The Bulldog Football Hour With Paul Loeffler, Coach Tim Skipper & Offensive Lineman Braylen Nelson

The Voice of The Bulldogs Paul Loeffler and Fresno State Head Football Coach Tim Skipper were at The Point Patio Bar & Bistro to talk about last week's loss to Hawaii and this week's big game against Air Force. Joining Paul and Coach Skipper this week for The Bulldog Football Hour was Fresno State Student Athlete Offensive Lineman Braylen Nelson. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
On the Bulldog Sports Network from Learfield.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
This is the Bulldog Football Hour, presented by American pistachio growers,
powering the Valley one.

Speaker 1 (00:11):
Nut at a time.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Also brought to you by Table Mountain Casino Resorts, Lucky
Days and Epic Nights, and by Pepsi, official soft drink
of Fresno State Athletics. Now live from the Point Pettio
Barring Pistro, here's your host, the Voice of the Bulldogs,
Paul Leffler.

Speaker 3 (00:33):
Well, good evening, Bulldog fans.

Speaker 4 (00:35):
It's a beautiful evening out here at the Point Patio
Bar and Bistro.

Speaker 3 (00:39):
And if you're saying, hey, wait a second.

Speaker 4 (00:40):
When I got up this morning, it was cold, Yeah
it was, but then the sun came out and out
here on the patio, not only do they have the
lights hanging, feels like a little holiday spirit going here.
But we've got some haters on the patio. So if
you're one who is a little chili, just cuddle up
next to one of those heaters and some good friends
with some food and whatever you want to drink out

(01:01):
here on the patio of the Point Patio Barnbistro, northwest
corner of Willow and knees. We have some giveaways tonight
if you can come join us. You have to be
here to win, but we're gonna be giving away some
gift cards to the Bulldog Shop, a kennel marketplace.

Speaker 3 (01:15):
I was just down there looking.

Speaker 4 (01:17):
For some cold weather gear for Colorado Springs, and they've
got a really nice selection over there. We are here
at the point, Coach Skippers. Here Braylan Nelson, the only
Bulldog from the state of Colorado, is going to be
here a little bit later on, and he's never played
a game in his home state in college. He finally
gets to do that Saturday at six forty five hour

(01:39):
time against the Air Force Academy.

Speaker 3 (01:42):
Before we hear.

Speaker 4 (01:43):
From the coach, let's get a proper introduction for the
coach from the voice of Valley Children's Stadium and the
Save of mart Center, Matt Lee.

Speaker 3 (01:51):
Amer Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.

Speaker 5 (01:54):
This man will have his team ready to go against
that triple option in Colorado Springs comes Saturday night, head
coach of your Bulldogs, the one and only Tim Skipper.

Speaker 4 (02:06):
Now the show has begun, well, Coach, just hearing him
say triple option, I mean we'll get into the last game,
and we'll look ahead to this game. But isn't it
something that I mean, when you went to Air Force
as a Fresno State freshman in nineteen ninety seven, they
were running the triple option, and here twenty seven years later,

(02:29):
they've never changed. They're still running the triple option. There's
not too many programs in the country you can say
they're running the same stuff.

Speaker 6 (02:36):
No doubt they're still running. It's the exact same stuff.
I mean, exact same block at the same all that
they've added a couple of little wrinkles, but the meat
and potatoes of what they do is the exact same
as nineteen ninety seven.

Speaker 3 (02:47):
So it'll be a good little battle.

Speaker 4 (02:49):
Speaking of meat and potatoes, you're gonna change things up
tonight because something different at the point not changing.

Speaker 3 (02:53):
Not me, you get asked the people here, but not me.
I'm the same. You keep passing that test.

Speaker 4 (02:58):
Man, I'm gonna one of these days I'm gonna find
the inconsistency.

Speaker 3 (03:03):
But I haven't seen it yet. We're here at the point.

Speaker 4 (03:05):
Patio Bar and Bistro, The Bulldog Football Hour brought to
you by the American Pistachio Growers powering the Valley one
nut at a time. We want to thank the American
Pistatio Growers for their continued supporter of Presno State Athletics
and for being our presenting sponsor of this show. We've
got a few tables waiting for you out here on
the patio if you can come join us, eat some
great food, get what you want to drink, and talk
some bulldog football. You might go home with a fifty

(03:25):
dollars gift card to the Kennel Marketplace. Go get some
good bulldog gear, like that hoodie that Mark won with
one of those gift cards, and I think he's wearing
it here tonight. I saw him a little bit ago.
So Coach, I know you had to talk about it
right afterwards. You had to talk about it Monday. You've
been talking about it, digesting it, but fans still want

(03:47):
to hear about it as you try to move on
from the game that right afterwards, you said, you know,
we didn't finish the twenty one to twenty.

Speaker 3 (03:56):
Loss to Hawaii.

Speaker 4 (03:58):
How can you see what happened there? As frustrated and
disappointed and everybody.

Speaker 3 (04:04):
Was with it.

Speaker 4 (04:05):
Is there something that you guys can take from that
that's going to help you moving forward with.

Speaker 3 (04:09):
The rest of this season.

Speaker 6 (04:10):
Yeah, the magic word is still finished. But it was
just a tail of two different halves. The first half,
we were playing bulletoff football, controlling most of the game,
doing what we needed to do. We were moving the
ball on offense and defense were getting stops and things
other than the very first drive. Then we get in
the third quarter, it's kind of a defensive battle.

Speaker 3 (04:28):
Then we get to pick six.

Speaker 6 (04:29):
So you're up emotionally high, and I think that interception.
Actually we came off the gas pedal a little bit,
and when we did that, we created openings for them
to take advantage of.

Speaker 3 (04:39):
They did a great job of that.

Speaker 6 (04:40):
They stopped us on offense, I mean, their defense did
a good job is changing some things up, giving us
different looks, and we couldn't adjust to it quick enough
or well enough. And then on defense, we just didn't
get out the field on fourth downs. We left it
up to officials. They threw flags on some things. It's
arguable whatever, but we never want to leave it up
to those guys. And they stayed on the field. They
took advantage of it, and they score touchdowns. Obviously they

(05:01):
got the one at the end. We had a miscommunication
a couple coverage things there in the fourth quarter on defense.

Speaker 3 (05:07):
That was disappointing. But the learning.

Speaker 6 (05:09):
Experience is never get off the gas pedal and you
have to execute for four quarters. We signed up for
four quarters, you have to play for four quarters. So
we're gonna learn from it. Sometimes you learn from things
that hurt. So that was a hurtful moment.

Speaker 7 (05:21):
But we cannot let that game bleed into this game.

Speaker 6 (05:24):
We have to move on. We have to be ready
to go. It's totally different. Like I say, every game
has his own life in history. Nothing from that game
other than the finished part will really translate over. It's
a totally different experience we're about to go through on Saturday.

Speaker 4 (05:37):
In so many ways, different offense, different defense, potentially drastically
different weather conditions, and certainly a very different elevation. You
mentioned the pick six that Phoenix Jackson had. What a
tremendous play. I mean, Steevie Nurmurr gets his hands on it,
Phoenix gets ahead of steam before he even gets his mits
on it, and then he was gone. I mean, have

(05:59):
you ever seen him run like that before? Those are
some long strides coach.

Speaker 6 (06:02):
Yeah, he set a record because we have a GPS
hooked up to him, so he set a record. He's
going like twenty two something miles per hour, so he
was flying the beauty that I like being a linebacker. Guys,
one linebacker tipped to another linebacker and the linebacker return
it for a touchdown that rarely happens to the tip,
the catch, interception, and the TV that might never happen again.
So I was excited about that. Happy for Phoenix. He

(06:24):
was able to show his wheels. He's an athlete, big
time play, and I just wish the ending was different
because I thought that was going to really set some
things off.

