PROVO — Mike Locksley's first season at New Mexico has been memorable, but for all the wrong reasons.
Not only is the Lobos' coach dealing with an 0-4 start — UNM fell to its struggling in-state rival, New Mexico State, last Saturday — but he is also dealing with well-publicized, off-the-field controversies.
Last summer, allegations of sexual harassment from a female administrative assistant emerged against Locksley. He has denied any wrongdoing, but the case is working its way through the legal system.
Then came reports that, more than a week ago, Locksley punched one of his assistants, J.B. Gerald, during a heated coaches' meeting. Gerald filed a police report but he did not press charges against Locksley, who has apologized publicly and to Gerald personally. Gerald is now on leave from the program while he mulls his future.
Pressed about all the negative things surrounding the program by reporters, Locksley tried to put a positive spin on the dismal situation.
"I wouldn't say the program's in that bad of shape," he said, explaining that 22 first-year players are receiving a lot of playing time.
The immediate future prospects don't look so bright. The winless Lobos visit Texas Tech this weekend.
COWBOY UP: True freshman quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels turned in a terrific performance last Saturday.
Carta-Samuels completed 24-of-37 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns in a 30-27 victory over UNLV. He became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the 'Pokes since Rick Costello in 1974. Carta-Samuels was also the first Wyoming QB to record three TD passes in a game since Jacob Doss accomplished that feat in a 38-7 win over Utah State in 2006.
UNLV coach Mike Sanford compared Carta-Samuels to Jake Plummer.
"He looked like Jake Plummer out there. I coached against (Plummer) at Arizona State and when he was with the Broncos when I was with the San Diego Chargers," Sanford said. "He made big plays. He's not your normal quarterback. ... He ran around, made guys miss, threw the ball up and his receivers caught it. He looked good against us."
COWBOY DOWN: First-year Wyoming coach Dave Christensen passed kidney stones this week and was not able to participate in Tuesday's MWC coaches conference call.
Christensen's assistants were running things while he stayed at a hospital in Laramie. Christensen is expected to be back on the sidelines Saturday when the Cowboys visit Florida Atlantic.
REMEMBER SMU: In the aftermath of 11th-ranked TCU's big win at Clemson last weekend, coach Gary Patterson stood in the visitors' locker room and gave his team a history lesson.
The Frogs face cross-town rival SMU on Saturday. Patterson reminded his players that in 2005, the year the Horned Frogs joined the MWC, TCU upset Oklahoma, then fell to lowly SMU.
That defeat ended up costing the Horned Frogs a perfect season and a BCS berth.
Patterson certainly doesn't want his undefeated TCU team to forget and allow history to repeat itself.
e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com