College Sports Established
1921
Location
Fresno, California
College Name
California State University, Fresno
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1939 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
2012 - Present / Mountain West Conference
1992 – 2012 / Western Athletic Conference
1969 – 1992 / Big West Conference
1939 – 1969 / California Collegiate Athletic Association
Nickname
Bulldogs - The Fresno State Bulldogs have been a long-standing member of the NCAA since 1921. As one of the oldest teams in college football, they have quite an interesting story behind their name and mascot. The nickname “Bulldogs” was chosen for its strong association with loyalty and tenacity – two qualities that are essential to any successful sports team.
This connection between bulldogs and athletic success dates back to 1894 when Yale University adopted a bulldog as its official mascot after having great success on the football field. This inspired other universities across America to follow suit, including Fresno State, officially known as “the Bulldogs,” in 1921.
Since then, this beloved nickname has become synonymous with all things related to Fresno State athletics – from championship banners hanging inside Save Mart Center arena walls, tailgating before home games at Bulldog Stadium, or cheering on your favorite players during March Madness tournaments! It is also proudly worn by students around campus daily through various apparel such as hats or t-shirts featuring our iconic logo: a fierce-looking bulldog wearing sunglasses while standing atop an orange pawprint background!
No matter where you go - whether down Bullard Avenue near campus or out into town - you can always spot someone sporting some gear showing off their pride for being part of this unique university community we call home here at Fresno State! So next time you hear about our beloved Bulldogs competing against another school, remember that they represent themselves and generations past who helped make us what we are today: proud members of the NCAA family!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 1
2008
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1976
- 1980
- 1998
- 2008
- 2010
- 2022
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James Sweeny took over as head coach
The Bulldogs began a new era when James Sweeny took over as head coach in 1976. Under Sweeny’s leadership, Fresno State went on to rake in some phenomenal seasons. This includes 1985, where they were the only Division I-A team in the nation to finish the season undefeated. Only the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors left a mark on this record, forcing ... -
Bulldog Stadium
In June of 1979—after local residents raised $7 million in the most successful fundraising project in the history of San Joaquin Valley—Fresno State began constructing a stadium for their football team. At the end of the 1980 season, Fresno State began playing in the newly-built Bulldog Stadium. With their own stadium, they could host more than twice as many fans. ... -
Fresno State Bulldogs National championship title
In 1998: The softball team wins its first national championship, defeating Arizona 1-0 in the Women’s College World Series final. The Bulldogs have won 12 conference titles and reached 34 NCAA Tournaments since then. -
Cinderella Bulldogs College World Series Champs 2008
The 2008 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament was held from May 30 through June 25, 2008, and was part of the 2008 NCAA Division I baseball season. The 64 NCAA Division I college baseball teams were selected out of an eligible 286 teams on May 26, 2008. Thirty teams were awarded an automatic bid as champions of their conference, and ... -
A Bulldog to Remember – George Paul
George played two years at California State University, Fresno, more commonly known as Fresno State. In his first game with the Bulldogs, he scored 14 points in a winning effort against Sacramento State. In the following game, George recorded 25 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort against Saint Mary’s. Despite the loss, he made an impression with his ... -
Fresno State Bulldogs football team wins Mountain West Champions
In 2022, the Fresno State Bulldogs football team wins Mountain West Champions against Boise State Broncos.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Bulldogs
The Fresno State Bulldogs football team has won two conference championships since joining the FBS: one in 1992 as part of the Big West Conference and another in 2013 when they were part of the Mountain West Conference. They also made it to four bowl games during this time; three wins against Toledo Rockets (2004), Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (2007) & Rutgers Scarlet Knights(2008), along with a loss to Arkansas Razorbacks at Liberty Bowl game back 2000. This makes them an exciting team for any college sports fan!
On top of that, some famous players from Fresno state include NFL Hall-of-Famer Trent Dilfer, who was drafted by Tampa Bay Buccaneers sixth overall pick in back 1996 NFL draft, quarterback David Carr who was taken number 1 overall pick by Houston Texans in the 2002 NFL Draft, wide receiver Davante Adams selected 53rd overall pick by Green Bay Packers 2014 NFL Draft & running back Ryan Mathews taken 12th Overall Pick 2010 By San Diego Chargers all these player’s success is testament to how talented program can be when given opportunity.
In addition to its strong performance on the gridiron, Fresno State's men’s basketball program has become a force over recent years, too - making appearances at NCAA tournaments five times between 2001–2012 which included Sweet Sixteen run in 2003, where they lost eventual National Champion Syracuse Orange despite a valiant effort from stars like Melvin Ely & Eddie Robinson led squad. Furthermore, the women’s volleyball team has also seen much success, winning multiple regular-season titles over the past decade. In contrast, the softball squad won Western Athletic Championship 2008 under the guidance of Head Coach Margie Wright – all these achievements make Bulldog Nation proud!
Undoubtedly, anyone looking for quality entertainment should consider watching the next home game featuring mighty bulldogs, whether live in attendance or through television, because you never know what magic might happen!
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