Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs to Play No. 18 Virginia in MPC Bowl
12/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 1, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State football team will be making its sixth consecutive bowl appearance when it takes on 18th-ranked Virginia in the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho. The game is scheduled Dec. 27 at 11 a.m. PT and will be televised live on ESPN.
It marks the fourth consecutive year Fresno State will play a BCS conference opponent in a bowl game. The Bulldogs, who own the longest active bowl streak in the Western U.S. at six games, has won two consecutive bowl games, defeating Georgia Tech 30-21 in the 2002 Silicon Valley Football Classic and UCLA 17-9 in last year's SVFC.
Virginia is one of the highest ranked opponents Fresno State has ever played in a bowl game. The Bulldogs played No. 17 Colorado in the 1993 Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl, losing to the Buffaloes 41-30.
Virginia enters the game with an 8-3 record and finished fourth in the ACC with a 5-3 conference mark. All three of the Cavaliers losses have been to teams ranked in the top 15 - Florida State, Miami (Fla.) and Virginia Tech. This will be the first meeting between the two schools and Fresno State's second game ever against an ACC opponent. Virginia led the ACC in rushing yards (241.3 ypg) and was third in scoring (29.9 ppg).
The Cavaliers, like the Bulldogs, fancy a power running game led by Alvin Pearson and Wali Lundy, who each rushed for over 800 yards and ranked in the top three in the ACC in rushing yards. Pearson gained 985 rushing yards on the season with nine touchdowns while Lundy had 801 yards and an ACC-high 16 TDs. Quarterback Marques Hagans threw for nearly 1,900 yards, eight touchdowns and just five interceptions while running for 309 yards and three touchdowns.
Al Groh, who left the head coaching position with the New York Jets three years ago to become the head coach at Virginia, is in his fourth season and owns a 30-20 record. He has guided the Cavaliers to their third straight bowl appearance, having beaten West Virginia and Pittsburgh in their last two bowl games.
"This is a great opportunity to play a ranked opponent from a BCS conference in a bowl game," said Fresno State Athletics Director Scott Johnson. "I feel like this is one of the best match-ups of all of the college football bowl games. There are two teams who have played some very good football all season long and between them, five of their six losses have come to Top 25 teams. Playing a program like Virginia, with its outstanding football legacy, in a bowl game is very special. This is a great scenario for Fresno State, our coaches, players and the Red Wave."
The Bulldogs will enter the bowl game with a five-game winning streak, each coming in dominating fashion. In the last four wins, Fresno State has outscored its opponents 280-80, while scoring more than 50 points in each of the last four games. The Bulldogs are one of just five NCAA teams since 1945 to accomplish that feat.
"We are very excited about playing Virginia," said head coach Pat Hill. "They have been one of the best teams in the nation this season and this a dream match-up for us. I have a lot of respect for Al Groh and the Virginia program."
Under Hill, the Bulldogs are making a school record sixth-consecutive bowl appearance. The Bulldogs will be making their 19th bowl appearance and are 10-8 all-time in bowl games. Fresno State has the longest WAC bowl streak at six games.
All ticket orders will be taken through the Bulldog Ticket Office beginning Wednesday. Bulldog Foundation Members and season ticket holders will be granted first priority through Dec. 7. General public orders will be allocated beginning Dec. 8. Bulldog fans are urged to support the Fresno State Athletics Department by ordering all tickets through the Bulldog Ticket Office. Tickets for the MPC Computers Bowl are $35 each.
Fans are encouraged to check www.gobulldogs.com for information regarding the MPC Computers Bowl, including ticket, travel and hotel accommodations.
