FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Fresno State head coach Matt Entz addressed the media Monday morning to reflect on the 39-0 shutout win by No. 14 USC in the Bulldogs’ season opener last Friday, Sept. 4.
Entz has full confidence in quarterback Jayden Mandal, who made his 1st start in 21 months at The Coliseum. “Those reps he took on Friday were invaluable,” said Entz.
The Bulldogs’ second-year HC chalked up Mandal’s struggles — 7-of-15, 77 passing yards, and two turnovers — to inexperience. He even pointed to another former Fresno State QB’s regular-season debut.
“David Carr threw four interceptions in his first start here [at Ohio State],” said Entz. “If someone pulled him, would he never have had the career he had? Someone’s got to be committed to these guys.”
In preparing for Sacramento State (1-1) this coming Saturday, Sept. 12, Entz has told the Bulldogs to do four things — “grab the good, fix the fixable, correct the critical, and stay the course.”
“I know we’re going to lean into what we do, and we’re just going to do it better,” said Entz. “If I walked into the team meeting room today and changed a whole bunch of stuff because we got beat, I think I’d lose the team.”