UNM tradition continues this weekend when the old meets the new in the annual Cherry-Silver football game at University Stadium Saturday.
The contest is the last practice for the football team in the spring season and a chance for newcomers and veterans alike to display their skills in front of the UNM fans. The game splits the Lobos into two equal squads that are determined by a draft of captains, who then choose players.
So far in spring practices, UNM has had two similar games with Cherry winning both of those contests. This time, new teams were made up to level the playing field.
Head coach Rocky Long said that - as he always does before these games - he made up a friendly point spread and has the Silver team favored by one and a half points.
Newcomer quarterback Tali Ena leads the Silver team. Ena, who transferred from Washington State University last year and red-shirted this season, is looking forward to showing what he can do.
"I'm going to try and show people that we are a downfield passing team," he said. "My strength is throwing downfield vertically and that's what we're going to try and do Saturday."
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Ena also said that he has his sights on taking the starting quarterback position.
"I plan on starting, I'm not going to settle for anything less than that," he said.
Leading the way for the Cherry squad is incumbent senior quarterback Casey Kelly. Kelly is coming off of an appendectomy surgery a couple of weeks ago but Long said that he will be ready on Saturday. Due to Kelly's ailment and that Kole McKamey separated his shoulder earlier in the week, there will be no hitting the quarterback. Everything else goes.
Wide receiver Adrian Boyd on the Silver team said that the game is a chance for players to solidify their positions for next year. Boyd also said that there is some pride on the line between teammates and made the bold statement that Silver would win by 21 points.
Long said that the main objective of the friendly game is to get his team playing football again and to make sure that no one gets hurt in the process. Long also said that this is the first time in five years that the Lobos will be playing a real game with 10 minute quarters instead of practice which they have done in past years.
"Now we have a few more guys in the program," Long said. "We have better depth and more experience so we're actually letting them play a game."
Senior wide receiver Dwight Counter on the Silver team downplayed the significance of the game for the veterans saying that it is a chance for some younger players to show what they can do.
"The game is for the younger players that aren't established yet or haven't played much yet," Counter said. "That's what the whole spring is about, to show the coaches what you can contribute to the team."
Whether younger players will shine is yet to be seen but one thing for certain is that intensity will be at a high level with both teams striving for summer bragging rights.
"It's always competitive and this year isn't going to be any different," Counter said. "The team that makes the least mistakes will win."
Admission is free and fans are welcome to attend an autograph session starting at 12:30 p.m. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday at University Stadium.
