FSU Basketball in first place?

February 24, 1994
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)

Well, I guess everybody’s gonna have to find a bigger bandwagon to jump on these days.

There’s a wave of Bulldog fever now that it is getting into March and Fresno State basketball is contending for a conference title. (Can you say Madness?)

Actually, the calendar still reads late February but the standings say that FSU is tied for first with the New Mexico Lobos. No kidding.

Really, has anybody warmed up to this fact or are Bulldog diehards still waiting for the spring pass, punt and kick drills to take place at Bulldog Stadium?

Well, the rise of the ’Dogs in ’93-’94 after their perpetual also-ran status since the late 80’s has really been something. Too bad nobody has noticed because Sweeney’s boys went over to the islands and just couldn’t do it.

While the ’Dogs have certainly proved themselves as up-and-coming prime-timers on the grass and chalk in 1992 and ’93, an equally surprising story would be FSU painting themselves in WAC title colors in hoops after their tumultuous season last year under coach Gary Colson.

Now, maybe you’ve forgot, but if FSU happens to sweep their four games left against UTEP, New Mexico, Colorado State, and Wyoming, it would be their first conference championship since, oh, 1982.

And the Bulldogs’ eight straight wins are their biggest streak since 1983-84--the last time they appeared in the NCAA’s.

The ’Dogs are 16-7 on the season and 11-3 in WAC play, but that doesn’t even begin to put light on why they’ve suddenly made a surprising run at the WAC title after years of mediocrity and teams that didn’t play up to their potential (see: 1991-92 and ’92-’93 teams.)

A return to Colson’s emphasis on solid teamwork and a willingness to get the job done despite differences and bickering are the prime reasons the Bulldogs have enough to make a serious run at the WAC title.

There have been teams that have played well together but just couldn’t stand each other.

All 15 players on the Bulldog roster get along pretty well away from Selland, but on the court you wouldn’t know it.

The Bulldogs can be continually at each other’s throats when the ball doesn’t bounce their way, so Colson settles them down by calling a timeout once in a while to cool down what he calls "thunderbolts."

A front row seat at Selland Arena is always a plus when the fans at ringside get to hear a Bulldog shout some unprintable epithet at either themselves or someone else who gets in their way (like that poor Hawaii soul the night FSU pulled away, 88-82.)

In this sense, the entertainment you get at Selland these days is well-worth the price of admission. The problem is, most Bulldog rooters that should be there don’t want to pay the price--which means coughing up 12 bucks to go to a game downtown.

See, the ’Dogs have been in this spot before. Three years ago, they were seemingly headed for the top of the conference when of course they folded like a cheap taco to finish two games below .500 and lose the Big West tourney by a heartbreaker.

Again, motivation. Back from that team is Carl Ray Harris and Lee Mayberry, who say that one reason the ’Dogs won’t fold is better maturity this time around.

The ’Dogs already have wrapped up their best record in nine seasons and are a far cry from their dark days from 1986-88 when they had consecutive 9-win seasons, or 1990, when FSU’s home attendance fell below 10,000 for the first time in six years.

The ’Dogs have also been through four straight losing seasons, three under Colson. Colson’s answer is that he’s no miracle worker, but his time is coming--that you can be sure.

It usually takes about three years to turn around a perpetual losing team such as the Bulldogs. So Colson’s patient building holds, the calendar turns, and across town, FSU’s hoop denizens are slowly nodding their heads.