Last Man Standing

by Andrew Marden

“It’s not over with yet, there’s no last word,” said Dwight O’Neil, minutes after playing his final home game as a Bulldog Saturday (a 71-68 loss to Idaho).  “We still got two more games to go get, then the WAC Tournament.  This is just one chapter that’s over.”

But it wasn’t the first chapter in his book on Fresno State.  O’Neil turned the pages on that one four years ago.

He played in all 30 games as a freshman, starting seven.

“Lots of exciting games,” he said.  “Man, it’s too much.  I had so many teammates.  I see so many faces when I think back.”

And now he’s the last one, the last of “Ray Lopes’ guys.”  Ironically, O’Neil’s former coach was at his last home game.  (He’s now an assistant coach with the Vandals.)  His current coach, meanwhile, has continued to stand by him.

“We’re always happy to see young men finish their career and graduate,” said Bulldogs’ head coach Steve Cleveland.”  “(Dwight’s) got two classes left so he’ll graduate in May.   His travels have not always been easy, there have been challenges in his life.  But at the end of the day, he’s gonna get a degree.”

He’ll also get the satisfaction of knowing he’s made his teammates better.

“He’s such a big help for us younger guys ’cause he’s been here, he’s been around for awhile,” said freshman guard Paul George.  “He goes through us and tells us the ‘do’s’ and the ‘don’t’s.’  He’s kind of been a big brother to me, in a way.”

And soon, he’ll be like the brother who moves out of the house.

There aren’t many games left in the Bulldog career of Dwight O’Neil.  As of Saturday night, there are no more home games.

“(The) crowd was loud, it just felt good…old times,” he added.  “I ain’t never gonna forget it.”

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