The TEAM Sports magazine Summer 2019

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May- June 2019

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CONTENTS Ma y - J u n e 201 9 VOL 2 ISS U E 1

101.7

The

20

ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM 4131 Barbara Loop SE #202 Rio Rancho, NM 87124 505.239.4771

Publisher Joe O’Neill Associate Publisher David Dominguez Managing Editor David Garcia Editor Richard Stevens

7

Editorial Contributors Greg Archuleta Richard Stevens

14 PAGE

7 14 20 28 32 38 43 PAGE

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MEET AUSTIN DENTON Story By Richard Stevens Photos provided by Tracy Denton and Richard Stevens

Story By Richard Stevens Photos by New Mexico Athletics

Story By Greg Archuleta | Photos by Richard Stevens

SCOTT GALETTI

32

Special Contributors Sal Ortiz Jim Villanucci Robert Maler Sam Hauser

Story By Richard Stevens Photos by Richard Stevens

The majority of the editorial content has been written by Richard Stevens. Stevens, a former Deputy Sports Editor and Sports Columnist with The Albuquerque Tribune, has won a number of writing awards at both the state and national level.

CHRIS JANS Story By Richard Stevens Photos by New Mexico State Athletics

NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES Story By Richard Stevens Photos by NM Senior Olympic Games

PAGE

PULLTOGETHER.ORG

Photo Contribution UNM Athletics New Mexico State Athletics Richard Stevens NM Senior Olympic Games Advertisement David Dominguez Mike Mares David Swope Robbie Westby

PAULA CONGLETON

UNM LOBO FOOTBALL

Production David Lansa DL Graphic Design,LLC.

38 At 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine, our mission is to be the one and only resource regarding sports events, active sport lifestyles, trends, and wellness for the sports enthusiast throughout the state of New Mexico. The contents of this magazine is copyrighted by 101.7 The TEAM Sports magazine, all rights reserved.

Reproduction of any articles, advertisement, or material from this issue is forbidden without written permission of the publisher.

The publisher in no way recommends, guarantees or endorses the quality of services and/or products and/or article topics within those advertisements or editorial content of any kind when accepting and publishing advertising or editorial submissions.

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Meet

Austin Denton

H

e could become La Cueva High’s most recognized alum since Doogie Howser or Barney Stinson – AKA Neil Patrick Harris.

He just might climb to a level in the world of athletics surpassing highs attained by former Bears A.J. Bramlett (NCAA National Champion in basketball) or Jordan Pacheco (Major League Baseball).

He has hobnobbed with household names of the tube such as Bill Cowher, Nate Burleson, Terry Bradshaw, Deion Sanders, Boomer Esiason, James Brown, Rich Eisen – just to name a few.

He has huddled with the Denver Broncos and he has interviewed Peyton Manning and former Denver coach Gary Kubiak.

“Austin has evolved into a celebrity in this city and we are proud and fortunate that he wears an ESPN logo on his shirt,” Said Joe O’Neill, President of ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM. And maybe we ain’t seen or heard nothing yet from Austin Denton because this 18-year-old La Cueva High product is just getting started on his path in sports broadcasting.

But – wow! -- how impressive is his early start that includes trips to Super Bowls, NFL Drafts, The NFL Today show and

By RICHARD STEVENS

Denver Broncos games.

And Denton wasn’t there as a spectator. He was a working man – conducting interviews, announcing draft picks, working the mic.

“It’s unbelievable all the things I’ve gotten to do,” said Denton. “Amazing. I’m so thankful for those opportunities. The NFL Draft (Denton announced Denver’s first pick in April, 2018) was probably the most exciting experience because I got to do a lot of other things besides announcing the pick for the Broncos.

“I just hope I end up sitting in a broadcast booth somewhere. I don’t care what the level. I just want to be doing what I love.”

Denton fell in love with sports first, but then start thinking about chiseling out a career somewhere inside athletics.

It was an easy decision because of the intensity in which he embraced the games and the participants.

“I fell in love with everything about sports and not just the game but all the things that go into sports; all the stuff behind the games and the announcing,” he said.

At La Cueva High, Denton has been busy just like he was in his middle-school years at Desert Ridge. He has been a 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine 7

You can’t make an absolute statement about a parent’s worst nightmare. There are more than a few terrifying scenarios created by this bond of love and responsibility. But you can say this: It centers around your children’s health. A life-threatening disease is near the top of the list.

