Aug. 8, 2005
Day One Practice Photo Gallery
Head Coach Rocky Long
How did it go today for the first day?
“We always look good the first day we don’t have pads on. They are fresh and excited and move around. They look pretty good the first day, but ask me about three days from now when they look like they’re in sand.”
How did DonTrell Moore look?
“I thought he looked pretty good. I thought he was a little tentative, but I think anytime you have to wear a brace, it really bothers you at first if you are not use to wearing one. He was moving around pretty good. I saw him make some cuts and change directions and it didn’t seem to bother him.”
What is your goal with the offense this season and do you see them putting up more points?
“I think our offense has a chance to be more productive than last year and in fact it could be a lot more productive.”
How will the spread offense help (quarterback) Kole McKamey?
“I think the spread is made for his athletic ability. I think it allows him to deal the ball on the option play and allows him to read the coverages a little better. I was never in the shotgun myself when I played, but they tell me it is easier to read coverages and get the ball out quicker in the shotgun. He is also such a good ball carrier that it gives you a chance to scramble with the ball.”
How do you feel about your linebackers with Mike Mohoric back but the loss of the other two guys?
“I think we have some talented players there. It’s going to be hard to replace the two that left because they were our two leading tacklers. So someone is going to have to step up and play at the same level they played in order for us to play that good of defense. Now I have a lot of confidence that we improved our talent level around here and we have a certain mentality at linebacker that it seems somebody is always ready to step in. I expect that to happen again.”
Junior Quarterback Kole McKamey
Is it a sigh of relief to see DonTrell out there doing what he did today?
“There is no doubt it is a sigh of relief. Everybody was wondering ‘How is he going to react at full speed,’ but DonTrell has looked good ever since he came back in the summer. So it really didn’t surprise me. I think it surprised him more when I threw him the ball. He came back and said, ‘you never throw the running backs the ball on that play.’ and I said, ‘you better get used to it.’ He looks good and I am excited.”
How comfortable now are you in this offense with the decision making you have to make?
“I would say I am more comfortable then I have ever been, even more comfortable then the Artesia (High School) days. That’s how it has to be if we’re going to win. I have to have my decision-making on cue every single snap.”
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How is the spread offense going to help you have more success?
“I think it is going to give me and the entire offense more options. Running the spread, it is a lot easier to see what is coming at you such as coverages and blitzes and stuff like that. It also gives me the option to dump the ball off if I am in trouble or pull it down and run. That is one of the good things about spread, is it is going to spread the defense out to allow for maybe even a better running game then we have had.”
Can the receiving corps come around like you want them to be to give you more options?
“I think they are really close already to where I want them to be. Obviously we still have some things to tune up and the best thing about that is we have more then just one person – more then just Hank out there. We have guys stepping up left and right plus DonTrell is a great receiver that we can have out there.”
Senior Cornerback Gabriel Fulbright
(On the first day of practice)
“It feels real good to get out there, just that feeling of putting on your helmet and your cleats. A lot of people have a different mindset this year. Everyone is real committed to get things done. The coaches are really pulling us together. The players are just calm and willing to let the coaches help them. Everyone is thinking about a conference title. This is my last go-around, and there are a lot of seniors like me, and we just feel like we can do it this year.”
(On the defense overall)
“I think our defense will be better than last year. We have a lot of people moving into new places, but we have a lot of experience as well. I plan on doing everything I can to help the team win. I’m not worried about the individual accolades or accomplishments – as long as we win, I’m happy.”
(On fan support)
“We’ve been getting a lot of fans the past couple of years, and that pumps us up and motivates us as a team. We’re going to keep playing hard for them. They spend their money to come watch us play, so we’re going to do everything we can to win. Our motto this season is `do everything with class’. So that’s what we’re going to do.”
Senior Tailback DonTrell Moore
(On his first practice since his 2004 season-ending knee injury)
“It went really well for me today. I felt good going out there for 24 periods with the brace. There was really never any nervousness, but there was a lot of anxiety. I woke up really excited to get back out there with my teammates, smell the grass, sweat a little bit, get tired a little bit. I’ve never really been scared, and I wasn’t today, just excited.”
You made some nice cuts today. Is that something you knew you were capable of?
“I’ve known before that I could do that. I did some of those things in rehab. I was never scared to make those cuts. When you get out there on the football field, natural ability takes over. It was exciting to hear my teammates cheering while I was out there, saying things like, `he’s back’. But by no means have I arrived. I still have some time before the UNLV game to get back into the lineup.”
How is this camp different from your first year here?
“Obviously it’s different because I’m coming off a different offseason with rehab. I’ve embraced my role, and think it’s enabled me to be more focused heading into camp. It’s exciting for me because it’s a different mindset and I know that I still have some work to do. The others camps were simply getting ready for the first game. But this first game could still be a long shot for me, so I have to embrace that and do the things necessary to get back.
“The surgery and the rehab in the offseason allowed me to be more focused and be more excited for this season. Instead of having to worry about plays and going to camp, I was looking forward to it, I really was, in a different kind of way. The last couple of years you look forward to it because it’s the start of the season, but this year I was looking forward to it because I want to prove a lot of things. I want to go out there and get my confidence level back up. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done before the UNLV game.”
Does the passing game have to be more efficient this year?
“Without a doubt. I think Coach Dodd has done some great things and made some changes. We have a mindset of perfection this year. We have set a goal to score a lot of points. We’re going to add some options for Kole (McKamey) and utilize the things he does well. We’ll have a spread offense, and I think that will help the running game.”
