Fresno State, new multimedia rights partner, retain Voice of the Bulldogs
Bulldog Sports Enterprises will have a big task starting July 1, when it takes over as Fresno State athletics’ multimedia rights partner.
The locally-owned startup already has put a check mark by one critical item on the to-do list, signing Paul Loeffler to handle play by play for the Bulldogs’ football, basketball and baseball radio broadcasts as it moves into the Pac-12 on July 1.
Loeffler has been the lead broadcaster for Fresno State baseball since 2001, basketball since the 2008-09 season and football since 2009. He has taken Bulldogs’ fans through some all-time moments that include a captivating E-ticket ride to a 2008 College World Series title that required wins in six elimination games along the way.
“We live in a special place filled with special people and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than the Valley,” Loeffler said. “It’s a tremendous privilege to serve the Red Wave and the chance to team with broadcast partners like Pat Hill, Cam Worrell, Marc Q. Jones, Steve Hosey, Bryan Marsoobian and more, not to mention the unsung all-stars behind the scenes, has been an incredible blessing.”
Thursday was the 18th anniversary of that title-clinching victory over Georgia by a team that went from underdogs to wonderdogs. Fresno State finished the regular season just 33-27, and became the lowest seeded team to make and win the College World Series.
“You won’t find a more passionate Bulldog than (Bulldog Sports Enterprises owner) Chris Pacheco, who 18 years ago was celebrating in Omaha as the late great Ray Ocanto and I tried our best to capture the ultimate underdog story for our listeners,” Loeffler said.
“I’m beyond excited to mark that anniversary by partnering with Chris, Ryan O’Rorke and the team at Bulldog Sports Enterprises in launching Fresno State’s Pac-12 era with the kind of radio coverage our one-of-a-kind community deserves.”
O’Rorke, BSE general manager, said they next will work on locking in announcing teams. Terms of the contract with Loeffler, finalized this week, were not disclosed.
Loeffler has teamed with Hill and Worrell on football broadcasts since 2015, and Jones on basketball broadcasts since the 2021-22 season.
The Los Banos native also hosts the radio show Hometown Heroes, interviewing and honoring American veterans who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He founded Central Valley Honor flight, a non-profit organization that honors veterans by flying them to Washington D.C. to visit war memorials built in their honor. In May, Loeffler also celebrated his 20th anniversary broadcasting the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
“Paul’s a staple in the community and has been such an integral part of Fresno State athletics and throughout our Central Valley community,” O’Rorke said. “There was never any other consideration for any alternative. Paul is synonymous with Fresno State athletics, so we’re excited that he wants to be part of the team and join us in the new era in the Pac-12. We wouldn’t want it any other way.”