CHAMPIONSHIP COACH: University of New Mexico head football coach Rocky Long eyes the trophy for New Mexico Bowl II before it is presented by bowl director Jeff Siembieda.
Lobos blank Nevada to win NM Bowl
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All American kicker John Sullivan had three field goals, including two of more than 40 yards in the first half, as New Mexico built a 20-0 lead at halftime. His career-long 53-yard field goal with 6:07 left in the half made the score 17-0, and a 45-yarder with 2:48 remaining in the period gave him a short-lived NCAA record of 11-for-11 beyond 40 yards. He also had two blocked, including one on the last play of the half, and finished 3-for-6 on the day.
New Mexico has appeared in six bowls in the last 11 years, including five in the past six years under Long. But it was the first bowl victory since beating Western Michigan 28-12 in the long-since deceased Aviation Bowl, a bone of contention for some fans and members of the media that obviously irritated Long and his players.
"We were getting a little tired of people telling us we were going to lose this game," senior linebacker Michael Tuhoy said. "So all those media people that said we were going to lose -- what's up now?"
Nevada, 6-7, finished tied for fourth in the Western Athletic Conference with a 4-4 league record. But two of those losses were to ranked teams - 52-10 at No. 20 Nebraska in the season opener and 28-26 at home to No. 13 Hawaii.
The Wolfpack also lost in four overtimes at Boise State, which finished the year in the Top 25 in both polls going into the bowl season.
A defiant Long took the media to task in his post-game news conference as well.
“I’ve said this so many times I can’t believe that nobody wants to believe it: Our team is the best team that has been here in 10 years. It’s not the most talented team. It’s the best team. because when someone has to step up they step up, just like Paul did today. When we have to have a drive and take it down and score, we drive it down and take it down and score. When we have to stop somebody, we stop somebody. Not every single game, but most of the time.
“I’ll promise you that 10 of the 13 times (UNM played this season) the other team had as good or better athletes than we did. We won nine games because our team was the best team that has been here in 10 years. I don’t think they got the credit they deserved, by the way.”
Long went on to take the Albuquerque media to task.
“I’m happy for the whole team, mostly because they haven’t been here for 47 (actually 46) years. All they hear about is they can’t win a bowl game and they can’t do this and they can’t do that. We have good competitors on our football team because they listened to all that negative crap and go out and perform well anyway.”
Asked if the bowl victory made the program better, he said. “It’s not any better. This program in football hasn’t been very good if you look at the history. We talk about knocking doors down. We’ve jumped hurdles or whatever you want to say. We’ve knocked a whole bunch of doors down in the last six or seven years, and we knocked another one down today.
“And it gets the – whatever the term is – it gets it off our back. And we don’t have to listen to it anymore. But this program was good before we won a bowl game. Hell, we’ve been eligible for a bowl game for seven straight years.
“It’s you people (the media) that make it so important that we have to win or we’re not justified or validified or whatever the word is. It’s you folks that do that, not us. We believe. Our players believe. I believe.
“I’m glad you’re giving me a soap box, by the way.”
Long also addressed the critics who didn’t believe his team should play in a hometown bowl for two straight years.
“I want to thank the crowd that showed up. I think there were some things that happened over the week that probably made the crowd a little bit smaller than it would have been or should have been.
“I hope that all sports fan in this state realize what a special thing it is to have a bowl game in your state, in your community. It’s nothing but positive, and I wish every body realized – there was a lot of negative feelings going on this week.
“People just have to understand there’s not that many bowl games and you can’t buy, for the state of New Mexico and the community of Albuquerque, you cannot buy that kind of positive advertisement no matter how much money you have when you’re on national TV. I hope our state and our community starts realizing that.
“I was a little disappointed that the crowd wasn’t bigger.
Later, speaking mostly to out-of-town reporters, Long mellowed – just a bit.
“It was important for us to win the game, but I don’t think it’s more important to win a bowl game than any other game. Because it's the last game of the year people seem to put more emphasis on it, and when you have a 47 (actually 46) year drought I guess everyone wants to make it more important than it really is
“I think there’s a need for a playoff system. I think the one bowl game that really counts is the national championship game. The rest of these games are highly competitive and a lot of fun, and it’s a blessing for teams that get to go to bowl games. But until they have a playoff system, a bowl games is a bowl game and it is not any more important than a regular season game.
“I think it’s important for the program. But to overemphasize one game over all the rest of them – that’s baloney. But because we’ve been in five bowl games and haven’t won, there is a natural emphasis that the game seems more important than it really is.
“I knew we were going to win a bowl game sooner or later. It’s n ice to have it now so I wouldn’t have to hear about it all next year if we qualify. Bowl games are fun. They are fun experiences. It’s great competition and fun for both teams.
“But until we have a playoff system, that’s just what it is. It’s a bowl game.”
Long contrasted his feelings with those of former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, who lost in three Super Bowls on the professional level and said it wasn’t important to his career – until after he won two, and admitted in retirement how important it was.
“That’s a playoff system. They’re proving that they’re the very best team in the world,” Long said. “If there was a playoff system and we had just won the first playoff game, I’d be completely different. I’d say it was huge, because now you’re playing to try to be the very best.
“We’re the New Mexico Bowl champs. We’re not the national champs.”
MORE TO COME
Coninued from Page 1 Colorado raced out to the early lead on home Riley Nelson’s 12th goal of the season at the 1:40 mark.
