The University of New Mexico football team is hoping for a completely different scene against host Fresno State.
“We are a team of 'what if' right now,” UNM head coach Danny Gonzales told KRQE.com. “We have so many opportunities squandered that if we block one guy, guys are wide open or if we run through a tackle, it will be an 80-yard touchdown. If we pull a ball out, it’s fourth down.”
At 3-6 on the season and with three games remaining, the Lobos have everything to play for, with teams becoming bowl eligible at six wins.
Senior safety Jerrick Reed II is doing everything he can to keep his teammates in the right frame of mind.
“What I tell my teammates is, you have personal goals for yourself for starters,” he told KRQE. “If you have those personal goals that you want to be first-team all-conference, that you want to be a Jim Thorpe guy, you know, you have to keep that same energy no matter how bad the season’s going. If you get that in your mind, that 'I’m going to be great', then you keep the energy. You’re going to keep playing the whole year no matter 3 and 5, 0 and 12, whatever it is.”
The Lobos are expecting to have quarterback Isaiah Chavez back for his third start of the season. After replacing original injured starter Terry Wilson (dislocated elbow) Chavez suffered an injured ankle against UNLV. The freshmen signal-caller has been practicing all this week.