Lobo Football Preview 2009

LOBO FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2009 Albuquerque JournAl

Go Lobos !!!

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September 2009

LOBO FOOTBALL

COACH LOCKSLEY

Faith

INSIDE

Locksley, UNM entrust each other to bring success to Lobo football By Greg Archuleta Journal Staff Writer

Erik Cook gives Lobo fans an idea of what makes him tick away from the football field. PAGE 4

Get some insight into firstyear head coach Mike Locskley’s philosophies for his offense and defense PAGEs 6-7

The Lobo fan guide will help you prepare for UNM home football games. PAGEs 11-12

AbqjouRNAl.Com read and check out the journal each game day for expanded UNM football coverage.

STAFF Sports Editor

Sam Aselstine Reporters

Greg Archuleta, Rick Wright Designer

Beth Trujillo Cover photo

Roberto E. Rosales

ON THE COVER: Mike Locksley is embarking on his first season as the head coach of a football program, the University of New Mexico Lobos.

M

ike Locksley is an experienced risktaker. But one cold night in 2003, Locksley sprang up from his bed. Only hours earlier, the hot-shot college football recruiting coordinator accepted a new job, and he now was in a secondguessing frenzy. Locksley was about to uproot his family — again. The Washington D.C. native was leaving his back yard at the University of Maryland, which had just finished an 11-3 season in 2002 that resulted in a No. 13 national ranking. He was taking the same job at Florida, a place with which he was unfamiliar. For less money. Locksley was terrified he’d made a mistake. And this is a man who doesn’t scare easily. Having grown up in D.C.’s nightmarish southeast section in the early 1980s, Locksley’s been a tough guy most of his life. Had to be. It’s probably the only way you can survive watching several of your friends shot and killed on the inner-city streets or going to prison because of drugs. And now, he’s apprehensive? Over football? This was different. Locksley’s decisions no longer affected just him. He was married with four children. “Man, I was nervous,” Locksley recalls of that night. “I kept saying, ‘I can’t do this, I can’t do this.’ ” In fact, he undid his decision. Locksley called Gators coach Ron Zook the next morning and backed out. That’s when Locksley’s voice of reason intervened. “I was at home and my wife came up to me and basically called me out,” Locksley said of his wife, Kia. “She said, ‘You’ve never been afraid of anything in your life. You need to do what’s best for your career.’ ”

joUrNaL fiLE

Mike Locksley figures he must be successful at UNM or he won’t get another chance to be a head coach. He believes he can turn the Lobos into long-term winners. The word, “afraid,” hung in the air. Hearing it shook up Locksley. He got on the phone, called Zook right back and reaccepted the position. “He had to take a leap of faith,” Kia says. It was that same penchant for calculated risk six years later that brought Locksley to the University of New Mexico as its 29th head football coach — his wife playing an integral role in that decision as well. The man, who believes he has one shot at being a head coach, chose to lead a program that hasn’t won a conference championship in 45 years. Talk about a scary proposition. “I think for Mike, he has a chance to come in and really put his mark on a program, mold it and shape it in his own name,” Kia says. “We’re here because he was afforded that opportunity here.” Likewise, UNM athletics director Paul Krebs put himself out on a limb in hiring a first-time head coach. Krebs

says he heeded the words of outgoing Lobo coach Rocky Long, who said the Lobos needed “a miracle worker.” Whether Locksley is that coach is pure conjecture at this point. What is fact: Locksley never has been fired in almost two decades as a football coach, being retained twice during coaching changes.

Better flavor: orange or cherry? Opportunities for black head coaches in the Division I-A ranks are slim. Only seven of the 120 Division I-A head coaches are black. “Being a minority, I was probably just going to get one shot at being a head coach, unless I was successful,” Locksley says. That he felt UNM was the place he could have success speaks to his belief in the university. Had Locksley waited two more days, he might’ve been running the show at Syracuse.

A Big East Conference program. A Bowl Championship Series program. Locksley says initially he was more interested in the Orange than in the cherry. Three factors turned Locksley’s attention toward the Land of Enchantment: UNM President David Schmidly’s involvement in UNM’s search. The Lobos were the first to offer Locksley a head coaching job. Kia’s involvement in her husband’s career, which was the biggest factor. “He said it was just an interview and that was that,” Kia recalls of the initial contact from UNM. “But after he mentioned it, I got online and did research on New Mexico. I called him and told him, ‘You need to forget about Syracuse; we need to go to New Mexico. And he was like, ‘What?’ “I said, ‘Oh my gosh, let me give you some facts.’ There was just so much information that I said this is the place for See LOCKSLEY on PAGE 3

September 2009



LOBO FOOTBALL

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COACH LOCKSLEY

Locksley Survived Mean D.C. Streets from PAGE 2

us. We’ve got to go here.” UNM offered Locksley the job Dec. 7 and gave him 24 hours to decide. He quickly called Syracuse. “That other place said, ‘Can you wait until Wednesday?’ They were still interviewing some other candidates. “This job was attractive enough to me that I didn’t want to wait and I wasn’t willing to wait.”

