On a day when upsets were plentiful (La. Tech over Fresno, Utah State over Hawai'i) in the WAC, the Aggies couldn't find a way to join the party. The 11th ranked Broncos were as good as advertised and it became painfully apparently early on that there would be no upset on Saturday night. That being said, we would have loved to have been able to see a game between the Broncos and a full strength Aggie squad.
We know it may sound like we're making excuses for the Aggies but depth is truly a huge factor for football teams. Below is the game day roster for both teams (Click on the image for a larger view). There are two things to notice, first of all, the length of the BSU roster versus the length of the NMSU roster. Then take a closer look at the rosters and you'll notice that the spacing between names is much larger for NMSU. There are 99 players listed. Now obviously not all 99 players traveled with the team (as per NCAA rules) but the Aggies don't even come close to filling out all 99 jersey numbers, not by a long shot. Just some food for thought.
Also, the question of whether or not the Air Raid is effective were unequivocally answered last night in Lubbock. The key however is that the offense has to have healthy bodies along the offensive line. Yesterday the Aggies were forced to protect with seven players which left only three receivers to run routes and when you've got six players in the middle and secondary covering three receivers, you can do the math and figure out that there aren't going to be many options for Chase or J.J.
Be sure to check out our photos from yesterday's game.
The Aggie volleyball team continued their march toward a regular season WAC title. The Aggies swept Boise State 3-0 by scores of 25-23, 25-11 and 25-9. The Aggies have just four matches remaining in regular season conference play.
On to today's links...
Tim Korte of the Associated Press recaps yesterday's 49-0 loss.
The Boise State athletic website recaps yesterday's game.
Dave Southorn of the Idaho Press-Tribune recaps yesterday's 49-0 loss to Boise State.
Chadd Crippe of the Idaho Statesman talks about Boise State's punt return for touchdown.
Chadd Crippe also recaps the game.
Felix Chavez of the Las Cruces Sun-News recaps yesterday's loss to Boise State.
Ferd Lewis of the Honolulu Advertiser writes that Hawai'i coach Greg McMackin says anyone who wants to get rid of Utah State's Brent Guy doesn't know what football is about.
The Sports Network recaps yesterday's football game.
The NMSU athletic website recaps yesterday's 3-0 sweep by the Aggies.
The Boise State athletic website recaps yesterday's 3-0 Aggie sweep.
The NMSU athletic website recaps yesterday's men's and women's WAC cross country championships.
If you've found an article that you think other Aggie fans would like to read, send it to us! Select "The Daily Aggie" from the 'Category' drop-down.
Comments
Excuses
Well it is true that we don't have depth, so someone needs to do a better job of recruiting...I wonder whos job that is. Thats the only thing that it points out, even if we had our whole starting o-line they still would have gotten pressure. I think it is really ridiculous when injuries are pointed to as an excuse, because every team has them, it just seems like every year that is one of our main excuses for losing....how bout we recruit some quality back-ups, and hey , how about coming up with a decent game plan that gives our team a chance to be competitive.
Show Me The Money
I do have to agree with nowitzki41. However there is no money for recruiting what so ever. It’s kind of an endless dirty circle, no money so you can’t recruit, can’t win games because “injury” and no recruits, no money because no one comes to games, no one comes to games because we lose. If we don’t change something now, the way our stands look, D2 football here we come.
To Quote JIM HESS
After going 1-10 in the 1996 season; New Mexico State Head Football Coach JIM HESS addressed a handful of NMSU and Las Cruces Media members. Knowing he was getting fired anyway; Hess was as honest as he could be.
"Folks there is really not much more I can say; we're just not very good. This ia BAD Football team, at a BAD Football school, in a BAD Football town."
Subsequently Hess was fired the very next day..
As for Mumme...
I think the only part of the Hess quote that is missing for the 2008 season is; "with a BAD Football coach"
NOT one player wearing an NMSU uniform on Saturday thought they had any chance in hell of winning against Boise State. Injuries or no injuries, that is a coaches job to motivate players. To see Mumme on the sidelines Saturday, was eerily similar to that of coach Hess in 1996; a coach that has completely mailed it in and completely lost his team.
The Mumme era 05'-08' will be one that will be quickly forgotten, an Air Raid that never got off the runway. Mumme will leave Las Cruces in a desperate situation with the threat of the dreaded 1-AA looming. For those Aggie supporters who have said; "1-AA might be the best thing, at least we'll win some games." Sorry folks, but you have NO clue, thats why Las Cruces will always be a Bad Football town. 1-AA would be complete and total devestation for many reasons.
On a lighter note, there will be some very good coaching prospects on the market this winter. Bowden, Tuberville, Fulmer, Stoops, Francione?? We can at least dream that maybe Dr. Boston would shock everyone and pick up a big namer. I know, it's a long shot in hell, but I prefer to spend my time thinking of the future, rather than this program in its current state.
Another inspiring Mumme Post game quote...
"We knew we couldn't handle those guys," NMSU head coach Hal Mumme said. "They're too good. "
I'd say his quote just about sums it up doesn't it?
Who's next?
I have a tough time thinking we passed up on Turner Gill and Jerry Glanville to get Mumme. What the heck were we thinking??
Mumme is pretty much gone. I personally hope it's this weekend because, I would like to see Joe Lee Dunn audition for the job and, maybe he can get some positive traction. The defensive players really like him and have bought into his style of play.
JL Dunn would be a good coach. How about Ron English, Will Muschamp, Karl Dorrell, Gary Barnett, Nick Holt, Ed Orgeron. All of them are good candidates but, can we afford them?
Big 12 "Good Place to start looking for a new coach"
We know there is probably no way we get a big name like Fulmer, willingham, or Francione. So I really think Dr. Boston needs to look very hard at the assistants in the Big 12. Missouri O.C., Kansas assistant, etc.. Someone who knows about winning.. and may have some recruiting knowledge from football states like Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Missouri..
<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sam,,, Bleed Crimson is a great portal for ideas and fan support, thanks again for running such a great site.
BTW; in this weeks Mumme interview ask him a few tough questions instead of 10 softballs. I would love to hear his answer if asked; Hal, in your post game comments you said "We knew we couldn't handle Boise, They're just too good". So are you saying "We" as in the whole team knew there was no way in hell you they could compete so why even try? Because that is sure what it looked like on Saturday.