As if starting 0-2, throwing two interceptions against Texas A&M and being the scapegoat for sports pundits isn't enough, Lobo quarterback Donovan Porterie still has to fulfill an obligation he has in the locker room.
He still has to lead.
Compared to last year, when Porterie was 42-of-63 for 532 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the first two games, this season, Porterie is a combined 25-of-49 for zero touchdowns, three interceptions and a fumble.
And although Porterie hasn't displayed leadership in the form of statistics, he has shown resolve, shouldering much of the blame for the Lobos' woes.
"I'm a quarterback," he said. "I'm putting the responsibility all on myself."
Two times - last week in pain from a neck injury - Porterie had to address the media after losing. Both times, Porterie stood answered for the mistakes he made on the field.
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UNM tailback Rodney Ferguson said actions like that speak to Porterie's character.
"He takes it as constructive criticism," he said.
And there hasn't been any lack of criticism.
Saturday, head coach Rocky Long called Porterie's performance against Texas A&M in a 28-22 loss as "average."
But Porterie doesn't get defensive.
"I just think that sometimes, certain situations happen where you have to bounce back from them," he said. "I'm going to come back this week and practice even harder."
He shouldered the criticism, even though at one point in the third quarter with the Lobos down 21-7, UNM opted to run three straight running plays and settle for a field goal after recovering a bobbled punt reception by A&M.
He didn't question the play-calling, instead saying he has faith in the coaching staff.
"I'm not going to question the coaching," he said. "We got people in the booth, on the sidelines calling the plays. Me, I'm going to check when I've got to check; I'm going to audible when I have to audible, and I'm going to run the plays that they ask me to run."
He took the blame, lassoed it, coped with it, and it reaffirmed the fact that the coaching staff has confidence in him to get the job done.
"Why would you lose confidence in your starting quarterback?" Porterie said. "At the end of the day, the effort was there. We just had a couple bad breaks, a few penalties, a couple turnovers that could have changed the outcome of the game, but we're going to take this game and learn from it."
Right now, that's the best attitude Porterie and the Lobos can have.
The road doesn't get any easier from here. Next week, the Lobos have Arizona, and the week after that, the pressure will be on the defense to contain a weapons-galore Tulsa team that had the nation's leading offense in 2007.
But Porterie continues to believe in himself and the Lobos.
"From last week to this week, there was a heck of a change," Porterie said. "If we come out and practice hard again, it will be totally different next week."
