After watching the Utes play the most complete game of the season against CSU we now are in the bye week which is much needed for the stretch run.  Whittingham is now officially an ESPN darling and I believe did great things for the Utes future recruiting efforts.  If young warriors looking for a winning program, in a great environment and their parents do not have their interest peaked after Whittingham’s visit to ESPN then continuing to win and be the first 2 time BCS busters will seal the deal. 

Now to that point the Lobo’s laid some good wood on SDSU last Saturday 70-7 and then turn around and have the wheels fall off in Colorado Springs (10/23) last night.  The following are some excerpts from the ESPN recap of the game.

“The Lobos (4-5, 2-3) forced three first-quarter turnovers and were about to jump out to a 17-0” when NM fumbled and “Nobody was more relieved than Falcons freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson, who had fumbled away the ball and thrown an interception on consecutive snaps that led to 10 Lobos points”

Brian and company the offense really looked good last Saturday but take note what put AF in the hole – fumbles and pass interceptions.  Defenses drill on the art of creating fumbles and when it happens Mr. Momentum changes sides as follows:

“Kirchoff (AF) scooped up quarterback Brad Gruner's (NM) fumble at the Falcons 4 and sped down the Lobos' sideline for the second-longest fumble return in (AF) school history…The Lobos never recovered from the two-touchdown turnaround.”  "That didn't win the game for them," New Mexico coach Rocky Long insisted. "That got them back into the game."  It demoralized the Lobos, however.  "That was a killer," Lobos running back Rodney Ferguson said. "It was the killer." "It's a simple deal tonight," Long said. "If you turn the ball over and then you can't make fourth-and-short, you're going to lose."

Fumbles and interceptions, and let’s add 80 yards in penalties, in tight games which we are facing will kill the deal.  ‘Nuf said!?