ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – UNM head football coach Bronco Mendenhall said the second bye week of the season couldn’t have come at a better time for his team. Mendenhall won his first game as Lobos head coach last weekend in a 50-40 victory over rival New Mexico State.
The win came with a price as the Lobos did not come away injury-free. They get a week to get some of those bumps and bruises with Mountain West Conference season on the horizon. “Getting our roster as healthy as possible for a six week run of all conference play, if I could have scheduled it myself I would have placed it here,” said Mendenhall. “I won’t go into the specific players, but we have up to six, maybe seven, that could possibly return for Air Force, which would be great. So, to just be able to get back to full capacity prior to the conference run will help our team.
The short break will also give the Lobos an extra week to prepare for the triple option attack of the Air Force Falcons. The Falcons are the Lobos’ first opponent in league play. “In a regular week it never quite feels like enough time,” said Mendenhall. “It usually leads to Friday night walk-throughs right up until bed check, and then you wake up and do it again like you are trying to get reps every minute you can prior to showing up to the stadium.
So, with a few extra days, again health and renewal for our team is first, but it will be helpful.” The Lobos and Falcons battle at University Stadium Oct. 12 at 5 pm.
