Sports

Fresno State Football is Hawai’i Bowl Bound on Xmas Eve

FRESNO – The Fresno State football team learned on Sunday its 2017 bowl destination will be the Hawai'i Bowl and its opponent will be the Houston Cougars of the American Athletic Conference. The game will be played on Dec. 24 at 5:30 p.m. PT and will air on ESPN. These two schools have never faced each other before.

"Every team in college football wants to extend their playing season and I am thrilled for our players and staff," said head coach Jeff Tedford. "We are pleased to represent the Mountain West in the Hawai'i Bowl against a very good Houston team and I look forward to preparing our team for a well-deserved bowl game."

Bulldogs Drop MW Title Gameon Boise Smurf Turf 17-14

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State topped Fresno State 17-14 to claim the 2017 Mountain West Championship on Saturday night at Albertsons Stadium. "I'm really proud of this team and our staff," said head coach Jeff Tedford despite the loss. "We fell short tonight, but this team has accomplished so much. This team rejuvenated the town of Fresno. We have a lot to be proud of, these guys worked really hard to get to this point. I told them in the locker room that they shouldn't hang their heads because they accomplished a lot this year, when no one really believed in them after last season."

The Bulldogs owned a 14-10 advantage at halftime behind two rushing scores by quarterback Marcus McMaryion while the team outgained the Broncos in total yardage, 224-171. But Boise State flipped the script in the second half, limiting Fresno State to 85 yards offense and manufactured 193 yards of its own. The BSU offense scored the game-clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter for the 17-14 win after a scoreless third.

Fresno Grizzlies Win Prestigious Bob Freitas Award as Top Triple-A Operation

FRESNO – For the first time in franchise history, the Fresno Grizzlies have been chosen as the Bob Freitas Award winner by national industry publication Baseball America. The honor recognizes the top overall operations in Minor League Baseball, as a recipient is selected at each level of MiLB. 2017 is the first year Fresno has been chosen for the award, and the third consecutive season a Pacific Coast League club has won the Triple-A award, as the Grizzlies join the Salt Lake Bees (2015) and Round Rock Express (2016).

First awarded in 1989, the Freitas Award is among the most prestigious in baseball for an organization, and recognizes overall excellence in all departments, from marketing and promotions, to baseball operations, to field management, and stadium operations and game day experience.

Bulldogs Pick Up 16 All-MW Honors; Tedford Named MW Coach of the Year

FRESNO – Fresno State had 16 football student-athletes recognized with Mountain West postseason honors while head coach Jeff Tedford was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday morning. Sixteen postseason selections are the most that Fresno State has received since joining the conference in 2012. Sophomore linebacker Jeffrey Allison was the lone Bulldog to get a first-team All-MW nod.

"Program-wide, what we've been fortunate to accomplish this year is a reflection on the coaches and the players," said Tedford. "Really, it's all about them. They did all the work and they're the ones playing between the lines. It's nice for the program. I think the people associated with this team, the staff and the players, can take a lot of pride in that because they're the ones who earned it."

Bulldogs McMaryion Named MW Offensive Player of the Week

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Fresno State junior quarterback Marcus McMaryion was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, announced by the league on Monday.

McMaryion signals the Bulldogs' fifth MW player of the week nod this season, but first of the offensive variety. The last Bulldog to claim an offensive player of the week award was Derek Carr on Nov. 25, 2013.