Sparked by a BarkBoard poster who uses the moniker FSUtimeout, the following are a list of remembrances of the new arena. Some or are good, some are bad, one is erotic but they all speak of the loyalty Selland Arena has had to the Fresno sports scene since the late 60’s.
FSUtimeout
A Bulldog Fan’s 5 greatest Bulldogs to play on the court
With one last game to be played on the court of Selland Arena, I thought it would be nice to name my top five players to ever put on the Bulldog uniform. Granted, I am only a student in college but I do know a whole lot about the past and the present of Bulldog basketball.
(1)Melvin Ely- (1999-2002) He clearly is my favorite Bulldog and truly is one of the greatest to play. In his 4 years on the court, he showed the fans how faithful he is to the community and the school. In the end of his college career he ended up first on the all-time list in scoring with 1,952 points. He had a career high of 35 versus Tulsa in 2002. He is the all-time school leader in blocked shots with 273 and is second in rebounds with 924 career boards. He is also number one in field goals attempted. He won the Western Athletic Conference player of the year in back-to-back years (2001 & 2002). He was also an honorable mention all-American in 2001 by the Associated Press. And he did all this even though he was doubled and even triple covered throughout his final two years. The most exciting thing is that he became the highest drafted basketball player to come out of Fresno State by being picked up by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 12th pick.
(2)Rod Higgins- (1979-1982) He was another outstanding Bulldog basketball player. He was a two-time honorable mention all- American. He led the team in scoring for three seasons (1980,81,82) and in rebounds for two seasons (1981,1982). He had a 53% career field goal shooting percentage. He was also voted team MVP in 1980, 1981 and 1982. The Chicago Bulls drafted Mr. Higgins with the 31st pick in 1982.
(3)Wil Hooker- (1989-92) He was a true scorer and his numbers show it. He is the second all-time leading scorer in school history with 1,739 points. His highest point total in a game was 30 in 1992 versus Utah State. He is eighth in field goals with 575. He is third all-time in 3-point field goals with a career 262 three’s, while shooting a career .387 percent from behind the arc. He is Fresno State’s all-time free throw percentage leader, shooting 83% from the line. He was 327 for 391 attempts at the free throw line. He had 344 career assists and 182 steals in his career playing for the bulldogs. He just knew how to get the ball in the hoop.
(4)Chris Herren- (1996-1999) He was just one of the fan’s favorite when he stepped on the floor. He controlled what happened on the floor and could shoot from half court if he wanted to. Herren is sixth on the all-time list of 3-point field goals with 166. Chris shot around 37% from behind the arc, while attempting 452 in his career. He is second all-time at Fresno State with 465 career assists. He also had 138 career steals. His highest point total in a game came twice, when he scored 35 points against Hawaii and San Diego State both in 1997. In 1999, the Denver Nuggets drafted Chris Herren. He was voted team MVP in 1997 and 1998.
(5)Demetrius Porter- (1998-01) You may notice that I put down Porter as one of the five greatest to suit up for the Dogs. You just have to remember that this is my opinion. Even though he may not have been the best to come out of Fresno State because he wasn’t drafted or because he isn’t in the top 10 in scoring, but Porter just meant so much to the team when he played. He gave it 100% all the time, even though he was usually one of the smallest players on the court. No one hit as many big time shots as Porter did, well maybe Damon Jackson has. He never made all-WAC, but definitely led the team in leadership. Porter had 223 career 3-pointers, while attempting 554 shots from behind the arc. That lead him to become Fresno State’s second all-time in 3-point field goal percentage with a career percentage of about 40%. He is also 3rd all-time in assists with 448 and 2nd all-time in steals with 197. He truly was a fan favorite, both on and off the court.
All the statistics are from the current Bulldog basketball media guide
Yoda
My fondest memory of Selland was an NIT game against Santa Clara that went four overtimes. I swear that the din in the building was so loud that there developed a certain harmonic -- much like you get when you run your finger around the top of a crystal wine glass. We won that game and went on to lose at UCLA -- in a game where we outdrew the Bruins in Pauley. Those were the days...
AlamoDawg
It was 1980, and I was six. My father had been going to FSU games for a few years, and I had always wanted to go. This night was to be my first of hundreds of FSU basketball games, and it was more than I had expected. We were late for the game, for what reason I can't remember now, but I remember as if it were last night when I first entered Selland Arena.
The first thing I can think of was the smell. You know the Selland smell; a rough mixture of popcorn, hot dogs, old concrete. Strange to think but that smell is as sweet to me as a Texas spring morning. My best friend Bill and his father were with us as we walked up the steps to the entrance of the Arena, and as we approached the dark orange doors, I heard for the first time the Red Wave at its finest. It was a muffled chant: steal it! steal it! I stood back so my dad could open the door, and as it swung open the chant suddenly burst into my ears in a full crescendo: STEAL IT! STEAL IT! Then I saw into the arena, a sea of people, dressed in red; arms waving, clapping, jumping up and down. I was in awe. One word comes to mind when I think of it now: Magic.
Twenty some odd years have gone by since that magical moment. As the years go by, memories of my childhood fade away, lost forever and replaced by memories of a harsh world. But this, my friends, will always be with me. And many years from now, when I'm old, searching for a lost youth, that night with my best friend and my dad, the night I first laid eyes on a basketball game, will be one of the memories that will comfort me and bring a smile to my face.
eastladog
My first job ever was selling popcorn and soda at bulldog BB games in 1985. I was 15. Plus, I was already fan and to see all the action up front was nothing short of electric. I remember finding programs fans had left behind.
