Lobo fans ready to make trek

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Dec. 13, 2002 | 10:09 a.m.

New Mexico athletic director Rudy Davalos is promising a whole lot of fans wearing cherry red at the 11th annual Las Vegas Bowl on Christmas Day. And that could translate into a lot of green for the city of Las Vegas, especially downtown.

The Lobos have sold more than 4,000 tickets to the game in just five days since receiving their invitation to play UCLA. It's only the second bowl game since 1961 for the school.

"I'll be real disappointed if we don't have between 6,000 to 10,000 people at the game," Davalos said Thursday at a media conference at the ESPN Zone at New York-New York.

"People were talking about the Christmas Day scenario and how it might not be the most attractive (day to play the game)," Davalos continued. "I'm sure it has kept some people home. But it's amazing just how many families are going to have their Christmas in Las Vegas this year. They're going to come early and stay late."

The Golden Nugget, the official team hotel for the Lobos, sold out 700 rooms in 48 hours for Christmas Eve and Christmas. Another popular package put together by the school's Lobo Club that is nearing a sellout includes round-trip bus transportation, a game ticket, three nights at Fitzgeralds and a tailgate luncheon for $275.

"I've been here 10 years and (Las Vegas) has to be the number one destination for the state, not just Lobo fans," Davalos said. "So I knew we would travel well. I don't know if it would have been the same if we had gone to Memphis (site of the Liberty Bowl) or some place else because our fans can just hop in their cars and get here.

"Our fans are excited to be in the game. This is only the second time we've been to a bowl game since 1961. You know how big basketball is in our town? Well, all they're talking about now is this bowl game. I think it will be a great deal."

Davalos said he expects even more of a rush for tickets on Sunday night when Las Vegas Bowl officials make a special appearance at halftime of the Lobos' big basketball game with archrival New Mexico State at The Pit.

"We're going to have over 17,000 people at that game," Davalos said. "We're going to bring (coach) Rocky (Long) and the team down on the court and everything. I think that will get more people excited about the game. We're going to set up special ticket booths at the arena for fans who want to buy (Las Vegas Bowl) tickets."

Meanwhile, UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said he wasn't sure how many Bruin fans would make the four-hour trip up I-15 to the game.

"I haven't heard any indications yet but I do know our fans are pretty excited about it," Guerrero said. "I know our kids are excited to be playing in the game. We had an opportunity to go to a bowl game last year (the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise) and UCLA choose not to go. So the kids are happy to be going to a game like this one this year."

It has been a hectic week for Guerrero who, in his first major move since replacing Peter Dalis as UCLA athletic director, fired football coach Bob Toledo despite a 7-5 season on Monday morning.

"It has been a tough week," Guerrero said. "It was tough making a decision on Bob. It was the right decision. It's something we had to make to move our program forward. We're busily engaged in trying to get his replacement."

Guerrero, who reportedly was to have another meeting with former Chargers and Oregon State head coach Mike Riley as early as today, said he had no timetable for hiring Toledo's replacement. Ed Kezirian, a former Bruins assistant under Terry Donahue who is currently the assistant director of academic services for the school, is the interim head coach.

"Obviously, you'd like to do it sooner than later," Guerrero said. "(But) you want to find someone who is the right fit for UCLA and make a good, prudent decision. We'll take whatever time is necessary to try and make that happen."

Tickets, priced at $10, $30, $50 and $100, are still available for the game and can be reserved by calling (866) 388-FANS or the Thomas & Mack Center box office at 895-3900. Additional information about the game can be viewed online at www.lvbowl.com.06