Cream rises to the top Locksley’s ascension to UNM football’s head honcho is one of those stories worthy of movie-script material. Born on Christmas Day in 1969 to Mike and Venita Locksley in Washington D.C., Locksley’s father deserted the family when the younger Mike — the third of four children — was entering the sixth grade. Left Venita and the kids homeless. The D.C. street life sucked up older brothers Bryant and Eric; both served time in prison. Locksley says several of his friends were shot and killed while he grew up there. He says his involvement in the local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club saved him from a similar fate. Locksley played every sport imaginable, but the club taught him life lessons as well and even helped get him a job on Capitol Hill. Locksley made his way through Ballou High School and went to Division I-AA Towson on a football scholarship as a 6-foot, 160-pound safety. “I called him ‘Manute Bol,’” says former Towson head coach Gordy Combs, who was defensive coordina-

2009 SCHEDULE Sep. 5 at Texas A&M 5 p.m. Sep. 12 Tulsa 6 p.m. Sep. 19 Air Force 5:30 p.m. Sep. 26 NMSU 8 p.m. Oct. 3 at Texas Tech 5 p.m. Oct. 10 at Wyoming noon Oct. 24 UNLV 6 p.m. (homecoming) Oct. 31 at SDSU 5:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at Utah 4 p.m. Nov. 14 BYU noon Nov. 21 Colo. State 4 p.m. Nov. 28 at TCU 11 a.m. Ticket information: 925-LOBO; schedules subject to change All times Mountain tor when Locksley played. Bol was a 7-foot-7, 225-pound and rail-thin NBA player from 1985-1994. Locksley also became a father his freshman year, his then-girlfriend Cheryl Hansberry giving birth to Mike Jr. (Locksley clarifies he’s not “Junior” because he and his father have different middle names). Mike then was a senior when he met Kia on her first day of school at a freshman orientation barbecue. Kia says she resisted Mike’s charms for all of a week before agreeing to a date. The two have been together ever since. By the end of that year, Locksley

was a team captain and earned team defensive most valuable player honors. Before he graduated, Mike became a father for the second time. Locksley says that his early experiences have helped him become a better guide and adviser to his own players. “One of the benefits of my background,” he says, “is there’s very few things that a player can come in, sit in my office and say to me that I haven’t experienced, seen or done.”

On the fast track A short time after he completed his senior year on the football team, at age 22, Locksley got a full-time assistant job coaching defensive backs and special teams for Combs, who was now the Towson head coach. “He had a great football IQ,” says Combs, now an assistant at Johns Hopkins. “And you could tell he had a tremendous personality. As a player, he got along with every player on the team, from every walk of life. I think that’s why he’s a tremendous recruiter. He can relate to all societies of people.” Locksley picked up things from every coaching stop that he’s incorporated into his own style. Under Chuck Shelton at Pacific, Locksley first heard the mantra, “Work for the job you have, not the one you want.” Ron Vanderlinden at Maryland, coined the phrase, “I want to take kids where they can’t take themselves academically, athletically and socially.” Locksley credits Ralph Friedgen, who succeeded Vanderlinden, for raising his football IQ exponentially.

“Under Ralph Friedgen, the football part of me came alive,” Locksley says. “I learned more football in the two years I was with Friedgen on offense than anywhere I’d ever been.” Locksley, however, made that difficult decision to leave Friedgen and Maryland to coach under Ron Zook at Florida because he thought he was being pigeonholed only as a great recruiter with the Terrapins. Locksley called Friedgen, who was in Hawaii coaching in the Hula Bowl to tell him he was leaving, called back to say he was staying and then called again to say he was, in fact, going. “We were really lucky coach Friedgen happened to be out of town at the time,” Zook says with a laugh. Locksley spent two years with Zook before Zook was fired in 2003. Locksley stayed on at Florida under Urban Meyer until Zook resurfaced at Illinois and offered Locksley his first offensive coordinator position. Locksley credits Zook for preparing him to become a head coach. Zook politely disagrees. “I appreciate him making that comment, but Mike Locksley’s done everything for himself,” Zook says. “Very seldom did I make a major decision without running it by him and getting his opinion.”

Lobo Football 101 Locksley now must form a bond with the what he calls the “Lobo Nation.” He started quickly, getting on the Albuquerque/Rio Grande Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors. Locksley says new coaching staffs generally require three or four years See LOCKSLEY on PAGE 10

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September 2009

LOBO FOOTBALL

ERIK COOK

What’s Cookin?

Lobo lineman Erik Cook shares his likes, dislikes in music, food and movies By Greg Archuleta

Cook Bio

Journal Staff Writer

S

enior center Erik Cook is about to play in front of the largest crowd for a football game in his career. He thinks Saturday’s season opener could be one of his favorite memories as a football player. The Cibola High School product shares some of his other likes and dislikes — on and off the field. JOURNAL: What’s the best part about being a Lobo football player? COOK: Just playing college football in my hometown. There’s nothing better than coming out here and playing in front of all your family and friends. JOURNAL: What’s the worst part about being a Lobo football player? COOK: We don’t get as much respect as we deserve, I think, especially in this conference with the big three (TCU, Brigham Young, Utah) and in the nation, too. I feel we don’t get much respect. JOURNAL: Do students on campus recognize who you are? COOK: Some do. Some don’t. As linemen, we’re bigger than normal. If they’re football fans, they recognize you. A lot of people recognize me for my brother (Ryan, an offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings). JOURNAL: What do they talk about? COOK: It’s all been good. Everything’s been about football. I get a lot of questions about my brother — how he likes (teammate Brett) Favre. It’s all positive. JOURNAL: Who’s your favorite NFL team? COOK: My favorite NFL team ... if I don’t say the Vikings, I guess I’ll say San Diego. JOURNAL: I thought you were going to say the team that drafts you. COOK: I don’t want to go that far yet, but yeah, if we’re going to throw that out there, the one who decides to pick me.

Erik Cook is considered the Lobos’ most talented player and their most NFL draft-eligible player. Number: 69 Height/Weight: 6-6/318 Position: Center Year: SR Hometown/High school: Albuquerque/Cibola Birthdate: 07/05/1987 Notes: One of the premier OL in the Mountain MWC and leader of the Lobos’ offensive line group, dubbed The Hitmen...2009 All-America and Rimington Trophy (best center) candidate.

