[2024] Aggieland Book Report: Week 1 - Fresno State Bulldogs

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Texas A&M football is BACK and AGGIER than EVER! 

A new season of college football is upon us, and as Kyle Field is ready to welcome hundreds of thousands of fans through its gates once again, we here at The Battalion wanted to give a weekly "scouting" report of the upcoming opponents. However, nobody here at The Battalion actually knows anything about football. We like the Aggies, sure, but none of the other teams are all that interesting to learn about. You can find plenty of articles out there talking about base defenses and zone reads, but how many articles are out there where you actually learn about the history of other schools? That is what this weekly article aims to help with: learning! Because education is priceless, and we care very much about academics here!* So, without further ado, let's learn something about Fresno State, the week 1 opponent for the Aggies.

*unverified reports

 

Fresno, California

Wait, I've heard that tagline before...

What is a "Fresno"? - In a basic sense, it is a city in California. In an etymology sense, Fresno was the Spanish name of the ash trees that were abundant in the area when it was incorporated in 1885. 

Where is this "Fresno?" - In a basic sense, it is in California. In a geographical sense, it is near the center of the state and covers about 115 square miles of land. In a latitudinal/longitudinal sense, it lies at 36° 45′ 0″ N, 119° 46′ 0″ W.

Why is "Fresno" a thing? - In a basic sense, gold. In a historical sense, as a result of the California gold rush settlers formed a town here in the 1850's. In 1872 a railway station was built and it helped the city grow rather quickly. 

Who is in "Fresno?" - In a basic sense, approximately 540k people, making it the fifth largest city in the state and 34th largest in the United States. In a demographical sense, it is the main city in the Fresno-Madera Combined Statistical Area, a CSA with a total population of 920k+. According to the 2020 Census, 50% of the population is Hispanic/Latino, 24% is white non-Hispanic, 14% are Asian non-Hispanic, and 7% are Black or African American non-Hispanic. 

Top 5 Things To Do in Fresno (sponsored by TripAdvisor)

This is a real photograph and not a painting, we promise.

• #5 - Blossom Trail - Just a trail with Blossom trees surrounding it. The path is about a 3 hour walk. DO NOT GO INTO THE ORCHARDS! Because it's private property and that would be trespassing silly!
• #4 - Meux Home Museum - Once the home of Dr. Thomas Richard Meux, this 1888 Victorian Mansion has 16 rooms as well as a beautiful, maintained garden. Tours take 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on your pace! laughing emoji
• #3 - Woodward Regional Park - The 300-acre regional park has playgrounds, trails and recreation areas, ponds for fishing and a BMX course. It's also home to the beautiful Shinzen Japanese Friendship Garden (pictured above). Fun fact: if you smuggle in someone 65 years or older you get $2 off admission!
• #2 - Fresno Chaffee Zoo - With over 190 different species across 39 acres of land, the Chaffee Zoo is fun for the whole family! Feed stingrays and giraffes, watch bird shows, dine with sea lions, and don't forget to buy the overpriced merchandise!
• #1 - Forestiere Underground Gardens (a 2023 Travelers' Choice Award Winner!) - The creation of self-taught artist/builder Baldassare Forestiere in the 1900's, these underground gardens are exactly what they sound like: a hand-built network of underground rooms with fruit-producing trees, shrubs, and vines, with some plants being nearly a century old. Anything to get out of the heat amirite?!

Fresno State University

Well technically it's California State University, Fresno, but that doesn't market well

Fresno State University is a public institution that is a part of the California State University system. The school was founded in 1911 as "Fresno State Normal School". The location of the school moved to where it currently resides in 1956. Enrollment is approximately 25k students, and they have a 95% acceptance rate. In 2022 Forbes ranked Fresno State as the 170th best university in the country. Its motto is "Discovery, Diversity, Distinction". Fun fact! If you are a part of the Equestrian team you can get on campus housing (on campus stabling?) for your horse! I just think that's neat. 

NOTABLE ALUMNI:

Rick Husband, Astronaut

Aaron Judge, Baseball Masher

Lane Kiffin, Lane Train Enterprises

The Fresno State Bulldogs

I hope we get to see a good boi later in this report!

Why Bulldogs? - In 1921, the student body president brought his pet bulldog with him everywhere on campus. The student paper started referring to the college as The Bulldogs soon after. The university has not always had a live mascot (quote from the FSU site: "As the country entered tumultuous times in the late 1960’s to early 1970’s, the Live Mascot program fell to the wayside." So Vietnam is basically responsible for Fresno State not having a live mascot for a while). However in 2006, a contest was held and a new Bulldog was chosen to become Victor E. Bulldog, restarting the tradition once again. 

THERE HE IS!!! YEEESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

Sports? - Yes. Fresno State sponsors several men's and women's teams, including Wrestling, Volleyball (women only), Golf (Men only), softball/baseball (each have the only two NCAA championships in Fresno State history) and...of course...

FOOTBALL!

Somebody left the end zones transparent (photoshop joke)

THE HOUSE - Valley Children's Stadium

THE CAP - 40,727

THE FIELD - FieldTurf

THE NAME - A local children's hospital, naming rights bought for $1 million over 10 years. 

EXTRA CURRICULARS? - Not really, hosted the California Bowl from 1981-1991, and hosted a few soccer friendlies prior to the 1994 World Cup

IN CONCLUSION

Fresno State is a University in California. They play football. They're travelling to Kyle Field and we're gonna beat 'em...maybe.