(Sports Network) - The 2009-10 bowl season kicks off on
Saturday afternoon, as the fourth annual New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque plays
host to the Fresno State Bulldogs and the Wyoming Cowboys.

The Bulldogs are back in this event for the second time in as many years,
having lost to Colorado State in 2008 by a 40-35 final. Now in his 13th season
with the Bulldogs, head coach Pat Hill has led his squad to a postseason
appearance 10 times in the last 11 seasons.

"Heading back to Albuquerque is an honor for our team and program," coach Hill
noted of the invitation. "The people of New Mexico treated us very well last
year and we are looking forward to going back. Playing the first game of the
bowl season is a great opportunity for our team."

Hill, who earned his 100th career victory in the regular-season finale versus
Illinois on the road just two weeks ago (53-52), managed to turn the squad
around from a record of just 1-3 heading into October to 8-4 overall and 6-2
mark versus the rest of the Western Athletic Conference. At this point, the
team is riding a two-game win streak and has won seven of the last eight, the
lone loss during the stretch coming against an electrifying Nevada squad in a
52-14 final.

As for the Cowboys, under the direction of first-year head coach Dave
Christensen, they had their ups and downs this year and limped into the
postseason with a record of 6-6 overall and 4-4 in Mountain West Conference
action. Wyoming gained bowl eligibility for the first time since 2006, but
that year the team did not get a call for the postseason, which means
Christensen is the first UW coach to take his team to a bowl game in his first
season since Paul Roach turned the trick in 1987 when he took his squad to the
Holiday Bowl.

"Our kids were thrilled when they heard we were going to the New Mexico Bowl,"
coach Christensen says of the opportunity. "This group of young men has worked
so hard this season to earn this opportunity. My staff and I are happy for
them, and we are happy for our fans."

Christensen continued, "The fans of Wyoming have shown us great support all
season, and I know that they will be there in Albuquerque to support us once
again."

Fresno State's bowl history stretches back to the 1937 All-American Bowl when
it defeated Arkansas State by a scant 27-26 score. Overall, the Bulldogs hold
a mark of 12-10 in postseason outings, compared to the Cowboys who are 5-6
following their 24-21 victory over UCLA in the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl. With that
triumph, Wyoming snapped a six-game postseason slide and is now one step
closer to showing a .500 record in bowl competition, currently posting a 5-6
mark.

In terms of a series history between these two programs, FSU's 24-7 win at
home back in 1997 served to even the meetings at three apiece and snap a two-
game slide versus the Pokes, back when Wyoming was a member of the Western
Athletic Conference.

Usually powered by their defense under coach Hill, the Bulldogs have tried a
slightly different approach this season, leaning heavily on the running game
to take them places. In particular, the squad was carried by the legs of
running back Ryan Mathews who led the nation with his 151.3 ypg on the ground,
cranking out nine consecutive 100-yard games and setting a new school record
with 1,664 yards. Ranked seventh in the nation in rushing as a unit with 231.6
ypg, the Bulldogs were looked at in a new light in 2009 and even Mathews
grabbed some of the spotlight as he was named a Second Team All-American by
the AP earlier this week.

While generally not thought of as part of the offense, kicker Kevin Goessling
also played a major role for Fresno State this season as well, bouncing back
after missing his first field goal of the season to knock through 15 in a row
and set a new school record that he carries into the postseason. For his
efforts, Goessling was also named an honorable mention All-America.

"We are very proud of Ryan and Kevin for making these prestigious All-America
teams," coach Hill affirmed as he added to the list of All-America performers
under his tutelage.

Handling the passing responsibilities for the Bulldogs this season is junior
Ryan Colburn who threw for more than 200 yards only three times this season,
but at least he didn't hurt the team with just 11 interceptions in 279
attempts.

Unfortunately, defense might be a different story for the Bulldogs as they
ranked 111th in the country in stopping the run with 212.4 ypg allowed.
However, a big part of that stems from the last few weeks of the season when
Fresno was up against Nevada (461 yards, seven touchdowns) and Illinois (331
yards, four TDs). Take away those 11 scores by the two opponents and the
Bulldogs were fairly tough in that area with a total of just 10 TDs allowed on
the ground in the other 10 outings.

FSU was dead last in the Football Bowl Subdivision in terms of sacks with a
total of only nine, coming up with just one such tackle in the final four
games of the season, so there might not be much action in that department this
weekend either.

As for the Cowboys, their offense often staggered from one week to the next.
Three times this season the team was held scoreless and three other times the
squad failed to get beyond 10 points. Some of the problem was a result of the
offense having to learn a new approach under coach Christensen and using
numerous quarterbacks who endured plenty of growing pains. Rising among the
confusion was true freshman Austyn Carta-Samuels who was named the MWC
Freshman of the Year.

Wyoming actually had a total of seven players earn all-MWC recognition, which
made all the hard work well worth it this year.

"Austyn had a dramatic effect on this conference and on the success of our
team as a freshman....and kept us in games with the way he was able to affect
field position," acknowledged coach Christensen.

Carta-Samuels completed 59 percent of his pass attempts for 1,752 yards and
seven touchdowns, suffering just four INTs in 295 chances. So more than
anything else, he made sure to move the ball at a steady pace for the Pokes
and not cause unnecessary mistakes along the way.

Wideout David Leonard, an honorable mention all-conference performer, is
clearly the receiver of choice for the Cowboys, having reeled in 70 balls for
645 yards. Leonard's closest teammate was Zach Bolger who had 46 fewer
receptions, which means the Fresno State defense should know where to focus
its energies this weekend.

Carta-Samuels was also third in the team in rushing with 295 yards and three
scores, but with the offensive line ranked eighth in the MWC and 107th in the
country with almost three sacks allowed per game, some of those yards gained
by Carta-Samuels were meant to keep him in one piece, more than a designed
plan from the start.

If not for the huge offensive numbers put up by nationally-ranked opponents
this season, as Texas, BYU and TCU combined to score 138 points on the
Cowboys, the stats for the defense would not appear to be so soft in some
areas. The squad has given up 27.3 ppg and has shown some strength in pass
defense at times, but perhaps the most important stat for the Cowboys is that
they ranked 20th in the country and second in the conference in turnover
margin, so hopefully they can bring some of that experience and success to New
Mexico with them this weekend.





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