Fresno State Athletics
Defender of the Pack
12/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 1, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - Starting in his final season as a Bulldog, Lorne Bell has a lot to smile about. After overcoming an injury where some said he might never be able to play again, Bell has proven he is not only back, but also a strong leader on the Bulldog defense. He had 65 tackles last season and an interception against New Mexico State that he returned 17 yards. This season he already has another interception on his record and 48 tackles for the Dogs.
The defensive back truly resembles the definition of a Bulldog student-athlete both in the classroom and on the field. His drive and passion for the sport and his school has been recognized by his teammates, faculty and Bulldog fans all over the Valley. In 2009 the Bulldog athletic department awarded the Paul Scheckter Courage Award to Bell for all of the hard work he put in to overcome his injury.
"My faith in God helped me overcome my injury," said the 5-10 senior. "They told me I might not be able to play again because of the nerve damage but I prayed a lot, worked hard in rehab, and was able to come back strong."
Bell was inspired to play football from watching his older brother play when he was little. As soon as he turned eight years old, Bell was ready to put on the helmet, hit the field and start playing too. When Bell first started playing the game he was a running back. As he developed more skills he eventually moved over to the defense and has a lot of passion for his position.
"My position is like the Quarterback of the defense," said Bell. "I love the high speed collisions and the ability I have to make an impact on the game."
This is Bell's fourth season playing in the red uniform at Bulldog Stadium. His fellow teammates refer to him as the hardest hitting player on the team and have a lot of respect for everything the defensive back has overcome during his collegiate career.
"Looking back I would have to say my favorite moment in my Bulldog career was our game against Rutgers in 2008 because that was the first game I was able to start after my injury," said Bell. "After being told I might not ever be able to play football again, starting that game was a great moment for me."
Bell has learned a lot from the teammates he's played with over the years as well as head coach Pat Hill. He has played under Hill for his entire collegiate career and says he has gained a lot of knowledge from the Bulldogs' coach.
"Coach Hill helped me adapt to the mind set of any place, anywhere, anytime," said Bell. "He taught me to always be ready to accept all challenges."
Even though Bell is a hard hitting weapon on the field, he keeps a calm demeanor leading up to all of his games. He tries to relax and listen to calm music throughout the day. About two hours before kickoff he starts to get pumped up by listening to his favorite song, "Fanatic" by Lecrae, who is Bell's favorite Christian rapper.
As a senior on the Valley's football team, Bell has made it his responsibility to be a strong leader for the Bulldogs and help the underclassmen to grow as players. He spends a lot of time guiding the younger players in preparation for a game and all of the important steps that need to be taken during the week to mentally and physically be able to play their best.
"If there is one thing that I would want my teammates and the Bulldog fans to remember about me after I graduate it is that I was a Christian competitor who gave my all, all of the time," said the senior.
Bell has his bachelor's degree in communications and is currently working on his master's degree in Sports Administration. He recently married former Bulldog athlete Adrianna Chico and hopes to continue playing football after he completes his eligibility at Fresno State. After Bell's football career comes to an end he hopes to become an academic advisor for college athletics.
"We Are Your Team!" Fresno State concludes the regular season on Friday Dec. 3 at 7:15 p.m. against Big Ten foe Illinois. Tickets for the game can be purchased by clicking the tickets icon at the top of this page.
