Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Welcome Back 1989 Football Team
11/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 16, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State football has had many memorable moments over the decades, while some of those memories have faded, the 1989 football team remains one of the best and dominate teams in program history. The Bulldogs will welcome back the 1989 team and coaching staff to celebrate the team's accomplishments.
For their 20-year reunion, the 1989 team will be recognized at the last home football game on Saturday, Nov. 21. The team will be honored during half time of the game against Louisiana Tech and will have a special pre-game tailgate.
The Bulldogs will recognize the 1989 team not only for being champions, but also for setting the tone of Bulldog football.
The team was led by Jim Sweeney, who coached for the Bulldogs from 1976-77 and 1980 to 1996 and compiled a record of 143-73-3. Current head coach Pat Hill coached under Sweeney. The former coach still has season tickets and can sometimes be found watching film in the coaches office. To honor Sweeney the field at Bulldog Stadium is named Jim Sweeney Field.
The Bulldogs were loaded with talent in 1989. As the Bulldogs mowed over their competition, they rose in the national polls. The Bulldogs were ranked 23rd and marked just the third season in the history of Fresno State was ever ranked.
Leading the way were some of the greatest players in the history of the program, 10 of whom were named to the All-Big West first team. All-American Ron Cox was the Big West Defensive MVP after generating 28 quarterback sacks, still a school record. He capped his brilliant career with 50 sacks before moving on to an excellent NFL career with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
Cornerback J.D. Williams, who later returned to coach at Fresno State, was selected in the first round (16th overall) of the NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills, the first Bulldog to be a first round selection.
Running back Aaron Craver rushed for a then-school record of 1,313 yards. Before him, only two Bulldogs had ever run for more than 1,000 yards in a single season. Bulldog fans also saw the development of sophomore quarterback Mark Barsotti, who by the end of his career would be become one of the winningest quarterbacks in the history of college football.
They rolled through the competition winning their first 10 games. The lone loss that season was a non-conference game that concluded the regular season. The Dogs went on to the California Raisin Bowl IX.
The Bulldogs won their fourth consecutive bowl game in 1989 by a score of 27-6 over Ball State. The defense held the Cardinals to just 61 rushing yards. The win over Ball State was magical as it gave team 11 wins, which had only happened once before - and once since.
1989 Season Results
RECORD: 11-1-0
Sept. 2 Utah W 52-22
Sept. 9 Montana W 52-37
Sept. 16 Pacific W 27-14
Sept. 23 Long Beach State W 52-0
Oct. 7 Oregon State W 35-18
Oct. 14 Utah State W 34-7
Oct. 21 Cal State Fullerton W 33-19
Oct. 28 UNLV W 31-17
Nov. 4 San Jose State W 31-30
Nov. 11 New Mexico State W 45-5
Nov. 18 New Mexico L 22-45
Cal Bowl IX
Dec. 9 Ball State W 27-6
