Wagon Wheel wanted by all

PORTALES — When Hunter Hughes came to West Texas A&M, he said he expected the Buffs to be a national title contender immediately — and win the Wagon Wheel every year.

As far as bulletin-board material goes, this is pretty low-hanging fruit for Eastern New Mexico University. Still, Greyhound coach Kelley Lee says, hard pass.

"I don't know if it makes any difference," Lee said of Hughes' statement from last December. "They're so fired up to play, and it's such a rivalry. You could say all kinds of stuff, and I don't think it would make a kid play any harder."

The rivalry game is in the DNA of every Hound and Buff heading into Saturday's 6 p.m. (CDT) kickoff in Canyon. The winner will be the final team to run up the hill at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium and claim the wheel, with WT slated to move into an on-campus stadium next season.

"It's something really unique; I'm not sure if it's the wheel, or the run up the hill," Lee said. "You don't experience it until you've won it and lost it. You have to see both sides before you understand how important it is to have that wheel."

Hughes is finding out. The former defensive coordinator of Colorado-State Pueblo has spent most of the week receiving "I want the wheel" texts from various school employees.

"I think Coach Lee has the same expectations to win the Wagon Wheel as well," Hughes said. "I'm learning the importance of the Wagon Wheel every day. The importance of this game, what it means, has taken a turn for me now that it's here. It's important for both universities, both communities."

Of course, Hughes expects to win the Wagon Wheel game because he expects to win every game. He served nine years as the defensive coordinator for Colorado State-Pueblo, and all the staff did was rebuild a 24-years-dormant program, go 88-21 in nine seasons and win the 2014 national championship with a shutout of Minnesota State.

So who should expect to win? Historically speaking, expect coin flip odds. The Greyhounds have taken the traveling trophy three of the last four seasons, and own it via last season's 39-30 win at Greyhound Stadium. Before that, the Buffs won seven straight. West Texas A&M holds a 15-14 overall edge in the game, which dates to 1986. The teams did not play in 2000 or 2010.

It's hard to say what's a bigger motivation, regaining it or keeping it another year. But either way is enough motivation coaches don't have to do much else.

"You don't have to get on them about working hard or any of that stuff," Lee said of this week's practices. "It just means so much to all the kids. It's such a fun game for everybody."

A key, as always, will be turnovers. When the Greyhounds got turnovers, they looked like world-beaters last week with a quick 21-0 lead over Angelo State. After a 50-minute weather delay ended and Angelo State got the turnovers, ENMU had to sweat out a 31-21 win.

"When you're in conditions like that, you know it's going to be difficult to play," Lee said. "I think in this game, it's big too. We lead the nation in time of possession, and they're up there too. So turnovers are much more magnified, and one could swing the game."

Likewise, the Buffs ended up digging too big of a hole a week ago when a second-half turnover gave Tarleton State a short field, and eventually a 27-0 lead. But Hughes notes that keeping the ball isn't enough.

"It was more us not finishing," Hughes said of the Texans' 30-20 win. "We missed three field goals. You're not finishing, not scoring touchdowns. We had a 17-play drive and missed a field goal. That's as bad or worse than a turnover in my opinion."

Hughes doesn't think he'll ever get his team to carry the ball 700 times in a season like Eastern, but he admits some jealousy in how the Greyhounds can hold the ball for 40 minutes a game and be dangerous at any point.

"As odd as it sounds, their passing game scares me," Hughes said. "They lull you to sleep, lull you to sleep, and then they pop a pass on you and it's normally wide open and it's six points."