After seeing how accurate the NCAA College Football 2011 simulation of the UNM football team’s first game occurred last year, it was a no-brainer to see what the video game could throw at us for this upcoming football game against Colorado State.
Last year’s video game simulation against the No. 11 Oregon Ducks predicted a 72-3 score line. The actual score, 72-0.
Colorado State looks to be a much easier opponent than last year’s national runners-up. Staying home in the comfortable confines of University Stadium and not going into the lion’s den in Eugene will hopefully result in a different outcome.
Using the new and improved NCAA College Football 2012 video game for the XBOX 360 we simulated the game between the rivals.
The Lobos’ rating in the game overall was a mediocre D , while the Rams at least got a passing grade with a C . On a side note, NMSU has the ranking of a D which could bode well when the Lobos face them in October.
After making a few minor adjustments, mainly switching out quarterback B.R. Holbrook for new number one Tarean Austin, the Lobos were ready to take the field.
The players walk out onto the field with an overwhelming rush of cherry. So far so good, right?
By halftime, everything is not perfect in Lobo land, with CSU holding a comfortable 10-0 lead and the Lobos having only three first downs.
By the fourth quarter the Lobos have managed to get a field goal but it looks to be just another loss seen by the Lobo faithful until a fumble recovery by Jaymar Latchison sets up an easy touchdown to tie the score at 10.
The defense forces the Rams into a three-and-out, and Austin drives the team down the field into field goal range with time winding down.
I guess it’s fitting that kicker James Aho has the chance to win the game in the dying seconds since his game-winning field goals have led to the only Lobo victories in the past two years.
The ball is snapped and the kick is in the air. Could we be witnessing history — Locksley and the Lobos with a winning record?
Like a fairy tale ending, the kick goes in. The Lobos win 13-10 and fans and players alike rush the field (not really — I guess the fans do not realize how important this victory is).
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While I have my doubts about the upcoming season just like every other Lobo fan, I feel a bit optimistic as well.
We know we’re not the Oklahomas, Floridas or Oregons of college football. I don’t expect to see us playing for a national championship anytime soon, but we have reasonable expectations.
Let’s be honest. We are not going to beat TCU, Arkansas, Nevada and Boise State on the road, but we do have some very winnable games this season.
CSU, UNLV, Sam Houston State and NMSU at home and Wyoming on the road are games that we can make a contest.
Locksley has a determination to put a bowl game into these players’ heads that I have not seen before, and now that it’s his third year in charge he is using most of the players he recruited to play in his system.
Let’s hope for the sake of the Lobos, Lobo fans and of course Locksley that the NCAA Football 2012 simulation holds true and we can start off our season on a good note by winning the first game.
