Utah football: Utah nemesis New Mexico struggles under Locksley

Five questions to ponder concerning Mountain West Conference football:

» Which team has gone to bowl games in five of the last seven years?

» Which team handed Urban Meyer his only home loss and only conference loss during his two seasons at Utah?

» Which team is 5-4 against the BCS-busting Utes since the 2000 season?

» Which team not named TCU came within three points of spoiling Utah's undefeated season in 2008?

» Which four-touchdown underdog brings a turmoil-filled 0-8 record into Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday?

If that last one sounds like a trick question, it's not.

During the last decade, New Mexico has been one of the Mountain West's

consistently successful teams.

The Lobos have caused the Utes more sleepless nights than any other conference opponent, including BYU.

But this year, things are different.

New coaches. New schemes. Key injuries. Inexperience. Distracting off-the-field issues. Unfamiliar results.

The Lobos already have lost to New Mexico State and UNLV. They were blown out by Tulsa and Wyoming. Their losing streak has reached 12 games, going back to the tail-end of the Rocky Long era.

If New Mexico can't upset the Utes, the 13-game losing streak will be its longest since the 1960s.

Encouraged by a 23-20 near-miss at San Diego State last week, however, first-year coach Mike Locksley said, "... Our team has

played Utah well in the past and I expect our team to do so this week."

The Lobos' downward spiral began after last season, when Long unexpectedly resigned after 11 years on the job.

Locksley, the offensive coordinator at Illinois, replaced him.

Trouble quickly followed.

Last spring, a former administrative assistant for football accused Locksley of sexual harrassment. The matter was settled in October, when the school announced its coach had "resolved claims for age discrimination and retaliation."

At the same time, Locksley also served a one-game suspension for his role in an altercation with former assistant J.B. Gerald.

Gerald accused Locksley of punching and choking him. Locksley characterized the incident as a "shoving match" and school officials agreed.

On the field, life has also been difficult, though Lockley said the Lobos played their "best game" in last week's loss at San Diego State.

"It was the first game we didn't have a turnover and the defense created turnovers," he said.

Locksley believes inexperience and key injuries have contributed to the Lobos' winless start.

"We have 18 seniors in the program and only five of them have played a significant role the last four or five years," he said. "... Experience is something you just can't buy."

New Mexico's depth chart for Utah includes six freshmen on offense, 10 freshmen on defense and three on special teams. In other words, 19 freshman will play against the 16th-ranked team in the country.

Injuries at key positions have been another issue.

Senior receiver Roland Bruno and senior safety Ian Clark were injured in the opener and sidelined for the season.

"Our depth, across the board, is lacking," Locksley said.

The good news?

Athletic quarterback Donovan Porterie "... is feeling more comfortable" in coordinator Darrell Dickey's offense.

The Lobos also have a big, experienced offensive line which, in the past, has created ball control and time of possession issues for Utah.

"We are ... not quitting," Locksley said.

luhm@sltrib.com