Skydivers plummeting from thousands of feet in the air, thunderous music of a marching band resonating underneath my feet and at the climax, a silent cloud of fog releasing a loud pack of football players onto the field.

With all of these elements, it’s easy to see why Fresno State football games are considered the “Pride of the Valley.” However, I wouldn’t say my first Fresno State football game was completely flawless.

Context:

On Oct. 26, I had the privilege to join The Collegian, reporting on the field for Fresno State’s homecoming “Blackout” game. The football team was outfitted in striking all-black jerseys and helmets, accented with flashes of chrome red that caught my eye from the stands.

More than 41,000 fans filled the Valley Children’s Stadium in black attire, creating a sea of darkness. The Fresno State Bulldogs faced off against rival San Jose State Spartans and I was thrilled to be there.

Due to time constraints, I was unable to explore the tailgate area in front of the stadium. But from what I saw from afar, I could see a large variety of food trucks, alcoholic beverages and local music.

Around 4 p.m., filled with a mixture of excitement and nerves, I joined my coworkers on the field.

Immediately, I was overwhelmed by the amount of people bustling around me focused on their tasks. Fearing I might drown in the sea of photographers, reporters, videographers, students and football players, I clutched onto my press pass like a life preserver.

Looking up at the stadium, I felt like I was a tiny worm gazing into the vast black void above. Luckily, I had my coworkers to guide me through this phase of the day.

The pre-game events began around 4:30 p.m. with the roaring introduction of the Fresno State marching band walking side-by-side with the Fresno State Spirit squad.

Once the field was clear, the Bulldog Blitz Skydiving team came diving down pulling their parachutes just in time for a graceful landing.

Toward the end, I had the chance to meet one of the most iconic figures on the Fresno State campus—our mascot, Victor E. After bribing him with treats, I managed to score a picture with him and our other mascot, Timeout. Timeout then proceeded to land a pretend dog kiss right on my cheek. Blushing, I swiftly ran to the sidelines to await the entrance of our football team.

The game starts

A cloud of fog swallowed the entrance as the crowd waited in silent anticipation. The loud barks of our bulldogs could be heard from within waiting to be released.

At 5 p.m. on the dot, the football team sprinted onto the field leaving a trail of red bulldog flags. Thus, commencing our annual homecoming game.

I left my coworkers around 5:30 p.m. to meet up with some friends in the stands. This is where my trouble began. Despite being a junior at Fresno State, I had never been to a football game and was unfamiliar with the stadium layout. It took me 15-20 minutes to find my friends.

I didn’t know how to describe where the entrances were located or even know how to easily find the section they were in. While looking for them, I encountered two other people who were in a similar position as me. I was running from one side of the stadium to the other hoping to find my friends along the way. Lost and confused, I decided to stick to an area outside the section I thought they were in, and eventually, two of my friends found me.

We finally got situated in our seats, and my high-stress levels began to subside. By the time we got to our seats, we had already missed most of the first quarter. Nevertheless, I was able to enjoy our first touchdown. I was happy to experience the thrill of cheering and singing my lungs out with not the Red Wave but the ‘Black Wave’ for homecoming.

About 20 minutes before halftime, a friend and I decided to go get something to snack on. We ended up at a concession stand selling lemonade and churros. I decided to buy both and to my surprise, it came out to $16.

An excessive amount of money for lukewarm water with a couple of drops of lemon and a stale, not even warm churro. When I saw that water bottles were $7, I looked at my sad lemonade as mine and my friend’s only source of hydration for the rest of the night.

Halftime kicked off with the Bulldog Marching Band, joined by alumni who performed alongside them. This moment was special as any marching band alumni, regardless of age, had the opportunity to perform again to relive their college days.

Next up, were some crowd involvement cheers. All the stadium lights were turned off as announcers asked the crowd to turn on their phone flashlights. The crowd was transformed into a starry night and the song “Diamond” by Rihanna echoed across Valley Children’s Stadium. Honestly, this was one of my favorite moments, as it was when I felt the peak of my Bulldog spirit.

Up next was a hilarious hot dog race, three people dressed up at hot dogs with different condiments on. Sadly, mustard won (my least favorite condiment). And for the final performance, the Fresno State Dance team ate up “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar without leaving a minor crumb (pun intended).

The halftime show was then turned into a moving tribute to honor Ron Cox, a former Bulldog linebacker. Cox was inducted as the 12th member of the Ring of Honor. His name was displayed on the Valley Children’s Stadium press box.

Around 8 p.m., football players were released back onto the field eager to beat the Spartans. The fiery crowd seemed to energize the Bulldogs, defeating San Jose State with a whopping score of 33-10.

Was it worth it?

After praising the Fresno State football game, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty. I recognize having a press badge, my coworkers and friends in my arsenal gave me a more enjoyable experience.

I’ve heard of the troubles of finding parking before games, the struggle to navigate the football stadium and the overpriced food. These complaints are all valid.

I can see how someone can get lost trying to find their seats as I experienced it myself. Having to pay $16 for a lemonade and a churro is insane. If you plan on eating at the game, expect to pay a lot for both food and drinks or eat a good meal before you go.

If Fresno State Athletics were to update the signs for each section to be more legible or have physical or digital QR maps that are easily accessible, I’m sure that navigating the stadium would be less daunting for new fans.

Finally, one of my last complaints will be that Fresno State postponed the post-game drone show for another game. They announced it late in the fourth quarter amidst a blowout, leading to nearly half of the disappointed Red Wave to leave.

Had they not postponed it, I’m sure the show would’ve left a lasting impression on fans, encouraging more to come for the final game of the season.

Fresno State football games are truly a unique experience, creating a mixture of thrilling performances and incredible team spirit. While there are some flaws— like confusing navigation and pricey concessions, the energy of the Red Wave cheering our team to victory makes it worthwhile.

I left my first game feeling proud to be a Bulldog. There’s definitely room for improvement, but the “Pride of the Valley” lived up to its name. As I walked out of the stadium, I found myself looking forward to the next game.