Fresno State Athletics
Turf Fundraiser a Huge Success
9/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | General
Sept. 12, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State head football coach Pat Hill has built a great relationship with Valley residents. As part of his charge when taking over the Fresno State program 14 years he wanted to Paint the Valley Red with a wide brush the reached from Sacramento to Bakersfield.
With Fresno State providing the only FBS level program in a geographic region the approximate size of the state of Tennessee, Hill's goal was to take the program to unprecedented heights. He's done it on the field with 10 bowl game appearances the last 11 seasons and nearly 70 national television appearances the last decade. One of the most visible signs of Hill's commitment was his idea to place a large green V on the back of the football helmets to represent the strong agricultural base in the region.
With the success on the field, and certainly the incredible academic accomplishments of the program under his watch, Hill has reached out to Valley residents to increase their monetary support for the Bulldog football program and the athletics department.
"I've always said that Bulldog athletics is a porch light for the university" said Hill. "And in order for us to remain competitive and grow we will need to increase our support. The economy is tough and these are tough times for everyone in California, but we are seeing that the advancement of higher education is a priority. We need that type of support and commitment for our department."
Saturday night was a special night for Bulldog football as Bulldog supporter Eric Shannon hosted approximately 300 guests at his Visalia, Calif., residence for a dinner and auction. Couples paid $500 to attend the event. Approximately $100,000 was raised at the event which will go toward the Bulldog Foundation's fundraising efforts to put artificial turf in Bulldog Stadium.
"In today's economy, raising $100,000 in a one-night event is an incredible accomplishment and shows the tremendous support for Fresno State Athletics," said Coleman Barnes, Executive Director of the Bulldog Foundation. "We are pleased with the tremendous support in the South Valley. There are a lot of great people all over Central California who have great passion for Bulldog football and this event is a testament to that."
Among those showing their support were former Bulldog players Lorenzo Neal, Paul Pinegar and Charlie Jones.
"We all need to step up to help take Fresno State to another level," said Neal, who spoke to the group. "There is great pride and passion for the Bulldogs from all over the Valley. As we get ready to head to the Mountain West, we need everyone's support to step it up."
Those wanting to contribute to the turf project or join the Bulldog Foundation can call the Bulldog Foundation at (559) 278-7160.
"We Are Your Team!" The Dogs open the WAC season on Saturday night in Logan, Utah against the Aggies of Utah State. The game will be televised by the WAC Sports Network and can be seen locally on KAIL 7.1 (Comcast 13/Dish and Direct 53) at 5 p.m. PT. Season tickets and mini-plan packages are available at a variety of price points for the remaining six home games of the 2010 season. Click on the tickets icon at the top of this page for more information or to purchase.
