Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Call Him 'Jake The Snake' or 'The Natural,' DeBoer Says Haener Plays Friday
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 4 years ago on
September 20, 2021

Share

Kalen DeBoer isn’t surprised that quarterback Jake Haener is collecting nicknames at the rate he throws touchdown passes.

“I’m sure there are things I haven’t heard, too. I’m sure ‘Gamer’ (is one). … I’m sure the players got some really good one,” DeBoer said at his weekly news conference. “I don’t know if there’s any big nicknames that the team has for him right now. I’m sure with all the notoriety, he’s going to get some.”

The Fresno State head football coach keeps it simple, opting for “Jake the Snake.”

Pac-12 broadcaster Ted Robinson bestowed Haener with “The Natural” and “Roy Hobbs” after his movie-character-like heroics in Saturday’s 40-37 victory at UCLA, rallying for the winning TD with 14 seconds remaining.

Despite hobbling around with an apparent hip injury, DeBoer expects Haener to play Friday for nationally ranked Fresno State vs. winless UNLV at Bulldog Stadium.

“I think he’ll be fine. I think he’ll be ready to go. Our training staff will do a great job. (It was) a physical football game for a lot of people. Jake, the thing about him, he just keeps getting up,” DeBoer said.

Haener is feeling the wear and tear after four weeks of hits, DeBoer said. He said it wasn’t a specific problem, but if there is, it is in the “hip area.”

“We know and his teammates believe in the toughness he has. I think just thriving in the moment goes along with that, the mentally tough and the physically tough part,” DeBoer said.

Honors for Haener

Haener’s heroics earned him Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. The late comeback against then-ranked #13 UCLA also earned Haener plenty of online love and memes.

The senior QB leads the nation in passing yards (1,464) and is in the top 10 in completions (106 for 2nd); attempts (144 for 3rd); completion percentage (73.6% for 8th); touchdowns (10, tied for 4th) and QB rating (7th with 180.5).

“He deserves all the recognition and it’s exciting for him, exciting for us to have that come to him and as well as our football team,” DeBoer said.

ESPN analysist Kirk Herbstreit called Haener the top performer of the week.

Even with his successes, DeBoer says his quarterback is still in the meeting rooms well into the night, studying his next opponent.

Fresno State offensive lineman Alex Akingbulu (75) celebrates with the Red Wave after the win over UCLA at the Rose Bowl. (AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

0-3 UNLV Next Opponent

The Bulldogs start Mountain West play with underwhelming UNLV, an 0-3 team that suffered a 48-3 loss to Iowa State last week and also has a loss this year to FCS team Eastern Washington.

DeBoer sounded like head coaches usual do, vowing not to overlook the Rebels. But, he did encourage his team to savor the UCLA victory.

He called the No. 22 ranking in the AP media poll an “expectation.”

“We’re finally getting to the point where we know (what) we need to be and want to be. And so that’s what’s exciting about it for our program and excited for our kids,” DeBoer said.

DeBoer allowed his players to celebrate what offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb called a “legacy win.”

“Not celebrating it for a little bit anyway, to me would be a shame just because the guys work too hard not to embrace it. And embracing it, I think also really puts it … you can now really focus on what’s important and that’s moving forward and moving on to the next,” DeBoer said.

Thanksgiving Game at San Jose State Will Air on FS1

The Mountain West announced on Monday that kickoff for Fresno State’s Thanksgiving Day matchup at San Jose State has been set for 12:30 p.m.

The game will be broadcast on FS1, conference officials said.

Fresno State still awaits two kickoff times: at Wyoming (Oct. 16) and a home game against Nevada (Oct. 23).

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Canada Wants to Kill 400 Ostriches. RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz Want to Save Them.

DON'T MISS

White House Acknowledges Problems in RFK Jr.’s MAHA Report

DON'T MISS

UN May Cut Staff by 20%, Internal Memo Says

DON'T MISS

‘I’m Really Scared’: Elderly and Disabled Californians Could Lose Medi-Cal Over $2,000 Limit

DON'T MISS

California’s War Over Charter Schools Rages On in Court

DON'T MISS

Fresno’s First Fit Fest Mixes Sweat, Sportsmanship, and Support for Local Causes

DON'T MISS

Could Aleko’s Playful Antics ‘Purrsuade’ You to Adopt Him?

