Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
The University of New Mexico takes its last road trip of the regular season, traveling to San Diego State Saturday evening. Kickoff for the Mountain West Conference encounter is 7:07 p.m. Mountain Time (6:07 in San Diego) from Qualcomm Stadium (54,000) in San Diego. The game will be televised by SportsWest, which airs locally on KRQE-TV Channel 13.
UNM is 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the MWC after a 52-33 grounding of Air Force. The Lobos are tied with the Falcons and UNLV for fourth place in the conference. The Aztecs are 2-6 in all games and 1-3 in the league. SDSU fell to BYU (59-21) last week in San Diego. The Aztecs boast the nations leading rusher in senior Larry Ned, who is averaging 146 yards a game. UNM is 9th in NCAA rushing defense, yielding only 83.3 yards a game.
New Mexico may be happy by making a sojourn to San Diego. The Lobos have won their last two meetings against the Aztecs at Qualcomm Stadium, 1997 and 1999. Meanwhile, SDSU has captured eight straight at University Stadium. The visiting team has won six of the past seven decisions.The Lobos are seeking the programs 400th win. UNM is 399-469-31 since it first starting playing football on Oct. 7, 1892.
New Mexico was picked to finish seventh in the eight-team Mountain West Conference by the leagues coaches. San Diego State was predicted to place fourth.
With the postponement of games on Sept. 15, the Lobos played four straight road games between Sept. 8 and Oct. 6. The only other schools to play four in a row on the road in 2001 were San Jose State and Central Florida. The upside is that New Mexico closes the season with five of its final six games at University Stadium.
UNM was the only team in the MWC that had to open the conference season with consecutive road games, at Utah and at Wyoming. BYU had two straight league road games as well – at UNLV and at New Mexico – however, the Cougars had a non-conference home game against Utah State between trips.
UNM 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. San Diego State was 3-8 last year, 3-4 in the MWC.
UNM was picked to finish last in the MWC a year ago, but finished in a tie for fifth place. It marked the second consecutive season UNM exceeded preseason predictions. New Mexico was also chosen to finish seventh in 1999, but tied for fifth.
STADIUM SECURITY
To ensure the safety of all fans attending Lobo football games, the following policies will be in effect at University Stadium for the remainder of the 2001 season:
Backpacks or large bags will not be allowed inside the stadium. Diaper bags and purses will be allowed but are subject to search. There will be an increased security presence both inside and outside of Univer-sity Stadium.
Stadium gates will continue to open 90 minutes before kickoff, however, due to the implementation of these new policies, all fans are encouraged to enter the stadium at least 30 minutes before kickoff.
LOBO HISTORY
The University of New Mexico has a 399-469-31 overall record through 102 seasons, meaning the Lobos are just one victory 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.
UNM-SAN DIEGO STATE SERIES
Its the 28th meeting in a series that began in 1953 with UNM winning 41-12, in Albuquerque. The Lobos won the first three games, but the Aztecs have taken 20 of the last 24 to lead the series 20-7 overall. SDSU won 13 straight between 1984-96.
San Diego State has a 10-4 lead in San Diego and a 10-3 advantage in Albuquerque. The Lobos have won two straight at Qualcomm Stadium after losing seven in a row. In its last visit to San Diego in 1999, Brian Urlachers 71-yard fumble return with 4:23 left in the game was the deciding score in New Mexicos 24-21 victory.
Last year in Albuquerque, UNM was unable to maintain a 16-0 halftime lead. Nate Tanbergs 18-yard field goal with 5:27 remaining proved to be the game winner as SDSU edged the Lobos 17-16. Vladimir Borombozins 54-yard FG attempt fell short as time expired. UNM notched a season-high seven sacks and held the Aztecs to a season-low 183 yards of offense, including 35 yards rushing.
The average margin of victory in the last three games has been 2.3 points: SDSU took a 36-33 overtime decision in Albuquerque in 1998.
AIR FORCE RECAP
The University of New Mexico erupted for a season-high 620 yards and 32 first downs en route to a wild 52-33 homecoming victory at University Stadium. New Mexico rushed, passed and returned a fumble and punt for touchdowns as it recorded its third straight victory over the Falcons.
The game started on an ominous note for UNM when Air Force QB Keith Boyea kept the ball and raced 65 yards for a touchdown on the games first play from scrimmage. After UNM mishandled a punt, the Falcons were in business again at the Lobo 14, but had to settle for a field goal and a 10-0 lead.
