New Mexico Game Notes | Air Force Game Notes | Mountain West Notes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A lot of things have happened since UNM’s last trip to Colorado Springs, including two trips to UNLV despite the fact that the Rebels are in the other division and UNM only travels to play them every four years. The Lobos will be going for their first win in Colorado Springs since the year 2000 as UNM faces Air Force on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in a game that will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz, Aaron Murray and Amanda Balionis. The game will also be on the Lobo Sports Radio Network with Robert Portnoy and DonTrell Moore.
The Lobos and the Falcons both enter the game at 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the Mountain West, meaning their is plenty to play for. Each teams needs to win three to end the season to get bowl eligible, making this a defacto elimination game for the postseason. The series has been a tight one with UNM winning three straight in the series. The Lobos won last year 56-38, and the year prior UNM won a wild 45-40 game that was moved from Colorado Springs to Dallas, Texas and The Cotton Bowl.
|
“I have the ultimate respect for them. It’s an honor to go play them” -Head coach Bob Davie on playing Air Force |
UNM’s winning streak started with a 45-37 win over the Falcons on 2015 Senior Night for UNM. Now, the task is simple in principal … end a seven-game losing streak to Air Force in Colorado Springs. While it’s been a tough stretch, four of those games have been within a score, including both games in the Bob Davie era. However, regardless of record, Davie knows what his team is facing in a corps of cadets that don’t know how to be intimidated on a football field.
“We are similar to Air Force,” said Davie. “We are both 3-6, and we’ve both played three different quarterbacks.” Air Force is one of three teams that have started three different quarterbacks at least twice, and UNM would join the Falcons on that list if Coltin Gerhart is healthy enough to start, although Davie said that is in a little bit of doubt. Shoudl Gerhart not be able to go, the offense will go back to Sheriron Jones, who has started five games and has 13 touchdown passes this season.
Davie holds the academies, and the student-athletes at those academies in particular, in high regard. In talking about why Air Force is so tough to beat on the field, he said it’s simply in the make-up of student-athletes who know what potentially lies ahead. “I made a decision as a college football student-athlete, and as a family that advised me, that the net step could be Afghanistan, or Iraq, or wherever I’m needed when our country is in harm’s way. I’m gonna go do this.”
“That says it all to me. That’s a unique dude right there,” said Davie, which reverence in his voice. “Translate that to every time that ball is snapped out there … that’s what you’re dealing with.”