With football program in Tedford’s safe hands, Fresno State must address aging stadium

Jeff Tedford told a story during his reintroduction as Fresno State football coach that made practically everyone in the Josephine Theater chuckle, but was really kind of sad.

Tedford, who lives in town, spoke about a recent trip to the hardware store and being approached by five people asking if he was coming back. One was an elderly lady who told Tedford she hoped so even though she can no longer go to Bulldogs games.

“You’ve got to do something about that stadium,” she told him.

Can’t tell you how many times readers have told me the same thing.

So while Wednesday’s press conference, well attended by athletic department staff and prominent boosters, served to welcome Tedford back and assure the Red Wave the program is in strong hands, there are cracks in the foundation that need addressing.

Not just the cracking on Bulldog Stadium’s east side, but the unavoidable staircases (some steep, others long) that make the place inaccessible for anyone without a working set of knees, plus desperately needed upgrades to the restrooms and concessions.

Opinion

Stop me if you’ve heard this before.

To his credit, university President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval didn’t try to sidestep the heavy lift that ultimately vexed his predecessor, CSU Chancellor Joseph Castro.

Wearing a red tie adorned with tiny Bulldogs logos, Jiménez-Sandoval spoke about seeking a football coach who wanted to build a legacy at Fresno State and become “a full partner in the vision we have for the stadium.”

“It’s that space that brings us all together,” Jiménez-Sandoval added. “It’s that neutral space in which we can all come together as a community. Where we can be proud of who we are and cheer for the one team that represents the entire region.”

Along with Jiménez-Sandoval’s prior statements about Fresno State’s history of failing to sustain football success, or capitalize on it, they sound like the words of someone up to the task.

So too does Athletic Director Terry Tumey, who didn’t specifically mention Bulldog Stadium on Wednesday but has expressed at length the need to address its deficiencies.

I’m told Tumey will unveil his stadium renovation plan in the near future, when more of the details and particulars are lined up. Bulldogs fans have been seduced by big dreams and fancy renderings before, only to be ultimately disappointed.

Fresno State gets good deal with Tedford

Speaking of Jiménez-Sandoval and Tumey, the duo’s handling of the coaching search and contract negotiations speaks well of their leadership. They managed to land the overwhelming No. 1 candidate without breaking the bank — and did so in time to save this year’s recruiting class and perhaps retain quarterback Jake Haener.

Fresno State, with its layers of bureaucracy and yards of red tape, is not an easy place to get hirings and contracts done quickly. But Jiménez-Sandoval and Tumey found a way.

Tedford also deserves credit for accepting a below-market deal (a base salary of $8.25 million for five years plus a smaller bonus package than his previous deal) for a coach with his resume.

Of course, this isn’t about money for Tedford. This second go-round at his alma mater, two years after heart issues compelled him to step down, is about finishing what he started.

Yes, Tedford quickly managed to restore the program’s pride and tradition. From consecutive 3-9 and 1-11 finishes in 2015 and ‘16, the Bulldogs went 10-4 and 12-2 during Tedford’s first two seasons in 2017 and ‘18. His teams won a Mountain West championship and hoisted two bowl trophies.

A contest Bulldogs can’t afford to lose

But all the while, the stadium and football facilities remained the same. As San Diego State and even San Jose State build new stadiums and performance centers, Fresno State continues to fall further behind.

Irrespective of wins and trophies, that’s the one contest the Bulldogs cannot afford to lose. Not if the university intends to compete at the FBS level for the long-term.

During Tedford’s reintroduction — it felt more like a reunion — Fresno State’s starting quarterback in 1981 talked about what an honor it was for him to play in Bulldog Stadium’s first full season.

“That stadium has served the program and the community well for 40 years,” Tedford said, “and now it’s time to make sure it serves them well for another 40 or 50 years.”

No football coach, nor university president or athletic director, can renovate an aging, crumbling football stadium alone. Such a feat requires mass effort, not the least of which is the financial support of wealthy boosters who turned out to greet Tedford and welcome him home.

For the first time in a while (2015?), things are lining up in encouraging fashion.

So that the next time a Bulldogs fan tells us they no longer go to games because of the stadium, Tedford and I will be able to offer up something besides sympathy.