The Dentons noticed something was wrong with Austin’s gait when, as a toddler, he dragged one leg ever so slightly. Then on vacation with some friends, who also had a toddler, Austin was having trouble keeping up.

“He was trying to keep up and was working ten times harder than this other kid was working just to do the same thing,” said Tracy.

The short version goes like this: To the pediatrician, to an MRI, to UNM Hospital – to the Cancer Center.

Cancer is a coward. It attacks without rhyme or reason, young or old. It attacked Austin in his spinal cord snaking its way from “top to bottom,” said Tracy. It was the pressure from the growth that caused Austin to drag one leg and work so hard when it came to running and keeping up. With cancer, you also have to worry about where it might go next – and how fast.

But you grit your teeth, think positive thoughts and start the fight. The fight for the Dentons lasted about eight years. Austin will battle the rest of his life.

Austin had his first surgery at two-years-old. That cutting had to go through bone to reach at the demon in Austin’s spinal cord. That surgery was followed by a year of chemotherapy that stopped the long tumor’s growth. The tumor fired up again once the chemo ended. Austin was three. The procedure was repeated. At five, the cancer moved into his lower spine. The procedure was repeated.

Austin’s last operation for cancer removal came in the second grade. He has been cancer free for ten years. However, the cutting through spine to reach the cancer created other problems.

“You go into shock when you hear the word and you are kind of in shock as all these things start to happen.”

Austin’s mother, Tracy Denton PA announcer, team manager, stats guy, newspaper editor – accepting just about any position that will pull him close to sports. He also has found broadcast work in Albuquerque at ProView Network and ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM. Which presents a small, but pleasant dilemma for Denton as he contemplates life as a college student. His first choice is Arizona State because of the prestigious Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

If Denton doesn’t get enough help from scholarship money, he’ll likely go to the University of New Mexico.

“The plan is to go to ASU,” said mom, Tracy Denton.

“There are a few hurdles to overcome, things to figure out.

Austin is looking at some scholarships to make it happen.”

Said Austin: “There are a lot of connections and relationships here that I don’t want to let go. Do I really want to leave some of the things here that I’ve been doing for so long?”

8 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

The spine was weakened and it curved. Austin’s spine is fortified by two titanium rods and 17 screws that went in in 2016. One of the rods broke and had to be replaced in 2017. It broke again but has not been replaced because the bone fusion is doing well and Austin says he is in no pain. However, Austin Denton probably would rub dirt on a gun-shot wound.

“Austin could teach all of us how the right attitude can help overcome life’s challenges,” says David Dominguez, Vice President of ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM. “He has such a passion for everything he does and doesn’t really seem to reflect on his challenges. He has such an excitement for life and reaching out to his dreams.”

la cueva FOOTBALL Basketball Baseball

W

n i t s au n o t n e d

e thank you for your contributions to our programs and wish you the best at Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine PB

Continued next page

Bent body? Yes. Bent Spirit? Never.

Said Joe O’Neill: “Austin has been relentless in his pursuit of improvement. He gets better and better.

Austin obviously has some challenges but he maximizes his capabilities with such an admirable attitude toward it all. He is such a great person to be around.”

Scott Galetti was asked to give a critique.

Brian Denton had taped his son, Austin, doing play-by-play to an NBA video game. Austin voiced over the game like a radio broadcaster imitating Kevin Harlan. He prepped for his broadcast – knew the names, knew the details, had lots of stats to throw out.

Austin Denton and Brian O’Neill

Austin has had ten operations. His spine and his legs will never recover. He will be in a wheelchair the rest of his life.

His mind and his spirit are not broken.

“This is a kid who found out at two he had cancer and now is about to go off to college,” said Tracy. “He has gone through things that little kids should never have to go through. His mindset is, ‘What’s next? How do we fix this?’

He just approaches everything with a positive attitude and the willingness to figure out whatever comes next.

“Everything he does is a milestone for him. He has a chance to do what he dreams of doing. That doesn’t happen for everyone.”

Austin is one of those shining inspirations of life. His story, his battle, reverberates beyond a last-second shot at The Final Four. Austin has fought to live; not just to hoist a trophy. He is winning and once again is trying to figure out whatever comes next.

Austin was dealt a bad hand and he could be bitter about all this, “but what’s the point?” he says. “There is no point in having a (why me?) attitude. I’ve obviously had some hard times but everyone has to endure hard times, difficult times, but that’s part of life.