JOURNAL FILE

Lobo center Erik Cook is widely considered the Lobos’ strongest candidate for the NFL draft. JOURNAL: What’s your favorite class at UNM? COOK: I don’t know. I’m doing a bunch of (communication and journalism) classes. JOURNAL: What’s your favorite food? COOK: I like spaghetti and

lo mein noodles. I like pastas, pretty much JOURNAL: Any food you hate? COOK: I hate olives! I can’t stand olives. I’m not a big fish guy, either. I think I’m allergic to something. I don’t like fish and I definitely can’t

stand olives! JOURNAL: What kind of music do you listen to? COOK: I listen to all kinds: country, hip-hop, rock, I have a wide variety of music. As long as it sounds good to me, I’ll listen to it. JOURNAL: Any music you

don’t like? COOK: Not really. I have an open mind to music. JOURNAL: Favorite movie? COOK: “The Program” is one of my favorite college football movies. JOURNAL: Do you have a favorite cartoon character? COOK: I don’t know if you consider him a cartoon character, but I like Cookie monster. JOURNAL: Why is that? COOK: Just because it’s been in my family so long. My dad has a Cookie Monster tattoo. My brother’s been called, “Cookie Monster,” I’ve been called “Cookie Monster.” JOURNAL: Can we find you on YouTube, other than in your Lobo uniform? COOK: I hope not. JOURNAL: What are you looking forward to most about your Texas A&M trip? COOK: Just the experience. I was reading the other day that this is going to be the third-largest crowd we’ve (the Lobos) ever played in. There’s nothing greater than playing in front of a crowd like that. It’s going to be an amazing experience. I know a lot of people in Texas; they’re excited to see us play at Kyle Field. Great stadium.

September 2009



LOBO FOOTBALL

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KEY PLAYERS

Several Lobos Crucial for Team Success By Greg Archuleta Journal Staff Writer

The University of New Mexico football team heads into the 2009 season with a theme that a comic book super villain would love. Riddle me this, riddle me that. And while you’re at it, riddle me the other, too. The Lobos have so many questions heading into the 2009 season, that it’s nearly impossible to know how much success they can have under first-year coach Mike Locksley. Which is why Mountain West Conference media pegged UNM seventh in their preseason poll over the summer — the lowest the Lobos have been projected in nine years. Locksley changed every facet of the program in replacing longtime boss Rocky Long. Offensively, UNM has changed from a ballcontrol, ground-oriented attack designed to eat up the clock and shorten the game to a no-huddle, up-tempo spread attack designed to create chaos for opposing defenses. On the other side of the ball, the Lobos have turned in Long’s unique 3-3-5 design that emphasized controlled chaos in favor of

a more traditional 4-3 scheme that focuses on proper fundamentals, players responsible for holding their respective positions and limiting the big play. UNM also will rely on as many as 17 redshirts or true freshmen to help facilitate those changes — show as much youth as any time during Long’s era. Whether the Lobos’ current players can adapt to considerably different schemes will start to be answered this weekend in College Station, Texas, against Texas A&M. The following players will be key in helping UNM make a successful transition. DONOVAN PORTERIE: The 6-foot3, 206-pound senior quarterback has started 22 games during the past three seasons, but he is coming back from offseason knee surgery that wiped out the final eight games of the 2008 season. Porterie, whose hometown of Port Arthur, Texas, is less than 200 miles east of College Station, also is learning his fourth offensive scheme in five years. However, he did have a 3,000yard passing season in 2007 under then first-year coordinator Dave Baldwin.

ROLAND BRUNO: The senior wide receiver from Beaumont, Texas (150 miles from College Station), has excelled during fall camp and been the most consistent passcatcher. The shifty 5-10, 168-pound Bruno is a good fit for the spread option, that tries to get the football to its playmakers in space. A former walk-on, Bruno has 45 career receptions for 428 yards. DEMOND DENNIS: Talk about shi fty, with speed. The 5 -9 196-pound true freshman from Atlanta stepped onto the field for fall camp and started running away ... from every Lobo defender during every practice. Dennis was a Class 3A All-State tailback at Carver High School in Georgia, rushing for 1,627 yards on only 125 carries. That’s an average of 13 yards per carry, for the mathematically challenged. JAYMAR LATCHISON: The 6-3, 245-pound sophomore defensive end from New York steps into a starting role after collecting 2½ sacks as a backup last season. Latchison should be a beneficiary of the switch to the 4-3. With the defensive line primarily responsible for putting pressure on the opposing quarterback, Latchison’s

sole responsibility will be to get around the edge. He’s shown the quickness to do that throughout preseason practice.

Messina, who also steps into a starting role in 2009, was required to take on as many blockers as he could under the previous defensive scheme. This year, he’ll have the ability to roam the field, use his speed to chase the football and use his Arnold Schwarzenegger-like guns to put the hurt on runners. IAN CLARK: The 6-2, 215-pound senior free safety out of Highland High School must help protect an inexperienced corps of cornerbacks. Clark, however, also has a penchant for make plays close to the line of scrimmage because of his instincts for the ball. He also was the second-leading punt-returner in the nation last year with a school-record 19.8 yards per return. Clark’s production, however, will be determined by his health. He’s had shoulder injuries, and dislocated his left shoulder during fall camp.

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DENNIS

CARME N ME S SINA : A 6 -2, 222-pound sophomore middle linebacker, the Addison, Ill., native also should be involved in more plays this season.

LATCHISON

MESSINA

CLARK

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September 2009

September 2009

LOBO FOOTBALL

OFFENSE/DEFENSE

OFFENSE

Head coach Mike Locksley took a play out of his massive playbook and has given a basic description to illustrate some of the inner workings of his spread offensive scheme. We’re a no-huddle attack of multiple tempos that allow us to attack.

Donovan Porterie is learning a new system under Mike Locksley.

The offensive play comes in from the sidelines. The offense aligns in formation, and the quarterback looks over and is directed to run the play or change the play as directed by offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey.

