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.