I hear the Aggies received a verbal commitment from linebacker Anthony Joyner.
Here's Joyner's info on Rivals.com.
NMSU has now gotten verbals from two linebackers — Joyner and Dylan Davis. I would assume that if both players fulfill their commitments, they'll have an opportunity to compete for playing time immediately.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
More on Walker story
One thing I left out of my DeWayne Walker story was McKinley Boston's comments regarding replacements in case Walker does in fact take the Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator position.
Me and Boston were talking in hypotheticals — that's what the majority of the conversation was because there is so much uncertainty revolving around Walker's status. Here's what the athletics director said about replacements:
“I've thought about it as the rumors have moved on,” Boston said. “I wouldn't put my head in the sand regarding the issue. But I also have not gotten to the point where I have a pen and paper in my hand and thought about ‘what ifs.’”
As of Monday, no one at NMSU knew much about Walker's thought process. I think most in the administration are taking a wait and see approach, including the assistant coaches on the Aggie staff. One of the only people who knows what's going to happen, perhaps the only one who truly knows, is Walker himself.
Still, his silence is not a good sign for Aggie nation. Either he's truly sorting it out in his head, or he cannot say anything until his deal with Seattle is a done deal. If he knew right now he was coming back to NMSU, he would have put that out on the table.
Lets deal with another hypothetical now: if Walker does in fact go to Seattle, where do you see the future of Aggie football? Where's it headed? It would clearly be suffering through a massive identity crisis. From Hal Mumme's Air Raid, to Walker's team-oriented approach, to now what? Initially, it will hurt, there's absolutely no denying that.
I will say this though also: If this job does open up, there will be candidates to fill the opening. Last year, there were a solid handful and there will be just as many this time around, if it does come to fruition. This is Division-I college football, and many want an opportunity to try their hand in the craft. With the Aggies' financial situation, can they do another full-fledged national search? Is it too late in the game to find a quality candidate to hire? Again, these are hypothetical questions, ones that we'll likely find out in the coming days.
This is part of the problem. There's so many questions, including questions about Walker himself. If I had to guess, I'd say he's not coming back to coach the Aggies. Most of everything points against it, from the outside reports, to the water-cooler conversations, to Walker's silence and NMSU's general uncertainty about his status.
We just want to know. Lets put an end to the speculation already with facts. That would really be great....
Me and Boston were talking in hypotheticals — that's what the majority of the conversation was because there is so much uncertainty revolving around Walker's status. Here's what the athletics director said about replacements:
“I've thought about it as the rumors have moved on,” Boston said. “I wouldn't put my head in the sand regarding the issue. But I also have not gotten to the point where I have a pen and paper in my hand and thought about ‘what ifs.’”
As of Monday, no one at NMSU knew much about Walker's thought process. I think most in the administration are taking a wait and see approach, including the assistant coaches on the Aggie staff. One of the only people who knows what's going to happen, perhaps the only one who truly knows, is Walker himself.
Still, his silence is not a good sign for Aggie nation. Either he's truly sorting it out in his head, or he cannot say anything until his deal with Seattle is a done deal. If he knew right now he was coming back to NMSU, he would have put that out on the table.
Lets deal with another hypothetical now: if Walker does in fact go to Seattle, where do you see the future of Aggie football? Where's it headed? It would clearly be suffering through a massive identity crisis. From Hal Mumme's Air Raid, to Walker's team-oriented approach, to now what? Initially, it will hurt, there's absolutely no denying that.
I will say this though also: If this job does open up, there will be candidates to fill the opening. Last year, there were a solid handful and there will be just as many this time around, if it does come to fruition. This is Division-I college football, and many want an opportunity to try their hand in the craft. With the Aggies' financial situation, can they do another full-fledged national search? Is it too late in the game to find a quality candidate to hire? Again, these are hypothetical questions, ones that we'll likely find out in the coming days.
