ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The green chili has been consumed and the bowling pins have been toppled. Now it's time for Nevada and New Mexico to find out who has the better football team.
"Those are all fun and games," Lobo linebacker Cody Kase said at Friday's New Mexico Bowl press conference, referring to the chili cookoff and bowling competition the teams had this week (Nevada won both). "You'd like to win them. I think we're all a little upset that we didn't.
"I think today there's a little more animosity, a lot more silence. There's less mingling. I think everyone's focused on the game. Today was the first day where I'm just ... I'm nervous already."
Sunny skies and temperatures in the high 30s are expected for the 1:30 p.m. kickoff at New Mexico's University Stadium. ESPN, which owns the bowl, is televising the game.
A storm passed through Albuquerque on Friday afternoon, leaving a dusting of snow and forcing the cancellation of a pep rally at a nearby outdoor mall.
"As long as it's above 34 degrees our guys are going to think they're in Florida because we didn't have one good day in Reno to practice in, and our guys practiced hard and well," Nevada coach Chris Ault said. "I'm really pleased with their efforts."
The teams attended a press conference and luncheon at the Sandia Casino just north of Albuquerque on Friday. ESPN's Lee Corso was the keynote speaker, but he chose not to don one of the team's helmets -- the way he picks a winner when he's on ESPN's GameDay.
"I'll get one of them mad," the former college coach said during a small press conference before the luncheon. "I do that enough on TV. I've been doing this for a long time, and I've pissed off everybody in the country at least twice."
Both of the coaches said they expect a close game, and they also said that they were grateful for the nearly three weeks of preparation for their opponent's unique styles -- Nevada's pistol offense and New Mexico's 3-3-6 attacking defense.
"We needed the full 2? weeks of practice," said Ault, whose team won its final regular season game to get to 6-6 and become bowl eligible. "I think they are an outstanding defensive team."
The Lobos bring blitzes from all over the field and they rank 23rd in the country in total defense. Senior defensive ends Tyler Donaldson and Michael Tuohy have combined for 28 tackles for loss and 9? sacks.
"We've been very good all year against all the teams we've seen," said Ault, whose team ranks seventh in the nation in total offense. "They are a perimeter-based defense, and they'll just keep coming. Whether you block it or not, they'll just keep coming, so we've got to be consistent. You can never fall asleep on it. That, to me, is the biggest difference between some teams that blitz a lot compared to them."
Senior tight end Adam Bishop said there will be some situations when the tight ends and running backs will provide blocking support.
It is Ault's pistol offense that has been giving New Mexico coach Rocky Long and his defensive staff headaches. Long has said that his defense has struggled stopping his scout team's pistol attack.
"It's scary," said Long, whose team is 8-4 and is playing in its fifth bowl in the last six years. "I compare this to preparing for the triple option because it's unique and you don't see it all the time. It's the first time we've played against it. There are some nuances I'm sure I don't understand. We'll be much better the next time we play against it.
"It always makes you nervous in practice when you can't stop it. And I'm sure they run it a whole lot better and a whole lot faster than our scout team does."
On the other side of the ball, the biggest subplot is how the Lobos will adjust to the loss of first-team All-Mountain West Conference running back Rodney Ferguson, who is academically ineligible. The 229-pound junior had a school-record 292 carries for 1,177 yards. Paul Baker, a 5-foot-7, 195-pound junior, will start. He has 87 carries for 298 yards.
"He's got a chance to show everybody what we already know," Long said. "If we've got to run it 40 times, he'll get the ball 40 times."
His teammates have confidence in Baker.
"I don't think (the loss of Ferguson) makes that much of a difference," said senior receiver Travis Brown, one of two of the Lobos' first-team All-MWC selections along with Marcus Smith. "I think (Baker) brings a little more agility and speed. Rodney is more of a bruiser. I think Paul's more shifty maybe and a little better pass catcher."
The Lobos also have one of the nation's top kickers. John Sullivan had a national-best 26 field goals (on 29 attempts) despite having no anterior cruciate ligament in his plant (left) leg. He was a Walter Camp first-team All-American.
The Lobos will be looking to end a streak of postseason futility. They have lost five straight bowl games and haven't won a bowl game since the 1962 Aviation Bowl. A victory would also give the Lobos their ninth win, something they've done just three times in program history.
Kase said the senior-dominated team has accepted the pressure of ending the streak.
"I think this senior class wants to make a legacy," he said. "We want to do something that hasn't been done here for a while. Once we're in the game I think I'll forget about it, but I hope it has helped everyone focus."
The Wolf Pack has its own motivation.
"Many people wonder if a 6-6 team belongs in a bowl," Ault said. "And that is a great opportunity and great motivational factor for us."
"We definitely want to end the season with a winning record," Nevada running back Luke Lippincott said. "To do that we've got to win. I think our record doesn't indicate how good we are, but we've got to prove it on the field."
