ROCKY LONG OUT AT NEW MEXICO

New Mexico coach Rocky Long has announced his resignation, saying that after 11 years at the helm, he doesn’t think he’s the man to bring the program to the next level."I want this program to be on top,” Long said. “I wanted it be on top as a player. I wanted it be on top as an assistant coach. And I wanted it to be on top as the head coach. I don’t see it happening with me as the head coach."Most of the time, when a coach “resigns” that really means he was pushed out. But in the case of Long, who has been the head coach at New Mexico since 1998 and was the school’s starting quarterback from 1969 to 1971, it seems that it really was Long’s decision. In fact, administrators said they were surprised that he had decided to step down.Long thanked the loyal fans of New Mexico but said that there simply isn’t enough passion among the casual fans: “If you want to compete with the big boys, you’ve got to act like it,” Long said.New Mexico’s season ended with Saturday’s loss at Colorado State, and the resignation is effective immediately. Long went 65-69, including 4-8 this year. He took the Lobos to five bowl games.