Comments on: Wrestling wants back in

By: Brian Spalliero

Brian Spalliero — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:21:41 +0000

Keep trying, don’t give up Coach DeLiddo. You have supporters around the world.

Wrestling is a sport at the heart of the culture of the valley. This is evident in the level of quality wrestlers that are produced by all the local high schools and freestyle programs. Of all the collegiate sports in the valley wrestling has been one of the most prominent.

If finances are so hard then why doesn’t Fresno State consider cutting some funding to the multi-million dollar Football and Basketball programs that continually under perform. They are obviously not garnering the ticket sales and support to justify there high cost. Wrestling at Fresno was unquestionably more successful than either of the aforementioned programs, having multiple national champions in division 1 athletics. So apparently success and support were not factored into value of the program. The cost analysis performed on the program the year it was cut showed that boosters provided more than enough funding for the program. So again, why was the program cut? Really, why?

Coach DeLiddo, I hope you know that even though we aren’t there for you in presence, we are thinking about you and supporting you. You make us proud to be Fresno State Wrestlers, please don’t give up.

Brian Spalliero
COB Speicher, Iraq

By: dw

dw — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:51:40 +0000

It’s primarily money and image.

The athletic program is a money loser and hasn’t broken even in 10 of the last 11 years, and it looks like, even with the new student fee, it won’t this year either. Thomas Boeh has made it very clear, Fresno State will go down to Division II if the finances don’t improve (he said that last spring before the ASI election). That translates to no WAC membership, and it’s likely we would end up in the Big Sky Conference.

The image problems revolved around academic performance (which reportedly was worse than the men’s basketball program) and persistent criminal behavior by a few of the kids. Before anyone asks why, given all the problems men’s basketball has had in those areas, that program wasn’t dropped, the WAC requires member schools to field men’s basketball–thus there was no option to drop that sport.
‘

By: Mark O'Connor

Mark O'Connor — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 04:53:39 +0000

Don’t give up the fight for the program. Wrestling is one of the best sports in the world. If it isn’t Title IX then explain why it has been cut.

By: ADT

ADT — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:37:00 +0000

We keep talking about our fresno State wrestling team that we loved but when we had it very rarely would it sell out seats we did not do a very good job of supporting our team I think that was one of the reasons the program was dropped. If- (better Yet) when our Bullbog Wrestling team comes back we need to make sure we are there on the bleacher seats supporting. We have a very strong wrestling community in the central velley and our kids need to have something to look forward to.
Thank You kindly Mr. DeLiddo for your hard work and dedication to your community.

By: ADT

ADT — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:35:31 +0000

By: jason calvert

jason calvert — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:03:01 +0000

im glad to see people want wrestling back close to home because then more great wrestlers from the valley that want to stay in the area a place to wrestle instead of going out of state or to programs that are not as strong as fresno’s was and coach d hope to see you back there because i really enjoyed watching some of my friends wrestle there like marcio botelho good luck

By: Johnaton

Johnaton — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 05:40:43 +0000

I am glad to see someone is still fighting for the program. We need a program for the valley. Wrestling is getting stronger and stronger here in the smaller towns in the central valley, rivaling football and our kids need a higher level to reach for, I missed the opportunity to wrestle in high school and now I work with a small club and travel to tournaments with the kids. I am sure there are many many others that will back you.

By: Carlos

Carlos — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:17:17 +0000

Coach D.

Great Job, Im glad to hear u are still fighting to get the wrestling program back. Hopefully you will be able to bring it back. Dont know if u know or not but u have alot of support in the southern part of the valley who just love the sport. The central valley has had and will continue to have great wrestlers, they need to bring the program back so these kids could stay in the valley to wrestle.

By: Darrick Duran

Darrick Duran — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:32:27 +0000

I am thoroughly impressed with the comments I hear from everyone and the fight left in Coach D. to stand up in what he believes in and lives by. Coach Deliddo, you and the entire Fresno State wrestling family, thank you. Wrestling did more for me towards career and life advancement than my entire set of academic classes at Fresno State combined. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the core values I learned through my years as a Bulldog. Keep the fight alive, HOOAH.

Captain Darrick N. Duran, USAF
380th Expeditionary Medical Group,
Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:43:54 +0000

I am going to be writing a formal proposal for one of my classes to bring back the CSU Fresno wrestling program. I would like anyone who has credible sources on the issues to drop me some info at (cmsouza3@csufresno.edu) My Brother in law Marcio Botelho wrestled for the program and gave everything he had for it. I know there are plenty of others who are willing to do the same. Being a wrestler in high school I know what responsibilities wrestling teaches youngsters and want to help get the program back before our future bulldogs have to venture somewhere else.
Thanks

By: Jeremy Carlson

Jeremy Carlson — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:15:58 +0000

I think that it is embarassing to the community that their own college, who
they support and stand behind, does not recognize wrestling as one of their sports. I grew up in a little town in the Valley and my coach always tooks us to the matches at Fresno State and always told us that if we were good enough we could wrestle at Fresno State. This is program has an impact on the entire central valley and with it not being there many kids are simply not willing to work as hard. One of the greatest wrestlers in American history, Stephen Abas, went to Fresno State. This is something people need to realize and get behind. Cancelling this program is taking away a piece of the community and spirit of the University.

By: Ketih Niggor

Ketih Niggor — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:13:57 +0000

The A.D. and President are nothing but criminals. They dictate what sports are needed instead of the sports that are commonly played in the area. Womens lax is not a common sport in the area, but wrestling is. There was a strong tradition. The A.D. and President will not learn until something drastic happens to them.

By: M ARAGON

M ARAGON — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:46:25 +0000

I saw what happened to the high school wrestling in the Central Coast Section when San Jose State dropped its wrestling program. The overall quality of competition dropped tremendously. As coaches retired there were only walk on coaches with little or no previous experience. If it were not for the few veteran coaches like Coach Gonzales at Gilroy, Coach Kerr and Coach Olenak at San Benito to name a few, the CCS would not have any placers at the State meet. What happens when they retire? I hate to think about it.

Wake up Fresno State Administrators, saving a few dollars will eventually affect your whole community.

Manuel
Retired Teacher and Wrestling Coach

By: Cindy McAlester

Cindy McAlester — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:16:55 +0000

Coach D…. you are the Coach V of wrestling….. NEVER GIVE UP…
You are teaching our kids to never give up.. not only on the mat but in life… This sport is so much more than just wrestling!! Life lessons that they will never forget! We need wrestling back!!!

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:49:23 +0000

Great Job Coach D.

I hope you don’t give up. I’ve lived in Clovis all my life and wrestling is part of our culture. My brothers wrested, my father wrestled and my boyfriend.
Its just a great sport and builds character
Good Luck