ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — After five weeks of practice, after countless hours in the weight room, it’s finally time for a football game. The New Mexico Lobos will open the 2017 season by hosting the Abilene Christian Wildcats of the Southland Conference at Dreamstyle Stadium at 6:06 p.m. on Saturday, September 2. The game will not be on television or streamed. The game will be available on 770 KKOB with a free audio stream via golobos.com and the Tune-In Radio App.
The Lobos are looking to open the season 1-0 for the third straight year, and it mark the first time that’s happened since winning four in row from 1995-98. The matchup is the first between the two programs. The Lobos return several important starters, including quarterback Lamar Jordan, and 80% of the 2016 offensive line that helped UNM lead the nation in rushing.
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September 2 vs. Abilene Christian – 6 p.m.
- Media Partner: ESPN RADIO 101.7 THE TEAM
- Giveaway: 5,000 Lobo branded Shoelaces
- Ambassador Recognition
- MBB Recognized
- Lobo Hospitality Item of the Game: Rack of Red Chile Rubbed Ribs meal for 2 – $22.00 (Slow smoked red chile pork ribs, baked beans, coleslaw and green chile corn bread)
The Season:
The University of New Mexico Lobos went 9-4 last season, winning the 2016 Gildan New Mexico Bowl 23-20 over UTSA. The Lobos went 6-2 in the Mountain West’s Mountain Division, earning a share of the division title, losing out a chance to play for the Mountain West Championships on a complicated tiebreaker. The Lobos will enter the 2017 season having won seven of their last eight games, including the final two. The 2016 Mountain Division title was the first for UNM since 1997, when the team won the Mountain Division of the Western Athletic Conference and eventually played in the 1997 Insight.com Bowl. The Abilene Christian Wildcats are coming off a 2-9 season, but they have a whole new coaching staff. The lost a close game to open the season to Mountain West team Air Force 37-21.
The Coaches:
The University of New Mexico Lobos are coached by Bob Davie, who is 27-36 as he enters his sixth season with the Lobos, and he is 62-61 overall as he enters his 11th season. He spent his first five seasons as a head coach manning the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. After leading the Lobos to back-to-back bowl games, Davie has now been the head coach for five bowl teams, three at Notre Dame and two at New Mexico. He is looking to become just the second coach in UNM history to lead the Lobos to three straight bowl games. Adam Dorrel is in his first season with Abilene Christian after going 76-8 and winning three national titles in his six years at Northwest Missouri State. He went 15-0 all three of his title winning seasons.Fans can still purchase season tickets by visiting the Dreamstyle Arena Ticket Office, by calling 925-LOBO or going to unmtickets.com. Single game tickets for all six home games are also on sale now.