• The University of New Mexico plays at home for the first time in six weeks as it hosts nationally-ranked BYU Saturday afternoon. Kickoff for the Mountain West Conference contest is 1:05 p.m.Mountain Time from University Stadium (37,370) in Albuquerque. The game will be televised byESPN+Plus, which airs locally on KRQE-TV Channel 13. BYU is ranked 17th in this week’s coaches’ polland 18th by the Associated Press.
• UNM is 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the MWC after a 30-29 triumph at Wyoming last Saturday. The winsnapped a five-game road losing streak. Off to their best start since winning the 1984 nationalchampionship at 13-0, the Cougars are 5-0 in all games and 1-0 in the league. BYU pounded Utah State54-34, last Friday in Provo. The Cougars’ lone conference victory came at UNLV (35-31) on Sept. 29.
• After four straight road games for only the sixth time in school history, the Lobos play at home forthe first time since Sept. 1. UNM attracted a school-record crowd of 41,771 for its only home game ofthe season, a 26-6 win over UTEP. • With the postponement of games on Sept. 15, the Lobosplayed four straight road games between Sept. 8 and Oct. 6. The only other schools to play four in a rowon the road in 2001 were San Jose State and Central Florida. The upside is that New Mexico now closesthe season with five of its last six games at University Stadium.
• Some of the more mind-boggling numbers for BYU: 51 points a game, 566.2 yards total offenseper game, 7.6 yards per play, 21 rushing touchdowns, 68.4 pass completion percentage, a passefficiency rating of 168.24 and outscoring opponents 102-28 in the second quarter. The Cougars havealso won seven straight games.
• New Mexico was picked to finish seventh in the eight-team Mountain West Conference by theleague’s coaches. BYU was predicted to place third.
• UNM is the only team in the MWC that had to open the conference season with consecutive roadgames, at Utah and at Wyoming. BYU has two straight league road games as well – at UNLV and atNew Mexico – however, the Cougars had the non-conference home game against Utah State betweentrips.
• UNM finished 5-7 last year in all games and 3-4 in conference play. The five wins are the most inthree seasons under head coach Rocky Long and UNM’s best record since going 9-4 in 1997. BYU was6-6 last year, and 4-3 in the MWC, tying for third place.
• UNM was picked to finish last in the MWC a year ago, but finished in a tie for fifth place. It markedthe second consecutive season UNM exceeded preseason predictions. New Mexico was also chosen tofinish seventh in 1999, but tied for fifth.
TICKETS/PROMOTIONS/SPECIAL EVENTS • It’s Youth Day with $3 tickets available to kids ages 18 and under in the north end zone. The first10,000 fans will receive Lobo football trading cards courtesy of First State Bank. The two-time MountainWest Conference champion women’s golf team will be recognized while selected UNM football playerswill sign autographs after the game. Giant is the corporate sponsor while Wild 106 is the media sponsor.
• Five-game season tickets are available this week at the UNM athletics ticket office at The Pit or bycalling (505) 925-5626. Ticket office hours are 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. On day ofgames, the box office opens at 11 a.m. for 6 p.m. games and 8:30 a.m. for all games that start at 4 orearlier.
• Single-game tickets are available online at tickets.com, at all Albuquerque-area Raley’s stores andat the UNM Bookstore. Fans can call (800) 905-3315 or 851-5050 locally to purchase tickets throughtickets.com. Prices range from $10-$19. LOBO HISTORY
• The University of New Mexico has a 398-468-31 overall record through 102 seasons, meaning theLobos are just two 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 ofthe town’s ice factory. The preps prevailed 5-0.
UNM-BYU SERIES
• It’s the 51st meeting in a series that started in 1951, which means the two schools have playedcontinuously for the past half-century. BYU has a commanding 37-12-1 lead, including a 17-8-1advantage in Albuquerque.
• The Cougars have won three straight and 19 of 20 since 1981. The Lobos’ only win in the past 20years came in 1997, a 38-28 decision that paved the way to a WAC Mountain Division title. Former BYUmentor LaVell Edwards finished his career with a 27-2 record against New Mexico.
• BYU dealt UNM its worst defeat of 2000, losing 37-13 in Edwards’ final game in Provo. The Lobostrailed just 17-10 at halftime.
• The last time the schools met without Edwards on the sidelines was 1971. Current UNM head coachRocky Long led New Mexico to a 14-0 victory over the Cougars in Provo, the last time the Lobos wonthere.
