ALBUQUERQUE — Colorado State’s bowl experience has come full circle since facing Michigan in the 1994 Holiday Bowl.
When CSU and Fresno State bands alternate on the University Stadium field before Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. New Mexico Bowl kickoff, the Rams’ marching band will win by about a 5-1 margin.
Some will recall CSU’s band looked like a high school outfit compared to Michigan’s, when the Wolverines won on the field 24-14 in 1994. Since then, CSU’s band has grown every year.
When the two teams, fans and bands converged at Sandia Resort for the official prebowl luncheon today, the Rams’ band crammed into the ballroom with 220 members. They caravaned from Fort Collins in five buses.
Fresno State had barely 40 elite members of its band. Bulldogs spokesman Steve Weakland said the trip was too long for a bus ride, and finances prevented the full band from going by air.
While CSU ticket sales have exceeded 5,000 of the 6,000 allotment, with about 1,500 donated to charities and nearby military families, Fresno State has sold only 1,000. CSU fans can drive down Interstate 25 and there are numerous direct flights from Denver. There are no direct connections between Fresno and Albuquerque.
Players from both teams at today’s bowl press conference offered reasons for the local fans to cheer for their teams.
CSU quarterback Billy Farris reminded New Mexico fans, “We’re both in the Mountain West.”
Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater impressed even his coach, Pat Hill, with a comeback that New Mexico fans should just wear their Lobo red teams colors “because we both have red uniforms. A Lobos shirt will be just as good. It will look like they are all Fresno State fans on TV.”
Family ties: Fresno State tight end Bear Pascoe has all the incentive he needs against the Rams. His father, Sean Pascoe, was a CSU linebacker in the late 1970s. He would have liked to play for the Rams after growing up hearing CSU stories but had absolutely no regrets about becoming a Bulldog.
CSU coach Steve Fairchild took one look at the 6-foot-5, 260-pound senior and said he wished CSU had recruited him.
Chad Henning guests: After speaking at last year’s Armed Forces Bowl when alma mater Air Force played, ex-Falcon and Dallas Cowboy defensive lineman Chad Henning said ESPN asked him to come to this luncheon.
The keynote speaker said he couldn’t take sides because Air Force was in the WAC when he played in the 1980s and AFA is now in the Mountain West.
White House connections: New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, nominated by President-elect Barack Obama as secretary of commerce, is expected to attend the game.
Bowl founder and former New Mexico athletic director Rudy Davalos said Richardson was an early backer for the bowl game.
“We’re not losing money and we’re not going to lose money,” bowl executive director Jeff Siembieda said. “We’re solvent and the future is good.”
The bowl has the sponsorship of various New Mexico tourism boards.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
