Where were you on the night of February 22, 2008?
I̢۪m not putting anyone on trial, but just think about it for a second.
It’s probably hard to remember that far back, but I would bet that less than 1 percent of the Fresno State student population would say, “At the 2008 season opener for Fresno State baseball.â€Â
For those who weren’t there I’ll lay out the scene – there was buckets of rain coming down, the Bulldogs only scored two runs and Fresno State lost to a team in its first year of Division I baseball (UC Davis).
To quote Fatboy Slim, “we’ve come a long way, baby.â€Â
Forty-seven wins and a national title later, the Bulldogs are right back to square one – opening night at Pete Beiden Field. Except opening night this season should be a little different.
Tonight’s season opener is sold out with 3,575 Bulldog fans expected to be in attendance. But, where were all these so-called “Bulldog baseball fansâ€Â last season?
Where was all the media coverage?
I remember last season when there was me, a Fresno Bee reporter and a scoreboard operator in the press box and that was it.
Tonight I̢۪ll be lucky to snag a piece of licorice and a scorecard.
At times last season it seemed you could see more red seats at Beiden Field than fans. It was so quiet at games last season, I think players on the field could hear Paul Loeffler calling play-by-play.
But, after winning a few nationally-televised games, the following started to grow. See what a little airtime on ESPN2 can do for you?
Next thing you know, Fresno State wins a national title and fans are lining the streets and singing the praises of Fresno State̢۪s Wonderdogs.
That’s when you go up to them and ask, “How many games did you go to during the regular season?â€Â
I̢۪m proud to say I was there through thick and thin. I remember the 8-12 start, the Todd Sandell drama and that rain-soaked series against UC Davis.
Real fans were there for those Saturday doubleheaders in April, every game of the Pepsi-Johnny Quick Classic and the scrimmages in early February.
I’m talking about people like Inman Perkins, “Sugar Bearâ€Â and the Diamond Dog fans who have had season tickets for more than 20 years.
If your first time watching a Fresno State baseball game was on ESPN then you need to look in the mirror and really question that fanhood.
I was up at 7 in the morning to listen to the WAC Tournament games last May on KMJ because the tourney was held in Ruston, Lou.
I heard every pitch of the Regional held in Long Beach and even have the scorecards to prove it.
Don̢۪t get me wrong, I think it̢۪s great that Fresno State baseball has a bigger following now, but it̢۪s not just the 2008 team that deserves recognition.
Real fans remember names like Bob Bennett, Pete Beiden, Mark Gardner, Tom Goodwin, Jeff Weaver, Dick Ruthven, Bobby Jones, Terry Pendleton and Auggie Garrido.
My favorite Bulldog was Roger Circo, who was the first and only graduate from my high school to play for Fresno State. He played high school baseball for my dad and gave me my first Bulldog baseball hat at age 10.
These are the men who made this program what it is today.
Fresno State baseball history is not just limited to Tom Mendonca and Steve Detwiler.
And if you claim to be a Bulldog fan, please try to do some research before engaging in a conversation about the sport.
I was sitting in class the other day and I heard someone behind me say, “Oh my god! I can’t believe baseball starts this Friday! When do we play Boise? We need payback for football!â€Â
I’ll borrow a phrase from one of my best friends, “Are you serious?â€Â
For those of you thinking of going to a game this season, I̢۪ll give you some basics.
Baseball is unique in the fact that not all teams in the WAC field a baseball program.
Idaho, Utah State and Boise State do not field baseball programs and Sacramento State is a member of the WAC for baseball.
This isn̢۪t football, but I guarantee you̢۪ll leave Beiden Field happier than you ever left Bulldog Stadium or the Save Mart Center.
Just remember, you can always defend yourself against insults from rival schools with the baseball team̢۪s accolades. Trust me, I shut up some Hawaii fans last football season.
So if you̢۪ve been going to Bulldog baseball games since you could walk or are just getting into the sport there̢۪s always enough room on the bandwagon.
But if the Bulldogs lose a game, try to attend more than one game this season. Maybe after tonight you’ll be able to say, “I was there when the Bulldogs began their national title defense.â€Â
I know I̢۪ll be there, cramped in the press box, fighting for the last piece of licorice.
Baseball tickets
Very few tickets are available for Friday̢۪s game, but both Saturday and Sunday tickets are available.