• BYU prevailed two years ago in Albuquerque 31-7, in a game delayed 43 minutes at the start of thethird quarter due to lightning. The Lobos were held to 124 total yards, their fewest since 1988, and aminus-10 yards rushing, the second-lowest ever.
• Rocky Long was born in Provo when his father, Rod, was playing football at BYU. UNM defensivecoordinator Bronco Mendenhall is from Alpine, Utah. Mendenhall was secondary coach under GaryCrowton at Louisiana Tech in 1997. Mendenhall’s father, Paul, and older brother, Mat, played at BYU. Infact, Rod Long and Paul Mendenhall were teammates at BYU.
UNM VS. RANKED TEAMS
• The last time New Mexico played a ranked opponent was No. 20 BYU in 1999. The Cougarsprevailed 31-7 at University Stadium.
• The Lobos have lost four straight games to ranked teams, the last win Nov. 5, 1994, against Utah. Seven years ago, UNM upset the ninth-ranked and previously undefeated Utes, 23-21. Utah came intoUniversity Stadium 8-0. The Lobos’ last four games versus ranked foes:
Oct. 16, 1999 No. 20 BYU 31, UNM 7 AlbuquerqueDec. 6, 1997 No. 20 Colorado State 41, UNM 13 Las VegasSept. 21, 1996 No. 25 BYU 17, UNM 14 ProvoOct. 28, 1995 No. 22 Texas Tech 34, UNM 7 Albuquerque
WYOMING RECAP
• The Lobos held on to beat the Cowboys 30-29, when Jarvis Wallum missed an extra point with 21seconds remaining. UNM halted a seven-game losing streak to the Pokes in Laramie, winning there forthe first time since 1992.
• UNM led 30-16 with 4:15 left in the game after CB David Crockett intercepted a Casey Bramletpass and returned it 17 yards for a score. It was the second interception for a TD by UNM on the day. CB Stephen Persley snagged a deflected pass and returned it six yards in the first quarter.
• The Cowboys staged a dramatic comeback in the final minutes. Bramlet connected with BrockRalph on a 66-yard strike to trim the Lobos’ lead to 30-23 with 3:20 left. After UNM failed to pick up afirst down, Wyoming took over at its own 27 with no timeouts and 1:29 left. Seven plays and 73 yardslater, Malcolm Floyd caught a deflected pass in the end zone to bring UW within a point. Wallum’s PATattempt hit the right upright. The Lobos covered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
• UNM’s first of three interceptions on the day – by LB Charles Moss – resulted in a 3-0 lead followinga 31-yard field goal by Vladimir Borombozin.
• The Cowboys got a pair of field goals in the second quarter, the second one after a Jarrod Baxterfumble gave UW the ball at the Lobo 24.
• QB Casey Kelly engineered a nice drive right before halftime. Making his first collegiate start, Kellymarched UNM 80 yards in seven plays, culminating in a 5-yard TD toss to TE Joe Fiola. Kelly was 4-of-4 passing for 71 yards on the drive that gave UNM a 17-6 lead at intermission.
• A 14-play, 57-yard drive resulted in another Borombozin field goal and a 20-6 UNM advantage. The Cowboys came back with 10 straight points to trail 20-16 late in the third period.
• Borombozin booted his third field goal with 8:35 remaining to increase the lead to 23-16. After theteams traded punts, Crockett picked off Bramlet’s first attempt of the drive to give UNM a 14-point leadwith just 4:15 left in the game.
LOBO OFFENSE NOTES
• Making his first collegiate start at Wyoming, sophomore QB Casey Kelly (Portland, Ore.) completed20 of 30 passes for 211 yards with one interception and one touchdown. Coming into the game, Loboquarterbacks had completed just 33.6% of their pass attempts, by far the worst accuracy in the nation. UNM was also last (115th) nationally in pass efficiency with a rating of 75.67. It’s now 86.63. Kelly is thesixth quarterback – and the fifth starter – used by the Lobos since the 1999 season.
• Kelly’s 211 passing yards are the most in a starting debut by a Lobo quarterback since MarcusGoodloe tossed for 286 yards in a 29-27 loss to Utah on Nov. 10, 1990.
• New Mexico has scored in 100 consecutive games, currently the 15th-longest active streak in thenation. The last team to blank the Lobos was BYU (35-0) on Nov. 7, 1992.