Considering the extent of your injury, are you surprised you came back so fast?
“Surprised? No, because of hard work and prayer. I put it into God’s hands from day one so it was never devastating. Dave Smith and Dave Binder from the training staff have done a fantastic job of making rehab not only exciting, but fun. They have a lot of different angles and different drills to make it fun. Rehab can be very tedious. Things can get boring and you’re wondering if you’ll ever get back. You have your ups and downs. Smitty (Dave Smith) did a great job of balancing it out and allowed me to utilize some of the things that I do well. It’s been a great summer.”
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“…I have been through five off-seasons and this past off-season we did the most lifting and the most running. Everything was picked up a notch or two. We trained hard, we’re practicing hard and we’re ready to go.” -Marcus Parker |
Senior Linebacker Mike Mohoric
How excited are you about the year?
“I’m pretty pumped. We’ve got a lot of talent coming back and some new faces. Everything is looking good so far.”
Which new faces on the defensive side are standing out for you?
“I think a lot of our safeties, some new corners and some younger guys who didn’t get the chance to play last year now have a chance this year to show what they got.”
You’ve worked your way through the program. You have to take a great deal of satisfaction from what you have accomplished.
“It’s been a dream come true. Especially being able to do this in my hometown in front of the fans and everything. It’s nice to have my family here and all my friends watching me. So, it’s very satisfying.”
Are there holes that you’re concerned about on the defense?
“Not really holes. I think just kind of questions early on that will be answered. A lot of those guys are really talented and they’re going to prove that they can play.”
Senior Nose Tackle Marcus Parker
What are you concerned about on your side of the ball? What will surprise people?
“I’m really not concerned about the defensive side of the ball. We have the experience and the right players. I really think we’re going to get it done this year.”
What was the off-season like?
“It wasn’t typical. I mean I have been here for five years and I have been through five off-seasons and this past off-season we did the most lifting and the most running. Everything was picked up a notch or two. We trained hard, we’re practicing hard and we’re ready to go.”
Is there one game on your schedule where you are looking and saying, “I can’t wait for that one?”
“Yeah, Sept. 5 all the way through the end of the season. I can’t wait for the whole season.”
You’re from Texas, doesn’t the TCU game excite you?
“Oh yeah, I’m from Garland, Texas, which is in the Dallas area, so I will have a lot of family there. It’s really exciting to know that I am going to have them there. We’ll almost feel like we’re the home team because we have a lot of guys from the Dallas area and we’ll have a lot of family and friends trying to get there to see us play. So TCU will be a big game for us, but we have to play Sept. 5 first. We’re just going to line them up and play them every week.”
Senior Center Ryan Cook
A lot of guys who grew up in New Mexico didn’t want to be Lobos, but now there are kids from all over the state who want to stay at home and play for this University. What are your thoughts on that?
“I think things happen for a reason. A lot of us New Mexicans have been brought together here and it makes the younger kids see what people like us have done.”
You started out as a walk-on. Talk about where you started from and where you are now.
“It was definitely a long road. Coach (Rocky) Long and coach (Dan) Dodd supported me and gave me the opportunity to walk on. Then they offered me a chance to come in and start and do all the things it takes to be a good offensive lineman. There was a lot of hard work there between being a walk on and a starter, but I am just grateful to coach Long for giving me the opportunity.”
Coach Long says he likes the talent of the offensive line, but is never happy with the depth. How do you look at the line?
“We have a lot of guys coming back and there are some new guys coming in. We have some stuff to teach them. As far as the depth, we have 15 guys right now and 10 in the spring, which means just two groups. It put a lot of pressure on the first two groups and meant a lot of reps, but right now we figure ourselves to be leaders of the whole offense. It all starts up front.”
Senior Wide Receiver Hank Baskett
(On the first day of practice)
“It was great getting that first feeling. Just getting away from running and lifting all summer. That tends to wear on you, so coming out here and finally getting to toss the ball around is a great feeling. The season is here. I’ve been waiting for it – everybody’s been waiting for it.”
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(On the team’s attitude today)
“There is a whole different outlook from our team. The intensity level is higher than it has ever been. I really think there is going to be a big change within the players and within the system itself. The defense still has the same system. Coach (Rocky) Long is a genius on defense so he’s always going to throw something new in there. This new offense was really working great today and we were just tossing the ball around.”
(On the changes since he came to UNM)
“All of the seniors were just sitting at the table talking about that today. The intensity level, the experience coming into the camp, knowing where we can finish and plan on finishing this year, and everyone’s confidence level is up.”
(What is your big motivation for your senior year?)
“Not leaving here without a championship. That’s my biggest motivation right there. We’ve come so close every year I’ve been here, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Finishing second only means that you are the first loser.”
(On improving the passing game this season)
“That’s what we worked on all spring and that was the focus all summer, getting to where we can throw the ball. We started out a little slow today, just getting back into the groove of things. Towards the end of practice, the confidence started growing between the receivers, tight ends, running backs and quarterbacks.”
(On the other receivers on the team)
“Last year I was the only one with any experience and that played a big factor. This year, everyone that is playing has stepped on the field before, so they all have the confidence they need. They know what to expect so I think they will all step up.”
(On opening the season with a conference game)
“It is a little weird, but every year we’ve played a conference game by the third or fourth game. Might as well move it up to the first game.”