Post by CrimsonPhantom on Aug 3, 2012 8:33:11 GMT -7
Return of Manley, Savage raises hopes for winning season
By Jim Hilley
Las Cruces Bulletin
New Mexico State University football coach DeWayne Walker said he is focusing on stiffening up the Aggie’s defense during the 2012 season, which starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30, when the Aggies host Sacramento State University at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
“I think you are going to see great improvement on the defensive side of the ball,” Walker said at the WAC Football Preview in Reno, Nev., Thursday, July 26. “That was a focus from a recruiting standpoint and we made a couple of changes on defense. I think we are constantly getting better even through the summer.”
The Aggie defense will be bolstered by the return of senior defensive end Donte Savage, who missed the 2011 season because of academic issues.
Walker brushed off questions about the future of football in the conference, saying he is concentrating on the upcoming season.
“I had a chance to meet with the team and explained the situation and told them we have worked too hard to worry about things that are out of our control,” he said.
“We are just really focusing on ’12.”
Walker said he believes this year’s football team will have more confidence than last year’s team.
“Last year, our motto was ‘believe and compete,’” he said. “I think we are past that now. There are not a lot of games on our schedule we feel like we can’t win.’’
The 2011 version of the Aggies was much improved from the year before. Winning four times, including a win at Minnesota, a BCS school in a power conference. Leading the way in that victory was quarterback Andrew Manley, who will return to the team after suffering a season-ending knee injury against UTEP the following week.
Though the Aggies have lost offensive stalwarts Kenny Turner and Taveon Rogers, Walker said he expects the Aggie offense to continue its success.
“I think we have it figured out now on both sides of the ball, as well as improving with our special teams,” he said.
“One thing that is different for this football team, from our coaching staff and in our locker room, is just chemistry. I just think the chemistry is so much better and we all think we can win football games this year.”
From- www.lascrucesbulletin.com/ee/lascrucesbulletin/default.php?pSetup=lascrucesbulletin
By Jim Hilley
Las Cruces Bulletin
New Mexico State University football coach DeWayne Walker said he is focusing on stiffening up the Aggie’s defense during the 2012 season, which starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30, when the Aggies host Sacramento State University at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
“I think you are going to see great improvement on the defensive side of the ball,” Walker said at the WAC Football Preview in Reno, Nev., Thursday, July 26. “That was a focus from a recruiting standpoint and we made a couple of changes on defense. I think we are constantly getting better even through the summer.”
The Aggie defense will be bolstered by the return of senior defensive end Donte Savage, who missed the 2011 season because of academic issues.
Walker brushed off questions about the future of football in the conference, saying he is concentrating on the upcoming season.
“I had a chance to meet with the team and explained the situation and told them we have worked too hard to worry about things that are out of our control,” he said.
“We are just really focusing on ’12.”
Walker said he believes this year’s football team will have more confidence than last year’s team.
“Last year, our motto was ‘believe and compete,’” he said. “I think we are past that now. There are not a lot of games on our schedule we feel like we can’t win.’’
The 2011 version of the Aggies was much improved from the year before. Winning four times, including a win at Minnesota, a BCS school in a power conference. Leading the way in that victory was quarterback Andrew Manley, who will return to the team after suffering a season-ending knee injury against UTEP the following week.
Though the Aggies have lost offensive stalwarts Kenny Turner and Taveon Rogers, Walker said he expects the Aggie offense to continue its success.
“I think we have it figured out now on both sides of the ball, as well as improving with our special teams,” he said.
“One thing that is different for this football team, from our coaching staff and in our locker room, is just chemistry. I just think the chemistry is so much better and we all think we can win football games this year.”
From- www.lascrucesbulletin.com/ee/lascrucesbulletin/default.php?pSetup=lascrucesbulletin