After still another close, last-minute defeat last Saturday, New Mexico Coach Mike Sheppard is getting more and more criticism heaped upon him from fans and media in Albuquerque.
According to an Associated Press report from Albuquerque, criticism of Sheppard and calls for his firing from fans have "reached a new high."The Lobos have won only six games in Sheppard's four-plus years, but have lost 15 games by a touchdown or less, including nine by three points or less. Last week was one of the worst yet, as they blew an 8-point lead in the final three minutes against UNLV last week and lost 23-22 at home.
Sheppard, signed a three-year contract extension last year, is 6-45 in four-plus seasons. But he will not discuss his employment status for the remainder of the season, he said Tuesday.
"I would prefer not to talk about that anymore," Sheppard told the news media Tuesday during his weekly luncheon. "I can only focus on what I can control and I would rather not address that question the rest of the year."THANKS, UTES: If Sheppard does lose his job in the near future, he can put some of the blame on the University of Utah.
The Utes have beaten the Lobos all four years and all four have been heartbreaking losses. In Sheppard's very first game at New Mexico, the Utes took a 24-20 victory in Salt Lake. The next year, Utah held on for a 33-27 win in Albuquerque. In 1989, the Utes won 41-39 on a last-second field goal. Then last year, the Lobos blew a 27-0 second-half lead and lost 29-27 in Albuquerque.SLIPPING AWAY: Yardage records come and easily go in college football thanks to more games and better offenses. A so-called invincible yardage record today may be easily smashed a decade from now.
BYU's Ty Detmer already has broken the career passing and career total offense marks in college football and still has eight games left to pad his totals. They shouldn't be broken for awhile, but you never know.
The one mark he has a chance to keep for awhile - career passing efficiency -could slip away unless he turns things around the rest of the season.
Detmer currently has a career pass efficiency rating of 157.55, which is barely above Jim McMahon's 156.9 mark. This year, Detmer's rating is way down at 123.7 after ratings of 138.0, 175.5 and 155.9 the past three years.
Unless he gets his passing efficiency (please don't ask for a definition) up in the 150 range, he'll continue to slip until he falls behind McMahon. RAM TURNOVERS: Colorado State's disappointing season so far can be traced directly to the often overlooked statistic of turnover margin. The Rams rank dead last in the nation in that category with a negative 2.75 margin. While giving up nine fumbles and eight interceptions, CSU has only recovered four fumbles and intercepted two passes.
The top team in the WAC, not surprisingly is Utah, which ranks 23rd in the country with 11 turnovers gained and eight lost. PICKS: The WAC season gets into high gear with three league contests on Saturday. Utah has the only bye.
UCLA (1-1) at San Diego State (2-1), 6:10 p.m. MDT Thursday - The Bruins are coming off a bye week after a loss to Tennessee. The Aztecs have handled Big West teams this year, but will find the Pac-10 a different story . . . UCLA 34-23.
Air Force (4-0) at BYU (0-3), Noon - Last year we made one of the year's best picks - AFA over BYU only to see the Falcons lost by 47. The Cougars are hungry for a W, and the Falcons good luck is overdue to run out. No way we'll bet against the Cougs this year . . . BYU 28-24.
Hawaii (3-1) at Colorado State (1-3), Noon - The Rainbows are probably a better team right now than the Rams, but they've used up their allotment of mainland wins this year . . . CSU 24-18.
UTEP (3-1) at Wyoming (2-2), Noon - After a slow start, the Cowboys are rounding into shape. The Miners' wins have come against three poor teams . . . Wyoming 35-17.
New Mexico State (0-2) at New Mexico (0-4), 7:05 p.m. - These are two of the worst programs in America. Since 1987, UNM is 6-45, NMSU is 4-42. Someone's got to win, or do they? . . . 24-24, tie.