While Lobo safety Ian Clark is still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery that has kept him from participating in spring practices, it hasn't stopped him from pumping up his teammates, especially on Wednesday at University Stadium.
Clark was at the back of the north end zone at University Stadium doing his best to maintain the intensity of the defense, in particular the secondary he will lead in the fall.
Even though Clark is sitting out the spring practices, safety Frankie Solomon said it's encouraging to see Clark involved in practice in some capacity, even if it is just trash talking.
"When a teammate knows we got his back, he is (going to be) talking," Solomon said. "So, we are going to play to make him look good and try to do our part."
Clark said he is disappointed about missing practices but that he knows that sitting out is best for the health of his shoulder.
He is pleased to see the defense perform at a high level in his absence.
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"I think the defense is going to be the defense regardless of how we are running it," Clark said. "We still got the same physical toughness on the defensive side of the ball, so there is nothing to worry about, and I think we are going to be fine."
After losing senior cornerbacks DeAndre Wright and Glover Quin, Solomon, Clark, Frankie Baca and Danny Martin are the only four seniors in the secondary. The other eight members of the secondary are sophomores or redshirt freshmen who will join the foursome in 2009.
Baca and Martin have had limited action in the secondary during their careers with the Lobos. Both served time on kick and punt coverage over the years.
But Clark said players like sophomores Bubba Frost and Mica Williams and redshirt freshmen Freddy Young and Edrick Boger can learn.
"I think the secondary is doing really good right now," he said. "We got a couple young corners that are starting for us and I think they are doing all right," Clark said. "They have a few things they need to improve on. We still have plenty of time. They got the rest of spring ball before camps starts up in the fall, and I think they are going to be good during the season."
