March 20, 2007
Four games on national television – the most appearances ever for the New Mexico Lobos in one season – highlight the 2007 football schedule released today by the Mountain West Conference.
UNM will play three games on College Sports Television (CSTV): Sept. 1 at UTEP, Sept. 29 at home against BYU and Oct. 20 at San Diego State. Additionally, the Lobos will make their first appearance on the VERSUS network when they host Air Force on Thursday, Oct. 25.
All told, 11 of New Mexico’s 12 games will be televised.
New Mexico opens its 109th season on Saturday, Sept. 1 at UTEP. The third game of a four-game series between the Lobos and Miners will be the 75th meeting between the two rivals since 1919. UNM won 26-13 last year in Albuquerque.
It’s the 98th meeting between New Mexico and New Mexico State Sept. 8 at University Stadium. UNM has a 64-28-5 lead in a series that began Jan. 1, 1894. The Lobos have won four straight over the Aggies and six of the past seven, including a 34-28 victory last year in Las Cruces.
New Mexico and Arizona renew a rivalry that started in 1908. Playing for the first time since the 1997 Insight.com Bowl in Tucson, the 65th game between the Lobos and Wildcats will be Sept. 15 at Arizona Stadium. It’s the first regular-season match-up since 1990 in Albuquerque. UA has won four straight in the series since 1977.
The non-conference schedule concludes Sept. 22 when UNM hosts Sacramento State. It’s the first meeting between the Lobos and Hornets.
The Mountain West Conference schedule begins on Saturday, Sept. 29 when defending MWC champion BYU comes to University Stadium. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. for the national telecast on CSTV.
The Lobos have an open week on Oct. 6 before playing a pair of road games at Wyoming Oct. 13 and at San Diego State Oct. 20.
UNM returns home on Thursday, Oct. 25 to entertain Air Force. The remaining home games are Nov. 10 against Colorado State and Nov. 24 versus UNLV.
The Lobos visit TCU on Nov. 3 and Utah on Nov. 17.
“Four games on national television is great for our fans and for the program,” Lobos head coach Rocky Long said. “It’s a very demanding schedule, but fair and balanced. We look forward to the season.”
The Lobos return 43 lettermen – including 18 starters – from last year’s team that finished 6-7 overall and 4-4 in the Mountain West Conference. UNM made its fourth bowl appearance in the past five seasons in 2006, meeting San Jose State in the inaugural New Mexico Bowl.
Head coach Rocky Long has guided his alma mater to at least six wins in six straight seasons for the first time in program history. UNM’s all-time leader in victories (52), Long begins his 10th year in 2007. New Mexico is the only program in the Mountain West Conference that has been bowl eligible every year since 2001.
Spring practice gets underway on Monday, April 16, with the annual Cherry-Silver game scheduled for Wednesday, May 2 at University Stadium.
Football season ticket renewals will be mailed April 2. Season tickets for the general public will be available June 18.
2007 New Mexico Football Schedule
Saturday Sept. 1 at UTEP, 8 p.m. CSTV
Saturday Sept. 8 New Mexico State, 7:30 p.m. The Mtn.
Saturday Sept. 15 at Arizona, TBA
Saturday Sept. 22 Sacramento State, 6 p.m.
Saturday Sept. 29 BYU, 6:30 p.m. CSTV
Saturday Oct. 13 at Wyoming, 12:00 p.m. The Mtn.
Saturday Oct. 20 at San Diego State, 6:30 p.m. CSTV
Thursday Oct. 25 Air Force, 7 p.m. VERSUS
Saturday Nov. 3 at TCU, 3:30 p.m. The Mtn.
Saturday Nov. 10 Colorado State, 1 p.m. The Mtn.
Saturday Nov. 17 at Utah, 3:30 p.m. The Mtn.
Saturday Nov. 24 UNLV, 3:30 p.m. The Mtn.
all times Mountain