Nothing to Do with FSU but O'Canada

This post has nothing to do with Fresno State or its athletic department but its something that I think is very interesting. I am from Fresno and I am definitely Bulldog Born but after a year of going to Fresno State I decided to transfer schools. I was ready for a change and decided to transfer to a Canadian school (I know, I know, why Canada) but I came across this story while going to school in Vancouver, British Columbia and just heard on the news today that Simon Fraser University from Burnaby, B.C. (Not the school I went to) has joined to NCAA. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_lemire/08/05/canadian.hoops/. Another school from the Vancouver area,The University of British Columbia, is also trying to gain admittance to the NCAA.

This is obviously a big shift in policy for the NCAA to allow non-US schools to compete in athletics. It is also a policy shift for Canadian schools because they, by rule, are not allowed to give full athletic scholarships. Now that SFU is apart of the NCAA (they starting in Div 2) they will be allowed to give full ride scholarships which is huge for recruiting. It is no secret that most elite level Canadian athletes attend US schools for the scholarships and the higher level of competition. I wonder if this move will entice more elite Canadian athletes to stay in Canada and play for a SFU or UBC (if they gain admittance)??

I am happy and intrigued by this decision by SFU and the NCAA because I think this could be a great addition to college (for the zero Canadians who will read this university) sports. Could you imagine the rivalries that could emerge between the Washington and B.C. schools? Not only would there be a school rivalry but all the sudden it becomes the US versus Canada on the hardwood, field, tennis court, etc. That would be awesome to watch!

I'm not exactly sure how well schools like SFU or UBC would do recruiting American players but if they could get their top athletes to stay home I am more than confident that they would be competitive. Actually, while I was going to school up there American D-1 hoop teams would come up every August-September and play exhibitions against the local schools and the Canadian schools would knock off a team or two each summer. So for the Americans who think it would be a joke competition wise, don't be so sure. I have the first hand knowledge of watching many of those exhibitions as i just stated and believe me the Canadian schools hold their own and that is without their top talent.

Now I fully realize that most of you could care less about any of this but If you do happen to read this and have an opinion I would love to hear what you think. I am a bit of a Canadian homer because I went to school there but I just find this story really interesting. Also if you have any questions about this I will try to answer them as best as I can.

Cruel and unusual punishment

This is just downright mean. And I don't even know what I'm being punished for...but I'm pretty sure this punishment is unconstitutional.

Apparently it's because my hometown (and yours if you too live in Fresno or the surrounding San Joaquin Valley) has better weather than most other areas of the country. So the NCAA decided the great college baseball teams of the West aren't allowed to start until late February this season (so they don't get a unfair advantage that schools back east and up north who have colder weather don't).

And now look what happens. After last weekend's warm, sunbathing bliss, Opening Day for the No. 18 Diamond 'Dogs is finally here and Fresno (one of the dry cities of America) is experiencing monsoon rains that threaten to cancel this special day and cause fans to wait even longer to see their 'Dogs.

Thanks a lot NCAA. You took our Alumni Game, and about four weeks of could-be baseball greatness. And I want it back!

Speaking of Sweeney...

Somebody needs to explain something to us. Why is Beau Sweeney, son of Kevin, grandson of Jim, not on his way to Bulldog Stadium next season? But instead, on his way to...Cal!?!?!?

The first wave of this news a couple months ago was infuriating and down-in-the-dumps sad all at the same time. You see, if there is ONE person in the world who grows up under the bloodlines where he'll be an absolute shoe-in for Fresno State, it's that kid -- Beau Sweeney. His dad was 5-foot-nothing and broke the all-time NCAA passing record at FS. His gramps was and IS the historical face of Bulldog Football.

His grandpa beat USC in '92 and then stood on a hotel lobby table in front of his players/media/fans/and anyone else lucky enough to be there and sang "I've Got That Bulldog Spirit" up in my head, deep in my heart, down in my toes... His grandpa was willing to fight for Fresno State (ask Ron McBride). Threw his hat on the ground. Pulled off his shirt, threw that too. He was a motivational speaker at its finest.

But what happened? Why didn't he motivationally speak to grandson Beau? Sweeney = Fresno State football. Always has. Maybe Beau will wise up and change his mind. He would be the hometown hero. It would be a national story. Name another time in history a dad coached his son at QB and then the QB's son became QB 18 or so years later and was one of the most highly-touted players to come to Fresno State. Name one...you can't!

So I hope you're listening Beau. Maybe Pat Hill didn't call soon enough or offer soon enough, but if you've always wanted to go to Fresno State, what's stopping you?

You at Cal hurts the family name. It's like peanut butter sleeping around with someone other than jelly. If that ever happened, jelly would kick peanut butter out of the sandwich. And Fresno State fans aren't gonna be happy about eating jelly sandwiches.