Post by CrimsonPhantom on Aug 3, 2012 8:36:14 GMT -7
DeWayne Walker puts focus on season ahead
By Jack Nixon
The WAC preseason football polls have been released.
Their function is to stir interest, discussion, and, I suppose, controversy if you take them too seriously. The late, great columnist for the Los Angeles Times, Jim Murray, said these things were “the voice of the turtle.” Meaning they have no actual cachet in the real world.
My vote had New Mexico State third, breathing down Utah State’s neck for second place. I also think Louisiana Tech has the strongest hand to play as we move toward kickoff, but things can get off track once the competition starts and every coach sees what is truly inside his team.
We got a good look at what was inside the Aggies last year as they had enough mettle to battle to the last down versus Utah State in the season finale. Give me visceral strength and desire in this game.
The way head coach DeWayne Walker is approaching the season, I think that is something he has been brewing up at “Walker Hall” just north of the stadium.
Team workouts have had all hands on board this summer, quarterback Andrew Manley strengthened his recovery by throwing himself into the therapy process as soon as athletic trainer Mike O’Larey let him, and depth has not been this good since the Aggies joined the WAC.
The 2012 season is the only thing on the head coach’s mind, and he made that clear at WAC media day. Distractions about what could, might, should or had better happen down the road don’t exist in “Walker Hall.” But it would be that way regardless.
He also told reporters he would be a little more involved with new defensive coordinator Dave Elson than he had been in the past couple of years. Walker yielded the major defensive duties after his first year, seeing that a head coach has to see the bigger picture of both sides of the ball.
It isn’t that Elson needs any advice, his track record as an assistant and head coach tells me that. I get the impression that the Aggies are looking at having a defense that can shut people down, and Walker’s input will provide the fine tuning that can move a team from OK to dominators in the coming year.
Brains on the coaching staff, talent on both sides of the ball and depth are the recipe for a lot of postgame victory celebrations. The Aggies have this. They also have a schedule that puts them on an even level with all but a couple of teams.
“It’s time” is the slogan for this year, and it couldn’t be more to the point. It’s time for a bowl game, it’s time to feel the thrill of victory, and it is time to show up in person and support a team that is bowl bound.
From- www.lascrucesbulletin.com/ee/lascrucesbulletin/default.php?pSetup=lascrucesbulletin
By Jack Nixon
The WAC preseason football polls have been released.
Their function is to stir interest, discussion, and, I suppose, controversy if you take them too seriously. The late, great columnist for the Los Angeles Times, Jim Murray, said these things were “the voice of the turtle.” Meaning they have no actual cachet in the real world.
My vote had New Mexico State third, breathing down Utah State’s neck for second place. I also think Louisiana Tech has the strongest hand to play as we move toward kickoff, but things can get off track once the competition starts and every coach sees what is truly inside his team.
We got a good look at what was inside the Aggies last year as they had enough mettle to battle to the last down versus Utah State in the season finale. Give me visceral strength and desire in this game.
The way head coach DeWayne Walker is approaching the season, I think that is something he has been brewing up at “Walker Hall” just north of the stadium.
Team workouts have had all hands on board this summer, quarterback Andrew Manley strengthened his recovery by throwing himself into the therapy process as soon as athletic trainer Mike O’Larey let him, and depth has not been this good since the Aggies joined the WAC.
The 2012 season is the only thing on the head coach’s mind, and he made that clear at WAC media day. Distractions about what could, might, should or had better happen down the road don’t exist in “Walker Hall.” But it would be that way regardless.
He also told reporters he would be a little more involved with new defensive coordinator Dave Elson than he had been in the past couple of years. Walker yielded the major defensive duties after his first year, seeing that a head coach has to see the bigger picture of both sides of the ball.
It isn’t that Elson needs any advice, his track record as an assistant and head coach tells me that. I get the impression that the Aggies are looking at having a defense that can shut people down, and Walker’s input will provide the fine tuning that can move a team from OK to dominators in the coming year.
Brains on the coaching staff, talent on both sides of the ball and depth are the recipe for a lot of postgame victory celebrations. The Aggies have this. They also have a schedule that puts them on an even level with all but a couple of teams.
“It’s time” is the slogan for this year, and it couldn’t be more to the point. It’s time for a bowl game, it’s time to feel the thrill of victory, and it is time to show up in person and support a team that is bowl bound.
From- www.lascrucesbulletin.com/ee/lascrucesbulletin/default.php?pSetup=lascrucesbulletin