I watched the ends of the SDSU vs UNM and Boise vs USU. UNM had a packed stadium and has had a great season. According to the announcers, they returned 40 players from the prior year and brought in 70 new players. The game went to OT. First play SDSU throws a pick. On UNM possession, they get it to the 5 and run a play and fumble. Second OT UNM scores on first play and SDSU commits a bunch of penalties and ends up 4th and 35. UNM wins.
Bronco must have relied on analytics. Up 24-19 early 4th qtr, 4th and 2 on about the 10 and instead of making it an 8 point lead, goes for it and fails. Boise scores to take a 1 point lead and with 2 minutes left and all three timeouts, Bronco goes for it on 4th and 3 at midfield and is denied. Bryson Barnes is the favorite for MWC offensive player of the year and is just a tough, gritty player. Happy to see him have some success.
It looks like there will be a 4 way tie up top with UNM, SDSU, Boise and UNLV and they will decide who is in based on 4 different computer rankings.
I really thought UNLV would win that conference this year, and I certainly didn’t see UNM having such a good year after losing three excellent players to the Utes. Also, a bit of schadenfreude for Boise not just cleaning the floor with everybody.
Very cool about Bryson’s success. He deserves it.
Fascinating how much Whitt and Bronco have embraced analytics.
The game has really changed from the days of coaches almost never going for it on 4th down. Now Whitt can rattle off percentages off the top of his head like the Blackjack player he always seemed to be as a DC.
Sweeney at Fresno State, back in the day, was a Riverboat gambler when coaching a game. His team was the first one I had ever seen do an onside kick to start a game. No analytics, just eyeing up the other team and going with his gut.
Well the conference is all theirs going forward, lol. Crazy how they opted against the Pac-12 and more money. I guess their strategy is big fish small pond.
Have to hand it to New Mexico. They lose their HC and OC (and other coaches) as well as their starting QB, best WR, and best RB to Utah, and they have their best season since 1997.
I totally forgot about that. Maybe it is simple as you say, and since they are still FBS they run that conference and have a better chance of being the non-P4 rep in the 12 team playoff?
Yeah I think they may be trying to position themselves as the new Boise St or whatever.. to lay their claim and be the perreniel bully amongst all the little guys.
Just not possible. I grew up in the 505. There might be 1-2 3-star D1 athletes a year in the whole state. They recruit from TX and AZ. Decent fan support when they are good (even more for bball back in the days the Pit was a scary place to play), but just not that many rich alumni. ABQ is a middle size city that thinks small. Land of entrapment mentality.
I have a nephew going there now. It’s a decent school, but just doesn’t have the resources to even reach a CSU level. And don’t get me started on NMSU, or UTEP… all kind of in the same boat.
I will have you know THE New Mexico State University is the only university with an official whiskey!
BONUS info: They started as the New Mexico college of agriculture and mechanics! Editorial Comment: since the damn computer people took all the artisanship out of car repair, might as well have a shot of Pistol Pete’s before doing that brake job!