In this particular play: The quarterback has a drop-back concept out of a 2x2 formation (double wide receivers on both sides of the formation).

n

The quarterback takes a five-step, timed drop from shotgun formation. Based on the coverage he reads after the snap, he begins his progression for the route. Every receiver route has a starting point and ending point, all based on coverage as well as down and distance.

n

In this play, the quarterback would read the weak-side linebacker and high-low him with the Z and Y receivers. The running back would be his last option, or checkdown. n

DEFENSE

Locksley then counters with a defense UNM might run against such a play — spread offenses are the rage these days in college football; six teams the Lobos will face this season ran variations of the spread — to detail the objectives on that side of the ball. We will operate our base out of a four defensive lineman look with three linebackers, two safeties and two cornerbacks.

In this particular play:

We have the ability based on the personnel of the offense to go to a 4-2 with five defensive backs, called our “nickel,” or a 3-2 with six defensive backs.

n

If the offense huddles, we will huddle. A defensive coach will signal the front call — where we align our defensive linemen and linebackers — as well as our coverage assignment in the secondary.

We would be in a base 4-3 alignment. Our safeties would be in a two-deep look (covering the deep halves of the field to prevent long passes).

n

The defensive linemen are up-the-field penetrators. The defensive ends are responsible for containing the quarterback. Our linebackers are guys that can run and hit. We like our outside linebackers to be athletic enough to play in space. Our Mike (middle) linebacker must be a physical plugger.

n

The cornerbacks in our defense must have speed and athleticism to play mancoverage, yet be physical enough to tackle.

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The safeties are athletic and physical. They must be able to play in the box as well as deep-half technique. They coordinate with the linebackers in run and pass support.

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— Mike Locksley, UNM head coach (as explained to Greg Archuleta) JOURNAL FILE

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September 2009

LOBO FOOTBALL

COMMENTARY

 Can Locksley Work Miracles? A Of the Journal

miracle, as defined by Noah Webster, doesn’t have to involve the divine or supernatural. It also can be just “an extremely remarkable achievement or event,” or “an unexpected piece of luck.” A miracle worker, as defined by former UNM football coach Rocky Long, is someone who can do what his 11-season, steady-as-she-goes stewardship failed to do: take the Lobos to the top of the Mountain West Conference standings. Based on both history and the present reality, that indeed would be a remarkable achievement/ event. A little luck wouldn’t hurt, either, in a program that has come to expect none. But then, if it’s true that one makes one’s own luck, UNM football rarely has done so. As for the divine/ supernatural: Sure, Noah says a miracle doesn’t have to involve those. But they’re definitely No. 1 and No. 2 in his rankings. And when regarding a program that hasn’t won a conference title since 1964 — division titles don’t count — one can’t help but think divine or ghostly intervention might be necessary. The questions before us now, though, are these: Does first-year Lobos coach Mike Locksley fit Long’s description of miracle worker, and what should be the definition of “miracle” in Locksley’s maiden voyage? Taking the second question first, it would seem — based on preseason estimates — that the Lobos’ miracle bar is lower than a snake’s belly in a wagon-wheel rut. The pollsters, pundits and prognosticators have ranked the Lobos no higher than seventh and as low as ninth, that’s dead last, in the MWC. If Locksley were to guide UNM to even a sixthplace finish, even that might qualify as a small miracle. If the Lobos were to finish as high as fourth, that would be David Copperfield/Lance Burton material. Top three? Considering that Mountain West bullies TCU, Utah and Brigham

RICK WRIGHT



Of the Journal

Young all are ranked in the national preseason Top 25, divine and/or supernatural might be understating the situation. OK, now for that other question. Is Locksley the guy who can do for UNM what Urban Meyer did for Utah, or at least what Harry Potter did for Hogwarts? Late last fall, even before he stepped down, Long was talking about the need for a miracle-worker coach to finish the job he’d started at his alma mater. Exhibit A, he said, was Meyer, the guy who took Utah to an undefeated season and a BCS bowl victory in 2004. Meyer then left for Florida, where he hasn’t done badly, either. Meyer being thus unavailable for the New Mexico job, UNM athletics director Paul Krebs set about finding the next-best thing. It was Krebs who’d given Meyer

his first head-coaching gig at Bowling Green, so that was encouraging from a miracle-worker standpoint. Krebs’ track record at UNM in hiring coaches for other sports has been impressive, too. He settled on Locksley, who brought with him a glossy résumé from assistantcoaching stops at Maryland, Florida (no, not under Meyer) and Illinois. But is he that miracle worker? Here’s what I see: Locksley has dramatically changed the culture within the UNM program — something Long all but admitted had to happen if that elusive next level were to be reached. Locksley has revamped not just the offense and defense, but the conditioning program and the practice tempo. The first four days of preseason practice, the innovative new coach split the team into two groups to allow younger players more repetitions. Last Saturday, a week before the season opener at Texas A&M, he put his troops through a simulated game. Here’s what I haven’t seen, at least not yet: the off-the-field charisma and savvy that Krebs said he was looking for during the

journal file

Rocky Long said upon his resignation that a miracle worker was needed to find true success with the UNM football program. hiring process, and that he’d seen in Meyer when he hired him at Bowling Green. Nor do I see the depth of on-field talent that Meyer inherited from Ron McBride, his predecessor at Utah. Football miracles, when they happen, are built upon the mundane: talent, work ethic, freedom from injury. Can quarterback Donovan Porterie stay healthy and perform consistently? Can his receivers — not a Marcus Smith or a Travis Brown among them — get open and catch the ball? Is true freshman running back

Demond Dennis the miracle recruit that he appears to be? Have the large gentlemen in the trenches learned their new assignments well? Can Locksley’s spread offense (if that’s really what it is) light up the scoreboard, as he pledged when he was hired in December? If the answers to all the above are yes, at least a minimiracle could be at hand. If the answers are no, or maybe, or ask again later, there’s always next year. For Lobo fans, there always has been.

