Fresno State football is back and the fans are loving it

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- It was the atmosphere, love for the Bulldogs and a win that made the first game of the season. For one fan, it's an experience he'll never forget.

When the gates opened there were just a few people in the stands - watching and waiting for the Bulldogs to take the field. Edgar Contreras was one of them and he came alone.

"This is my first game, I'm very excited," Contreras said, "I waited for like two hours."

Others waited outside - the pre-gamers and the tailgaters with beer on ice and food on the grill. A tradition going three decades strong for Emil Napali.

Napali said, "just the good 'ol Bulldogs, I graduated in '74 and it's bred in my heart."

Alan Blant feels the same way and he was excited to see a fresh team play, "new players, new quarterbacks," Blant added, "it's going to be quite the challenge for the, I'm sure."

Back inside the stadium during the first play of the game, Contreras was still alone, in a sea of red, rooting for his home team away from home.

He's from Mexico, here to study music at Fresno State. He's the first person in his family to make it to college and this moment is a celebration.

Contreras said, "this is a dream, a Mexican dream... I came to the United States and I'm at a football game."

After it was all over, fans flooded out of the gate, happy with a win and optimistic for the future of Fresno State football.