Fresno State Athletics
The Long Way Home
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Oct. 11, 1999
by David de Witt, Fresno State Media Relations
Maturity. It's a word that best describes senior defensive lineman Frank Battle. It is a word that immediately comes off the lips of anyone talking about him. Frank Battle is mature. It's said so matter of factly, the way one would state the sky is blue or grass is green ? Frank Battle is mature.
"Frank is a team leader in the locker room and on the field," defensive line coach Ruffin McNeill said. "He brings a mature approach to the team and expects nothing but the best from himself and his teammates."
"We are fortunate to have a guy like Frank Battle on our football team," head coach Pat Hill said. "Having younger guys around someone like him, with his maturity, is really going to help our team now and down the road."
The route Battle traveled to become a defensive stalwart at Fresno State was a circuitous one. He was born in Ubea City, Calif., but moved to North Carolina three years later when his father, in the Air Force at the time, was transferred. While growing up in North Carolina, Battle began to shine in basketball and track and field, in which he threw the shot put. But he was especially gifted at football and was a two-time All-State honoree at Fike High School. After graduation, he headed back to California to attend Merced College, where he excelled. A two-time All-CVC selection in 1995 and '96, Battle had 97 total tackles with 24.5 sacks in two seasons. He was also named first-team J.C. All-American as a sophomore. But while Battle had no problems dominating on the field, he found adjusting to life in the San Joaquin Valley a little more difficult.
"It was a big culture shock to move here to California," Battle said. "It was an entirely new situation for me. The food and the people are so different compared to Carolina. It took some time to get used to."
What didn't take much time for Battle to get used to was making an impact wearing a Bulldog uniform. In 1998, he played in all 11 games, started six, recorded 27 tackles and finished third on the team in tackles for a loss (three). In 1999, he has been an even bigger force, ranking among the team leaders in tackles, sacks and tackles for a loss.
"Frank was a very special player at Merced College," McNeill said. "It was easy to see that he would make the transition to this level and become an impact player. He had great size and strength and could overpower most of his opponents."
Merced College helped Battle do much more than mature and make himself attractive to four-year institutions. It was while he was a Blue Devil Battle met Kristie Purganan. The two dated for a while, and when Battle decided to attend Fresno State, so did she. Not long after that decision, an even more import one was reached ? the two would get married after they graduated. That time is fast approaching for Battle, who is on track to receive his degree in sociology in May. Until then, however, Battle will continue to be one of the leaders of the defensive line.
"This team has the ability to accomplish a lot," Battle said. "If we keep coming together as a unit like we are right now, this could be a very special year."
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