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The University of New Mexico continues its three-game road swing by opening Mountain West Conference action Saturday at Utah. Kickoff is 1:05 p.m. Mountain Time from Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. Its the conference opener for both schools. The game will be televised by ESPN+Plus, which airs locally on KRQE-TV in Albuquerque. The Lobos have lost four straight road games.
UNM is 1-2 after a tough 16-13 overtime loss at Baylor last Saturday. Utah is 2-1 following a 28-26 victory at Indiana.
New Mexico was picked to finish seventh in the eight-team Mountain West Conference by the leagues coaches. Utah was predicted to place sixth.
The Lobos are the only team in the MWC that has to open the conference season with consecutive road games, at Utah and at Wyoming. BYU has two straight league road games as well – at UNLV and at New Mexico – however, the Cougars have a non-conference home game against Utah State in between trips.
With the postponement of games on Sept. 15, the Lobos now play four straight road games between Sept. 8 and Oct. 6. It will be six weeks between UNMs 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.
After three games, the Lobos rank second nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 81 yards, an average of 27 yards a game.
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 UNMs best record since going 9-4 in 1997. Utah was 4-7 last year, and also 3-4 in the MWC.
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.
SEASON TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
Five-game season tickets are available at the UNM athletics ticket office at The Pit or by calling (505) 925-5626. The tickets are on sale through Oct. 13. Ticket office hours are 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Single-game tickets are available online at tickets.com and at all Albuquerque-area Raleys stores. Fans can also call (800) 905-3315 or 851-5050 locally to purchase tickets through tickets.com. Prices range from $10-$19. Tickets are also available at the UNM Bookstore on main campus.
UNM-Utah SERIES
This is the 43rd meeting between the Lobos and Utes. Utah holds a 27-13-2 overall lead in the series that began Jan. 1, 1939, at the Sun Bowl in El Paso. The Utes won that initial meeting 26-0, and have captured five of the last six.
The Lobos have dropped eight of their last nine encouters in Salt Lake City. The only win there since 1978 was a 42-35 decision in 1993. The Utes have a 15-3-1 lead in all games in Salt Lake City. The Lobos only wins there came in 1970, 78 and 93.
UNM snapped a five-game losing streak last year with a hard-fought 10-3 victory on a cold, wet afternoon at University Stadium. Jarrod Baxter rushed for a then-career-high 135 yards, helping the Lobos to a 12-minute advantage in time of possession. UNM held the Utes to 60 yards rushing and 1-of-14 on third downs. The Lobos also had four sacks and two interceptions while allowing their fewest points since a 27-0 shutout of West Texas State in 1984.
New Mexico has averaged just 231.8 yards of total offense the past four games against the Utes: 200 yards in 2000, 283 in 1999, 248 in 1998 and 196 in 1997.
The Lobos fell 52-7 two years ago in Salt Lake City. Steve Smith returned two punts for scores as the Utes built a 35-7 halftime lead. Utah had 469 yards of offense and never punted. CONFERENCE OPENERS
The Lobos are 2-0 in MWC openers, having won at San Diego State in 1999 and at home against Wyoming last year, however, they are 2-8 in their last 10 league lid-lifters.
lobo HISTORY
The University of New Mexico has a 397-467-31 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.
BAYLOR RECAP
Unable to capitalize on several scoring chances, the Lobos fell to Baylor 16-13, in overtime when the Bears booted a 29-yard field goal on their first possession.
New Mexico scored only three points despite having the ball inside the Baylor 5-yard line on three occasions. UNM fumbled twice. The first error came at the end of the first half with the Lobos leading 10-3 as QB Rudy Caamano mishandled the snap at the Bears 4 on a first-and-goal. The final miscue came in overtime. UNM had a 4th-and-2 at the BU 3, but RB Jarrod Baxter was stripped of the ball as he was heading into what appeared to be an open endzone. The Bears gained 13 yards on three runs before kicking the winning field goal. New Mexico had yet another drive stall in the first half when two penalties pushed it out of field-goal range. UNM had a first down at the Baylor 20 before the infractions.