This is part of the problem. There's so many questions, including questions about Walker himself. If I had to guess, I'd say he's not coming back to coach the Aggies. Most of everything points against it, from the outside reports, to the water-cooler conversations, to Walker's silence and NMSU's general uncertainty about his status.
We just want to know. Lets put an end to the speculation already with facts. That would really be great....
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Text message from Walker
With reports coming out today that Pete Carroll resigned from his post as USC's head coach, I received a text message this evening from Aggie head coach DeWayne Walker.
For those unaware, there have been massive reports that Walker will follow Carroll to the Seattle Seahawks, where Walker would become the team's defensive coordinator. Up to tonight, coach Walker hadn't returned phone calls as of Friday afternoon.
The text message wasn't earth shattering. It simply read, “Nothing to report yet.”
I know, this is a little silly to be reporting. But it is noteworthy that Walker responded in some form or fashion. Frankly, I would've preferred if the word “yet” wasn't in the message. Interpreting between the lines, not yet, but eventually, something will go down.
Sportscenter reported tonight that USC linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. will follow Carroll to Seattle to be the Seahawks' linebackers coach. Norton interviewed for the Aggie head coaching position last year before the school elected to go with Walker as its head man. Norton's candidacy didn't appear serious, although it did draw attention simply for his name value.
On another side note, former Idaho quarterbacks coach Jonathan Smith accepted the offensive coordinator position at the University of Montana. The fact that Smith was the QBs coach at Idaho is of slight significance. The fact that he interviewed for the Aggies' offensive coordinator position turns it up a notch. Smith apparently was an impressive candidate for the Aggie job, but the team wanted to go with Mike Dunbar, due to Dunbar's years of experience as a coordinator.
For those unaware, there have been massive reports that Walker will follow Carroll to the Seattle Seahawks, where Walker would become the team's defensive coordinator. Up to tonight, coach Walker hadn't returned phone calls as of Friday afternoon.
The text message wasn't earth shattering. It simply read, “Nothing to report yet.”
I know, this is a little silly to be reporting. But it is noteworthy that Walker responded in some form or fashion. Frankly, I would've preferred if the word “yet” wasn't in the message. Interpreting between the lines, not yet, but eventually, something will go down.
Sportscenter reported tonight that USC linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. will follow Carroll to Seattle to be the Seahawks' linebackers coach. Norton interviewed for the Aggie head coaching position last year before the school elected to go with Walker as its head man. Norton's candidacy didn't appear serious, although it did draw attention simply for his name value.
On another side note, former Idaho quarterbacks coach Jonathan Smith accepted the offensive coordinator position at the University of Montana. The fact that Smith was the QBs coach at Idaho is of slight significance. The fact that he interviewed for the Aggies' offensive coordinator position turns it up a notch. Smith apparently was an impressive candidate for the Aggie job, but the team wanted to go with Mike Dunbar, due to Dunbar's years of experience as a coordinator.
Martin Efedi
From what I'm hearing, the Aggies received another verbal commitment this weekend, this one coming from Houston, Texas defensive end Martin Efedi.
Here's some info on the 6-foot-4, 230 pound defensive end.
NMSU needed some more pass rushers at end to spell Donte Savage and Pierre Fils. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Aggies get another as the recruiting period continues to unfold.
The team has done well along both lines during the recruiting process and has landed some QBs. Again, some wide receivers would be nice. And a running back or two.
Oh, and keeping DeWayne Walker in town. That would be the biggest catch of all.....
Here's some info on the 6-foot-4, 230 pound defensive end.
NMSU needed some more pass rushers at end to spell Donte Savage and Pierre Fils. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Aggies get another as the recruiting period continues to unfold.
The team has done well along both lines during the recruiting process and has landed some QBs. Again, some wide receivers would be nice. And a running back or two.
Oh, and keeping DeWayne Walker in town. That would be the biggest catch of all.....
