Posted at 1:12 p.m., Tuesday, November 28, 2006
San Jose State to play in New Mexico Bowl
Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico will play San Jose State in the inaugural New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 23 at University Stadium.The Lobos (6-6, 4-4 Mountain West) accepted an invitation after Saturday's 41-14 win over San Diego State, which made them bowl eligible, bowl officials said.
San Jose State (7-4, 4-3 Western Athletic Conference) was invited Tuesday, marking the school's first postseason appearance since the Spartans beat Central Michigan 48-24 in the 1990 California Raisin Bowl.
It's the fourth bowl game in the past five seasons for New Mexico under coach Rocky Long.
The Lobos haven't won a bowl since beating Western Michigan 28-12 in the 1961 Aviation Bowl in Dayton, Ohio. This year's team rebounded from a 2-4 start that included a loss to Division I-AA Portland State in the opener.
"We've had better teams around here than this one, but this team is more competitive than any we've had," Long said after last weekend's win.
San Jose State concludes its regular season Saturday against visiting Fresno State. Coach Dick Tomey said Monday he didn't think speculation about a bowl invitation would distract his team as it prepared to face the rival Bulldogs.
"I'm trying not to even think about that," Tomey said. "We know we are going to go someplace and that's reassuring, but we need to focus our attention on Fresno. We can decide how we are going to practice and all the other stuff starting on Sunday."