New Mexico took a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter when Caamano hooked up with WR Joe Manning on a 64-yard scoring strike. A Wes Zunker 43-yard field goal pushed UNMs lead to 10-3 with 9:58 left in the third quarter. Baylor tied the game later in the period on a 4-yard TD pass, then took a 13-10 advantage in the fourth quarter on a 47-yard field goal. The Lobos tied the game at 13 with 1:40 left in regulation on Vladimir Borombozins 21-yard field goal. New Mexico had a 2nd-and-goal at the BU 5, but had to settle for the three points.
BAYLOR POSTGAME NOTES
The Lobos are now 1-2 in overtime games. UNM played two in 1998, winning a 39-36 triple-OT thriller against Utah State and losing to San Diego State 36-33 in a single overtime.
Sophomore S Terrell Golden (Los Angeles, Calif.) was named MWC Defensive Player of the Week after Baylor. He established a career-high with 13 tackles, four that came behind the line of scrimmage. Golden is second on the team with 21 stops and leads UNM with six tackles for loss.
After gaining 290 yards in the first two games, RB Jarrod Baxter (Albuquerque) was held to a season-low 44 yards on 17 carries at Baylor. The 250-pound senior remains in 16th place all-time at UNM with 1,517 career rushing yards.
Baxter has 334 yards after three games, an average of 111.3 yards to rank 1st in the MWC and 21st nationally.
Baylor gained 72 yards on the ground, meaning the Lobos have allowed only 81 net rushing yards after three games. The average of 27.0 yards a game ranks the Lobos 2nd nationally in rushing defense. UNM has yet to allow a rushing touchdown in 2001. New Mexico yielded less than 100 yards rushing five times last year and has done so in all three games in 2001. The last opponent to gather more than 200 yards on the ground against New Mexico was Oregon State last year. The Beavers had 222. The past 10 games, opponents are averaging just 73.9 yards a game via the rush. Five have been held to 62 yards or less. Junior QB Rudy Caamano (Whittier, Calif.) passed for a career-high 258 yards on 13-29 attempts and two interceptions. Its the best passing game by a Lobo since Sean Stein threw for 300 yards against Air Force on Nov. 27, 1999. He tossed a 64-yard TD pass to WR Joe Manning, the longest of his career, and the Lobos longest offensive scoring play since 1998 when Martinez Williams caught an 87-yard pass from Graham Leigh against San Diego State. Caamano completed just 17-of-54 tries for 174 yards in the Lobos first two games.
UNM was held to a season-low 102 yards rushing. The Lobos are 22nd nationally, averaging 194.3 yards a game.
New Mexico had four turnovers (2 interceptions, 2 fumbles) in a game for the first time since committing six (4 interceptions, 2 fumbles) against Utah in 1998.
Senior CB Stephen Persley (Fort Worth, Texas) became the second Lobo in 2001 to snare two interceptions in a game. Senior lobo Scott Gerhardt turned the trick in the season-opening win against UTEP. Perselys first pick was in the end zone, thwarting a Bears scoring threat. Persley and Gerhardt are tied for 13th in the NCAA stats with two thefts and lead all active Lobos with five career interceptions. Persley leads the MWC with five pass deflections.
Senior LB Gary Davis (Greenwood, Miss.) had a career-high 11 tackles and a pass deflection. Davis leads UNM with 23 stops.
Sophomore WR Dwight Counter (Lancaster, Calif.) set career-highs for catches (5) and yards receiving (119). His previous bests were 4 receptions and 46 yards last year against Boise State. The 119 yards are the most by the Lobo receiver in three years, since Martinez Williams had 172 against Fresno State in 1998.
The Lobos entered the Baylor game having scored all nine times (6 TDs and 3 FGs) they entered the red zone in 2001. New Mexico struggled against the Bears, though, getting just one field goal in three tries. UNM has now converted 10 times in 12 penetrations. The two denials were both fumbles.
