*** NCAA Football Preview - New Mexico ***
From The My Sportsbook
By Gregg Xenakes, College Football Staff Writer
2003 SEASON IN REVIEW: The Lobos got off to a rousing start in 2003 by beating their first opponent by a final of 72-8, but that opponent was Texas State. Such a start set the stage for some tremendous letdowns in the following weeks, which included three straight setbacks to the Texas Tech, BYU and Washington State. But the annual battle with New Mexico State on September 27 put the team back on track as a 24-17 victory at home set in motion a four- game win streak. Overall New Mexico claimed seven of the next eight games and even earned its way into the postseason and a date with Oregon State in the Las Vegas Bowl. Unfortunately the extra game was a little too much for the Lobos as they were stomped by the Beavers in the desert, 55-14, the most points they gave up all season. Even though the year ended on a sour note, there were still plenty of things to be proud of as head coach Rocky Long looks back on the 2003 campaign. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that New Mexico is the only school in the nation to increase its win total every year since 1999. The group also made its second of two straight bowl appearances for the first time since just after World War II. As one of five schools to finish in the nation's top 30 in defense in each of the last four years, the team's third straight non-losing season marked a stretch that Albuquerque has not seen in four decades.
2004 ANALYSIS:
OFFENSE: The crown jewel of the Lobos is junior running back DonTrell Moore. Out of nowhere, the honorable mention All-American and two-time first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection threw his 5-11, 214-pound frame into the spotlight and has gotten only better with every game under his belt. Moore is currently ranked fourth on the school's all-time rushing chart with 2,584 yards in just two seasons. He put up a school record 1,450 yards on the ground in 2003 and is less than 1,300 yards from the all-time mark of 3,862 yards set by Mike Williams a generation ago. In addition to his yardage mark from a season ago, Moore also set school marks for rushing touchdowns (19), overall touchdowns scored (21), points (126), 100-yard rushing games (nine) and consecutive 100-yard rushing games (five). Already the holder of the school record for rushing touchdowns with 32, Moore led the league in rushing (119.8 ypg) and total yardage (134.8 ypg) in 2003 and could go beyond those numbers with the help of returning linemen, Ryan Cook, Claude Terrell and Robert Turner. While Moore, who will be joined by D.D. Cox to form one of the most potent running back tandems in the league, if not the nation, is a proven commodity coming out of the backfield, the quarterback position is not as established. For the first time in nearly three years the Lobos are having to go with an unproven arm. It appears as though the job is up for grabs between senior Tali Ena and sophomore Kole McKamey. Ena was a top recruit for Washington State back in 2000 but has yet to perform for New Mexico. McKamey was the backup to Casey Kelly last season and saw action in six games under center in 2003, but that's no guarantee that he has the inside track on the job. The receiving positions are also wide open with three starters and seven lettermen gone from the 2003 roster.
DEFENSE: The Lobos have held the secret to getting to the opponent's quarterback the last few years, leading the league in sacks in each of the last four campaigns. However, that streak could easily end in 2004 unless some unproven players step up and really impress. The unit returns just four starters from a year ago and just one on the defensive line. A total of three all-conference performers from the trenches have been lost to graduation, which leaves senior nose tackle Kyle Coulter as the anchor in the system. Junior defensive end Marcus Parker should have an immediate impact, while big men such as Bryan Easterly, Adam Garday and Freddie McGowan also carry some of the load. Two of the team's most powerful linebackers have also departed, but senior Nick Speegle will continue to add to his consecutive starts streak, which currently stands at 31 over the past three seasons. Recognized as one of the top men in his position in the Mountain West, Speegle is a two-time All- MWC honorable mention, having 225 career tackles to his credit, including 80 last season. Expected to make a return to the lineup is Fola Fashola who was granted a medical redshirt last year after suffering a torn ACL against Texas Tech in the second game. For the first time in four years the squad returns a pair of starting corners in junior Gabriel Fulbright and senior Brandon Payne, both poised to bring the pain once again for the aggressive group.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker Wes Zunker returned last season, after missing all of 2002 with an injury, and showed that he is a viable performer for the team, one who can pick up where the offense left off. Zunker, a 2004 Lou Groza Award candidate, connected on 15-of-17 field goal attempts, which included knocking through 15 in a row at one point, so his return to the lineup is a huge plus for the squad. Junior punter Tyler Gaus is consistent if nothing else, something the Lobos sorely need if the defense is going to pin down opposing teams in their half of the field. Oddly enough, the biggest concern for Long in the special teams department is finding a replacement for long snapper Martin Lovato who finished his career without allowing a single punt to be blocked. It doesn't sound like a big dilemma, but it's a skill that is not easily taught.
OUTLOOK: Except for NMSU, BYU and Wyoming, everyone else on New Mexico's schedule this season played at or above .500 in 2003, which probably means the team's streak of improving its record from year to year might be in jeopardy. Having just three home games on the slate from September 18 on, New Mexico is going to see some hostile crowds this year, so unless Long can get the offense to move the ball without Moore being the focus on every play, the team will struggle to pick up wins this season.
