1976 Fresno State Bulldogs football team

The 1976 Fresno State Bulldogs football team represented California State University, Fresno[note 1] during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association.[note 2] The team was led by head coach Jim Sweeney, in his first year, and they played their home games at Ratcliffe Stadium on the campus of Fresno City College in Fresno, California. They finished the season with a record of five wins and six losses (5–6, 3–1 PCAA).

1976 Fresno State Bulldogs football
ConferencePacific Coast Athletic Association
1976 record5–6 (+1 win by forfeit which does not change record) (3–1 PCAA)
Head coachJim Sweeney (1st season)
Offensive coordinatorDennis Erickson (1st season)
Home stadiumRatcliffe Stadium
(Capacity: 13,000)
1976 Pacific Coast Athletic Association football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW 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

While Fresno State lost its opener on the road to the Southwestern Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns, 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,[2][3][4][5] shortly after his resignation from Washington State of the Pac-8 Conference.[6][7][8] He had led the Cougars for eight seasons, preceded by five at Montana State in the Big Sky Conference.

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 11at Southwestern Louisiana[note 3]*
L 14–41
forfeit win		22,890
September 18at San Diego State*
L 3–7[9]40,768
September 25Montana State*
W 24–1011,500
October 2Cal State Fullerton
  • Ratcliffe Stadium
  • Fresno, CA
W 31–1211,500
October 9at Wichita State*
L 24–30[10]12,609
October 16Cal Poly[note 4]*
  • 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[note 5]
  • Ratcliffe Stadium
  • Fresno, CA
W 23–0[11]11,100
November 13New Mexico State*
  • Ratcliffe Stadium
  • Fresno, CA
W 44–08,279
November 20at Santa Clara*
L 17–20
  • *Non-conference game
Source:[12][13][14]

Team players in the NFL

No Bulldogs were selected in the 1977 NFL Draft.[15][16]

Notes
  1. The official name of Fresno State has been California State University, Fresno since 1972. However, it is still commonly known as Fresno State.
  2. The Big West Conference was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association from its founding in 1969 through 1987.
  3. University of Louisiana at Lafayette was known as University of Southwestern Louisiana from 1960 to 1999.
  4. The official name of Cal Poly has been California Polytechnic State University since 1947. However, it is more commonly known as either Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or just Cal Poly.
  5. The official name of Long Beach State has been California State University, Long Beach since 1972. However, it is still commonly known as Long Beach State.

References
  1. "Louisiana-Lafayette 2014 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved 14 December 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.
  10. "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.
  11. "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.
  12. "Fresno State 1976 Schedule". Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  13. "Fresno State 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  14. "Fresno State Yearly Results". Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  15. "1977 NFL Draft". Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  16. "Fresno St. Players/Alumni". Retrieved December 12, 2016.
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