Fresno State should still honor Davante Adams with jersey retirement, but the timing stinks

Fresno State can’t seem to win these days. And I’m not talking about those four consecutive losses that left a promising football season in tatters.

The Bulldogs face San Jose State on Saturday night at Valley Children’s Stadium, where the Spartans are favored by 8½ points. Yikes. However, the evening’s headline act takes the field at halftime, when Davante Adams gets his No. 15 jersey retired.

In any other week, there wouldn’t be much to add. Adams practically rewrote the record book during two dominant seasons for the Bulldogs and has since blossomed into an All-Pro NFL receiver. The honor is richly deserved.

Unfortunately, those exploits won’t be the focus of national media coverage and NFL fans who aren’t devotees of the Las Vegas Raiders. Not since Adams shoved a freelance photographer to the ground following Monday night’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium and now faces a city ordinance violation.

Personally, I think the charge against Adams is flimsy at best. No, Adams should not have shoved the guy and must bear that responsibility. And yes, he should have found a way to apologize in person rather than through his Twitter account or to the TV cameras.

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That said, Adams wasn’t the only party who committed a lapse of professionalism. If stadium security had been doing their job — providing a clear path for players exiting the field — the photographer would not have been allowed to step directly in front of Adams as he trudged, head down, toward the locker room following an emotional loss. There is culpability on multiple sides.

What happens next to Adams is unclear, and I don’t care to speculate on what punishment might be meted out by the NFL and/or the legal system in Kansas City. But in terms of Saturday night’s jersey retirement, this much is absolutely certain: The timing stinks.

Fresno State Senior Associate Athletic Director Frank Pucher confirmed the ceremony is still on but declined further comment. Can’t blame him for that. The situation Adams suddenly finds himself in has nothing to do with his alma mater.

Should the jersey retirement be postponed or canceled? Absolutely not. Adams deserves to be celebrated by Fresno State and Bulldogs fans. While the on-the-field accomplishments speak for themselves, he has also been an exemplary representative of the university. One nationally televised shove doesn’t change that.

Adams’ weekends during football season are typically booked. This year, the Raiders happen to have a bye on the same weekend Fresno State plays at home. There’s no guarantee the timing works out any other time soon.

Besides, Saturday’s game is already approaching a sellout. Considering what a disappointment the 2022 season has been so far, Adams is clearly the main draw. Similar to 2017, when nearly 40,000 braved 110-degree temperatures to witness Derek Carr receive the same honor against Incarnate Word. (Yes, Incarnate Word.)

Those fans will be just as fired up to honor Adams. As they should be.

Adams is a national sports figure, and highlights of his jersey retirement ceremony will be broadcast by every national sports network. It’s just unfortunate that what should be a 100% sunny story will instead have a cloud hanging over it. Followed by what’s certain to be a wave of mocking memes on social media.

Fresno State can’t seem to win, or catch a break.