Fresno State Athletics
Green V Association to Provide Funding for Bulldog Athletics
10/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 17, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State Athletics Director Scott Johnson announced today a new athletics fundraising support group is being formed to raise money for Bulldog Athletics.
The Green V Association, which will work closely with Fresno State's Bulldog Foundation and the Fresno State Quarterback Club, will assume fundraising efforts for a new academic center and football locker room, a project that had been on the drawing board for over two years. The Green V Association will target large gifts and donations.
With this announcement, Fresno State head coach Pat Hill affirmed his commitment to remain at Fresno State. Hill notified officials at the University of Arizona yesterday that he is withdrawing his name from consideration for that coaching vacancy. Hill has averaged nine wins per season over the last three years and has guided the Bulldogs to four consecutive bowl games, including win over Georgia Tech in the 2002 Silicon Valley Football Classic.
"I'm excited about the future of Bulldog Football," Hill said. "I am not - nor am I going to be - a candidate for any opening anytime soon. The formation of the Green V Association is a big step toward building the academic center and facilities we need to continue to build a nationally respected program. I'm very pleased with the progress we've made. This commitment by our university and community is outstanding. I'm very happy at Fresno State."
In addition to the Green V Association, Johnson also announced Fresno State will hire an Associate Director of Athletics for Development, who will report to both Peter Smits, Vice President for Advancement, and Johnson, creating a collaborative relationship between all university and athletics fundraising efforts. This person will also serve as the Executive Director of the Green V Association and oversee all fundraising efforts through the various sports booster groups to provide enhanced support department-wide.
"The Green V Association is committed to securing the necessary funds to complete the Duncan Building expansion project that we have been working on for some time," Johnson said. "We have had some key individuals from our community take some big steps forward recently to help with this project. We will pursue our goal of achieving academic excellence for all student-athletes and make much-needed improvements to the football locker room."
 | "I am not - nor am I going to be - a candidate for any opening anytime soon. This commitment by our university and community is outstanding. I'm very happy at Fresno State." - Fresno State head football coach Pat Hill |
The GVA will also seek to provide continued enhancements for the Bulldog football program while seeking additional operating support for all sports over the next three years.
All Bulldog teams wear a green V on their uniforms or equipment to show Fresno State's pride in the Central Valley of California, the richest agricultural region in the world. The San Joaquin Valley runs from Bakersfield in the south to Sacramento in the north. Fresno State, located between those two cities, is the only Division I-A program in the Valley. Bulldog football players display their pride by wearing a large green V on the back of their helmets.
"This is perhaps the most dramatic step we have taken since the creation of the Bulldog Foundation more than 50 years ago," Johnson added. "Our financial security and future depends upon our ability to raise money. This is also a big step toward stadium expansion, which will increase our opportunity to generate more money in the future for our athletic programs. This is an excellent and exciting opportunity that will benefit Fresno State Athletics in the long run."
