Former Fresno State quarterback Trent Dilfer clearly was nervous when he made his first NFL start on Oct. 23, 1994 against the 49ers at Candlestick Park. He completed 7 of 23 passes for 45 yards, threw an interception and produced no points for his Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But Dilfer was anything but meek or despairing in post-game interviews. Sitting in a tiny dressing cubicle in the visitors’ locker room, a small army of reporters closing in on him, Dilfer displayed nothing but grit and grace.

“My confidence won’t get shaky,” Dilfer said. “I’ll get disappointed. But I have absolutely no doubt I can do this. I’m not doing it now, but I will eventually.”

Dilfer told reporters on Wednesday that he’s retiring. He played 13 seasons in the NFL and led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl victory in January 2001.

He wasn’t Johnny Unitas or Joe Montana. But he deserved every cent he got. And he did Fresno State and the Valley proud.