If you run into Louisiana Tech football coach Derek Dooley prior to today's 3 p.m. kickoff at New Mexico State, don't ask him if he thinks the Aggie matchup is a "trap" game.
Dooley was having none of that talk at Monday's news conference where he reviewed Tech's win over Utah State, which got the Bulldogs (6-4, 4-2 WAC) bowl eligible, and looked ahead to today's contest, where a win would probably secure his team a bowl invitation.
"You guys use that term and you love it. What that tells me is there's a great football team out there playing a not-so-great team, and watch out," Dooley said. "I don't ever think we're in a trap game, because I'll never see us as a big favorite to anybody. When we're a 30-point favorite on somebody, let's pull that term out.
"We're no different than New Mexico State. We had to come from behind in the fourth quarter last year to beat 'em. Now, all of a sudden, it's a trap game. I don't get it, man. It's gonna be hard."
Tech has never won in three previous tries in Aggie Memorial Stadium and the home team has won all seven meetings between the clubs. The Bulldogs have won just once on the road this season, but that victory came in their last road contest at San Jose State.
The Aggies (3-7, 1-5) have struggled through yet another tough season, and they enter the contest off a 24-17 road loss to Fresno State. NMSU has one of the WAC's best quarterbacks in Chase Holbrook, who has the highest rated passing attack in the league at 296.7 yards per game.
"We played a pretty good quarterback from Utah State last week, but now we're playing Peyton Manning throwing the ball. I'm sure Hal's gonna throw it every down," Dooley said. "This week we'll be facing a team that is extremely explosive. They throw it better than anybody in our league."
Dooley said the key to stopping New Mexico State is getting pressure on Holbrook.
"We have to get pressure in different ways ... affecting his accuracy and his ability to find open guys," Dooley said. "Then we have to play with a lot more discipline on the back end. Kansas had a good thrower and Southeastern spread it out. Boise throws it well. It's not the first time we're going against someone who can sling it around, but they do some different things schematically."
The Aggies also have the WAC's top receiver in Chris Williams, the reigning WAC special teams player of the week, who has caught 74 balls for 1,064 yards. he returned two kicks for 126 yards and a 96-yard touchdown against Fresno State.
"Chris is a bottle rocket. He's a little bitty guy that when he came here nobody wanted," NMSU coach Hal Mumme said. "Over four years he's been a terrific player and I'm proud of all his efforts. He's a great return guy as well as a great receiver."
Mumme gave the Bulldogs kudos.
"I think coach Dooley's done a great job. They're on a roll. They've got two great running backs and they got bowl eligible last week," Mumme said. "But they've gotta come to our place and it's senior day. I think our kids will represent themselves well."
Dooley was having none of that talk at Monday's news conference where he reviewed Tech's win over Utah State, which got the Bulldogs (6-4, 4-2 WAC) bowl eligible, and looked ahead to today's contest, where a win would probably secure his team a bowl invitation.
"You guys use that term and you love it. What that tells me is there's a great football team out there playing a not-so-great team, and watch out," Dooley said. "I don't ever think we're in a trap game, because I'll never see us as a big favorite to anybody. When we're a 30-point favorite on somebody, let's pull that term out.
"We're no different than New Mexico State. We had to come from behind in the fourth quarter last year to beat 'em. Now, all of a sudden, it's a trap game. I don't get it, man. It's gonna be hard."
Tech has never won in three previous tries in Aggie Memorial Stadium and the home team has won all seven meetings between the clubs. The Bulldogs have won just once on the road this season, but that victory came in their last road contest at San Jose State.
The Aggies (3-7, 1-5) have struggled through yet another tough season, and they enter the contest off a 24-17 road loss to Fresno State. NMSU has one of the WAC's best quarterbacks in Chase Holbrook, who has the highest rated passing attack in the league at 296.7 yards per game.
"We played a pretty good quarterback from Utah State last week, but now we're playing Peyton Manning throwing the ball. I'm sure Hal's gonna throw it every down," Dooley said. "This week we'll be facing a team that is extremely explosive. They throw it better than anybody in our league."
Dooley said the key to stopping New Mexico State is getting pressure on Holbrook.
"We have to get pressure in different ways ... affecting his accuracy and his ability to find open guys," Dooley said. "Then we have to play with a lot more discipline on the back end. Kansas had a good thrower and Southeastern spread it out. Boise throws it well. It's not the first time we're going against someone who can sling it around, but they do some different things schematically."
The Aggies also have the WAC's top receiver in Chris Williams, the reigning WAC special teams player of the week, who has caught 74 balls for 1,064 yards. he returned two kicks for 126 yards and a 96-yard touchdown against Fresno State.
"Chris is a bottle rocket. He's a little bitty guy that when he came here nobody wanted," NMSU coach Hal Mumme said. "Over four years he's been a terrific player and I'm proud of all his efforts. He's a great return guy as well as a great receiver."
Mumme gave the Bulldogs kudos.
"I think coach Dooley's done a great job. They're on a roll. They've got two great running backs and they got bowl eligible last week," Mumme said. "But they've gotta come to our place and it's senior day. I think our kids will represent themselves well."
