Feeling like champion
My daughter is a Fresno State Bulldog. She embraced the university and its athletic teams when she entered school five years ago. She has hardly missed a single home football game and if she can’t be there in person, she is there in spirit.
Most of the time she goes to the games with friends. Only a couple of times has she joined me and/or me and my wife at a game. It just so happened that on Saturday, being the last game of the season and Thanksgiving weekend, we all attended the game.
Now, my daughter has not had a championship football team during her years as a Bulldog.
The ’Dogs did win a national baseball title, which we got to enjoy together because she was home for the summer.
This Saturday was special. Not only was it the final home game of the season, it was my daughter’s last home game as a student. To put the cherry on top, it was a game for the conference championship.
Well, lets just say the Dogs did not let her down. They handily defeated Air Force 48-15 to become no less than co-champs of the Mountain West Conference, their first year in the conference.
I am not sure who was more excited about the outcome — my daughter or the guys on the field. I have never seen a happier bunch of players in all my days of attending games — not even in high school. The players were jumping, hugging, smiling and having a blast. The coach was drenched in grape Gatorade, players circled the field slapping high fives with fans.
Many players ran to the student section, then to family and friends. Soon, those family and friends joined them on the field for the trophy presentation.
We stood in the stands for a while taking it all in. I glanced over at my daughter who had a smile across her entire face and then some. We then decided to go down to the field where quarterback Derek Carr was running and slapping hands. It was just as exciting. Fans were chanting, “FRESNO STATE!, FRESNO STATE!” It was electric.
During my years in college Fresno State never had a championship team so I don’t have anything to really compare with how my daughter was feeling. But to me, the No. 1 Bulldog fan got what she had wanted for four years — a championship and the great feeling that comes with it. I was glad I got to share it with my family.
Rick Elkins is editor of the Porterville Recorder. He can be reached at 784-5000, ext. 1040, or by e-mail at relkins@portervillerecorder.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.
