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Richard Stevens: Awful loss may inspire Long, Lobos
Donna McWilliam/Associated Press
Defensive lineman Michael Tuohy reacts during the final seconds against TCU in the University of New Mexico's lopsided loss to the Horned Frogs. UNM was drubbed 37-0 by TCU on Saturday in Fort Worth.
What went wrong
Quick hole: The Lobos needed to avoid falling behind early like they did in the past two losses to TCU (28-0, 24-0 at the half). Instead, UNM trailed 20-0 at the half and 30-0 going into the fourth quarter.
No rush: The Lobos bread-and-butter is still running Rodney Ferguson behind the huge UNM line. But there were no holes for Ferguson or any other UNM back in Fort Worth. Ferguson ran for 28 yards and UNM averaged 1.1 yards per rushing attempt.
Poor Porterie: A quarterback needs to step up big on the road against a quality opponent. Porterie completed 7-of-23 passes for 76 yards and no touchdowns. UNM averaged 2.8 yards per pass attempt.
What went right
Clark clutch: Sophomore Ian Clark had to handle the Lobo position almost exclusively since starter Clint McPeek did not play because of a pinched nerve in the neck. Clark, a Highland High graduate, led UNM with nine solo tackles and seven assists for a total of 16 tackles.
Good finish: The Lobos had lost this game going into the fourth quarter but UNM coach Rocky Long said the character of his team was shown in the final 15 minutes. "We continued to play hard," Long said.
Next game
Matchup: Colorado State (1-8, 1-5 MWC) at New Mexico (6-3, 3-2)
Game time: 1 p.m., Saturday
Site: University Stadium
On the air: The Mtn.; KKOB-AM (770) with Mike Roberts and Greg Remington.
Saturday: TCU 37, Lobos 0
Box score: Page C2
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- Richard Stevens: Lobos are a 'very fragile' team
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You wonder if you should feel sorry for the Colorado State Rams.
You wonder if the embarrassing 37-0 kicking given to the University of New Mexico Lobos on Saturday at TCU is about to be put on the Rams.
It should be.
What the Lobos did and didn't do against the Horned Frogs was simply awful.
UNM coach Rocky Long has his choice words, too: "horrible, terrible, ridiculous."
Yeah, that was pretty much the Lobos that showed up in Fort Worth. They rolled over like a stray dog looking for a tummy scratch. Instead, they got their butts kicked - bad.
And now here comes 1-8 CSU to face a bunch of Lobos who should be looking for something to prove, looking to regain some self respect.
Looking for some butt to kick.
It's not that the Lobos didn't play hard at TCU. They merely played awful.
"They were good and we were bad," said Long.
Yeah, bad as in not scoring. Bad as in averaging 1.1 yards per rush and 2.1 yards per offensive play. Bad as in six first downs. Bad as in 119 total yards. Bad as in allowing TCU 421 total yards.
Simply bad.
There was not one significant offensive stat that favored UNM in this Texas-sized beating. Maybe the ugliest UNM stat was converting two of 16 third downs. Which is what happens when you can't run or pass the football.
"Only gaining 119 yards, that's terrible. It's ridiculous," Long said. "The execution was absolutely horrible on both sides of the ball."
Two Lobos who are supposed to get a lot of yards for UNM were, well, bad at TCU.
Running back Rodney Ferguson had 28 yards rushing. Quarterback Donovan Porterie had 76 passing yards, completing 7-of-23 passes.
Part of the problem for Ferguson and Porterie was the UNM offensive played poorly.
It simply was not a good outing for a 6-3 Lobo team that still has some work to do in order to nab a 2007 bowl bid.
"In our case, I think we have to win eight," said Long. "If we don't win eight, we're not going."
If eight is enough, then UNM had better get going. After CSU, UNM has a visit at surging Utah (6-3) and UNLV (2-7) comes to University Stadium.
The best bets are to beat CSU and UNLV - the two bottom feeders in the Mountain West this season.
"I think Colorado State is a better football team than anybody thinks they are," said Long. "But I think this is more about us than Colorado State."
Long is right. The key to beating CSU probably should be all the ugly thoughts bouncing around in the Lobos' heads.
Thoughts about how bad they were at TCU.
Thoughts about redemption.
Thoughts about not embarrassing themselves again.
Thoughts about maybe going to a bowl.
Stevens in The Trib's deputy sports editor. You can reach him at 823-3663 or rstevens@abqtrib.com.
