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The University of New Mexico returns to the football field this Saturday when it visits the Baylor Bears in a non-conference game. Kickoff is 6:05 p.m. Central Time (5:05 in Albuquerque) from Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas. The game will not be televised. The Lobos have lost three straight road games.
Due to the horrific national tragedy on Sept. 11, all NCAA Div. I-A games were postponed or cancelled last week. The Lobos were supposed to host New Mexico State on Saturday, a game that will now be played Nov. 24. Baylor was to play at Minnesota.
With last week’s schedule change, the Lobos will now play four straight road games between Sept. 8 and Oct. 6. It will be six weeks between UNM’s first home game (UTEP on Sept. 1) and its second (BYU on Oct. 13). New Mexico now closes the season with five of its last six games at University Stadium.
UNM is 1-1 after a 42-30 loss at Texas Tech on Sept. 8. Baylor is 1-0 following its 24-3 victory over Arkansas State two weeks ago.
After two games, the Lobos rank 1st nationally in rushing defense, allowing just nine yards in two games, an average of 4.5 yards a game.
New Mexico was picked to finish seventh in the eight-team Mountain West Conference by the leagues coaches. The Big 12 media predicted Baylor to finish sixth in the South Division.
The Lobos finished 5-7 last year in all games and 3-4 in conference play. The five wins are the most in three seasons under head coach Rocky Long and UNM’s best record since going 9-4 in 1997. Baylor was 2-9 overall last year, 0-8 in the Big 12.
UNM was picked to finish last out of eight teams in the Mountain West Conference a year ago, but finished in a tie for fifth place with San Diego State and Utah. It marked the second consecutive season UNM exceeded preseason predictions in the conference standings. New Mexico was also picked to finish seventh or eighth in 1999, but tied for fifth.
EXPANDED STADIUM A BIG HIT
The 41-year old home of New Mexico football – University Stadium – received its most significant renovation since it was erected in 1960, and it proved to be a smashing success. A record crowd of 41,771 witnessed the Lobos’ 26-6 victory over UTEP on Sept. 1, crushing the previous mark of 37,156 for Rice in 1997.
While the expanded stadium has just 37,370 fixed seats, UNM was able to shoehorn nearly 4,000 more fans into last Saturdays game by selling 1,000 bleacher tickets in the south end and standing-room-only spots.
A pavilion now connects the east and west stands for the first time. Renovation on the northwest corner of the stadium was completed last October and includes new concession stands, restrooms, novelty stands and landscaping. The next phase is to renovate the remaining three corners with new facilities.
The highlight of the renovation is a $1.8 million state-of-the-art video scoreboard at the north end of the stadium. Appropriately named LoboVision, the system has instant replay and live-action capabilities. It was financed through corporate sponsorships from PNM, Bank of the West, Isleta Casino & Resort, Albuquerque Publishing, Comcast, Creamland Dairies and AT&T Wireless.
Manufactured by Daktronics, Inc., the entire board measures 60 feet high and 61 feet wide while the videoboard is 21 feet high and 28 feet wide. A staff of 10, including three cameras, is needed to operate the system during a game. Personnel from UNM Media Technology Services will handle all game-day production.
UNM-BAYLOR SERIES
This is just the second meeting between the Lobos and Bears. On Nov. 3, 1984, Baylor stopped UNM 38-2, in Waco.
The Lobos are 21-59-2 all-time in games played in the State of Texas. Excluding their record versus UTEP, UNM is 5-40 in the Lone Star State. UNM has two wins against Texas Tech and one apiece at North Texas, TCU and West Texas.
New Mexico is 14-53-2 all-time against current members of the Big 12 Conference, and has dropped 12 straight to its eastern neighbors. The last win was in 1984 when the Lobos defeated Texas Tech 29-24, in Albuquerque. Since that victory, UNM is 0-8 against the Red Raiders and has lost once to Baylor, Kansas State, Nebraska and Texas.