Scorpions lose late lead, game in shootout
The loss overshadowed the fine play by goalie Mike Minard, who made 38 saves to earn second star honors in a losing cause. Including the extra play,
The Scorpions were only awarded one power play ins shot from just inside the circle found the back of the net giving his team the 2-1 lead after one period of play.
The teams remained scoreless until Leonard’s goal.
On Friday, the Rocky Mountain Rage got a measure of revenge Friday night, using three power play goals to defeat New Mexico 4-2, marking the first victory in three attempts by the Rage over New Mexico this season.
The first time the two teams played New Mexico routed the Rage 10-0 on Nov. 2. That no doubt left some bad blood between the two teams, which boiled over after a 4-2 New Mexico victory on Dec. 1 which resulted in four players being suspended for participating in a post-game brawl. At the time, Rocky Mountain had lost only two games all year – both to the Scorpions.
There were two fights Friday night. A minute and a half after Erik Johnson banked a shot off goaltender Scott Reid to give New Mexico a 1-0 lead, David Simones of the Scorpions and Jeff Hansen of Rocky Mountain dropped their gloves and earned fighting major penalties. Scott Wray fought Craig Macdonald in the second period and earned an automatic game misconduct penalty for not having his jersey tied down.
Johnson’s goal was his first as a Scorpion. He was acquired in a trade with Youngstown on Nov. 28.
But the Scorpions, coming off back-to-back victories at home, could not sustain the momentum on the road. Simon Watson scored two power-play goals in the second period before Konrad Reeder responded with a power play goal of hi own six seconds shy of the midpoint of the final period.
The lead lased less than a minute, though, as Tyler Butler took advantage of a goalie interference call against New Mexico’s Tim Vitek to give the Rage a 3-2 lead with 10:38 left in the game. Butler also had three assists on the evening, including Daymen Rycroft’s empty net goal with 1:04 left to seal the victory.
In all, Rocky Mountain was 3-of-4 on the power play, compared to 1-of-9 for New Mexico. The Rage outshot New Mexico 31-30..
The Scorpions will end the 2007 calendar year with games against Amarillo on Friday and Saturday at the Santa Ana Star Center. It promises to be a noisy couple of games, as thunderstix will be given to the fans courtesy of Santa Ana Star Casino at the first game and Chick-Fil-A will be giving away cowbells the following night.
For ticket information, call 881-PUCK (7825) or visit http://www.ScorpionsHockey.com. Complete stats and standings are available at http://www.CentralHockeyLeague.com. CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Tim Vitek’s first goal for the New Mexico Scorpions came as the fifth shooter and final shooter in a shootout, securing a 2-1 victory for the visiting team Wednesday night in a Central Hockey League game. The win gave Vitak, who spent the last 2½ seasons playing in the Southern Professional Hockey League, joined the Scorpions on Dec. 15. He also played two years for After a scoreless third period and five minutes of four-on-four hockey without a goal, it was little surprise that the shooters struggled in the five-man shootout, too. Konrad Reeder scored as Andrew Martin stopped 27 shots on goal to record the victory for Jason Tapp had 31 saves for The Scorpions have two more games on their current road trip before returning home next weekend for a pair of game. Prior to the game, the New Mexico Ice Holes will play the Media at 4 p.m. to benefit New Mexico Special Olympics. Fans holding a ticket for the Scorpions game get in free to the Ice Holes charity game. For ticket information, call 881-PUCK or visit www.ScorpionsHockey.com. Complete CHL statistics and standings are available at www.CentralHockeyLeague.com. CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Tim Vitek’s first goal for the New Mexico Scorpions came as the fifth shooter and final shooter in a shootout, securing a 2-1 victory for the visiting team Wednesday night in a Central Hockey League game. The win gave Vitak, who spent the last 2½ seasons playing in the Southern Professional Hockey League, joined the Scorpions on Dec. 15. He also played two years for After a scoreless third period and five minutes of four-on-four hockey without a goal, it was little surprise that the shooters struggled in the five-man shootout, too. Konrad Reeder scored as Andrew Martin stopped 27 shots on goal to record the victory for Jason Tapp had 31 saves for The Scorpions have two more games on their current road trip before returning home next weekend for a pair of game. Prior to the game, the New Mexico Ice Holes will play the Media at 4 p.m. to benefit New Mexico Special Olympics. Fans holding a ticket for the Scorpions game get in free to the Ice Holes charity game. For ticket information, call 881-PUCK or visit www.ScorpionsHockey.com. Complete CHL statistics and standings are available at www.CentralHockeyLeague.com.
After a scoreless first period, each team used the power play to get on the board in the second. The Rayz’ Jay Latulippe notched his fifth goal of the season when his shot deflected off a stick into the net at the 10:49 mark.
On Saturday, Jan. 19, the Special Olympics will be recognized when the Scorpions play host to
Both games will be part of an “All You Can Eat Weekend Special” where a corner seat ticket plus all the hot dogs, sodas, nachos and popcorn you can consume costs only $26.
After a scoreless first period, each team used the power play to get on the board in the second. The Rayz’ Jay Latulippe notched his fifth goal of the season when his shot deflected off a stick into the net at the 10:49 mark.
On Saturday, Jan. 19, the Special Olympics will be recognized when the Scorpions play host to
Both games will be part of an “All You Can Eat Weekend Special” where a corner seat ticket plus all the hot dogs, sodas, nachos and popcorn you can consume costs only $26.