New Mexico knows that as well as any other team after facing three straight teams (Arizona State, New Mexico State and Fresno State) who utilize up-tempo offenses to their advantage.
At the weekly sports media luncheon Tuesday, head coach Bob Davie brought up that fact after watching Florida State play North Carolina State last weekend. The Wolfpack accused Seminole players of faking injuries to stop their no-huddle offense in a 56-41 loss.
Davie said against Fresno State one of his players was so exhausted that he was seeing stars as he tried to run off the field. The player was unable to get off the field in time and UNM was flagged on the play.
“Those examples show how much tempo has changed college football,” Davie said.
“We’ll adapt to it, and we are adapting to it, but you see the problems become inherent to all of this. It’s a complex, complicated deal,” Davie said. “It’s really exposed when you have youth on the field. It really is exposed when you have youth. It turns into a pretty ugly thing, and it’s going on all across the country.”
In the last two games, NMSU and Fresno State had 53 more snaps combined than the Lobos. ASU had just one more offensive snap than UNM had in a 58-23 loss.
The only game in which UNM (1-3, 0-1 Mountain West) was dominated in both total offensive plays and yards was against the Bulldogs, who had 593 total yards to the Lobos’ 382 yards.
Davie said the speed of the game is a problem for teams all over the country.
“It’s chaos right now. I really guess that’s what people want to see,” Davie said. “I guess that’s what’s good for college football. It makes everyone look bad.”
Gautsche status
Davie confirmed on Tuesday starting quarterback Cole Gautsche will be ready to play Saturday at UTSA.
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Gautsche injured his right hamstring in the season opener against UTEP on Aug. 30. He missed the following game versus Arizona State and didn’t play the second half at New Mexico State because he almost re-aggravated the injury. The junior was also unavailable in UNM’s 35-24 loss to Fresno State last week.
However, Davie said the team hasn’t decided whether to start Gautsche. Davie added that quarterbacks Clayton Mitchem and Lamar Jordan will also see playing time.
“I don’t know for sure. I think we go through the rest of the week,” Davie said. “I know all three of those guys will play.”
Injury report
Kick returner Carlos Wiggins will be available to play after missing last week’s game with a hamstring injury.
Tailback Teriyon Gipson will also be back as well after sitting out with ankle injury.
Davie said tight end Chris Edling, who was injured on the second to last play against the Bulldogs, will be out.
Linebacker Richard Winston will most likely sit out because of a knee injury.
Linebacker Ryan Langford injured his labrum and will be unavailable. Cornerback Isaiah Brown injured his hamstring against Fresno State and will be out for a couple of weeks.
Thomas Romero-Salas is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @ThomasRomeroS.