"Those are all fun and games," Lobo linebacker Cody Kase said at Friday's New Mexico Bowl press conference, referring to the chili cookoff and bowling competition the teams had this week (Nevada won both). "You'd like to win them. I think we're all a little upset that we didn't.
"I think today there's a little more animosity, a lot more silence. There's less mingling. I think everyone's focused on the game. Today was the first day where I'm just ... I'm nervous already."
Sunny skies and temperatures in the high 30s are expected for the 1:30 p.m. kickoff at New Mexico's University Stadium. ESPN, which owns the bowl, is televising the game.
A storm passed through Albuquerque on Friday afternoon, leaving a dusting of snow and forcing the cancellation of a pep rally at a nearby outdoor mall.
"As long as it's above 34 degrees our guys are going to think they're in Florida because we didn't have one good day in Reno to practice in, and our guys practiced hard and well," Nevada coach Chris Ault said. "I'm really pleased with their efforts."
The teams attended a press conference and luncheon at the Sandia Casino just north of Albuquerque on Friday. ESPN's Lee Corso was the keynote speaker, but he chose not to don one of the team's helmets -- the way he picks a winner when he's on ESPN's GameDay.
"I'll get one of them mad," the former college coach said during a small press conference before the luncheon. "I do that enough on TV. I've been doing this for a long time, and I've pissed off everybody in the country at least twice."
Both of the coaches said they expect a close game, and they also said that they were grateful for the nearly three weeks of preparation for their opponent's unique styles -- Nevada's pistol offense and New Mexico's 3-3-6 attacking defense.
"We needed the full 2? weeks of practice," said Ault, whose team won its final regular season game to get to 6-6 and become bowl eligible. "I think they are an outstanding defensive team."
The Lobos bring blitzes from all over the field and they rank 23rd in the country in total defense. Senior defensive ends Tyler Donaldson and Michael Tuohy have combined for 28 tackles for loss and 9? sacks.
"We've been very good all year against all the teams we've seen," said Ault, whose team ranks seventh in the nation in total offense. "They are a perimeter-based defense, and they'll just keep coming. Whether you block it or not, they'll just keep coming, so we've got to be consistent. You can never fall asleep on it. That, to me, is the biggest difference between some teams that blitz a lot compared to them."
Senior tight end Adam Bishop said there will be some situations when the tight ends and running backs will provide blocking support.
It is Ault's pistol offense that has been giving New Mexico coach Rocky Long and his defensive staff headaches. Long has said that his defense has struggled stopping his scout team's pistol attack.
"It's scary," said Long, whose team is 8-4 and is playing in its fifth bowl in the last six years. "I compare this to preparing for the triple option because it's unique and you don't see it all the time. It's the first time we've played against it. There are some nuances I'm sure I don't understand. We'll be much better the next time we play against it.
"It always makes you nervous in practice when you can't stop it. And I'm sure they run it a whole lot better and a whole lot faster than our scout team does."
On the other side of the ball, the biggest subplot is how the Lobos will adjust to the loss of first-team All-Mountain West Conference running back Rodney Ferguson, who is academically ineligible. The 229-pound junior had a school-record 292 carries for 1,177 yards. Paul Baker, a 5-foot-7, 195-pound junior, will start. He has 87 carries for 298 yards.
"He's got a chance to show everybody what we already know," Long said. "If we've got to run it 40 times, he'll get the ball 40 times."
His teammates have confidence in Baker.
"I don't think (the loss of Ferguson) makes that much of a difference," said senior receiver Travis Brown, one of two of the Lobos' first-team All-MWC selections along with Marcus Smith. "I think (Baker) brings a little more agility and speed. Rodney is more of a bruiser. I think Paul's more shifty maybe and a little better pass catcher."
The Lobos also have one of the nation's top kickers. John Sullivan had a national-best 26 field goals (on 29 attempts) despite having no anterior cruciate ligament in his plant (left) leg. He was a Walter Camp first-team All-American.
The Lobos will be looking to end a streak of postseason futility. They have lost five straight bowl games and haven't won a bowl game since the 1962 Aviation Bowl. A victory would also give the Lobos their ninth win, something they've done just three times in program history.
Kase said the senior-dominated team has accepted the pressure of ending the streak.
"I think this senior class wants to make a legacy," he said. "We want to do something that hasn't been done here for a while. Once we're in the game I think I'll forget about it, but I hope it has helped everyone focus."
The Wolf Pack has its own motivation.
"Many people wonder if a 6-6 team belongs in a bowl," Ault said. "And that is a great opportunity and great motivational factor for us."
"We definitely want to end the season with a winning record," Nevada running back Luke Lippincott said. "To do that we've got to win. I think our record doesn't indicate how good we are, but we've got to prove it on the field."