• Junior TE Joe Fiola (Clovis, N.M.) caught the first two passes of his career at Wyoming, including a5-yard TD from Kelly. Fiola also had 14 knockdown blocks, increasing his season total to 56, second-best on the team. UNM’s other tight end, sophomore Bryan Penley (Victoria, Texas) had a career-high13 knockdowns.
• Senior OG Jeremy Sorenson (Herriman, Utah) had a season-high 16 knockdown blocks and nowleads the team with 62.
• Junior WR Joe Manning (Lancaster, Calif.) enjoyed one of his better games as a Lobo, grabbingfive passes for a career-high 65 yards against the Cowboys. Manning also rushed five times for 25yards. Manning caught just four passes in UNM’s first four games.
• Sophomore WR Dwight Counter (Lancaster, Calif.) came within one yard of his third straight 100-yard receiving effort with 5 catches for 99 yards at Wyoming. The past three games, Counter has 14receptions for 325 yards, a robust average of 23.2 yards a reception. Counter set career-highs forcatches (5) and yards receiving (119) at Baylor. For the season, Counter leads UNM with 20 grabs for365 yards, 18.3 yards per catch.
• Senior RB Jarrod Baxter (Albuquerque) gained a tough 47 yards on 23 carries at Wyoming. The250-pound workhorse remains in 15th place all-time at UNM with 1,659 career rushing yards. He needsjust nine yards to move into the 13th spot ahead of Michael Johnson (1,663) and David Osborn (1,667). Baxter is averaging 95.2 yards a game.
• Coming into the Wyoming game, UNM had converted just 22.4% (15-67) of its 3rd-down tries in2001. The Lobos made a season-best 7 of 18 (39%) against the Pokes. The season rate is now 22 of 85(26%). The Lobos were 31% on third downs last year.
• New Mexico had two turnovers (1 interception and 1 fumble) at Wyoming and has lost the ball ninetimes in the past three games (4 interceptions and 5 fumbles). For the season, UNM has turned it over12 times (6 interceptions and 6 fumbles). The Lobos coughed it up just 19 times (10 interceptions and 9fumbles) in 12 games last year.
• Self-Inflicted: The Lobos certainly hurt themselves in consecutive losses to Baylor and Utah lastmonth, especially when scoring opportunities were within reach. The details:
Baylor 1st-and-10, Baylor 20 – 5-yard gain to the 15 nullified by an illegal block; ball moved back to the 30…drive stalls and UNM elects to punt
1st-and-goal, Baylor 4 – fumble by QB Rudy Caamano
4th-and-2, Baylor 3 in overtime – fumble by RB Jarrod Baxter
Utah 27-yard pass puts UNM at the Utah 10, but a dead-ball personal foul moves theball back to the 25…Lobos miss a 46-yard field goal
2nd-and-8, Utah 14 – fumble by QB Casey Kelly
Baxter fumbles at the Utah 10 after a 31-yard run
• The Lobos entered the Baylor game having scored all nine times (6 TDs and 3 FGs) they enteredthe red zone in 2001. New Mexico has struggled somewhat the past three games, though, getting just 26points in nine penetrations. UNM got one field goal in three tries at Baylor and a 1-yard TD at Utah outof two attempts. UNM has now converted 15 times in 18 penetrations. The three denials, however, werefumbles and loss of possession.
LOBO DEFENSE NOTES
• Senior LB Gary Davis (Greenwood, Miss.) became the second Lobo to garner MWC DefensivePlayer of the Week honors for his performance at Wyoming. Davis logged a career-high 13 tackles, histhird straight game with double-digit stops. He had 4 tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks. Davis leadsthe league in tackles for loss (9) and sacks (6). He is third in the loop with 47 tackles.
• New Mexico picked off three passes at Wyoming – two returned for TDs – and now has 10 on theseason to lead the MWC. The Lobos actually intercepted the first two pass attempts of the game byWyoming QB Casey Bramlet. Junior LB Charles Moss (Dallas, Texas) snared a deflected ball fromteammate Stephen Persley (Fort Worth, Texas) and returned it 13 yards to set up a Lobo field goal. Persley was the benefactor when Bramlet’s next throw glanced off the receiver’s hands into his awaitingarms and an easy 6-yard score. In the fourth quarter, another deflection fell into the grasp of junior CBDavid Crockett (Gardena, Calif.) and resulted in a 17-yard TD.
• With 10 interceptions in five games, the Lobos are on pace to pick off 22 errant throws. That wouldbe the third-most in school history. UNM had 28 in 1970 and 24 in 1979.
