Fresno State is up to bat and it̢۪s the bottom of the sixth inning. A Bulldog strikes out, which means it̢۪s Inman Perkins̢۪ time to shine in-between innings.
The 67-year-old jumps on top of the dugout roof, but doesn̢۪t need to wave to get the crowd̢۪s attention since his bright red sweater, matching hat and sweatpants do that.
His neck is covered in blue and red beads, and his arms sport thick white wristbands.
He cups his hands to his mouth and bellows the F-S-U cheer and pounds his arm at the crowd as they repeat his orders.
“With all the breaks in between the innings, baseball was made for cheerleading,â€Â Perkins said.
He steps down from his post and walks through the stadium, stopping every five feet or so to shake hands with someone he knows in the crowd.
Perkins has been going to baseball games religiously at Fresno State since 1977.
He rarely misses a game and said his only exception is when his family, a wife of 39 years and his two sons, need him around to “do the dirty work.â€Â
“I come just because I enjoy it so much. I like the atmosphere and I like pumping up the crowd,â€Â Perkins said.
Perkins is the only person allowed on top of the dugouts besides the promotional staff.
“Sometimes they get a new usher here and they come trying to stop me but then the old ones come and say ‘He’s OK,’â€Â Perkins said.
Allyson Souza, who has been an usher at the baseball stadium since August of 2005, describes Perkins̢۪ cheers as inventive and fun.
One of the crowd favorites is, “You got a Bulldog on the left. You got a Bulldog on the right. A Bulldog in front of you. A Bulldog behind you. You are surrounded. Surrender!â€Â
Allison Ansel has worked for Fresno State athletics for three years checking tickets at Beiden Field.
The junior recalls only about four games that she didn̢۪t see Perkins hand over his season pass.
“We all know him pretty well after seeing him a few times a week,â€Â Ansel said. “We always expect to see him.â€Â
Perkins worked at The Fresno Bee for 20 years putting mailers in the newspaper before retiring two years ago.
With two adult sons and three grandchildren, Perkins has his plate full when he isn̢۪t revving up audiences at the baseball games.
He spends most of his time driving his grandkids around and helping his sons.
With the time he does have to spare, Perkins has been volunteering for the past two years at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo as a tour guide to elementary school students.
Not only do players see Perkins during games, but they also know of his involvement in the city.
“He’s inspirational,â€Â said outfielder Gavin Hedstrom, a junior from Irvine.
Perkins wasn̢۪t always an avid baseball fan; he preferred Fresno State football games.
It was at one of those games in 1977 when three baseball players approached him and asked him to come out to their next game.
Perkins̢۪ wife̢۪s love of baseball was a perk to the invitation.
At that first baseball game, his wife convinced Perkins to stand up on his now designated cheering area, the roofs of the dugouts, and lead the crowd in the Bulldog spell-out.
“At the end of the game, the whole baseball team came out and gave me a standing ovation,â€Â Perkins said. “I’ve never felt anything like that.â€Â
Perkins has seen many baseball players come and go through his 31-year span, but has always avoiding picking favorites.
He said if he did, it would break his heart seeing them graduate or get drafted, so he just keeps an objective opinion about the players.
Still, the baseball players say that Perkins is one of their favorites.
Sophomore Steve Detwiler has played on the baseball team for two years at Fresno State. He said there is a sense of comfort and pride knowing that someone like Perkins supports them.
“It’s great knowing that we have such a dedicated fan,â€Â Detwiler said. “We know that he’ll always be there for us.â€Â
Additional reporting by Valerie Hosch