Feb. 13, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format
The 109th season of New Mexico football turned into one of the most memorable and significant in school history. After a 23-0 shutout over Nevada in the second annual New Mexico Bowl, UNM could boast about a plethora of highlights:
A 9-4 overall record as the 2007 Lobos became just the 4th New Mexico team to win at least 9 games…UNM was 9-2 in 1964, 10-1 in 1982 and 9-4 in 1997…the Lobos ended a season with a win for the first time since 2001
The first bowl victory in 46 years, since a 28-12 triumph over Western Michigan in the 1961 Aviation Bowl in Dayton, Ohio… it was New Mexico’s 5th bowl game in the past 6 seasons
UNM registered the only shutout among the 32 bowls played in 2007-08…it was the first shutout in a bowl game since Dec. 31, 2005, when North Carolina State blanked South Florida 14-0 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl…UNM’s 23-point margin is the biggest shutout in a bowl game in 11 years, since Stanford beat Michigan State 38-0 in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31, 1996
Nevada had not been shut out in 329 games, since a 10-0 loss to Weber State on Sept. 27, 1980…that was the longest current streak in college football and the second longest in history…it was the first time Nevada was held scoreless since moving to Division I-A in 1992
The shutout was all the more amazing considering Nevada came into the bowl game with offensive averages of 36.2 points and 488.9 yards during the regular season…UNM held the Wolf Pack to 210 total yards, with only 73 yards rushing
UNM is the only school in the Mountain West Conference to have at least 6 wins – and thus be bowl eligible – every season since 2001…the Lobos are also the only institution in the MWC that has yet to suffer a losing record in conference games since 2001
A total of 49 victories since 2001 – 7 per season – for the most prosperous 7-year run in school history
6-1 at University Stadium in 2007, the most home wins since the 1939 Lobos went 6-0 during an 8-2 season
The Lobos finished 13th in the nation in total defense (319.9 ypg), the highest national ranking in Rocky Long’s 10 years as head coach…UNM was also 14th in scoring defense (19.0 ppg), 20th in pass defense (197.4 ypg), 26th in rushing defense (122.5 ypg) and 29th in pass efficiency defense (114.22 rating)
Senior K John Sullivan became just the 3rd consensus All-American in UNM history, joining WR Terance Mathis (1989) and S Brian Urlacher (1999)…a former walk-on who kicked with a torn ACL in his plant (left) leg all season, Sullivan was the nation’s top FG kicker with a school and MWC record 29 made…he also tied an NCAA record by converting multiple FGs in 10 games…West Virginia’s Paul Woodside was the first to accomplish the feat in 1982
Seniors Cody Kase and Vince Natali were named to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first and second teams, respectively…it’s the first time in program history two players have earned All-America honors in the same season…the duo were the lone Mountain West Conference representatives on the first and second teams
HEAD COACH Rocky Long – The school’s career leader in wins and the Dean of Mountain West Conference head coaches, Rocky Long has completed 10 seasons at his alma mater. Long has coached more games (122) than any other Lobo mentor. He has a 61-61 record, but is 49-38 since 2001.
NICE SCHEDULE FOR 2008 – New Mexico opens the 2008 season with a pair of attractive home games. The season opener is set for Sept. 6 against Texas A&M, the Aggies’ first trip to Albuquerque. The only previous meeting between the two schools was back in 1926 when Texas A&M whipped UNM 63-0 in College Station. New Mexico is scheduled to open the 2009 season at Texas A&M.
Arizona is no stranger to UNM, but the Wildcats have not played at University Stadium since 1990. The two old rivals meet for the 66th time on Sept. 13. The Lobos edged the U of A 29-27 in Tucson on Sept. 15.
New Mexico visits Tulsa on Sept. 20. The Golden Hurricane was 10-4 in 2007, ripping Bowling Green 63-7 in the GMAC Bowl. The 56-point blowout is the largest margin of victory in bowl game history, bettering Alabama’s 61-6 win over Syracuse in the 1953 Orange Bowl. Tulsa has played in a bowl game four out of the past five seasons.
