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A competition for starting quarterback can sometimes tear a team apart, but this isn’t the case for the New Mexico football team.
The Lobo coaching staff brought in junior-college transfer quarterback Clayton Mitchem, a junior, to compete with sophomore signal-caller Cole Gautsche for the position. Gautsche said the competition has made him a better quarterback.
“It’s been going good. The chemistry in the quarterback room has been great,” Gautsche said. “We’re all good friends and we all help each other out. The competition has made the team better overall.”
Out of 120 NCAA Division I football teams, last season the Lobos ranked 119th in passing offense.
Offensive Coordinator Bob DeBesse said the team knows it won’t survive without an improved passing game. Last season, the Lobos finished with a 4-9 record overall but were competitive in almost every game.
“We’ve gotten a little bit better: I think Cole (Gautsche) has gotten better, he’s shown improvement, and the addition of Clayton Mitchem — he adds an element that we haven’t had,” DeBesse said.
“The kids have bought in that this is an area that we have to make quantum leaps.”
Gautsche completed 13 of 31 passes (41.9 percent) for 222 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in 11 games played.
Gautsche made up for his lack of passing ability by leading the team in per carry average (7 yards) and was the second-leading rusher with 760 yards. UNM had the fifth highest-ranked rushing offense in the nation, as well.
“It starts with understanding just schemes and the football part,” DeBesse said. “He’s more comfortable with his reads and with what we’re doing. He’s done some things from a delivery standpoint, a physical standpoint, and he’s corrected some things that have made him more consistent.”
DeBesse said Mitchem has made the largest strides of any of the quarterbacks. At Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Mitchem threw for 2,435 yards and 27 touchdowns.
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“He loves to compete and he loves to play. We recruited him because we thought he could be a dual threat,” DeBesse said. “He can ride and read and make those decisions. He can sling it, too.”
Mitchem was unable to be interviewed per the UNM Athletic Communications policy, which prohibits freshmen and transfers from being quoted until after playing in their first game.
Lobo Football Schedule Released
On Thursday, the Mountain West Conference announced the schedule for the 2013 season.
The Lobos open the year hosting University of Texas-San Antonio on Aug. 31. UNM finishes up its nonconference schedule with in-state rival New Mexico State on Oct. 5.
UNM’s conference schedule begins with a home contest against UNLV on Sept. 28, and the season finale is at Boise State on Nov. 30. The Lobos have two bye weeks this season compared to none last year.
Also, the team has one Friday game versus Air Force on Nov. 8.
“The structure of the schedule I’m a little excited about because we have a young team,” head coach Bob Davie said. “Other head coaches probably circled New Mexico (on the schedule) and said they’re going to win that one. Well — not so fast, not so fast.”
2013 Lobo Football Schedule
Aug. 31 Texas-San Antonio
Sept. 7 UTEP
Sept. 14 Pittsburgh
Sept. 21 BYE
Sept. 28 UNLV
Oct. 5 New Mexico State
Oct. 12 Wyoming
Oct. 19 Utah State
Oct. 26 BYE
Nov. 2 San Diego State
Nov. 8* Air Force
Nov. 16 Colorado State
Nov. 23 Fresno State
Nov. 30 Boise State
Home games are in bold.
- Denotes Friday night game.
