Sports Year in Review: For Aggie football, a tough season

Click photo to enlarge

Aggie head coach DeWayne Walker tutors a defensive back during a practice in mid-August. A year that started with high hopes quickly turned into disappointment for New Mexico State football.

LAS CRUCES ? The New Mexico State Aggie football team entered the year with high expectations: After an improved 2011 season, the hope was the team could take a similar step forward and challenge for its first bowl game since 1960.

What followed was an unmitigated disaster, with the team winning its first game, losing every other and finishing the year with a 1-11 record.

"It's been a long year," said head coach DeWayne Walker following the team's season finale, a 66-28 loss at Texas State.

"I got a lot of thinking to do," he added. "A lot of stuff to think about .... You don't want to go out like this."

The biggest issue facing the Aggies in 2012 was the personnel that left from the year prior: Weapons at key offensive positions across the board; an entire starting secondary; and four assistant coaches, highlighted by offensive coordinator Doug Martin, who all left the program during the offseason.

In turn the Aggie offense never totally got off the ground (after opening with 49 points against Sacramento State, NMSU averaged less than 16 the rest of the way) and the defense wasn't much better.

While the team played hard most weeks and prepared for each opponent, frustration was also apparent, with Walker often pointing to a lack of resources within the program - mentioning specifically the need for money for his assistant coaches, an increased emphasis on strength and conditioning and a better budget for recruiting.

After being blown out down the

stretch of the schedule, there was speculation that Walker could in fact leave the program, following a 10-40 record during his tenure at the school. Toward the tail-end of December, however, he's still in charge with four years remaining on his contract.

Much work remains at the program, although perhaps some offseason progress could be in store. A new president is expected to be announced at the school, and Walker's hopeful some of his wishes during the year could be granted.

Following the year that was Aggie football, and entering an independent schedule during the 2013 campaign, this is a program that has to get moving forward. And fast.

Source: http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sports/ci_22280796/year-review-aggie-football-tough-season-2012?source=rss

elie wiesel temptations work hard play hard tim ferriss wmt human nature arkansas football