As it did throughout the first half, the Lobos answered. QB Casey Kelly hit Joe Manning with a 15-yard TD pass. Kelly gave it right back on UNMs next possession, though, when Wes Crawley returned a misfired Kelly aerial 29 yards for a score to push the lead back to 17-7.
The Kelly-Manning tandem connected again, this time from 35 yards out as UNM trimmed the deficit to three points. Another Air Force score and field goals by each team gave Air Force its fourth 10-point lead of the first half at 27-17.
Kelly capped an 8-play, 80-yard drive by finding Dwight Counter on an 18-yard scoring pass with 6:54 left before halftime. After three rare punts and another Kelly interception, the Falcons started from their own 24 with 1:39 remaining in the first half.
UNM took its first lead of the game with 48 seconds left in the half when CB Stephen Persley scooped up an errant option pitch by Boyea and sprinted 25 yards to put the Lobos ahead 31-27.
New Mexicos special teams joined in the scoring midway through the third quarter when Holmon Wiggins fielded a punt, broke several tackles and scampered 47 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown and a 38-27 lead. Boyea led the Falcons back, plunging into the endzone from a yard out to cut the lead to 38-33 early in the fourth quarter.
Air Force got no closer though, as the Lobos dominating rushing attack put the game out of reach. Following Boyeas touchdown, New Mexico ground out 64 yards rushing on a season-high 16-play drive, covering 80 yards. RB Jarrod Baxter scored on a seven-yard run. Baxter added another touchdown and the Lobo defense intercepted Boyea twice in the final eight minutes of the game to secure the victory.
Air Force came into the game No. 4 in the nation in rushing, averaging 269.2 yards a game. The Lobos allowed just 112 yards with 65 of those yards coming on the first play of the game. The Falcons last 29 rushes netted just 47 yards.
The staggering numbers in the fourth quarter: New Mexico held the ball for 13:46 and ran a mind-boggling 31 plays for 162 yards of offense. Air Force gained just seven yards on five snaps, covering 1:14 on the game clock. The Lobos had the ball for 22:35 of the second half.
Unbelievably, New Mexicos offensive showing could have been even better. UNM had a 65-yard TD pass from Kelly to Manning called back in the first quarter due to holding. The Lobos also turned the ball over on downs after failing to pick up a first down on a 4th-and-1 at the Falcons 2 in the third.
The Lobos are now 4-0 following scheduled off weeks under Rocky Long, 2-0 against Air Force.
LOBO OFFENSE NOTES
The 52 points are the most for a Rocky Long-led Lobo team and the most since UNM toppled New Mexico State 61-24 in Albuquerque in 1997.
The 620 yards of offense are the most by New Mexico in 12 years, since a school-record 691 yards at Utah in 1989. Its the 13th time in school history the Lobos have surpassed 600 yards, and the total ranks 11th-best all-time.
New Mexico set season highs in virtually every offensive category: points (52), first downs (32), first downs rushing (16), first downs passing (16), rushing attempts (57), rushing yards (296), pass attempts (41), pass completions (tied with 20), passing yards (324), plays (98), total offense (620), punt return yardage (67), time of possession (39:33) and longest drive (16 plays).
UNM came into Air Force averaging 22.5 points, 176 yards rushing, 165 yards passing and 341 yards of offense a game.
Making just his third collegiate start against Air Force, sophomore QB Casey Kelly (Portland, Ore.) completed 20 of 40 passes for a career-high 324 yards and a career-best three TD passes. He did toss a pair of interceptions, one that was returned for a score. Kelly also had 46 yards rushing for 370 yards of total offense, just 20 yards shy of being one the top-10 single-game performances in school history. The last Lobo to have more total offense was the late Donald Sellers, who had 371 yards (351 passing, 20 rushing) against San Diego State in 1995. Kelly is the sixth quarterback – and the fifth starter – used by the Lobos since 1999.
Kellys passing total of 324 yards is the most by a Lobo since Graham Leigh threw for 359 yards in a 1998 overtime loss to San Diego State. After four games, UNM ranked last in the nation in pass completion percentage (33.6%) and pass efficiency (75.67). The past three games, Kelly is 57 of 103 (55.3%) for 696 yards, four TDs and six interceptions. The team pass efficiency is now 94.49.
In Kellys three starts, UNM has 14 scoring drives (8 TDs, 6 FGs) that have averaged 10 plays and 66.5 yards and taken 3:58 off the clock. Seven of the marches have been nine plays or longer. Eight have been 76 yards or more.
