Football worth the higher
price
HOW I SEE IT
By Maggie Thach
The Collegian
As of last Tuesday, 25,477 season
tickets had been sold for football and only 560 were purchased by students.
With the highest preseason rankings in the program’s history and
most certainly Pat Hill’s coaching career, it’s a shame that
such a small portion of the 4,000 tickets reserved for students aren’t
being snatched up faster. The student ticket price of $75 for six home
games is half the price of what the general public pays.
We’re ranked in the preseason polls, we have a dominating home record
(you have more than an 80% chance of seeing the team win at home) and
Bulldog Stadium has one of the best game atmospheres in the country .
So, why are there more alumni than students at the game? And when I say
alumni, I’m talking about the class of ’62.
If you need some more convincing, here are some reasons why every home
game will be worth your money.
Weber State (Sept. 10): Weber State head coach Ron McBride is Fresno State
assistant coach John Baxter’s father-in-law. I’m sure when
McBride accepted Baxter into the family, he didn’t expect for his
son-in-law to show him a thing or two on the football field. Last year,
Weber State finished eighth in the Big Sky Conference with a 1-10 record.
Toledo (Sept. 27): Like Hill, Toledo head coach Tom Amstutz has proven
himself as a winner in his short career. Amstutz took over in 2001 and
since then, has compiled an overall 36-15 record while also capturing
the Mid-American Conference crown in 2001 and 2004.
Utah State (Oct. 15): Utah State is the only new WAC school coming to
Bulldog Stadium, providing the perfect opportunity to show the newcomer
what WAC football is all about. Last year, the Aggies took on then nationally-ranked
No. 14 University of Utah. They lost 48-6, but at least the game showed
Utah State wasn’t afraid to face the big boys of college football.
That’s respectable, I guess.
San Jose State (Nov. 5): I don’t know about you but going to games
and seeing the Bulldogs lose makes me feel as if I wasted my money. Nobody
has to worry about that for this game. Fresno State has beaten the Spartans
every year since Hill has been at Fresno State. It’s almost a guaranteed
win.Then again, San Jose State did take then nationally-ranked Boise State
to double overtime and does have a new head coach in Dick Tomey. Maybe
the Spartans will finally break their losing streak against the Bulldogs.
Who knows? Not you, unless you go to the game.
Boise State (Nov. 10): Boise State is the one obstacle Fresno State just
can’t seem to overcome since the Broncos joined the league four
years ago. This year, both Boise State and Fresno State are the WAC favorites
in the coaches poll. The Bulldogs can’t think about USC on Nov.
19 before beating this team.
Louisiana Tech (Dec. 2): Last year, it was LA Tech who spoiled Fresno’s
dream of an undefeated season. Hill admits the team lost focus last year
when facing the LA Tech Bulldogs in Louisiana. This game will prove which
‘Dog has the most fight in him.
Six games for $75? I know, it’s a lot, but that’s what all
that financial aid is for.
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