Aztecs happy to get fourth straight bowl bid in the Idaho Potato Bowl

The Aztecs were on the bubble all week and some scenarios had them left out of the post-season bowl games.  But this afternoon SDSU Athletic Director, Jim Strek, was pleasantly surprise to get a call inviting the Aztecs to the bowl game in Boise, Idaho on December 21^st. The game will be played at Bronco Stadium and be televised on ESPN.

The Aztecs finished there regular season with a 7 win 5 loss season, but finished 2^nd in the West division the MWC with a 6-2 record.

"We're very excited to accept an invitation to play in Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise against the University at Buffalo," SDSU director of athletics Jim Sterk said. "(They're) a great team from the Mid-American Conference that has had some good wins. We're excited for (Aztec football coach) Rocky (Long), the kids and the University. It's a great day for the Aztecs."

The Aztecs will be playing in a school-record fourth straight bowl game after only appearing in consecutive bowl games once (1966 and 1967) before. The four straight bowl games equals the total number of bowl appearances San Diego State had in the 41 previous seasons, spanning from 1969 through 2009.

The Aztecs will look to become just the eighth FBS team since 1980 to start 0-3 and get to eight wins. SDSU's 33 wins over the past four seasons are it's highest since a four-year span from 1974-77, when San Diego State had 36 wins.

The Aztecs and Bulls (8-4, 6-2 Mid-American Conference) will be meeting for the first time. SDSU is 8-0-1 all-time against teams from the current MAC. San Diego State and UB have each played one common opponent this year, both falling at Ohio State.  The Bulls generated a little more offense then the Aztecs did losing 40-20, while the Aztecs were defeated 42-7 at the Horseshoe.

"It was a huge relief, it was fun to call Rocky (Long) and say, ‘You've got another couple of weeks of work here,'" Sterk said Sunday. "It was a very long week because of all the uncertainty."

With Fresno State going to the Las Vegas Bowl and Poinsettia Bowl set to take Utah State, the Aztecs were left to battle San Jose State, UNLV, Colorado State and Boise State for the four other bowl bids. One of the top MWC teams will be the odd man out.

As far as the remaining match ups, UNLV will face North Texas in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, Boise State accepted a bid to the Hawaii Bowl where they play against Oregon State while Colorado State is going to the New Mexico Bowl to play Wazzu.

Which means San Jose State gets shut out of the post season. SJSU had been considered the favorite to earn a spot at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, but when that invitation surprisingly went to San Diego State. The Spartans end their season with a victory over Fresno State and a 6-6 record.

Were all looking for an Aztec victory after a dismal effort against UNLV which left seven teams bowl eligible.