April 1, 2008
Four games on national television for the second straight season and appearances at University Stadium by Texas A&M and the University of Arizona highlight the University of New Mexico’s 2008 football schedule released today by the Mountain West Conference.
UNM `s first two games of the season – both at home – will be televised nationally on VERSUS: Aug. 30 against TCU and Sept. 6 against Texas A&M. Two additional games will be shown on the CBS College Sports Network, formerly CSTV: at home Sept. 13 against Arizona and at Air Force on Thursday, Oct. 23.
Half of the Lobos’ 12-game schedule will be played against teams that participated in a bowl game in 2007.
The early part of New Mexico’s schedule is both attractive and demanding.
New Mexico opens its 110th season on Saturday, Aug. 30 against TCU, marking the earliest conference opener in program history. The Horned Frogs blanked UNM 37-0 last year in Fort Worth.
Two high-profile non-conference opponents follow TCU into University Stadium.
On Sept. 6, Texas A&M makes its first trip to Albuquerque. The only previous meeting between the two schools was in 1926 when the Aggies whipped UNM 63-0 in College Station. New Mexico is scheduled to open the 2009 season at Texas A&M.
Arizona is no stranger to UNM, but the Wildcats have not played at University Stadium since 1990. The two old rivals meet for the 66th time on Sept. 13. The Lobos edged Arizona 29-27 in Tucson a year ago, marking New Mexico’s first win on Pac-10 turf.
After the Arizona game, UNM will play six of its final nine games on the road.
New Mexico visits Tulsa on Sept. 20. The Golden Hurricane was 10-4 in 2007, ripping Bowling Green 63-7 in the GMAC Bowl. The 56-point blowout is the largest margin of victory in bowl game history, bettering Alabama’s 61-6 win over Syracuse in the 1953 Orange Bowl. Tulsa has played in a bowl game four out of the past five seasons.
In 2007, the Golden Hurricane became the first team in NCAA history to have a 5,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and three 1,000-yard receivers. Tulsa led the nation in total offense last year, averaging 543.9 yards a game.
The 99th meeting between New Mexico and New Mexico State is Sept. 27 in Las Cruces. UNM has a 65-28-5 lead in a series that began Jan. 1, 1894. The Lobos have won five straight over the Aggies and seven of the past eight, including a 44-34 victory last year in Albuquerque.
The Mountain West Conference schedule resumes on Saturday, Oct. 4 when Wyoming comes to University Stadium.
The Lobos travel to defending MWC champion BYU on Oct. 11. That’s followed by a home game against San Diego State on Oct. 18.
UNM’s lone weekday game of the regular season is at Air Force on Thursday, Oct. 23. The contest will be televised by the CBS College Sports Network.
Utah comes to Albuquerque on Nov. 1. The Lobos close out the regular season with road games at UNLV (Nov. 8) and at Colorado State (Nov. 15).
New Mexico does not have an open week for the first time since Long’s first year at UNM in 1998.
“I don’t think it’s a stretch to say this is the most challenging schedule we have had in my time as head coach,” said Rocky Long, who begins his 11th season at his alma mater in 2008. “For certain, it’s a very attractive home schedule for our fans. I hope season tickets will be on the rise, based on how we finished last year and the opponents that are coming to University Stadium in 2008.”
The Lobos return 40 lettermen – including 12 starters – from last year’s team that finished 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the Mountain West Conference. The 2007 Lobos became just the fourth team in school history to win at least nine games.
UNM made its fifth bowl appearance in the past six seasons, blanking Nevada 23-0 in New Mexico Bowl II. The Wolf Pack had not been shut out in 329 games. It was the Lobos’ first bowl victory since 1961.
New Mexico is the only program in the Mountain West Conference that has won at least six games – and thus been bowl eligible every year since 2001.
Now the Dean of Mountain West Conference head coaches, Rocky Long has guided his alma mater to at least six wins in seven straight seasons for the first time in program history.
Spring practice gets underway on Thursday, April 10. The annual Cherry-Silver scrimmage is scheduled for Saturday, April 26.
Orders are currently being taken for season tickets at the ticket office at The Pit. Season ticket renewals were mailed out today.