The Mountain West-Western Athletic Conference split a decade ago is ancient history to the current players in Saturday’s Colorado State-Fresno State pairing in the New Mexico Bowl.
All the history Fresno State senior quarterback Tom Brandstater needs happened two years ago, when his Bulldogs lost 35-23 at home to the Rams.
“A lot of older guys remember that game,” Brandstater said Tuesday. “It was a tough loss. When we heard we’re playing Colorado State in the bowl, the older guys drifted back to that game. It’s a little redemption.”
Brandstater, who completed 19-of-42 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown, was picked off three times in that game.
The third-year starter has gone on to take his place in the Fresno State quarterback legacy. The school has produced three NFL starters (Trent Dilfer, Billy Volek and David Carr). Brandstater is sixth in the school’s record book in total offense with 6,651 yards, nearly 1,000 yards behind Dilfer.
But it has been a frustrating senior year, starting with BCS aspirations and finishing 7-5. Injuries have hampered production.
“We were depleted at the skill positions,” said Pat Hill, in his 12th year as coach.
Without a comparable supporting cast, Hill said Brandstater stood out more than his past quarterbacks.
“There’s definitely a lot of tradition (for quarterbacks) here,” said Brandstater, a fifth-year senior who wrapped up his master’s degree in sports psychology this week after finishing his undergraduate degree before his junior season.
While not happy with his senior season — he was fifth in the WAC in pass efficiency — Brandstater said he’s proud to share the legacy.
“He seems like he can thread the ball into tight windows,” CSU coach Steve Fairchild said.
Sisson honored.
Linebacker Mychal Sisson, second nationally among freshmen with 99 tackles, was named to the Sporting News Freshman All-America team Tuesday.
Chance to shine.
Senior running back Gartrell Johnson has been invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game, to be held Jan. 17 in Houston.
Teams depart today.
CSU will practice on campus this morning and leave on a charter from the Loveland airport. The CSU contingent is scheduled to arrive in Albuquerque at 3:30 p.m. Fresno State gets in first, at noon. Both teams will attend a dinner tonight featuring a chili cookoff.
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
