Sunday, the University of California at Los Angeles accepted a bid to play the UNM football team in the Sega Sports Las Vegas Bowl Dec. 25.
The addition of the Bruins, out of the Pacific-10 Conference, gives the bowl game a friendly feel, said UNM Athletic Director Rudy Davalos.
UNM Head coach Rocky Long and UCLA Head coach Bob Toledo are good friends -- a bond that began when Long joined Toledo's staff at Oregon State University as defensive coordinator in 1991. Long spent eight seasons with Toledo, four with the Beavers and four at UCLA, before taking over the Lobo program in 1999.
Davalos said he also has ties to UCLA, a close friendship with UCLA Athletic Director Daniel Guerrero.
"Rocky was wanting to play UCLA because there are connections there," Davalos said. "I think it'll be a very good football game. I think it'll be very competitive. They know Rocky. They know what Rocky does defensively. And he knows what they do offensively. They've got some good people over there. It'll be fun to be around Toledo and Guerrero. They're both good guys."
UCLA, (7-5, 4-4 Pac-10) finished the year on two-game losing streak. The Bruins, who finished in a four-way tie for fourth, lost to the then No. 7 University of Southern California 52-21 Nov. 23. They finished the season Saturday by losing to seventh-ranked/Rose Bowl-bound Washington State University 48-27.
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The Bruins and Lobos have one common opponent -- Colorado State University. UCLA opened the season with a 30-19 win over the Rams at home. UNM lost to CSU 22-14 in Ft. Collins, Colo.
Before Saturday's games, UCLA, Oregon State and the University of Washington were mentioned as possible opponents for the Lobos. The Las Vegas Bowl is contracted to take the fifth pick out of the Pac-10. Sunday, OSU accepted a bid to the Insight Bowl in Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 26, against the University of Pittsburgh. Washington will play Dec. 31, at the Sun Bowl against Purdue University.
Davalos said there are several positives in playing UCLA, a team with a national profile.
"UCLA has a household, national name so it's great that UNM is playing them," he said. "You get a lot of attention across the country, especially in Southern California. It might help out recruiting. We've got to play well, we've got to do good."
Davalos also said that playing a high-profile team such as UCLA would help sell tickets -- both in Albuquerque and Las Vegas.
"We've had a good turnout right now, but I think this will even make people more excited about playing the game," he said. "I think there are people in Las Vegas too who will come out and see UCLA play."
According to the Albuquerque Tribune, UNM had sold 2,300 tickets to the Dec. 25, game as of Thursday afternoon. UNM officials said sales of 7,500-10,000 could be possible.
Full-time UNM students can get free tickets and free transportation to the game. For more information, call 925-5014.
