CNNSI.com - 2000 College Football Preview - CNNSI.com's New Mexico preview

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New Mexico Lobos

Running out of options

College Football: The New Century

'99: 4-7, 3-4 Mountain West

Coach

Rocky Long (third season, 7-16)

Key offensive players

Holmon Wiggins, RB, Jr.
Top returning rusher should benefit from new rushing scheme.

Jeremy Denson, QB, Jr.
Could be Lobos' last hope, since fellow transfer Rudy Caamano struggled in spring.

Jarrod Baxter, RB, Jr.
At 6-1, 236 pounds, will lend some heft to the backfield at fullback.

Vladimir Borombozin, K, Jr.
Must convert more than 5-of-14 field goals the Lobos did in '99.

Key defensive players

Mike Barnett, MLB, Sr.
Anchored the defense, making 112 tackles even with Brian Urlacher around.

Ivan Maisel's Player of the Century: Terance Mathis, WR, 1985-87, '89
"The 5-9 Mathis, All-American as a senior, proved how spreading the field brought the little man back into the game."

Brightest Moment: Upsetting unbeaten No. 23 Fresno State 45-22 late in 1989, in a game in which All-American wide receiver Terance Mathis set an NCAA receiving record with 263 career catches for 4,254 yards. The Lobos were 1-10 going into the game.

Lowest Moment: Losing to rival New Mexico State 110-3 in 1917, while shorthanded because of World War I. The players were so embarrassed that they refused the award of their varsity letters that year.

Rantie Harper, FS, Sr.
After playing nine games in '99, takes over Urlacher's "Lobo" spot.

Key newcomer

Larry Davis, WR, Sr.
Speedy transfer from Illinois offers hope and depth on the outside.

Throwback player

Defensive end Brian Johnson knows how to play with pain.

21st century player

Quarterback Jeremy Denson was recruited precisely because he has the combination of scrambling and passing ability that will help him run the Lobos' new offense.

Fast fact

The Lobos scored only 36 points in the third quarter last year -- and all in the final five games, following a 10-game streak in which they were outscored 101-0 in that period.

Outlook

You'd have to say it looks sketchy. All-everything Urlacher is gone to the NFL, and the Lobos are working on a new, more option-oriented offense under new coordinator Dan Dodd that will rely on transfer quarterbacks Denson or Caamano. In fact, last year's starter, Sean Stein, quit the team after coaches told him he should probably transfer if he wanted to play, leaving the Lobos no experience at QB. The Lobos do have some big backs returning to help carry the load, but the defense needs help from a lot of people to replace Urlacher.

--Michael C. Lewis