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September 2009



LOBO FOOTBALL Darrell Dickey

Toby Neinas

(Kansas State 1983) — Offensive coordinator ■ 29th year as a collegiate coach (age 49) ■ Most recently offensive coordinator at Utah State (2007-08) ■ Head coach at North Texas (1998-2006) ■ Guided the Mean Green to four consecutive conference championships between 2001-04 ■ North Texas posted a 25-1 conference record between 2001-04 ■ Led UNT to 2002 New Orleans Bowl victory (24-19 over Cincinnati) ■ UNT produced back-to-back NCAA rushing leaders (Patrick Cobbs, 2003; Jamario Thomas, 2004) ■ Former quarterback at Kansas State, led the Wildcats to the 1982 Independence Bowl, the school’s first bowl game

(Missouri 1995) — Special Teams, LBs ■ 14th year as a collegiate coach (age 37) ■ Most recently special teams coordinator (2005-08) and outside linebackers (2008) coach at San Diego State ■ Coached Tyler Schmitt, who was the only deep snapper taken in the 2008 NFL Draft (6th round) ■ Coached Honorable Mention All-America punter Michael Hughes, who ranked 11th nationally in punting average ■ Also coached tight ends (2006-07) ■ Inside linebackers (200405) and defensive line (200203) coach at Temple ■ Owls were ranked 15th nationally in run defense in 2002 ■ Coached defensive tackle Dan Klecko, the 2002 Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year

Doug Mallory (Michigan, 1988) — Defensive Coordinator ■ 21st year as a collegiate coach (age 44) ■ Most recently co-defensive coordinator (2008) and defensive backs coach (2005-08) at LSU ■ Tigers finished 32nd nationally in total defense (325.5 yards/game), 17th in rushing defense (110.2 yards/game) and 42nd in pass efficiency defense (116.6 rating) in 2008 ■ LSU was No. 3 in the nation in pass efficiency defense from 2005-07, leading the SEC in 2005 and 2006 ■ LSU ranked No. 1 in the SEC and No. 3 in the nation in pass defense (145.7 yards/ game) in 2006 ■ Coached in 2008 BCS National Championship Game (W, 38-24 vs. Ohio State), 2007 Sugar Bowl (W, 41-14 vs. Notre Dame) and 2005 Peach Bowl (W, 40-3 vs. Miami)

9

ASST. COACHES

Cheston Blackshear (Florida 2000) — Offensive Line, TEs ■ Seventh year as a collegiate coach (age 31) ■ Most recently offensive line (2007-08) and tight ends (2006) coach at Columbia ■ Graduate assistant at Illinois (2005) and Florida (2002-04), working with the offensive line and tight ends ■ Coached with Mike Locksley at both schools ■ Four-year letterman at Florida (1995-99), starting 28 times in 41 games at offensive guard ■ Second-team all-SEC honoree as a senior ■ Recipient of the 1999 Fergie Ferguson Award given to the Gator senior with the most leadership, character and courage ■ Competed in four January bowl games, playing for the national championship in the 1996 Sugar Bowl

George Barlow

Rubin Carter

(Marshall, 1990) — Defensive Backs ■ 19th year as a collegiate coach ■ Most recently assistant head coach/defensive coordinator and safeties coach at James Madison (200408) ■ Also coached defensive line (200203) and running backs (1999-2001) ■ James Madison (12-2) was the top-ranked team in the FCS last year before falling in the playoff semifinals ■ Spent three years at Oklahoma, coaching outside linebackers/strong safeties (1998) and as a defensive graduate assistant (1996-97) ■ Defensive coordinator at West Virginia State (1995) and defensive line coach at Hutchison Community College (1994)

(Miami, 1975) — Defensive Line ■ 21st year as a collegiate and professional coach (age 56) ■ Most recently head coach at Florida A&M (2005-07) ■ NFL defensive line coach for the New York Jets (2001-03), Washington Redskins (1999-2000) and Denver Broncos (1987-88) ■ Coached Pro Bowl players John Abraham, Shawn Ellis, Marco Coleman, Greg Kragen, Rulon Jones and Karl Mecklenburg ■ Defensive line coach at Temple (2004), Maryland (1997-98) and San Jose State (1995-96) ■ 12-year DT for the Denver Broncos (1975-1986) ■ Played on five AFC West Championship teams and in two Super Bowls (1978, 1987) as a key member of the Broncos’ famed “Orange Crush” defense

Mike Degory (Florida 2006) — Centers, Guards ■ Third year as a collegiate coach (age 26) ■ Most recently a graduate assistant at Illinois (2007-08) on Locksley’s offensive staff ■ Helped mold one of the top offensive lines in the nation at Illinois, which finished fifth nationally in both rushing offense and fewest sacks allowed in 2007 ■ Four-year center at Florida, starting a school-record 50 games in his college career (2001-05) ■ Two-year team captain and played in four bowl games ■ First team All-America and all-SEC honoree, and Rimington Trophy finalist in 2005 ■ Secondteam all-SEC in 2003 and 2004 and Freshman All-American in 2002 ■ Academic All-American (2005) ■ Mike Locksley was the RB coach at Florida his sophomore and junior years ■ Super Prep All-American at Palm Bay (Fla.) High School

J.B. Gerald (Colgate, 2004) — Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator ■ Fifth year as a collegiate coach (age 26) ■ Most recently offensive quality control coach at Illinois (2008) on Mike Locksley’s offensive staff ■ Graduate assistant at Penn State under Joe Paterno from 2005-07 ■ Coached in the 2005 Orange Bowl, 2006 Outback Bowl and 2007 Alamo Bowl ■ Wide receiver and punt/kick returner at Colgate (2000-03) ■ F inished with 113 catches for 1,334 yards and 9 touchdowns in his 4 3 - game career ■ Helped Colgate (15-1) reach the 2003 Division I-AA national championship game