LONE STAR LOBOS
New Mexico has 28 scholarship players on its roster that hail from the state of Texas. Approximately 20 players – including walk-on kicker Wes Zunker from New Braunfels – are expected to be on the travel roster to Waco.
UNM coaches also have ties: Head coach Rocky Long was secondary coach at TCU from 1988-90. Offensive coordinator Dan Dodd served in the same position at TCU under Dennis Franchione from 1998-99. Special teams coach Jeff Conway was assistant coach at Sam Houston State from 1985-86, quarterbacks and receivers coach at Lamar from 1986-89, offensive coordinator at Houstons Northshore HS in 1990, offensive coordinator at Blinn College from 1993-96, and head coach at Blinn in 1997.
Receivers coach Blake Anderson attended Baylor in 1987-88 before transferring to Sam Houston State where he graduated in 1992. He was an assistant at Sam Houston, Howard Payne and Trinity Valley CC from 1991-92 and 1994-98. Cornerbacks coach Curtis Modkins was born in Marlin, Texas, played at TCU from 1989-92 and coached for the Horned Frogs from 1995-97. UNM HISTORY
The University of New Mexico has a 397-466-31 overall record through 102 seasons, meaning the Lobos are just three victories shy of 400 wins all-time.
UNM was founded in 1889. Three years later, the first football game was played on Oct. 7, 1892, when a team representing UNM played a squad from Albuquerque High School in a vacant lot north of the town’s ice factory. The preps prevailed 5-0.
TEXAS TECH RECAP SEPT. 8
Texas Tech used a 100-yard kickoff return in the third quarter to regain momentum and pull away from New Mexico en route to a 42-30 victory. Following a Lobo field goal that trimmed Techs lead to 21-17, the Red Raiders Ivory McCann fielded the ensuing kickoff eight yards deep in his own end zone. Going against all conventional wisdom, the speedster raced through Lobo defenders virtually untouched into the end zone.
Texas Tech added two more scores – one a 54-yard return of a Holmon Wiggins fumble – to grab an insurmountable 42-17 lead five minutes into the fourth quarter. The Lobos finished with two nice scoring drives, culminating in a 4-yard run by RB Jarrod Baxter and a 20-yard pass from QB Rudy Caamano to WR Rashaun Sanders.
The Lobos took a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter on Baxter’s 3-yard plunge. The score was set up by Stephen Persley’s blocked punt that UNM recovered at the Red Raider 3. Texas Tech answered with 18 straight points and a 21-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
Looking like it would score again before halftime, Texas Tech drove to the Lobo 30. New Mexico turned the tide, though, when LB Gary Davis intercepted a Kliff Kingsbury pass at the 24 and returned in 31 yards to the Tech 45. Five plays later, Caamano used an option keeper to score from five yards out as UNM trailed just 21-14 at intermission.
The Lobos started the second half in good shape, too. A mishandled snap by Tech punter Clinton Greathouse gave UNM possession at the Red Raider 9, although the Lobos had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Vladimir Borombozin. The back-breaking kickoff return ensued.
TEXAS TECH POSTGAME NOTES
RB Jarrod Baxter (Albuquerque) is the first Lobo in four years to have consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Baxter carried 23 times for 106 yards against Texas Tech for his fifth career 100-yard effort. The last Lobo to surpass 100 yards in consecutive games was Lennox Gordon in 1997. Gordon had 110 yards against Northern Arizona and 146 yards versus New Mexico State. Gordon was also the last back to have three straight 100-yard games, which he did in 1996. Baxter had a pair of TDs, giving him four in two games. The 250-pound senior moved into 16th place all-time at UNM with 1,473 career rushing yards. He also had a 39-yard pass reception on a short screen.
Baxter has 290 yards after two games, an average of 145 yards to rank 1st in the MWC and tie for 5th nationally. He also leads the MWC in scoring (12 ppg) and all-purpose yardage (163 ypg). It has been 15 years since a Lobo back gained at least 290 yards in successive games. Kevin Burgess tallied 313 yards against Utah (157) and New Mexico State (156) in 1986.
