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Fresno State, Wyoming To Play In 2009 New Mexico Bowl
Fresno State, Wyoming To Play In 2009 New Mexico Bowl
Bulldogs make second straight appearance at bowl, Cowboys first time
Bulldogs make second straight appearance at bowl, Cowboys first time
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The New Mexico Bowl is pleased to announce today that Fresno State, representing the Western Athletic Conference, and Wyoming, representing the Mountain West Conference, have accepted bids to play in the fourth annual New Mexico Bowl. The game, which kicks off the FBS postseason, will be played on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 2:30 p.m. MT at University Stadium on the University of New Mexico campus and air nationally on ESPN.
“We are excited with this terrific match-up and look forward to the game,” New Mexico Bowl Executive Director Jeff Siembieda said. “Having two great programs with incredibly passionate fans makes Fresno State against Wyoming the perfect way to kick off college football’s bowl season. We look forward to hosting the Cowboys and Bulldogs for a fun-filled bowl week.”
Fresno State finished the regular season 8-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play, placing them third in the WAC. It will be the Bulldogs’ second consecutive appearance in the New Mexico Bowl, their third straight bowl game and their eighth postseason game in nine years this decade.
“We had a great experience last year and are very happy to be headed back to Albuquerque,” Fresno State head coach Pat Hill said. “The New Mexico Bowl is a first class event. Everyone involved with Fresno State was treated incredibly well and enjoyed their stay, the whole experience is fantastic and the fans were terrific. We look forward to being a part of this great event again.”
Wyoming wrapped up the season 6-6 overall and 4-4 in the MWC, placing fifth in the conference. It is the first time since 2004 that the Cowboys have appeared in a bowl game. First-year UW head coach Dave Christensen is only the second Wyoming first-year head coach to take the Cowboys to postseason play.
“We are extremely excited to have an opportunity to play in postseason, and we are particularly excited to be going to Albuquerque to play in the New Mexico Bowl,” said University of Wyoming head coach Dave Christensen. “We’ve heard great things about the bowl and about the people who work so hard all year long to make the New Mexico Bowl a great experience for the teams involved and for the fans who attend the game and all the festivities surrounding it.
“Our kids were thrilled when they heard we were going to the New Mexico Bowl. This group of young men has worked so hard this season to earn this opportunity. My staff and I are happy for them, and we are happy for our fans.
“The fans of Wyoming have shown us great support all season, and I know that they will be there in Albuquerque to support us once again.”
Fans have three convenient ways to purchase tickets. They are available online at www.newmexicobowl.com, at the UNM ticket office located on the Northwest corner of Avenida Cesar Chavez and University Boulevard, or by calling the Lobo Ticket Office at (505) 925-LOBO or the Bowl office at (505) 925-5999. Ticket prices remain the same as the first three bowl games, with premium sideline seats available for $30 and north end zone seats for $23. Groups of 20 or more can purchase tickets for $25 each.
Last year the New Mexico Bowl featured Colorado State from the Mountain West Conference and Fresno State from the Western Athletic Conference, drawing 24,735 and playing in 3.4 million homes on ESPN. The Rams rallied for a 40-35 victory behind running back Gartrell Johnson, who rewrote several FBS Bowl rushing records with his 375 yards.
ESPN Regional Television/Event Ownership
The nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, ESPN Regional Television (ERT) annually produces more than 1,000 telecasts of sporting events. Programming includes football, basketball, NCAA events, golf and NHRA events accounting for more than 2,200 live and/or original hours of programming. In addition to event ownership, ERT is the production headquarters for ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network; syndication rights-holder and producer of national, regional and local shows for college conferences (e.g. – SEC, BIG EAST, Big 12, Mid-American, WAC).
ESPN Regional Television markets and/or owns several sporting events, including collegiate football events: the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas); MAACO Bowl Las Vegas; New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Papajohns.com Bowl (Birmingham, Ala.); Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu); St. Petersburg Bowl; the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney (Orlando, Fla.); and The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards; collegiate basketball events: the 76 Classic (Anaheim, Calif.); Cancun Governor’s Cup; Charleston Classic (S.C.); DIRECTV SEC/BIG EAST Invitational; ESPNU Road to the Championship (Women; San Antonio); Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Old Spice Classic (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off (San Juan); SONIC All-College Classic (Oklahoma City) and BracketBusters; as well as the ESPN National Golf Challenge presented by Callaway. For more information, visit ESPNPlus.com.
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MWC Headings
WAC Headings
