Quotes from head coach Rocky Long, as well as LB Gary Davis, CB Stephen Persley and RB Holmon Wiggins from Tuesday’s weekly football media lunch.
Head Coach Rocky Long
Question: Does Colorado State have an advantage playing in these types of games?Rocky Long: I dont know if its an advantage or not, but theyve been there before. So I dont think theyll be too nervous and I think theyll be excited to play and I think theyll be relaxed and probably play as well as they have all year.
Question: How do you keep your players focused at the task at hand, playing Colorado State, versus worrying about the magnitude of the game and the whole bowl picture?Rocky Long: I think its all one. I think the bowl picture and this game are included in the same motivational factor. If its hard to keep them focused in on that this week, then we dont deserve it. Were going to coach them, but were not going to talk about the importance of this game because everybody else has already told them.
Question: With both teams having something to play for, how is this game different from your last two games against San Diego State and UNLV?Rocky Long: I think both teams will be as prepared to play as they have all year. I think Colorado State knows how to handle it because theyre there every year, either playing for a conference championship or a bowl bid. Well find out if our players know how to handle it. You never know until you actually play the game, but I think both teams will be really ready to play. A team that has nothing to lose and is playing out the season, thats a lot more iffy. We know were going to get Colorado States best. Though it doesnt matter how many times theyve been there, its the same for them as it is for us, they have to play good or theyre done. Just because theyve been there before doesnt mean the pressures not on them as well.
Question: How much do you think beating San Diego State and UNLV this year after losing to them both last year have to do with the maturity and experience of your team?Rocky Long: I think weve learned something from last year or we wouldve played differently. I dont think our players played as good as Id hoped they would against San Diego State and UNLV, but obviously they played well enough to win. Last year they were in the same position and they didnt play well enough to win. UNLV was probably a better team last year than they were this year and San Diego State was about the same.
Question: Do you think your defense is playing as well or better than they were at this time last year?Rocky Long: I think theyre playing as well as they were at this time last year. Were playing better now than we did earlier in the year. Now were playing against different types of offenses too and our defensive backs are making some plays in coverage that they werent making earlier in the year.
Question: Has linebacker Gary Davis surprised you by how well hes played?Rocky Long: No, we expected him to be a good player. He was a pretty good player last year, but he was splitting time so he didnt get the stats that everybody talks about.
Question: How much of a relief has Vladimir Borombozins improved place kicking of been for you this year?Rocky Long: Well I think that has a lot to do with our success. You get in close games and the kicking can win it or lose it for you. I think Borombozin just spent a lot of time practicing and hes probably a lot more at ease out there than he was last year. Probably right from the start of the year he had a lot more confidence. Vladi thinks that punting also helps him kick because hes into the game the whole time. At a certain distance maybe his technique goes out the window when he had to kick it too far and since we never make him do that, maybe hes grooved his swing a little bit better.
Question: If you can neutralize the Rams special teams do you think thats a big advantage for you?Rocky Long: Thats a good question. Ive spent the last two and a half days watching every one of their game films and looking at every one of their stats and I cant find a difference between the two teams. So a great game on defense might win it for you, an explosion on offense might win it for you or it might come down to one kickoff or punt return. You look at all those stats, the two teams are so evenly matched, I dont know where you see an advantage for one team or another. Weve also won a few games becase weve done good things in the kicking game. Now they won last weeks game because they blocked a punt and ran a kickoff back, but theyve won some other games because theyve score a whole bunch of points and scored them fast.
Question: Could you tell much about CSU from the tape of its game versus Louisville even though they didnt look very good? Rocky Long: I could tell a lot from the Louisville game. Quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt is a whole lot better now than he was then. That was his first start and he was not very good. Plus, neither team was very good and I think it is because both teams had a short week and a short week usually give the defense an advantage. Hes developing into a good quarterback. I went to watch the films hoping, what I had envisioned watching some TV shots, that he is not a very good thrower, thats what I was hoping to see. What Ive seen has been completely the opposite, he can throw the long one, he can zing it across the middle, he can throw the outs. Now hes a little erratic at times, but hes got an arm, hes got a gun.
Question: Does that benefit your defense more to force them to have to throw if you stop the run?Rocky Long: We will find out. Last year, I thought we played pretty good defense against them, didnt stop the run, but I thought we played pretty good run defense against them. A couple pass plays are the ones that beat us. (CSU receiver) Dallas Davis wasnt playing because he was hurt, but (CSU receiver) Pete Rebstock really hurt us. We played decent run defense against them and the passing game beat us last year. When you have guys like Davis and Rebstock out there, you can play great pass defense and they catch one pass for 80 yards and a touchdown and you lose.
Question: How much can winning on Saturday and going to a bowl game change the perception of the UNM football program?Rocky Long: Its not going to change a lot, but its going to start to change. Win or lose Saturday, weve gained the respect of the other coaches and other teams in the league, but were a long way from gaining the respect of the media outlets in the league. Everybody knows were playing for a bowl game, but if you look at the websites, theyve already got Colorado State penciled in. Winning Saturday would be first step, but you have to be a consistent, traditional winner before everybody gives you the kind of respect youd like to have.