“It doesn’t help to approach the negative stuff in your life with a negative attitude. You have to say, ‘What can I do to fix this, make it better?’ I tell myself I’m a problem solver.

It might be a quick solution or a quick reaction or it might take years, but I’ll solve that problem.”

10 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine PB

“I’m pretty sure Austin didn’t know his dad was behind him videoing,” said Galetti, the award-winning play-by-play announcer for ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM. “Austin was really good and you have to remember he was about seven or eight when he was doing this. I told Austin, ‘This is really good.’”

Said Austin: “Scott wasn’t too hard on me ‘cause I was just a little kid. But he critiqued me like I was a veteran broadcaster. He pointed out some things I could do better.”

Galetti also gave Austin one of his first big breaks in broadcasting – but not intentionally.

Austin had done a few games on ProView and said his biggest game might have been “an AYBL (youth basketball) championship.” Austin’s main task with 101.7 The TEAM was to do stat work, halftime or postgame commentary.

Then one day just before the Metro Basketball Championship finals in January of 2018, Galetti lost something very important to a broadcaster. His voice.

Austin took over the mic with a color commentary assist from Galetti’s sidekick, Brian O’Neill.

“I tried to go, but my voice just went out on me,” said Galetti. “I didn’t give Austin much warning, but I knew he would be ready because Austin is always prepared. He knew the teams and he knew the players. If he was nervous, he didn’t show it. He just kind of did it. It was neat to see. I thought he did extremely well.

“First time ever I couldn’t do a game because of my voice.

Maybe it was meant to be because it helped out a terrific kid. He has gone through so much stuff and you wouldn’t even know everything he has gone through. He has such a strong spirit.”

Austin, it has been a pleasure to watch you grow into the successful young 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine PB

man that you are today. The UNM Spirit Program Alumni are all so proud of you!

Good luck at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.

Go Lobos!

101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine 11

About four years ago, Galetti and David Williams, a former head football coach at Del Norte High and Eldorado High, were approached by Joe O’Neill, The TEAM’s President with a proposition: add a high school freshman to the broadcast booth to keep stats and handle the postgame interviews.

“The most amazing thing about Austin is despite everything he has to overcome, he has never once said, ‘I can’t to that or I don’t want to do that.’”

David Williams, ESPN commentator for high school football

Williams had some doubts. A high school freshman?

“There was a lot of responsibility and work that came with the job,” said Williams. “But Austin had such enthusiasm for the job and he is good at it. He does his homework and is prepared for every game.

“The most amazing thing about Austin is despite everything he has to overcome (being in a wheelchair), he has never once said, ‘I can’t to that or I don’t want to do that.’”

Austin has a tremendous support group behind him – a family: Brian, Tracy and sister, Skye, 12. There is great love and often a helping hand. Dad has been carrying Austin up to press boxes for years.

“When Austin goes to a place like Milne Stadium or Wilson Stadium, he has to be carried up to the press box

12 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

and back down to the field,” said Williams. “I’ve never heard a complaint from his dad. Brian would take Austin down to the field in rain or wind or snow to do the coach interviews and you never heard Brian say a word and you never heard Austin say, ‘I’m not doing that. I’m not going out in that weather.’

“Austin can’t be the starting shortstop or the point guard, but he has such genuine excitement for the kids he is watching participate.”

Austin’s love and dedication for athletics – his passion to be involved – was emphasized during the La Cueva High football season during the early-morning, pre-school workouts.

“Austin would show up to be a part of it. He would get out of bed and be there,” said Williams. “I had kids on my football teams who were playing and would look for reasons not to show up.”

Maybe that’s a good way to end a story on Austin Denton.

Like mom said, Austin has faced challenges that no kid should ever face.

But Austin keeps showing up.

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By RICHARD STEVENS / Photos courtesy of New Mexico Athletics

The buzz is back.

once-thriving program. However, the buzz for those former coaches faded as their programs never pushed Lobo softball to the next level. No postseason sea was parted.

Same ‘ole buzz? Yeah, in a way.

It’s not uncommon for new coaches to inherit a program and infuse that band of diamond sisters with energy, visions and grandiose plans to part the Red Sea and at the end of the twisty tunnel find the promised land called the College World Series.

Congleton is the new softball sheriff in town and armed with fresh visions and a buzz featuring a slightly different pitch.

It’s a good pitch; one to put faith in. Congleton makes you want to believe in an orgasmic future just like Gatsby did viewing a faraway green light.