DON'T MISS

Netanyahu Says Israel Accepts Witkoff’s New Gaza Truce Proposal, Media Report

DON'T MISS

Under Trump, US Economy Shrinks for 1st Time in Three Years

DON'T MISS

Fresno Authorities Seek Public’s Help to Locate Family of Deceased Man

UP NEXT

Could Aleko’s Playful Antics ‘Purrsuade’ You to Adopt Him?

UP NEXT

Fresno Authorities Seek Public’s Help to Locate Family of Deceased Man

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Alejandro Aureliano Godinez

UP NEXT

49ers Make a Switch at Punter, Signing Thomas Morstead and Cutting Mitch Wishnowsky

UP NEXT

McVay Admits Rams Considering Reunion With Jalen Ramsey

UP NEXT

Yankees Have a Busload of Momentum Heading Into World Series Rematch Against Dodgers

UP NEXT

Martínez Hits a 3-Run Homer in the Eighth Inning as Guardians Rally for Win Over Dodgers

UP NEXT

CA Changes Track-and-Field Championships After Trans Athlete’s Success. What to Know

UP NEXT

Tigers Rally Past Giants to Complete Series Sweep

UP NEXT

Tulare Student Will Compete in Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

‘I’m Really Scared’: Elderly and Disabled Californians Could Lose Medi-Cal Over $2,000 Limit

1 hour ago

California’s War Over Charter Schools Rages On in Court

1 hour ago

Fresno’s First Fit Fest Mixes Sweat, Sportsmanship, and Support for Local Causes

2 hours ago

Could Aleko’s Playful Antics ‘Purrsuade’ You to Adopt Him?

2 hours ago

Netanyahu Says Israel Accepts Witkoff’s New Gaza Truce Proposal, Media Report

2 hours ago

Under Trump, US Economy Shrinks for 1st Time in Three Years

3 hours ago

Fresno Authorities Seek Public’s Help to Locate Family of Deceased Man

4 hours ago

CEO Pay Rose Nearly 10% in 2024 as Stock Prices and Profits Soared

4 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Alejandro Aureliano Godinez

4 hours ago

Israel Authorizes More Settlements in the Occupied West Bank. Strikes on Gaza Kill 13

4 hours ago

Canada Wants to Kill 400 Ostriches. RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz Want to Save Them.

TORONTO — What do U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., celebrity physician Mehmet Oz and some Canadian animal lovers have in common?...

3 minutes ago

3 minutes ago

Canada Wants to Kill 400 Ostriches. RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz Want to Save Them.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks as Education Secretary Linda McMahon listens during a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission Event in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)
37 minutes ago

White House Acknowledges Problems in RFK Jr.’s MAHA Report

The United Nations flag flies in front of the Secretariat Building at the United Nations headquarters in New York City September 18, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo
1 hour ago

UN May Cut Staff by 20%, Internal Memo Says

1 hour ago

‘I’m Really Scared’: Elderly and Disabled Californians Could Lose Medi-Cal Over $2,000 Limit

1 hour ago

California’s War Over Charter Schools Rages On in Court

Fresno’s first-ever Fit Fest brought together firefighters, police, fitness pros, and community members for a day of workouts, wellness, and a charity soccer match that saw Fresno Fire take home the win and a $1,000 donation for burn survivors.
2 hours ago

Fresno’s First Fit Fest Mixes Sweat, Sportsmanship, and Support for Local Causes

Aleko Is GV Wire's Adoptable Pet of the Week, May 29, 2025
2 hours ago

Could Aleko’s Playful Antics ‘Purrsuade’ You to Adopt Him?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference, in Jerusalem, May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/Pool
2 hours ago

Netanyahu Says Israel Accepts Witkoff’s New Gaza Truce Proposal, Media Report

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend