To be proud...or not to be

Hughes Views

By Eddie Hughes

Quite a bit has happened at Fresno State in the school year that’s about to end.

There are those incidents to be proud of—and those to be not-so-proud of.

Plus, on a day The Collegian is going to provide you with an opinion on what will happen next year, there should be an opinion on what has already happened this year. Right?

So here’s what to be proud of, and what not to be.

• Be proud of the Fresno State football team for finally beating high-and-mighty UCLA. The Bulldogs were 0-6 all-time against a Bruins team that has never played in Fresno before beating UCLA 17-9 in the Fresno State Invitational (also known as the Silicon Valley Football Classic) in San Jose.

• Don’t be proud that no one will be seeing the men’s soccer or women’s swimming and diving team next season because of budget cuts. It’s pretty bad when sports that don’t draw big crowds have to be cut, leaving the student-athletes with no team to compete on.

• Be proud of softball’s slugging sophomore shortstop Christina Clark for being the most prolific home run hitter in school history. She has already tied the career record for homers and should break it any day now.

• Don’t be proud that the men’s basketball team had it’s first losing record since the days of former coach Gary Colson. It wouldn’t have been so bad if the Bulldogs weren’t in the opening season of the Save Mart Center.

• Speaking of the Save Mart Center, do be proud that it’s one of the most impressive venues in college basketball, despite the unattractive concrete floor around the concourse.

• Don’t be proud that the arena was never as full as it should have been. The seats of the Gucci Rows were often just as empty as the student section. A few of “Ray’s Rowdies” were actually rowdy, but not nearly enough.

• Be proud that the women’s tennis team is dominant behind freshman superstar Jelena Pandzic, who beat the No. 1 player in the nation earlier this season (a Fresnan who decided to attend Cal).

• Don’t be proud that one Bulldogs athlete, Terry Pettis, was dismissed from the men’s basketball team and has been in and out of legal trouble throughout the school year.

• Be proud that the average grade point average of student-athletes at Fresno State is 2.89. Certain brainiacs might hyperventilate over a GPA that low, but consider that the normal student population at the university averages a lower mark of 2.80.

• Don’t be proud that the Fresno State baseball team is probably going to absorb its first losing season since 1976 because of some pitching problems.

• Be quite proud that sophomore center fielder Richie Robnett just might be the next Major Leaguer to come out of Fresno State with his .383 batting average, 13 home runs, 46 RBIs and 21 steals. But you better get those autographs now, because he might not be around for another year of college ball.

• Don’t be proud that the dance team is no longer going to be dancing in those outfits that so many people seemed to love last basketball season (you know the ones). The dance team and cheerleaders will now combine as the “spirit squad” under the athletic department’s control.

• Do be proud that you don’t have to wait until next year to see what’s coming up in Fresno State sports because one of our other columnists is kind enough to tell you ahead of time (see Simple Text by Joshua D. Scroggin).