Boise State–Fresno State football rivalry

The Boise State–Fresno State football rivalry[citation needed] is an American college football rivalry between the Broncos of Boise State University and the Bulldogs of California State University, Fresno, both currently members of the Mountain West Conference (MW).

SportCollege football
First meetingSeptember 17, 1977
Fresno State, 42–7
Latest meetingNovember 4, 2023
Fresno State, 37–30
Next meeting2025 in Boise
TrophyMilk Can
Statistics
Meetings total26
All-time seriesBoise State, 17–9 (.654)[1]
Largest victoryBoise State, 61–10 (2008)
Longest win streakBoise State, 7 (2006–2012)
Current win streakFresno State, 2 (2022–present)
Locations of Boise State and Fresno State

History

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Boise State with the Milk Can in 2014

The "Milk Can" is the trophy that is awarded to the winner of the game. It was created in 2005, but was not ready in time for the annual match in Fresno, which was won by the Bulldogs after four straight Bronco wins.[2]

The trophy made its first appearance in 2006, when the Broncos carried it off the field. The series dates back to 1977, with three games in different decades, all won by Fresno State. The rivalry effectively began twenty-three years ago in 2001, when Boise State joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and upset #8 Fresno State in their first meeting as conference rivals.[3]

Boise State moved to the MW in 2011 and its planned move to the Big East Conference for football for 2013 meant that the future of the series was in doubt. However, after major instability in the Big East, culminating in a mass exodus of seven schools in December 2012, Boise State decided to stay in the MW, ensuring the future of the rivalry. Fresno State left the WAC and joined the MW in 2013, but the two were placed in opposite football divisions and they did not meet in 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2020.

History of the trophy

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The idea for a trophy as the prize for the newly arranged interstate rivalry was hatched by two separate dairy groups that decided to get involved with their local football programs. California (No. 1) and Idaho (No. 4) are two of the nation's leading dairy producers.[4] The South Valley Dairy Group began raising money for Bulldog football in 2001; the Bronco Dairy Boosters began contributing to Boise State in 2005.

Two dairymen and friends in these organizations, Dan Van Grouw of Meridian, Idaho (in the Boise metropolitan area) and Roger Fluegel of Visalia, California (in Fresno State's home of the San Joaquin Valley), put forward the idea of a traveling trophy and began the administrative process. There was positive feedback from the teams, coaches, and fans, but an "administrative changeover" kept the trophy off the field for the 2005 game, though the Bulldogs' 27–7 victory is the first listed on the can.

The trophy only changes hands during regular season contests and has not been on the line when they have met in the Mountain West Championship Game.

Game results

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Boise State victoriesFresno State victories
No.DateLocationWinning teamLosing team
1 September 17, 1977 Fresno, California Fresno State 42 Boise State 7
2 September 8, 1984 Boise, Idaho Fresno State 37 Boise State 21
3 November 2, 1996 Fresno, California Fresno State 41 Boise State 7
4 October 19, 2001 Fresno, California Boise State 35 No. 8 Fresno State 30
5 October 18, 2002 Boise, Idaho Boise State 67 Fresno State 21
6 November 21, 2003 Fresno, California No. 20 Boise State 31 Fresno State 17
7 October 23, 2004 Boise, Idaho No. 19 Boise State 33 Fresno State 16
8 November 10, 2005 Fresno, California No. 20 Fresno State 27 Boise State 7
9 November 1, 2006 Boise, Idaho No. 14 Boise State 45 Fresno State 21
10 October 26, 2007 Fresno, California Boise State 34 Fresno State 21
11 November 28, 2008 Boise, Idaho No. 9 Boise State 61 Fresno State 10
12 September 18, 2009 Fresno, California No. 10 Boise State 51 Fresno State 34
13 November 19, 2010 Boise, Idaho No. 3 Boise State 51 Fresno State 0
14 October 7, 2011 Fresno, California No. 5 Boise State 57 Fresno State 7
No.DateLocationWinning teamLosing team
15 October 13, 2012 Boise, Idaho No. 24 Boise State 20 Fresno State 10
16 September 20, 2013 Fresno, California Fresno State 41 Boise State 40
17 October 17, 2014 Boise, Idaho Boise State 37 Fresno State 27
18 December 6, 2014 Boise, Idaho No. 22 Boise State 28 Fresno State 14
19 November 25, 2017 Fresno, California Fresno State 28 No. 23 Boise State 17
20 December 2, 2017 Boise, Idaho Boise State 17 No. 25 Fresno State 14
21 November 9, 2018 Boise, Idaho Boise State 24 No. 23 Fresno State 17
22 December 1, 2018 Boise, Idaho No. 25 Fresno State 19 No. 22 Boise State 16OT
23 November 6, 2021 Fresno, California Boise State 40 No. 23 Fresno State 14
24 October 8, 2022 Boise, Idaho Boise State 40 Fresno State 20
25 December 3, 2022 Boise, Idaho Fresno State 28 Boise State 16
26 November 4, 2023 Fresno, California Fresno State 37 Boise State 30
Series: Boise State leads 17–9[1]

Coaching records

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Since first game in 1977

Boise State

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Head Coach Team Games Seasons Wins Losses Ties Pct.
Jim Criner Boise State 1 1976–1982 0 1 0 .000
Lyle Setencich Boise State 1 1983–1986 0 1 0 .000
Pokey Allen Boise State 1 1993–1996 0 1   .000
Dan Hawkins Boise State 5 2001–2005 4 1   .800
Chris Petersen Boise State 8 2006–2013 7 1   .875
Bryan Harsin Boise State 6 2014–2020 4 2   .667 
Andy Avalos Boise State 4 2021–Present 2 2   .500 

Fresno State

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Head Coach Team Games Seasons Wins Losses Ties Pct.
Jim Sweeney Fresno State 3 1976–1977
1980–1996
3 0 0 1.000 
Pat Hill Fresno State 11 1997–2011 1 10   .091
Tim DeRuyter Fresno State 4 2012–2016 1 3   .250
Jeff Tedford Fresno State 7 2017–2019, 2022–present 4 3   .571
Kalen DeBoer Fresno State 1 2020–2021 0 1   .000
  • There have been no ties in this series; all Division I games began using overtime in 1996.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Winsipedia – Boise State Broncos vs. Fresno State Bulldogs football series history". Winsipedia.
  2. ^ Beacham, Greg (November 11, 2005). "No. 20 Fresno St. overwhelms Boise St., 27–7". Lakeland Ledger. Florida. Associated Press. p. C3.
  3. ^ "Boise St. stuns No. 8 Fresno St". Wilmington Morning Star. North Carolina. Associated Press. October 20, 2001. p. 4C.
  4. ^ "BSU, Fresno State starting to latch on to the "Milk Can" tradition". Retrieved June 14, 2008. [dead link]
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