Saturday night's game was a depressing state of affairs for Aggie football.
I didn't think the team would go out and beat Boise State, but I certainly expected them to go out and at least battle. Instead, they got shut out and it was bad from the start. Running the football at will? You don't teach a team to be a smashmout outfit in a week's worth of time. Chase and Chris Williams, A.J. Harris? These are the team's best players and they weren't even utilized. And what happened to Tonny Glynn? Tonny was a good player for the Aggies last year and he is barely seeing the field anymore. You go out and run the ball with a freshman in Donavan Roberts who has seen very limited action this year. What was going on out there? After the Idaho loss it would have been nice to see some fight and spunk. There was none of that on Saturday.
Hearing Hal Mumme talk about injuries as an excuse is bothersome. He played that card last year. Sorry coach, you can't do it again. Injuries are tough but they are a fact of life in college football. Past years of recruiting should have helped to patch up those holes and even with the loss of players, using it as a crutch is not the answer. People just don't want to hear it.
Mumme could have lost his job after last season. He was given another year to try to turn things around but the last two weeks have been the low point of his tenure at the school. Is a midseason dismissal realistic? It appears like the administration is apprehensive to pull the plug. Is it warranted? Yes. Football is a week-to-week business though. I think he will be on board through this week when the team hosts Hawaii. We will see what happens after that. Another loss won't help his cause though. And, at this point, it's hard picturing the Aggies winning another game this season.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Saturday's game
Boise State is a great team, No. 11 in the country and the premier WAC football program in recent memory. They are also facing a reeling Aggie team that could be on the verge of imploding.
The Broncos have gotten very strong play from freshman quarterback Kellen Moore this year and have two excellent running backs — Ian Johnson and Jeremy Avery. They also have a very good defense which is playing with increased confidence this season.
NMSU is in a lot of trouble following last week's loss to Idaho. The team looked awful and now has to get up for the Broncos. NMSU's offense got shut down by one of the worst defenses in college football and now has to face BSU? It could get ugly. Here are a few things to look for as kickoff approaches:
NMSU played with absolutely no urgency last week. That is the most disheartening aspect of the game. It was, for all intents and purposes, a very winnable game, one which the team needed to capture with the understanding that they were returning to Las Cruces to face Boise. They just didn't show up. This Saturday, desperation needs to be on display. I don't know what to expect from the defense. The unit has played better in recent weeks but also has not played a team like the Broncos. Chances are they are going to get scored on often, as BSU can come after teams with their two-headed attack in the backfield. NMSU will have its hands full defending that tandem.
Offensively is really where things are going to need to get better and in a hurry. NMSU has been lackluster in back-to-back weeks moving the ball and will need to put up points in this one to make in competitive. The team needs to protect Holbrook and throw the ball downfield, challenge Boise's DBs to make plays defending NMSU's greatest weapons — the wide receivers.
If they get destroyed, Mumme's future will continue to look bleak. Again, I go back to the Nevada game. How can the team beat the Wolf Pack and then lose at Idaho? It's the inconsistency that's frustrating. I just don't see the school making a change at midseason. But another embarrassing loss, coming on homecoming weekend, and that possibility could become a reality.
The Broncos have gotten very strong play from freshman quarterback Kellen Moore this year and have two excellent running backs — Ian Johnson and Jeremy Avery. They also have a very good defense which is playing with increased confidence this season.
NMSU is in a lot of trouble following last week's loss to Idaho. The team looked awful and now has to get up for the Broncos. NMSU's offense got shut down by one of the worst defenses in college football and now has to face BSU? It could get ugly. Here are a few things to look for as kickoff approaches:
NMSU played with absolutely no urgency last week. That is the most disheartening aspect of the game. It was, for all intents and purposes, a very winnable game, one which the team needed to capture with the understanding that they were returning to Las Cruces to face Boise. They just didn't show up. This Saturday, desperation needs to be on display. I don't know what to expect from the defense. The unit has played better in recent weeks but also has not played a team like the Broncos. Chances are they are going to get scored on often, as BSU can come after teams with their two-headed attack in the backfield. NMSU will have its hands full defending that tandem.
Offensively is really where things are going to need to get better and in a hurry. NMSU has been lackluster in back-to-back weeks moving the ball and will need to put up points in this one to make in competitive. The team needs to protect Holbrook and throw the ball downfield, challenge Boise's DBs to make plays defending NMSU's greatest weapons — the wide receivers.
If they get destroyed, Mumme's future will continue to look bleak. Again, I go back to the Nevada game. How can the team beat the Wolf Pack and then lose at Idaho? It's the inconsistency that's frustrating. I just don't see the school making a change at midseason. But another embarrassing loss, coming on homecoming weekend, and that possibility could become a reality.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Up next.....Boise
I know its hard for some to comprehend, but the Aggie football season moves on. They play a top-25 team this weekend in Boise State.
The Idaho loss was terrible but lets look at things real quick. Anything can happen in college football, particularly on the road. I really thought the team would have problems in Idaho. I didn't think they would lose but I did think they would be in for a battle. It was that and more.
