Homecoming Week: Lobos to Face Liberty on Saturday
New Mexico Game Notes | Liberty Game Notes | Mountain West Weekly Notes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Coming off a bye, coming off a rivalry win, Bob Davie and his Lobos have been practicing. In full pads. Because this week’s game against Liberty University, according to Davie, is the start of Mountain West play. That’s what he feels is coming into Dreamstyle Stadium on Saturday at 4:06 p.m. A Mountain West caliber team.
The game can be heard in the Lobo Radio Network, flagshipped at 610 AM/95.9 FM in Albuquerque with Robert Portnoy and newly minted Hall of Honor inductee DonTrell Moore on the call. The game will not televised.
Most folks do not know much about Liberty University’s football team, but they certainly should. Liberty has had a run of 12 straight winning seasons, dating back to 2006 with eight conference titles. The Flames are coached by Turner Gill, who led Buffalo to a pair of division titles and a bowl game and is in his seventh season with Liberty. Last year the Flames traveled to Baylor and defeated the Bears in the season opener 48-45, just Baylor’s fifth-ever loss at McLane Stadium. This year the Flames are 1-2, but that win is a 52-10 hammering of Old Dominion, the team that just beat No. 13 Virginia Tech.
For the Lobos, the bye was a chance to get healthy. Quarterback Tevaka Tuioti is back after missing the New Mexico State game with concussion symptoms. In his place Sheriron Jones helped UNM to a 42-25 comeback win. Davie is leaning towards Tuioti back at quarterback after a good day of practice on Tuesday, but Jones is more than ready if it’s his number of Saturday.
What the Lobos boast is a defense that is second nationally in interceptions with seven, already one more than the team had in the entire 2016 season.
Saturday, along with the return of Lobo Football to the Duke City for the first time since a 62-30 home win on September 1, is Homecoming. This year’s theme is Wolfstock, and all of the pageantry of Homecoming will be on hand, including the announcement of the Homecoming Court. Additionally, UNM’s national championship cross country team will be recognized, along with NCAA individual champion Ednah Kurgat, who will be formally given her Honda Award. During breaks in the opening quarters, the UNM men’s and women’s basketball teams will be introduced as well.
Tickets are available by contacting 505-925-LOBO or going to www.unmtickets.com. Fans can still purchase 5-game season ticket packages, the fund of which help all of UNM’s sports teams. Fans can also get a “Sweet Deal”, where fans can get a pair of Silver Section tickets (around the 25-yard line) for the price of one … just $27 for two tickets, and there’s a print at home option as well!
A reminder that Lobo Talk with Bob Davie returns on Wednesday at Rio Bravo Brewing on 2nd Street from 7-8 p.m. Lobo corners D’Angelo Ross and Jalin Burrell will be the special student-athlete guests.