The Golden Hurricane became the first team in NCAA history to have a 5,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher and three 1,000-yard receivers. Tulsa led the nation in total offense in 2007, averaging 543.9 yards a game.
UNM travels to New Mexico State on Sept. 27. It will be the 99th meeting between the Lobos and Aggies.
The Mountain West Conference schedule is expected to be announced around April 1. Home games are against two bowl teams from 2007 – TCU and Utah. San Diego State and Wyoming will also come to Albuquerque. The away games are against Air Force, BYU, Colorado State and UNLV.
NFL COMBINE BOUND FOR THREE LOBOS AND THE TRAINER – WR Travis Brown, OT Devin Clark, WR Marcus Smith and UNM head athletic trainer Dave Binder will take part in the NFL Combine Feb. 20-26, in Indianapolis. Binder, in his 12th year at UNM, is one of three collegiate trainers selected to attend.
MORE NOTES OF INTEREST New Mexico was one of three Football Bowl Subdivision schools in 2007 to produce a 3,000-yard passer (Donovan Porterie 3,006), a 1,000-yard rusher (Rodney Ferguson 1,177) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Marcus Smith 1,125 and Travis Brown 1,031)…the others were Rutgers and Tulsa
UNM did not allow a touchdown in its last two games, beating UNLV 27-6 and Nevada 23-0…the last time that happened was the final two games of the 1979 season in victories over Colorado State (24-9) and Wyoming (17-3)
The 6 points allowed against UNLV and Nevada are the fewest in consecutive games in 44 years…the Lobos beat Montana 24-6 and blanked Colorado State 25-0 in 1963
Senior WR Marcus Smith caught 91 passes to break Terance Mathis’ single-season school record…Mathis caught 88 balls in 1989…Smith led the MWC in receiving (7 per game) and yards (1,125, 86.5 ypg)
In their careers at New Mexico, Marcus Smith and Travis Brown combined to catch 335 passes for 4,265 yards and 25 TDs
UNM has won 8 straight games decided by 3 points or less, 4 in 2007
Junior TB Rodney Ferguson set a school record with 292 rushing attempts…the previous mark was 276 by DonTrell Moore in 2003…Ferguson had 39 more carries than the No. 2 ball carrier in the MWC, Utah’s Darrell Mack
No UNM defensive player finished in the top-22 in the MWC in tackles, but 19 Lobos had at least 20 stops on the season…Ian Clark had a team-high 79 tackles, the fewest to lead the team since Scotty Oliver had 72 in 1968
POSTSEASON HONORS; LOBOS LAND EIGHT ON ALL-MWC TEAM – A school record eight UNM football players were voted to the 2007 all-Mountain West Conference first team by the league’s nine head coaches and 18-member media panel. New Mexico’s eight first team honorees (six on offense, two on defense) led the MWC, were the most in the conference since 2001 and matched the second most by one team in league history.
On offense, senior wide receiver Travis Brown and junior running back Rodney Ferguson earned first team all-MWC honors for the second straight year. Senior wide receiver Marcus Smith was also a first team pick after earning honorable mention recognition in 2006. Meanwhile, senior center Vince Natali, senior offensive tackle Devin Clark and senior kicker John Sullivan earned postseason honors for the first time.
New Mexico placed two on the first team defense as senior defensive end Tyler Donaldson and junior cornerback DeAndre Wright were recognized after earning second team honors in 2006.
Senior defensive end Michael Tuohy was named to the second team, while senior safety OJ Swift, senior punter Jordan Scott and junior cornerback Glover Quin were honorable mention picks.
After landing just four total first team all-conference selections in his first three seasons at New Mexico, head coach Rocky Long has had 39 first team honorees since 2001 – an average of more than five per season. UNM has had 33 players named to the all-MWC first team over the past five years – 12 more than any other team in the league during that span.
