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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -

Utah State football completed its preparations for the Gildan New Mexico Bowl Friday with a press conference, luncheon and pep rally, while also finding time to meet as a team, as the Aggies held its final walk-thru of the season.

Utah State began its Friday with the Gildan New Mexico Bowl Kickoff Press Conference as head coach Matt Wells, senior linebacker Zach Vigil and senior offensive tackle Kevin Whimpey addressed the media. Both teams then participated in the Kickoff Luncheon at the Isleta Resort and Casino, which was highlighted by keynote speaker Mark Schlereth, who is a three-time Super Bowl Champion and current ESPN analyst.

Following the luncheon, Utah State got together for team meetings and a walk-thru before participating in a Pep Rally and Battle of the Bands at the Old Town Plaza. The players then returned to the team hotel for dinner, followed by a movie during their final evening in Albuquerque.

Utah State (9-4, 6-2 MW) will conclude its 2014 season against UTEP (7-5, 5-3 CUSA) in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 12:20 pm (MT) in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPN. USU is 2-0 all-time against the Miners with the last meeting between the two teams occurring in 1961.

Utah State is playing in its fourth-straight bowl game and has won each of its last two bowl games, both of which are school records. With a victory against UTEP, USU will win 10 games for just the second time in school history joining the 2012 Western Athletic Conference and Famous Idaho Potato Bowl championship team that went 11-2.

Tickets for the 2014 Gildan New Mexico Bowl are available by contacting the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305. Tickets can also be purchased 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com.

Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball or on Facebook at Utah State Football, as well as on Instagram at instagram.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.