Welcome to the Hatch green chile hot seat, Mike Locksley.
The Salem Witch Trials will appear tame if the first-year head coach loses to NMSU Saturday.
Locksley understands that losing to NMSU verges on sacrilege — especially since the Lobos have won the last six matchups between the two teams.
“It’s unforgivable to lose to the Aggies,” he said. “Losing in general is unforgivable. I never think it’s good to lose. I’m not a very good loser.
Unfortunately, sometimes it’s part of the process to getting better. Sometimes you take a step backward to take a step forward.”
Both NMSU head coach DeWayne Walker and Locksley said that these are renovation projects. The Aggies (1-2), however, barely nudged past Prairie View A&M, a Division II college team, 21-18 on Sept. 12.
For once, it seems the Lobos and Aggies match up equally — some might even suggest that the Aggies have the advantage, since they’ve lost seven of the last eight games to UNM. It’s hard to continually dominate a team, and the pendulum swings year to year.
On the other hand, if the Aggies aren’t the worst team on the Lobos’ schedule, they’re certainly one of the most beatable.
Locksley said that’s not the case, adding that even the best teams can underestimate their opponents.
“On any given Saturday, as we’ve seen in college football, if a team goes out and plays close to perfect, they’re always going to give themselves a chance to make it a ball game,” Locksley said. “There’s so much parity in college football.”
While this might just be a make-or-break game for Locksley’s Lobos, fans down in Las Cruces aren’t as eager to jump on Walker.
“I don’t think the Aggies losing is a big deal,” said NMSU sophomore Jorge Caliendo. “It’s still early in the season, but I always hate to lose to UNM.”
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If UNM loses this game, it’s conceivable that the Lobos will go winless all season. After facing the Aggies, UNM hits the road for two games against Big 12 phenomenon Texas Tech and conference foe Wyoming.
But Locksley said this isn’t a must-win game — that’s just fan talk.
“I wouldn’t dare say that. It’s Game 4 of a 12-game season,” he said. “For the fans, it’s a whole year of having to hear your buddy say, ‘Hey, you guys lost to us.’ So for Lobo Nation and the Aggie followers, I’m sure it is make-or-break.”
Lobo wide receiver Chris Hernandez said the Lobos are hurting for a win.
“I’m not thinking about losing to the Aggies,” he said. “That’s not on my mind. I don’t think this game could’ve come at a better time.”
*Notes: Donovan Porterie will get his third start of the season because B.R. Holbrook contracted mononucleosis. Holbrook won’t dress for Saturday’s game. Brad Gruner will be the Lobos’ No. 2 quarterback, and Locksley said he has no reservations putting him in the game if Porterie doesn’t produce. *