Tee Martin

(Tennessee 2003) — Quarterbacks ■ Fourth year as a collegiate and high school coach (age 30) ■ Most recently offensive coordinator/ quarterback coach at North Atlanta High School (2008) and coach for Elite 11 Quarterback Camps (2007-08), Nike Football Training Camps (2007-08) and Nike Combine Tour (2008) ■ Coached and evaluated over 1,000 quarterbacks, including over 30 Division I signees ■ Owns Playmakers Sports, a company specializing in sports event planning, quarterback training and skills development ■ Led the 13-0 Volunteers to the 1998 national championship with a victory over Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl ■ Set what was then the NCAA record for consecutive completions (24) in 1998 ■ Led Tennessee to its second consecutive BCS bowl in 1999 (Fiesta) ■ Played four years in the NFL (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Oakland) and in NFL Europe ■ Led the Rhein Fire to an NFL Europe best 7-3 record and berth in the World Bowl ■ Played two seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2004-05)

Troy Hatton (Illinois, 1998) — Football Strength & Conditioning Coach ■ Most recently assistant strength coach at Illinois, working with football from 2005-08

New Staff First-year UNM head football coach Mike Locksley has replaced all 10 assistant coaches.

10

September 2009

LOBO FOOTBALL No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 23 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 37 38

Name Demond Dennis Emmanuel McPhearson Adam Watson Demarcus Rogers Daryl Jones Anthony Hooks Bryant Williams Bryant Bruno Michael Scarlett Brad Gruner Clint McPeek B.R. Holbrook James Aho James Wright Adam Miller Donovan Porterie Victor James Freddy Young Chris Hernandez Myles Daughtry Kasey Carrier Terence Brown Tate Smith Frankie Baca Jesse Paulsen Bubba Forrest DeShawn Mills Ian Clark Dante Caro Josh Fussell Danny Martin A.J. Butler Ben Skaer Chris Biren Edrick Boger

Ht./Wt. 5-9/196 5-10/184 5-10/172 5-11/170 6-4/211 5-11/175 5-11/205 5-10/166 6-1/178 6-2/226 6-2/227 6-3/181 5-10/191 6-0/239 6-2/247 6-3/206 6-1/199 6-1/195 6-3/184 6-1/180 5-9/175 6-0/193 6-1/198 5-0/199 6-1/188 6-1/205 5-10/170 6-0/215 6-0/174 6-2/255 6-1/210 6-0/200 6-0/185 6-2/253 5-11/163

Pos. Yr. RB FR CB FR WR FR Ath. FR WR SR CB SO WR JR WR SR WR SO QB SO LB SR QB FR K SO RB SO P SR QB SR WR SR CB FR WR JR WR FR RB FR RB JR QB JR S SR S FR S SO CB FR S SR S FR FB JR S SR RB FR P FR FB FR CB FR

39 41 44 45 46 47 48 50 52 53 54 55 56 56 57 58 59 60 61 63 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 82

Joe Stoner Dallas Bollema Joe Harris Terel Anyaibe Spencer Merritt Nathan Enriquez Jaymar Latchison Cody Neely Tim Lutz Kendall Briscoe Evan Jacobsen Tray Hardaway Mike Cannon Julion Conley Mark Hunter Carmen Messina Seth Johannemann Jake Carr Calvin McDowney Dillon Farrell Joshua Taufalele Mat McBain J.V. Mason Erik Cook Ben Contreras Darryl Johnson Bryan Wightman Karlin Givens Byron Bell Jon Washington Zayn Bin-Bilal Maurice Mears Ivan Hernandez Mike Muñiz Jonathan Mader Nick Wilhelm

Locksley Says He’s Ready from PAGE 3

before their fruits of labor show success on the field. “In the grand scheme of things, I don’t know if this is a three- or four-year window,” Locksley says of the UNM job. “There are some things in place here that may enable us to do it a little quicker. The thing for us is to continue to educate our fans of the process of developing a lifetime of success, not just one or two years.” Locksley’s first offseason has been educational for him, to say the least. He’s luried blue-chip recruits on unofficial visits to UNM. But he’s also had a few players run afoul of the law. Locksley, himself, is the defendant of an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission age-discrimination complaint filed by a former administrative assistant. “I’ve tried to prepare myself for this opportunity,” Locksley says, “ but there’s still

ROSTER

been quite a few surprises — obviously, one really big one.” Kia says people here have yet to see the total Locksley package. He’s funny, a practical joker at home. He has a strong religious faith and is genuine. Kia recalls a night the two were at Walgreens during their third or fourth year of marriage. “We’re in line,” she says, “when we both look down the aisle and see this little kid, probably 10 or 11 years old, grabbing one of those king-size Snickers bars and secretly — or so he thought — tucked it away in his shirt. “Mike walked down the aisle, gave the kid a couple of dollars and said, ‘You don’t want to mess up. Do the right thing. Here’s money; go ahead and pay for that.’ We didn’t know who this kid was.” Locksley seemingly has made the right choice his entire life — which could bode well for the Lobo football program.

