MOSCOW, Idaho - Bulldog Stadium was alive with the sounds of football Tuesday night as the Fresno State football team pumped up speakers surrounding the field to imitate crowd noise and band music for the first time since the week they played Cincinnati.
That alone means Friday's game against Idaho inside the Kibbie Dome will be different from previous trips here.
Bulldog players described the dome's atmosphere in 2007 as "dead." That year the Vandals went 1-11.
"This time we expect it to be crackin'," said Bulldogs receiver Seyi Ajirotutu.
That's because the Vandals are 7-2 this season. They're 4-0 at home and fans, in turn, are getting behind them.
The Fresno State Bulldogs take on the Idaho Vandals on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Idaho is averaging 13,581 through four home games, including an Oct. 3 sellout (16,000) for the Colorado State game.
The Vandals are transforming the Kibbie Dome, one of the rare indoor stadiums in major-college football, into what they're now calling "Thunder Dome."
"Every game is like a rivalry game now because before we only packed the dome when Boise [State] was in town," said Idaho quarterback Nathan Enderle. "Now, we pack that many fans in every week.
"It's rowdy. I love this place -- it's kinda confined but it really holds the noise."
The dome rests on a hill on the Idaho campus and has drawn unattractive comparisons to an airplane hangar and a pop can lying on its side, half-buried in dirt.
The facility, which is in the midst of upgrades, is the centerpiece of the athletics department.
During the fall season it's the football stadium with gold bleachers sandwiching the field.
In the winter, the artificial turf is taken out and a basketball court and tennis courts are assembled. In the spring, the basketball court disappears, a track is uncovered and tennis courts are moved inside the track oval.
The dome's 16,000 capacity is two-tenths of the 80,000-plus that filled Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium when the Bulldogs played the Badgers this season.
Nonetheless, Vandals and Bulldogs alike say the dome can get loud.
"The crowds aren't extremely big compared to other big-time places," said Idaho safety Shiloh Keo. "But whenever it's packed, it feels pretty big because of it all being compact."
The noise won't likely be a problem for the Bulldogs (5-3, 4-1), whose experiences at Wisconsin and Cincinnati surely have helped them prepare.
But the dome lights might be an issue.
Ajirotutu said finding the ball in the air will be a greater challenge.
"When you look up, the first thing you notice are the lights," he said. "It's a different experience, but it's cool."
The Vandals have made a few upgrades to the dome since 2007, adding a new playing surface and remodeling the west wall to allow more sunlight.
The team playing inside the dome is the biggest upgrade, though.
They're legitimate contenders this season, according to the Bulldogs.
"When you have seven wins, no matter what, you're a good team," said safety Lorne Bell.
Safety Moses Harris added a fact that puts the matchup further in perspective:
"They have more wins than we do."
A few rules are needed to help foster a feeling of community. We encourage a free and open exchange of ideas in a climate of mutual respect, but any post that violates someone's right to use and enjoy fresnobee.com is prohibited. Before you post, please read the terms of use and obey these simple guidelines.
Here are the ground rules:
Contents of this site are © Copyright The Fresno Bee. All rights reserved.
E-Mail
Print
GameDay Breakdown
@Nyx.CommentBody@