Fans flock to see their teams

Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002 | 11:06 a.m.

Thousands of college football fans took loyalty to a new level Wednesday, trading the traditional Christmas holiday at home for hot dogs and beer at the Las Vegas Bowl.

The crowd ranged from devoted UCLA and University of New Mexico students, fans and alumni who traveled to Las Vegas to locals who braved holiday traffic on the valley's freeways.

Antonio Maestas, an Albuquerque resident who has been attending UNM games for 31 of his 34 years, said the opportunities to see his team play in a bowl game are too rare to miss. This year's appearance in Las Vegas is only the team's second bowl game in 41 years.

"My mom gave me the green light to come," said Maestas, who grilled sausages for friends and relatives outside a motor home in the stadium parking lot. "She told me, 'You gotta do what you gotta do.' "

Melissa Brown also credited an understanding family for her Christmas visit to the Las Vegas to cheer on her alma mater, UCLA. She gave up a seat in a luxury box with her parents to watch the L.A. Lakers play Wednesday. The family exchanged gifts Tuesday night so that Brown could leave by 6 a.m. Christmas morning for the drive to Las Vegas.

"They were good sports about it," said Brown, a former member of UCLA's spirit squad. "For me, there was no question which game I'd choose."

An announced crowd of 21,584 watched as UCLA's Bruins beat the Lobos 27-13 at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Even though the Lobos were defeated, Nancy Lenke and her family thought it was well worth the 10-hour drive from their home in New Mexico.

"They played a great game and we're real proud of them," Lenke said. "We had a wonderful Christmas in Las Vegas."

Two hours before game time, the stadium parking lot was already crowded with cheerful tailgaters clad in UNM's crimson or the Bruins' blue.

Al Pardo and his two sons, who live in Orange County, Calif., said they had so much fun at last year's Las Vegas Bowl they decided to make it their new Christmas tradition. Wife and mother Laurie, however, opted to stay home with the family's chocolate Labrador retriever, Shaq.

"She's not a football fan and didn't really want to spend Christmas in Vegas," said Pardo, who was rooting for UCLA. "So we compromised, and we'll open presents and everything when we get home tomorrow."

For Deborah and David Shapiro, Christmas was a perfect time to bring their two children to Las Vegas to cheer for UCLA.

"They're future Bruins in training," said Deborah Shapiro, class of '92, as she threw impressive spirals to 8-year-old son Grant. "This is how we celebrate the holiday spirit, by cheering as hard as we can."

Some fans said they tried to fit some of the more traditional aspects of the holiday into their Vegas vacation schedules, including attending Mass at local churches.

"It's not the usual kind of holiday but it's been a blast," said UNM alumna Barbara Esch, who attended services at St. Joan of Arc Church with her family before the game. "And in the end, Christmas is about being with the people you love. It doesn't matter if you're in your house or football stadium."

And, as UNM alumni Don Martindell said before the kickoff, "There will be plenty of praying going on during the game."