The 2007 Lobos became just the second team in MWC history and the first in program history to have two wide receivers earn first team all-conference honors…San Diego State (J.R. Tolver & Kassim Osgood) was the first to do so in 2001…Travis Brown became the third Lobo receiver to earn first team honors in multiple season, joining Terance Mathis (1986, ’87, ’89 WAC) and Preston Dennard (1974, ’76 WAC)…New Mexico has had a first team wide receiver three straight years – a first in program history – since Hank Baskett III snapped an eight-year drought in 2005
The Lobo offensive line unit, known as The Hitmen, has had at least one first team selection each of the past five years and had at least two first team players four times during that span…six different linemen have earned first team honors 10 times since 2003…Vince Natali gave UNM a first team center for the fourth time in the past five years (Ryan Cook, 2003-05)…Devin Clark became the third Lobo offensive tackle to earn all-MWC honors, joining Claude Terrell (2004) and current UNM offensive line coach Jason Lenzmeier (2003)
New Mexico has had a first team all-MWC running back each of the past six years – the longest streak in conference history…Rodney Ferguson and DonTrell Moore (four times) are the only Lobo running backs to earn first team all-conference honors since 1996
John Sullivan is the fourth Lobo kicker in the past seven years to be named first team all-MWC, joining Kenny Byrd (’06), Wes Zunker (’03) and Vladimir Borombozin (’01)…no other school has had more than two kickers named to the all-MWC first team since the conference was founded in 1999
New Mexico has had at least one defensive player named first team all-conference every year under 10th-year head coach Rocky Long and 17 total defensive all-MWC awards since 1998
DeAndre Wright became the third Lobo cornerback in the last four years to earn all-MWC, joining Gabriel Fulbright (2005) and Brandon Payne (2004)
Tyler Donaldson is the fifth UNM defensive lineman named to the all-MWC first team and fourth in the past four years…Brian Johnson (2000-01), D.J. Renteria (2003), Evroy Thompson (2004) and Marcus Parker (2005) are the others
JOE MALOOF TO FUND JAMES BELL SCHOLARSHIP – Joe G. Maloof announced funding for the James Bell Scholarship, which will be awarded annually to a University of New Mexico football student-athlete who has exhausted his eligibility but still requires coursework to graduate. The first scholarship will be awarded for the 2008-09 academic year.
James Bell, a 1977 Albuquerque High graduate, was a UNM football letterman in 1978-79, and ’81. A defensive back, Bell went on to play professionally with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League.
On Sept. 19, 1986, in a game against the British Columbia Lions, Bell suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed.
Current University of New Mexico head coach Rocky Long was Bell’s position coach at UNM during the 1979 season. And, ironically, when Bell was injured, Long was on the opposite sideline, serving as an assistant coach for the B.C. Lions.
After extensive rehabilitation, Bell eventually regained the ability to walk on his own. He currently lives in Albuquerque where he serves as the director of Bell Community Development Corp., a non-profit program that assists low to moderate-income families who are first time homebuyers or are looking for a home to rent.
“I wanted to do something special to recognize a former teammate who has a wonderful spirit,” said Maloof, who was a teammate of Bell’s and a three-year Lobo letterman in the 1970s. “I really appreciate James Bell and how he has carried himself through some really tough times. I want this scholarship to live on in his name. I’m proud to know James and it’s fantastic what he has accomplished in his life.”
“We really want to thank Joe for establishing such a generous and meaningful scholarship,” said Long. “James Bell was a great competitor and a great person. Earning a college degree is the most important aspect of attending a university. It’s great that future Lobo football players will have this opportunity.”
“It’s amazing to have an individual who was a former teammate and a good friend just to remember you and show that he cares,” said Bell. “It means a great deal to me and I know it does to coach Long, who I care for greatly. I can’t thank Joe enough for the contribution that will benefit a fellow Lobo, and eventually, a UNM graduate. The scholarship keeps me tied to UNM.”
