Carr ride to Fresno began as a teen

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

In the twilight at Fresno State's Bulldog Stadium, David Carr whistled passes to wide-open receivers.

This was his field of dreams, where he could be anybody and do anything.

"It was a great time," Carr said.

He was 13.

His receivers were his brother and their father, Roger.

"When nobody was around, we would hop the fence," Carr said. "There would be a little bit of light left. We would throw the ball around. The field was a lot nicer than the grass at the apartment complex."

Nine Octobers have passed, yet Carr, now the Bulldogs' starting quarterback, still has an easy motion — and emotion — when he throws.

But times have changed, and Carr, whose team plays Hawai'i at Aloha Stadium on Friday, now is a Heisman Trophy candidate with his own Web site (gobulldogs.com/davidcarr).

He has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated and on postcards sent to sports departments across the country.

His biography has been featured by the trifecta of ESPN, ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com.

The Fresno State media relations department set aside Tuesdays each week for what is referred to as "David Carr's interview day."

Of the attention, Carr said, "I think it's a nice problem to have. It's been a lot of fun. It's been a real blessing."

Carr always hoped for a rekindling after his family moved from Fresno to Bakersfield, Calif., when he was in high school.

The opportunity came as a high school senior when Pat Hill, days after being named the Bulldogs' head coach, showed up on his door mat.

Hill spoke of his vision of turning the Bulldogs into a national power and of the opportunities available to Carr if he invested early. Carr did not need to be coerced.

"I always wanted to go there," said Carr, who accepted Hill's scholarship offer. Carr turned down visits to UCLA and Washington.

Carr played two seasons, then redshirted as a junior, in 1999. The year turned into a sabbatical, with the Bulldogs always using one of their 60 travel positions on Carr, even though he would not play. He often sat in the coaches' booth during road games, helping to scout defenses.

Last season, Carr started 12 games, completed 62 percent of his passes and led the Bulldogs to a berth in the Silicon Valley Classic.

He also managed to establish a balance in his life. He and his wife Melody (the two were married in 1999) have a 1-year-old son, Austin.

This summer, his career came full circle when he worked out with former Fresno State quarterback Trent Dilfer, who led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl championship. Carr often pretended to be Dilfer when he threw passes to his brother and father at empty Bulldog Stadium.

"I was in awe," Carr said, recalling the invitation from Dilfer. "I remember growing up and watching him play. It was awesome to work out with him."

Through the madness of the Bulldogs' season, Carr often refers to Dilfer's advice.

"It wasn't a football tip," Carr said. "It was a life tip. He told me, 'Spend more time with your family.' I guess that's real success."