2004 MPC Computers Bowl

2004 MPC Computers Bowl
Virginia Cavaliers Fresno State Bulldogs
(8-3) (8-3)
34 37
Head coach: 
Al Groh		 Head coach: 
Pat Hill
AP Coaches
18 18
1 2 3 4 OT Total
Virginia 14 7 3 7 3 34
Fresno State 7 3 7 14 6 37
Date December 27, 2004
Season 2004
Stadium Bronco Stadium
Location Boise, Idaho
MVP Paul Pinegar
Marques Hagans
United States TV coverage
Network ESPN2
Announcers: Pam Ward and Mike Tomczak
MPC Computers Bowl
 < 2003 2005 > 

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 fourth-place finish (tied with North Carolina) 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]

References

  1. ^ "Bulldogs QB completes stellar day with game-winner". ESPN.com. December 27, 2004. http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=243620278. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 
  2. ^ Mandel, Stewart (December 22, 2004). "MPC Computers Bowl Breakdown: Bulldogs' defense looks to slow down Cavs' running game in Boise". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/football/ncaa/specials/bowls/2004/12/22/mpc.breakdown/. Retrieved 2010-01-19. 
  3. ^ Doughty, Doug (November 28, 2004). "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". Roanoke Times. http://www.roanoke.com/sports/uvafootball\14549.html. Retrieved 2010-01-19. 
  4. ^ Schlabach, Mike (November 30, 2004). "Cavaliers Still Waiting To Fill Somebody's Bowl". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20741-2004Nov29.html. Retrieved 2010-01-19. 
  5. ^ Doughty, Doug (December 1, 2004). "Cavaliers heading to Boise: After passing on a trip to Orlando, Virginia accepts a bid to the MPC Computers Bowl". Roanoke Times. http://www.roanoke.com/sports/uvafootball/14677.html. Retrieved 2010-01-19. 
  6. ^ "Florida accepts invite to Peach Bowl: Gators will play either Miami or Virginia Tech". MSNBC.com. December 1, 2004. http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/6632165/. Retrieved 2010-01-19. 
Games

1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2004 (Jan) • 2004 (Dec) • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011
Former names

Humanitarian Bowl (1997–2004, 2007–2010) • MPC Computers Bowl (2004–2006)
Sponsors

Crucial.com (1999–2002) • MPC Computers (2004–2006) • Roady's Truck Stops (2007–2009) • uDrove (2010) • Idaho Potato Commission (2011–present)
Related Articles