Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs to Play MAC Champion Toledo on ESPN2 in 2005
1/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 26, 2005
FRESNO, Calif. - The 2005 football schedule will not be released by the Western Athletic Conference until next month, however Fresno State Athletics Director Scott Johnson announced today that the Bulldogs will host Mid-American Conference Champion Toledo on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 6 p.m. That game will be televised live on ESPN2.
"This is a very nice match-up," said Johnson. "Toledo and Fresno State are similar programs with good football traditions and each school has had a great deal of success in recent years. Toledo has been the class of the MAC over the last few years, winning the MAC championship game twice and earning three bowl berths. They were on national television seven times last season, so the country is very familiar with the Rocket program."
Toledo is coming off a 9-4 season, in which it played in the MAC Championship game for the fifth time since 1997. The Rockets defeated Miami (Ohio) for the MAC title and played Connecticut in the Motor City Bowl. The Rockets lost to the Huskies 39-10 in the bowl game, but were without the services of their outstanding quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who suffered a broken right hand and separated shoulder in the MAC title game. Gradkowski, one of the nation's top quarterbacks in 2004, will return for his senior season this fall. He has thrown for more than 6,700 yards and 56 touchdowns in the last two seasons. Toledo has been a "giant killer" of the Midwest, beating five of the last seven nationally ranked teams it has played.
The Bulldogs were 9-3 last season and finished No. 22 in the national polls after defeating No. 18 Virginia in the MPC Computers Bowl. The Bulldogs return 18 starters for the 2005 season.
This will be Fresno State's 32nd national television appearance since 1999. The Bulldogs made five national TV appearances last season and had a record of 4-1 in those games.
"I'm excited to get to play Toledo in Bulldog Stadium " said head coach Pat Hill. "They will be a Top 25-caliber team next season and have been one of the nation's best programs in this decade. I believe playing on a Tuesday night at 6 p.m. is better for our fans than playing on Friday nights. It gets us away from high school football games. This game and match-up gives us continued great national exposure that our program has enjoyed the last few years. We need that to continue for our University, football program and the Valley."
The Bulldogs and Rockets have never played, however Toledo has played in Bulldog Stadium twice. In 1981, the Rockets defeated No. 20 San Jose State 27-25 in the first California Bowl. The Rockets also played UNLV in California Bowl IV. Fresno State and Toledo will also play at Toledo on Sept. 6, 2008.
The remaining Bulldog football schedule will be announced in February. Season tickets and Family Value Plans are currently available for the 2005 Bulldog season by calling (559) 278-DOGS or online at gobulldogs.com.