UNM has scored in 102 consecutive games, the 15th-longest active streak in the nation. The last team to blank the Lobos was BYU (35-0) on Nov. 7, 1992.
Junior WR Joe Manning (Lancaster, Calif.) set career-highs of 8 catches, 135 yards and 2 TDs against Air Force. Its the most yards receiving since Martinez Williams had 175 against Fresno State in 1998. After just four receptions for 128 yards the first four games, Manning has caught 16 passes for 242 yards the past three games. He leads Lobo receivers with 3 TDs.
Senior RB Holmon Wiggins (Los Angeles) had his best all-around game of the season against the Falcons. Wiggins led UNM in rushing (84 yards on 12 carries) for the first time since last years season finale at BYU (65 yards). He also returned a punt 47 yards for a score. Wiggins is 15th all-time at UNM with 1,658 rushing yards.
Senior RB Jarrod Baxter (Albuquerque) gained 81 yards on 20 carries against Air Force, including a pair of fourth-quarter TDs. The 250-pound workhorse remains in 13th place all-time at UNM with 1,789 career rushing yards. Baxter has 16 career rushing TDs to rank 11th at UNM. He has gained 606 yards in 2001, an average of 86.6 yards a game.
Sophomore WR Dwight Counter (Lancaster, Calif.) caught 4 balls for 81 yards against Air Force. The past five games, Counter has 25 receptions for 466 yards, a robust average of 18.6 yards a reception and 93.2 yards a game. For the season, Counter leads UNM with 31 grabs for 506 yards, 16.3 yards per catch. Last years receiving leader was RB Ted Iacenda, who caught 28 passes for 257 yards.
After starting the same five offensive linemen the first six games of the year, New Mexico used a slightly different quintet against Air Force. Senior Jon Oliver (Oklahoma City) started at strong guard in place of redshirt freshman Claude Terrell (Texas City, Texas) who was denied the nod for minor disciplinary reasons. It was Olivers first start since last year at BYU.
Senior OT B.J. Long (Los Angeles) played 96 offensive snaps against Air Force, while OG Jeremy Sorenson (Herriman, Utah), C Rashad McClure (San Antonio, Texas) and OT Jason Lenzmeier (Frisco, Texas) participated in 91. Sorenson had a team-high 11 knockdown blocks and continues to lead the team with 88.
Senior WR Joel Baker (Las Cruces, N.M.) caught the first pass of his career against Air Force. Baker had 3 receptions for 26 yards. In the Lobos 46-23 junior-varsity win over the Air Force JV on Sept. 9, Baker caught 5 passes for 133 yards and 4 TDs from Casey Kelly.
For the second straight game, New Mexico set a season-high for time of possession. After controlling it for 33:40 versus BYU, the Lobos had it for a whopping 39:33 against Air Force. UNM research was unable to find a game in the past 25 years where the Lobos have had the ball longer.
The 98 offensive plays against Air Force are the most since UNM ran 105 against TCU in 1994. The Lobos have run 181 plays the past two games.
Coming into the Wyoming game, UNM had converted just 22.4% (15-67) of its 3rd-down tries in 2001. The past three games, the Lobos have made 47% (25 of 53), including a season-best 11 of 18 (61%) against Air Force. The season rate has now climbed to 33% (40 of 120). The Lobos were 31% on third downs last year.
New Mexico had three turnovers (2 interceptions, 1 fumble) against Air Force and has lost the ball 15 times in the past five games (9 interceptions and 6 fumbles). For the season, UNM has turned it over 18 times (11 interceptions and 7 fumbles). The Lobos coughed it up just 19 times (10 interceptions and 9 fumbles) in 12 games last year.
RED ZONE GAME-BY-GAMENew Mexico:
UTEP4-4FG, FG, TD, TDat Texas Tech5-5TD, TD, FG, TD, TDat Baylor1-3fumble, FG, fumbleat Utah1-2fumble, TDat Wyoming4-4FG, TD, FG, FGBYU4-4TD, FG, FG, TDAir Force5-6TD, FG, TD, downs, TD, TDTotals24-2814 TDs, 10 FGs, 3 fumbles, 1 on downs
Opponents:
UTEP0-0at Texas Tech3-4FG, FG, TD, missed FGat Baylor2-3Interception, TD, FG at Utah4-5TD, missed FG, FG, TD, TD at Wyoming4-4FG, FG, TD, FGBYU2-2FG, TDAir Force3-3FG, FG, TDTotals18-218 TDs, 10 FGs, 2 missed FGs, 1 interception
LOBO DEFENSE NOTES
Senior CB Stephen Persley (Fort Worth, Texas) had 3 tackles, one tackle for a 5-yard loss, a 25-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown and two pass deflections, including his fourth interception of the season in the win over Air Force. Persley’s fumble recovery gave UNM its first lead of the game at 31-27 with just 48 seconds left before halftime. His interception – which he wrestled away from a Falcons receiver – came in the fourth quarter with the Lobos leading 45-33. Persley has scored four TDs in his career at New Mexico on two blocked punt returns, an interception and a fumble.
