DOGS' SEASON NOT YET OVER, 24-7 WIN OVER RUTGERS

It's September and that can only mean that Fresno State's football team is a matter of mere weeks away from, by its own definition, having the season declared a failure. September 1 would have been a great precedent to set, but Pat Hill's troops managed to get out of New Jersey with a 24-7 victory over Rutgers.

It was 0-0 at halftime, so you know both teams brought their "A" games. But once the offense got into gear, the Fresno State defense remained stingy and now the team is 1-0 on the season.

Next up is a bye, so hopes are high the team can stay focused and remain unbeaten.

After that is a rare visit to Bulldog Stadium by Wisconsin, who is ranked 13th or thereabouts by the many polls that probably don't really matter. Then a trip to So Cal for a game against UCLA. Neither of those should be easy. And I'll go ahead and bring everybody down by reminding you that Boise St. still exists, still plays in the WAC and still appears on Fresno State's schedule.

Other than that, what could possibly derail this community's high hopes for a BCS bowl? (Question of the day on pre-game 'Dog Talk: will you be disappointed if FSU doesn't go to a BCS bowl? I'm serious, that was the question.) It's Follies time again so buckle up and hang on. This should be one of the better rides we've had so far.