Who's to say that Boise won't be in for a battle in Las Cruces? Playing on the road is tough and NMSU has been consistently inconsistent the last four seasons. I really think the team can battle the Broncos - heck I want them to. I would love to see a great game here next weekend. That's why I'm in this business to begin with.
I wrote at the beginning of the year on this blog, before the season started, that NMSU would split with their rivals. I wrote that they would split their two road games at Idaho and Utah State. I said that they would lose to San Jose State at home. I did not predict their win at Nevada. I said they would beat Hawaii at home. I said that they would lose at home to Boise State and Louisiana Tech. And I wrote that they would lose at Fresno.
The point is that I'm not terribly surprised that the Aggies are where they are right now. They will win at Utah State at the end of the year to solidify that prediction. They need to beat Louisiana Tech here. End of story. That game needs to see a positive result. And I think they'll beat Hawaii at home. That is just a tough trip for the Warriors.
That equals six wins. And if last weekend taught you anything, it's that college football is not an exact science. Teams get upset every week, everywhere. I know it is painful because it seems like the Aggies have been upended the last handful of years in games that are simply inexcusable. But its time to get off the mat. I know that if they beat Boise here that this blog will have a much different tone on it next week at this time. Lets move on and realize the season is not over yet. I know I can't wait for Saturday.
The Idaho loss was terrible but lets look at things real quick. Anything can happen in college football, particularly on the road. I really thought the team would have problems in Idaho. I didn't think they would lose but I did think they would be in for a battle. It was that and more.
Who's to say that Boise won't be in for a battle in Las Cruces? Playing on the road is tough and NMSU has been consistently inconsistent the last four seasons. I really think the team can battle the Broncos - heck I want them to. I would love to see a great game here next weekend. That's why I'm in this business to begin with.
I wrote at the beginning of the year on this blog, before the season started, that NMSU would split with their rivals. I wrote that they would split their two road games at Idaho and Utah State. I said that they would lose to San Jose State at home. I did not predict their win at Nevada. I said they would beat Hawaii at home. I said that they would lose at home to Boise State and Louisiana Tech. And I wrote that they would lose at Fresno.
The point is that I'm not terribly surprised that the Aggies are where they are right now. They will win at Utah State at the end of the year to solidify that prediction. They need to beat Louisiana Tech here. End of story. That game needs to see a positive result. And I think they'll beat Hawaii at home. That is just a tough trip for the Warriors.
That equals six wins. And if last weekend taught you anything, it's that college football is not an exact science. Teams get upset every week, everywhere. I know it is painful because it seems like the Aggies have been upended the last handful of years in games that are simply inexcusable. But its time to get off the mat. I know that if they beat Boise here that this blog will have a much different tone on it next week at this time. Lets move on and realize the season is not over yet. I know I can't wait for Saturday.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Idaho's defense shut down the Aggies
What about NMSU scoring just 14 points on Saturday? That's terrible considering the fact that Idaho had given up an average of 47 point per contest going into Saturday's game.
First off, the O-line is banged up. But that's just another excuse. Injuries aren't fun but they cannot be pinned on this loss too much. The Aggies should have won this game regardless.
I'm not very impressed by the offense. They're dinking and dunking teams to death. How could they not stretch the field against Idaho's defense? The Vandal defense won them the game. They had some guys make big plays up and down the board and put up huge numbers.
The Aggies continuously go for it and 4th-and-long instead of pinning teams deep. And Idaho ran the heck out of the ball. The defense is better for the Aggies this year but when you get ran on like that, it hurts. NMSU's only chance to win is by outscoring people. A game in the mid teens, low 20s does not bode well for the Aggies. They're just not going to win many of them. They don't play field position, don't kick particularly well and don't really try and run. The short passing game is their version of the run.
Lets not overlook Idaho's kicker. He nailed two FGs from over 50. NMSU hasn't had a kicker like that in the Mumme era.
The team won at Nevada and then loses to Idaho. Inconsistency has plagued the program since Mumme took over. How much longer is he going to be with the team? It's hard to picture NMSU making a move during the season but this loss was unacceptable. It's impossible to ignore how it happened or who it came to.
First off, the O-line is banged up. But that's just another excuse. Injuries aren't fun but they cannot be pinned on this loss too much. The Aggies should have won this game regardless.
I'm not very impressed by the offense. They're dinking and dunking teams to death. How could they not stretch the field against Idaho's defense? The Vandal defense won them the game. They had some guys make big plays up and down the board and put up huge numbers.
The Aggies continuously go for it and 4th-and-long instead of pinning teams deep. And Idaho ran the heck out of the ball. The defense is better for the Aggies this year but when you get ran on like that, it hurts. NMSU's only chance to win is by outscoring people. A game in the mid teens, low 20s does not bode well for the Aggies. They're just not going to win many of them. They don't play field position, don't kick particularly well and don't really try and run. The short passing game is their version of the run.
Lets not overlook Idaho's kicker. He nailed two FGs from over 50. NMSU hasn't had a kicker like that in the Mumme era.
The team won at Nevada and then loses to Idaho. Inconsistency has plagued the program since Mumme took over. How much longer is he going to be with the team? It's hard to picture NMSU making a move during the season but this loss was unacceptable. It's impossible to ignore how it happened or who it came to.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Big ups to the defense, tough loss to SJSU
People are going to be disappointed about the loss against San Jose State but I just want to point out the play of the defense.
