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University of New Mexico and UCLA to Meet in the SEGA Sports Las Vegas Bowl

LAS VEGAS - At a media conference today at the ESPN Zone located inside the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on the famed Las Vegas "Strip," the SEGA Sports Las Vegas Bowl officially welcomed UCLA (4-4/7-5)

and the University of New Mexico (5-2/7-6). The event marked the official start of activities for the Christmas Day showdown between the Bruins and the Lobos at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.

Representatives from the SEGA Sports Las Vegas Bowl, SEGA Sports and the Las

Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority gathered on the Strip to welcome the

head coaches and athletic directors from UCLA and the University of New

Mexico in true Las Vegas fashion. Representatives from the Pac-10

Conference and Mountain West Conference (MWC) were also on hand for the

official welcome.

"We're honored today to welcome these two fine institutions to Las Vegas for

the start of preparations for Bowl Week," said Tina Kunzer-Murphy, SEGA

Sports Las Vegas Bowl executive director. "We expect an outstanding game,

one that will attract an enthusiastic crowd to Sam Boyd Stadium. We look

forward to hosting the coaches, administrators, players and fans from UCLA

and the University of New Mexico for the exciting activities and the

continuation of the Christmas Day football tradition in Las Vegas."

The SEGA Sports Las Vegas Bowl, which offers a payout of $800,000 to each

team, features the first-ever meeting between the Lobos and Bruins.

The Lobos, led by 2002 MWC Coach of the Year Rocky Long, finished the year

with four victories in its last five games. New Mexico culminated the

season with a dominating 49-20 win over Wyoming, ensuring the team only its

second bowl invitation since 1961. The Lobos' last bowl appearance was the

1997 Insight.com Bowl. Prior to accepting the head coaching job at New

Mexico, Long served as UCLA's defensive coordinator for two seasons

(1996-97).

"Personally, it's going to be a lot of fun for me, but obviously UCLA is a

very talented football team that has some reputation and history behind it,"

said Long. "I have great respect for their coaching staff, and we are going

to have to perform very well to play against that caliber of opponent.

Coach Kezirian will do a good job of getting them emotionally ready to

play."

UCLA, making its 24th bowl appearance, will be led by interim head coach Ed

Kezirian. Currently the assistant director of academic services, Kezirian

spent 11 seasons (1982-92) as a Bruin assistant coach.

"The players are excited about the opportunity to play in the SEGA Sports

Las Vegas Bowl," said Kezirian. "Our goal from the beginning of the season

has been to be a team of unity, and I see no indication from our players or

assistant coaches that we will deviate from that goal. Both schools are

deserving of a bowl game this season, and we're anxious to get started with

our first practice this Saturday and look forward to the bowl activities

that begin on Dec. 21st."

SEGA Sports, the premier sports video game brand, is not just the title

sponsor, but also an active partner with the SEGA Sports Las Vegas Bowl as

an integral part of this year's marketing campaign.

"We are thrilled to return as the title sponsor of the SEGA Sports Las Vegas

Bowl - as it speaks to many of our core consumers and gives us the

opportunity to communicate the SEGA Sports brand to new customers," said

Peter Moore, president and chief operating officer, SEGA of America, Inc.

"Not only are we reaching a captive audience on Christmas Day, but the

opportunity to have two very talented football teams participating in this

bowl should make for an exciting game."

Players, coaches, administrators and fans from UCLA and New Mexico will

enjoy a complete bowl experience combined with the unmatched entertainment

and attractions of Las Vegas, a world-renowned event and resort destination

that attracted more than 35 million visitors in 2001. As part of Bowl Week,

the SEGA Sports Las Vegas Bowl will host events at some of the city's most

exciting venues. The event line-up includes a Welcome Reception at the ESPN

Zone, the Kickoff Luncheon at the MGM Grand, Show Night in Las Vegas at Blue

Man Group, and the Pep Rally and Outback Buffet Bowl at the Golden

Nugget/Fremont Street Experience.

The SEGA Sports Las Vegas Bowl will be televised live on ESPN, beginning at

1:30 p.m. (PT) on Dec. 25.