Paul Loeffler joins CK to talk Fresno State Football & much more

The countdown is on. Fresno State Football starts in September. Stay up to date with Paul and CK on Fox Sports Radio!

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Here we go. Ckon Sports.It is Fox Sports Radio're gonna talk a
little Fresno State football as we countdown to Fresno State football first weekend coming
up in September. I mean,it's so very close. Can't wait to
see the Dogs in action and joiningus right now the voice of the Fresno
State Bulldogs. I believe he isin Cincinnati, Paul Leffler, on the
road again, on the road goingnon stop. So I know you have

(00:23):
a limited amount of time, butI'm curious and know what was your biggest
feedback from being at Mountain West MediaDays last week. Her I would say
just that, you know, theconference is in a really good place.
And I know that that sounds kindof silly given the turmoil in San Diego
State trying to get out, FresnoState talking the Big twelve at UNLV talking

(00:44):
about twelve, and Boise State tryingto talk to anybody who will listen.
But you know, talking to thecoaches and the student athletes, they're dialed
in. They're excited for this season. You know, I think there's a
lot of confidence around the league aboutnext year, not this coming season,
but the following season when the collegefootball playoffs expands and then if you're the
champion of one of the top sixleagues you're in. I think that is

(01:07):
something that is creating a buzz.So you don't have to be in a
Power five school to have access tothe playoff. Now, if you want
to have the money that makes youable to compete to you know, make
it into the playoff and have oneof the best teams in the country.
Yeah, the TV money from aPower five conference makes a big difference.
But after twenty twenty four, thatcollege Football Playoff will have access for at

(01:29):
least one team to outside that Powerfive And I think that's a step that
coaches in this conference have been waitingfor for a long time. And you
know, just sitting down with eachcoach and looking them in the eye and
you know, being reminded of whothey are. I think there's just a
lot of depth, a lot ofexperience, and a lot of quality in
this conference. Well, there werea couple of things that happened while you

(01:51):
were there at Mountain West Media Days. One San Diego States saying yes,
they are officially going to come backto the Mountain West. Don't worry about
what they were talking about earlier anddon't worry about the posturing and what they
were doing behind the scenes. They'recoming back to the Mountain West. But
also the football pool came out andFresno State was predicted at number three.

(02:12):
Talk about both of those things,and you know what was the feeling that
you got once the polls came outand you got to talk to all the
different players from all the different teams. Yeah, it's always interesting to see
how the players and the coaches reactto those things. You know. I
remember a couple of years ago,Utah State, you know, won the
league and then til last year mediadays, you know, they weren't picked

(02:36):
to be a contender and they're talkingto the coach and he's like, yeah,
that's you know, we're used tothat. Last year we were picked
at the bottom and we want it, So it doesn't mean anything, I
think, you know, for coachTedford, I think he's pleased with where
they are. You know, hewants them to have extra and sent him
to be hungry. They did goup to Boise and beat the Broncos on
their own field to the championship.So to see Boise State and Air Force

(02:58):
picked ahead of them this year.Yeah, and if they'll give you a
little extra juice without a doubt,to see only two Bulldogs on the preseason
All League team and you know,nobody in the secondary of the linebacking corp.
That's a little bit surprising given howstrong Presno State is in those areas.
But you know, I think they'llchanneling that all in the right direction
and it's gonna be a fun year. You know, without the divisions this

(03:21):
year, it is going to bea little different, so you're better finishing
that top two and I think that'sgoing to make for some real interesting games
in November as it comes down thestretch. I think there'll be some games
with more writing on it than wemight have expected. When you look at
the preseason poll and you see thatthe Bulldogs are number three, and then

(03:42):
you look back at last year,do you think that that is the bulletin
board inspiration that the Dogs need tobasically continue where they left off at the
end of last season. Almost likepredicting them to come in third is a
bit of a disc like a bitof a slap in the face, some
disrespect to the program. Yeah,Like I said, I don't think it's
gonna hurt with motivation. It's alittle extra juice that they can take.

