Cloud hangs over Las Vegas Bowl with UCLA coach’s firing

Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002 | 11:15 a.m.

LAS VEGAS AP) - Coaches and representatives from UCLA and the University of New Mexico arrived Thursday to tout the 11th annual Las Vegas Bowl. But at the news conference held to promote the Bruins-Lobos matchup, it was hard to ignore who wasn't there: the recently fired UCLA head coach Bob Toledo.

The decision to remove Toledo might help the Bruins in the long run, but it could hurt bowl attendance on Christmas Day.

"It's affected everything," said Tina Kunzer-Murphy, the bowl's executive director. "It's been very difficult because the coverage has been all negative. I'm hoping we can get over it."

So is most everybody else.

Ed Kezirian, UCLA's interim head coach,a Bruins assistant from 1982-92, said his players are trying tune out the distractions.

"It creates more of a challenge," said Kezirian, who last called a play in 1992. "But the kids are looking forward to playing in this bowl."

UCLA (7-5, 4 (4)- had a 49-32 record in seven seasons under the 56-year-old Toledo. UCLA was the fifth-place team in the Pac-10 Conference this year and lost its last two games. The Lobos 5-2,7 (6)- finished second behind Colorado State in the Mountain West Conference.

Rocky Long, Lobos head coach, said he had hoped to play against Toledo in the bowl, which is sponsored by SEGA Sports. Long was UCLA's defensive coordinator in 1996-97 before taking the New Mexico job.

Long told the news conference at the Strip's ESPN Zone that he was surprised when Toledo's dismissal was announced Monday.

"I didn't think it would happen," he said. "I thought they were just rumors. Personally, I was hoping coach Toledo would be here."

Long said he had spoken with Toledo this week.

"Obviously he's not happy," Long said. "I think he's disappointed and still believes that this is his football team."

But it's not. UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero made that clear when he let Toledo go.

Guerrero said Thursday that he didn't regret the timing of his decision. He said having Toledo around while searching for a new head coach would created an "awkward situation."

"I made the decision," Guerrero said. "It was the right decision."