2001 RECAP – OFFENSE ? UNM has scored in 106 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. ? New Mexico averaged 27.6 points in 2001, or 8.5 points more than in 2000 when it logged just 19.1 a game. That’s the largest increase in 12 years, since 1988 (14.2 ppg) to 1989 (24.8 ppg). ? The Lobos’ total offense jumped from 266.6 yards a game in 2000 to 376.8 yards in 2001, an increase of 110.2 yards. ? Starting the last seven games of the season, QB Casey Kelly guided the Lobos to a 5-2 record. Kelly was the sixth quarterback – and the fifth starter – used by UNM between 1999-2001. ? UNM’s offensive averages without and with Kelly:
RecordRushPassTotalPoints1st 4 games1-3182.2149.2331.521.2Last 7 games5-2195.0207.7402.731.3
? In Kelly’s seven starts, UNM made 33 scoring drives (20 TDs, 13 FGs) that averaged 8.1 plays, 56 yards and 3:21 time of possession. Twelve of the marches were nine plays or longer. Eleven were 76 yards or more. ? WR Dwight Counter led UNM in receiving in all but one game in 2001. Counter paced the Lobos with 43 grabs for 774 yards, 18.0 yards per catch. Included in Counter’s total was an 85-yard TD catch against Colorado State, the 5th-longest scoring pass in UNM history. The final 9 games, Counter had 37 receptions for 734 yards, an average of 19.8 yards a catch and 81.6 yards a game. His career numbers: 56 catches for 921 yards. ? In the season finale against New Mexico State, the Lobos were turnover-free for the first time since Utah in 2000, a span of 15 games. ? UNM was 4-1 when it led at halftime. The lone loss came at Baylor. The Lobos led 7-3, but lost 16-13 in overtime.
? New Mexico set season highs in virtually every offensive category in the 52-33 win over Air Force: first downs (32), first downs passing (16), 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).
2001 RECAP – DEFENSE ? The Lobos finished second in the MWC and 18th nationally in total defense, allowing just 310.8 yards a game. UNM ranked 50th after six games when the average was 352.2 yards a game. New Mexico has finished in the top-20 in total defense each of the past two seasons, a first for the program. UNM was 17th in 2000, yielding 309.4 yards. ? New Mexico gave up an average of 26.7 points a game the first seven games, but allowed just 56 points – 14 a game – the last four. UNM went 3-1 in those contests. ? A look at the final six games. which indicates opponents’ rushing offense and total offense and how much UNM held those teams below their season averages:
Rushing Offense Avg.Total Offense Avg.Before UNM – vs. UNMBefore UNM – vs. UNMBYU253 – 107(-146)566 – 365 (-201)Air Force269 – 112 (-157)409 – 278 (-131)San Diego State162 – 64 (-98)336 – 222 (-114)UNLV226 – 107 (-119)369 – 266 (-103)Colorado State197 – 128 (-69)348 – 299 (-49)New Mexico State219 – 79 (-140)371 – 236 (-135)Average(-121.5)(-122.2)
? UNM allowed 1,023 total yards the last 4 games (255.8 yards a game) and 1,301 yards the last 5 games (260.2 yards). ? For the second straight season, UNM led the MWC in rushing defense. The Lobos ranked 5th nationally – best in school history – allowing just 87.4 yards. It’s the first time since stats became official in 1946 that UNM held teams to an average of less than 100 yards on the ground for an entire season. The previous low was 104.1 yards in 1982. Foes averaged 2.5 yards a carry in 2001. UNM gave up just 212 rushing yards – on 101 carries – in the second half of the last 7 games. ? The Lobos have also led the MWC in sacks each of the past two seasons. UNM had a whopping 50 in 2000, the third-highest total in school history. The defense posted 26 last year. A Lobo has led the loop in dumps each of the past two years as well: DE Brian Johnson had 9.5 in 2000 while LB Gary Davis logged 8 in 2001. ? The Lobo defense finished the season by limiting its last five opponents to less than 300 yards of total offense. UNM also accomplished that feat in 2000 between the Wyoming and San Diego State games. Prior to 2000, New Mexico had not pulled off that statistical novelty since the 1964 season when it kept all 10 foes under 300 yards. ? Only three backs have eclipsed 100 yards rushing against UNM since the start of 2000, a span of 23 games: Oregon State’s Ken Simonton (184) and UNLV’s Jeremi Rudolph (106) in 2000 and Utah’s Dameon Hunter (177) in 2001. ? The Lobos scored four defensive TDs in 2001 on two interception returns and a pair of fumble returns.