NEW MEXICO BOWL RECAP AND POSTGAME NOTES – For coach Rocky Long, it was just the next game, another brick to continue building his program. For delighted New Mexico fans, it marked the end of a 46-year skid.
Paul Baker ran for 167 yards in his first start, and Donovan Porterie threw for career-high 354 yards and two touchdowns to help New Mexico beat Nevada 23-0 in the New Mexico Bowl. The Lobos (9-4) ended a 46-year span without a postseason victory and gave Long, the team’s 10th-year coach, his first bowl win in five tries.
“It gets it off our back. We don’t have to listen to it anymore,” Long said. “But this program was good before we won today.”
John Sullivan made field goals from 53, 39 and 37 yards, but give credit to New Mexico’s defense, which delivered just the second shutout loss for Nevada under Hall of Fame coach Chris Ault.
The Wolf Pack (6-7) hadn’t gone scoreless since losing 10-0 to Weber State on Sept. 27, 1980, a span of 329 games — the longest current streak in college football and the second longest in history. It’s the first time Nevada was shut out since moving to Division I-A in 1992.
“It’s certainly a compliment to their defense,” Ault said. “They played a great game. At the other end of the spectrum, we played as poorly on offense as we’ve played in a long time.”
It was New Mexico’s first bowl victory since beating Western Michigan 28-12 in the 1961 Aviation Bowl at Dayton, Ohio. The Lobos also notched a nine-win season for just the fourth time in school history.
“I’m very proud of our team,” Long said. “I thought they were as focused as they’ve been all year long for any game.”
New Mexico’s defenders pestered redshirt freshman quarterback Colin Kaepernick all afternoon and made Nevada’s “Pistol” offense look more like a pop-gun. The Wolf Pack averaged 36.2 points and 488.9 yards during the season. Nevada had logged 23 scoring plays that covered at least 25 yards — second only to Oklahoma’s 25 big-play TDs.
This time, Nevada had 210 total yards, with only 73 yards rushing. On a chilly day, with the temperature at kickoff 34 degrees, Kaepernick finished 13-of-31 for 137 yards. He had 10 carries for 40 yards rushing.
“Everybody was locked in,” linebacker Brett Madsen said. “They have a really explosive offense. The quarterback can really run. We knew we had to contain the quarterback, and he didn’t do much with his legs.”
Madsen was selected the defensive player of the game after recording two sacks, two tackles for lost yardage and four total tackles. But he agreed the award could have gone to any New Mexico defender.
Baker made the most of his chance. He moved into the starting lineup this week when Rodney Ferguson, New Mexico’s leading rusher over the past two seasons, was ruled academically ineligible.
“My team believed in me and that was enough,” Baker said. “I knew I could get it done.”
The Wolf Pack blocked two field goals, Sullivan missed another 43-yard try and the Lobos failed to score after having first-and-goal at the 4 late in the third quarter. But Nevada just couldn’t take advantage.
“We didn’t do a good job with any consistency on the run game or the pass game,” Ault said. “Colin Kaepernick didn’t have a chance to get into type of rhythm. We just shot ourselves in the foot.”
Despite the cool weather, Porterie had no trouble warming up. He threw a short slant pass on the third play from scrimmage to Marcus Smith, who raced to the end zone for a 66-yard scoring play. Later in the period, Brown got behind the Nevada defense and Porterie found him on a 39-yard TD pass.
