FOOTBALL’S UNIQUE HOME GAME ATMOSPHERE SHAPED BY STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

On-field participants, other than the football players, contribute to the lively atmosphere enjoyed by the football fans at Fresno State’s Valley Children’s Stadium.

The Fresno State Dance Team puts in hours of rigorous practice in preparation for their dance performances during Fresno State’s home games.

“We practice Monday, Wednesday, Friday for roughly two hours,” says dancer Makaela Heng. “They’re pretty tough practices. We work really hard.”

Heng says it’s easy for their work to get lost in translation, given everything that takes place at the busy events that host up to 40,000 people.

Once the stadium empties and the fans go home, photography is what helps us look back on the events and cherish the memories.

Melina Kazanjian, a photographer for Fresno State Athletics, says that is why football and photography need one another.

“To the players, I hope they appreciate what we do out here. If we are not here, no one is documenting what they are doing,” says Kazanjian.

The players are not the only ones getting active. The Army ROTC program is on the sidelines waiting for a touchdown as their cue to break a sweat, too.

“Anytime Fresno State scores, we run out on the field, do some push-ups, and get everybody pumped up,” says Army ROTC member Chris Ortiz.

He is happy to represent the program at the home games because COVID-19 made it difficult to recruit members. The exposure helps them to get recognized while they contribute to the ultimate game day experience.

The Fresno State Marching Band performs the Star-Spangled Banner before the game and also performs on the field at half-time. These are moments when all eyes and ears are on them.

While football is a sport that attracts fans from all over the area, the game experience would not have the same unique texture that it does without all of the organizations uniting and contributing.