Question: How would a bowl game help improve your recruiting?Rocky Long: It doesnt help near as much as people think it would. Now the extra practice time, that would make a huge difference. Other than the reward of having a good season, the extra spring practice is huge in the development of a program, people underscore that all the time. All the teams that go to bowl games get 15 extra practice days, then they get 15 practice days in the spring. You actually get three extra weeks of practice if you go to a bowl game and for a coach, thats more important than the reward of going to a bowl game and for the development of your younger players, thats more important than going to a bowl game. The teams that go to bowl games, its amazing how they get better and stay good. Nobody realizes its because they get three extra weeks of practice and the kids are happy to be there, theyre motivated students and players on the field. Its an huge advantage.
Question: How much can home field be an advantage for you against Colorado State and do you deserve a sellout on Saturday?Rocky Long: I think our home crowd has been an advantage for us to this point. It seems the people are more into it and are louder. It might be because the crowds are a little bit bigger and the stadium is closed in or maybe because the games have been very exciting, I dont know. I think a good crowd would make a difference to our team, but I dont think we deserve anything. If you win enough, theyre going to come. I hope they come Saturday, but people have to pay their hard-earned money, you have to make them want to come. Though I think a huge crowd that was very vocal and supportive could give us an advantage in a very close game.
Question: What do you attribute your teams composure to when things go wrong in a game? Rocky Long: I think its a team maturing. Weve had a couple games where we havent played well early and get behind and weve come back and won. If theres any advantage in this game though, Colorado State has done that for the last 10 years. They win more close games than anybody in our league and maybe anybody in the country. Their last three conference victories have been by a total of 11 points and theyve been doing it for a long time. I dont think were going to panic though if things dont go well early, thats just the personality of our football team.
Question: How have you and Colorado State improved throughout the year?Rocky Long: Early in the season, they werent as good as Im used to them being. Then they put Van Pelt at quarterback and right now theyre as good as they were last year. I think were a little bit better than we were last year. About the time they changed their quarterback, we changed ours and the two teams have gotten better since that point.
Question: How would you rate Casey Kellys and Van Pelts play as sophomore this year?Rocky Long: I think theres a chance there will be three outstanding quarterbacks in the league for the next two years. Theres three great sophomore quarterbacks in the league: Van Pelt, (Casey) Bramlett at Wyoming and Casey (Kelly). For sophomores, all three of them are really good quarterbacks.
Senior RB Holmon Wiggins
Question: Is this the biggest game of the year?
We know everything is at stake right now. This game is for all the marbles. We know weve got to come in here and prepare better and try to get the win.
(On not stumbling in the big game.)
Weve just got to stay focused. We know whats at stake. If we stumble then that will be an upset for the whole season and what weve focused on all year. Were going to have to come in here with a strong mindset and do what we have to do.
Question: Does the team have a good mindset?
I feel so, and with the W we got last week we have to keep the same mindset and moving in the right direction.
Question: How much is the crowd going to be a factor on Saturday for you guys?
When you are playing you cant think about the crowd. We know we have some die hard fans that are going to be out there. Some people arent going to show up, but its all on us. W e have to come out there as a team and do what we have to do and not worry about the crowd.
(On Colorado State winning six of the last seven games agaisnt UNM.)
We just have to stay focused. We know they are a good team and we know that they have played in these kind of games and know what is at stake. Were not giong to blink. Were going to come out here and do the things that will help us get a W.
Senior cornerback Stephen Persley
Question: Are you nervous about the big game?
No, I am not nervous. Weve just got to prepare the best we can and go out there and play the best we can.
Question: How do you keep from building this game up too big?
You cant approach it like that. It is too hard to not make this into a big game because it is a big game.
Question: Do you embrace the fact that it is a big game?
This game is going to decide whether Colorado State goes to a bowl game or we go to a bowl game. Its going to be hyped for the first two plays and then it is going to come down to who is the better team. (On the Lobos not being able to win big games in the past.)
A win on Saturday would help erase all those bad memories. We have a lot of guys here who were a part of some of those losses last year, so I think they know what it takes to get the job done.
(On Colorado State and their success against UNM.)
They already won a couple of Mountain West Conference Championships, and I have never beaten CSU. I am not certain the last time we beat CSU, but a win would be great.
(On Colorado Sates QB Bradlee Van Pelt)
He does a good job throwing the ball, but he does an even better job running the ball and scrambling. He is a good, well-rounded quarterback.
Senior LB Gary Davis
(On the atmosphere of the game.)
It is a very exciting atmosphere, knowing that destiny is in our own hands and everybody is fired up about it. Everybody is ready to play.
(On Colorado State.)
Their quarterback is very good. They have a pretty good running back also. The main thing is stopping their quarterback.
(On winning the big game.)
We have to play to the best of our abilities. We have the ability to beat Colorado State. I dont think they are a better football team than we are. It is just a matter of us not making mistakes and letting them stay in the game. We cant do that on Saturday.