After a pounding of the Nevada Wolfpack and a hiccup against UL-Lafayette, the Bulldog football team began the toughest four-game stretch in school history with a match-up against perennial powerhouse Miami.

The Bulldogs spanked Nevada on opening day before the near horrific upset with the Ragin' Cajuns.

Tech fans saw a much-improved team over last year's squad and rejoiced at the success until Miami utterly annihilated the Bulldogs on Saturday 48-0, marking Tech's first goose egg since 1993 when the Tennessee Volunteers beat Tech 50-0.

Watching the highlights, it was like a souped up juggernaut team against the blue team on the Tudor's Tru Action electric football game made in 1949 -- where the green team blazes past the blue team that slowly vibrates around the field.

The Bulldogs are improved and will compete much better this year -- but only in the Western Athletic Conference.

Miami is ranked fourth in the nation and, arguably, has a stronger, more talented team this year than last year's squad or the 2001 eventual national champion Hurricanes, who the Bulldogs traded blows with before dropping the contest 42-31 in the Orange Bowl.

To put it into perspective, playing a high caliber team such as Miami versus the majority of the WAC is like racing go-carts, winning a few races and thinking you're good, and then racing Jeff Gordon in a NASCAR race -- still on your go-cart.

Miami's talent, team speed and strength in the trenches were too much for the Bulldogs, and Tennessee and Auburn will pose some of the same problems.

However, those games are "money games" and for publicity. Sure, they count. But our eyes are set on a conference title, and that is our current pursuit after a trip to Knoxville, Tenn.

After facing No. 4 Miami, Tech continues its brutal four-game stretch with No. 8 Tennessee, No. 17 Fresno State and No. 10 Auburn.

The Bulldogs will play No. 21 Boise State in Idaho on Nov. 20 to cap off perhaps the strongest slate in school history.

The match-up with Fresno State on Oct. 2 will mark the first time a Top 25 team has visited Joe Aillet Stadium, and the Bulldogs will look to continue their hunt for the WAC crown.

In case you've been living under a rock, Tech's junior halfback Ryan Moats leads the NCAA in rushing with 595 rushing yards after three games, thanks to two 257 yard performances against Nevada and UL-Lafayette and 81 yards on 14 carries at Miami in the first half alone.

The Dallas native is 34 yards ahead of Oklahoma State's Vernand Morency in total rushing and is the backbone of Tech's offense with 7.3 yards per carry and four touchdowns.

Donald Allen looks to be head coach Jack Bicknell's pick for starting quarterback, as he has posted 25 completions for 299 yards and one touchdown.

Tech's new defensive coordinator Tim Rose established the 3-4 defense and has the Bulldogs' defensive core smashing heads far better than last year's team that finished dead last in the NCAA in total yards allowed with 510.5 yards per game.

Tech will compete in the WAC, and this 2004 squad is nasty and fearless. Come out and support the Bulldogs on Oct. 2, as Tech continues its hunt for another conference crown against Fresno State.

Josh Milton is a junior journalism major from Ruston and serves as sports editor for The Tech Talk.