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New Mexico Lobos (2000: 5-7) The following team preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at this and all Division I-A teams, be sure to order the 2001 Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.
Coach and programA second straight tie for fifth in the Mountain West Conference doesn’t seem like much of a season, but for a team that was picked to finish at the bottom of the league, it was a pretty good outcome for New Mexico.In fact, heading into November, the Lobos were in first place with their destiny in their own hands, only to lose back-to-back heartbreakers to San Diego State and UNLV before finishing off with a big loss at BYU. “I thought we were going to do something really special, but we fell short of that, which was really disappointing,” said coach Rocky Long, who completed his third season at his alma mater. “So that is kind of a sour taste left in our mouth. We need to get over that hump.” Three years earlier, Long took over for Dennis Franchione -- who went to TCU and later to Alabama— -- and since then has been trying to rebuild a senior-dominated team that went 9-3 in 1997. Long’s initial team won three games, followed by a four-win season in 1999 before the Lobos moved up to five wins last year. Similar improvement this year would give New Mexico only its fourth winning season since 1982. For that to happen, the Lobos will have to see marked improvement from their offense -- which averaged less than 300 yards per game and ranked 109th out of 115 teams in the nation in passing -- and no falloff from the defense, which carried the team much of last season. The Lobos lost 13 seniors, but return 45 lettermen, about half of whom played extensive minutes for the Lobos last season. Eight starters return on offense, but only five on defense. The program received a big boost late last year when ground was broken at the north end of University Stadium for the construction of an additional 5,700 seats to increase stadium capacity to more than 37,000. “I know our confidence is very high right now, especially with stadium expansion underway,” Long said. “There’s no doubt that kids are really impressed by the improvements we are making to our facilities. It shows there is a commitment to making our program better.”
OffenseLast year, Long caused a bit of controversy when he pushed senior quarterback Sean Stein out the door, urging him to transfer after spring practice even though Stein was the logical starter after leading the Lobos to three victories the year before.Long wanted a younger, more athletic quarterback to direct his offense and had two junior college transfers he wanted to try. The first, Jeremy Denson, started two games, but after a pair of defeats where the offense sputtered with an average of just 223 yards of total offense in each game, the Lobos made the switch to Rudy Caamano. For the season, Caamano’s numbers weren’t that great yardage-wise with 1,270 yards passing, but he did complete 55.7 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns. He was intercepted just seven times. The backfield should be one of the strongest positions on the team with several experienced players back, led by seniors Jarrod Baxter and Holmon Wiggins. Wiggins (6-0, 210) led the Lobos in rushing for the second straight year with 727 yards and also led the team with five touchdowns. Baxter (6-1, 250) is a homegrown product who rushed for 570 yards last year and 434 the year before. Top receiver Rob Caston (22 receptions) has graduated, but most of last year’s receivers return for the Lobos. Senior Kirk Robbins (5-11, 185), who caught 16 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore Dwight Counter (6-2, 172), who caught 13 passes for 147 yards a touchdown, are the top two returnees. Junior center Rashad McClure (6-3, 295) has started the last two years and participated in 93 percent of the Lobos’ offensive plays in 2000.
Defense and special teamsWith senior Brian Johnson (6-3, 280) back after a sterling junior season when he averaged 9.5 sacks per game and was a first-team All-MWC selection, the Lobos have someone to anchor the defensive line.Senior linebacker Mohammed Konte (6-2, 225) finished fifth on the team in tackles after starting nine games and also came up with an interception, a sack and two fumble recoveries. The Lobos use five players in the secondary, counting the lobo back position, which was up undecided coming out of spring ball. Senior Scott Gerhardt (6-0, 185), who started a few games at lobo in place of Rantie Harper when he was injured in midseason, is the top candidate to play the lobo spot. Gerhardt, who also started seven games at free safety last year, finished eighth on the team with 53 tackles with two interceptions. Sophomore Brandon Ratcliff (6-0, 200) came from nowhere to become the MWC Freshman of the Year in 2000 and he’ll be back as the starting strong safety. He tied for third on the team in tackles last year with 71 and is the top returning tackler for the Lobos. Vladimir Borombozin (5-10, 164) came in from West Hills (Calif.) College last fall to improve a woeful kicking game and did a decent job in converting 10-of-15 field goals.
Bottom lineNew Mexico’s offense can’t be much worse than last year when it averaged a paltry 266.6 yards per game. Caamano has a year behind him at quarterback and both of last year’s top running backs, Wiggins and Baxter, are back, along with most of the receivers and four starters on the line.Questions come at several positions on the defensive side and in the punting game, where the Lobos have no experience. The Lobos should be competitive in the Mountain West Conference and win some games, but without the strong defense that has carried them so well the last couple of years, they aren’t likely to get over the hump and produce a winning record or challenge for the MWC title. |
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