̢ۢ Less than 100 student tickets are available for Friday̢۪s game. Tickets can be picked up at the USU or the stadium box office.
̢ۢ 125 standing room tickets will also be sold day of game for $8.
FSDogs1 • Feb 23, 2009 at 11:40 pm
All fans are welcome, bandwagon or longtime season ticket holders. I don’t want to hear anyone complaining about not being able to get a ticket…the game took a couple weeks to even sell out. And it’s only $8 full price (if a student doesn’t want to risk not getting in, buy one)!
The more fans the merrier. The more new fans who are introduced and welcomed, the more who will stay and become hardcore fans, Dugout Club members and season ticket holders.
FSDogs1 • Feb 24, 2009 at 6:40 am
All fans are welcome, bandwagon or longtime season ticket holders. I don’t want to hear anyone complaining about not being able to get a ticket…the game took a couple weeks to even sell out. And it’s only $8 full price (if a student doesn’t want to risk not getting in, buy one)!
The more fans the merrier. The more new fans who are introduced and welcomed, the more who will stay and become hardcore fans, Dugout Club members and season ticket holders.
Greg • Feb 22, 2009 at 2:00 am
As far as the football team, the yearly meltdowns and downright abhorrent excuse for “effort” that the team displays in the WAC under Pat Hill is vomit-inducing. The next two years that Hill in under contract as Head Coach everyone will see more of the same garbage that will continue. 12 years and no outright WAC championships? What the hell is the excuse for that? That is downright embarrassing. 1.2 million dollars huh? I wish everyone could be so lucky to continually fail at their job and get paid like Hill. The way he has coached down the team over the years, he should balance the athletic department budget out of his own pocket. He single-handedly torpedoed the budget by letting the whole community and Fresno State supporters down with his “talk big, fail even bigger” coaching style over the last 12 seasons.
Greg • Feb 22, 2009 at 9:00 am
As far as the football team, the yearly meltdowns and downright abhorrent excuse for “effort” that the team displays in the WAC under Pat Hill is vomit-inducing. The next two years that Hill in under contract as Head Coach everyone will see more of the same garbage that will continue. 12 years and no outright WAC championships? What the hell is the excuse for that? That is downright embarrassing. 1.2 million dollars huh? I wish everyone could be so lucky to continually fail at their job and get paid like Hill. The way he has coached down the team over the years, he should balance the athletic department budget out of his own pocket. He single-handedly torpedoed the budget by letting the whole community and Fresno State supporters down with his “talk big, fail even bigger” coaching style over the last 12 seasons.
Chris Filosa • Feb 22, 2009 at 1:23 am
Letter to the Editor,
Reference: Jimmy̢۪s Diamond Dog Article
Finally, and Thank God for this article! I’ve been going insane for the last 2 semester reading the Collegian Sports Columns “reportingâ€Â. I’m sorry, let me give you a brief explanation, I consider myself a non-bias but supportive Bulldog Fan, but as a Collegian Sport column reader, not so much. Especially after the 2008 Football season coverage. If I recall correctly, “BCS bracket busterâ€Â and “Most Underrated team in College Football,â€Â were common phases used on a weekly Basis prior to the royal BUST of a season. But don’t get me wrong, I support the Bulldogs; however, it’s from a realistic point of view. But it seems not many other people are in the same boat as me. I’ll give you an example, The Hawaii football game. Nobody seems to remember the 6 turnovers that could have given the Dawg’s a 42 point cushion, no; they remember a missed field goal. Ignorant is the cleanest word that comes to mind when I think of some Fresno State Fans. (Even though fans aren’t what they should be called.) Fans, as Jimmy mentioned, are people like Sugar Bear, Lupe and the Lady who trick me into smoking a left handed cigarette at an afternoon of mediocre Bulldog Baseball last spring. Fans are loyal, die-heart, refusing to bail out when the ship begins to take on water. To hell with Yankee or Laker Fans, I’d rather sit down and have a drink with a Kansas City Royal’s fan or some other team that never has a chance of being anything good, but an embarrassment. At least they’ll be genuine, unlike a lot of so these called “fansâ€Â I hear about. But back to the main complain of this Letter to the editor, The Collegian Sports Staff. You’re the ones to blame for this transparent image of Bulldog fans. Your extremely bias “smoke blowingâ€Â reporting style might add to your Myspace friend’s list, but when things go sour (Knowing our Bulldogs, good chance of that happening) don’t attack your ratings. YOU look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Am I helping or hurting?â€Â You never know, you might even be able to help Bulldog Athletics. Report the sub-par play and ask the tough questions. “How come in such an athletically gifted region of the country are we always watching the post season from the nose bleed seats? (Exception to the Diamond Dawg’s. Do it again!)