(04:04):
And you know, realistically, BoiseState does return most of its defense and
a good chunk of its offense,the best two running backs in the league,
and a returning quarterback, so Iget why they were picked up there.
I was a little more surprised tosee air force in front of Fresno
State because they lost their quarterback,they lost their running back, we touched
it about ninety percent of their offensiveplays, and they lost some real leaders

(04:27):
on defense. But you know,try Calhoun has also set the bar of
expectation in winning nine or ten gamesevery year, so it's not a huge
surprise. But I do think,you know, if I step back and
I say, well, what arethe reasons Fresno State should be picked to
win it? And I did pickFresno State, all right. I was
a voter in that poll. FresnoState had five first place votes and I
was one of them. I pickedthem first because, hey, I think

(04:49):
they have the best defense in theleague, and it's hard to win if
you don't score, and I thinkthat teams are gonna have a hard time
scoring against Fresno State when you lookat the way the corners played the second
half of last year, and they'reboth returning, adding Clark in the secondary
to pick up where Evan Williams leftoff. The depth, they have a
linebacker. Yeah, they need tohave, you know, some more pass

(05:09):
rushers step up with the loss ofDavid Caralis, but I think Devil Bridges
is ready to do that, youknow, and Dah Johnson's back. They're
adding some new talent. They've strengthenedthe receiving corps, you know, through
the transfer portal, and they havesome guys who've been here for a while
who are ready to break loose.I mean, mac dalane has been chopping
at the bit for a couple ofyears to get out there and get some
reps. So Siah Freeman could bea breakout star, Trey Watson the tight

(05:30):
end. I mean, there's youknow what the pieces are, and I
think if Fresno State had a returningquarterback that dogs might have been picked to
winning. Part of the reason theydon't and they lost Jordan Man, they
lost those receivers. I get it, but when you look at the coaching
staff, I mean that to me, Fresno State not only has the best
defense in the league. Fresno Statehas the best coaching staff in the league,
and the leader of that staff hasproven in developing quarterbacks throughout his career.

(05:56):
So I think it's reasonable to expectthat whether it's Logan Fife, Start
Perdue or Mighty Team, that theoffense is going to operate efficiently. And
I expect big, big things fromPresono staates this fault. Before we switch
gears, I do want to askyou about the billboards and the banners that

(06:16):
have been going up regarding NIL andpeople making donations, because some people have
been confused when they drive around town. They're like, wait a minute,
what is this, What's going on? Why am I scamming this? Maybe
can you explain it? Because Imean, for me, it just kind
of popped up out of nowhere,and I'm like, okay, so this
is how the community can donate andmake a difference. Yeah, And I
think, you know, there's acouple of sets of billboards. There's there's

(06:40):
the advertisements for Bulldog Brad which absolutelyyou know, NIL money is a great
addition, a great incentive, agreat way to show your appreciation for student
athletes. And if you're you know, one of those businesses or donors and
you want to make sure something goesdirectly to a student athlete, that's a
great way to do it. Iknow that are you know, friends over

(07:01):
Bulldog Sports properties are also crafting alot of like combo packages where you can
promote your business, maybe even havea student athlete promoting your business and you
know, pump up your brand whilesupporting members of the team as well.
There are a lot of opportunities likethat. It's a it's a great time
to be creative. And if there'ssomething that you thought, you know,
wasn't possible in the past, Ithink this is a time where now it's

(07:25):
probably possible. But I've also beenhearing quite a buzz k about the other
string of billboards that are up anddown the valley. I mean they're from
Sacramento all the way down to Bakersfield, and it's just you know, reminding
people that Fresno State is the valley'sfootball team, that there's only one FBS
team in that whole corridor. Andso it's those billboards, you know,

(07:46):
let's say thank you Red Wave oryou know, have the Mountain West Championship
cope. The just reminders that youknow, Fresno State is the Valley's team,
and the valley goes a long way. I think it's great that from
sacrament Mento all the way to Bakersfieldand beyond you get to see that Bulldog
country man. I mean, it'sa special thing, especially right before football

