1976 Fresno State Bulldogs football team

1976 Fresno State Bulldogs football
ConferencePacific Coast Athletic Association
Record5–6 (3–1 PCAA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDennis Erickson (1st season)
Home stadiumRatcliffe Stadium
Seasons
← 1975
1977 →
1976 Pacific Coast Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
San Jose State $ 4 – 0 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Fresno State 3 – 1 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Long Beach State 2 – 2 – 0 8 – 3 – 0
Cal State Fullerton 1 – 3 – 0 3 – 7 – 1
Pacific (CA) 0 – 4 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion

The 1976 Fresno State Bulldogs football team represented California State University, Fresno as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. Led by first-year head coach Jim Sweeney, Fresno State compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 3–1 in conference play, placing second in the PCAA. The Bulldogs played their home games at Ratcliffe Stadium on the campus of Fresno City College in Fresno, California.

While Fresno State lost its opener on the road to Southwestern Louisiana, the game was subsequently forfeited due to the use of ineligible players. The won-loss record is not adjusted.[1]

An experienced head coach, Sweeney was hired in December 1975, shortly after his resignation from Washington State University.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] He had led the Cougars of the Pac-8 Conference for eight seasons, preceded by five at Montana State in the Big Sky Conference.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11at Southwestern Louisiana*
L 14–4122,890
September 18at San Diego State*
L 3–740,768[9]
September 25No. 3 Montana State*
W 24–1011,500[10]
October 2Cal State Fullerton
  • Ratcliffe Stadium
  • Fresno, CA
W 31–1211,500
October 9at Wichita State*
L 24–3012,609[11]
October 16Cal Poly*
  • Ratcliffe Stadium
  • Fresno, CA
L 15–1712,650
October 23at San Jose State
L 7–2116,500
October 30Pacific (CA)
  • Ratcliffe Stadium
  • Fresno, CA
W 35–710,200
November 6Long Beach State
  • Ratcliffe Stadium
  • Fresno, CA
W 23–011,100[12]
November 13New Mexico State*
  • Ratcliffe Stadium
  • Fresno, CA
W 44–08,279
November 20at Santa Clara*
L 17–20
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[13][14]

References

  1. ^ "Louisiana-Lafayette 2014 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  2. ^ Derrick, Merle (December 9, 1975). "Sweeney takes Fresno post". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 31.
  3. ^ Missildine, Harry (December 10, 1975). "Sweeney to Fresno". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 25.
  4. ^ "Sweeney goes south". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 10, 1975. p. 2D.
  5. ^ "Jim Sweeney named Fresno State coach". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). Associated Press. December 10, 1975. p. 12.
  6. ^ "Sweeney uses option, quits as WSU boss". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire services. December 1, 1975. p. 1B.
  7. ^ Missildine, Harry (December 1, 1975). "Cougar coach Jim Sweeney resigns". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 14.
  8. ^ "Cougar coach Jim Sweeney calls it quits". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). Associated Press. December 1, 1975. p. 10.
  9. ^ "Long Beach State Wins Again, 32-10". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 19, 1976. p. III-16. Retrieved February 23, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  10. ^ "Bobcats fall to Fresno". The Billings Gazette. September 26, 1976. Retrieved December 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Long Beach State Wins Again, 32-10". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 10, 1976. p. III-11. Retrieved March 31, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  12. ^ "Long Beach State Shut Out by Fresno". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. November 7, 1976. p. III-16. Retrieved February 23, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  13. ^ "Fresno State 1976 Schedule". Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  14. ^ "Fresno State 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 8, 2016.