2004 MPC Computers Bowl explained

Year Game Played:2004
Game Name:MPC Computers Bowl
Football Season:2004
Visitor Name Short:Virginia
Visitor Nickname:Cavaliers
Visitor School:University of Virginia
Home Name Short:Fresno State
Home Nickname:Bulldogs
Home School:Fresno State University
Visitor Record:8–3
Visitor Conference:ACC
Home Record:8–3
Home Conference:WAC
Visitor Coach:Al Groh
Home Coach:Pat Hill
Visitor Rank Ap:18
Visitor Rank Coaches:18
Visitor Rank Bcs:18
Visitor 1Q:14
Visitor 2Q:7
Visitor 3Q:3
Visitor 4Q:7
Visitor Ot:3
Home 1Q:7
Home 2Q:3
Home 3Q:7
Home 4Q:14
Home Ot:6
Date Game Played:December 27
Stadium:Bronco Stadium
City:Boise, Idaho
Mvp:Paul Pinegar
Marques Hagans
Referee:Jay Stricherz (Pac-10)
Attendance:28,516
Us Network:ESPN2
Us Announcers Link:List of announcers of major college bowl games
Us Announcers:Pam Ward (Play-by-Play)
Mike Tomczak (Analyst)
Heather Cox (Sidelines)
Different Previous:2004 (Jan)

The 2004 MPC Computers Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game between the Fresno State Bulldogs and the Virginia Cavaliers on December 27, 2004, at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Fresno State won the game 37–34 in overtime on a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Paul Pinegar to Stephen Spach.[1]

Virginia had a complicated route to the MPC Computers bowl. Strong hopes based on a 5–0 start and a #6 ranking were dashed by a 36–3 blowout loss to Florida State and a third-place finish in the ACC.[2] The Champs Sports Bowl typically took the fourth-place bowl eligible ACC team, but Virginia declined the bid as the game (played on December 21) would have conflicted with final exams.[3] For a time the Independence Bowl was a possibility, as the Southeastern Conference (SEC) failed to produce enough bowl-eligible teams, but this was contingent on the MPC Computers Bowl getting a Big East school—either Boston College, Connecticut or Syracuse—to replace an ACC team.[4] The MPC Computers bowl normally had the sixth choice of ACC teams, which would have been Georgia Tech or Clemson. Clemson declined all bowl invitations after a season-ending brawl, while Georgia Tech took Virginia's place at the Champs Sports Bowl. The Big East declined to send a team to the MPC Computers Bowl, so on December 1 Virginia accepted the bid.[5]

Fresno State accepted a bid on December 1 as well, after finishing third in the Western Athletic Conference. It was Fresno State's six straight bowl game and its first one outside of California since the 1999 Las Vegas Bowl. Virginia and Fresno State had never played each other before.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: Bulldogs QB completes stellar day with game-winner. https://web.archive.org/web/20181215230743/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=243620278. dead. December 15, 2018. December 27, 2004. January 18, 2010. ESPN.com.
  2. Mandel. Stewart. December 22, 2004. MPC Computers Bowl Breakdown: Bulldogs' defense looks to slow down Cavs' running game in Boise. Sports Illustrated. January 19, 2010.
  3. News: Doughty. Doug. UVa chooses studies over Disney World: President John Casteen says because of UVa's exam schedule, the Cavs will not play in Orlando's Champs Sports Bowl. https://archive.today/20130201091408/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/uvafootball%5C14549.html. dead. February 1, 2013. November 28, 2004. Roanoke Times. January 19, 2010.
  4. News: Schlabach. Mike. Cavaliers Still Waiting To Fill Somebody's Bowl. November 30, 2004. The Washington Post. January 19, 2010.
  5. News: Doughty. Doug. Cavaliers heading to Boise: After passing on a trip to Orlando, Virginia accepts a bid to the MPC Computers Bowl. December 1, 2004. Roanoke Times. January 19, 2010. dead. https://archive.today/20120913063522/http://www.roanoke.com/sports/uvafootball/14677.html. September 13, 2012.
  6. News: Florida accepts invite to Peach Bowl: Gators will play either Miami or Virginia Tech. December 1, 2004. January 19, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121007111627/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/6632165/. October 7, 2012. MSNBC.com.