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Sept. 6, 2005
With just four days to prepare, the Lobos hit the road for the first time this season as they meet the Missouri Tigers Saturday evening in Columbia. Kickoff is 5:05 p.m. Mountain Time (6:05 in Columbia) from Faurot Field. KRQE-TV will televise the game live back to New Mexico.
The Lobos are trying to start 2-0 for the first time since 1998, which was Rocky Long’s first season as head coach at UNM. New Mexico has been 1-1 after two games every season since 2001, 0-2 in 1999 and 2000.
Both teams won their season openers. UNM got past UNLV 24-22 in a Mountain West Conference game on Monday, thus the short week for the Lobos. Mizzou had no trouble with Arkansas State on Saturday, romping 44-17 in a contest played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
This is just the second meeting between the Lobos and Tigers. MU won 47-16 in Columbia on Sept. 13, 1980. Current New Mexico head coach Rocky Long was the Lobos’ secondary coach that season under the late Joe Morrison. Missouri is scheduled to visit Albuquerque on Sept. 16, 2006.
The win versus UNLV was historic on a couple of fronts: It gave Rocky Long his 41st win at UNM, tying Roy Johnson for the all-time lead among Lobo head coaches. Long is 41-45, but 29-22 since 2001 with three straight bowl appearances. Johnson was 41-32-6 from 1920-30. It was also the Lobos’ sixth straight conference win, establishing a school record.
Columbia, Mo., is the furthest east a New Mexico team has traveled since 2001 when it met North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C.
New Mexico is 16-56-2 all-time against current members of the Big 12 with 41 of those 74 games coming against Texas Tech. The last win against a Big 12 foe on its own turf was at Texas Tech (30-10) in 1983 when the Red Raiders were members of the Southwest Conference. The Lobos have lost 12 straight since: 1984 and 2001 at Baylor, 1990 at Kansas State, 1985 at Nebraska, 1988 at Texas and 1985, `86, `89, `94, 2000, `01 and `03 at Texas Tech.
Including bowl games played at neutral sites, UNM has dropped 15 straight non-conference games outside the state of New Mexico. The last win was 25-22 at Utah State on Sept. 20, 1997. The Lobos are 2-2 at New Mexico State since 1998.
It’s a veteran New Mexico team as 17 starters – including two specialists – return from last year’s squad that went 7-5 overall and 5-2 in the MWC, good for second place. The Lobos welcome back 41 lettermen, 19 on offense, 19 on defense and three specialists.
New Mexico was picked to finish 2nd in the MWC in 2005, Missouri 4th in the Big 12 North. The Tigers were 5-6 last year, 3-5 in the Big 12 North, good for a third-place tie.
The Lobos received nine votes in the USA Today preseason poll released Aug. 5, good for 44th in the rankings. Lobo opponents Utah (28th spot), UTEP (37th) and Wyoming (42nd) also received votes.
THIRD STRAIGHT RECORD FOR SEASON TICKETS; PRORATED TICKET AVAILABLE –
Through Monday, Sept. 5, a school-record 17,172 season tickets had been sold. It’s the third consecutive year UNM has established a record for season tickets. A total of 15,729 season tickets were purchased in 2004. A prorated four-game season ticket is available through Friday, Sept. 16. Prices are from $52-$100.
LONG APPROACHING RECORD FOR CAREER VICTORIES –
In his eighth season, Rocky Long is just one win shy of surpassing Roy Johnson to become the school’s winningest head coach. Long, the only coach to guide New Mexico to three bowl games, has coached more games (86) than any other Lobo mentor. He has a 41-45 record at his alma mater, but is 29-22 since 2001. Johnson was 41-32-6 from 1920-30.
Late last season, UNM and Long agreed on a contract extension good through the 2009 season. A raise of approximately $100,000 per year kicked in Jan. 1, 2005, increasing Long’s total package to more than $425,000 annually.
SCOUTING MIZZOU –
Senior QB Brad Smith thrived in Missouri’s new spread offense, throwing four touchdown passes and just missing 100 yards rushing in a 44-17 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday. Smith was named the Big 12’s offensive player of the week for his performance.
The Tigers racked up 657 yards in offense – the second-highest total in school history – while playing at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City for the first time in 60 years. It was actually a home game for Arkansas State, despite a 6 1/2-hour drive from Jonesboro, Ark.
Smith was 29-for-37 passing for 317 yards and gained 95 yards on 12 carries. He now has 3,083 career rushing yards, second on the school’s career list, and trails leader Zack Abron by just 115 yards. Missouri did not punt until Smith left the game midway through the third quarter. It was 37-0 at the time.
Head coach Gary Pinkel (Kent State `73) is 96-62-3 in his 15th year overall, 23-25 in his fifth season with the Tigers.
1980 IN COLUMBIA –
Missouri blitzed the Lobos 25 years ago in Columbia 47-16, despite the Tigers gaining just 321 yards of total offense. MU, however, blocked two punts, one resulting in a safety and the other in a short touchdown drive. The Tigers also returned a Lobo pass 23 yards for a TD. Missouri had 13 tackles for loss, including 5 sacks, while limiting the Lobos to just 197 yards of offense.