(08:07):
season. Ck on Sports Fox SportsRadio, we're talking with the voice of
the Fresno State Bulldogs, Paul Leffler. Paul has always been a big fan
of Paul Skens, formerly an airForce then went to LSU, now the
number one draft pick in the MLBdraft recently. We didn't get to talk
after the MLB Draft took place,but you always talked about how special he

(08:28):
was when he was at air Force. Then he made the move to LSU
and they got themselves a national championship. Then he became the number one draft
pick in all of Major League Baseball. Mountain West product, Mountain West kid,
what were your thoughts about it whenyou saw that Paul was picked as
the very first pick. Well,I wasn't surprised, you know. I

(08:52):
think from the second that Paul Skeinscame on the scene, it was evident
that he was a special talent andhaving spent time talking to him and his
father back at the Academy when theDogs have played there. You know,
he spent his first two years atthe Air Force Academy. I think e
Shan Henderson's going to be a funanswer to a trivia question because her Paul
Skeins broken LSU record for strikeouts thisyear, but last year e Shan edged

(09:15):
him by three strikeouts to be theMountain West Strikeout champion. So he'll always
be able to tell people. Youknow, in twenty twenty two he won
the Mountain West strikeout title and therunner up with Paul Skeins, And I
think e Shan's got a great chanceof making the big leagues. But you
know, Paul Skeins is just afirst class young man. He's even said
he wants to go back and servehis country. And there's no doubt in
my mind that if the Academy's leadershiphad been able to clarify for him,

(09:39):
that his opportunity to play professionally wouldnot be delayed, that he would have
stayed at the Academy. And youknow, Air Force Air Force might have
gone to Omaha. Legitimately, whenyou look at what that team still had
and what that team still did.Sam pugs Ingham was one of the best
hitters in the country, and they'rejust they've become a really good program.

(10:00):
It's a coach has for that.But I think anybody that actually spends any
time around Paul Skemes becomes a PaulSchemes fan. And I don't think we're
gonna have to wait too long tosee him in the big leagues making new
fans. I was at I'm actuallyin Cincinnati, my daughters with me and
getting to visit my mom and mysister and family here, and we got
to go to the Reds game yesterdayand see all that young talent on Cincinnati

(10:22):
squad. Good teams, a cruise, you know, first bat or the
game boom bomb, left handed,he's a switch hit or a power speed,
a crazy arm. There's a newbreed of athlete coming in all Schemes.
It's that Bill. I think he'sjust going to be a picture at
the big league level. But youknow, these guys are so versatile,
they have access to so many toolsto grow their games. Technology. You

(10:46):
know, there's there's nothing that's offlimits anymore. And we've got a fun
era of baseball ahead of us ifeverybody keeps their head screwed on straight.
I think you're right, and Ithink that it's only going to get even
more exciting in a time where baseballdoes need to get that excitement. I
mean, you look at what MLSis doing bringing in Lionel Messi and players

(11:07):
like that. That sports can growhere in the United States. Baseball needs
to stay one step ahead of thatso that way you can maintain itself inside
the Big three Baseball, basketball,and football. Absolutely right, And the
big thing is attracting the talent,so you know, there are there's been
a decided effort in Major League Baseballto make sure, you know that every

(11:31):
segment of society has access to thegame and sees the future in the game.
And there was concerned for many yearsthat the African American athletes were gravitating
more toward football and basketball and notenough toward baseball. So it's been fun
to see a resurgence in that.Yeah, even in our league and even
in Fresno States program. You know, I think we've seen more African American
players at Fresno State in the lastdecade than we did in the decade prior.

(11:56):
And you know, that's a goodthing. There should not be a
barrier for anybody, regardless of wherehe comes from or how much money he
and his parents make. And collegebaseball is one of those sports where there
has been a financial barrier in thepast because of the scholarship limits. You
know, when you only get elevenpoint seven scholarships for a whole team,
guys have to pay part of theircost, and for some families that's been

(12:16):
cost prohibited. So I think,you know, the more we can focus
on giving everybody an opportunity, themore we're going to see stories of guys
that really make the most of thatopportunity. And it's a game that's always
changing, and I think it's upto people in charge to make sure it's
changing for the better and other worse. Well, you did a fantastic job

(12:37):
in Las Vegas last week. Youand Cam moorell love the interviews, Love
when you sat down and you talkto everyone from the top of the mountain
west to Terry Toomey, to JeffTedford to the head of referees. It
was a great job that you guysdid. Can't wait for the football season
to get underway. Enjoy spending familytime in Cincinnati and we'll talk next week.

