For the first time in 16 years, the land of Sparta is preparing
for late December football as San Jose State gets set to take on
New Mexico in today’s inaugural New Mexico Bowl at 1:30pm at
University Stadium.
Albuquerque, N.M. – For the first time in 16 years, the land of Sparta is preparing for late December football as San Jose State gets set to take on New Mexico in today’s inaugural New Mexico Bowl at 1:30pm at University Stadium.
And don’t think anyone involved is just happy to be here.
“We came here to win,” Spartans‚ senior linebacker Damaja Jones said. “We didn’t just come to have fun. We came to get our ninth win and end our season strong.”
After a solid 8-4 campaign, which included wins over in-state rivals Fresno State and Stanford, the Spartans are looking to put an exclamation mark on their best season since 1990, when they went 9-2-1 and beat 48-24 Eastern Michigan in the California Bowl. SJSU is also looking to erase any lingering thoughts from last year’s disappointing 3-8 season, where the Spartans lost three games by seven points.
“When you don’t have a winning season, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth,” senior wide receiver James Jones said. New Mexico is also looking to finish the season strong after getting off to a slow start.
The Lobos lost their season-opener at home to Division I-AA Portland State and were 2-4 at one stretch.
“At the beginning of the year, I didn’t know if we could beat anybody,” New Mexico coach Rocky Long said.
An overtime 39-36 win on the road against UNLV followed by narrow wins against Utah (34-31) and Colorado State (20-19) turned the season around and put them at 5-4.
But two straight losses left New Mexico in need of a win in the season finale, and its 41-14 win over San Diego State ensured the Lobos could be a part of its inaugural home bowl game.
SDSU was one of two common opponents for the two squads. SJSU also had a blowout win over the Aztecs, winning 31-10. Both teams won on the road against New Mexico State – the Spartans beat the Aggies 31-21 and New Mexico won 34-28.
While the game is played on the campus of New Mexico, the Lobos will take the field in their visiting white jerseys and take their place on the visiting sideline.
“I think if San Jose State would let us wear our red jerseys, it’d feel a little more comfortable,” Long said.
At Friday’s kickoff luncheon, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson boldly predicted a Lobo victory, drawing the ire of the Spartans in the room. When SJSU coach Dick Tomey took the stand, he read off a fax allegedly from California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger saying, “I take great exception with Gov. Richardson’s remarks and predictions. Good luck to the Spartans.”
The Spartans will need more than luck to end their season with a bowl trophy in hand. With snow showers forecasted overnight and game-time temperatures expected to around 40 degrees, SJSU will need to adjust to the temperature – something it’s confident won’t damper the bowl experience.
“Football stays exciting,” James Jones said, “whether it’s snow, rain or anything.”
