2005 Fiesta Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2005 Tostitos
Fiesta Bowl, played on January 1, 2005, was the 34th edition of the Fiesta Bowl. The game was played between Utah
and Pittsburgh
, in front of 73,519 fans. It is notable for being the first BCS
game to feature a team from a non-BCS conference, and the only BCS bowl to feature a non-BCS team prior to the 2006 season, making the trip all the more impressive. (In 2006, the eligibility rules became less strict: the BCS increased from four games to five, and entry required a top 12 finish instead of a top 6). Utah was led by co-head coaches Urban Meyer
and Kyle Whittingham
, and quarterback Alex Smith directed his spread offense. The Utes were nothing short of unstoppable during the regular season, having won all their games by at least 14 points, and held an average lead of 40–14 after three quarters. They played key out-of-conference games against Texas A&M
and North Carolina
, and defeated five bowl teams by an average of 23.2 points. Utah was a very successful team that broke many school records, including most wins in a single season with 12, 16 straight wins (which would reach 18 in 2005), and 544 points scored in one season.
Going into the game, Utah had been ranked in the Top 10 for 8 consecutive weeks. Pittsburgh was 8–3 and the Big East Conference champion. Utah raced to a 28–0 lead and held on for a convincing 35–7 win. Alex Smith had a magnificent showing, completing 29 of 37 passes for 328 yards and 4 touchdowns, as he went on to impress NFL scouts and became the number 1 overall draft pick. He was also the MWC Offensive Player of the Year, TSN Player of the Year, a Walter Camp finalist, a Davey O'Brien finalist, finished fourth in the Heisman voting, and the Fiesta Bowl MVP. Paris Warren
was Smith's go-to man during the game, as he caught a Fiesta Bowl record 15 passes for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Utah is now a member of a BCS conference, namely the Pacific-12 Conference.
Tostitos
Tostitos is a brand of tortilla chips and dips produced by Frito-Lay and introduced in 1979, with national distribution in the United States reached in 1981. They are made from all-white corn. Traditionally, Tostitos chips contain no extra flavoring or preservatives, and thus are advertised to be...
Fiesta Bowl, played on January 1, 2005, was the 34th edition of the Fiesta Bowl. The game was played between Utah
2004 Utah Utes football team
The 2004 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah in the college football season of 2004–2005. This team was the original 'BCS Buster', meaning, this was the first time that a team from a non-BCS conference was invited to play in one of the BCS bowl games. The team, coached by 2nd...
and Pittsburgh
2004 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
The 2004 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2004 college football season in which they won a share of The Big East Conference Championship and were awarded with a BCS berth to the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.- Schedule :...
, in front of 73,519 fans. It is notable for being the first BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
game to feature a team from a non-BCS conference, and the only BCS bowl to feature a non-BCS team prior to the 2006 season, making the trip all the more impressive. (In 2006, the eligibility rules became less strict: the BCS increased from four games to five, and entry required a top 12 finish instead of a top 6). Utah was led by co-head coaches Urban Meyer
Urban Meyer
Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...
and Kyle Whittingham
Kyle Whittingham
Kyle Whittingham is the head football coach of the University of Utah Utes. Prior to becoming the head coach at Utah, Whittingham served as Utah's defensive coordinator for ten seasons. He was named head coach of Utah after Urban Meyer left for the Florida Gators in 2004...
, and quarterback Alex Smith directed his spread offense. The Utes were nothing short of unstoppable during the regular season, having won all their games by at least 14 points, and held an average lead of 40–14 after three quarters. They played key out-of-conference games against Texas A&M
2004 Texas A&M Aggies football team
The 2004 Texas A&M Aggies football team completed the season with a 7-5 record. The Aggies had a regular season Big 12 record of 5-3.-Schedule:-Utah:-Wyoming:-Clemson:-Kansas State:-Iowa State:-Oklahoma State:...
and North Carolina
2004 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
-Coaching staff:-Schedule:Did not play: Clemson and Maryland.-Team Statistics:-References:...
, and defeated five bowl teams by an average of 23.2 points. Utah was a very successful team that broke many school records, including most wins in a single season with 12, 16 straight wins (which would reach 18 in 2005), and 544 points scored in one season.
Going into the game, Utah had been ranked in the Top 10 for 8 consecutive weeks. Pittsburgh was 8–3 and the Big East Conference champion. Utah raced to a 28–0 lead and held on for a convincing 35–7 win. Alex Smith had a magnificent showing, completing 29 of 37 passes for 328 yards and 4 touchdowns, as he went on to impress NFL scouts and became the number 1 overall draft pick. He was also the MWC Offensive Player of the Year, TSN Player of the Year, a Walter Camp finalist, a Davey O'Brien finalist, finished fourth in the Heisman voting, and the Fiesta Bowl MVP. Paris Warren
Paris Warren
Paris Jazz Warren is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
was Smith's go-to man during the game, as he caught a Fiesta Bowl record 15 passes for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Utah is now a member of a BCS conference, namely the Pacific-12 Conference.
External links
- http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/010205aab.html