Speaker 4 (06:33):
And there's a question already on the x app or
Twitter about that play that I'm going to pass on
to you in a moment. If you're listening at home,
you can't make it out here for that chance to
win a gift card tonight, But you want to ask
the coach a question, you can send it our way
on Twitter or the x app. Just use that hashtag
ask cafes. But I want to circle back to what
you just said and make sure everybody heard you right,

(06:54):
or make sure I heard you right.

Speaker 3 (06:56):
You're saying, the top.

Speaker 4 (06:58):
End speed for Phoenix Jackson on that eighty nine yard
interception return for a touchdown was the fastest speed that
your GPS positioning analytics have recorded by any bulldog at
any moment all season long.

Speaker 6 (07:11):
Fastest for him, Oh, for him, for him, for him,
his fastest time. Yeah, so he has fastest cats in
twenty two. I think Delane has gotten up there. As
he's gotten up there, cam Lockridge has gotten up there.

Speaker 3 (07:23):
A couple of guys have gotten up there.

Speaker 6 (07:25):
Yeah, just about the moment and when you can really
open up and go. You have to have that moment
where you can really run with the GPS looked up
to you.

Speaker 4 (07:34):
And I want to come back to this GPS stuff
because a lot of people are saying, wait a second,
what are they doing with GPS on the football field.

Speaker 3 (07:39):
There's actually a lot you guys can do with it.

Speaker 4 (07:41):
But the question that came in from someone known as
drip dropping on the x app was when you scored
that touchdown, you're up nineteen seven, why didn't you go
for two? I'm pretty sure the metrics say go for two, because,
as you learned that night, having twenty points is just
as bad as nineteen that late in the game. Yeah,

(08:02):
there's a little wrinkle to that answer, I think because
you were asked us Monday at your news Come.

Speaker 3 (08:05):
Yeah, so we did go for we were going for two.

Speaker 6 (08:09):
We lined up in our migration and our migration you
have to have particular looks, and all season when Hawaii
had migration, they lined up one way, so we had
a play design specifically for their lineup. So we were
ready to go. It was gonna be pretty much automatic
in our minds. Well had we ended up scoring the
touchdown right, and it took a while for the defensive
guys to get off the field. So the offense or

(08:32):
our go for two group is out there and we're
lined up in the formation. It gave the coaches time
with the headset communication to realign them, so they changed
up how they were aligned.

Speaker 3 (08:42):
Totally took away to play we had.

Speaker 6 (08:44):
So now we had to line up and we had
to kick, so it took us away from the play.

Speaker 3 (08:47):
We wanted to get the two points.

Speaker 4 (08:49):
Right, so it was more of a sneak attack two
point than line up Yes with an offensive formation.

Speaker 6 (08:55):
Yes, And we had to look initially and then they
moved and changed it and then we didn't have the look.

Speaker 4 (09:00):
And most of you, I think have seen this where
they line up and you've got what is it, your
quarterback in two linemen in the middle, and then four
on each side.

Speaker 6 (09:09):
We do a lot of different stuff, but that looked
pretty much as how it was.

Speaker 3 (09:12):
Going to be. Yeah, And so you call that migration.

Speaker 4 (09:15):
And the idea is if the defensive team doesn't have
their guys in the right spots, it's easy money for
you to get to yes, And that was the plan
until the defensive score took too long to get off
the field.

Speaker 6 (09:27):
Yeah, And that's where the helmet communication kind of kills.
And you can clearly see that coaches are talking to them.

Speaker 4 (09:31):
In the helmets lining them up, so in the old
days they wouldn't have the chance to communicate the change.

Speaker 8 (09:36):
Not at all.

Speaker 6 (09:37):
And it's just unfortunate because it was a defensive touchdown.
The defensive guys are out in the fields. It takes
a while right to get off the field, so the
rest are holding the clock for them to get off
so they could see we lined up right in it
like we always do, but usually the clock's.

Speaker 3 (09:51):
Running and we run to play. So just unfortunate and
isn't that funny.

Speaker 4 (09:55):
I mean, there's some things about this game that haven't
changed in sixty years, and then there's some things that
have changed since last year. Yeah, so literally what happened
there wouldn't have happened last year. No, No, it's something
And you know, staying on that technology topic in helmet
communications one thing, but you were talking about the GPS
and that's how you know Phoenix had his fastest run. Ever,

(10:17):
what are the I bet fans would be interested to
know the folks who were out here on the patio
at the point patio Barnbistow and everybody listening on the
radio or online, what are some of the applications of
the GPS technology or other analytical and information that you
guys have boatloads of. Yeah, it really doesn't do any

(10:38):
good if you don't know what you're doing with it.
So what are some of the things that you guys
actually use that data for?

Speaker 1 (10:43):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (10:43):
I think first off, you need to know what it is.

Speaker 6 (10:44):
It's kind of a chip that goes into like a
tank top shirt let's for lack of a better word,
So you put the tank top shirt in.

Speaker 3 (10:50):
It goes in the back of the shirt, slip it in.

Speaker 6 (10:53):
Then you put on the pads and all that stuff
go on, right, so then it can track everything.

Speaker 3 (10:57):
Every movement you do is getting tracks.

Speaker 6 (10:59):
We can see the distance that that particular person ran, walked, whatever,
the whole just for the whole game, from warm ups
on or whenever we put it in. Some guys we
wait till the very beginning of the game, and you
can track how many miles they did that for that
game or whatever. You can see the distance, the distance
they did all time for it too, all right. You
can also see the top end speed, which I was

(11:22):
just talking about. And then we have prs for each
guy because they have their own chips, So that's how
I know Phoenix went past his PR And then there's
sprint distance yards, So how many yards did he run
that he was sprinting, which is eighty percent of your pr.
So like when we wear that practice, if we're meeting
our sprint yards, we don't have to condition as a

(11:43):
team because we're running already at practice. Anytime that number
is getting low, then we know, all right, we need
to run a little bit more.

Speaker 3 (11:49):
So now we're going to condition a little bit more.

Speaker 4 (11:51):
So what you're saying is you can run. But if
you're not really running, you can't hide.

Speaker 3 (11:55):
You can't hide.

Speaker 7 (11:56):
There's no hiding because you have a number attached to
your running.

Speaker 3 (11:59):
Right.

Speaker 4 (12:00):
In the old days, you might be able to slack
off a little bit, But now you guys know if
a guy's not giving it one hundred percent just from
that data.

Speaker 6 (12:07):
Definitely, Like we know if we're having kickoff practice that
appeared in practice and the starting guys on the kick
all team aren't reaching a certain speed, we know they're
not running full speed, so we can track things like that.

Speaker 3 (12:20):
It's crazy the technology that's out there.

Speaker 4 (12:22):
Ye know, I was just at a basketball practice today
and the men's basketball team has its opener Friday night
against Sacramento State. Hope you all Bulldog fans get out
there to the Save Mart Center for coach Wahlberg's first
opportunity against the sack State Hornets at seven o'clock Friday
night at the Save Mart Center. You can hear it
on all these Bulldog Sports Network stations with my good
friend coach Mark Q. Jones and Matt Norvil will be

(12:44):
calling the play by play. We'll be in Colorado Springs.
Lord Willan.

Speaker 3 (12:47):
There was one more question about the Hawaii.

Speaker 4 (12:49):
Game coach that is here online and I wanted to
pass it on to you same person who asked the
other question, and he said, hey, you're up by two
scores in the fourth quarter, but instead of hooking the clock,
you ran a hurry up offense and this allowed Hawaii
multiple possessions, including the game winner.