5-10/224 6-2/210 6-2/224 6-1/229 6-2/220 5-11/178 6-3/251 6-3/224 6-5/230 6-1/281 6-1/246 5-11/212 6-4/299 6-0/219 6-1/238 6-2/222 6-3/232 6-3/248 6-4/340 6-5/272 6-2/313 6-4/267 6-5/287 6-6/318 6-2/294 6-4/313 6-6/326 6-4/299 6-5/330 6-5/298 6-6/326 6-3/304 6-6/296 6-3/290 6-5/223 5-11/188

LB LB LB LB LB CB DE LB DS DT DS LB OG LB DL LB DE DE OG OL OG DL OT C C OT OT OG OT OT OT OT OT C TE WR

FR FR FR JR FR FR SO JR SO SR FR SR JR SO FR SO JR FR FR FR SR FR FR SR SR FR SO JR SO SO JR JR SR SO FR JR

84 85 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 98

Ty Kirk Quintell Solomon Johnathan Rainey Carmeiris Stewart Jacori Greer Brett Kennedy Reggie Ellis Peter Gardner Ahraya Crespin Frankie Solomon Lucas Reed DeAndre Davis Nelson Musselman Brendan Murphy Andrew Banks Gordon Rowe Alex Bustos Gilbert Guzman Jarred Border T.J. Tahti Steve Siciliano Andrew Aho Matt Raymer James Montgomery Thomas Rodriguez Patrick Jaquess Gus Bowe Ryan Henderson Garrett Hentrup Brian Hill Daniel Mena Christian Johnson

6-1/181 6-1/170 6-2/242 6-3/209 6-3/240 6-3/260 6-2/285 6-4/289 6-2/259 5-10/185 6-6/215 6-2/269 6-0/191 6-3/260 6-0/200 6-0/171 6-0/199 6-7/230 6-0/170 5-9/198 6-2/235 6-3/215 5-9/180 6-1/222 6-0/240 6-1/190 5-9/185 6-0/225 5-9/210 6-0/203 6-1/315 5-10/216

WR WR DE WR DL DT DT DT DT S TE DE WR OG RB K CB TE WR P TE TE S LB DS FB RB LB K S DT DS

FR FR SO FR FR SO FR JR FR SR FR SR FR FR JR FR JR FR FR FR SO FR FR FR FR FR FR JR SO JR FR FR

UNM LOBOS BRANCH LAW FIRM

Teams you can count on! Proud supporters of UNM athletics for 40 years

September 2009



LOBO FOOTBALL There will be a few changes for UNM home football games in 2009. Most of the changes are for the benefit of the fans and the environment. The result of the ongoing renovations to the Pit precipitated these changes.

Parking/Traffic Flow To encourage fans to ride together, there will a parking charge of $5 per car; however, it’s free to vehicles with four or more passengers. Close to 1,000 parking spots have been lost because of construction). ■ Traffic-flow patterns will be more structured before and after games, providing easier and quicker access. ■ Additional security will be in the parking lots to ensure organization and safety. ■ Because of the premium being placed on individual parking places, fans will not be able to block off or save multiple parking spaces for other vehicles … however, fans can purchase an extra pass for a tent, grill, etc. ■ The RailRunner will have special gameday options and ABQ Ride will continue to provide shuttle service from Lot T. “With the Pit construction, we are losing a significant percentage of parking spaces, so effective use of the remaining spaces ■

becomes very important,” said UNM athletics director Paul Krebs. “The revenue we generate from parking will be used to enhance the lighting and condition of the parking lots.

University Stadium Guidelines Gates at University Stadium open 1½ hours before the scheduled game time. Tailgate lots open six hours prior to the start time of games. For security reasons, once you exit the stadium you may not re-enter. In order to ensure adequate seating, everyone must have a ticket for admission into University Stadium. Please arrive early! Fans are encouraged to bring ONLY necessary items to football games at University Stadium.

FAN GUIDE

seats, balloons, beach balls, coolers, explosives, fireworks, folding chairs, illegal drugs, laser pointers, artificial noisemakers such as horns, drums, bells, whistles, etc. per Mountain West Conference rules. Pets (except service animals assisting those with disabilities), weapons of any kind, any other item that in the judgment of game management staff poses a safety hazard or detracts from the ability of others to enjoy the event. Prohibited items must be returned to the owner’s vehicle or discarded. Any unlawful items are subject to confiscation, and the person in possession of such items is subject to ejection from the stadium and/or arrest.

before kickoff.

Group Tickets

Season or Single Game Tickets

Contact the ticket office at (505) 925-5626 for group ticket information.

Season tickets are available through Sept. 18 at the Lobo Ticket Office at 1155 University, located at the northwest corner of University and César Chávez, and online at www.unmtickets. com. Ticket office hours are 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Individual game tickets are available: ■ Online at unmtickets.com ■ By calling 925-5858 or toll-free at 1-800-955-HOWL ■ At the Lobo Ticket Office ■ At the UNM Bookstore ■ At all Albertsons Albuquerque locations ■ On game day six hours before kickoff at the northeast corner ticket office of University Stadium. For more information call the ticket office at (505) 925-5626.

Will Call

All Athletic Venues List of Prohibited Items The following items will not be allowed into any UNM Athletic Department Venue: ■ Food, water or beverages of any kind ■ Cans, bottles, alcohol, baby

11

Gates

Located at the northeast corner of the stadium at Gate 7 for the general public, player guests, high school coaches and visiting teams.

University stadium opens its gates 1½ hours before kickoff. Tailgate lots open six hours

Annie O’Connell CRS, CNE Associate Broker Keller Williams Realty

9201 Montgomery NE Ste. 100

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Member of the UNM Lobo Club Member of NM Select UNM Graduate Loves the Lobos!

Student Tickets Tickets are free for all UNM students enrolled in at least six hours. UNM students will be able to pick up student tickets before the game and also be able to enter at any gate. Log on to www.golobos.com for more information.

University Stadium Policy & Information Bag Policy/Security Bags of reasonable size (as determined by event staff) will be allowed into the stadium, but all bags will be searched.

Banners/Signs Banners and signs are allowed inside University Stadium provided they are of reasonable size (as determined by event staff) and contain no advertising, offensive material or language. See LOBO FOOTBALL on PAGE 12

Spectators would like to wish Coach Locksley & the Lobos a great season!