Thanks,
Christopher Filosa
Chris Filosa • Feb 22, 2009 at 8:23 am
Letter to the Editor,
Reference: Jimmy’s Diamond Dog Article
Finally, and Thank God for this article! I’ve been going insane for the last 2 semester reading the Collegian Sports Columns “reporting”. I’m sorry, let me give you a brief explanation, I consider myself a non-bias but supportive Bulldog Fan, but as a Collegian Sport column reader, not so much. Especially after the 2008 Football season coverage. If I recall correctly, “BCS bracket buster” and “Most Underrated team in College Football,” were common phases used on a weekly Basis prior to the royal BUST of a season. But don’t get me wrong, I support the Bulldogs; however, it’s from a realistic point of view. But it seems not many other people are in the same boat as me. I’ll give you an example, The Hawaii football game. Nobody seems to remember the 6 turnovers that could have given the Dawg’s a 42 point cushion, no; they remember a missed field goal. Ignorant is the cleanest word that comes to mind when I think of some Fresno State Fans. (Even though fans aren’t what they should be called.) Fans, as Jimmy mentioned, are people like Sugar Bear, Lupe and the Lady who trick me into smoking a left handed cigarette at an afternoon of mediocre Bulldog Baseball last spring. Fans are loyal, die-heart, refusing to bail out when the ship begins to take on water. To hell with Yankee or Laker Fans, I’d rather sit down and have a drink with a Kansas City Royal’s fan or some other team that never has a chance of being anything good, but an embarrassment. At least they’ll be genuine, unlike a lot of so these called “fans” I hear about. But back to the main complain of this Letter to the editor, The Collegian Sports Staff. You’re the ones to blame for this transparent image of Bulldog fans. Your extremely bias “smoke blowing” reporting style might add to your Myspace friend’s list, but when things go sour (Knowing our Bulldogs, good chance of that happening) don’t attack your ratings. YOU look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Am I helping or hurting?” You never know, you might even be able to help Bulldog Athletics. Report the sub-par play and ask the tough questions. “How come in such an athletically gifted region of the country are we always watching the post season from the nose bleed seats? (Exception to the Diamond Dawg’s. Do it again!)
Thanks,
Christopher Filosa
Jack • Feb 21, 2009 at 8:58 pm
No. Bandwagon fans are entirely just that. They know nothing about the team, or baseball in general for that matter. If they really wanted to help the athletic department, they should just donate money. Buying a $8 ticket for one game isn’t really going to help much. Or, simply buy season tickets. Even if you display your bandwagon nature by not attending all of the games, at least the cheap price for season tickets (only $225) is already in the athletic department’s hands. Also, at the season opener, why in the god forsaken hell was there mass exodus of people leaving in the 8th inning? That is exactly the type of bandwagon filth that needs to stay away from Beiden Field. Disgusting.
Jack • Feb 22, 2009 at 3:58 am
No. Bandwagon fans are entirely just that. They know nothing about the team, or baseball in general for that matter. If they really wanted to help the athletic department, they should just donate money. Buying a $8 ticket for one game isn’t really going to help much. Or, simply buy season tickets. Even if you display your bandwagon nature by not attending all of the games, at least the cheap price for season tickets (only $225) is already in the athletic department’s hands. Also, at the season opener, why in the god forsaken hell was there mass exodus of people leaving in the 8th inning? That is exactly the type of bandwagon filth that needs to stay away from Beiden Field. Disgusting.
ryne • Feb 21, 2009 at 11:43 am
i’ve seen a fair share of baseball games before the 2008 season hearing cricket chirps for the most part.
but, why so bitter about the bandwagon fans?? we’re all in the same boat supporting the same team, are we not? these people are getting their behinds to fill seats, they’re pumping money to help support athletics, and they’re there to cheer behind their dogs. we all have to start somewhere to support a team, it just so happens that a national championship was the catalyst for this to happen. i’m sure just making the cws, a pretty remarkable surge would have risen in attendance as well. i think this season on will have huge support with a newly lit or people with a rekindled passion for baseball.