God Bless the Selland Arena!
dairydude
i'll never forget the time that i accidentally dumped my nacho cheese on my first victim.... man... the memories...at selland were sure priceless.... also all those last second shots by DY back in the day....
i'd just hate to see what happens to selland after bball and the falcons offically leave.....
Proudog
The place has become a real $hithole (the last few times I have come home with gum on my pants since it was never cleaned from the bottom of the seat) and I will be GLAD to leave. The concessions by Volume Services are the worst I have ever seen, and $ 6.75 for a LOUSY beer?
I heard that the ramp up of prices for parking and food was to get everyone ready for the BIG prices at the SMC, anyone know about that?
I say good ridence to The City of Fresno (takes 30% of all concessions...wonder why they have the challenged working the windows?) and I "hope" that the SMC is run better, cleaner and with some quality concessions that provide VALUE, I did not say CHEAP, but VALUE!
richcali1
where are you Tark's ??? win." (I forgot how many wins it was)
I'll never forget the Tark meter or the crazy fans screaming and yelling past 110 decibals.
Oh Tark, how you have dissapointed me. Oh Selland, how you make me proud. Oh Lopes, how you are our future. Oh, Oh, may the Save Mart christian itself for decades to come
SELLAND, SELLAND, MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS!
ganjadawgg
Alston assist to Fowlkes for the game winner at the buzzer oh what great memories. I also had a sign that said "60 minutes isnt worth 60 seconds"
fsufever
I was in the Bulldog Foundation and got the 8th overall picks of two tickets at mid-court when the Arena was first opened. We didn't think the Arena would ever sell out all the seats! The second year I attended a game of 216 people (actual count by my son). We carried on a conversation ACROSS the court while the game was going on and didn't have to raise our voices much at all. My son started to go to the games with me when he was 12 and he ended up playing there for Boyd Grant and the Fresno State Bulldogs at the most exciting games and noise ever heard in the Arena including Tark's games. They used to let people in with Bugles, Drums and Cow Bells plus of course one group of senior citizens with great signs (one sample was when we played Long Beach when they had great teams "Dogs do it on the Beach!!!" We beat Tark and his Las Vegas team twice the same year! All by defense. A great time and a great old Arena. Wonderful memories.
scottydawg
I remember Boyd's first season when he brought his 6'5" center, Art Williams over from So. Idaho and put in his four corner offense and matchup zone defense to give us a chance to win over more physically talented teams. Whaddaya know: 21-6!
That first Boyd year, I was living downtown and would walk over and buy a ticket at the door for a few bucks and join a crowd of 3 or 4 thousand in the 6,500 seat arena. By the end of the season, the place was nearly selling out. A few years later, the place couldn't accomodate the Red Wave, and they enlarged to 10K+. These days, not everybody still remembers that Boyd Grant was responsible for Selland Arena expanding to major venue size of 10K+.
I remember one game sitting in the rafters next to a local Mormon family when we played BYU. Why is it that mixing sports with religion brings out the WORST in people?
I also remember all the Falcons games and the fun of taunting the opposing teams, and the tiny penalty box that accomodated BOTH TEAMS. I was always amazed that those guys who had been duking it out on the ice moments before, calmly sat there next to each other in the box. They also used to have chainlink instead of hockey glass around the boards. Ahhhhhh...the good old days....LOL
BA69MA72
My time at Fresno State predates most of you. Selland Arena opened in my sophomore year, although there were still a few games played at the [North] Gym on campus for several years. What i remember is that the atmosphere at Selland was nothing like the gym--we all felt Selland was too "comfortable" and too big. At the gym it was easy to get on the opponents, and we could often rattle someone on the other team. I think Fresno State had a 30-40 game home winning streak when I got there, but it ended with the move to Selland.
Some one else mentioned the Falcons. I remember when they started--my fraternity brothers and I used to go to at least one weekend game. I think they were "semi-pro" in those days, and the main attraction was the likelihood of a good hockey fight.
SCDog
I was at the game in I believe '85, when the ref collapsed and had a heart attack while the game was being played. Talk about silence. I remember the PA stating something to the effect, "Is there a doctor in the arena?" "You are needed on the floor immediately." The rest of the game was sorta mute. That memory has always stood out in my mind.
RedDog2000
My favorite memories were in the 2000 WAC tournament. Courntey Alexander was playing at a level I had never seen a college player play at. The double overtime game against Hawaii with Meechie hitting the 3's at the buzzer of both OT's was incredible. The Tulsa game in the Tourney was also one of the best college game's that I've seen. And to top it off, the fans, including myself got to run on the court at the end of both games! Lots of fun.
dogbowl
I'll never forget the triple over time NIT game against Santa Clara in 1985. I was so damn nervous after the 2nd O.T. that I didn't care who won, I just wanted the game to end. (FSU won 79-76). I was so wound up after that game that I laid in bed for 3 hours before I could fall asleep.
Sadly, a few months later, the starting center for Santa Clara died in a plane crash.
All of these comments and memories about Selland really speak to how far the FSU althletic program has come. We've moved from the North Gym to Selland arena that many considered to large with 6000 seats, to an expanded Selland arena with 10k to the SMC. Despite all the talk about sanctions etc. we should all be pretty proud.
SanDiegoSteve
Season tickets under the basket watching Ed Gregory coached Jerry Pender and Charles Bailey light it up.
Edison/SJM sold out showdowns in 1971.
My school Hoover getting beat by Clifton and SJM in the 1973 Valley championship game
Rushing the floor after Boyd's win over Cal.
Getting a BJ in the upper row during Peter Frampton in 1976
Sneaking pints in my boots and getting my ears blown out by Black Sabbath, Aerosmith and Deep Purple.
Fresno Falcons when there was nothing else to do.
GOOD NIGHT SELLAND ARENA
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!!!