![]() NewsBowl Week Events Conclude With Lunch And Pep RallyBowl Week events wrapped up today as the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Albuquerque hosted the annual press conference and kickoff luncheon. Wyoming head coach Dave Christensen, senior linebacker Brian Hendricks and senior wide receiver Mazi Ogbonna spoke to the media for about 15 minutes, followed by Temple head coach Steve Addazio, senior defensive end Andrian Robinson and senior linebacker Tahir Whitehead. After the press conference, the grand ballroom filled to near capacity with the teams, fans, family, friends and sponsors. The crowd was entertained by each schools' bands before the buffet-style lunch was served. While those in attendance ate, ESPN's Clay Matvik, who is the color commentator for the game, interviewed each head coach. Both spoke of their excitement to be in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl and their thoughts on the game. The lunch concluded with guest speaker Archie Manning talking specifically to the teams about leadership and his belief that strong leadership was the key to success. Manning quoted greats like Margaret Thatcher and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., while also throwing in some personal stories of his own, and his three sons, Cooper, Peyton and Eli. Late in the afternoon, members of the teams gathered with the bands, cheerleads and fans in Old Town for the tradition pep rally to close out the day's events. The Gildan New Mexico Bowl kicks off the postseason tomorrow on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3 and ESPN Radio at Noon MT/2 p.m. ET. Fanfest will open at 9 a.m. in the parking lot at the north end of the stadium.
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