I had an interesting invitation today. An old friend, an avid fan of the Utah Utes, invited me to desert the inept New Mexico Lobo football team for a new team. He also graciously offered me a spot as a Ute. His invitation at least made me think. It’s not the first time Lobo football fans have been treated to winless seasons. In the late 80’s, there were 6 years with a total of 9 wins. Considering each year usually includes a game against a division 2 team and a game against New Mexico State, it would seem the minimum number of wins in 6 years would be 12.
So what if a guy decided to abandon his alma matter for a new team, what considerations should be made? I am not saying it is a real possibility, but what are the alternatives?
For the last 10 years Salt Lake City, home of the Utes, has been home. I have no plans to move anytime soon. My daughter is a graduate of the University of Utah, so I guess it would seem logical to switch allegiance to the Utes. In addition, they have enjoyed some recent success. In one Sports Illustrated article that told the best years for each school’s football team, Utah’s greatest success is in the present. (Lobos experienced their best years in the late 50’s and early 60’s.)
Just because you live somewhere, you don’t have to adopt their teams. I lived in Texas but didn’t desert the Colts for the Cowboys, the Lakers for the Mavericks, nor the Yankees for the Rangers. In addition, I lived in Fort Worth and didn’t’ become a TCU fan. (More on that later.)
Since the day I enrolled at UNM, the Lobos and Utes have played football once and basketball at least twice every year. After rooting for one team against another for 42 years, it is tough to even think about changing sides.
What are the other alternatives? Well the only other major college in New Mexico is the New Mexico State Aggies. That is using major college loosely. Becoming an Aggie would be no easier than switching to the Utes and wouldn’t solve the futile football anyway.
Other alternatives? Well I was born in Texas. In my very early years, actually until I enrolled at UNM, I did follow the Longhorns as much as you could follow an out of area team back in those days. It wouldn’t be much of a switch however, as I continue to think of Texas as my favorite “National” team. That isn’t much help locally though since there isn’t much chance that New Mexico or Utah will play Texas in football. They do play occasionally in basketball. I remember a NIT game in the Pit between UNM and Texas that went into overtime.
I could never be a BYU fan. The Mormonism would keep getting in the way. But what about the flag ship college of my Baptist denomination. Cheering for the Baylor Bears is about as hopeless as cheering for the Lobos, with the exception that at least they play in a BCS conference.
The College nearest my birth place that I lived close to for the first 8 years of my life is Texas Tech. However, I don’t have any logical connection to the Red Raiders. A lot of folks in Eastern New Mexico consider Texas Tech the home team.
The other city I lived in while getting my education could solve the dilemma. I earned a Master’s degree in Fort Worth, Texas. In fact, the church we attended in Fort Worth was University Baptist Church. The University in the name being Texas Christian University; TCU. In addition, they haven’t been a conference foe all that long. They have a winning program and there is the added benefit of seeing them play a couple of times a year.
Texas has a great live mascot, Bivo the Longhorn. I think the orange shirt with the white longhorn emblem is a great logo. I have such a shirt. TCU on the other hand has a horned frog. It is as fake as Lobo Louie and Swoop. Baylor has live bears and Tech has a real Red Raider. While I am glad that Utah didn’t go the politically correct route and dump the Ute name nor the feather logo, swoop looks like poop, and their live mascot is a . . . red tailed hawk? (New Mexico dropped the live Lobo when they had trouble with it chewing the fingers of children who tried to pet it.)
Well enough of this. I know, and you probably do too, I ain’t changing. Eventually NM will get on track again. I think it is going to require a new Athletic Director. The one we have seems to make poor choices where coaches are concerned. Utah will eventually come to the end of their current run. In the meantime I will ask you to remember the Lobo football mantra that is at least 40 years old. “Wait til basketball season.”