Regarded by several media outlets as the top defensive player in the MWC, senior LB Gary Davis (Greenwood, Miss.) had 6 tackles, including a pair for six yards in losses. Davis continues to lead the league in tackles for loss (14) and sacks (6). He is fifth in the loop with 62 tackles.
Redshirt freshman LB Nick Speegle (Albuquerque) made a career-high 13 tackles in his first career start. Although he has started only one time, Speegle is 4th on the team with 37 tackles, including two tackles for loss and one sack.
UNM intercepted two passes against Air Force and has 12 on the year, 2nd-best in the MWC and tied for 12th nationally.
Persley and senior lobo Scott Gerhardt (Oklahoma City, Okla.) are tied for 1st in the MWC and tied for 9th in the NCAA with 4 interceptions. They lead active Lobos with 7 career picks.
For the second straight season, UNM is leading the MWC in rushing defense. New Mexico ranks 11th nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 83.3 yards a game. Foes are averaging 2.5 yards a carry.
LOBO SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
Dating to last year, senior K Vladimir Borombozin (Hollywood, Fla.) has converted 12 straight field goals to break Bob Bergs school record of 11 set during the 1974-75 seasons. Borombozins record breaker was a 33-yarder against Air Force. He is a perfect 10-of-10 in 2001. His last miss was from 54 yards against San Diego State on Nov. 4, 2000. Borombozin has also kicked 19-of-19 PATs, and leads UNM with 49 points scored in 2001.
Borombozin is the most accurate kicker in school history, making 20-of-25, or 80%. He has made 15 of his last 16.
Lobo FG kickers are now 12-of-13 for 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 only miss was from 46 yards at Utah.
Senior Holmon Wiggins returned 4 punts for 67 yards, including a 47-yard TD against Air Force, increasing his career numbers to 64 returns and 572 yards. The school records are held by Chad Smith: 82 returns and 666 yards.
SEASON HONORS
Senior RB Jarrod Baxter was named Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week after the Lobos 26-6 season-opening win over UTEP. Baxter rushed 25 times for a career-high 184 yards and 2 TDs. It ties for the 13th-best rushing effort in school history. Baxter posted a career-long run of 58 yards.
Sophomore S Terrell Golden was named MWC Defensive Player of the Week after UNMs 16-13 overtime loss at Baylor. Golden recorded a career-high 13 tackles, including four for losses.
Senior LB Gary Davis earned MWC Defensive Player of the Weel accolades for his effort against Wyoming, a 30-29 UNM victory. Davis logged a career-best 13 tackles. He made four tackles for losses, including 2.5 sacks.
GAME-DAY COACHING ASSIGNMENTS
Head coach Rocky Long is joined on the sidelines by assistants Blake Anderson (receivers), Bob Bostad (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.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
Five of the Lobos last eight losses have been by four points or less. UNM lost conference games last 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 and to BYU (24-20).
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 its proved to be a smashing success. A record crowd of 41,771 witnessed the Lobos season-opening 26-6 victory over UTEP on Sept. 1, crushing the previous mark of 37,156 for Rice in 1997. UNM is averaging 32,951 fans in 2001.
While the expanded stadium has just 37,370 fixed seats, UNM was able to shoehorn nearly 4,000 more fans into the UTEP 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 videoboard 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 board measures 60 feet high and 61 feet wide. The videoboard is 21 x 28. A staff of 10, including three cameras, is needed to operate the system during a game. Personnel from UNM Media Technology Services handle all game-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 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.
at 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 virtu ally 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 fin ished 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.
at Baylor (L, 16-13, OT)
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 of the extra period. 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 coming 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 a wide open endzone. 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. 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. Caamano passed for a career-high 258 yards.
