by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
While the UNM football team's regular season ended on a sour note Saturday, head coach Rocky Long did not want to focus on the negatives.
What could have been a special day for the seniors turned out to be a loss at home to Air Force. Still, this year's senior class finished the season going down in the record books.
The 2005 senior class completed five years with a winning record in each season. No other senior class in the history of UNM has accomplished that feat.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"If you look at the history of football at the University of New Mexico, that is an unbelievable accomplishment," Long said.
Star receiver Hank Baskett said it was a great accomplishment for the seniors, but it is hard for him to look past the loss.
"It means a lot, because when all of us first got here we said we came here for a reason, and that's to make big things happen. So that means a lot, but we didn't finish strong," he said.
The locker room was a somber sight, filled with players who had the look of disappointment and frustration on their faces.
The younger players thanked the seniors for their effort and leadership and the seniors said their goodbyes to each other in case the Lobos do not receive a bowl bid.
"The thing that's getting me right now is that I look in the locker room and this is my family," Baskett said. "This has been my family for five years. When you see guys go on and off for five years it doesn't hit you, but when you're leaving and these are the guys you've been with, that's the hard thing."
Fellow senior Mike Mohoric shared the same thoughts with Baskett - happy with the historic run, but bothered by the way it ended.
"It means a lot that we were able to carry on that tradition, but at the same time, we fell short as far as what our expectations were," he said. "It's tough to go out with a 6-5 record. I hope, if anything, we taught these younger guys a lesson to not settle for average."
Gabriel Fulbright said he is not satisfied with the way this season went. What he is happy about is the effort he saw every day from his teammates.
"I'm proud of the whole team, the whole senior class. I'm glad that we were able to accomplish some things, all the trials and tribulations we went through together. It's a tradition here, the fans are great, the people are great, especially the teammates I had," he said.
DonTrell Moore had a stellar career as a Lobo, finishing as one of only six players in NCAA Division I history to rush for 1,000 yards in four straight seasons. Sophomore Marcus Smith went up to Moore to give him a hug and his thanks.
Moore embraced Smith and gave him his parting words.
"Keep it going man, keep it going," he said.
