Sept. 12, 2006
Watch Coach Long’s Press Conference
Missouri Game Notes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – University of New Mexico head coach Rocky Longand new starting quarterback Chris Nelsonaddressed the local media this afternoon at the Tucanos Media Luncheon on the third floor of the L.F. “Tow” Diehm Athletics Facility. Click on the links below to watch coach Long’s press conference and listen to what Nelson had to say as New Mexico (1-1) prepares to face Big 12 foe Missouri (2-0) on Saturday at University Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:06 p.m. (MST) and the game will televised live on the Mtn. (located in Albuquerque on Comcast channel 276).
The Lobos scored 17 fourth quarter points to upset the Tigers 45-35 last year in Columbia. Missouri is making its first trip to Albuquerque.
Get your tickets today and help make University Stadium a true home field advantage for the Lobos on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased on the web at GoLobos.com or by calling 925-LOBO (toll-free at 1-877-664-8661). Fans can also visit any Raley’s location in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, the UNM Bookstore or the ticket office at The Pit. Ticket office hours are 8:30-5 Monday through Friday.
If you missed the debut of the Lobo Coaches’ Show presented by Dodge on Sunday night on Albuquerque’s NBC affiliate KOB-TV Channel 4, you can see it free of charge by clicking on the All Access icon on the front page of GoLobos.com.
Head Coach Rocky Long
(on what concerns him about Missouri):
“Everything. They’re very athletic on defense. They’ve got good size and really run well. They’re playing with a lot of confidence and on offense, most of their guys are back (from 2005). They lost a great quarterback (Brad Smith), but most of their guys are back and they’re executing their offense and seem to have more confidence in their offense this year. No one has even slowed them down and no one has moved the ball on them.”
(on the differences between new starting QB Chris Nelson and injured starter Kole McKamey):
“With our style of offense, you won’t see any difference. The exact same plays will be run. The only difference I see in the two is that Chris is not quite as fast as Kole, but then you can say that Chris is taller so it’s easier for him to see over the line of scrimmage. I don’t think there’s a lot of difference between them. I think they both have good natural ability, they both throw the ball well. Kole runs a little faster and Chris is a little bit bigger.”
(on whether a UNM receiver can be as successful against Missouri as Hank Baskett was in 2005):
“I think we have two receivers that have enough ability to play very, very well – Marcus Smith and Travis Brown. Marcus had a breakout game last week and maybe Travis will have one this week. I thought that Hank made a lot of big plays in last year’s game that helped us win the game.”
(on the Lobos’ improvement from week one to week two):
“We made fewer mistakes than we did the week before, which is an improvement. We’re still not a good football team, but we got a whole lot better from the first game to the second game. What I was most proud of was that I thought we played with a lot more heart, a lot more emotion and a lot more intensity (against New Mexico State). Our football program is built on that. It doesn’t matter if we’re good or bad, I expect our team to play with that kind of emotion. In one game, that’s as many big time hits as we’ve ever had.”
“I was surprised we didn’t show that intensity in the first game (vs. Portland State). I don’t have the answers, but I chalk it up to them being so young and inexperienced that we were out there kind of dazed. We didn’t know what to expect. We didn’t know how to handle ourself in a live situation. In the second game, obviously all of those young guys knew what the game was all about. We played better, we didn’t play good, but we sure played with a lot more intensity, a lot more heart and there was lot better hitting going on out there. I would have been disappointed if we’d lost, but I would have been proud of them because they played like a Lobo team is supposed to play. I expect them to play like that on Saturday too. Win or lose, I expect them to play with that kind of intensity and that kind of heart.”
Senior QB Chris Nelson
(on the increased pressure of being the starting quarterback):
“There’s tons of pressure on me. It’s odd how Kole and others around the nation can handle the pressure on a daily basis. I’m starting to feel it on me, but I can’t worry about it or focus on what others are saying about me. I need to go out and try to help my teammates.”
Listen to the entire interview with Chris Nelson by clicking here.
JuniorS OJ Swift
(On what concerns him about Missouri):
“They go no-huddle. They try to run a lot of plays. They try to get us so we can’t sub in and out. They run their plays quick. They’re trying to get over 100 (plays in a game) like they did last year.”
Listen to the entire interview with OJ Swift by clicking here.
Senior lobo Quincy Black
(On what concerns him most about Missouri):
“They run a different offense. Something we haven’t seen all year. Portland State ran a pro-style offense and then New Mexico State ran a spread, but it wasn’t a spread option. We have to worry about the run as well as the pass.”
Listen to the entire interview with Quincy Black by clicking here.