Speaker 3 (13:06):
And this has happened in other games.

Speaker 4 (13:08):
Why so, I guess his question is about the tempo
of the offense in the fourth quarter.

Speaker 6 (13:14):
So it's kind of a misconception a little bit. So
we'll line up in formations and we call it radar.
Where we line up, we want to see what the
defense is in. Then we look to the sideline, get
the actual play formation all that, then we move.

Speaker 7 (13:27):
So I think when we don't huddle, people think we're going.

Speaker 6 (13:29):
Fast, but it's all about what what is on the
forty second clock when we snap, So we're always snapping
underneath ten, but we don't have the impression that we're
huddling because we don't want them to be able to
settle down. As a defense. We want to see what
they got. Unfortunately, we didn't get any first down, so
you didn't eat up a ton of clock as you
would want to, but we're not going fast.

Speaker 3 (13:48):
We're just not in the huddling. You ask a question,
you get an answer. That's how the show works.

Speaker 4 (13:53):
So if you've got a question for coach Tim Skipper
or for his right tackle Brayln Nelson, who's on his way,
you can sit in our Way. Online is the ex
app for Twitter with that hashtag ask fs. We're brought
to you tonight by Table Mountain Casino Resort. Have a
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(14:14):
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Speaker 3 (15:51):
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(16:15):
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Speaker 4 (17:26):
Well, welcome back to Bulldogs Football Hour, brought to you
tonight by Bulldog Bread, the official nil collective.

Speaker 3 (17:32):
Of Fresno State Athletics.

Speaker 4 (17:33):
To support student athletes, visit Bulldog Bread bre ead dot com.
We're here with coach Tim Skipper. In a little while,
we'll have Fresno State's giant right tackle, Braylan Nelson, a
four year starter from the state of Colorado who's never
gotten to play a game in college in his home state,
even though there were two teams in this league to
play their.

Speaker 3 (17:51):
Home games in Colorado.

Speaker 4 (17:52):
Go figure He'll finally have that opportunity on Saturday against
the Air Force Academy, which, by the way, he is
getting a lot of snow. I have a nephew who
goes to the Air Force Academy, and he was kind
of hoping that they might get classes canceled one day
this week, even though that never happens at the academy.

Speaker 3 (18:12):
Well, guess what.

Speaker 4 (18:13):
The Air Force Academy is closed tomorrow because of all
the snow. They closed tonight at eighteen hundred hours, so
a little over an hour ago, and they won't reopen
until fifteen hundred hours tomorrow. That's three o'clock in the
afternoon Mountain time, because of all the snow that has
hit that campus. So that's out of the ordinary. Butt
coach Skipper. Last time I checked, there's no snow in

(18:36):
the forecast for Saturday night.

Speaker 3 (18:39):
Yeah, so last time I checked too, no snow.

Speaker 7 (18:42):
So just be cold and let's go winter wonder the land.

Speaker 3 (18:46):
How often are you checking?

Speaker 6 (18:48):
We check it once a day. As it gets closer,
we check more and more. We start getting hourly and
all that.

Speaker 4 (18:53):
But right now, just check it once a day, Just
once a day, and it might change six times a day.
So it'srobably best only check before you go to bed
or something so you can sleep all right.

Speaker 3 (19:04):
So we referenced it earlier.

Speaker 4 (19:07):
He probably the first really significant Bulldog victory you were
involved in, which was a really significant victory at the time,
was at the Air Force Academy in nineteen ninety seven.
That's a nationally ranked Falcon team. Pat Hill's a first
year coach. What do you remember about it? I know
that's been a few years. You got to take us
back to being a teenager. What do you remember about

(19:28):
that in nineteen ninety seven?

Speaker 7 (19:29):
I actually remember a lot.

Speaker 6 (19:32):
Coincidentally, we lost to Hawaii at Hawaii before that game,
so now that's all back in my head. So we
had the same situation here now. But I remember vividly.
We we got there on a Friday night, and we
had our team meetings and we coached. The team meetings
you usually go about twenty thirty minutes. Well, this team meeting,

(19:52):
he didn't like the energy in the room, so he
made everybody stand up stand against the wall. It coaches
and players. Everybody had to say what their duties were
for the game. And that meeting might have went four hours,
and the kickoff was at noon, so we had to
be up by I think seven that morning the next morning,
and he didn't care, and the meeting started about eight

(20:12):
I think.

Speaker 7 (20:13):
We left there at like eleven thirty, straight into our rooms.

Speaker 6 (20:16):
Went to sleet, woke up, played the game, and we
beat them nashly ranked team. But he made every player
and coach say and himself say what their duties were
for the game, this magical moment.

Speaker 7 (20:26):
I just remember one fan being in there and it
just kept going.

Speaker 3 (20:29):
Around and around and around.

Speaker 6 (20:31):
That was the only thing that made any kind of
noise other than the person talking.

Speaker 7 (20:34):
A fan just kept going. That's what I remember about
that room.

Speaker 6 (20:38):
It was a beautiful day, great day. We played the
option really well. We kicked the field goal.

Speaker 3 (20:43):
And won the game. It was awesome.

Speaker 4 (20:45):
And that Air Force team at the time was in
the top twenty and undefeated seven to zero, and you
guys went in there two and four, yeah, and upset
Fisher de Berry's group. You remember how the game ended.
You remember who kicked that field goal? Oh Hannah, Jeff Hannah,
Jeff Hannah. That was the one YEP October eighteenth, nineteen

(21:05):
ninety seven. A little different scenario here. This is not
a nationally ranked Air Force team, not seven to zero.
In fact, these Falcons have lost seven straight. They haven't
beaten an FBS team this year. Their only win was
against Merrimac and FCS squad in the opener. It's also
gonna be the first time the Bulldogs ever played a
night game at the Academy. So no flyover unless it's

(21:27):
snow flying over. It's gonna be cold, it's gonna be windy.
How are you trying to prepare your players for what's
really gonna be a unique challenge, especially when you add
in almost seven thousand feet of elevation where Falcon I
think falcon Field down below is at sixty six hundred.

Speaker 6 (21:45):
Yeah, it's all a mindset thing, very first thing for motivations.
We need to win, get a bad taste out of
our mouth. It's competition. We knew this was gonna be
the game a long time ago. We knew it could
be cold, we knew it could be snowy. So but
to me, it makes it fun. That's football. It's November.
It's that time of the year. It's ah, you never

(22:05):
know what conditions're gonna get. It could be foggy, can
snow it and rain, it could just be cold whatever.

Speaker 7 (22:10):
You can go to Hawaii at this time of the
year and it is really hot.

Speaker 6 (22:13):
Like there's different things that you deal with, especially in
our conference and in the game of football, so you
deal with that.

Speaker 7 (22:19):
But I think our guys are ready for the challenge.

Speaker 6 (22:22):
I think this is a different offense and defense that
we're playing against, so the uniqueness kind of brings out
the best in you. So looking forward to that, I
know we'll we'll play and be ready to go. We
just need to do our jobs and that's what it's
gonna come down to.

Speaker 3 (22:36):
Saturday six forty five will be the kickoff.

Speaker 4 (22:39):
Our pregame coverage on the Bulldog Sports Network will start
at four thirty on Saturday, and you can catch the
official watch party up at Table Mountain Casino Resort with
our guys CK and Kenny Wiggins.

Speaker 3 (22:49):
Than Isaiah Green. On the drive home afterwards.