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Walker's situation
Well, it is now being reported that Pete Carroll has accepted the head coaching job with the Seattle Seahawks. If the other stone drops, it would mean that Aggie head coach DeWayne Walker would follow Carroll to Seattle to become the team's next defensive coordinator.
First off, nothing has been made official at this point. Much of this is speculation. Still, where there's smoke there's fire, and Walker and Carroll have been a tight connection through the years. If Walker does in fact leave, and again, I hate being premature, but simply from a hypothetical standpoint, this would be a devastating blow for Aggie football.
I thought coach Walker did a good job here in his first season. Yes, three wins for this team was a good job. It wasn't one with immense talent, yet still played hard and played together every week. Many of the losses were ugly, but I'll still point to the three wins as a reason for optimism.
If Walker were to leave at this point? This is still a talent-starved roster, one which must be rebuilt with the proper vision in mind. I thought the recruiting process was going in the right direction and I believed in how the team handled the interviewing process for its next offensive coordinator. Like any solid head coach, it had Walker's fingerprints on it. He was just beginning to mold the program. If he left, it would have to start over again?
That would be a tough pill to swallow. This past year was difficult, as the team battled through immense growing pains and scratched and clawed for production on a weekly basis. Frankly, many weeks were borderline unwatchable, yet could be stomached simply with the viewpoint that the program was headed somewhere with Walker in charge. To see him leave would be deflating.
For the record, I wouldn't blame Walker bouncing for an NFL coordinator position. Who wouldn't go? It's quite possibly a once-in-a-lifetime deal. And it's gotta be a career goal of his. You gotta jump at the chance if it's there. We'll take a wait-and-see approach on this one. My mind tells me it's still a long shot. But my gut tells me he's heading the Seattle if Carroll gets the gig.
First off, nothing has been made official at this point. Much of this is speculation. Still, where there's smoke there's fire, and Walker and Carroll have been a tight connection through the years. If Walker does in fact leave, and again, I hate being premature, but simply from a hypothetical standpoint, this would be a devastating blow for Aggie football.
I thought coach Walker did a good job here in his first season. Yes, three wins for this team was a good job. It wasn't one with immense talent, yet still played hard and played together every week. Many of the losses were ugly, but I'll still point to the three wins as a reason for optimism.
If Walker were to leave at this point? This is still a talent-starved roster, one which must be rebuilt with the proper vision in mind. I thought the recruiting process was going in the right direction and I believed in how the team handled the interviewing process for its next offensive coordinator. Like any solid head coach, it had Walker's fingerprints on it. He was just beginning to mold the program. If he left, it would have to start over again?
That would be a tough pill to swallow. This past year was difficult, as the team battled through immense growing pains and scratched and clawed for production on a weekly basis. Frankly, many weeks were borderline unwatchable, yet could be stomached simply with the viewpoint that the program was headed somewhere with Walker in charge. To see him leave would be deflating.
For the record, I wouldn't blame Walker bouncing for an NFL coordinator position. Who wouldn't go? It's quite possibly a once-in-a-lifetime deal. And it's gotta be a career goal of his. You gotta jump at the chance if it's there. We'll take a wait-and-see approach on this one. My mind tells me it's still a long shot. But my gut tells me he's heading the Seattle if Carroll gets the gig.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Walker on Boise State, National Title game; Idaho's amazing run
I spoke with DeWayne Walker on the phone yesterday.
Walker is in California, where he will be attending the National Title game tonight.
“I want to see it and learn from it,” Walker said. “I want to take a couple things from it. Even if I learn just two things from watching the game, that's two things I didn't know before.”
Walker was also in attendance at the Fiesta Bowl between Boise State and TCU. He spoke with great admiration for both programs.
“I looked at two head coaches (BSU’s Chris Peterson, TCU’s Gary Patterson) they have gotten their teams to play at a BCS level,” Walker said. “The structure of their football teams — it’s just that — they play to win as a team. Everybody’s on the same page, from the president, to the AD to the head coach to the coordinators and players.”