let the bandwagon fans be and just cheer loud and proud for our team. go dogs!
ryne • Feb 21, 2009 at 6:43 pm
i’ve seen a fair share of baseball games before the 2008 season hearing cricket chirps for the most part.
but, why so bitter about the bandwagon fans?? we’re all in the same boat supporting the same team, are we not? these people are getting their behinds to fill seats, they’re pumping money to help support athletics, and they’re there to cheer behind their dogs. we all have to start somewhere to support a team, it just so happens that a national championship was the catalyst for this to happen. i’m sure just making the cws, a pretty remarkable surge would have risen in attendance as well. i think this season on will have huge support with a newly lit or people with a rekindled passion for baseball.
let the bandwagon fans be and just cheer loud and proud for our team. go dogs!
Steven • Feb 20, 2009 at 1:03 am
I think it is great that a ton of students will be shut out of seeing the team play. Just like the author of this article brilliantly explained, the bandwagon fans don’t need to show up. Mendonca was right in The Bee article when he said that probably only 1000 of the clowns at the parade actually even saw the team at Beiden Field last year. At most games, the number was closer to 500 in the stands. At first pitch, that number was usually at about 100. Literally. There were 400 tickets available for students, and thank god that they are confined to the periphery of the stands at Beiden Field. That way, all of the idiots who are clueless about the team can show their stupidity amongst one another without disturbing the fans who actually supported the team before their run to the national title.
I think the best option would be that only fans who actually attended a game last year should be able to attend the home opener. I doubt there are more than 3,575 different people who could produce tickets stubs from last year so this option could work perfectly. Those are the fans who deserve to watch the home opener, not the high concentration of bandwagon morons that will be populating the stands at Beiden Field on opening night.
Nice job with this article illuminating the idiots.
Steven • Feb 20, 2009 at 8:03 am
I think it is great that a ton of students will be shut out of seeing the team play. Just like the author of this article brilliantly explained, the bandwagon fans don’t need to show up. Mendonca was right in The Bee article when he said that probably only 1000 of the clowns at the parade actually even saw the team at Beiden Field last year. At most games, the number was closer to 500 in the stands. At first pitch, that number was usually at about 100. Literally. There were 400 tickets available for students, and thank god that they are confined to the periphery of the stands at Beiden Field. That way, all of the idiots who are clueless about the team can show their stupidity amongst one another without disturbing the fans who actually supported the team before their run to the national title.
I think the best option would be that only fans who actually attended a game last year should be able to attend the home opener. I doubt there are more than 3,575 different people who could produce tickets stubs from last year so this option could work perfectly. Those are the fans who deserve to watch the home opener, not the high concentration of bandwagon morons that will be populating the stands at Beiden Field on opening night.
Nice job with this article illuminating the idiots.
Poppy • Feb 20, 2009 at 12:20 am
I’ll take partial credit for myself—-I attended the alumni game but went skiing the following weekend—–I went to at least one game in each home series except for UC Davis. Was there for the Long Beach State weeknight upset and some other key moments, etc. No one had them getting out of the superregionals, however. So we can’t be blamed. They looked ugly during the first two months of the season……
Poppy • Feb 20, 2009 at 7:20 am
I’ll take partial credit for myself—-I attended the alumni game but went skiing the following weekend—–I went to at least one game in each home series except for UC Davis. Was there for the Long Beach State weeknight upset and some other key moments, etc. No one had them getting out of the superregionals, however. So we can’t be blamed. They looked ugly during the first two months of the season……
The Hanging Brain • Feb 20, 2009 at 12:17 am
Now they probably shouldn’t have removed the grandstand back in 2005. It was supposed to be replaced with a permanent concrete set-up.
For students not to be able to attend the season opener is a damn disgrace. They can easily put up temporary seating in the outfield. 100 available tickets for students? There should be some outrage expressed if ID card holders are turned away at the gates….
The Hanging Brain • Feb 20, 2009 at 7:17 am
Now they probably shouldn’t have removed the grandstand back in 2005. It was supposed to be replaced with a permanent concrete set-up.
For students not to be able to attend the season opener is a damn disgrace. They can easily put up temporary seating in the outfield. 100 available tickets for students? There should be some outrage expressed if ID card holders are turned away at the gates….