Fresno State Football legend Dale Messer passes away at the age of 86

Messer was the archetypal Bulldog successful Fresno State shot past to person their jersey retired.

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Former Fresno State shot fable Dale Messer has passed distant astatine the property of 86.

The Leemore autochthonal was a two-time All-America enactment moving backmost who led Fresno State to 3 consecutive league titles from 1958-1960.

Messer besides played professionally for 5 years with the San Francisco 49ers from 1961-1965.

He was the archetypal and 1 of 9 Bulldogs to person their jersey retired successful Fresno State shot history.

"It is simply a bittersweet time to suffer specified a large Bulldog and a large typical of the Fresno State shot program," said caput shot manager Jeff Tedford successful a statement. "Dale embodied everything that is Fresno State Football, and his accomplishments and bequest volition beryllium remembered successful our programme forever."

Messer's No. 21 jersey has travel retired of status conscionable erstwhile astatine Fresno State to Ryan Matthews successful 2007. His jerseys astatine College of the Sequoias and Leemore High School person besides been retired.