Speaker 4 (22:54):
I want to ask you a little more about this
year's matchup, but I gotta go back down memory lane too,
because if weeks ago when the Dodger playing San Jose State,
we reminisced about the next to last game of your
Bulldog career when you got that only interception against the Spartans.
But the next game you played, the last game was
in that same stadium in San Jose. Everybody talks about

(23:14):
Beyonce and Destiny's Child being the halftime show, but iver important.
But the first half and the second half were both
pretty exciting shows. More exciting for air Force in the
first half and for Fresno State in the second half.
But isn't this surreal that here you are a senior
playing your last game against air Force. On New Year's
Eve two thousand, they had a quarterback who was also

(23:36):
a senior playing his last game for air Force, evalienated
from Modesto, Mike Theeson, whose uncle Tim was a phenomenal
baseball player for Bob Bennett, played professionally here.

Speaker 3 (23:44):
At Fresno State.

Speaker 4 (23:46):
And now you're the head coach of Fresno State and Mike,
that quarterback that you were game planning against twenty plus
years ago, is calling the place for Air Force.

Speaker 3 (23:54):
Yeah, it's kind of ironic.

Speaker 6 (23:57):
What's ironic is me and him didn't know each other
at all playing the game, and then we became really
good friends since just seeing each other, you know, whether
it's recruiting or at coaches conventions whatever.

Speaker 3 (24:08):
Actually flew on a plane with him once before. So
I'm looking more in a commercial playing not like the
Air Force.

Speaker 7 (24:14):
Yeah, well, I don't get it. I don't want to
do that with him.

Speaker 3 (24:18):
Yeah. Commercial.

Speaker 6 (24:19):
And you know, he's a great guy, very competitive, and
it's just ironic we're both meeting up again here all
these years later, and we every time I've gone up
against him in the coaching profession a couple of times
every time we will talk on the field for like
twenty thirty minutes and just reminisce about everything. I remind
him how many times I tackled him and all that stuff,
and he tells how many touchdowns he had and all that.

(24:41):
So it'll be good to see him and reminisce a
little bit and then get ready to go play a game.

Speaker 3 (24:47):
You know.

Speaker 4 (24:48):
And as you bring that up, it makes me think
about your time at Colorado State under coach Macklewaan, because
that Colorado State Air Force rivalry is a real intense rivalry.
Did you learn more about playing at the academy or
those kind of conditions during your tenure there with the Rams?

Speaker 6 (25:03):
Definitely, And you know we played for a trophy and
all that type of stuff. It was a real rivalry,
just hatred because of the end State game and things
like that. But what I really learned is like the win, okay,
the win and I'm seeing the forecast is no win.
But when there's wind in Colorado, that thing changes the games.
Colorado and Wyoming is where wind is crazy, and I

(25:23):
put in New Mexico third. Oh yeah, but Colorado win
will change on you in the middle of the game.

Speaker 3 (25:28):
You have to be ready for it. It'll be gone
and show up. He'll be there and leave.

Speaker 7 (25:32):
Like you have to be ready for that delevation stuff.

Speaker 3 (25:34):
I haven't really bought into that thing. I think if
you're in shape, you're fine.

Speaker 6 (25:37):
If you're not, I'd be more worried about our coaches
than the players, So we'll be fine that way.

Speaker 7 (25:44):
But the playing conditions with the win is the big thing.

Speaker 4 (25:47):
And that makes me wonder, you know, because I was
just again at the Kennel market Place. We're giving away
three fifty dollars gift cards to the Kennel market Place
here today at the Point Patti Obar and Bistro in
the Bulldog Football Hour. Well, I got some jackets for
Pat and Cam and myself and our engineer Eric, and
I got us some beanies. Are you gonna be wearing
a beanie on the sideline on Saturday? That'd be a
game time decision right there. Game time decision. We'll see

(26:10):
how cold it is and we'll go from there. It's
all about the ears. As a coach, though, it's all
about the ears. Your ears get cold, you got problems.

Speaker 3 (26:18):
Boy.

Speaker 4 (26:19):
I'm just realizing now I've asked you about skipper hats
and cowboy hats and beanies. I got to think of
something more creative next time for the head gear. It's
time for another break. We've got coach Tim Skipper here
at the Bulldog Football Hour at the point Patti Obaran
Bistro will be joining a little bit by Bulldog offensive
lineman Braylan Nelson. We're brought to you tonight by Resort
Life Carts. If you're looking for the perfect golf cart

(26:39):
or street legal ride, Resort Life Carts they're your local experts.
Discover your dream cart today at resortlifecarts dot com. If
you've got a question for the coach or Braylin, send
it our way on the xAPP or Twitter hashtag ask fs.
It's the Bulldog Football hour on the Bulldog Sports Network
from Learfield.

Speaker 13 (26:56):
The Central Valley is high and thirty two below keeps
you as the official ice provider of Fresno State Athletics.
Thirty two below is a proud, locally owned packaged ice
service company with service across the San Joaquin Valley. We
have the largest fleet of event trailers of any provider
and we can keep your event from a company party
to a bulldog tailgate on ice. Visit us today at

(27:18):
thirty two below ice dot com and learn what we
can do for your team.

Speaker 1 (27:23):
Go Dogs.

Speaker 10 (27:25):
Hey, this is coach Pahill here on behalf of my
friends at American Pistachio Grs. It is my favorite time
of the year because bulldog football is back. This also
means that California pistasher Gers are working hard to harvest
my favorite healthy and delicious nut.

Speaker 1 (27:37):
Just like building a.

Speaker 10 (27:38):
Winning team on the football field, American pistasho Gers has
the dedication and commitment to excellence you need to protect
your investment now and into the future.

Speaker 1 (27:45):
So this harvest.

Speaker 10 (27:46):
Joined me in over eight hundred of my friends and
become a member of American Pistachio Growers. Visit American pistascho
dot org to learn more about American pistachio growers.

Speaker 1 (27:56):
Bulldog fans.

Speaker 10 (27:57):
It's the old coach here, Pathhill, here to tell you
about our friends at Table Mountain two thousand slot machines,
Hi Gal, Blackjack and Mini Bacarac on a smoke free floor,
head to sky the rooftop Tepanyaki restaurant with unbelievable views,
or eagles landing a one of a kind stakhouse sing
along with headliner entertainment before returning to one of the

(28:19):
luxurious suits. Have your own Lucky day, followed by an
epic night at Table Mountain Casino Resort.

Speaker 11 (28:26):
Here in the heart of California, traditions are as deeply
rooted as the abundant fields that drape our valley. They
link us across generations. They make us who we are.
So what does it mean when traditions unite? When a
beacon of hope treats a source of pride. When you
combine a place that's full of life with people who
can save a life, we call it a victory for

(28:48):
our valley, for our kids, for generations to come. Valley
Children's official healthcare partner of the Fresno State pulldogs quick.

Speaker 4 (28:57):
Where can you find a great selection of temper pedister
and fosters, serta and mattress first bedding Easy. The same
place you'll find adjustable beds, sheets, pillows, mattress protectors and more.
Sleep retreat inside fashion Furniture. It's worth the time to
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your new mattress fashion furniture an El Paso across from
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Speaker 9 (29:29):
Some days you hit snooze, but not today. Today you
have to go on a run to get burgers for
the tail game. You've got to haul something heavy, a
cooler stocked with bud Light, and you've got beer and football.
Nothing that's hard until the other team scores. Bud Light

(29:49):
Easy to drink, easy to enjoy, enjoy responsibly twenty one
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Speaker 4 (30:00):
Snap on third and sixteen, quarterback wants to run steps
up to the line, is past.

Speaker 14 (30:04):
The flex and intercepted, picked off by Fresno Phoenix go
Phoenix Jackson on the right sideline, showing the speed Phoenix
to the thirtye of Hawaii. The twenty fifteen to ten
cuts inside five touchdown Phoenix Jackson Baby ninety yards.

