Welcome to Fresno
FRESNO STATE HEAD COACH PAT HILL'S MOTTO IS... ANYONE, ANY PLACE,TIME.
THE REASON HE HAS THAT MOTTO IS FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT BIG TIME SCHOOLS JUST DON'T PLAY "AT" FRESNO. FRESNO ALMOST ALWAYS HAS TO GO ON THE ROAD TO PLAY THESE SO-CALLED BIG TIME SCHOOLS.
HOME AND HOME IS LIKE A FOREIGN CONCEPT.
WASHINGTON, KANSAS STATE, TENNESSEE, WISCONSIN, COLORADO WERE ALL AWAY GAMES FOR THE BULLDOGS WITH NO HOME GAME IN RETURN, AS IS CUSTOMARY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL.
OREGON AND OREGON STATE GO TO FRESNO. GOOD FOR THEM.
IT'S A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT. IT'S USUALLY 90 DEGREES AND THAT INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY.
I GIVE THE DUCKS A LOT OF CREDIT FOR MAKING THE TRIP BECAUSE IT'S A TRIP A LOT OF TEAMS NEVER TAKE.
Here's a side note. KGW (myself and Sports Photographer Brian Warner) traveled to Fresno for the Beavers season opener in 2001 when OSU was Sports Illustrated's pre-season number one team.
We got a ride from a tv photographer and I asked him what Fresno is like. I am not kidding. He proceeded to tell me that Fresno just was named murder capital of the nation. He went on to tell me that because of so many gangs in the area they started to have a lot of execution-style killings.
However, after doing a little research I have found that Fresno's crime rate is at or below the national level, and has been that way for the past 6 years.
In one statistical survey that was done in 2001 the murder rate in New Orleans was 20 murders per 10,000 residents. In comparison Fresno's murder rate was only 5.3 murders per 100,000 residents.
Crime stats. Who knew I would some day turn into a city beat reporter ?
But it is a real tough place to play. The fans are rude (but I guess that's how it is in 99 percent of the college stadiums).
The one thing I remember is the heat. Not just the heat, but there wasn't any wind, so it made it even hotter.
The Ducks have gone to places like Mississippi and Houston in recent years and have fared well.
I don't think the weather will be a factor.
I saw Fresno play Nevada last week. The Bulldogs aren't that great against the run.
I like the Ducks in a shootout (pardon the pun).
44-38
