INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Cornhusker Wannabes
by B.J. Schecter
Posted: Wed September 23, 1998
During the final minute of New Mexico State's 28-27 comeback win
over New Mexico last Saturday, the Aggies' first victory of the
season, coach Tony Samuel felt as if he were back at Nebraska.
Samuel, who spent 18 years in Lincoln as a player and assistant
coach before taking over the dormant New Mexico State program
last season, hired eight assistants who had Husker ties,
installed the Nebraska smashmouth offense and tried to bring some
bravado to his new team.
The Aggies were 2-11 under Samuel entering Saturday's game and
had dropped 25 of their last 29 to the Lobos. But Samuel kept New
Mexico State's confidence up, even after Dion Martin scored on an
88-yard kickoff return to give New Mexico a 27-21 lead with 57
seconds remaining. "When that guy brought that kickoff back, it
was like someone had crushed a home run," said Samuel on Sunday.
"Still, not for one second did I think the game was over. We only
had a minute, but with three timeouts I knew we could do it."
Five plays later two former walk-ons, quarterback Ty Houghtaling
and wideout Ryan Shaw, hooked up on a 50-yard touchdown pass to
tie the score. Aware that the Lobos had been penalized 15 yards
for excessive celebration after Martin's touchdown and had missed
a 35-yard PAT, Samuel sprinted up and down the sideline making
sure New Mexico State didn't draw a flag for the same reason.
After Andy Kohl made the extra point, Samuel didn't mind that
Aggies fans stormed the field and ripped down the goalposts.
"I felt like I did at Nebraska when we beat Miami to win the
national championship in 1994," he said. "This was a huge win for
our program and something we can build on. At Nebraska we never
thought we were going to lose, and that's the type of confidence
I'm trying to establish here."
Issue date: September 28, 1998
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