Speaker 4 (30:23):
And the first pick six of his Bulldog career.

Speaker 3 (30:33):
This go Baby.

Speaker 4 (30:38):
It wasn't Cam Lockridge with the pick six. Shager came
right to the line of scrimmage. It was Seev Nomura
who deflected that ball and his fellow linebacker, Phoenix Jackson
looks like he should run one hundred meters. You see
those strides Camp.

Speaker 8 (30:53):
He was flying.

Speaker 1 (30:54):
I was trying to keep up with him. Couldn't do it.

Speaker 3 (30:56):
That was like a Burian stride length right there.

Speaker 1 (31:00):
Dude is an NFL linebacker. No doubt.

Speaker 3 (31:04):
Cam Worrell would know. He played six years in the NFL.

Speaker 4 (31:06):
You'll hear Cam shivering on the sideline in Colorado Springs,
Saturday night.

Speaker 3 (31:10):
Six forty five, kickoff four to thirty. Our time will
be the start of our pregame coverage.

Speaker 4 (31:15):
We're here at the Bulldog Football Hour the Point Patio'barn
Bistro on the northwest corner of Willow and Knees. In
just a few minutes, we'll have offensive linemen, the right
tackle Braylan Nelson joining us. We've got a few more
minutes with Coach Skipper and Coach Skip you played with Cam.
Was he that excitable when you guys were on that
same Kevin Coyle defense twenty five years ago?

Speaker 3 (31:34):
Definitely?

Speaker 6 (31:34):
Definitely, very good teammate, leader, natural, all that, good athlete, ballplayer.
He was the same guy, same guy, always had energy,
always excited to go practice or games.

Speaker 4 (31:45):
Well, like I said, we'll hear some of that enthusiasm
on Saturday night, and fittingly, we're brought to tonight by
thirty two below Ice, the official ice provider.

Speaker 3 (31:54):
Of Presno State Athletics.

Speaker 4 (31:56):
Won't need to take any Colorado springs, It'll already be
there waiting for the If you haven't paid attention to
the weather, Southern Colorado getting a lot of snow right now,
but it's not supposed to snow at this point on
game day for Fresno State and Air Force. So coach,
we've got our practice update, brought to you by Pepsi,
the official soft.

Speaker 3 (32:15):
Drink of Fresno State Athletics.

Speaker 4 (32:16):
Anytime you come off a game like Saturday, there are
some real emotions that players, coaches, everybody you're dealing with,
what have you seen the last couple of days in
practice from your team as they try to bounce back.

Speaker 3 (32:30):
I'll go through a couple of days.

Speaker 6 (32:31):
So Sunday, honestly it was a sad meeting room, but
it was tell the true Sunday. So we had to
get some bonding out the way there and figure some
things out. When that meeting ended, you kind of as
a coach, you're kind of like, all right, how's Monday
going to be, which is an off day?

Speaker 3 (32:45):
How they're going to respond to that?

Speaker 6 (32:47):
Start seeing a couple of guys and then Tuesday morning
we have our team meeting, and I thought we had
a lot of energy in that meeting. I thought the
guys were ready to respond, rebound back, and that was
good carried into Tuesday's practice and then carried into today's practice.

Speaker 3 (33:00):
I think the guys have.

Speaker 6 (33:01):
Moved on, which we talked about not losing twice and
moved on and we were focused on doing our jobs.
That's every single guy in the room, from our guys
making the trip to the guys that are Scout Team.

Speaker 3 (33:12):
Not we all have a job to do. We have
to do our job.

Speaker 4 (33:15):
In order for us to win this thing on Saturday,
and one thing that will help went on Saturday is
a good game from the offensive line. We're gonna talk
to your right tackle, Branlon Nelson in a moment, but
you got a left tackle back this last game, got
his first action of the season, Jacob Spoemer.

Speaker 3 (33:32):
Where do you set the bar for him this week?
And how's he coming along? Yeah, it's good to see
him out there.

Speaker 6 (33:36):
He didn't start the game, but he came in there
and played some valuable minutes. I think he'll play a
lot more of this game. We just kind of want
to see how sorry he was going to be in
that stuff, which is still ongoing that process, but I
anticipate him being fine and ready to go. He got
hurt last year around this time, so it clicked almost
a year to get back. So he did a good job,
very physical. Excited about him and looking forward to watching

(33:58):
him play a couple more games.

Speaker 3 (33:59):
Here and this game.

Speaker 4 (34:01):
You're kicking on an air Force team that the defense
has played pretty well this year, kept the Falcons in games.

Speaker 3 (34:07):
The offense has really struggled.

Speaker 4 (34:09):
They've played three different quarterbacks with significant reps throwing the
ball a lot more.

Speaker 3 (34:14):
Than they usually do. What are some of the things
you see.

Speaker 4 (34:18):
From Air Force on video that say, hey, you know what,
this could be dangerous.

Speaker 3 (34:22):
That guy's a problem. This is what we have to
prepare for.

Speaker 6 (34:25):
The defense flies around, they give disruption up front.

Speaker 3 (34:29):
Braylan can tell you more about that.

Speaker 6 (34:31):
They're gonna they're gonna move around, they're gonna twist, they're
gonna do all that stuff. And they get a lot
of TFLs. They don't get a lot of sacks. They
get a lot of TfL so we're gonna have to
deal with that. They mix their coverages in and out.
They play hard like Air Force. All Air Force teams
play hard. So that's the trademark. And them on defense
and then on offense. I don't know if I'll ever
say they struggle because the way it is built, it's

(34:54):
always a challenge no matter what, it's up to us
to stop it, and we need to st They're gonna
run to dive, they're gonna run the quarterback, and they're
gonna pitch it out there. They've added some little wrinkles
with gap scheme stuff inside, with pulling linemen, the run
power to run some counter so and then their quarterbacks
can really run like they'll drop back and pass and
then they'll take off and run.

Speaker 7 (35:14):
So we're gonna have a major challenge that way.

Speaker 6 (35:18):
They're throwing it more because they've been behind in a
couple of games, but if the game's closed, they're not
gonna just sit there and throw it. So we can't
have that misconception mess with our head. We're gonna have
to stop the run. If we can get on the pass,
that'll be good for the Bulldogs.

Speaker 3 (35:30):
So that's the goal. We're talking about.

Speaker 4 (35:33):
The trip ahead the Colorado Springs and the coldest, probably
windiest game of the year Saturday night, six forty five
against the Falcons of Air Force and the trip ahead
presented by Golden Eagle Charter that preferred motor coach and
executive transportation.

Speaker 3 (35:45):
Service to Fresno State Athletics.

Speaker 4 (35:47):
When I was in the kennel earlier today getting our
cold weather gear, I saw a Bulldog fan who's gonna
drive to Colorado Springs to cheer for you.

Speaker 3 (35:54):
Oh, loyal, loyal, loyal. That's a real fan.

Speaker 4 (35:57):
Yep, You've got some dedicated folks that are pulling for you.
And you know, I did want to ask you one
last thing before we let you go and bring Braylen in.
You play a linebacker against Air Force and you just
set a second ago. You can't let you know the
idea that they throw it more get in your head
because if it's close, that's not gonna be what happens.

Speaker 3 (36:16):
Is this a game?

Speaker 4 (36:17):
I know the mental part of the game is important
every game, but is this a game because the nature
of the triple option that the mental side of the
game is even of more importance because of how tempted
you are as a tackler to want to go to
where your instincts tell you should go, not the scouting report.

Speaker 7 (36:38):
Definitely, definitely, definitely, definitely.

