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UNM Football: Suspension gives Lobo end chance to play

By Iliana Limón
Tuesday, December 19, 2006

This wasn't the plan for freshman defensive end Kendall Briscoe.

He was supposed to go to TCU and redshirt his rookie year.

When he was spurned by the Horned Frogs, Briscoe became a Lobo instead.

Then teammate Kevin Balogun tore his Achilles, giving Briscoe a chance to play this year.

And now teammate Michael Tuohy has been suspended for accompanying a recruit to a strip club, where the athletes were shot at by unidentified men.

With Tuohy sidelined, junior backup Stephen Hutchinson will move into a starting job and Briscoe will come off the bench for more playing time against San Jose State in the New Mexico Bowl.

"It's really crazy when you think about it," Briscoe said. "I feel really lucky to have the chance to play."

Briscoe said the playing time he has earned already made him a stronger player.

It has showcased his strengths, including strong run defense, and weaknesses, including his pass rush skills.

San Jose State runs a myriad of unconventional plays on offense, which Briscoe said means he has to step up his game.

"I have to study more game film so I'm ready for anything," he said.

Briscoe has leaned on Tuohy and senior offensive lineman Robert Turner to help him adjust to the college ranks.

Turner gave him insight into tricks offensive linemen use to sniff out tactics defensive linemen will be using.

Tuohy worked with Briscoe on both technique and gave him more confidence as he earned more playing time.

"It's pretty tough knowing (Tuohy) won't be out there with us," Briscoe said. "I'm going to miss his help, but I know we're all focused on beating San Jose State. We know that's what he would have wanted us to concentrate on if he was here."

Baby boom: Junior linebacker Major Mosley missed practice Monday because his wife was in labor.

The couple was expecting their first child, a boy Mosley said he planned to name Major Mosley IV.

Senior offensive lineman Bo Greer's girlfriend also is due to deliver their son this week.

Greer's given first name is Royce, but he looked like his grandfather Bo and was handed down the nickname as a child. It has followed him from Indiana to junior college in Kansas and all the way south to New Mexico.

"I just want my son to have the name Royce and actually get to use it," Greer said.

Long said he thinks it is the first time he has had two players expecting children during game week.

"We've had one, but I don't think we've had two," he said. "It's an exciting time for those guys."

Streak ends: Junior linebacker Cody Kase finally got his first B.

Kase, who was named an ESPN the Magazine second team academic All American, got his first B in a college class this semester after a perfect run of straight As.

"It's a bummer, but I know my grades are really good and I can still bring my average up," he said. "It was bound to happen at some point, and I'm not taking it too hard. I'll just try to start a new streak now."