both Rivals.com and Scout.com.

That's a best for Hill and places the Bulldogs atop the Western Athletic Conference in recruiting for the first time since 2002 with a class ranked 59th in the nation by Rivals.com.

"This class here is as good of a class [as we've had] on paper," Hill said. "We're doing a better job every year of finding personality types. Now it's up to us to develop them."

I'm not sure what scares me more: Dave Tester's mugshot or Fresno State in two years. But why wait two years? I'm scared of them now.

The incoming class features the future backfield for the Bulldogs in QB Ebahn Feathers and RBs Michael Harris and Ricky Pemasa. But the real damage will come in the form of defensive line prospects. Seven of the 22 newbies are defensive linemen; is the 5-2 defense far behind? I hope so because I learned some pretty sweet ways of exploiting it during my high school football days.

We would grade them higher, but honestly, we're giving everybody F's because we're homers.

Scout.com rank: 59
Rivals.com rank: 60
OBNUG grade: F

Bulldogs' football recruiting showing depth [Fresno Bee]

Bronco Stadium too small

Hawaii led the WAC in attendance in 2007, thanks in part to a successful year but mostly because of its giant stadium. Cheaters. Fresno State was second, averaging over 36,000 per game, and Boise State came in third at 30,338 per contest.

Considering that capacity at Bronco Stadium is 30,000 people, BSU fans were doing all they could to pack the house every game. The stadium just isn't big enough.

Cripes reported in the Statesman this week that the new construction project at the stadium is right on schedule, and when it is completed this summer, it will raise the capacity to 32,000. No doubt the new addition will be wonderful. We can't wait to see it. But we also can't wait to see the South end zone closed in.

Let's get it done, BSU administration. We don't like losing to Hawaii and Fresno in anything.

Construction on Bronco Stadium right on schedule [Idaho Statesman]
UH ranks 51st in FBS football attendance [University of Hawaii]

An open letter to Sean Renfree

Dear Sean,

You are dead to us. We hope you throw 50 interceptions and get replaced midseason by a converted wide receiver.

Sincerely,
OBNUG team

Photo courtesy azcentral.com.

Grading the classes: Louisiana Tech

This week, OBNUG will be grading the recruiting classes for each WAC team. Our research may be spotty, but as you can see from the final result, there is no questioning our loyalty.



Louisiana Tech

Putting the "Eastern" in "Western Athletic Conference," Louisiana Tech has an entirely different recruiting experience than most WAC schools. Stuck between SEC and Big 12 country, the Bulldogs have a lot to deal with in terms of competition for recruits. Although, they seem to be having trouble from places you wouldn't necessarily expect.

"It was pretty apparent we were recruiting the right guys,” head coach Derek Dooley said. “If you look at the last two weeks, it was an absolute assault on our entire commitment list by some quality programs. That’s great news. I think that’s a good sign.”

Solid verbal commitments for Louisiana Tech were pursued, and in some cases lost, to Texas Christian, Southern Methodist, Tulsa, Southern Miss and Memphis.

Memphis? Do they even play football there? And Southern Methodist? Would that be 1-11 Southern Methodist? Those Conference USA teams are cutthroat, man.

Regardless, the Bulldogs did have people sign with them. Not playmakers, mind you, but people nonetheless. The relative big names were on defense as coach Derek Dooley focused a second consecutive class on being able to stop potent WAC offenses. This is the point in the story where we feel obligated to tell you that LaTech barely averaged 20 points per game last year.

The Bulldogs' best signing was LB Eric Harper. Unless he scores points with tackles, we don't see how he is going to help.

Scout.com rank: 91
Rivals.com rank: 75
OBNUG grade: F

Tech recruiting notebook [The News Star]

February blues

Oh, how I hate February, the most desolate month for sports fans. Football is over. Need I say more? There is college hoops if you are into that sort of thing. There's the NBA if you are really desperate (I, myself, have turned to this in light of the Blazers' strong start this year). Or, if you really can't find anything better to do, there's the NHL. Now, there's nothing wrong with these sports. They are a welcome distraction on weeknights from the relentless hashing and rehashing on all the terrible football shows. However, standing on their own, it's quite the depressing scene on Sunday afternoons. On top of all this, smack dab in the middle of February is the sometimes loved, often hated, Valentine's Day.

Well, February does throw us one bone. We do have signing day. We get to celebrate over abitrary rankings based on two or three sources since we've never seen these kids actually play (and based on Notre Dame's past class rankings and subsequent 2007 record, they really aren't much better than us judging grainy Youtube highlights.). Every few years, the Super Bowl gets pushed to February so I guess that could count.

This year, February has given us a little something extra. You might agree/disagree with the merits of this whole Mitchell report and Clemens saga, but I doubt many would disagree that it's entertaining. So, today bundle up, flip on the tv, tune in your radio, monitor Jason Stark's live blog because today will be interesting. I know I'm excited.