at Utah (L, 37-16)
For the second straight week, the Lobos were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, then couldnt stop the Utah offense in the second as they fell, 37-16. New Mexico trailed 14-7 at halftime, but lost fumbles twice inside the Utah 20. It also was whistled for a dead-ball personal foul after a 27-yard pass play took UNM to the 10-yard line. The drive stalled and the Lobos missed a 46-yard field goal. Momentum switched in UNMs 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 third quarter. After three straight incomplete passes by the Lobos, Adam Tate scored on a 46-yard run to give the Utes a 23-16 lead. Utah added two more scores in the final quarter against a tired Lobo defense that was on the field for more than 11 minutes in the third period.
at Wyoming (W, 30-29)
The Lobos held on to beat the Cowboys 30-29, when Jarvis Wallum missed an extra point with 21 seconds remaining. UNM halted a five-game skid in road games and snapped seven-game losing streak to the Pokes in Laramie, winning there for the first time since 1992. UNM led 30-16 with 4:15 left in the game after CB David Crockett intercepted a Casey Bramlet pass 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 Brock Ralph on a 66-yard strike to trim the Lobos lead to 30-23 with 3:20 left. After UNM failed to pick up a first down, Wyoming took over at its own 27 with no timeouts and 1:29 left. Seven plays and 73 yards later, Malcolm Floyd caught a deflected pass in the end zone to bring UW within a point. Wallums PAT attempt hit the right upright. The Lobos covered the onside kick and ran out the clock. Lobo QB Casey Kelly engineered a nice drive right before halftime. Making his first collegiate start, Kelly marched 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.
BYU (L, 24-20)
Brandon Doman completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Ord with 3:33 left to hand the 17th-ranked Cougars a hard-fought 24-20 victory. The decisive score was set up when Doman converted a 4th-and-11 situation from the UNM 36. Doman ran for 14 yards on an option keeper. BYU played without standout running back Luke Staley, who was held out over concerns about his eligibility. The Lobos had two chances to regain the lead in the final minutes. One drive ended in an interception. The last try resulted in a failed attempt on fourth-and-13.
UNM took a 7-3 lead midway through the second quarter on a textbook 14-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Jarrod Baxters 1-year TD plunge. Buoyed by a 44-yard kickoff return, BYU regained the lead at 10-7 on a 28-yard wide receiver screen. The Lobos answered with another long drive – 13 plays, 76 yards – to tie the score at 10-10 at halftime. UNM had to settle for a 20-yard Vladimir Borombozin FG despite having 2nd-and-goal at the BYU 2.
The Cougars started the fourth quarter with their own long drive that ended in a 27-yard scoring pass and a 17-13 lead.
Again, UNM countered. A 19-yard scoring toss from WR Derrick Shepherd to RB Javier Hanson on a double-reverse pass gave the Lobos a 20-17 edge with 6:09 left. The razzle-dazzle culminated an 11-play, 80-yard drive. Despite the relative low score, the lead changed hands seven times.
INJURY UPDATE
Reserve OT Justin Colburn suffered a sprained right MCL and is questionable for San Diego State.
LOBOS IN OVERTIME
The Lobos are 1-2 all-time in overtime games, including a 16-13 setback Sept. 22 at Baylor. 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.
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 99 without blocking a punt, the Lobos established a school 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 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.
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 TICKETS
Lobo fans purchased 13,204 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.
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 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.
SAN DIEGO STATE NOTES
Head coach Ted Tollner (Cal Poly SLO 62) has a 68-66-1 record in his 12th year as a collegiate head coach. He is 42-46 in his eighth season with the Aztecs. Tollner compiled a 26-20-1 record in four seasons at Southern Cal between 1983-86. He is 5-2 against New Mexico, 4-0 in Albuquerque and 1-2 in San Diego.
San Diego State had 14 former players on NFL opening-day rosters, more than any other Mountain West Conference school.
Senior RB Larry Ned leads the nation in rushing, averaging 146 yards per game, including 239 yards last Saturday against BYU and an MWC-record 285 against Eastern Illinois. Ned carried the ball 40 times in the win over Colorado State, also a conference standard. For the season, Ned has eclipsed the century mark five times. He currently ranks second on SDSUs all-time rushing list – behind Marshall Faulk – with 3,181 yards.
WRs J.R. Tolver and Derrick Lewis have each caught a pass in 22 straight games.
The Aztec defense has caused 13 fumbles on the season, but has only recovered three.
Senior defensive tackle Jerome Haywood has started every game of his career and enters the UNM game with a string of 42 consecutive starts.
Aztec defensive backs coach Fred Bl