No quarterback would want the passing numbers Kole McKamey put up in Saturday's win over Wyoming: 5-for-15 for 40 yards and one interception.
But as Rocky Long knows - he was a standout UNM quarterback from 1969-71 and left the program as its all-time leading rusher - the position's not called "throwing back."
McKamey arguably had his best game as a Lobo, despite the lousy throwing numbers. After a listless and forgettable first half, the sophomore came out inspired in the second and made the play of the game in the third quarter, when he ran 80 yards on an option keeper for the contest's first touchdown.
"The offensive line did a great job of sealing off the edge," he said.
From there he made like Dash in "The Incredibles," out-sprinting the Cowboy cornerbacks all the way to the end zone.
"I've been saying all year that he's fast," Long said.
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Still, McKamey said time passed slowly even as he was racing down the sideline.
"I think I need to get in better shape, because it took me forever to get there," he said.
McKamey finished the game with 152 rushing yards on 15 carries.
It was a nice cap to McKamey's first season as a starter. After a rough middle stretch of the season - he suffered a concussion against Oregon State, was shut down against Utah, and sat out a loss to Air Force - the quarterback finally settled in and started to help the Lobos win games.
"I haven't played the way I expected to," he said. "I really think I just underestimated everything that comes with playing college quarterback."
