Students continue supporting Bulldogs football

By Benjamin Baxter
The Collegian

Fresno State students are giving Bulldogs football a second chance, if only because it’s homecoming.

Taylor Bank, a junior accounting major, said he wanted to go to Saturday’s game. “I don’t care what the record is,” Bank said of the Bulldogs’ four straight losses, “I’d still want to go to homecoming.

“For me, it’s just that I don’t already have a ticket and I just can’t afford it,” Bank said.

Tito Castaneda, a senior biology major, said he plans to go to the rest of the home games, even if the football team still loses. “I have season tickets, I might as well go,” he said. “It’s a good reason to have a barbecue and drink.”

To support the team the Bulldog Marching Band will allow band alumni to participate in the halftime show, and sit with the band throughout the game.

Alumni meet with the band to practice game music in the morning and then will be given the chance to be a part of the Bulldog Marching Band once more, sitting in the band one more time.

Interim Marching Band Director Tim Anderson said the importance of the alumni to the marching band can’t be overstated.

“We feel that we have an obligation to those who built this band to what it is,” he said. “Inviting them to sit with the band is great, and to let them perform with the band during halftime lets them have five more minutes of glory.”

Business sophomore Mike Ruiz said homecoming makes the game more important.

“Yeah, the team’s down, but it’s homecoming,” Ruiz said. “But if the team loses this game I wouldn’t want to go to any other home games.”

Ruiz is not alone in believing Bulldogs football may be a lost cause, but campus leadership is well-prepared for alleviating this frustration.

USU Productions raised campus spirit with their weeklong homecoming celebration. From Monday’s airbrush tattoo parlor to Friday’s scheduled Polynesian dancing, it has been on top of keeping spirits high.

“The purpose of all this is to get the students excited for homecoming,” said USU program advisor Shawna Blair. “We wanted to make it fun and exciting that homecoming’s here.

“We made the events fun and enjoyable, so we could get everyone hyped up for Saturday,” Blair said.

It has been working pretty well, Blair said. “People that participated were really excited. A lot of people really enjoyed the free food.”

Students enjoyed free pizza and free Fresno State ice cream as part of the week’s festivities.

Associated Students are sponsoring a special homecoming tailgate at noon the day of the game, an event that features food, games and a limited supply of free tickets to the game.

Fresno State alumni have a special tailgate of their own, and it’s usually pretty popular with alumni, said Jacqui Glasener, executive director for the alumni association.

“It invites alumni to come home, because it’s important to stay connected to the university so they can see what’s happened, what’s going on, to give back to the university and not just monetarily.

“They can get involved on a committee, they can volunteer for positions at the university, they can help students get employment, they can connect with the students,” Glasener said.

The test will come Saturday, and not just by whether or not the ‘Dogs win. “I think supporting your team is important,” Glasener said, “whether they’re winning this game or not winning this game it’s important.”

Comment on this story in the News forum >>