'DOGS Came Home to Cheers & Jubilation
The following report is from The Fresno Bee, 6/26/08:
Steve Susdorf exists the airplane hoisting the championship
trophy to
the sound of cheers at Fresno Yosemite
International Airport on
Thursday, June 26, 2008.
(Photo courtesy of The Fresno Bee)
Members of the Fresno State baseball team arrive with the
championship
trophy shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday, June 26, 2008
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
7:05 p.m.: More than 5,000 fans packed the stands and the playing field at Beiden Field this evening to greet the NCAA champion Bulldogs.
Throughout
the mile-long parade route and when they walked onto the field, the
players were greeted with roars of "Fresno State, Fresno State."
The
estimate of people in the stadium doesn't include those who lined the
parade route on Barstow Avenue and Cedar Avenue, 10 to 12 deep in some
places.
A unofficial estimate put the crowd at about 10,000.
Bulldog
players and coaches rode in golf carts and on fire trucks in the
parade. Despite crowd control efforts by law enforcement, many fans
broke through to shake the hands of players and of Bulldog coach Mike
Batesole. The constant refrain was "You're No. 1" and "We love you."
About a hundred people waved copies of Thursday's edition of The Fresno Bee that reported the championship win.
6:50 p.m.:
Thousands of people lined the parade route to Beiden Field. Inside the
stadium, it's standing-room only. Fans are not just in the stands, but
filling the outfield.
6:18 p.m.: Three
employees of the University Police Department - Teri McMichael, Lori
Alamano and Brian Alamano - had a spot along the parade route next to
the department headquarters. Each was waving red and blue pom-poms,
purchased in the morning by McMichael.
Behind them, on the side
of a building, were nine Fresno State pennants and six poster board dog
bones. Each of the dog bones had the name of a team that fell to Fresno
State during the NCAA playoffs. The idea was Lori Alamano's - Brian,
her son, did the work.
"We've got to give a 'Dog a bone," said Brain Alamano.
5:53 p.m.:
5:53 p.m.: Steve Susdorf tosses an autographed baseball cap to Wally
Loh, a fan who looks up at team members perched on a firetruck. Loh
shields the sun with his left hand and says: "Way to go, guys."
5:58 p.m:
Madison Wood, 13, of Clovis and Taryn Barsotti, 13, of Fresno sat in
the back of a pickup truck near the Fresno State enology department 20
minutes before the parade was to start, practicing their sign waving at
nearly every car that passed. One of their signs said "Go Dogs - We are
proud of you!"
5:29 p.m.: By 5 p.m., the sidewalks along Barstow Avenue east
of Cedar Avenue were filled with fans, some already settled, others
searching for a place to sit. Red - on T-shirts and caps - was the
standard color.
Children were everywhere.
Martin Solis of
Fresno, his daughter Alessandra, 10, and his son Andreas, 7, were
camped just beyond the right field fence of Bulldog Diamond. Andreas
clutched a photo of his hero, outfielder Steve Detwiler, who drove in
all of the Bulldogs' runs in Wednesday's championship game. Andreas
said he knew exactly what he'd tell Detwiler should the two meet later
in the evening at the Beiden Field autograph table: "Great job."
5:10 p.m.:
People began lining up along the parade route on Barstow Avenue east of
Cedar Avenue at about 3:30 p.m. Among those staking out advantageous
positions - close to the street, on the grass, in the shade - were
Sarah Curley of Coarsegold. With her were her three sons, one daughter
and a niece, all between the ages of 3 and 11.
"We're here to
greet the team and congratulate them and tell them what a great job
they did," Curley said. "It was just miracle after miracle. And they're
so humble."
3:48 p.m.: Fred Broad of Fresno, an
executive with the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America, walked
across Bulldog Lane on his way toward Beiden Field.
"It's great to see the local boys do well," said Broad, who was wearing a T-shirt that said "Fresno State Baseball."
Broad then brought up a less flattering side of the current mania for the Bulldogs.
"You
know, you could come over here in the middle of the season and there
were 34 fans in the stand," Broad said. "Now everyone is a fan."
Broad acknowledged that he usually attends only a couple of games a season.
3:26 p.m.:
Fans began lining up at Beiden Field's locked gates about 2 p.m.
Several said they wanted to secure seats close to the tables set up for
Bulldog players to sign autographs.
"You never know if there's going to
be a long line," said Bria Ledesma, a teacher off for the summer. "You
don't know how crazy people are going to be."
Ledesma, her
husband, Anthony, and her mother, Brenda York, were all wearing
T-shirts summing up the Bulldogs' post-season exploits: "Underdogs to
Wonderdogs."
1:35 p.m.: Pat Miller, 54, of
Firebaugh arrived at 11:30 a.m. to support the Bulldogs. "I'm a
graduate, my kids are graduates, plus they are awesome. They played
with a lot of heart."
Frances Fonseca, 70, and her daughter
Diane Fonseca, 47, both of Del Rey, had waited since 10:30 a.m. for the
team's arrival. "I wanted to see them. I'm so happy they won," Frances
said. "They've been my idols."
When they got off the plane, she said she felt "excited, excited, excited. I got chills."