Still, Walker, who attended the game with his wife Zan, said he was pulling for the Broncos, a team the Aggies lost to on Dec. 5 by a final score of 42-7.
“We were on Boise State’s side, cheering for them,” Walker said. “It was good to see. That’s one of our conference rivals playing on a national stage.”
....
Watching the Humanitarian Bowl, I couldn't help but think that if Idaho can go to a bowl game, NMSU certainly can to.
The Vandals were a great story this year. Outside of their fanbase and locker room, nobody thought they would be in a bowl game. This was a team that struggled greatly in the WAC and didn't seem to be turning the corner.
Robb Akey did a great job getting his unit to believe. He's the king of optimism and spirit and it showed throughout the season. Remember when they came to Aggie Memorial Week 1 and got the victory? They really came out of nowhere.
But back to my original thought. The Vandals were not good the previous two seasons. Offensively, they put up some decent numbers, but couldn't stop anyone on defense. They were a non threat. Most thought Hal Mumme's Aggies were a notch above Idaho in the WAC pecking order.
To see them come out and go to a bowl game — let alone win in thrilling fashion — should give all Aggie fans hope. If Idaho did it, certainly NMSU can do it. One would think, anyway.
Walker is in California, where he will be attending the National Title game tonight.
“I want to see it and learn from it,” Walker said. “I want to take a couple things from it. Even if I learn just two things from watching the game, that's two things I didn't know before.”
Walker was also in attendance at the Fiesta Bowl between Boise State and TCU. He spoke with great admiration for both programs.
“I looked at two head coaches (BSU’s Chris Peterson, TCU’s Gary Patterson) they have gotten their teams to play at a BCS level,” Walker said. “The structure of their football teams — it’s just that — they play to win as a team. Everybody’s on the same page, from the president, to the AD to the head coach to the coordinators and players.”
Still, Walker, who attended the game with his wife Zan, said he was pulling for the Broncos, a team the Aggies lost to on Dec. 5 by a final score of 42-7.
“We were on Boise State’s side, cheering for them,” Walker said. “It was good to see. That’s one of our conference rivals playing on a national stage.”
....
Watching the Humanitarian Bowl, I couldn't help but think that if Idaho can go to a bowl game, NMSU certainly can to.
The Vandals were a great story this year. Outside of their fanbase and locker room, nobody thought they would be in a bowl game. This was a team that struggled greatly in the WAC and didn't seem to be turning the corner.
Robb Akey did a great job getting his unit to believe. He's the king of optimism and spirit and it showed throughout the season. Remember when they came to Aggie Memorial Week 1 and got the victory? They really came out of nowhere.
But back to my original thought. The Vandals were not good the previous two seasons. Offensively, they put up some decent numbers, but couldn't stop anyone on defense. They were a non threat. Most thought Hal Mumme's Aggies were a notch above Idaho in the WAC pecking order.
To see them come out and go to a bowl game — let alone win in thrilling fashion — should give all Aggie fans hope. If Idaho did it, certainly NMSU can do it. One would think, anyway.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Earnest Wilson
Sorry about the lack of posts the last week folks. I went home for a few days and thought I'd write from their, but it just didn't happen. Things were constantly busy.
Anyway, former Aggie running backs coach Earnest Wilson was hired as offensive coordinator at Jackson State. Jackson is a SWAC school located in Mississippi. Here's a link to an article regarding his hire.
Coach Wilson was a solid coach for the Aggies and I was glad to see him get the nod at Jackson. He's been well traveled and this will be another stop on his career resume. Best of luck to him....
Anyway, former Aggie running backs coach Earnest Wilson was hired as offensive coordinator at Jackson State. Jackson is a SWAC school located in Mississippi. Here's a link to an article regarding his hire.
Coach Wilson was a solid coach for the Aggies and I was glad to see him get the nod at Jackson. He's been well traveled and this will be another stop on his career resume. Best of luck to him....
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