Speaker 3 (36:39):
You have to do your job.

Speaker 6 (36:40):
You have to execute. You cannot get bored with success.
And what I mean by that is we could be
stopping them, but you might not have any tackles, and
you can't think, oh, I'm not playing well because I
don't have tackles.

Speaker 3 (36:53):
You're just doing your job.

Speaker 6 (36:54):
The ball is gonna go where it goes, and when
it gets to you, you make the play. So we
all might end up with four or five tackles. Sometimes
you end up with like fifteen tackles. It just depends
on where you're fitting and what they're calling and how
you execute. But we all have to play together. We
got to all be on the string. But you cannot
get bored with success. You have to just keep doing
your job and we'll be fine.

Speaker 4 (37:15):
In basketball and soccer, you know, in hockey they have assists,
and when you're playing a triple option, if you just
stay on your guy instead of going to the ball,
it's almost like an assist, right.

Speaker 6 (37:27):
And assists yep. Keep your gap, know your leverage, know
your assignment. It's a big deal, yep. And we all
working together. This is gonna take all eleven on every
single snap. There's never a play where one guy is
not part of it because they make you. They stretch
you out because they use all eleven, so we need
to use all our eleven. So they're gonna stretch you
out that way. But like I said, don't get bored
with success. Just keep executing, keep eck secuting, keep grinding out.

(37:48):
We're gonna need to win short yards to get them
off the field because they run so much. It's a
lot of third and fourth and shorts. We need to
win some of those situations. Get off the field and
get our offense out there.

Speaker 4 (37:58):
Well, coach, before I let you go, maybe just a
quick word about the young man we're gonna hear from next,
your senior right tackle. He's kind of a mountain himself,
going back home to the Rocky Mountains, Brayln Nelson.

Speaker 6 (38:09):
Yeah, he's a massive guy. When he gets up and
walks up here, you see how big he is. I
think he's a gentle giant, great kid. But once we
start playing football where there's practice or games, he.

Speaker 7 (38:19):
Can flip the switch and get a little aggressive and crazy.

Speaker 3 (38:21):
As big as he is, he's very athletic. Great dude.

Speaker 6 (38:24):
Doesn't say a lot, doesn't say a lot, but he
backs it up on the field. And I'm excited he's
on our team. Excited he's playing tackles. I know Mikey
joys having him protecting him.

Speaker 4 (38:33):
Well, we look forward to hearing from Brayln Nelson and coach,
we look forward to going to those conditions and finding
a way to win on Saturday night.

Speaker 3 (38:40):
Good luck, definitely, I appreciate it. Thank you. That's coach
Tim Skipper.

Speaker 4 (38:43):
The Bulldog Football Hour back with offensive tackle Braylan Nelson
after this, come hang out the point, the point Patti
o'barn Bistro, Northwest corner of Willow and Knees. If you
want to win that gift card, you got to hurry up.
We're on for another twenty minutes on the Bulldog Sports
Network from dear.

Speaker 1 (38:57):
Field Bulldog Fans.

Speaker 10 (38:58):
Just the old coach here pat here to tell you
about our friends at Table Mountain two thousand slot machines,
Hi Gal Blackjack and Mini baccarac on a smoke free
floor and head to sky the rooftop Tepanyaki restaurant with
unbelievable views or eagles landing a one of a kind steakhouse,
sing along with headliner entertainment before returning to one of

(39:20):
the luxurious suits have your own lucky day followed by
an epic night at Table Mountain Carsino Resort.

Speaker 11 (39:28):
Here in the heart of California, traditions are as deeply
rooted as the abundant fields that drape our valley. They
link us across generations. They make us who we are.
So what does it mean when traditions unite? When a
beacon of hope meets a source of pride, When you
combine a place that's full of life with people who
can save a life. We call it a victory for

(39:49):
our valley, for our kids, for generations to come. Valley
Children's official healthcare partner of the Fresno Staatepulldogs.

Speaker 10 (39:58):
Hey, miss coach Pat Hill here on behalf of the
my friends at American Pistachio Gors. It is my favorite
time of the year because Bulldog football is back. This
also means that California pistasure goers are working hard to
harvest my favorite healthy and delicious knot. Just like building
a winning team on the football field, American pistascho Goers
has the dedication and commitment to excellence you need to
protect your investment now and into the future. So this

(40:18):
harvest joined me in over eight hundred of my friends
and become a member of American Pistachio Growers. Visit American
Pistachio dot org to learn more about American Pistachio Growers.

Speaker 12 (40:30):
Grank to let me hear from Bring the juice and
I'm fired up to get y'all ready for game day.
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Speaker 7 (40:38):
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Speaker 12 (40:41):
Whether you want one straight off the showroom floor or
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Speaker 1 (40:58):
Quick.

Speaker 4 (40:59):
Where can you find a great selection of temper pedi
sterearns and Foster Serda and mattress first Bedding Easy The
same place you'll find adjustable beds, sheets, pillows, mattress protectors
and more sleep retreat inside Fashion Furniture. It's worth the
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(41:21):
be on your new mattress Fashion Furniture on El Paso,
across from River Park, There's nothing like it in all
of California.

Speaker 13 (41:30):
The Central Valley is high and thirty two below keeps
you chill. As the official ice provider of Fresno State Athletics.
Thirty two Below is a proud, locally owned packaged ice
service company with service across the San Joaquin Valley.

Speaker 1 (41:43):
We have the largest fleet of event trailers.

Speaker 13 (41:45):
Of any provider, and we can keep your event from
a company party to a Bulldog tailgate on Ice. Visit
us today at thirty two below ice dot com and
learn what we can do for your team.

Speaker 4 (41:56):
Go Dogs, Welcome back to the Bulldog Football Hour. Here
for another twenty minutes at the Point Patio Bar and
Bistro on the northwest corner of Willow and Knees. This
is a beautiful patio and right now the heaters are
on out here. Everybody's enjoying a good time, some good food.
I saw my friend Scott and Linda having some calamari

(42:18):
over there. I wonder what Brayln Nelson's gonna get. We'll
find out in the second. But first let's properly introduce
our player guest tonight, mister Leaver.

Speaker 3 (42:26):
Take it away, ladies and gentlemen, Boys and girls.

Speaker 5 (42:28):
You can see this offensive tackle opening up holes for
Elijah Gilliam and Bryce and Donaldson. Number seventy five in
your program.

Speaker 8 (42:36):
Number one in your heart.

Speaker 3 (42:36):
Please welcome bryfon Nelsir Brayln.

Speaker 4 (42:44):
You want him to follow you around, you know, back
to campus when you go shopping and all that.

Speaker 8 (42:49):
Oh yeah, of course, of course.

Speaker 4 (42:52):
So Braylan is the right tackle for the Bulldogs. He
started his freshman year for half the season his sophomore year,
star at all thirteen games last year. He started every
game this year, but never once as a Bulldog. Have
you ever played in the state of Colorado where you
grew up? So I imagine you're not the only one

(43:13):
in your family that's been looking forward to Saturday night
for a while.

Speaker 3 (43:15):
Yeah.

Speaker 15 (43:16):
I've been getting talked to about this game like all season,
even before the big Michigan game, it was just Colorado.
Who's coming to Colorado? So that's been a big one
for us.

Speaker 4 (43:25):
So who is coming to Colorado or staying in Colorado
to drive down I twenty five and see you.

Speaker 15 (43:31):
Well, all of my extended family, so my mom, her
grandma's daughters and sons, my cousins, family friends, friends I
grew up with playing football, They're coming down to visit.

Speaker 8 (43:43):
My girlfriend's flying out. So it's going to be a
big one, and it's going to.

