“This is a great matchup to kick-off the bowl season and will be a treat for fans in New Mexico and throughout the nation,” said Jeff Siembieda, Gildan New Mexico Bowl Executive Director. “To be able to put together a pair of 8-4 teams who have this much talent and are both playing well should make for a fantastic game.”
Wyoming, representing the Mountain West Conference, makes its second appearance in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. The Cowboys won the 2009 game, 35-28 in double overtime against Fresno State, improving to 6-6 in the postseason.
“Wyoming was part of what is probably the most exciting game in our bowl’s short history and we are thrilled to be able to invite them back,” said Siembieda. “This is a very good football team with a wonderfully passionate fan base; they are first-class all around.”
Temple, out of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), is playing in a bowl game for just the fourth time in program history and its first since 2009 when the Owls took on UCLA in the EagleBank Bowl.
“It is very exciting for us to bring Temple to the state of New Mexico,” said Siembieda. “This is a very exciting football team with tremendous talent. I know football fans in this region, and everywhere else are going to really like Temple football.”
The Cowboys finished 8-4 overall and 5-2 in the MW this season, good enough for a third place finish behind 16th-ranked TCU and eighth-ranked Boise State. The Owls also went 8-4 in 2011, finishing second in the East Division of the MAC. Wyoming ended the regular season winning three of its last four and five of its last seven while Temple flies into the postseason on a three-game win streak.
This will not be the first match-up of this two storied programs. Wyoming and Temple played in Laramie on Sept. 1, 1990 with the Cowboys picking up a 28-23 victory. Against current members of the MW, Temple is 1-2, having a 1-1 mark against TCU. Wyoming is 6-2 overall versus current MAC affiliates.
Tickets, which are on sale now, range from $25-$40 and can be purchased at the University of New Mexico Ticket Office located in The Pit, online at www.unmtickets.com, or by calling 925-LOBO or 925-5999.