• Persley and lobo Scott Gerhardt (Oklahoma City, Okla.) are tied for 1st in the MWC with 3interceptions and are tied for second with 6 passes defensed. They each have 6 career interceptions.
• Persley has now scored 3 TDs in his Lobo career on a pair of blocked punts and an interception.
• Making the first start of his Lobo career at Wyoming, sophomore DE Daniel Kegler (Frostproof,Fla.) made 5 tackles and caused a fumble. Four of his stops were behind the line of scrimmage,including 1.5 sacks.
• For the second straight season, UNM is leading the MWC in rushing defense and sacks. The Loboshad four sacks against Wyoming, pushing their total to 18. Consequently, the Cowboys were limited tojust 28 net yards in the ground. New Mexico ranks 9th nationaly in rushing defense, allowing just 72.8yards a game. Foes are averaging 2.1 yards a carry.
LOBO SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• Senior K Vladimir Borombozin (Hollywood, Fla.) kicked three FGs at Wyoming (31, 36 and 28) toremain perfect on the season. He is now 7-of-7 on FGs and 10-of-10 on PATs, and leads UNM with 31points scored.
• Borombozin now rates as the most accurate kicker in school history, connecting on 17-of-22 tries,or 77.2%. He has made nine straight FGs and 12 of his last 13 going back to last year.
• Lobo kickers are now 9-of-10 on the season. True freshman walk-on Wes Zunker (New Braunfels,Texas), who also kicks off, is the designated foot for tries from beyond 42 yards. Zunker booted a 51-yarder against UTEP on the first attempt of his career and was true from 43 yards at Baylor. His onlymiss was from 46 yards at Utah.
• Senior Holmon Wiggins (Los Angeles) returned two punts for 18 yards at Wyoming, increasing hiscareer numbers to 59 returns and 501 yards. The school records are held by Chad Smith: 82 returnsand 666 yards.
GAME-DAY COACHING ASSIGNMENTS
• Head coach Rocky Long is joined on the sidelines by assistants Blake Anderson (receivers), BobBostad (offensive line), Jeff Conway (special teams/running backs) and Lenny Rodriguez (linebackers). Upstairs in the press box are offensive coordinator Dan Dodd, defensive coordinator Bronco Mendenhall,tight ends coach Gerald Bradley and defensive line coach Grady Stretz.
TURNOVER TALLY
• UNM is a +17 in turnover margin the past 14 games. The Lobos have caused 40 turnovers (24interception/16 fumbles) over that span, nearly three a game.
• New Mexico is a +3 in turnover margin (15 takeaways to 12 giveaways) in 2001, however, the Lobooffense has scored just three touchdowns and three field goals following the takeaways. The defensehas scored twice.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
• Four of the Lobos’ last six losses have been by four points or less. UNM lost conference gameslast year to Colorado State (17-14), San Diego State (17-16) and UNLV (18-14). New Mexico lost a 16-13 overtime game to Baylor earlier this season.
EXPANDED STADIUM A BIG HIT
• The 41-year old home of New Mexico football – University Stadium – received its most significantrenovation since it was erected in 1960, and it proved to be a smashing success. A record crowd of41,771 witnessed the Lobos’ 26-6 victory over UTEP on Sept. 1, crushing the previous mark of 37,156for Rice in 1997.
• While the expanded stadium has just 37,370 fixed seats, UNM was able to shoehorn nearly 4,000more fans into last Saturday’s 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 northwestcorner 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 newfacilities.
• The highlight of the renovation is a $1.8 million state-of-the-art video scoreboard at the north end ofthe 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 whilethe videoboard is 21 feet high and 28 feet wide. A staff of 10, including three cameras, is needed tooperate the system during a game. Personnel from UNM Media Technology Services will handle allgame-day production.
2001 GAME-BY-GAME RECAPS
UTEP (W, 26-6)
• FB Jarrod Baxter rushed for a career-high 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and the Lobos tied aschool record with nine sacks in the 26-6 victory over UTEP. Trailing 6-5, UNM grabbed momentumright before halftime as true freshman Wes Zunker connected on his first collegiate field-goal attempt, a51-yard boot, to give New Mexico an 8-6 lead. The UNM defense held UTEP scoreless the rest of thegame, limiting the Miners to a minus-53 yards rushing, the fourth-stingiest effort in school history. UNMgained 271 yards on the ground, 214 of those coming in the second half.
