Todd Fuqua/Ruidoso Free Press University of New Mexico football coach Bob Davie speaks to the team at the end of Saturday’s practice at White Mountain Athletic Complex.
Todd Fuqua/Ruidoso Free Press UNM’s Trajuan Briggs, right, takes the ball upfield against teammate Cranston Jones, Saturday, during practice at White Mountain Athletic Complex.
Todd Fuqua/Ruidoso Free Press UNM quarterback B.R. Holbrook looks for an open receiver during Saturday’s practice at White Mountain Athletic Complex.
Todd Fuqua/Ruidoso Free Press UNM receiver Cameron DeBesse is caught by teammates Cranston Jones (back) and Devonta Tabannah, Saturday, during practice at White Mountain Athletic Complex.
“We’re getting the effort we want and are teaching the lessons we want to teach, but that’s not enough,” Davie said Saturday. “People think just because you suddenly have discipline or work ethic that you’re going to win. That’s part of it, but the next step is getting good enough to play a football game and not be totally dependent on the other team messing it up.
“We’re doing some good things, but we need to start executing. At least we’ve got three more weeks to work.”
Davie feels fortunate to have a defensive coordinator in Jeff Mills, who came to New Mexico from the University of Washington, where he served as the secondary coach and helped give the Huskies the nation’s second-best pass defense in 2010.
While Davie has his own past as a defensive coordinator at Texas A&M, Mills said that doesn’t mean he’s trying to recreate what has gone before.
“I’m blessed to be working with Davie, with all the defensive experience he has, but we’re not really talking about the past,” Mills said. “We’re talking about the future of this team’s defense.”
There’s plenty of work, and not everything has been smooth, as evidenced by the suspension or dismissal of three players – Zoey Williams, David Vega and Tim Foley – during the week for a violation of team rules.
Williams has been sent home, but the other two have a chance to redeem themselves with the proper attitude during the rest of the camp.
“A lot depends on how people react to situations,” Davie said. “We have two players that would have been dismissed totally if they hadn’t responded the way I thought they should have the next morning.
“I feel pretty good, but you know what, it’s energized to be out here,” he added. “I’m very fortunate to be back doing this.”
The Lobos are still in town this week, with practices beginning at 9:20 each morning, and will be back in Albuquerque after this Saturday.