New Mexico Bowl Press Conference -- Listen to Audio
Fresno State will be making its 21st appearance in a college football bowl game. Of all teams competing in bowl games this season, Fresno State is one of 17 schools that have been in a bowl game in nine of the last 10 seasons.
"Fresno State is an exciting team with a fantastic history and should provide a great game," said Jeff Siembieda, New Mexico Bowl Executive Director.
"I’ve long been impressed with Pat Hill’s program at Fresno State and have the utmost respect for everything having to do with Bulldog Football."
The game will be played on Saturday, December 20 at 11:30 p.m. PT at University Stadium on the University of New Mexico campus and will be televised nationally on ESPN and ESPN-HD.
The 2007 New Mexico Bowl was played Saturday, December 22. New Mexico defeated Nevada, 23-0, in front of 30,322 fans and a national television audience. The inaugural New Mexico Bowl was played in front of 34,111 on December 23, 2006. San Jose State beat New Mexico that day, 20-12.
Fresno State will play a Mountain West Conference team in a bowl for the third time. The Bulldogs lost to Utah 17-16 in the 1999 Las Vegas Bowl and to Air Force 37-34 in the 2000 Silicon Valley Football Classic. The Bulldogs have an all-time record of 4-4 against Mountain West Conference schools. The Mountain West Conference team for the New Mexico Bowl will be announced Sunday.
"We are excited to take Bulldog football back to Albuquerque," said head coach Pat Hill, who has guided the Dogs to four bowl wins on their last five games.
"For Fresno State to play a Mountain West Conference school in a bowl game is good for football in the West. Our first two bowl games in 1999 and 2000 were both great games against Mountain West schools. We lost two close, exciting games. Our players are looking forward to finishing this season on a good note and winning a bowl game would be a great accomplishment for the seniors and a good place to start building for the 2009 season."
The Bulldogs have not played in Albuquerque since 1998, a 28-20 win over New Mexico. The Bulldogs own an 3-3 record all-time in games played in Albuquerque. The last lost came in 1989 when the 11-0 No. 23 Bulldogs were embarassed by 1-10 New Mexico, 45-22.
For information on the New Mexico Bowl, please check out the web site: www.newmexicobowl.com.