New Mexico Lobos (1-0) at Texas Longhorns (1-0)
Saturday, September 8, 2012 | DKR Texas-Memorial Stadium | Austin, TX
Kickoff Time: 7:00 pm CT | Television: Longhorn Network
Tickets to New Mexico at Texas starting from $29
NEW MEXICO LOBOS | |
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Mountain West Conference | |
UNM Athletics Web Site | 2012 Media Guide |
2012 Record: 1-0 | Last Week: W, 66-21 vs Southern (Box) |
CFBStats Profile Page | Bill Connelly Season Preview |
SB Nation Blog: MWC Connection | |
Barking Carnival Game Preview |
New Mexico Lobos Coaches & Personnel
COACHING STAFF: Bob Davie has been broken out of his glass booth! And he is returning to Austin, although this time as a head coach. After a spectacular burn out at Notre Dame and -- how shall we say it -- less than inspiring stint in the broadcast booth, Davie returns to the sidelines for the first time in a decade. Davie has his work cut out for him in trying to rebuild New Mexico, although it should be said that the Lobos have nowhere to go but up. After finishing 1-11 each of the last three seasons in which they were outscored by opponents by an average of 40-14, Davie is truly building the program up from scratch.
The jokes writes themselves with Davie, but he's had the last laugh in six of his seven career games facing Texas, all as a defensive coordinator (first at Texas A&M from 1989-93, then Notre Dame in 1995-96). This time he'll be at the helm as head coach, but the most significant move that he's made since taking over was hiring Bob Debesse, a true spread run option guru who had been shredding FCS defenses the past two seasons as offensive coordinator fo Sam Houston State. As with its opening week opponent, Texas will face an overmatched team that will nevertheless test it in some interesting and useful ways.
KEY OFFENSIVE PERSONNEL: Debesse has the Lobos running the option out of the pistol formation (QB in shotgun, with running back three yards directly behind the QB), and to operate at its best all the pieces have to be working in coordinated unison. So... they're all important! Although I won't pretend to have seen much of New Mexico's players other than a few clips on YouTube, the quarterback is obviously a key position in this offense, and the Lobos are going with a two-man team to open the year. B.R. Holbrook is the nominal starter and designated passer if it comes to that, which Debesse would prefer it not (can you see why Bob Davie hired this guy?), while true freshman Cole Gautsche -- despite going a full 6-4, 227 lbs, is the more fleet-footed QB who provides the greater threat at the point of attack.
KEY DEFENSIVE PERSONNEL: If Davie can do anything, it's coach up a defense, and his best assets are probably the welcoming presents sent by Ron Zook, defensive linemen transfers Ugo Uzodinma (6-4, 275) and Reggie Ellis (6-2, 298), who combined for 39 tackles and 7.5 tackles-for-loss a year ago. The Lobos forced four turnovers last week, and if they are to make any noise in Austin will need to do so again this week against Texas.