Locksley has optimism, but does New Mexico have the talent to make a bowl?
Mike Locksley is writing checks he hopes his team can cash.
With New Mexico starting fall camp this week, Locksley has all but guaranteed his Lobos would make a bowl game.
"Anything less than a bowl game is unacceptable," Locksley said during New Mexico's media day Monday. "This is the one year where I feel like we've assembled the team, the talent, we've got the culture that you need to do it and our players believe in it. We believe in it as a staff."
The proclamation wouldn't be all that significant except that New Mexico is 2-22 in Locksley's two seasons with the team. Even the local sportscaster in this broadcast seems skeptical of Locksley's ability to get to the necessary six games for bowl eligibility.
The Lobos were picked last in the Mountain West preseason poll and the administration showed little faith in their head coach after restructuring his contract this offseason to make it cheaper to buy him out. The Lobos are currently in the worst funk since they won six games from 1987-90.
And it's not like New Mexico has an easy schedule. It has games against Arkansas and Texas Tech, and travels to Nevada, TCU, San Diego State and Boise State. The window for the Lobos to achieve six wins this year is small and even if they do get to that magic number, there's no guarantee there would be a bowl game available to them.
Still, you've got to admire (pity?) Locksley's moxie. He knows this is the end of the line for him. So why not going out fighting? Well, with words any way.
