All UCLA wants for Christmas is its bowl game.
Going into Sunday, UCLA could have ended up anywhere from San
Diego to El Paso to Phoenix, but the Bruins eventually ended up in
Las Vegas.
By accepting the Las Vegas Bowl invitation, the Bruins get the
chance to take on the New Mexico Lobos at Sam Boyd Stadium on
Christmas Day, UCLA’s first bowl game opportunity in two
years.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to host a team
with the history and tradition of UCLA,” Tina Kunzer-Murphy,
SEGA Sports Las Vegas Bowl executive director, said in a
statement.
“The Bruins are certainly an attractive team on a local
and national level, and we’re excited about the prospects for
Christmas Day.”
While UCLA will be playing in its 23rd bowl game, New Mexico
will be playing in only its second bowl game in 44 years.
To say the Lobos are excited would be an understatement.
According to the school newspaper, the Daily Lobo, New Mexico
Athletic Director Rudy Davalos has vowed to provide every full-time
student with a free ticket to the bowl game.
The enthusiasm was enough to convince Las Vegas Bowl officials
to select New Mexico over Air Force.
Additionally, the matchup of head coaches will be intriguing by
itself. Rocky Long, a former UCLA defensive coordinator, left the
Bruins to become head coach for the Lobos in 1998.
“Our players were so excited they could hardly stand
still,” New Mexico head coach Rocky Long said in a statement.
“It’s fun to compete against your friends. It adds a
little spice to the action.”
New Mexico (7-6, 5-2 MWC) finished second in the Mountain West
Conference and has won four of its last five games behind freshman
running back Dontrell Moore. The Lobo defense has been
inconsistent, but as of late, New Mexico has developed an
aggressive pass rush.
The bowl matchup will mark the final time that the seniors,
including tight end Mike Seidman, tackles Bryce Bohlander and Mike
Saffer, linebacker Marcus Reese and cornerback Ricky Manning, will
don UCLA uniforms.
UCLA’s season, after a promising beginning, has taken a
sudden downturn, and the Bruins (7-5, 4-4 Pac-10) will be looking
to snap a two-game losing streak and end the season on a good
note.
“It will be an enjoyable experience for our
players,” UCLA head coach Bob Toledo said in a statement.
“We are looking forward to what we feel will be a great time
and a nice reward for our players, especially the seniors.
“I am also looking forward to playing against Rocky Long,
who has done a great job at New Mexico.”
Come Christmas Eve, UCLA will have a new Christmas wish ““
a bowl victory.