For the first time in UNM history, three native New Mexicans were named captains of the Lobo football team.
This week, junior DonTrell Moore and seniors Claude Terrell, Josh Bazinet and Nick Speegle were elected captains for the 2004 team.
Moore is from Roswell, Bazinet and Speegle both went to high school in Albuquerque, and Terrell is from LaMarque, Texas.
"Everybody looks up to you when you're a captain," Speegle said. "You need to lead the guys and keep them going in the right direction."
The captains were chosen by their teammates, which Speegle said only adds to the prestige.
"It's special for us because we're picked by our teammates, not by the coaches or anyone else," he said.
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Offensive tackle Terrell was a third team All-America pick last year and a preseason All-America selection this season. He started on the O-line for the last three years and will make the switch from guard to tackle this year.
Moore is a player Speegle said "had to be picked" as a captain.
"The whole team looks to him for leadership, especially the offense, and the whole city is watching him to see how he does."
Moore set several records last year as the Lobos' leading rusher. He will look to have an even better season in 2004. In 2003 he rushed for 1,450 yards and 21 touchdowns. He needs only 246 yards next year to become the Mountain West Conference's all-time leading rusher and 1,279 yards to set the UNM career rushing record.
Moore was an all-conference selection in the last two years.
Bazinet, a safety, is the sixth walk-on in the last five years to be picked as team captain. He was given a scholarship before the 2002 season, and has played in 38 games over his UNM career. He was voted UNM's special teams player of the year in each of the last two seasons.
Speegle has started 30 straight games as outside linebacker. A two-time honorable mention all-MWC performer, he is the career leader on the team with 225 tackles. He has earned a bachelor's degree with a 3.96 grade point average and is beginning classes toward a master's in business administration in the fall.
