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
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[9]
September 18at San Diego State*
L 3–740,768[10]
September 25No. 3 Montana State*
W 24–1011,500[11]
October 2Cal State Fullerton
  • Ratcliffe Stadium
  • Fresno, CA
W 31–1211,500[12]
October 9at Wichita State*
L 24–3012,609[13]
October 16Cal Poly*
  • Ratcliffe Stadium
  • Fresno, CA
L 15–1712,650[14]
October 23at San Jose State
L 7–2116,500[15]
October 30Pacific (CA)
  • Ratcliffe Stadium
  • Fresno, CA
W 35–710,200[16]
November 6Long Beach State
  • Ratcliffe Stadium
  • Fresno, CA
W 23–011,100[17]
November 13New Mexico State*
  • Ratcliffe Stadium
  • Fresno, CA
W 44–08,279[18]
November 20at Santa Clara*
L 17–20[19]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[20][21][22]

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. ^ "Cajuns overpower Bulldogs". Oakland Tribune. September 12, 1976. Retrieved September 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "Bobcats fall to Fresno". The Billings Gazette. September 26, 1976. Retrieved December 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Fresno State rips Fullerton, 31–12". Santa Cruz Sentinel. October 3, 1976. Retrieved September 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Ground game revives WSU". The Wichita Eagle & Beacon. October 10, 1976. Retrieved September 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Bulldogs can't shake Cal Poly jinx, fall 17–15 before Ratcliffe crowd". The Fresno Bee. October 17, 1976. Retrieved September 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Penalty-prone S.J. Spartans outlast Fresno State, 21–7". Santa Cruz Sentinel. October 24, 1976. Retrieved September 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Fresno State thumps Pacific 35–7". The Fresno Bee. October 31, 1976. Retrieved September 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "Fresno St. ends Aggies hopes 44–0". Las Cruces Sun-News. November 14, 1976. Retrieved September 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Broncos write shocking end to Bulldog season". The Fresno Bee. November 21, 1976. Retrieved September 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "1976 Fresno State Bulldogs Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  21. ^ "1976 Football Schedule". Fresno State Athletics. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  22. ^ "Fresno State Football Media Guide" (PDF). Fresno State Athletics. p. 121. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
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