UNM is a +17 in turnover margin the past 12 games. The Lobos have caused 35 turnovers (20 interception/15 fumbles) over that span, nearly three a game.
New Mexico is a +3 in turnover margin (10 takeaways to 7 giveaways) in 2001, however, the Lobo offense has scored just two touchdowns and two field goals following the 10 takeaways.
Lobo kickers remain perfect after three games, making all six of the FG tries and all five PATs. Senior K Vladimir Borombozin (Hollywood, Fla.) had a 21-yard FG against Baylor and is 4-of-4 on the season and 14-of-19 in his career at UNM. Borombozin has connected on 9 of his last 10 FGs going back to last year. True freshman walk-on K Wes Zunker (New Braunfels, Texas) was true from 43 yards against Baylor. He also booted a 51-yarder against UTEP, the first attempt of his career.
New Mexico was 4-of-18 on third down against the Bears. UNM has converted just 22% (11-50) of its tries in 2001.
The Lobos were 1-of-3 on fourth down against Baylor. UNM was only 3-of-10 last year.
Senior Holmon Wiggins (Los Angeles) returned five punts for 42 yards, increasing his career numbers to 54 returns and 472 yards. The school records are held by Chad Smith: 82 returns and 666 yards.
Four of the Lobos last five losses have been by four points or less.
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.
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.Texas Tech (L, 42-30)
Texas Tech used a 100-yard kickoff return in the third quarter to regain momentum and pull away for a 42-30 victory. Following a Lobo field goal that trimmed Techs lead to 21-17, Ivory McCann fielded the ensuing kickoff eight yards deep in his own end zone. Going against all conventional wisdom, he raced virtually untouched into the end zone.
Texas Tech added two more scores to grab an insurmountable 42-17 lead five minutes into the fourth quarter. The Lobos finished with two nice scoring drives. Jarrod Baxter had his second straight 100-yard rushing game, carrying 23 times for 106 yards. The last time UNM scored as many as 30 points and lost was in a 52-31 setback to SMU in 1996.
CAPTAINS
New Mexicos 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. 14, Lobo fans had purchased 13,193 season tickets, the second-highest total in school history. UNM sold 12,223 last year. 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
OG Jeremy Sorenson (right MCL sprain) is questionable.
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 UNMs 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 Longs 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 years kicker – Vladimir Borombozin – handles both punting and placements. Kickoff duties have been awarded to true freshman Wes Zunker, a walk-on who came to UNM in August. 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 schools 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…thats more than twice as many as the 1999 total of 23…amazingly, the sack total came from 15 different players.
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.
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.
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.
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…UNLVs Jeremi Rudolph carried 19 times for 106 yards while Oregon States 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.
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 Womens 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.
UTAH NOTES
Head coach Ron McBride is 77-54 in his 12th year at Utah. He is 7-4 all-time against New Mexico, 3-1 in Salt Lake.
The Utes rank 1st in the Mountain West, averaging 34:26 in time of possession. Utah has scored 10 of 11 times when entering the red zone, however, its opponents have converted exactly the same, 10 of 11.
Senior RB Dameon Hunter (5-11, 223), who had 31 carries for 164 yards and two TDs in the Utes win at Indiana, is averaging 109.3 yards rushing, good for 2nd in the league and 23rd in the nation. Senior WR Cliff Russell – the fastest player ever at Utah with a 4.27 clocking in the 40 – ranks 3rd in the MWC, averaging 5.3 catches a game.
Sophomore QB Lance Rice completed 21-of-29 passes for 278 yards and two TDs at Indiana. Nine different receivers caught passes. Rice made his NCAA debut last year against UNM.
ROCKY LONG SAYS
(on Baylor) — It was an emotional battle. Both teams had chances to put the game away, but couldnt do it. Weve got to find a way to go out and win a game instead of waiting on somebody to lose. (on Utah) — Were facing an entirely different football team than weve seen the first three games. Its been pass, pass, pass. Now, we meet a team in Utah that is big and physical and likes to play power football. That makes me a little nervous.