July 14, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. -
The second week of the Bulldog Caravan was easily the most favorite of head coach Pat Hill.
GALLERY
For the first time, the Dogs went onto a military installation to meet with troops. Hill talked Bulldog football, while getting a tour of the impressive base. There is genuine interest for the Bulldog program among the officers on the base, who were excited to meet Hill and talk football. One the officers, Greg Newkirk, has been at Lemoore NAS for 13 years and was a quarterback for Navy in the early 1990s.
"The men and women of the United States military are extremely impressive," said Hill. "What we saw here today was an impressive display of mind, matter and physics. I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to visit the Lemoore Naval Air Station. I met some incredible people who have my utmost respect."
The Naval Air Station in Lemoore is home to 7,000 active military personnel. With the transfer of NAS Miramar to the United States Marine Corps, NAS Lemoore now hosts the Navy's entire west coast fighter/attack capability. NAS Lemoore was built "from the ground up" as a Master Jet Base, and has several operational advantages, and relatively few constraints, as a result.
NAS Lemoore is the Navy's newest and largest master jet air station. The Pacific Strike Fighter Wing with its supporting facilities are home ported here. The primary aircraft based at NAS Lemoore is the F/A-18 Hornet Strike Fighter. In November, 1999, NAS Lemoore received its first F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets, which replaced the F-14 Tomcat in fleet service as an air superiority fighter and has assumed, in a different configuration, the role of older F/A-18 Strike Fighters. Currently, there are a total of 175 Hornets and Super Hornets home-based at NAS Lemoore operating from two Fleet Replacement [training] Squadrons and ten Fleet [operational] Squadrons.
Hill was greeted by pilots and commanders from the Lemoore NAS and was allowed to get hands-on with the Navy's F-18 Super Hornet fighter jet.
"I have great appreciated for the sacrifices our military men and women are making for this country every day," Hill said. "After an experience like this, my job and the pressures pale in comparison to what they go through. It's a great reality check and an experience I'll never forget."
Hill and the Bulldog Caravan continue the tour Wednesday at Visalia at the Café 210 (210 W. Center St., Visalia, CA 93291). Fans are invited to come out and talk with Coach Hill about the upcoming season. The Fresno State Athletics department will have ticket information and point of sales locations for tickets and merchandise.
There are a variety of excellent ticketing plans for the 2009 season, including:
Premium Seating (contact the Bulldog Foundation Office: (559) 244-5600 for details)
Public Season Tickets for as low as $160
Family Plans for $320 (includes four season tickets)
$89 Mini-plan (Boise State game and any two other home games)
$99 New Alumni Season Ticket Plan (available for Fresno State graduates from 2005-2009)
We are Your Team! For season tickets, mini-plans or premium seating for the exciting 2009 Fresno State football season, click on the tickets icon at the top of this page.