2001 RECAP – SPECIAL TEAMS ? Senior K Vladimir Borombozin had his school-record string of consecutive FGs made end at 16 when he missed a 25-yard attempt against Colorado State. It was his first miss since Nov. 4, 2000, when a 54-yard try was wide against San Diego State, and it turned out to be his only miss of the season. Borombozin connected on 17 of 18 FGs in 2001, and he led UNM with 82 points. Borombozin was a perfect 14-of-14 in 2001 before the errant boot. ? Borombozin, a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, ranks as the most accurate kicker in school history, making 27-of-33 attempts, or 81.8%. His 27 FGs are good for 4th place at UNM. Borombozin made 22 of his last 24 FGs. ? Lobo FG kickers finished 19-of-22 in 2001, the best accuracy in school history. True freshman walk-on Wes Zunker, who also handled kickoffs, attempted 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 misses were from 46 yards at Utah and 54 yards against UNLV. ? The Lobos scored two TDs on punt returns in 2001 and have four scores the past two seasons. Three of the TDs were the result of blocked punts. Last year, Holmon Wiggins ran one back 47 yards against Air Force while Amos Wilson took a block 30 yards against New Mexico State. Stephen Persley returned a pair of blocks into the end zone in 2000. ? The Lobos did not have a punt blocked during the 2001 season, and it’s been 24 games since UNM has had one rejected. Air Force’s Buck Hodgkinson was the last culprit in the 1999 season finale.
2001 RED ZONE GAME-BY-GAME ? New 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, TDat San Diego State2-2FG, FGUNLV3-4fumble, TD, TD, FGColorado State1-2missed FG, FGNew Mexico State8-8FG, TD, FG, TD, TD, TD. TD, TDTotals38-4422 TDs, 16 FGs, 4 fumbles,1 missed FG, 1 on downs ? Opponents:UTEP0-0at Texas Tech3-4FG, FG, TD, missed FGat Baylor2-3Interception, TD, FGat Utah4-5TD, missed FG, FG, TD, TDat Wyoming4-4FG, FG, TD, FGBYU2-2FG, TDAir Force3-3FG, FG, TDat San Diego State2-2TD, FGUNLV0-0Colorado State4-4FG, FG, TD, FGNew Mexico State0-1missed FGTotals24-2810 TDs, 14 FGs,3 missed FGs, 1 interception
LOBOS IN OVERTIME ? The Lobos are 1-2 all-time in overtime games, including a 16-13 setback last year at Baylor. UNM played a pair of OT games 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 four blocked punts in 2001, the Lobos have rejected nine since the start of the 2000 season. Four of the rejections have been returned for scores over that span. 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. UNM rejected three in 1940, ’48 and ’79.
GRADES KEEP CLIMBING ? The University of New Mexico football team compiled a 2.63 grade-point-average for the 2002 spring semester, the highest GPA since UNM began charting grades in the fall of 1988. UNM had a 2.59 GPA in the spring of 2000 and 2001. That means five of the top-seven semester GPAs have occurred under current head coach Rocky Long. Thirteen Lobos earned academic all-conference laurels during the 2001 season, also a record.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT ? Five of the Lobos’ last nine losses have been by four points or less. UNM lost conference games in 2000 to Colorado State (17-14), San Diego State (17-16) and UNLV (18-14). Last year, New Mexico dropped a 16-13 overtime game to Baylor and fell to BYU (24-20).
STADIUM IMPROVEMENTS/ATTENDANCE MARK ? Last year, the 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’ season-opening 26-6 victory over UTEP on Sept. 1, 2001, crushing the previous mark of 37,156 for the Rice game in 1997. UNM averaged a school-record 31,268 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 in October of 2000 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. 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 games.
LOBO TRACK SAYS THANKS TO FOOTBALL ? Five members of the UNM football team combined to score 42.5 points at the 2002 Mountain West Conference Outdoor Track Championships. That was more than one-third of UNM’s team total of 125.5 points. ? WR Hank Baskett III placed 2nd in the high jump with a leap of 6-10 1/4. WR Michael Powdrell placed 3rd in the high jump (6-10 1/4) and 5th in the long jump (23-11 1/4). LB Shannon Kincaid was 4th in the long jump with a career-best effort of 24-2 1/2. NT Guillermo Morrison was 3rd in the discus (160-0) and 5th in the shot put (51-10 1/2) while RB Quincy Wright ran the 100 meters in 10.53 to claim second place.
