The Bulldog Bash went down at Campus Pointe last Friday, and former Bulldogs standout quarterback Marcus McMaryion addressed the subject that’s on the minds of all local football fans.

McMaryion is the manager and a board member of Bulldog Bread, the official NIL partner of the athletic department.

“I’m excited to see how the team will come together under coach (Tim) Skipper. How they’ll rally around him,” McMaryion told GV Wire. “We got a taste of him coaching at last year’s bowl game. I believe the team will be fired up to play for him.”

Skipper is the interim coach for the 2024 season after veteran coach Jeff Tedford stepped down because of recurring and significant heart-related health problems.

Even though the former Dinuba High School grad didn’t play for Skipper, he’s as tied into the program as Skip is. He transferred from Oregon State and put together noteworthy seasons during his time here in 2017 and 2018.

McMaryion led them to a 10-4 season and then to a 12-2 record with a Mountain West Championship and two bowl game victories while earning all-conference honors. He knows Bulldog football.

It was the first public appearance for the Bulldogs since Skipper took over the program as interim coach. He didn’t attend but is scheduled to hold a news conference on Wednesday morning.

The Bulldogs open the season in Ann Arbor against the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines on August 31. The game will be broadcast on NBC at 4:30 p.m.

Related Story: Tedford Exits Fresno State Football. Tim Skipper Is the Next Bulldog Up.

Players and Entertainment Highlight the Event

A variety of players, both offensive and defensive players, were there doing meet and greets with the fans, signing autographs and memorabilia and posing for pictures with fans. Standouts like quarterback Mikey Keene, running back Malik Sherrod, wide receiver Josiah Freeman, defensive lineman Devo Bridges, linebacker Malachi Langley, defensive back Dean Clark, and defensive lineman transfer from USC Korey Foreman were among the players there.

Adding to the festivities was the appearance of Victor-E Bulldog and with entertainment provided by the Fresno State dance team with their choreographed numbers. DJ Straws was on stage and playing the jams throughout the night. The event was hosted by the Bring The Juice Podcast giving away hats with their name on them and another stating “Valley Grit.” There were lawn games like cornhole and an inflatable football toss game for the kids. Seeing players play cornhole with the attendees just added to the fun.

Malik Sherrod and Korey Foreman Shine

There were several highlights of the evening. Frank Dalena, the host of Bring The Juice, with his unbridled enthusiasm, called out the players from different positions groups on both sides of the ball to the stage like the linemen, receivers, backs, and quarterback to tell the Bulldog faithful on what to expect for the upcoming 2024 campaign.

The big highlight was seeing the team gathered together in front of the stage and dancing while working themselves up into a frenzy with the inclusion of some fans getting pumped up for football. Leading it all was Malik Sherrod.

He looked happy to be there displaying his Bulldog pride, joyously interacting with fans, and would find time to dance whenever he could. His excitement was infectious.

Korey Foreman is new to the program. The former Trojan arrives as a former five-star recruit. He’s best known for his game-winning interception in 2022 against UCLA. He was repping the red with a smile and he’s bought into the Bulldog way and is ready to show the Red Wave what he can do.