Postgame Notes New Mexico is now 3-7-1 in bowl games
Nevada had not been shutout since Sept. 27, 1980 (10-0 at Weber State), a span of 329 games that was the longest current streak in the NCAA and the second longest all-time in college football…Nevada’s deepest penetration was the New Mexico 30-yard line
New Mexico recorded 2 shutouts in a season for the first time since 1983 (31-0 vs. New Mexico State and 35-0 against UTEP)
Nevada came into the game averaging 36.2 points and 488.9 yards of total offense…the Wolf Pack only had 210 yards
New Mexico posted a season-high 548 yards of total offense, the highest total since racking up 578 in a loss against UNLV in 2003…UNM came into the game averaging 357.4 yards a game and only 311 in 8 Mountain West Conference games
The Lobos had a season-high 354 yards passing, the most since 429 against UNLV in 2003
The Lobos were 9-0 when scoring first in 2007…UNM has now won 13 straight games when scoring first…the record is 37-6 since 2001
Head coach Rocky Long evened his career record at 61-61, the first time he’s been at .500 since 2-2 in 1998
Junior RB Paul Baker Playing for suspended starter Rodney Ferguson, Baker rushed 22 times for 167 yards – both career highs – and the highest rushing total by a Lobo in 2007…the 37-yard run in the third quarter is the longest of his career…he also had 2 catches for 42 yards for 209 all-purpose yards named Player of the Game by ESPN
Senior K John Sullivan 3-6 FGs (one miss and 2 blocks), including a 53-yarder, tying for the second longest in UNM history…it’s the longest FG since Rick Walsh kicked a school record 56-yarder against San Diego State in 1988 tied an NCAA record by kicking multiple FGs for the 10th game in 2007…he now shares that mark with West Virginia’s Paul Woodside, set in 1982 finished the season making 29 of 35 FGs for 82.9% accuracy averaged 2.42 FGs in 2007, the highest since UCLA’s John Lee set the NCAA record of 2.6 in 1984 2nd at UNM for a season with 117 points scored; DonTrell Moore is 1st at 126 in 2003
Senior WR Marcus Smith 5 catches for 86 yards and 1 TD, which was a career-long 66 yards set UNM season record with 91 receptions; Terance Mathis had 88 in 1989 5th on season receiving list with 1,125 yards 4th on UNM season list with 1,809 all-purpose yards and 6th on the career list with 3,749 yards 4th on the UNM career list with 153 catches and 7th with 2,073 yards
Senior WR Travis Brown 7 catches for 120 yards and a 39-yard TD tied for 4th on season list with 76 catches 9th on season receiving list with 1,031 yards 3rd on the UNM career list with 182 catches and 5th on the career receiving list with 2,196 yards
Sophomore QB Donovan Porterie New Mexico Bowl II Offensive MVP, completing 20-of-36 passes for a career-high 354 yards, 2 TDs and one interception…it’s his 4th career 300-yard passing game and 3rd this season UNM is 12-4 in games he has started and finished 4th on season passing list with 3,006 yards and 3rd on season passing list with 244 completions 5th on season passing list with completion pct. of (58.4, 244-418)
Senior LB Brett Madsen New Mexico Bowl II Defensive MVP did not start, but had 4 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks
Senior DE Michael Tuohy Recorded a sack, giving him 20.5 in his career which tied TCU’s Chase Ortiz for the MWC record…20.5 a ranks 5th all-time at UNM
Marcus Smith NOMINATED FOR FEDEX ORANGE BOWL COURAGE AWARD – The Football Writers Association of America announced Oct. 31 that UNM senior WR Marcus Smith has been nominated for the FedEx Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award, to be announced at the end of the 2007 season.
The Courage Award was created by ESPN The Magazine’s senior writer Gene Wojciechowski, also a FWAA member. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship.
A blue-ribbon panel will determine the winner from all of the nominees. The winner of the FedEx Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award will be announced in December and be presented with the trophy.
Previous winners of the FWAA’s Courage Award are Clemson’s Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis’ Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State’s Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo’s William Bratton (2002).
Sheila Smith, 52, died in her sleep of natural causes Sept. 16. A few hours earlier, Marcus had a career-high 11 catches for 164 yards in New Mexico’s 29-27 win at Arizona. Shortly afterward, Smith learned he would have to pay funeral expenses of approximately $6,000. Through a memorial fund, donors raised the money.
