Fresno State Athletics
A New Tradition Flying High
9/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 5, 2008
FRESNO, Calif.- No one would have guessed the Chicago Cubs could influence the Fresno State Bulldog Football team.
While on vacation in his hometown of Chicago this summer, Associate Head Coach John Baxter was attending a Cubs game with his family. At the game Baxter noticed the flag that the Cubs fly over Wrigley Field every time the team is victorious. With nothing else to write on, Baxter started to scribble down ideas of a Fresno State version of the win flag on a napkin. Baxter envisioned a flag that the Bulldogs could fly to show what was accomplished on the field.
"When we were leaving Chicago all my daughters wanted was a win flag," said Baxter. "Flags represent who you are, and are an ultimate symbol of pride."
Baxter brought the idea home to Fresno, sharing it with Head Coach Pat Hill and the team. Everyone was in favor of the new tradition and excited to add another symbol of pride to a Fresno State program that is already rich in tradition.
"Ever since we got here the number one thing we talk about is going 1-0 every week," Hill said. "We're trying to get our players to not focus on stats as much as getting a win each week."
Courtesy of Monday's victory over Rutgers, the Bulldogs were able to start their new tradition right away. The new tradition is a white flag with a red "W" flying high over the football practice field. The new win flag will be raised every time the football team is victorious throughout the season, home or away. It is a symbol that will unite the whole Fresno State community, and help the football team come together to focus each week on the task at hand.
The new win flag will be raised by the band inside Bulldog Stadium after every home victory, and then moved to the practice field during the week.
"The flag is a way to bring everyone together to play Bulldog football, and win," said Baxter.
When the Bulldogs bring home a win from the road, the flag will fly over the practice field beginning with practice the following week. It will be taken down before every game to show that there is still work to do the next day.
"Sometimes in college football wins are few and far between," Baxter said. "We're not focusing on how we win; we're just focused on the fact that we got a win."
The Bulldogs, ranked No. 21 in the country, are using their new flag to focus on their next matchup, a Sept. 13 showdown with No. 11 Wisconsin. The flag will help the team focus solely on the upcoming week, not look ahead to games on the schedule.
"In college football the playoffs start week one," Baxter said. "To win a national championship in this sport, you have to go 1-0, 12 times."
The Bulldogs hope the new tradition will be something all Fresno State fans will embrace and the team encourages fans to even make their own versions of the win flag.
"We're going to start celebrating wins around here," Hill said.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The first Big Ten team will travel to the Valley on September 13 as the No. 25 `Dogs take on Wisconsin in the home opener at 7:30 p.m. The game can be seen nationally on ESPN2. All tickets are on sale now. Get your official Wisconsin game day t-shirt at the Bulldog Shop for only $10 with any purchase. To purchase tickets, click on the tickets icon at the top of this page, call the Bulldog Ticket Office at (559) 278-DOGS, or stop by the Bulldog Ticket Office.
