MWC 2011 Preview: New Mexico Lobos

Happiness – that’s a word that hasn’t donned the lips of any Lobo football fan for two seasons. Head coach Mike Locksley took over a program that by most measures could be called successful, especially in a place like Albuquerque. New Mexico had been to 5 bowl games in 7 years under Rocky Long. After a bevy of off-the-field issues and two straight 1-11 campaigns, time for Locksley is running short.

The start and finish of the 2010 campaign are examples of how a tough schedule certainly didn’t help UNM. A 72-0 display of #BEATEMDOWN (c. Bomani Jones) by Pac-10 champ Oregon in Week 1 was a disheartening start. Then a 66-17 blowout against TCU finished the season in similar fashion. What came in-between wasn’t much different.

Sophomore QB Tarean Austin (UNM Athletics)

It’s no coincidence that a 1-11 team struggled on all sides of the ball. The defense gave up points by the bushel--44 points per game. The offense finished 118th in points scored (a scarce 15.3 points per game) and 106th in both passing and rushing yards.

2011 will see a new man heading the defense in George Barlow. Barlow is moving to a 4-2-5 defense with the aim of making New Mexico more aggressive on that side of the ball and to make good use of star linebacker Carmen Messina.

The offense will also have a new leader in David Reaves. His first task will be to choose a starting quarterback to lead the Lobos. Stump Godfrey has just recently obtained a release from the program. Sophomore Tarean Austin may very well win the starting job from B.R. Holbrook after a what has been said to be a great spring. Lucas Reed, the only All-MWC First Team honoree in 2010 for UNM, returns at tight end. UNM also returns the most-runningbackiest-named player of all-time in the backfield, Kasey Carrier, who led the team in rushing last year with 373 yards.

There have been statements of hope and promise from within the New Mexico program, but while improvement may be at hand, a bowl game will still be well out of reach for the Lobos, especially when considering the schedule below. New Mexico will be at-or-near the bottom of the conference yet again.

SCHEDULE & PREDICTIONS

Date/Time	TV	Opponent	Zach	Brett
Sat. 09/03/11 4:00 p.m. MT	The Mtn.	COLORADO STATE	L	L
Sat. 09/10/11 Time TBA	---	at Arkansas 1	L	L
Sat. 09/17/11 1:30 p.m. MT	Versus	TEXAS TECH	L	L
Sat. 09/24/11 4:00 p.m. MT	---	SAM HOUSTON STATE	W	W
Sat. 10/01/11 5:00 p.m. MT	The Mtn.	NEW MEXICO STATE	W	W*
Sat. 10/15/11 2:05 p.m. MT	---	at Nevada	L	L
Sat. 10/22/11 12:00 p.m. MT	The Mtn.	at TCU	L	L
Sat. 10/29/11 12:00 p.m. MT	The Mtn.	AIR FORCE	L	L
Sat. 11/05/11 6:00 p.m. MT	The Mtn.	at San Diego State	L	L
Sat. 11/12/11 8:00 p.m. MT	The Mtn.	UNLV	W*	L*
Sat. 11/19/11 12:00 p.m. MT	The Mtn.	at Wyoming	L	L
Sat. 12/03/11 4:00 p.m. MT	The Mtn.	at Boise State	L	L
1-War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock AR || * denotes toss-up			3-9	2-10

(schedule courtesy FBSchedules.com)