BIG-TIME BACKS –
Saturday’s game will feature two high profile offensive threats in New Mexico TB DonTrell Moore and Missouri QB Brad Smith. Moore began his senior season as the NCAA’s No. 2 active career rushing leader while Smith was No. 4 on the list.
Each player ranks second on his respective school’s career rushing list and could move to the top spot this weekend. Moore has 3,714 rushing yards and needs 149 to overtake former Lobo and Kansas City Chiefs RB Mike Williams, who gained 3,862 yards from 1975-78. Smith (3,083 yards) needs 116 yards to surpass Zack Abron’s total of 3,198. Smith ranks No. 10 all-time in NCAA history for rushing by a quarterback.
UNLV RECAP –
Kole McKamey threw two touchdown passes and Gabriel Fulbright’s interception in the final minute preserved New Mexico’s 24-22 win over UNLV Monday.
New Mexico scored on its first three possessions and jumped out to a 17-0 lead, then had to hold off a UNLV fourth quarter rally. Shane Steichen’s 7-yard pass on fourth down to Donell Wheaton with 1:31 left got the Rebels within 24-22. UNLV went for the two-point conversion, but halfback Erick Jackson was stopped inside the 1 by Lobo safety Aleem Harris.
UNLV’s Chanti Bloomer then recovered an onside kick, giving the Rebels possession at the New Mexico 48. On the next play Fulbright stepped in front of UNLV tight end Greg Estandia near the sidelines to pick off Steichen’s pass with 1:20 left.
The combination of McKamey and wide receiver Hank Baskett, a missed extra point by UNLV kicker Sergio Aguayo and a pair of delay of game penalties on the Rebels were the difference.
McKamey, who threw only six touchdown passes last season, set career highs in completions by going 20-for-29 and for passing yards with 288. Baskett caught 6 passes for 132 yards. He caught a 47-yard TD pass in the first quarter and pulled in a 48-yard pass from McKamey early in the fourth quarter that set up DonTrell Moore’s 1-yard touchdown.
Jackson scored on runs of 16 and 3 yards for UNLV and Aguayo connected on a 31-yard field goal. But Aguayo’s missed PAT after Jackson’s first touchdown would prove critical. The usually reliable Aguayo was perfect on extra points last season, going 27-for-27.
The Rebels also had to settle for Aguayo’s field goal in the third quarter after having a first-and-goal at the New Mexico 5-yard line. Back-to-back delay of game penalties pushed UNLV back to the 14 and Steichen, under pressure, threw incomplete on third down.
New Mexico scored in the first quarter on Kenny Byrd’s 37-yard field goal, McKamey’s pass to Baskett and a 10-yard McKamey to Moore screen pass.
McKamey was a picture of efficiency in the first quarter in the Lobos’ version of the spread offense. He completed his first five passes and was 9-for-11 for 146 yards in the first period.
Playing a rare afternoon home game in September, a handful of Lobo players were affected by the overhead sun and what seemed like high humidity by Albuquerque standards. LB Quincy Black had to receive intraveneous fluids in the third quarter and after the game, while Baskett, Fulbright, McKamey and LB Mike Mohoric were treated following.
The Lobo ticket office said Monday’s walk-up ticket sales of more than 7,000 (including 3,096 students) was the largest ever on game day.
UNLV POSTGAME NOTES –
New Mexico improves to 71-32-4 in home openers, including 8-3 in the last 11 years…it’s the Lobos’ first win in a conference opener in five games…the last conference-opening win came in 2000 against Wyoming in Albuquerque
Junior QB Kole McKamey was 20-29 passing for 288 yards and two touchdowns…he established career highs for completions, yards and passing TDs…his previous highs for completions and yards were 16 and 229 against Washington State in last year’s ESPN-televised season-opener in Albuquerque…he also rushed for 38 yards, totaling 326 yards of total offense
Senior CB Gabriel Fulbright notched his 10th career interception, giving him sole possession of 10th place on the UNM all-time list…he has recorded 3 INTs against UNLV over the past two years
Senior RB DonTrell Moore had 16 carries for 39 yards and a rushing TD in his first game back after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee in the first quarter of the 2004 Emerald Bowl…he needs 149 yards to pass Mike Williams’ Lobo record of 3,862 career rushing yards…Moore had three receptions for a career-high 64 yards and a receiving TD…he finished with 103 all-purpose yards on 19 touches
Senior WR Hank Baskett had six receptions for 132 yards and a 47-yard TD grab…it’s the 5th 100-yard receiving game of his career and the second- most yards of his career…Baskett had 9 catches for 165 yards in last year’s season-opener against Washington State…he moved into 12th place on UNM’s career receiving list with 1,349 yards
The Lobos grabbed a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, the most points in the opening period since scoring 20 against Texas State in 2003
New Mexico is now 7-1 over the past two years when both DonTrell Moore and Kole McKamey are healthy for an entire game…the only loss came against Washington State last year, which means the Lobos have won seven straight with both in the lineup
The attendance of 37,533 is the fifth-highest in the history of University Stadium…all of the top-6 attended games at UNM have come since the 2001 season
Eight Lobos made their first career starts at UNM: OG Bo Greer, OT Anthony Kilby and WR Thomas Wilson on offense and LB Quincy Black, S Tyson Ditmore, LB Cody Kase, S Blake Ligon and S OJ Swift on defense
Sophomore WR Travis Brown snagged a career-high 6 receptions for 25 yards
Lobo TEs caught 13 passes for 123 yards in 2004…Monday, Logan Hall (2-25) and newcomer John Mulchrone (1-32) combined for 3 catches and 57 yards
In the 1st quarter, New Mexico gained 171 yards of offense to UNLV’s 24…over the final three quarters, the Lobos had just 204 to the Rebel’s 339
LOBOS BEING “WATCHED” –
Five University of New Mexico players have their names on preseason watch lists, led by senior C Ryan Cook, who appears on three. Cook is a candidate for the Outland Trophy (top interior lineman), the Rotary Lombardi Award (top lineman/linebacker) and the Rimington Award (top center).
