Fresno Fans Plot Escape to Freedom

They tell me 30,000 people from greater metropolitan Fresno will be in Anaheim for Tuesday night’s Freedom Bowl football game involving USC and Fresno State.

I can see why.

First, as most of you USC alumni already know, Coach Larry Smith has never defeated Notre Dame or Fresno State.

Many fans continue to evaluate Smith’s entire coaching career on his strange inability to defeat Notre Dame and Fresno State, making this a huge game for him.

Second, Fresno fans are justifiably proud of their football program, particularly the fact that theirs is one of the few teams in college football that did not tie Michigan.

“We saw those Michigan dudes on TV,” said one Fresno State player who wished to remain anonymous, unlike his school. “And let me tell you, we could tie those guys any day of the week.”

Third, thousands of fans have come down from Fresno simply to watch the traditional Tournament of Freedoms parade.

Said one Bulldog booster:

“It has always been a tradition at our house to invite the neighbors over to watch the parade and then the game, three days before New Year’s. But to be here in person!

“All I can say is, this will be a three-days-before-New-Year’s we will never forget.”

This is a very big football game. Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz already has gone on the record as saying he is afraid of both teams, even though Notre Dame is not playing either of them in a bowl game.

USC is ranked 23rd by Associated Press, 24th by United Press International and 25th by USA Today and the CNN cable network.

Fresno State is ranked 26th by associates of Associated Press, 27th by United Parcel Service and 28th by the Fresno Bee and Nick at Nite.

In games against similar opponents, USC tied San Diego State, 31-31, and defeated Washington State, 31-21, while Fresno State defeated San Diego State, 45-41, and lost to Washington State, 39-37.

Alleged defensive coordinators for USC and Fresno State say they expect these Freedom Bowl opponents to be held under that magic 50 mark again.

Here are a few other things our Fresno friends have to look forward to:

--Before the game, both teams will be entertained by visiting marching bands from Michigan and Washington, here for the Rose Bowl.

Michigan’s band will perform its updated classic, “Hail to the Victors, Assuming There Is One.”

Washington’s band will play selections from its new “Guns and Rose Bowls” CD, available at popular prices from Billy Joe Hobert records and tapes.

--At halftime, a special “Greatest Games Ever Played in Anaheim” tribute should be a crowd-pleaser for well over two minutes. Baseball as well as football games will be included.

Michael Jackson, invited to entertain, respectfully declined. So did Jackson’s sister, Jackson’s brothers and Reggie Jackson, no relation, who was asked to hit out some fungoes.

--As a special treat before the opening kickoff, a reunion will be held for the men who played in USC’s first and only football game at Fresno--the 6-0 victory over St. Mary’s Pre-Flight at Fresno’s Ratcliffe Stadium in 1944.

Several players from St. Mary’s Pre-Flight are expected to attend, many of whom entered the NFL hardship draft and never did take that flight.

Ironically, Trojan Coach Larry Smith has never defeated Notre Dame, Fresno State or St. Mary’s Pre-Flight.

--USC’s band will play a medley of its favorite songs, “Conquest,” “Return to Conquest,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Conquest,” “My Achy Breaky Conquest” and a special seasonal rendition of “Conquests Roasting on an Open Fire.”

Fresno State’s band will play whenever USC’s band gets tired.

--Coach Jim Sweeney of the Bulldogs has agreed to wear a microphone during the game so that sideline instruction to his team can be heard on the TV broadcast.

Among his anticipated instructions:

“Number 3 is Conway. Never kick the ball to Number 3.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to kick to Number 3?”

“If you guys don’t stop Number 3, we’re going to be in Number 2.”

Anyway, welcome, Fresno friends.

Be advised that Fresno State has a record of 9-15 against Pac-10 competition. All this means is that Fresno State has not scheduled nearly enough games against Oregon or Oregon State.

Fresno State plays good football. Thirty thousand Fresno fans can’t be wrong.