Texas Tech gained just 62 yards on the ground, meaning the Lobos have allowed only nine net rushing yards after two games. The average of 4.5 yards a game ranks UNM No. 1 nationally in rushing defense. UNM yielded less than 100 yards rushing five times last year and has done so in both games in 2001. The last opponent to total more than 200 yards on the ground against New Mexico was Oregon State last year. The Beavers had 222. The past nine games, opponents are averaging just 74.4 yards a game via the rush. Five have been held to 62 yards or less.
The last time UNM scored as many as 30 points and lost was in a 52-31 setback to SMU in 1996.
New Mexico has surpassed 200 yards rushing in back-to-back games for the first time in four years. UNM totaled 211 yards against BYU and 206 yards against Tulsa in November of 1997. UNM had 271 yards in the season opener against UTEP and 210 at Texas Tech. The Lobos are 13th nationally in rushing offense, averaging 240.5 yards a game.
The Lobos blocked their sixth punt in the past 14 games. The main rejector is CB Stephen Persley (Fort Worth, Texas), who has three of the blocks. UNM set a school record with five in 2000.
After tying a school record against UTEP with 17 penalties for 122 yards, the Lobos were whistled just three times for 25 yards against Texas Tech. UNM committed no offensive penalties against the Red Raiders after 11 miscues against the Miners.
The last time UNM allowed a kickoff return for a TD was five years ago when UTEP’s Cedric Johnson rambled 100 yards at University Stadium.
The last two fumbles returned for scores against UNM have been by Texas Tech: 63 yards by Aaron Hunt in 2000 and 54 yards by Paul McLendon last week.
The Lobos have scored all nine times they have entered the red zone in 2001. New Mexico has converted six TDs and three FGs.
UNM is a +18 in turnover margin the past 11 games. The Lobos have caused 32 turnovers (18 interception/14 fumbles) over that span, nearly three a game.
New Mexico is a +4 in turnover margin (7 takeaways to 3 giveaways) in 2001, however, the Lobo offense has scored just a field goal and a touchdown following the seven takeaways.
Lobo kickers remain perfect after two games, making all four FG tries and all four PATs. Senior K Vladimir Borombozin (Hollywood, Fla.) had a 21-yard FG against Texas Tech and is 3-of-3 on the season and 13-of-18 in his career at UNM. Borombozin has connected on eight of his last nine FGs going back to last year. True freshman walk-on K Wes Zunker (New Braunfels, Texas) has made his only field goal try of the season, a 51-yarder against UTEP on the first attempt of his career.
The offensive line has yet to allow a sack. UNM has attempted 54 passes.
GAME-BY-GAME NOTES
UTEP (W, 26-6)
FB Jarrod Baxter rushed for a career-high 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and the Lobos tied a school record with nine sacks in the 26-6 victory over UTEP. Trailing 6-5, UNM grabbed momentum right before halftime as true freshman Wes Zunker connected on his first collegiate field-goal attempt, a 51-yard boot, to give New Mexico an 8-6 lead. The UNM defense held UTEP scoreless the rest of the game, limiting the Miners to a minus-53 yards rushing, the fourth-stingiest effort in school history. UNM gained 271 yards on the ground, 214 of those coming in the second half.
CAPTAINS
New Mexico’s captains for the 2001 season are FB Jarrod Baxter, QB Rudy Caamano, DE Brian Johnson, LB Mohammed Konte and OG Jeremy Sorenson. Baxter was also a captain in 2000. Captains are selected by their teammates.
SEASON TICKET UPDATE
Through Friday, Sept. 7, Lobo fans had purchased 13,163 season tickets, easily eclipsing last years total of 12,223. Its the eighth straight year UNM fans have purchased at least 10,000 season tickets. The single-season record is 14,254 in 1998.
INJURY UPDATE
Sophomore TE Bryan Penley (right MCL) is questionable for this week’s game.
