Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Ranked No. 22 in Final AP and Coaches Polls
1/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 5, 2005
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State head football coach Pat Hill predicted a win over No. 18 Virginia in the MPC Computers Bowl would land the Bulldogs a Top 25 ranking in the final polls and a preseason Top 25 ranking for 2005. So far, half of his prediction has come true.
The Bulldogs (9-3) finished the 2004 season ranked No. 22 in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. The polls were released Tuesday night following the BSC championship game.
Fresno State's strong finish to the 2004 season, which included six consecutive impressive wins capped by the thrilling upset over Virginia, vaulted it into the final rankings for the first time since 1993, when the Bulldogs finished the season ranked No. 24.
"I'm very proud of this team," said Hill. "They overcame a mid-season slump but won their final six games. Give these guys a lot of credit. They never quit and stayed the course. Beating a very good Virginia team at the end of the season was a great way to end the season and great way to build for the 2005 season. I think we are definitely a preseason Top 25 team for 2005."
Hill's optimism stems from the return of 18 starters next season, including several key contributors on both sides of the ball. The Bulldogs return two first-team All-WAC players on defense in strong safety James Sanders and defensive tackle Garrett McIntyre. Three Bulldogs who earned second-team All-WAC honors in 2004 will also return, led by leading rusher Bryson Sumlin, center Kyle Young and cornerback Richard Marshall.
Also returning is starting quarterback Paul Pinegar, who has won three straight bowl games, and was selected the MVP of the MPC Computers Bowl after throwing for a bowl record five touchdown passes and leading Fresno State to a comeback victory.
The Bulldogs outscored their final six opponents by a combined score of 317-114, which averages to a scoring margin of 52.8 -19. The Bulldog defeated two ranked opponents in 2004, No. 13 Kansas State and No. 18 Virginia, plus beat traditional powerhouse Washington for a sweep of BCS opponents for the year.
Fresno State's win over Virginia was its 10th over a BCS conference opponent since 2001, the most of any school in the nation. Fresno State owns bowl victories over Georgia Tech, UCLA and Virginia over the last three years and have the longest bowl streak of six games for any football program in the Western U.S.