(13:00):
Sounds good, my friend. It'sgonna be a fun ride with the
Bulldogs this fall. So people don'thave those tickets yet. I know single
game tickets went on sale this week, but season tickets going to be worth
your while. There's a lot that'salready been announced with honoring you know,
Jim Sweeney and Pat Hill and theRing of Honor. Man, it's gonna
be some more surprises to come,and they're going to be more big names
coming to Valley Children's Stadium this fall. So i'd get your tickets now and

(13:22):
not wait. Yeah, I'm superexcited about what's going to take place.
I mean, we were just talkingabout that in the office here. They're
like, what do you think isgoing to happen the first three games?
I go, don't be surprised ifwe go on the road and we still
want and Purdue. Don't be surprisedwhen we go to Arizona State. We
have a two and old record andwe take something out of the sun Devil's
there as well. So I mean, I have high expectations for the Bulldogs

(13:46):
this year, so I can't wait. Well, and that's the standard of
the program, and credit to coachTedford and this experienced staff for really making
that a reality. Right, it'snot a wish and a dream, and
if it's yeah, this is whowe plan to be, this is who
we expect to be, and here'show we can do that. So I
am Valley fans should just feel realconfident and where this program is the hands

(14:11):
that it's been entrusted too, andwe can all be a part of it,
you know. I think that's theexciting thing in the last twelve months
is we've seen the red wave reignited. We've seen you know, reason for
people to re engage. And Ithink anytime something great happens in Fresno States,
it coincides with the fans really jumpingon board and you know, sponsors

(14:33):
and boosters and creative ideas and grassrootssupport. That's the secret sauce here and
I think we're moving in that directionand I think Fresno State's administration really gets
that and it's doing some great thingsto engage the community. You know,
the ballot measure that'll be a provokedthis next year is going to be huge
and the future looks very promising.I'll just put it that way. And

(14:56):
I do want to say this oneof the things that came out of of
Mountain West media days, and thiscame out of virtually every single opponent's mouth.
What did you guys like about FresnoState? What did these opponents like
about Fresno State? They said thered wave, They said the energy that
they feel as an opposing player insideValley Children's Stadium. So, red wave,

(15:20):
you guys are definitely doing something.Get your tickets, let your voice
be heard, let's continue to makea difference. Because I'm sure you heard
that over and over again, Paul, was how much the red wave impacted
a football game when they were init. Yeah, there's a reputation,
you know, Bulldog fans have areputation around the league. It's nobody's you
know, volunteering to come play inFresno, right right. It's not something

(15:45):
that they're excited about. You know. They don't want to deal with the
red waves. So I think that'sas good a compliment as the Bulldog fan
base could have. And now it'sa matter of limit up to it being
consistent, showing up every Saturday nightand hope fully you know, the one
thing the Bulldogs haven't done in adecade is host a Mountain West championship game.
They want a couple of them uponthe Blue, but they haven't hosted

(16:08):
a Mountain West Championship game since DerekCarr was the quarterback. So that would
be a good drought to end thisyear. And you know, showing up
all year and really establishing that homefield advantage and an expectation a level a
standard, I think I could goa long way toward making that possibility of
reality there. He is the voiceof the Fresno State Bulldogs, Paul Leffler.

(16:30):
We'll talk next week, my friend. Always appreciate your time. Thanks
c Kke smiling love catching up withPaul Lefler again. Super excited. September
second, first game against Purdue.Then September ninth, Eastern Washington at home.
Then we go on the road thesixteenth against Arizona State. Can not
wait. It wouldn't surprise me ifafter the first three games were three and

(16:52):
own and then we get Kent Stateat home with a possible opportunity to be
four and oz. Just continuing wherewe left off after last year's amazing comeback season.