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“Aztecs-New Mexico-Reunion”

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He was the last football coach to have a huge impact on a New Mexico Lobos football program, and that was a long time ago. Rocky Long isn’t big on history of where he’s been and what he’s done, but his exit in Albuquerque was pretty surprising, just as surprising as his elevation to be head coach at San Diego State. His Aztecs, who have struggled for four straight games, head into New Mexico to meet a staggering Lobos team. Coached by former Notre Dame coach Bob Davie, it’s been a trying two years for the Lobos since Davie took them to a (9-4) record just 3-years ago. In fact, New Mexico has had just 2-winning seasons in 11-years, and a composite (40-91) record, since Long was dismissed. New Mexico’s loss is SDSU’s gain. Long talked about his team and the road travelled at his weekly press conference.

Important conference game
We play close games-that what we play

Lobos have Arizona State transfer at QB-will start
Think they will change the offense some
We have to prepare for 2-types of offense.

Have seen some video of ASU transfer QB

Ryan Agnew will start..
Christian Chapman will play one series in first half and some in second half
Chapman looks better in practice-eon’t know if he will be 100%-we’ll see
Chapman won’t scramble as much as Agnew does
We will throw the ball more with Agnew that Christian
Christian-we have to find out what he can do
1-thing to look okay in practice-another thing to do it in game

Team gets emotional in wins and losses
We are who we are-very young-inexperienced-very inconsistent
Kids have played really hard-but make mistakes
We have peaks and valleys….that’s not going to change
You play 23-24 young guys-that’s what you get

What we’re not getting-big chunk runs as we had in the past
Humphrey-Penny would get to the second level-not getting 60Y runs
We have to get explosive plays throwing the ball now.

Ryan Agnew has made a lot of plays to help us win
Juwan Washington has a chance to play this week.

We’re playing okay on defense-but turnover ratio not in our favor
We have not caused enough turnovers on defense…just 9-takeaways this years
Yardage wise-playing better than last year..
Not giving offense a chance on short field this year.

We have tried bunch of guys back there on return games…can’t drop kicks.
Young guys have lots of talent-drop ball-go back out there
Veterans drop balls in practice-too-so we go with young guys.
Young kids make mistakes ..pressure situation..stress level…
Not going to use Juwan Washington to return kicks when healthy
Kick returns you can block and help return man
Punt return-chance you get knocked out-cover guys get there quick.

Going back to Albuquerque-not much of emotional rush-it’s business
I have a lot of friends there
Really tough to build New Mexico-New Mexico State-not a lot of recruits
Purely population problem…1-Division 1-athletes per 100,000-in state.
Not sure there are 10-Division 1-prospets in state.

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