2001 PREVIEW
The Lobos return a solid nucleus of players for the 2001 season as only 11 senior position players earned letters in 2000. A total of 40 lettermen are back. A breakdown:
Offense – The strength should be at running back as three of the top rushers are in the fold, and on the offensive line where four starters are back. Seven starters return in all.
Running Back – The Lobos two battering rams – seniors Holmon Wiggins and Jarrod Baxter – return to the backfield. The duo combined for 1,286 yards and 9 TDs in 2000, and have accummulated more than 2,500 yards in their careers at New Mexico. Swift-footed Javier Hanson – also a senior – showed breakaway speed the Lobos covet and should receive more reps with the departure of the versatile Ted Iacenda. Iacenda was the Lobos top receiver (28-257) and finished third on the team in rushing with 201 yards and a pair of scores. Untested newcomers will have to step up to become quality reserves such as true freshman Dontrell Moore and junior Quincy Wright at tailback and redshirt freshman Landrick Brody at fullback.
Offensive Line – Only OT Jon Samuelson, a three-year starter, is gone from the offensive line. Seniors include QG Jeremy Sorenson and QT B.J. Long. Center Rashad McClure is a two-year starter while ST Jason Lenzmeier started the last seven games of 2000 at guard as a redshirt freshman. Redshirt freshman Claude Terrell has earned the nod at strong guard.
Receiver – The Lobos lost their top two receivers in Iacenda and Rob Caston (22-301), and four of their top six when you toss in Larry Davis (10-150) and TE Jonathan Burrough (10-88). The leading returning receivers are senior Kirk Robbins (16-224) and sophomore Dwight Counter (13-147). Only two other returning wideouts – sophomore Terrence Thomas (3-36) and junior Jake Farrel (2-30) – caught passes in 2000. Counter, Thomas and sophomore Rashaun Sanders are expected to start when the Lobos go to a three-wideout set. Also seeing playing time will be juniors Jake Farrel, Joe Manning, Michael Brunker and Derrick Shepherd.
Quarterback – Junior Rudy Caamano, a starter in UNM’s last 10 games, will be under center. Sophomore Casey Kelly and redshirt freshman Jeff Grady are the backups.
Tight End – The Lobos have a hole to fill as Burrough was a three-year starter. Junior Joe Fiola was used primarily as a blocker last year. Sophomore Bryan Penley and redshirt freshman Michael Augustyniak will see playing time, too.
Defense – The strength of the 2000 team only returns five starters, but 15 additional lettermen who saw significant playing time in Rocky Long’s unique defense are back in uniform as well. The top three tacklers – Mike Barnett, Dave Mauer, Rantie Harper – have moved on, but eight other Lobos garnered 40 or more tackles last fall.
Defensive Line – The interior line will be led by senior DE Brian Johnson, the Lobos lone first team all-conference pick in 2000. Johnson led the league with 9.5 sacks. NT Henry Stephens and DE Jeff Macrea have departed, although Tony Mazotti, Antonio Manning, Adrian Terry, D.J. Renteria and Guillermo Morrrison got reps in 2000. Junior college transfers Hebrews Josue and Daniel Kegler, and redshirt freshman Kyle Coulter fill out the nine-man rotation.
Linebacker – Arguably the most talented position for the Lobos. Barnett (83 tackles) and Mauer (82 tackles) were the teams top tacklers and completed their eligibility, but theres plenty of firepower left in Mohammed Konte, Gary Davis, Charles Moss, Shannon Kincaid and Amos Wilson, a redshirt in 2000. Redshirt freshmen who could play include Chrishone Harris, Frank Rodgers, Nick Speegle and Domingo Villarruel.
Safeties – The wolf, or strong, safety spot has been depleted somewhat with the loss of Brandon Ratcliff, last years MWC Co-Freshman of the Year. Ratcliff was declared academically ineligible prior to the fall semester. The ubiquitous Ratcliff was the Lobos leading returning tackler with 71 stops, including eight tackles for losses, plus five pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Filling the holes now are sophomore Terrell Golden, junior David Hall, senior Edwin Garrett and redshirt freshman Joe Henderson. The lobo, or free safety, is manned by senior Scott Gerhardt and redshirt freshman Kevin Walton.