Diane said she was surprised the Bulldogs won.
________________________________________________________________
1:20 p.m.: Holden Sprague said he didn't think the team would be
greeted here but would be greeted later at Beiden Field. "This is
awesome," he said.
His said his arm's a little tired, and he hasn't come down yet from the excitement of winning.
Said his grandmother, Gloria Sprague, "He waved, but this is terrible
not to be able to give him a hug. We're so proud. We're proud of all of
our grandchildren - and please put that in."
1:07 p.m.: Cheers
continue. First player off, Steve Susdorf, is carrying the NCAA trophy.
He's been drafted by Philadelphia Phillies. Players are pumping their
fists. They look awestruck at the big crowd.
1:02 p.m.: The plane has landed and is taxiing to Atlantic
Aviation. The crowd is starting to clap as the plane is nosing in. A
huge cheer when the water spray begins.
There's some barking
going on. Cheers of "Fresno State." The crowd is going wilder. The
noise just increased from the crowd. The fire trucks drove away.
Crowd has quieted in anticipating of seeing the team. Two airport fire
trucks are parked facing each other on the tarmac near the tower, ready
for the welcoming water arch.
The plane will taxi through the water arch before coming to a halt.
_____________________________________________________________
1 p.m.: The crowd, which now numbers about 100, started chanting "Ten more minutes."
Some airport employees brought a banner that has the Fresno Yosemite
International Airport logo, the Bulldogs logo, and says "Welcome Home
National Champions Fresno State Bulldogs." A huge cheer went up when
the banner was turned toward the crowd.
Two fire trucks have arrived. They will provide a welcoming water arch for the team.
12:42 p.m.: About 70 people are hugging the fence, seeking shade, and waiting to cheer for their returning heroes.
12:15 p.m.: About three dozen people have gathered, some holding copies of today's Bee. Some sheltered from the hot sun under umbrellas.
Fernando Higuera, 41, of Clovis, who was wearing a red Bulldogs T-shirt and visor, said he watched the whole series.
"I've lived in Fresno my whole life," Higuera said. "I'm excited for
Fresno to have a national title. It makes me proud to be from Fresno."
11:53 a.m.: The team's scheduled arrival time now is 1:05 p.m.
About 20 people are waiting for the team's plane to arrive at Atlantic Aviation.
They included Dominic Mendoza, 13, wearing a red Fresno State baseball
cap, and father Manuel Mendoza, 57, wearing a red Fresno State T-shirt
and one extra hung over his shoulder, which he hoped to get team
signatures for his wife.
They came today because they couldn't get into the crowded Bulldogs
Grill on Wednesday night. Said Dominic: "It's a once in a lifetime
opportunity. It's amazing how they came back from underdogs to
wonderdogs. We want to support our team through thick and thin." Gloria
and Luke Sprague, grandparents of pitcher Holden Sprague, 20, came from
Auberry. "We've never had a fence between us and our grandchildren,"
said Gloria 73. Holden has always called them after every college game,
and he called Wednesday night. Said Luke, 75: "It was amazing. He was
still jacked up. It was after midnight there." One of the things he
talked to them about was former Fresno State teammate Loren Story, a
graduate who is working in Missouri and drove up to watch the last
couple of games in Omaha. Meanwhile, a "Welcome Back Wonderdogs" banner
has been strung on top of the flight tower at the airport.
11:37 a.m.: By
11:30 a.m., a dozen people had gathered, most of them wearing red. Some
walked in because of limited parking next to Atlantic Aviation.
Cindy Boyakin of Clovis said she was paying her Comcast bill near the
airport and "thought I might as well come over. I followed a news car
in. I think I parked illegally, so I'm watching my car."
She said she watched the whole College World Series and hosted parties at her home each night.
"I'm worn out," she said. "But I'm glad it ended on such an awesome
note. I don't want to say unbelievable, because it was believable. I
was behind them 100%. They played their heart and soul out."
She plans to stay until 1 p.m., when the team's plane is now scheduled
to arrive, if she can get her 2 p.m. hair appointment changed.
Bulldogs fans have been invited to join in the celebration later today
with a parade down Barstow Avenue at 6 p.m. and a welcome home
celebration at Beiden Field at 7 p.m.
The parade will begin at Woodrow Avenue and it will end at Cedar Avenue.
11:22 a.m.: The
arrival of the Bulldogs championship baseball team has been delayed to
1:00 p.m. today. Christopher Diaz, 34, an FAA employee who monitors
approach lights, said the plane has been delayed by thunderstorms.
One fan has been waiting at Atlantic Aviation at Fresno Yosemite
International Airport since 10:45 a.m. Rick Flores, 41, of Fresno, is
sitting in shade next to the fence, waiting for the charter plane's
arrival. Flores said he is a big fan of Fresno State baseball. He's not
an alumnus, but his nephew attended the university.
Flores said he had to be on hand for the team's arrival because he
"knows what it feels like to be on top." He's a former Special Olympics
champion.
Fresno State Bulldogs' victory dogpile after today's victory (Photo courtesy of AP through The Fresno Bee)
JoAnne Green
Principal/International Risk
Management Advisor
Integrity
Experience
Dependability