Greetings from the Land of Enchantment.

Ohio Bobcat fans have every reason to think your team will beat New Mexico State on Sept. 3. 

- Ohio has a superior program and has had success under an established, veteran coach.  
- NMSU has struggled for the past 3-4 seasons, the last two under DeWayne Walker, former UCLA DC.
- NMSU's defense has been horrid and amongst the worst in D-1 football.
- Defensive Line is inexperienced and lacks depth.
- NMSU has it's 4th OC in as many years.
- NMSU's offense has been pathetic the past 2 years with no running game to speak of and a weak passing game. 

BUT, despite all these negative factors, NMSU will be competitive in this game, in my opinion, and just might win.

- QB is maturing and has the tools to be very, very good.
- Good experience and depth at WR.
- Good experience and depth at running back.
- New OC (Doug Martin, former HC @ Kent State) appears to be a good fit (proof will be in the pudding)
- Offensive Line is solid.
- Intangibles may favor NMSU
      - Hunger.  This team is hungry for wins.
      - Home field advantage.  Has not been huge for NMSU, but as mentioned in another post, it will be hot and dry 
        and getting to Las Cruces isn't super easy (if team is chartering plane, plane can land in LC, otherwise land in
        El Paso, bus 50 minutes to LC).
      - Ohio will have a lot of new starters, albeit many of them have seen playing time.

Most of us are thinking NMSU's offense may be its best assest.  The question mark is on defense.  Special teams have been adequate.

If NMSU can score some points and if Coach Walker can get the defense to at least slow down the opponent, NMSU has a real chance to win this game.

We shall see.

I'm glad you're optimistic, but I just don't have that confidence yet. Your list has some impressive opening wins, but none are non-conference D1A opponents. In my mind, the Bobcats seldom come out of the gate and beat the pulp out of anyone. I expect the game against NMSU to be somewhat tight, with a final differential under 10-12 points. We have a new starting quarterback, a new hurry-up offense, and a new defensive line. We certainly don't have a reputation for opening up the season with a butt kicking victory.

My advice: prepare to be somewhat nervous entering the fourth quarter.

Good points here.  I think that this year's team knows that it can be good and will want to make a mark.  Staff probably won't show the full package but I gotta think that there's strong feeling and knowledge on OUr side that a strong start is imperative:  to get the fanbase excited from game one and to erase any question in the players' minds about whether we are g o o d.

I agree with this assessment 100% plus based on last years underperformance against Kent, Martin knows something about shutting down Ohio's offense.

+1

This was the moment I became a die-hard Bobcat (I was 14 at the time). I watched this on SportsChannel Ohio, at home, by myself, with just a pizza to keep me company. SO MANY BLOCKED PUNTS! I think this one marked the (unfortunately terse) start of the Grobe era.