Cornerbacks – Senior Stephen Persely, a special-teams phenom who blocked two punts and returned a pair for scores, is an all-conference candidate. On the other side, transfer David Crockett and senior Dante Childress will both see action.
Special Teams – Last year’s kicker – Vladimir Borombozin – will now handle both punting and placements. Kickoff duties have been awarded to true freshman Wes Zunker, a walk-on who came to UNM in August. Wiggins could threaten career punt return records after setting UNM season standards in 2000. Larry Davis will be missed for his participation on several special teams. He led the Mountain West in kickoff returns (25.8 yards), posted 18 tackles on kick coverage and blocked a punt.
2000 RECAP
After an 0-3 start, the Lobos won five of their last nine games. UNM went 5-1 during one point in the season before dropping its last three games to finish 5-7.
UNM was the best team in the Mountain West Conference in 2000 in rushing defense (115.3 yards), pass efficiency defense (105.7 rating), sacks (50), time of possession (32:33 average) and turnover margin (+0.67/game).
The Lobos had nearly identical records in 1999 (4-7, 3-4 MWC) and 2000, but the comparison really ended there. UNMs average margin of defeat in seven losses in 2000 was 11.1 points compared to 16.9 points in 1999. The difference was even more dramatic in conference games: just 8 points in four setbacks in 2000 versus 24.3 points in 1999.
According to NCAA figures, New Mexico tied Arizona State by playing the 46th-toughest schedule in the nation during the 2000 season. The Lobos 11 Div. I-A opponents combined for a 60-53 record, a figure that excluded the outcomes against UNM. Among MWC schools, only BYU at No. 41 played a more difficult slate than UNM. The Lobos played six bowl teams in 2000, three from the Mountain West Conference, plus non-league tilts against Texas Tech, Boise State and nationally-ranked Oregon State. Those last three schools combined for a 26-8 regular-season ledger. OSU went 10-1 and pounded Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, part of the Bowl Championship Series.
Three of the Lobos’ four losses in Mountain West Conference play were by 3, 1 and 4 points, respectively, and were decided in the fourth quarter.
UNM fell at Colorado State 17-14, when the Rams went 84 yards in 13 plays and scored on a 3-yard run with 6:23 left.
New Mexico led San Diego State 16-0 at halftime only to have the Aztecs rally for a 17-16 win. The difference was a Nate Tandberg field goal with 5:27 to go, culminating a 12-play, 64-yard drive.
UNLV scored with 18 seconds remaining for an 18-14 victory in Las Vegas. The Lobos had taken a 14-11 lead with 3:01 left. The Rebels went 69 yards in 10 plays.
TEAM DEFENSE
Allowing just 20.8 points and 309.4 yards a game, the 2000 Lobos’ defense was the best, statistically speaking, in 17 years…the 1983 Lobos – when current Mississippi State defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn was the head coach – yielded 19.4 points and 298.1 yards a game…last year, UNM allowed 27.1 points and 371.4 yards a game.
New Mexico finished 17th in the nation in total defense, the school’s best ranking in 38 years…the 1962 WAC champion Lobos also finished 17th, allowing 207.3 yards
The Lobos allowed less than 21 points a game for only the sixth time in the past 35 years.
New Mexico allowed 6.3 fewer points in 2000 than it did in 1999…thats the biggest one-season drop in eight years since a 13.3 differential from 1991 (39.4 ppg) to 1992 (26.1 ppg).
New Mexico led the MWC and finished second nationally with 50 sacks for 341 yards in losses, averages of 4.5 a game and 6.9 yards a sack…that’s more than twice as many as the 1999 total of 23…amazingly, the sack total came from 15 different players.