Senior RB DonTrell Moore made the list from the Walter Camp Football Foundation (player of the year) while senior WR Hank Baskett is a candidate for the Biletnikoff Award (best receiver).
On defense, senior LB Mike Mohoric and senior NT Marcus Parker join Cook for the Rotary Lombardi Award (top lineman/linebacker).
KIDS FROM NEW MEXICO, ALBUQUERQUE, MAKING A MARK –
The New Mexico coaching staff received signatures from five Albuquerque natives during the 2005 signing period. That adds to a growing list of in-state products already on the roster.
The 2005 squad has 23 scholarship players – from 12 different New Mexico high schools – that hail from the Land of Enchantment, quite possibly the largest in-state representation in decades. Eighteen of the 23 are from Albuquerque led by five from La Cueva High School. Seven of the 23 came to UNM as walk-ons.
A LOT OF EYES ON COOK –
As mentioned, one of those Albuquerque natives doing very well is senior C Ryan Cook, who is getting a lot of attention and justifiably so. The former walk-on is a two-time first team all-MWC performer and is on the Watch List for three national awards: Rimington (top center), Rotary Lombardi (top lineman/linebacker) and Outland Trophy (top interior lineman).
Considered to be the Lobos’ top pro prospect, Cook could become the first UNM offensive lineman to be named first team all-conference three straight years.
Arguably one of the largest centers in the country at 6-7 and 320 lbs., Cook begins his senior season having played in 38 career games with 33 consecutive starts since the middle of his freshman year.
The Cook lineage could continue at UNM until the end of the decade. Baby brother Erik – 6-5 and 300 lbs. – is a freshman offensive tackle in 2005.
VERY IMPRESSIVE COMPANY FOR THE LOBO DEFENSE –
Only three teams finished in the top-30 in the nation in total defense each of the past five seasons, from 2000-04: New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. UNM finished 25th in the country in 2004, allowing 323.2 yards a game. Oklahoma was 13th at 299.0 and Texas 23rd at 320.1.
MOORE CLOSING IN ON MORE HISTORY –
After gaining 1,091 yards his junior season, senior DonTrell Moore has a shot at becoming just the sixth player in the history of NCAA Div. I-A football to reach 1,000 yards rushing four times in a career: Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh 1973-76), Amos Lawrence (North Carolina 1977-80), Denvis Manns (New Mexico State 1995-98), Ron Dayne (Wisconsin 1996-99) and Cedric Benson (Texas 2001-04) were the first five.
Moore ranks No. 2 among all active NCAA rushing leaders with 3,714 career yards. Memphis’ DeAngelo Williams tops the list at 4,147 yards. Already the Mountain West Conference’s career rushing leader, Moore needs just 149 yards to surpass Mike Williams for the school’s top spot. Williams had 3,862 yards from 1975-78.
Moore is UNM’s career leader in rushing TDs (38), overall TDs (44), points (264) and 100-yard rushing games (19). He is 2nd in career rushing attempts (769) and 3rd in all-purpose yards (4,381).
Moore has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in 11 of his last 15 home games dating to the 2002 season…also responsible for 29 TDs (23 rushing, 5 receiving, 1 passing) in the past 15 home games…he has averaged 128.7 rushing yards (1,891 total) in his last 15 games at University Stadium.
STATISTICAL TRENDS –
Under Rocky Long, the Lobos are 25-2 since 2002 when taking a lead into the fourth quarter. The only losses were in 2001 (led BYU 13-10, but lost 24-20) and last year’s opener against Washington State (led 14-7, but lost 21-17).
During that same time, UNM is 19-2 when scoring first. The two setbacks came against Utah State in 2002 and against Navy in last year’s Emerald Bowl.
New Mexico is 14-1 since 2003 when it commits fewer turnovers.