Fresno State Athletics
Sweet Home Alabama
3/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 4, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - As Fresno State prepares to host the Bayer CropScience Classic this week, www.gobulldogs.com is giving Bulldog fans an inside look at one of the eight freshmen on the 2009 team that they will see at Bulldog Diamond. Kaitlin Griffin from Northport, Ala., answers some questions about her home state as we learned what Alabama is really like.
Griffin is a catcher and just one of three softball student-athletes from outside of California. Morgan Melloh (Fishers, Ind.) and Andrea Ortega (Scottsdale, Ariz.) are the other two. See below as we quizzed Griffin on her home state and learned some new facts about the south.
Gobulldogs.com: What is the capital of Alabama?
Kaitlin Griffin: Montgomery
GB: What is the population of Alabama?
KG: 2 million?
GB: It's actually 4.6 million
GB: What's the state nickname?
KG: Bama
GB: Is that what you call it?
KG: Yes
GB: The official nickname is Yellowhammer
KG: Really? Oh ya! Yellowhammer Alabama
GB: What's the state song?
KG: Sweet Home Alabama
GB: It's just called Alabama actually
KG: Oh really?
GB: Yes. Is Sweet Home Alabama your favorite song though?
KG: Yes
GB: Ruben Studdard from American Idol is from Alabama. Are you a fan of his?
KG: Sort of
GB: Did you root for him on the show?
KG: Yes I did
GB: Did you vote for him?
KG: Yes I did
GB: Have you seen him in concert?
KG: Yes I have (laughs)
GB: Is the country band Alabama from Alabama?
KG: I think the lead singer is
GB: Do you know why they are called Alabama?
KG: I have no clue actually
GB: Do you know how many miles it is from Tuscaloosa to Fresno?
KG: I googled this. I know it's like 33 hours. I don't know how many miles.
GB: Its 2,149 miles. Did you drive out here when you moved?
KG: No I flew. I won't drive it unless I get a car out here.
GB: You were recruited by two Alabama schools, so why Fresno State?
KG: Because Coach Wright is a really great coach and as soon as I found out about the program I fell in love with it and it was where I was supposed to be.
GB: What's the biggest difference between Alabama and California?
KG: The way people talk and probably...
GB: The food?
KG: Yes the food!
GB: Those were the next questions...Do you think you have an accent?
KG: Yes. I know I do now. At first I didn't think I talked as slow as I did, but after people started telling me I realized it.
GB: Do you think people from California have accents?
KG: Yes. I think you talk very fast and very proper.
GB: We see you eat a lot of pizza on the road, is that your favorite food?
KG: Yes. It is my favorite food.
GB: What's your favorite food from the south that you can't get here?
KG: The chicken fingers are not as good as they are back home and probably fried crabclaws.
GB: Fried crabclaws? Ok explain those to me.
KG: They are just crabclaws and the ends of them are fried.
GB: Do you cook a lot of southern food here in Fresno?
KG: I do. I have a deep fryer which is probably not the best, but I do cook a little bit like homemade chicken.
GB: What kind of food would you cook your team that they probably haven't had before?
KG: I deep fried them chicken tenders one day and they really like those. That and my grandmother makes a really good green bean casserole.
GB: If the team played in Alabama where would you take them?
KG: I would probably take them to the beach because people don't realize that Alabama does have a beach.
GB: You do?
KG: Yes we do have a beach and it's very pretty. The sand is actually white and the water is blue. I would also take them to a restaurant called Twix and Tween. It looks just like the restaurant on Fried Green Tomatoes.
GB: Have you been to the California beaches yet?
KG: Yes I have.
GB: How far is your hometown from the beach in Alabama?
KG: About four hours
Catch Kaitlin Griffin and the `Dogs as they take on BYU at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Bulldog Diamond. The first 2,500 fans in the gates will receive a Fresno State softball schedule magnet.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs' host the Bayer CropScience Classic March 5-8 at Bulldog Diamond. The `Dogs host BYU Thursday at 7 pm. Schedule magnets will be given to early arriving fans. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office, calling 278-DOGS or online at gobulldogs.com.