New Mexico finished 1st in the MWC in rush defense, allowing 115.3 yards a game…the Lobos were even better in conference games, yielding only 93.7 yards a game.
The Lobos allowed 20.8 points a game, however, 5 TDs were scored directly after a UNM offensive turnover or special-teams return…UNM defenders actually allowed just 17.8 ppg.
Fifteen players had UNM’s 50 sacks…nine Lobos picked off the team’s 15 interceptions…19 different Lobos posted tackles for losses…16 players deflected passes…the 11 fumbles were recovered by 9 different Lobos.
Senior LB Mike Barnett led UNM with 83 tackles, the lowest total to lead the team since the school began charting official defensive stats in 1970.
With the defensive emphasis in 1999 placed on the shoulders of Brian Urlacher and his 154 tackles, New Mexico only had seven players garner 40 or more stops over the 11-game season…12 reached that plateau in 2000
After forcing just two turnovers the first three games, the Lobos created 25 the last nine games to increase their turnover margin to +8 for the season, a figure that ranked first in the MWC and tied for 20th nationally…the Lobos were opportunistic after opponents miscues the past nine games as well, scoring 63 points on eight TDs and three field goals
Nothing was more key to the Lobos’ success than holding onto the football on offense and forcing turnovers on the defensive side…in the last nine games, New Mexico, 5-4 during that stretch, was an impressive +14 in takeaways..UNM forced 25 turnovers (14 interceptions, 11 fumbles) during that time, while coughing it up just 11 times.
New Mexico had a 5-2 record when it committed fewer turnovers than its opponent.
BLOCK PARTY
After having gone 21 straight games during most of 1998 and all of 99 without blocking a punt, the Lobos established a school season record with five blocks in 2000, including one in three of the last five games. UNM rejected three in 1940, ’48 and ’79. The Lobos scored twice on the blocks – both by CB Stephen Persley – against Oregon State and Air Force. Persley (Oregon State/Utah) blocked two while Dave Mauer (Texas Tech), Terrell Golden (Air Force) and Larry Davis (UNLV) had one apiece.
2000 RECORD BOOK
Holmon Wiggins set school records with 46 punt returns and 392 yards on punt returns…the old marks were 42 returns by Chad Smith in 1997 and 324 yards by Randy Rich in 1975…Wiggins averaged 8.5 yards a return.
Because of Wiggins and the blocks, UNM broke a 54-year-old team record for punt return yardage in a season…the Lobos amassed 481 return yards in 2000, eclipsing the 448 yards set by the 1946 Lobos…the Lobos also set a standard with 51 punt returns…the previous record was 48 in 1980.
THIS AND THAT FROM 2000
For the first time since 1964, UNM held five straight opponents – Wyoming, Colorado State, Air Force, Utah, San Diego State – to less than 300 yards of offense…the 1964 team kept foes under 300 yards in 10 consecutive games and led the WAC in total defense, allowing just 210.5 yards during a 9-2 season.
The Lobos defeated Wyoming, Air Force and Utah in the same season for the first time since 1982 and only the second time in 14 opportunities.
Only two backs rushed for more than 100 yards against the Lobo defense…UNLV’s Jeremi Rudolph carried 19 times for 106 yards while Oregon State’s Ken Simonton had 184 yards.
The Lobos were 3-10 on 4th-down plays in 2000, and failed in their last 5 attempts…three of those tries were less than a yard.
In the Lobos’ five wins, they had the edge in time of possession in every game..UNM led the MWC, averaging 32:33 a game…in its five wins, UNM averaged 36:11.
GREAT JOB IN SCHOOL
The UNM football team combined to post a 2.59 grade-point-average during the 2001 spring semester. Thats the highest semester GPA by the Lobo gridders since the school began charting grades in 1988. Two of the top-three semester GPAs have occurred under current head coach Rocky Long. The Lobos had a 2.52 GPA in the spring of 2000.