Speaker 3 (43:47):
Be a big one. I think you said you might
have thirty people at the game.

Speaker 8 (43:49):
You start thirty around thirty.

Speaker 4 (43:52):
So if there might be some other Bulldog fans listening
who are going to make that trip, Tim right here
is taking a group of ten Bulldog fans or so
since you grew up in Colorado, played high school football
in the Denver area. Do you have any tips for
them on how to stay warm Saturday night?

Speaker 15 (44:09):
I said to layer up, you know, get your long John's,
whatever mink coat you guys can afford out here. Just
get layered up, you know, and get ready for a
good showing a bulldog football.

Speaker 3 (44:22):
And have your teammates been asking you about it a
little bit?

Speaker 15 (44:26):
Yeah, maybe into kind of hyping me up a little
bit because it's a big one. I'd ever like to
go back home. I remember seeing some guys whenever we
go to play la like USC UCLA and whenever they
go back home. So it's huge to be able to
do that and put a show on for your family
and home state.

Speaker 3 (44:42):
You know.

Speaker 4 (44:42):
And usually when I talked to old Lineman over the
years about kind of their dream scenarios, most of them
include somehow touching the ball instead of just blocking for
the guy who's got the ball. Have you ever had
those kind of dreams about you being the guy that
carries the ball across the goal line or anything like that,
or throw was the bomb to one of your receivers?

Speaker 15 (45:02):
Oh yeah, it's always been my dream to touch the
rock again. Because the literal league throwing back the Colorado
I did play full back, so I just if I
had one more chance just to tow the rock, I
think that would be a big one.

Speaker 3 (45:12):
You play.

Speaker 4 (45:13):
How big were you when you played fullback, because you're
like six six three twenty.

Speaker 8 (45:16):
Now at seventh grade.

Speaker 15 (45:17):
At that point, I think I finally his six foot So, yes, sir,
did you enjoy that? Oh yeah, of course, big man
in space making you think you can really play running back.
My favorite guy was Bo Jackson growing up, so you know,
got a little stiff on from him.

Speaker 3 (45:32):
Uh huh. Yeah, that's that's a good one to follow.
He was a little before your time, though.

Speaker 4 (45:37):
You must have had some family members that introduced you
to the legend of Bo Jackson.

Speaker 15 (45:41):
Yes, sir, my father he was a Raiders fan, which
is ironic growing up in Denver, so.

Speaker 8 (45:46):
Yeah, we always got a lot of flag through that.
But yes, sir, Marcus Allen bo Jackson, I'm a big
Raiders fan.

Speaker 3 (45:51):
Uh huh.

Speaker 4 (45:52):
And I'm just guessing that you played a fair amount
of defense over the years.

Speaker 8 (45:56):
Too, Yes, sir.

Speaker 15 (45:57):
In the high school when I went to All State,
played defense all four years, started varsity. That's how I
first got my few touches on the field playing defense.

Speaker 3 (46:06):
Actually, so you ever miss playing defense a little bit?

Speaker 8 (46:09):
I think I can have a little work in there inside.

Speaker 15 (46:12):
But I shout out to the guys at Fredon State
and rd Line, But yeah, it's a uh huh.

Speaker 3 (46:19):
Well, who knows.

Speaker 4 (46:19):
We'll see where we see Braylan on Saturday and what
kind of tricks he might have up his sleeve in
the future for Fresno State. Do you think any of
your teammates maybe don't understand what it's gonna be like Saturday,
or maybe aren't gonna know how to throw a snowball
when you get to the hotel Friday night.

Speaker 15 (46:40):
Yeah, of course, because you know, it doesn't snow in
California at all. So I think it's gonna be new
for them. It's always a new experience, especially when we
went to Nevada. I remember a few years ago it
was cold and it snow so and the guys were excited, like, well,
we've never seen snow before. So it's gonna be definitely
a new thing, especially the elevation as well, because that's
a different feel.

Speaker 3 (46:58):
But I mean, you grew up in it, so.

Speaker 4 (47:01):
Should you be impervious to it, even though you're living
down here.

Speaker 8 (47:05):
Oh man, it's been a while since I've been there.

Speaker 15 (47:07):
I don't think I'll be impervious, but I'll definitely be
handling business out there.

Speaker 4 (47:11):
So when the Dogs went to Wyoming last time, you
felt it a little bit in your chest, A little.

Speaker 8 (47:15):
Bit, i'll say, the elevation those wins.

Speaker 4 (47:19):
I got some more questions for you, But I'm just
as we talk about the weather, and hopefully it's going
to be a beautiful day. The sun will come out
and melt some of that snow, then the sun will
go down. It's not going to be windy. Maybe it'll
be forty degrees in game time or something like that.
It'll be comfortable. But if it's not, maybe you have
a story that you think back of to high school
or even earlier where you had to play a game

(47:41):
in Colorado in some crazy conditions.

Speaker 15 (47:43):
Yes, of course, my sophomore year of football, we played
Thornton High School and it had just been a snowstorm
and you can see the turf on the field start
to get chippy. It's all clumped up together, so if
you're falling, you're dang nears like scratching yourself. So I
remember that one. That was a big one. I remember
putting on plastic gloves under my gloves, you know, wearing

(48:03):
two socks.

Speaker 8 (48:04):
So it's definitely something you have to get used to.

Speaker 4 (48:08):
I guess if the turf's in that bad of shape,
it's a good incentive to not go down.

Speaker 8 (48:11):
Huh, of course, ye knock somebody down.

Speaker 4 (48:15):
We're talking to Brayln Nelson, Bulldog Senior tackle here at
the Point Patio Bar and Bistro the Bulldog Football Hour.

Speaker 3 (48:21):
I know there's a really good menu here, Brayln. What
did you decide on tonight?

Speaker 8 (48:25):
I decided on the calamaria.

Speaker 15 (48:26):
I'm a big seafood guy, big seafood guy, someone with
the klamaria.

Speaker 4 (48:32):
Yeah, calamaria. It's probably kind of hard to find fresh
calamari in Denver. You know we're near the ocean.

Speaker 15 (48:37):
Yeah, nowhere close, nowhere close. There's a lot of imitation
food up there. So it was definitely a great thing
to come to Fresment, to be able to venture out
to where the water is.

Speaker 3 (48:47):
What do you miss the most about where you grew up?

Speaker 15 (48:51):
Oh, I think it was the snow, the snow. I
think the falls, the falls there were beautiful seeing the
lead fall off the trees, the snow because it brings
back memories of you going to your neighbor's house and
ask them if you can show their snow just for
like ten or twenty or twenty bucks. So uh huh,
I think the snow and just that whole culture, like

(49:12):
building snow man. You know, it always had that Christmas
body because that's one of my favorite seasons.

Speaker 4 (49:16):
So you know, that might be a good postseason workout
plan for the old line.

Speaker 3 (49:21):
Go up to shaver Lake and shovel some snow. It's
a pretty good workout, good.

Speaker 8 (49:25):
Workout for the back arms.

Speaker 1 (49:26):
You know.

Speaker 15 (49:27):
Try it, yeah, and you get a lot of reps,
a lot of a lot of reps, a lot of reps.

Speaker 4 (49:33):
You prefer a big, wide shovel or a narrower shovel
so you can go fast.

Speaker 15 (49:38):
I'm a narrow shower guy. I didn't like the big
one because it'll clump up and get all the water
in there. So I was a narrow guy. Just scoop
it up, throw it out.

Speaker 4 (49:45):
This is the guy that knows what he's talking about.
Brayln Nelson Bulldogs right tackle. We'll have more with him
when we come back. If you've got a question for Braylen,
send it our way on Twitter or the x app.
Now use that hashtag ask fs back right after this
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Speaker 3 (53:05):
Welcome back to the Bulldog Football Hour.