at Texas Tech (L, 42-30)
• Texas Tech used a 100-yard kickoff return in the third quarter to regain momentum and pull awayfor a 42-30 victory. Following a Lobo field goal that trimmed Tech’s lead to 21-17, Ivory McCann fieldedthe ensuing kickoff eight yards deep in his own end zone. Going against all conventional wisdom, heraced virtu ally untouched into the end zone. Texas Tech added two more scores to grab aninsurmountable 42-17 lead five minutes into the fourth quarter. The Lobos fin ished with two nice scoringdrives. 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.
at Baylor (L, 16-13, OT)
• Unable to capitalize on several scoring chances, the Lobos fell to Baylor 16-13, in overtime whenthe Bears booted a 29-yard field goal on their first possession of the extra period. New Mexico scoredonly three points despite having the ball inside the Baylor 5-yard line on three occasions. UNM fumbledtwice, the first error coming at the end of the first half with the Lobos leading 10-3 as QB Rudy Caamanomishandled the snap at the Bears’ 4 on a first-and-goal. The final miscue came in overtime. UNM had a4th-and-2 at the BU 3, but RB Jarrod Baxter was stripped of the ball as he was heading into whatappeared to be a wide open endzone. New Mexico had yet another drive stall in the first half when twopenalties pushed it out of field-goal range. UNM had a first down at the Baylor 20 before the infractions. The Lobos tied the game at 13 with 1:40 left in regulation on Vladimir Borombozin’s 21-yard field goal. New Mexico had a 2nd-and-goal at the BU 5, but had to settle for the three points. Caamano passed fora career-high 258 yards.
at Utah (L, 37-16)
• For the second straight week, the Lobos were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, thencouldn’t stop the Utah offense in the second as they fell, 37-16. New Mexico trailed 14-7 at halftime, butlost fumbles twice inside the Utah 20. It also was whistled for a dead-ball personal foul after a 27-yardpass play took UNM to the 10-yard line. The drive stalled and the Lobos missed a 46-yard field goal. Momentum switched in UNM’s favor during the first part of the third period. After a Utah punt, the Lobos’first play of the second half was a 47-yard strike from Kelly to WR Dwight Counter to tie the game at 14. Later, Lobo LB Gary Davis sacked Rice in the end zone for a safety to hand UNM its first lead at 16-14.However, it was all Utah after that. The Utes took the lead on a 33-yard field goal late in the thirdquarter. After three straight incomplete passes by the Lobos, Adam Tate scored on a 46-yard run to givethe Utes a 23-16 lead. Utah added two more scores in the final quarter against a tired Lobo defense thatwas on the field for more than 11 minutes in the third period.
INJURY UPDATE
• None to report.
LOBOS IN OVERTIME
• The Lobos are 1-2 all-time in overtime games, including a 16-13 setback Sept. 22 at Baylor. UNMplayed two in 1998, winning a 39-36 triple-OT thriller against Utah State and losing to San Diego State36-33 in a single overtime.
BLOCK PARTY
• With two blocks this season (Stephen Persley against Texas Tech; Derrick Shepherd vs. Baylor),the Lobos have rejected seven since the start of the 2000 season.
• After having gone 21 straight games during most of 1998 and all of Œ99 without blocking a punt,the Lobos established a school record with five blocks in 2000, including one in three of the last fivegames. UNM rejected three in 1940, Œ48 and Œ79. The Lobos scored twice on the blocks – both byPersley – against Oregon State and Air Force. Persley (Oregon State/Utah) blocked two while DaveMauer (Texas Tech), Terrell Golden (Air Force) and Larry Davis (UNLV) had one.
CAPTAINS
• New Mexico’s captains for the 2001 season are FB Jarrod Baxter, QB Rudy Caamano, DE BrianJohnson, LB Mohammed Konte and OG Jeremy Sorenson. Baxter was also a captain in 2000. Captainsare selected by their teammates.
SEASON TICKET UPDATE
• Through Friday, Sept. 28, Lobo fans had purchased 13,201 season tickets, the second-highest totalin school history. UNM sold 12,223 last year. It’s the eighth straight year UNM fans have purchased atleast 10,000 season tickets. The single-season record is 14,254 in 1998.
GREAT JOB IN SCHOOL
• The UNM football team combined to post a 2.59 grade-point-average during the 2001 springsemester. That’s the highest semester GPA by the Lobo gridders since the school began charting gradesin 1988. Two of the top-three semester GPAs have occurred under current head coach Rocky Long. TheLobos 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’ fivecaptains. Jarrod Baxter, Brian Johnson and Mohammed Konte all started at UNM without athleticsscholarships.
