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Fresno State takes on Colorado State in New Mexico Bowl

Dec 20, 2008 - 1:08 PM Colorado State (6-6) vs. Fresno State (7-5), December 20, 2:30 pm EST

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (Ticker) -- Pat Hill and Fresno State are headed to another bowl game - just not the one they had hoped for.

The Bulldogs will play their ninth bowl game under Hill on Saturday when they face Colorado State in the New Mexico Bowl.

Fresno State (7-5) made a pair of early appearances in the national rankings this season but struggled over the last two months en route to a disappointing 4-4 finish in the Western Athletic Conference.

Viewed by many as a potential BCS buster, Fresno State closed out the regular season in embarrassing fashion with a 61-10 loss at Boise State on November 28.

Despite the disappointing campaign, Hill has been courted in recent weeks by several schools looking to fill their respective coaching vacancies. Hill, who has been at Fresno State for the last 12 years, withdrew his name from the Washington job earlier this month.

Now Hill and the Bulldogs will shift their focus to Colorado State (6-6), which will make its first bowl appearance since the 2005 season.

Playing under first-year coach Steve Fairchild, the Rams will look to reach seven wins for the first time since the 2003 campaign, when they finished 7-6 after losing the San Francisco Bowl.

"It's important to win the bowl game and finish with a winning record, which is something we haven't been able to do," senior safety Mike Pagnotta told the Fort Collins Coloradoan. "That would be huge. It would be a great way to end my career, and I think all the seniors would agree."