I was at the game for the first quarter and a half and listened to the second half on the radio. Joe Lee Dunn's unit seemed to play inspired football. I said after last week's Nevada game that the group is bringing a fighter's mentality to the table. They don't have the most talent. They aren't the biggest group or the fastest. But they fight for every inch on the field. In my two years in Las Cruces, that seemed like the best defensive effort the team has put forth.
Lets look at the scenarios. The D gave up a touchdown on SJSU's first possession which saw the Spartans return a kick deep into Aggie territory. SJSU scored two defensive touchdowns off interceptions. And Chris Williams muffed a punt that led the a San Jose FG.
Those were the three key plays of the game, both of Chase's picks and Chris' fumble. Williams' play was a backbreaker after the team fought to get back into the game to begin with. Chase's first pick was awful, he threw it in the flat right to the defender. His second was a result of pressure. The Spartans defensive line battered the Aggies throughout.
It was a tough loss but the team needs to beat Idaho. I mean, it has too. There are no gimmes in college football and the Vandals cannot be overlooked.
I was at the game for the first quarter and a half and listened to the second half on the radio. Joe Lee Dunn's unit seemed to play inspired football. I said after last week's Nevada game that the group is bringing a fighter's mentality to the table. They don't have the most talent. They aren't the biggest group or the fastest. But they fight for every inch on the field. In my two years in Las Cruces, that seemed like the best defensive effort the team has put forth.
Lets look at the scenarios. The D gave up a touchdown on SJSU's first possession which saw the Spartans return a kick deep into Aggie territory. SJSU scored two defensive touchdowns off interceptions. And Chris Williams muffed a punt that led the a San Jose FG.
Those were the three key plays of the game, both of Chase's picks and Chris' fumble. Williams' play was a backbreaker after the team fought to get back into the game to begin with. Chase's first pick was awful, he threw it in the flat right to the defender. His second was a result of pressure. The Spartans defensive line battered the Aggies throughout.
It was a tough loss but the team needs to beat Idaho. I mean, it has too. There are no gimmes in college football and the Vandals cannot be overlooked.
Basketball scrimmage
I know this isn't at the forefront of everyone's mind but I wanted to discuss the absence of some key players from Friday night's basketball scrimmage at the Pan Am.
Jahmar Young, Terrance Joyner, Troy Gillenwater and Chris Gabriel all didn't suit up. Assistant coach John McMullen said that the players are out "until they show better progress in the classroom." What is this? It was a very sparse crowd at the Pan Am Friday and I'm sure the limited people that did show up came to see those four players in action. These guys need to get their academics in order. They're all central pieces to this team. I know, it's early, they have plenty of time to get things together, but why can't this team get out in front of these situations instead of always playing catchup. It was like this last year with a number of issues.
Coach Menzies wasn't there either. The sports information department told Jason Groves that he was attending a funeral. Did they announce it to the few hundred people that showed up to watch the scrimmage? If not, they should have. I hold absolutely no ill will if he was at a friends funeral. But they should keep the spectators informed. I guarantee everyone there noticed he wasn't there.
Lets be honest, this scrimmage wasn't about the team, the coaching staff, the media or the university. It's about the fans that want to come out and see the Aggies in action. Being a diehard basketball fan, it's exciting to see your team run up and down the court, even if it doesn't mean anything. It gives you a glimpse, an appetizer if you will. Well, those who went didn't get that on Friday night.
Jahmar Young, Terrance Joyner, Troy Gillenwater and Chris Gabriel all didn't suit up. Assistant coach John McMullen said that the players are out "until they show better progress in the classroom." What is this? It was a very sparse crowd at the Pan Am Friday and I'm sure the limited people that did show up came to see those four players in action. These guys need to get their academics in order. They're all central pieces to this team. I know, it's early, they have plenty of time to get things together, but why can't this team get out in front of these situations instead of always playing catchup. It was like this last year with a number of issues.
Coach Menzies wasn't there either. The sports information department told Jason Groves that he was attending a funeral. Did they announce it to the few hundred people that showed up to watch the scrimmage? If not, they should have. I hold absolutely no ill will if he was at a friends funeral. But they should keep the spectators informed. I guarantee everyone there noticed he wasn't there.
Lets be honest, this scrimmage wasn't about the team, the coaching staff, the media or the university. It's about the fans that want to come out and see the Aggies in action. Being a diehard basketball fan, it's exciting to see your team run up and down the court, even if it doesn't mean anything. It gives you a glimpse, an appetizer if you will. Well, those who went didn't get that on Friday night.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Ticket update
17,500 tickets have been sold as of 4 p.m. on Friday. This number does not include students, which is about an additional 4,000 fans if they show in full force.
Judging from the walk up traffic, I would think that 23,500 is a very realistic number with 25,000 still within range. Very respectable for the Aggies' second conference game.
Judging from the walk up traffic, I would think that 23,500 is a very realistic number with 25,000 still within range. Very respectable for the Aggies' second conference game.
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