NEW ORLEANS, La. - Word has been out for a while that the Sun Belt Conference would have a bowl game. That news of the New Orleans Bowl no longer was a surprise didn't, however, stop league and bowl officials from beaming proudly with the announcement during the kickoff of the first Sun Belt Conference football meetings Tuesday.

"This is an exciting time," New Orleans Bowl executive director Ron Maestri said. "This is a great opportunity for the student-athletes and the fans."

The Dec. 18 game - the first of the bowl season - is at the Louisiana Superdome and will be broadcast live on ESPN2. It features the Sun Belt champion and the third selection from the Mountain West Conference, which includes Air Force, Brigham Young, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah and Wyoming.

"It takes us to a new level," Sun Belt Commissioner Wright Waters said. "It's something to play for."

As for the University of Idaho, which joins Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State and North Texas as members of the inaugural Sun Belt football season, the opportunity for post-season play is one of the enticements of the new league.

"When you win the championship of your league and you are guaranteed a bowl game, that's exciting," Idaho coach Tom Cable said. "It's a great opportunity for our players and it is great exposure for the university."

The league meetings continue Wednesday with the announcement of the preseason poll and coaches interviews, and conclude Thursday with the debut of the preseason all-conference teams.