Speaker 4 (53:07):
As always, it goes by way too quickly out here
at the Point Patio Bar and Bistro. Just a reminder,
there is no game next week, so we won't have
a show here next Wednesday night. There'll be a Bulldog
basketball game in Santa Barbara next Wednesday night if you
want to make that trip.

Speaker 3 (53:23):
Hey, somebody's going.

Speaker 4 (53:25):
And remember the Bulldog basketball season openers this Friday at
the Save Mart Center seven o'clock. You can get ten
dollars tickets to see Vance Wahlberg's coaching debut. Speaking of
first after four years in the program and being a
starter that whole time, Braylan Nelson finally gets to play
close to home, an hour away from where he grew
up in the Denver area. The Dogs will be in
Colorado Springs Saturday, six forty five, kick four thirty the

(53:47):
pregame and Braylan, we talked about you know what you
miss about Colorado. You talked about playing defense earlier in
your career. So one of our fans here from the
Quarterback Club, Steve, wants to know if you played so
much defense had to jammed up as an offensive lineman
in D one.

Speaker 8 (54:03):
That's a great question.

Speaker 15 (54:05):
I think I didn't have necessarily the build I feel like,
especially where I was getting recruited.

Speaker 8 (54:10):
In the Mountain West.

Speaker 15 (54:11):
I think it was more of offensive line route, and
then I spent my off time really training offensive lineman
in the off season where I did play D lion.
So I think it was just something that was going
to come to Fruition, just based off of where my
mind was at.

Speaker 4 (54:25):
What was it about Fresno State that made you move
all the way.

Speaker 3 (54:29):
Down here to the great Sanawaque Valley?

Speaker 10 (54:31):
Wow.

Speaker 15 (54:34):
I think it was seeing some of the alumni getting
familiar with the alumni, like it's growing up as a
Raider fan. You see Derek Carr and then you see
the success that comes with that, and then I believe
the coaches at the time and still the coaches now,
they're helping me reach my goals and what ever, what
I've always dreamed of just playing college football and winning
at the next level.

Speaker 4 (54:53):
So well, hopefully there's a winner in your future in
front of your mom and so much of your family
on Saturday. And I understand some of the guys in
the quarterback club have become familiar with your mom. She
hangs out with those guys at the tailgate sometimes huh.

Speaker 15 (55:07):
Yes, yes, Paul, a couple of guys she talks to.
My girlfriend comes there to the She's a big fan
of the Quarterback Club. We always talk about the Sunday
after the games, like how much fun she had at
the tailgate, what they ate, what the Quarterback Club did,
and you know, it's always a good time over there.
You ever wish she saved you some of what they Yeah, yeah,
I always hear what they're bringing over at the Quarterback Club,

(55:30):
and I always miss out. So maybe in the future
when I'm on alumni, come visit the Quarterback Club and
get it by.

Speaker 4 (55:36):
There you go, And when you're playing a game, do
you always know where your mom is in the stands
or no?

Speaker 7 (55:42):
Oh?

Speaker 10 (55:42):
Yeah.

Speaker 15 (55:43):
She always wears a big jersey if it's my face
on it or it's my last name in jersey, and
I'll see it flashing on their big red shirt, So
I'll always look.

Speaker 4 (55:50):
Forward before can't miss her, and I have a dealing
with a night kick in cold weather at the Academy,
it's going to be even easier to find her. It's
probably not going to be a packed house. So you're
a four year starter. You didn't get a red shirt year,
you didn't get a COVID year. You're coming down the
home stretch of your career. It's just the timing of everything.

(56:12):
And obviously we see your size, your athleticism. NFL scouts
see that too, and we hope to see you play
in the NFL. Win football is over for you? What
has this Fresno State education helped you prepare for?

Speaker 15 (56:27):
It helped me prepare for adversity In my future. I'm
gonna be majoring in kinesiology and exercise science, so it's
gonna help me become a pee teacher and a coach
on the side, because that's gonna be my dream because
the people who impacted me most of my life were
my coaches, so I wanted to do that as my
future career. So it's taking me a long way and
I'm grateful for it always.

Speaker 4 (56:46):
You know, you're a little bit younger than I am.
I think my generation pe teachers were pretty intimidating.

Speaker 15 (56:51):
Yeah back in the day. Is it still that way
for you or? I think when I was younger, but
not so much now. I think I'm more of a
chill guy. You know I can make lee way.

Speaker 4 (57:02):
So yeah, six six three twenty might intimidate some junior
higher high school kids. I don't know, but when they
see that smile, it all melts away. Is there something
aside from football in your four years here? That's one
of the things that you're really thankful for about being
in Fresno State. Being in Fresno something you remember or

(57:23):
think of with fondness.

Speaker 15 (57:26):
Fresnoe State truly showed me what community is, whether that
was on the team or me outside interacting with the people.
They're always so nice, especially shout out to Phoenix and Cam.
They really showed me what a community is, especially going
through the I say, rough two years. I had my
first two years here, so I think they really showed
me what it was to be an adult, to branch

(57:47):
out and support and lean on people to support you.

Speaker 3 (57:50):
So I guess you mentioned Phoenix. Did you know he
was that fast?

Speaker 15 (57:55):
Of course that was Phoenix was my roommate my first
three years here, so we always talked about him getting
the picks, a pick six and making big plays. And
when he made that play, man, you can see me
Cam running down the sideline.

Speaker 8 (58:07):
We were so excited, So yeah, it was willing to come.
It was coming.

Speaker 4 (58:11):
That's almost better than the play sometime. It's like the
place he Kwon Barkley made the other day. Have you
seen that shot of the Eagles sideline reacting to him. Yeah,
all their eyes are bugging out of their heads. So
that's what you and Lockridge were doing when when Phoenix
made that play.

Speaker 8 (58:23):
Yeah, yes, sir, yes sir.

Speaker 3 (58:25):
Hey, we're getting short on time here, Braylan.

Speaker 4 (58:27):
I hope you have a wonderful time with your family
and friends back home in Colorado, and hope the weather
cooperates before we leave.

Speaker 1 (58:34):
You.

Speaker 3 (58:34):
Do you have any snowball throwing tips for us?

Speaker 4 (58:36):
How to build the best snowball that's going to have
the most effectiveness.

Speaker 15 (58:40):
You take a snowball, you get a little bit of
water in there. It's a good one to go in.
Real solid snowball that sounds like an ice ball. Yeah,
but it goes where you throw it.

Speaker 8 (58:51):
Yep, solid just like you.

Speaker 4 (58:53):
Braylan, thanks a lot. Hope you enjoy that Calamari and
we'll see it at the Academy.

Speaker 8 (58:57):
Yes, sir, thank you.

Speaker 4 (58:58):
Braylan Nelson both senior right tackle number seventy five, gonna
have a big cheering section Saturday night when the Bulldogs
Battle of the Falcons six forty five. The opening kick
four point thirty to start of our pregame coverage with
Cat and gam and our whole crew. Thanks for joining
us tonight Again, no show next week. We'll be back
here at the point the following week on November twentieth.
Thanks for listening to the Bulldog Football Hour on the

(59:20):
Bulldog Sports Network from their field.

Speaker 2 (59:39):
You've been listening to The Bulldog Football Hour, presented by
American pistachio Growers Powering the Valley one nut at a time,
also brought to you by ECU Smarter Bankings since nineteen
thirty four and by bud Late Easy to Drink, Easy
to Enjoy. Of preceding has been a lear Field presentation

(01:00:03):
of the Bulldog Sports Network