Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State Football's Quarterback David Carr's Family Express
7/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 9, 2001
Being a star quarterback, Fresno State's David Carr not only receives excellent support from his offensive line but you can also find around twenty to thirty friends and family in the stands at every home game cheering him on. Among these rowdy fans are his wife, Melody, and son, Austin.
"Last year David's uncle made huge signs for his RV that said `David Carr's Family Express.' We would pack up everybody into the RV to go to the games, and his uncle would honk the horn as he would drive," said Melody Carr who married David in March of 1999.
"David has a huge family and they all come to the games along with my family and all of our friends. We have so much fun cheering for him and the whole team, and having Austin there is great, she said."
Being in the couple's home, there is a very relaxing and down to earth feeling. There are no life-size photos of David in his uniform, or football trophies spread around the house.
"It is so funny to see David's name in all these sports magazines. The other day we went to the book store and there was this gentleman reading a newspaper with a huge picture of David," said Melody.
There are times when the couple is out and people will stop David and ask for his autograph.
"People see him as a star and I think that is funny because I just see him as my high school sweetheart," she said.
Before being married, Melody attended a junior college in Bakersfield, Calif.. Then she transferred to Fresno City and studied child development before she became pregnant with Austin. Right now she is working with a daycare program and would like to someday go back to school and earn her teaching degree.
"A lot has happened in the last two years," said Melody Carr referring to her marriage to David Carr and the birth of their son. Melody and David were married for two years, and recently celebrated their son, Austin's first birthday.
When Melody and David first met, she was a junior in high school and he was on his way to Fresno State. The two met at a church camp in their hometown of Bakersfield.
"He didn't even tell me that he was going to Fresno State on a scholarship to play football. We were dating for almost three months before he told me," Melody confessed. "I would say to him what do you want to do after college and he would say that he wanted to play in the NFL and I would say, `No really what do you want to do?' I mean how many people do you meet that actually can go on to the NFL?"
Coming out of high school, Carr was highly recruited, hearing from every school in the Pac 10. Leading his league and county in passing his senior year, he broke 14 school records and was named to the 1996 All-Star team in Gridiron Greats along with earning All-West Region honors in Prep Star Magazine.
"It has always been his dream ever since he was a little boy to play in the NFL," stated Melody. "If it is God's will, David would love to play professional football, and I think that it will happen for him. He has worked really hard to make it happen.
Last season was Carr's first season as the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs.
" It was tough since he just came from high school as a starter and was hoping to start at Fresno State," Melody said regarding David's redshirt year. "Looking back though, it was good for him. David decided he was going to put his mind on other things like working out and eating right to get ready for the next year."
Carr's hard work was evident this past season guiding the Bulldogs to seven wins and a 6-2 WAC record along with being named second-team All-WAC. David also set the Fresno State career completion percentage record of .606 and his 24 career touchdowns rank ninth in school history.
During the interview Austin picked up a little basketball, and like a pro slammed dunked it into his basketball hoop.
"Right now, Austin is off the charts in size compared to other kids his age," Melody said. "David teaches him every kind of sport. He would prefer that Austin played football but likes him to get involved with everything."
David came in sporting a DAD T-shirt and played a little catch with Austin. He might not have his father's technique down perfect but little Austin can throw the ball clear across the room, showing that he might be a chip off the old block. Not too bad for only thirteen months old.
