NMSUPistolPete wrote: Walker is openning the the door for Colwell but ultimately I think it will be Martin (if he returns) that will make the final QB decision. Two years ago, Manley, through Martin's play calling, was able to beat Minnesota. Manley didn't played exceptionally well last season but I think under Martin's supervision, Aggie fans might learn to love Manley once again. Otherwise, if Manley doesn't step it up, I'm sure Martin will get the most out of Colwell like he did with Matt Christian when Manley went down due to injury.

WashingtonAggie wrote:

NMSUPistolPete wrote: Walker is openning the the door for Colwell but ultimately I think it will be Martin (if he returns) that will make the final QB decision. Two years ago, Manley, through Martin's play calling, was able to beat Minnesota. Manley didn't played exceptionally well last season but I think under Martin's supervision, Aggie fans might learn to love Manley once again. Otherwise, if Manley doesn't step it up, I'm sure Martin will get the most out of Colwell like he did with Matt Christian when Manley went down due to injury.

Enough with the Martin lovefest!  The Minnesota game was a perfect storm.  Manley still threw 2 INTs in that game.  We won because that was the first and only game in Walker's tenure that NMSU's defense has really made a difference.  And even then that was because Minnesota had a QB that could not hit the broad side of a barn.  Plus the distraction that occured towards the end.  Added to that it was also the aided by 133 yards rushing.

Now look at the other two games Martin had Manley under center;

vs. Ohio- 24 points.  Down at one point 44-10 before a KR for a TD.  Last TD and most second half yards against Ohio's bench.  6 (SIX!) yards rushing on 23 attempts.  Manley was 22 of 41 for 362 yards and 2 TD's and 1 INT.  Oh yeah, he was sacked 3 times for a loss of 19 yards.

vs. UTEP- 10 points.  258 total yards.  16 (SIXTEEN!) yards rushing on 29 attempts.  Manley was 20-37 for 242 yards with 1 TD.  He fumbled 3 times that game losing 1 and was sacked 6 times for minus 46 yards.

So who do we get with a Manley-Martin combo?  The guy that beat Minnesota in a perfect storm for the whole team?  Or do we get the team that averaged a whopping 11 yards rushing in the other two games and scored just 3 TD's? I say we might get a QB that was sacked 9 times and turned the ball over 4 times in 3 games.

Walker is just saving face given the fans contempt at the way this season went down and what many see as his reluctance to change what is not working.  He says he will have an open competition but in reality if Manley threatens to transfer he will name him the starter.  Martin would be better served with Colwell as the starter and we know it.  When given the chance the year before he proved he could move the ball.  But despite everyone thinking that Martin is some kind of offensive guru it is still Walker's call.  He has shown time and again how stubborn he is and Martin won't change that fact.

But hey, I think I'll watch the rebuilding job that Mike Leach is doing up here.  Until then I'll care once again in 2016 when hopefully NMSU decides to part ways with Walker after another 10 wins in the next 4 years.  I can see it now, 1 win (FCS) next year but the excuse will be that it was the toughest schedule NMSU has ever faced.  3 wins (2 FCS and 1 upset of UNM) in 2014 because well, either we are still an independent, or it will be our first year transitioning to a new league.  Walker will fire Elson to make him the scapegoat.  2015 will see a breakout 4 wins (1 versus an FCS team, and 3 against FBS transitional teams)!  Martin will leave about here and take a head coaching job at a FCS school.  Watchout, Boston may try and give Walker another extension about this time.  Then finally in 2016 back down to 2 wins because we will be on our 6th OC in 8 years, 4th DC, 4th OL coach, 4th DL coach, 3rd ST coach, ect., ect., ect.  But still it will never be Walkers' fault.

Dayfree wrote: What we need is a new head coach.

You can play around the edges for one or two more wins, change a cord or QB but thats just not going to get it done at this point. It should have been clear to most after UNM replaced their coach and in the guys first year with players that were not even his beats Walker in his fourth season that a change is required.

Playing around the edges by changing an assistant here or there or even changing the QB under this system will do almost nothing. The Defense will not improve because it does not target the talent we have, changing a cord may bring an added 1 or two games but at this point what will they be playing in front of maybe 1 or 2 thousand fans? NMSU has to do something bold to bring hope to the fans and few will support these half measures which provide very little hope at all. I challenge anyone to predict more than 3 wins for the foreseeable future under Walker. 

Some may say we can not afford to buy him out but really they should be saying we can not afford to not do so or at least be creative and move him aside.  If I am wrong show me how he will change, how he will put in a real defense, how he will actually have an offense.

Yup, either NMSU has gotten a series of mediocre coaches over the years; in which case NMSU needs to increase the money you hired a "good" coach. Or, NMSU has hired good coaches over the years and they needed to increase the money in order for them to be successful. We can't continually hire a new head coach every few years. The investment in the football program must change first.

RioGrandeAg wrote: Dayfree is pretty much right--BUT, I'd also add that without a true commitment and full backing from the Board of Regents, the NMSU President and an AD that is on the ball, any head coach would be struggling.. we have pretty much repeated the same mistakes--coach after coach for years.. so getting rid of Walker solves what???  Without the full and total
backing of the regents, etc., we will be in the same hole 3 or 4 years down the road - again..
Either make the full committment or shut it down..

Dayfree wrote: I look at keeping Walker as a default shut down of the program in my opinion, they may take the field but basically just as a place holder until they can figure out the final direction. It will be a self fulfilling thing, driving donors away, fans out of the stands, until what is left will be happy with a shut down or drop to low level FCS not even a main player in FCS race. The sad thing is you also see this poisoning the other sports, look at basketball a once fine tradition now fans coming from a hopeless football season take that attitude into basketball so if you lose early they leave in droves being conditioned from the past football season. NMSU as long as I can remember had bad football with some sparks of life here and there but the fan attitude bleed-over never occurred to other sports. I venture that football is now having a negative impact on the entire sports package. I think the difference always was that you felt a change would be made in football or an attempt to correct it but now people just think we are stuck and no hope no sign of change or an attempt to fix things. You see football dragging basketball into weaker and weaker conference play and no fixed conference rivals for basketball. Now we are playing conference teams we use to think of as pre-conference tune up games.

RioGrandeAg wrote: Dayfree is pretty much right--BUT, I'd also add that without a true commitment and full backing from the Board of Regents, the NMSU President and an AD that is on the ball, any head coach would be struggling.. we have pretty much repeated the same mistakes--coach after coach for years.. so getting rid of Walker solves what???  Without the full and total
backing of the regents, etc., we will be in the same hole 3 or 4 years down the road - again..
Either make the full committment or shut it down..