What we don’t see: Bulldogs fans in stands, Eric Kendricks recognition and more

Welcome to 2020, which smells an awful lot like 2019, which is to say your Oakland Raiders didn’t make the playoffs because the Raiders only know how to Raider.

After a few weeks off, here’s your Sunday reminder that things are what they are, because that’s the definition of “are,” and there is nothing a calendar can do to save your team’s appointment with the offseason.

No 20/20 vision to offer here – we don’t do clichés 2,020 years in the making, and our vision is 20/50, at best.

Fresno State basketball

Fresno State men’s basketball almost beat top-25 Utah State, and top-15 San Diego State, and top-5 Oregon, and Pac-12 Cal. And by almost, we mean they didn’t get boat-raced from start to closing time.

Just don’t blame their 4-10 start on all the fans who almost come to your games. So what if the Grocery Store Arena is empty every time you put on a show? It’s been this way ever since Fresno State Inc. dumped the Dump in downtown Fresno.

When poor, broke college students – we know, is there any other kind? – can’t be bothered to show up when the tickets are FREE, why do you expect anything more than what you’ve always got?

They’re going to break last year’s low-attendance record, whether you like it or not. You don’t lose games for lack of butts in the seats. You lose games for lack of butt-kickers on the floor.

For the eighth year in a row, stop telling us to come to the games and just win your games. Last we checked, the NCAA Selection committee doesn’t factor in attendance.

And for the record, this is a young team that’s going to one day look back at all these losses and … well, they still won’t laugh, but they’ll go back to winning 22 games in front of tens and twenties of you.

NFL All-Pro Eric Kendricks

Mama, don’t let your babies grow up to be non-quarterbacks. Not if you want them to be hometown heroes.

Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks was named to the All-Pro team the other morning. He went to Hoover High. It’s in central Fresno, you concussed memory lossers.

Of course you didn’t know. He’s not a former Fresno State quarterback. Those are the only ones who get clicks, and jersey sales, and numbers retired.

That’s OK, Kendricks. We see you.

Fresno State football

What to make of new Fresno State football coach Kalen DeBoer, a former Jeff Tedford assistant assigned to salvaging Tedford’s short-lived body of work?

If we learned anything from Indiana’s 23-22 loss to Tennessee in the Gator Bowl, it’s this: In a game that demands a quality quarterback, always bring two.

DeBoer finished off his last shift as Indiana offensive coordinator, and almost snuck out on a win streak using a second-string quarterback. The second quarterback matters, because the first quarterback doesn’t always work. Just ask Tedford.

And yeah, we liked DeBoer calling for a deep throw while holding a lead late in the fourth quarter. None of that run the ball three times and hope for the best, which is the best way to lose your seat when sitting on a lead.

The play worked because he had the quarterback who could make that 38-yard throw. If he can’t land top-shelf quarterbacks in Fresno, all the cute playcalling in the world translates to almost winning.

Get a quarterback, DeBoer. And tell him to bring a friend.

Super Bowl

The 49ers hire a new head coach. He turns them around in an instant, and takes them to the Super Bowl. There, they lose to a guy named Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens.

We’re not talking Super Bowl XLVII (the Roman numerals for 2013, or something like that). This is our prediction for Super Bowl LIV.

If we’re wrong, don’t fear. We’ll just scrub the Internet of all evidence that we made this pick.