SUCCESSFUL WALK-ONS ? Some of the better-known Lobos – past and present – began their careers as walk-ons, including four team captains over the past two years. Departed seniors Jarrod Baxter, Brian Johnson and Mohammed Konte all started their UNM careers without athletic scholarships, as did junior quarterback Casey Kelly, an offensive team captain for the 2002 season who was awarded a scholarship prior to his sophomore campaign. ? Baxter, a fifth-round pick of the Houston Texans in the 2002 National Football League Draft, was a walk-on during the fall semester of 1997 under former head coach Dennis Franchione. He was placed on scholarship in the spring of 1998. Johnson, a two-time first team all-conference selection, was a 195-pound walk-on running back when he came to Albuquerque in the fall of ’97. He had to wait a year for a scholarship after impressing Long and his staff during ’98 spring drills. Konte, also a redshirt in ’97, paid his own way for three years before being placed on aid in the fall of 2000 and earned honorable mention all-conference honors. ? Former walk-ons placed on scholarship prior to the 2001 season include junior S Terrell Golden, a two-year starter and honorable mention all-conference selection last year, and junior WR Terrence Thomas. This year’s recipients are sophomore S Josh Bazinet, redshirt freshman C Ryan Cook, sophomore deep snapper Martin Lovato, sophomore fullback Ryan Rice and sophomore K Wes Zunker.
THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE ? After 37 seasons in the Western Athletic Conference from 1962-98, the University of New Mexico officially joined Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, UNLV, San Diego State, Utah and Wyoming in the Mountain West Conference on July 1, 1999. The 2002 season will be the fourth for the MWC. Craig Thompson is the commissioner after spending eight years as commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference. ? This is the fourth conference affiliation for the University of New Mexico. The Lobos were in the Border Conference from 1931-50, Skyline from 1951-61, and WAC from 1962-98. ? New Mexico was a charter member of the Western Athletic Conference in 1962 along with Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Wyoming and Utah. The Lobos compiled a 91-159-2 record in 37 seasons of WAC play. ? UNM has claimed conference titles four times: the 1934 Border, and WAC in 1962, ’63 and ’64. The Lobos also won the 1997 WAC Mountain Division championship.
CLINIC HELPS UNDERPRIVILEDGED KIDS ? The ninth annual UNM Women’s Football Clinic was held on July 30 with nearly 200 football-hungry females attending. Consequently, over 500 Albuquerque area children will be able to see a Lobo game 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 game.
NORTH CAROLINA STATE NOTES ? The Wolfpack began preseason workouts with 42 returning lettermen. Among the returnees were 14 starters, 6 on offense, 6 on defense and 2 specialists. ? Head coach Chuck Amato is only the third coach in the 110-year history of Wolfpack football to win at least 15 games in his first two seasons, and is the third to take his first two teams to bowl games. Amato has been involved with teams that have played in 26 bowl games. He served 18 seasons (1982-99) under Bobby Bowden at Florida State, the last 14 as the assistant head coach. Amato also worked for Lou Holtz at NC State in the ’70s and spent two seasons (1980-81) at the University of Arizona. Amato was a defensive coach throughout his 27 years as an assistant. ? Junior QB Philip Rivers (6-5, 236) has passed for 5,640 yards in just two years at NC State. Rivers married his high school sweetheart, Tiffany, in May 2001 when he was just 19 years old and the couple had a daughter, Halle Elizabeth, on June 6. ? For the fourth consecutive season, NC State set a school record for selling season tickets. Wolfpack fans bought more than 31,500 for 2002. ? Heading into the season, the 10-man Wolfpack coaching staff can boast of an unreal 237 combined years of experience in the profession. ? UNM associate head coach/defensive coordinator Bronco Mendenhall and NC State quarterbacks coach Mike Canales were on the same coaching staff at Snow Junior College. Mendenhall, who played at Snow in 1985-86, was the school’s defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 1991-92. Canales was Snow’s offensive coordinator from 1987-94. Canales also tutored former Lobo standout QB Graham Leigh at Pacific in 1995. Leigh transferred to UNM after Pacific dropped football following the ’95 season. He was the 1997 WAC Mountain Division Offensive Player of the Year. ? NC State has blocked an unfathomable 30 kicks since the 1998 season: 18 punts, 11 field goals and one extra point. S Terrence Holt blocked four FGs last season and has rejected nine kicks in his career. ? Senior LB Dantonio Burnette tied Bill Cowher’s single-game tackle record when he had 24 stops against Clemson. Cowher is currently the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.:y2