? The time has finally arrived for New Mexico State University to play a football game.
Tonight at 5:10 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, the Aggies debut the 2008 season at traditional power and 2-0 Nebraska.
The Aggies were scheduled to open the 2008 season on Sept. 4 at home vs. Nicholls State, but Hurricane Gustav canceled the contest.
Instead, NMSU starts with a Cornhusker program eager to erase last year's 5-7 record.
"We're just ready to play a game," NMSU head coach Hal Mumme said. "I believe our guys will play well, I believe they have the belief that they will play well."
Tonight's game for NMSU also marks the debut of the new 3-3-5 defense, engineered by new defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn, who was hired after the 2007 season to replace the retired Woody Widenhofer.
"We haven't seen any tape on NMSU, we've been going up against our defense a lot in practice," said Nebraska offensive line coach and former NMSU assistant coach Barney Cotton. "I've gone up against New Mexico a few times when I was at NMSU and they play a similar defense. Joe Lee Dunn is a good coach, he's helped engineer a lot of good defenses."
The Aggie defense will have to stop a Nebraska offense which features a solid quarterback, big offensive line and a pair of receivers that are solid playmakers.
Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz threw for 345 yards in the season opener vs. Western Michigan, a 47-24 NU win, then followed that performance with a 216-yard effort in a 35-12 victory against San Jose State.
Receivers Nate Swift and Todd Peterson are two of Ganz's favorite targets. Swift has caught 11 passes in two games, while Peterson has seven catches.
"They have good size at receiver," Aggies cornerback Marvin Betts said. "We have good speed, we have to use that to our advantage. The quarterback is solid as well, he throws well on the run."
Nebraska will lean on running backs Marlon Lucky, Roy Helu and Quentin Castille in a rotation that head coach Bo Pelini said works for his team because it keeps them fresh. He did say if one back has the hot number, that player may get more snaps. Nebraska managed just 99 yards rushing in last week's win against San Jose State.
The Cornhuskers' starting offensive line goes 285, 300, 290, 320 and 315 pounds across the board.
"We have to be able to use our speed and get a rush on the outside," NMSU defensive line coach Mike Fanoga said. "Nebraska has good size and it's going to be a serious challenge for our lineman."
Meanwhile, Mumme believes his offensive unit has the ability to be explosive in 2008. Senior quarterback Chase Holbrook returns for his third tour of duty for the Aggies, receivers Chris Williams and A.J. Harris are eager for big seasons and three returnees are back on the offensive line.
"He's got good feet and he understands their offense really well," said Pelini of Holbrook. "He doesn't hold on to the ball very long and he's accurate."
Mumme said he's also eager to see how some of the team's new players on both sides of the ball will do.
On defense, linebackers Nick Paden and Jason Scott will try to help lead the new defense, while on offense, freshman receivers LaVorick Williams and Todd Lee and junior running back Marquell Colston are expected to contribute heavily.
Also on special teams, kickers Kyle Hughes and Jordan Davenport have had good fall camps.
"I'm really excited to see the new players and what they can do," Mumme said. "We have some good new kids that have had a good camp."
Pelini was actually the interim head coach at Nebraska for the 2003 Alamo Bowl, a game Nebraska won. He was hired last December and was a popular choice among the Husker fan base, taking over for Bill Callahan.
"He was the right guy for the job," said Mumme of Pelini. "He's rallied Husker nation. The thing with his defenses is that you can't rely on just fastballs. He'll blitz, he'll drop into coverage, he'll zone blitz you. And he has the players to do it right. You have to remember, Nebraska played in the Cotton Bowl two years ago, the talent level there is good despite their record from last year."
Notes: The Aggies are 0-2 alltime against Nebraksa...Holbrook has not thrown an interception in his last 55 passes...NMSU is 95-57-2 all-time in season openers...The Aggies are 4-2 all-time when playing on Sept. 13.
Tonight at 5:10 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, the Aggies debut the 2008 season at traditional power and 2-0 Nebraska.
The Aggies were scheduled to open the 2008 season on Sept. 4 at home vs. Nicholls State, but Hurricane Gustav canceled the contest.
Instead, NMSU starts with a Cornhusker program eager to erase last year's 5-7 record.
"We're just ready to play a game," NMSU head coach Hal Mumme said. "I believe our guys will play well, I believe they have the belief that they will play well."
Tonight's game for NMSU also marks the debut of the new 3-3-5 defense, engineered by new defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn, who was hired after the 2007 season to replace the retired Woody Widenhofer.
"We haven't seen any tape on NMSU, we've been going up against our defense a lot in practice," said Nebraska offensive line coach and former NMSU assistant coach Barney Cotton. "I've gone up against New Mexico a few times when I was at NMSU and they play a similar defense. Joe Lee Dunn is a good coach, he's helped engineer a lot of good defenses."
The Aggie defense will have to stop a Nebraska offense which features a solid quarterback, big offensive line and a pair of receivers that are solid playmakers.
Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz threw for 345 yards in the season opener vs. Western Michigan, a 47-24 NU win, then followed that performance with a 216-yard effort in a 35-12 victory against San Jose State.
Receivers Nate Swift and Todd Peterson are two of Ganz's favorite targets. Swift has caught 11 passes in two games, while Peterson has seven catches.
"They have good size at receiver," Aggies cornerback Marvin Betts said. "We have good speed, we have to use that to our advantage. The quarterback is solid as well, he throws well on the run."
Nebraska will lean on running backs Marlon Lucky, Roy Helu and Quentin Castille in a rotation that head coach Bo Pelini said works for his team because it keeps them fresh. He did say if one back has the hot number, that player may get more snaps. Nebraska managed just 99 yards rushing in last week's win against San Jose State.
The Cornhuskers' starting offensive line goes 285, 300, 290, 320 and 315 pounds across the board.
"We have to be able to use our speed and get a rush on the outside," NMSU defensive line coach Mike Fanoga said. "Nebraska has good size and it's going to be a serious challenge for our lineman."
Meanwhile, Mumme believes his offensive unit has the ability to be explosive in 2008. Senior quarterback Chase Holbrook returns for his third tour of duty for the Aggies, receivers Chris Williams and A.J. Harris are eager for big seasons and three returnees are back on the offensive line.
"He's got good feet and he understands their offense really well," said Pelini of Holbrook. "He doesn't hold on to the ball very long and he's accurate."
Mumme said he's also eager to see how some of the team's new players on both sides of the ball will do.
On defense, linebackers Nick Paden and Jason Scott will try to help lead the new defense, while on offense, freshman receivers LaVorick Williams and Todd Lee and junior running back Marquell Colston are expected to contribute heavily.
Also on special teams, kickers Kyle Hughes and Jordan Davenport have had good fall camps.
"I'm really excited to see the new players and what they can do," Mumme said. "We have some good new kids that have had a good camp."
Pelini was actually the interim head coach at Nebraska for the 2003 Alamo Bowl, a game Nebraska won. He was hired last December and was a popular choice among the Husker fan base, taking over for Bill Callahan.
"He was the right guy for the job," said Mumme of Pelini. "He's rallied Husker nation. The thing with his defenses is that you can't rely on just fastballs. He'll blitz, he'll drop into coverage, he'll zone blitz you. And he has the players to do it right. You have to remember, Nebraska played in the Cotton Bowl two years ago, the talent level there is good despite their record from last year."
Notes: The Aggies are 0-2 alltime against Nebraksa...Holbrook has not thrown an interception in his last 55 passes...NMSU is 95-57-2 all-time in season openers...The Aggies are 4-2 all-time when playing on Sept. 13.
