Fresno State has
unveiled a special
secret weaponThe Bulldogs have excelled at
the kicking game this season
It's become the fashionable thing for football coaches to talk about how dedicated they are to special teams, whether they actually are or aren't. But Fresno State's results over the years prove that Pat Hill's voiced dedication to the kicking game is much more than idle coach-speak.
"It's our first meeting of the day, and the first 20 minutes of practice every day," Hill said in a telephone interview yesterday, as he prepared his team to play Hawaii at Aloha Stadium on Saturday. "It's an area where we can try to give ourselves an advantage."
The Bulldogs have done just that, especially when it comes to blocking kicks and punts. Fresno State has knocked 46 punts and kicks back where they came from since Hill became coach in 1997.
This has been a rebuilding year for Fresno State's special teams, since Hill lost his starting kicker, punter, holder and snapper. But dangerous return man Bernard Berrian is back.
Also, Fresno State has already blocked six kicks in six games this fall. Hawaii special teams coordinator Tyson Helton was already well aware of the Bulldogs' ability to create havoc on fourth down.
"They're getting after people. We'll emphasize (protection) more. It will be a good challenge for our guys to protect. They're very good, excellent. We look forward to them every year because it shows us where we are," Helton said. "We don't have to tell the guys they're a good rush team. They know it."
Dee Meza snuffed a punt against Hawaii last year that Meza recovered in the UH end zone.
The play gave FSU a 21-9 lead in the third quarter, but the Warriors came back to win 31-21.
UH has had problems with punt snaps this season, and an extra-point attempt by Justin Ayat was blocked in last week's 27-16 loss at Tulsa.
The Warriors played their best special teams game of the season against the Golden Hurricane, but that might not have been apparent to casual fans, Helton said.
"We had overall a solid showing. The block had nothing to do with protection, it was a low kick," he said. "But we really need special teams this week to do something for us big, like a big return, a block."
The Bulldogs, who have lost the last three times against Hawaii -- and the last four against UH at Aloha Stadium -- will be hoping for the same thing.
"We always take pride in special teams and if we think a team has weaknesses, we'll try to exploit them in one fashion or another," said sophomore James Sanders, Fresno State special teams stalwart.
Sanders blocked a punt in the Bulldogs' 52-28 loss to Oklahoma.
He said there's no real secret to blocking kicks.
"It's desire, wanting to get it done, and good technique," he said.
At many programs, Sanders wouldn't be playing special teams at all. He is also the Bulldogs' starting strong safety and maybe the best at his position in the conference. Sanders is second in tackles for Fresno State with 31 and was second on the team last year with 82 stops.
"He's an all-league type player and he's a helluva kid. One of our best students," Hill said of Sanders. "He'll be a four-year starter. A great person, leader, and a tough kid."
And a special teams player.
"I'm on pretty much all of them, if not starting then backing up," Sanders said.
"We give it importance and people take pride in it," Hill said.
