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COLORADO SPRINGS — Could the Lobos get an assist from Navy?

The University of New Mexico football team (2-2) will seize every advantage it can muster during its Mountain West Conference opener at Air Force (1-1) today.

The Lobos already face an uphill battle tangling with the pageantry of an Air Force home game and the Falcons' tricky triple-option attack.

So UNM wouldn't mind getting a little boost from Air Force's schedule.

The Falcons face rival Navy next weekend, a larger-than-life rivalry game. Air Force, Navy and Army face off every season in a fight for the coveted Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.

"We try to focus on each game, but we all know Navy is huge for us," Air Force junior linebacker Drew Fowler said. "It's like the military Super Bowl. You can take any in-state rivalry and multiply it by a million.

"It's not just about the teams playing. It's about all the people in the military overseas who watch those games so closely and care so much about the outcome."

Air Force has won the trophy 16 times, followed by Navy with eight and Army with six.

Navy, however, has won the trophy the past three years.

"I don't think Air Force will look past us because they want to win the Mountain West Conference and keep their momentum going," UNM head coach Rocky Long said. "This is their home opener, and there's a lot of excitement about the team. But, it sure would be nice if they were already thinking about Navy."

Fowler said the Falcons have entered the past few seasons always thinking about the Midshipmen, but he said Air Force wants to go into the game with positive momentum.

"Navy is due," he said. "But we want to go out and win every game this season. We feel like we could have been so much better last year, but we failed to live up to our potential. We promised ourselves this year would be different."

Air Force quarterback Shaun Carney insists he didn't realize Navy was next on the Falcons' schedule, and his team is squarely focused on New Mexico.

"I only worry about the team we're playing this week," he said. "The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy obviously is a big deal, but we all want to leave here with a ring. We don't get a ring for winning the trophy or going to a bowl game. We only get one if we win a conference championship.

"That's coach (Fisher) DeBerry's rule. You only get to act like a winner if you are a winner."

While the Lobos may get a small Navy boost, they will have to overcome the excitement brewing at the Air Force Academy.

The Falcons inspired their huge fan base with a one-point loss at nationally ranked Tennessee and a win at Wyoming to open the season.

"I've never been congratulated so much after a loss," Carney said. "People around here started paying attention to us after that game because no one expected us to be competitive. Then they saw what we did at Wyoming and are really excited about the season."

Fowler said he feels the positive vibe all over the Academy grounds.

"All the cadets have to go to the home games, and I know they dreaded it last season because we didn't give them much to cheer about," Fowler said. "Now they're really excited about coming out to the game."

Air Force rolls out the red carpet for every home game, with jets flying over Falcon Stadium before the game and a few airmen parachuting on to the field before kickoff.

"They get really rowdy, and it's definitely a challenge to stay focused," UNM senior offensive lineman Robert Turner said. "I think it's really important to start out strong at Air Force and prove that you won't be rattled by that crowd or their atmosphere. If you leave the game in doubt late, anything can happen."