Hill has own traditions
WHAT
I REALLY MEANT TO SAY
By Darrell Copeland
The Collegian
Fresno State 56, Utah 49.
Those were the days of Jim Sweeney, when offense ruled all and Sweeney
earned the right to have the field in Bulldog Stadium named after him.
While the games were exciting, the Fresno State football program never
reached a level of national recognition like the teams of today.
Enter Pat Hill. Since Hill has arrived on campus, it has not been uncommon,
but rather closer to the opposite, you hear the name ‘Fresno State’
being thrown about on national radio and television stations.
Frankly, having grown up a huge Bulldog fan myself, I don’t mind
letting a ‘woo’ or two slip out of my mouth each time I hear
the words ‘Fresno State.’
Sure, nowadays the scores of the games are a little less offense happy,
but the tradeoff of points for wins over BCS foes, national fame and tradition
seems like a bargain to me.
By coming in with a plan and sticking to it, Hill is quickly turning Bulldog
football from a proud and successful program to one with even more success,
more pride, tradition and top-notch facilities.
Look at the new locker room, the practice field and what has once before
been voted the best-looking football field in the nation. The logos on
the helmets, the Green V and all of the catchy slogans are all new, too.
The Green V thing is catching on, and the valley is really starting to
ride the Red Wave.
If you haven’t figured it out, these are all of Hill’s doings.
Players, not only from the valley, but from all over California and beyond,
are finally realizing going to Fresno State to play football is something
special. They now know if they want to be a successful player and part
of a special program, they don’t need to go to a school with a big
name. Just ask Robin Kezirian, Jason Roberts and Ricky Miller.
But if it is a name they want, they can have two of them—Hill and
more importantly, Fresno State.
Lastly, when you go to a Fresno State football game and if the five yard
line is a Green V, just know it was my idea. (Coach Hill, that was my
idea.) Just trying to help with the tradition thing. I’ll explain
later.
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