Fresno State Athletics
Preparation Steps Up As Liberty Bowl Nears
12/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 30, 2005
Memphis, Tenn. -
Fresno State's stay in Memphis continues to stay busy as the Bulldogs get ready for Saturday's AutoZone Liberty Bowl appearance on Saturday against Tulsa. Fresno State has spent the day in Memphis making appearances and taking in the sights before kickoff tomorrow at 10 a.m. PT.
The Bulldogs started Friday with a trip to the stadium for an early-morning walk through and practice, also taking the time to take some video themselves to record some memories of their trip. The team also took what is becoming an annual tradition, a team shot huddled around the bowl logo the day before the game. Pat Hill ended the day at the stadium by addressing the media for the final time before the game.
The afternoon was also filled with activities for the team and their fans. Coach Pat Hill 23 players headed to the St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis to visit some of the children there in the hospital, an annual tradition as part of the Liberty Bowl. Later in the day, Fresno State got to participate in more Memphis tradition as Sharon Brown Welty, the wife of Fresno State President John Welty served as Duckmaster, leading the ducks through the lobby of the Peabody Hotel.
Fans in Memphis got a chance to see the band and cheerleaders downtown in the afternoon at 4 p.m., when both were featured in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl parade through historic downtown Memphis and by the Mississippi river. The administration and invited fans are also going to attend the President's Gala in the evening, which will feature a performance by the Beach Boys, the headliners of halftime for the game Saturday.
All of the celebration leads to just one place, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl tomorrow. The Bulldogs get their chance to win their fourth straight bowl game in front of a nationwide television audience. Fans looking to watch the game will find it on ESPN, beginning at 10 a.m. PT.
