Nov. 21, 2006
University of New Mexico head coach Rocky Long and player guests Robert Turner and Wesley Beck met with 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 the players had to say as the Lobos prepare to face San Diego State on Saturday at University Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. (MST).
New Mexico will be honoring its 17 seniors, including Turner, who will be starting his 48th consecutive game on the offensive line. The Lobos need a win to become bowl eligible for the sixth straight year.
There is no television for this game, so click here to get your tickets today. Live streaming of the game using the four-camera LoboVision video and KKOB play-by-play broadcast audio will be available on www.golobos.com.
Head Coach Rocky Long
Click here to watch coach Long’s entire press conference.
Audio version of coach Long’s press conference coming soon.
(on QB Donovan Porterie’s status):
“We’re hoping that he’s going to be healthy enough that he can play if he has to. He’s hit that spot where it’s kind of slow progress now. He made a lot of good improvement quickly and now things are going a little bit slower. Chris (Nelson) will start and hopefully Donovan will be healthy enough by Saturday that if he had to play he could play.”
(on Chris Nelson’s performance throughout the season):
“I think he’s like our team. I think he’s inconsistent. At times he’s been very good, other times he hasn’t been so good. I thought he played fairly well last week against a very good team in BYU. Hopefully he’ll play better this week after playing a whole game last week.”
(on trying to run the ball against San Diego State):
“Well I think it all depends on what they do on defense. We obviously want to run the ball and will try to run the ball, but they can do some things to stop that from happening. Then you’re going to have to be able to throw it. Hopefully we can run the ball because that helps everything.”
(on San Diego State’s 52-0 loss at TCU last week):
“As a coach and most of our players, we’ve all been through games like that. That situation will have no effect on how they play on Saturday. I’m a great believer in competitors and every football team on this level has good competitors. Good competitors, whether they’re mad, sad or depressed from what happened to them, they get jacked up for the next game because that makes them feel better if they play well. So San Diego State’s going to come in here and play one heck of a game I think.”
(on the possibility playing in the inaugural New Mexico Bowl):
“We’d be excited to go to any bowl if we can win the game. Maybe being able to be here to play in a bowl game would be exciting for the players and hopefully exciting for our fans.”
Senior OG Robert Turner
Audio version of Turner’s press conference coming soon.
“We become bowl eligible if we win. Just because San Diego State is 2-8, it doesn’t mean they are a bad football team. We have to execute the plays called whether it’s in the air or on the ground. Regardless of what either team has done in the past it comes down to the last game of the season. No one wants to finish the year as a loser. We both have seniors and everyone is going to be playing for a lot guys. This could be the last chance for the seniors to take a snap in organized football so you always want to go out on top.”
Sophomore NT Wesley Beck
Audio version of Beck’s press conference coming soon.
“It’s very important for us to finish strong Saturday against San Diego State. We are a young team and it would be nice to send these seniors off in a nice way with their last (regular season) home win and a bowl bid. We control our own fate and I think we have a very good chance to finish the year at a bowl game.”