SUCCESSFUL WALK-ONS
Some of the better-known Lobos began their careers as walk-ons, including three of the Lobos five captains. Jarrod Baxter, Brian Johnson and Mohammed Konte all started at UNM without athletics scholarships.
Baxter was a walk-on during the 1997 fall semester under former head coach Dennis Franchione. He was placed on scholarship in January of 1998. Johnson was a 195-pound walk-on running back when he came to Albuquerque in the fall of ’97. He impressed Rocky Long and his staff so much during ’98 spring drills that he received a scholarship that fall. Konte, also a redshirt in ’97, paid his own way for three years before being placed on aid in the fall of 2000.
Newcomers to the walk-on-to-scholarship saga include senior WR Joel Baker, sophomore S Terrell Golden, sophomore QB Casey Kelly, senior FB Sulayaman Konte, sophomore S Justin Millea, junior NT Adrian Terry and sophomore WR Terrence Thomas.
STRONGER EVERYDAY
UNM director of strength and conditioning Mark Paulsen reported in May that 34 players lifted 300 pounds or more in the power clean during spring testing. The total in 1998 was just 13.
There were six players with a squat of 500 pounds or more in 1998, a figure that increased more than five-fold to 33 in the spring of 2001. Only four Lobos squatted 550 pounds in 2000 compared to 16 this year.
ATTRACTIVE, DEMANDING SCHEDULE
The 2001 UNM home schedule could be the most attractive in school history. The six visitors to Albuquerque compiled a 44-28 record last year, including 3-1 in bowl games.
UNMs two oldest rivals – UTEP and New Mexico State – highlight the non-conference docket. The top-four teams in the 2000 MWC standings – Colorado State, Air Force, UNLV and BYU – all travel to Albuquerque in 2001. CSU finished the year 10-2 and No. 14 in the final AP poll. The Rams edged Louisville in the Liberty Bowl. Air Force was 9-3 and beat Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Classic. UNLV was 8-5 and bounced Arkansas in the Las Vegas Bowl.
On the flip-side is that New Mexico is the only team in the Mountain West Conference that opens league play with consecutive road games (Utah and Wyoming). BYU plays its first two MWC contests on the road as well (at UNLV, at UNM), but the Cougars are home against Utah State between road trips.
CLINIC HELPS UNDERPRIVILEDGED KIDS
The eighth annual UNM Women’s Football Clinic was held on August 2, with nearly 150 football-hungry females attending. Consequently, over 500 Albuquerque area children will be able to see a Lobo football game this year as part of the UNM Send-A-Kid Program, which provides tickets for underpriviledged and disadvantaged youth. Since the program was founded in 1994, over 7,000 children have been able to see a Lobo game in person.
BAYLOR LINE
Head coach Kevin Steele (Tennessee ’81) is 4-19 in his third year. Prior to Baylor, Steele was an assistant coach with the Carolina Panthers from 1995-98. He was linebackers coach at New Mexico State in 1983. Bears defensive ends coach Robert James was assistant coach at UNM (along with Rocky Long) under Bill Mondt in 1978-79.
Junior WR Reggie Newhouse caught five passes for 102 yards against Arkansas State. Newhouse is the son of former Dallas Cowboy Robert Newhouse.
The Bears allowed Arkansas State just three points and 172 yards of offense, the lowest totals since a 14-0 shutout of North Carolina State in 1995. BU had five sacks against ASU after logging just nine all of the 2000 season.
ROCKY LONG SAYS
(on last week and this week’s preparation) — “We did some different things in practice last week after realizing we would not play following the tragedies in New York and Washington. I think preparing this week will be difficult for all teams across the nation. I would imagine this week’s games will be a little sloppier than normal for this time of the season. It will be more like the first game of the season. Like a lot of teams in all sports, well have the U.S. flag on the back of our helmets.”
(on Baylor) — “After spending a couple of days getting ready for New Mexico State and an offense that emphasizes running, we now have to prepare for a team (Baylor) that is a lot like Texas Tech. They run a spread offense similar to Texas Tech.”