The New Mexico State Aggies have had their best chances to win in the last couple years when quarterback Chase Holbrook and his stable of speedy receivers, especially Chris Williams, have been healthy.
Holbrook set national passing records for a sophomore in 2006, the same season that Williams led the nation in receptions (7.66) and yards (117.9) per game.
Last season, one of them missed the final eight games -- Holbrook missed games six and seven, and then Williams was lost for the season with a shoulder injury in the team's eighth game. Holbrook played most of the season with cracked ribs.
When both played in 2006 and 2007, the Aggies were 7-10. When at least one of them missed a game, they were 1-7.
Both are now seniors, and fourth-year coach Hal Mumme believes this could be a great year to be an Aggie.
"When I think back on Chase Holbrook, the one word that comes to mind is toughness,"
said Mumme, 8-29 after three seasons in Las Cruces, with stops at Southeast Louisiana and Kentucky along the way. "He's put up terrific numbers and had heroic efforts with not having as many guys (around him) as other guys. This is his last shot, but I also think it's his best shot.
"This is the most optimistic I've been in a long time at any place I've been. It's mainly because of the players and the staff. We've got great kids with great character and a great leader in Chase Holbrook and marquee players around him."
The passing attack -- a four-receiver, run-and-shoot style offense -- has given New Mexico State the chance to win games, but it's been the lack of offensive balance and a substandard defense that has kept them from winning consistently.
Mumme feels NMSU is much improved in both areas.
"This has been our best year at recruiting running backs,"
said Mumme, who also added that he is very pleased with the depth on the offensive line.
Junior Tonny Glynn, who backed up Justine Buries last season, is penciled in as the starter at running back. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry in '07, nearly two yards better than Buries. Marquell Colston, a transfer from Modesto Junior College, and junior Seth Smith are expected to push Glynn for playing time.
What will likely be the make-or-break point for the Aggies, though, is how the team takes to new defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn and the newly installed 3-3-5 defense, the same defense that New Mexico used to shut out Nevada, 23-0, in the New Mexico Bowl last December.
"Joe Lee Dunn is a reason to be optimistic,"
Mumme said. "It's a big change (going to a 3-3-5), but I think the kids are responding to it."
"It's a more attacking-style, gap-control defense. Before, we had bigger, bulkier defensive linemen. The big defensive linemen graduated last year. We're smaller and probably faster this year."
