TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Arizona football team has accepted an invitation to play in the 10th annual Gildan New Mexico Bowl hosted at University Stadium in Albuquerque, N.M. The Wildcats will play the University of New Mexico on the Lobos’ home field in a game televised live by ESPN at noon (MST) on Saturday, Dec. 19.
"We are excited to be invited back to the Gildan New Mexico Bowl,” Athletics Director Greg Byrne said. "Bowl games are a tremendous reward for the student-athletes, especially in a year like this where our team faced so much adversity. I know Coach (Rich) Rodriguez, his staff and certainly the players are eager to get back on the field and represent our program in a bowl game for the fourth straight season. That is a mark of consistency previously unmatched in our program, and we will use this opportunity to build our program as we strive to compete for the Pac-12 Championship in the coming seasons. We hope to see many of our fans in Albuquerque on Dec. 19.”
Arizona (6-6) will make its second appearance in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, prevailing 49-48 in a thrilling comeback win over Nevada on Dec. 15, 2012. The victory capped head coach Rich Rodriguez’s first season with the program, and the latest bowl appearance gives the Wildcats four consecutive bowl games for the first time in school history.
“We are looking forward to returning to the Gildan New Mexico Bowl where we have great memories from a few years ago,” Rodriguez said. “It’s especially important to our seniors who will now play in a bowl game for the fourth consecutive season. I know we’re ready to get to work and start preparing for a tough opponent in New Mexico.”
New Mexico (7-5), making its first bowl appearance since 2007, will host the Wildcats in a postseason return game of sorts, after Arizona hosted the Lobos in the 1997 Insight.com Bowl, which was played at Arizona Stadium. The Wildcats captured a 20-14 victory that season in the only other postseason meeting between the schools.
This year’s trip to Albuquerque will mark Arizona’s 20th all-time bowl appearance (8-10-1), including the seventh in the last eight seasons. The Lobos will be the third Mountain West Conference bowl opponent over the last four years for Arizona. Along with the victory over Nevada in 2012, the Wildcats fell to Boise State in the 2014 VIZIO Fiesta Bowl.
Historically, Arizona enjoys a 43-20-3 advantage in a series of long-time regional rivals. New Mexico has won the previous two meetings going back to the 2007 and ‘08 regular seasons.
To best support the Arizona football program, fans are encouraged to purchase tickets directly through the McKale Ticket Office. Tickets are $40 for the public ($15 for UA students) and are available for purchase online now by clicking HERE and through the McKale Ticket Office after 9 a.m. Monday. Fans will be able to confirm their order and seat location when they purchase tickets.
For continued coverage of Arizona football, follow the team on Twitter at @ArizonaFBall and on Facebook at facebook.com/ArizonaFootball.