“I got a few letters from BYU fans — fans from a team that we have an intense rivalry with,” Smith told The Associated Press. “I didn’t expect that. “Fans in Virginia, fans in northern California sent stuff. It was really, really shocking.”
Smith credits his mother with insisting he remain at New Mexico when he wanted to transfer; he didn’t want to move from tailback to receiver.
“She made me stay,” Smith said. “Me being here and on track to graduate is all from her influence on me.”
LOBOS HAD MWC’S TOP-2 RECEIVERS – As they were nearly all season, the Lobos finished 2007 with the MWC’s top-2 receivers in seniors Marcus Smith and Travis Brown. Smith was 1st in the league in catches (7.0 a game) and receiving yards (86.5 ypg). Brown was just a hair behind at 5.9 catches a game and 79.3 yards.
DEFENSE MAKES STRIDES FROM A YEAR AGO – UNM was 2nd in the MWC and 13th nationally in total defense, allowing 319.9 yards a game. The Lobos were 8th in the league and 80th nationally in 2006, yielding 355.5 yards a game.
New Mexico finished in the top-30 in the nation in total defense every season from 2000-04. Only Oklahoma and Texas matched the statistical feat during that span.
TALK ABOUT TEAM “D” – Routinely playing 21 to 24 players on defense a game, the Lobos do not have one tackler ranked in the top-22 in the Mountain West Conference in average stops per game. The top UNM defender is S Ian Clark, who has 79 total tackles, or 6.1 a game.
However, there was great balance. Nineteen Lobos had at least 20 tackles while 24 had 10 or more stops on the season. Twenty-two different players had a tackle for a loss.
SUPERLATIVES AGAINST SACRAMENTO STATE – The Lobos’ 58-0 win over Sacramento State is the largest shutout since defeating Northern Arizona 78-0 in Albuquerque on Sept. 23, 1950. It is the Lobos’ first shutout since defeating Baylor 23-0 in 2002.
UNM only allowed 104 yards of total offense to the Hornets. It’s the fewest yards allowed by the Lobo defense since surrendering 70 yards to UTEP in 1983.
Sacramento State was held to 6 first downs (only 1 in the first half), the fewest by an opponent since Central Florida had 6 in 1996. UNM held the Hornets to 27 yards passing, the fewest by a Lobo opponent since a run-oriented Rice team had 0 in 1997.
A DELAY IN LARAMIE – It was 1:01 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie on Oct. 13 when the UNM-Wyoming game was halted due to lightning. The Cowboys had just kicked a field goal to tie the game at 3 with 2:36 remaining before halftime. NCAA rules require a 20-minute wait after any lightning strike. The delay was 1 hour and 43 minutes. When play was resumed, the Lobos scored on a 63-yard TD pass from Donovan Porterie to make it 10-3 UNM. Because of the delay, halftime was limited to three minutes.
BIG WIN AT ARIZONA – The Lobos’ 29-27 victory at Arizona snapped a 9-game losing streak vs. Pac-10 opponents dating back to 1979. The last victory came on Sept. 8, 1979 – a 35-16 win over Oregon State in Albuquerque. The Lobos halted 4-game losing streak vs. Arizona and earned their first win in Tucson since beating the undefeated and 13th-ranked Wildcats 44-34 in 1975.
New Mexico won for only the second time in its last 19 non-conference games outside the state of New Mexico, dating to the middle of the 1997 season. However, the Lobos have won their last 2 games against BCS conference opponents – both coming on the road (45-35 win at Missouri in 2005).
RARE OCCURENCE VS. NEW MEXICO STATE – In the win over New Mexico State, the Lobos produced a 100-yard rusher (Rodney Ferguson – 118), a 300-yard passer (Donovan Porterie – 342) and two 100-yard receivers (Marcus Smith – 128, Travis Brown – 106) for the first time since Nov. 1, 2003 when DonTrell Moore (130 rushing), Casey Kelly (408 passing), Dwight Counter (171 receiving) and Adrian Boyd (103 receiving) pulled it off.