• 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 whenhe came to Albuquerque in the fall of Œ97. He impressed Rocky Long and his staff so much during Œ98spring drills that he received a scholarship that fall. Konte, also a redshirt in Œ97, paid his own way forthree 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 TerrellGolden, sophomore QB Casey Kelly, senior FB Sulayaman Konte, sophomore S Justin Millea, junior NTAdrian Terry and sophomore WR Terrence Thomas.
STRONGER EVERYDAY
• UNM director of strength and conditioning Mark Paulsen reported in May that 34 players lifted 300pounds 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 morethan five-fold to 33 in the spring of 2001. Only four Lobos squatted 550 pounds in 2000 compared to 16this year.
ATTRACTIVE, DEMANDING SCHEDULE
• The 2001 UNM home schedule could be the most attractive in school history. The six visitors toAlbuquerque compiled a 44-28 record last year, including 3-1 in bowl games.
• UNM’s two oldest rivals – UTEP and New Mexico State – highlight the non-conference docket. Thetop-four teams in the 2000 MWC standings – Colorado State, Air Force, UNLV and BYU – all travel toAlbuquerque in 2001. CSU finished the year 10-2 and No. 14 in the final AP poll. The Rams edgedLouisville 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 opensleague play with consecutive road games (Utah and Wyoming). BYU plays its first two MWC contests onthe 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 Lobofootball game this year as part of the UNM Send-A-Kid Program, which provides tickets forunderpriviledged and disadvantaged youth. Since the program was founded in 1994, over 7,000 childrenhave been able to see a Lobo game.
BYU NOTES
• Head coach Gary Crowton (BYU Œ83) has a 26-13 record in his fourth year as a collegiate headcoach. He was 21-13 in three seasons at Louisiana Tech from 1996-98. Crowton is the first BYU headcoach to win the first four games of his career.
• BYU has not been shutout in 329 consecutive games, an NCAA record. The last blanking dealt tothe Cougars was 27-0 by Arizona State on Sept. 27, 1975.
• The Cougars have 30 players that are married.
• Running back Luke Staley rushed for a career-high 207 yards on 23 carries in the Cougars’ 54-34victory over Utah State. On the evening, the junior piled up an amazing 311 all-purpose yards. He hadfour receptions for 44 yards, a 49-yard kickoff return and even completed an 11-yard pass. Staley foundthe end zone five times – four via the rush – to tie a BYU record. He is averaging 119.4 yards a game and8.9 yards per carry.
• Senior QB Brandon Doman made his first collegiate start last year against New Mexico. So far in2001, Doman has completed 99 of 147 passes for 1,354 yards, 13 TDs and just two interceptions. Doman is second in the nation in total offense, averaging 316.8 yards a game. He is fourth nationally inpass efficiency with a rating of 171.2.
2000 RECAP
• After an 0-3 start, the Lobos won five of their last nine games. UNM went 5-1 during one point inthe 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 (115.3yards), pass efficiency defense (105.7 rating), sacks (50), time of possession (32:33 average) andturnover margin (+0.67/game).
• The Lobos had nearly identical records in 1999 (4-7, 3-4 MWC) and 2000, but the comparison reallyended there. UNM’s average margin of defeat in seven losses in 2000 was 11.1 points compared to 16.9points in 1999. The difference was even more dramatic in conference games: just 8 points in foursetbacks in 2000 versus 24.3 points in 1999.
• According to NCAA figures, New Mexico tied Arizona State by playing the 46th-toughest schedulein the nation during the 2000 season. The Lobos’ 11 Div. I-A opponents combined for a 60-53 record, afigure that excluded the outcomes against UNM. Among MWC schools, only BYU at No. 41 played amore difficult slate than UNM. The Lobos played six bowl teams in 2000, three from the Mountain WestConference, 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 NotreDame in the Fiesta Bowl.
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 coordinatorJoe Lee Dunn was the head coach – yielded 19.4 points and 298.1 yards a game…last year, UNMallowed 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…the1962 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…that’s the biggest one-seasondrop 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 Œ99 total of23…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 offensiveturnover 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 toincrease their turnover margin to +8 for the season, a figure that ranked first in the MWC and tied for20th 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.
THIS AND THAT FROM 2000
• For the first time since 1964, UNM held five straight opponents – Wyoming, Colorado State, AirForce, Utah, San Diego State – to less than 300 yards of offense…the 1964 team kept foes under 300yards in 10 consecutive games and led the WA