H

Come watch college & NFL football at Spectators on 1 of 45 TV’s

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Food & Drink Specials every weekend during football season.

H

5850 Eubank NE B-59

505-275-1166 271-8200

12

September 2009

LOBO FOOTBALL from PAGE 11

Signs cannot obstruct the view of other patrons during Digital the game cameras or the signs will be confiscated.

Cameras Still-frame cameras are permitted inside the stadium.

Lost Children Parents and/or guardians with a lost child should contact the nearest law-enforcement officer or event-staff member. Lost children will be taken to the Command Post at the north end of the stadium near Gate 5.

Re-entry Re-entry is not permitted at University Stadium. If you need to re-enter, please go to the Customer Service Tent located near the Command Post near Gate 5. The Customer Service representative will make the decision if you’re able to re-enter. Emergencies will be the only purpose.

Smoking Smoking is allowed only in designated areas inside the stadium. Smoking areas are located on the southwest (near Gate 1) and southeast corners (near Gate 9) of University Stadium.

Wheelchair Seating There are nearly 200 wheelchair spaces in University Stadium. They are located on the upper west concourse level, the east mid-concourse level and at the north end. Wheelchair spaces on the west side of the stadium can be reached by the elevator just west of the press box. Spaces on the north side are at ground level. Contact the ticket office at 925-5626 for tickets.

Football Tailgating & Parking Lot Policies Tailgate lots open six hours before kickoff on all game days. ■

Game Day All rules and regulations are subject to change. UNM police and officials reserve the right to enforce these policies at their discretion. ■ The UNM Athletics Department attempts to accentuate the pageantry of college football by ■

providing a wholesome atmosphere for fans of all ages. We appreciate your cooperation and adherence to these policies. Please contact the UNM Athletics Department at 925-5014 for additional information and approvals. ■ Vehicles must park consistent with lane markings; there will be no saving of parking spots. Parking costs $5 in all lots, except for pass lots, where a donation is needed to secure a pass.

Lot T Shuttle The shuttle bus from Lot T (located at the southwest corner of University and Lomas) runs 2 hours before kickoff and drops off at the Jemez lot. Costs $3 per person and tickets are available the day of the game at the Lot T (cash only accepted). The return shuttle runs for a reasonable amount of time after the completion of the game.

Game Day All lots will be a pass lot or will cost $5 per car and/or space, or four or more passengers per vehicle is free, excluding RVs. All Lots open six hours before kickoff, although some adjustments may be made depending on kickoff time. There are more than 4,000 parking spaces surrounding University Stadium, including 108 handicapped spaces. Mobility-impaired parking spaces are located on the west side of the stadium. Additional spots are located on the west side of the Pit where a golf-cart shuttle will pick up and drop off at Gate 2.

FAN GUIDE

The lot opens at 5 p.m. the day before each of UNM’s six home games. ■ All RVs must be self-contained and they can tow one extra vehicle. ■ A pass is required for the overnight lot. ■ The pass includes access to overnight parking, security, bathroom facilities, close proximity to Lobo Fan Fest and one game program. ■ Call (505) 925-5014 about purchasing a pass for the lot. ■ Space permitting, RVs may still park day of the game for $25 when the parking lots open six hours before kickoff. ■

RV Parking RV parking is $25 and is available in any open lot except for the Tailgate 2 Lot. Open lots are Vista, Pueblo and Mesa.

First Community Bank Lobo Football Fan Fest Located in the Vista Lot, northeast of the Pit. ■ Free admission for all fans. ■

Adjacent to the Rocky Mountain RV Overnight Lot. ■ Food vendors include Pizza Hut, Hooters, Peppers Ole Fashion Barbeque and Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream. ■ Hoot’s Ultimate Party Zone is providing slides, rides, jumpers and a 50-foot high climbing wall for kids of all ages. ■ MCS Satellite and DirecTV will have a free viewing tent for fans to watch other college football games from across the country. ■ Live music presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel. ■ Live pregame radio broadcast on KKOB-AM (770) and the Lobo Radio Network. ■

Advertising No advertising vehicles or signs will be allowed unless approved in advance by the UNM Athletics

Proud sponsors of the Homebuilders Association Tailgate Party!

Department. UNM athletics officials and security have the right to remove any signage from the parking lot.

Alcohol Individuals of legal drinking age — 21 or older who have a ticket to the game that day may consume alcoholic beverages in the parking lots in accordance with University policy. Consumption of alcohol by minors is illegal. In addition, it is illegal to provide alcohol to minors. ■ No glass bottles are permitted. ■ No alcohol, outside food or drink may be brought into the stadium.

Tailgating hours Fans who are tailgating must be inside the stadium before the end of the first quarter. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited inside the stadium. The parking lots open six hours before kickoff.

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Handicapped Parking Handicapped parking is located in many lots around the stadium. Overflow spots are located on the West side of the Pit where a golf-cart shuttle will pick up and drop off at Gate 2.

Karl Tremmel Branch Manager 505-837-7511

Cathye Avants 505- 837-7507

Nancy Black Las Cruces 575-528-1109

Tish Maynez 505-837-7508

Diana Cordova Miller 505-837-7501

Sarah Whitlock 505-837-7512

Parking Cost $5 This year parking will cost $5 per vehicle, except for cars with four or more fans inside, (this excludes RV’s). RV parking is $25.

Rocky Mountain RV Overnight Lot Located in the Vista Lot, just north of the Pit. ■ Adjacent to the First Community Bank Lobo Fan Fest.

7301 Indian School Rd. • NE Albuquerque, NM 87110 ®

■

All loans subject to approval. Certain conditions and fees apply. Mortgage financing provided by MetLife Home Loans, a division of MetLife Bank, N.A. Equal Housing Lender. ©2009 METLIFE, INC. L10082663[exp1009][All States][DC]

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