But does second-year New Mexico Lobos’ coach Paula Congleton have a blessed stick (staff) like Moses? Does “I was born and raised here. I played at she have enough sticks at the plate; enough lively arms in Highland. I played here. Blood runs deep. the circle?

I feel I know what it takes to win here.”

Lobo Softball Coach Paula Congleton

For the Lobos, it has been more like the Dead Sea when it comes to UNM softball dreams crashing on the shore. The College World Series has been beyond the Lobos’ wildest dreams.

The buzz was hot and heavy for Lobos softball when Ty Singleton, Kim Newbern, and Erica Beach took over this 14 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

“I was born and raised here. I played at Highland. I played here,” said Congleton, a threetime All-American at UNM. “Blood runs deep. I feel I know what it takes to win here. We already have changed the culture. We already are moving up.”

Sounds good. This buzz has a different ring to it. But does being a coach with Albuquerque and Lobo roots change any of hurdles and challenges that have plagued Lobo softball since 1983 – the last and only time Lobos played in the NCAA postseason?

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New Mexico softball looks like it is a third thought -- a redheaded stepchild to football and men’s basketball. A product of a university that hasn’t heard of Title IV.

I f anything, the hole has gotten deeper. The power conferences have softball stadiums that like look like miniature Major League parks. They have fancy press boxes, covered seating, chairbacks, amazing indoor practice facilities, marketing, graduate assistants, operation managers, TV networks.

They have NCAA tradition. They go to the postseason. The rich get richer. The big get bigger.

New Mexico softball looks like it is a third thought -- a redheaded stepchild to football and men’s basketball. A product of a university that hasn’t heard of Title IV. “I realize I’m in for a huge challenge,” said Congleton. “If they want us to win, then support us the way we need to be supported. Do you want to build a winner or do you want to participate?”

When Craig lost her job at UNM, she was winning most of the time, but on a budget and an administrative attitude that suggested participation was good enough.

Congleton has the additional challenge of joining an athletic department not exactly financially solvent – a program that just eliminated three sports. Football is showing no signs that it will be the financial savior and men’s basketball is coming off a dismal season.

That’s a long and frustrating drought: 35 years. That’s also the last time a Lobo team won a conference title and the automatic NCAA bid that goes to a conference champion.

The landscape of softball has changed since UNM’s glory days under Coach Susan Craig, who led her Lobos to that 1983 NCAA slot.

The power conferences basically found themselves rich from football money and had more than enough to share the wealth with their women programs, including softball. The rich got richer. They decided, “What the heck. We might as well build softball dynasties, too.”

“There was an explosion in the mid-90s where schools in the big football programs started putting money into softball and the programs who weren’t players suddenly became players,” said Craig, who still helps coach softball at the Albuquerque Academy.

“Stadiums started popping up and it wasn’t just about the type of program you had, but what players could get in terms of sweats, gear, cleats, bats, perks and traveling to places like Hawaii. It got tougher to compete, to recruit.”

UNM fell behind the times in the early 90s. The Lobos didn’t do much of anything with the softball facilities, the recruiting budget was minimal, and Craig was asked to play and recruit regionally when it came to travel. UNM went small time.

16 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

So, what are the options? Will anything change?

“It’s not hopeless,” says Craig. “It used to be about the coaches who taught the game and coaches who worked the hardest.

“What has to happen now is you have to start with teaching.

You can’t just go out and practice. You have to teach. You have to have a good eye, find good players with potential and then coach them to a higher level. You have to get lucky.

The elite players want to go to the postseason and they are not going to give up a college season just to help you get there.”

Probably the top metro-area players in the past ten years were Shelby Pendley, Nicole Pendley and Kelsey Stevens.

Shelby Pendley left Rio Rancho High for Arizona, transferred to Oklahoma where she played on an OU NCAA National Championship team. Her sister Nicole followed her to OU and was on two National Championship teams.

Stevens left Volcano Vista for Stanford, transferred to OU, was the nation’s winningest pitcher as a sophomore, and was on a national championship OU team in 2016.

“We have had three metro-area softball players win the World Series,” said Cheryl Johnson, who won New Mexico prep crowns at La Cueva and Volcano Vista. “Hopefully, Paula can get the Lobos back to the regionals.”

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Which brings up a question, a dilemma: What comes first? The tradition or the talent? If you don’t have the talent, can you build a winning tradition? If you don’t have the tradition, can you attract elite talent? Can you convince the elite New Mexico player to be a Lobo?

The Pendley sisters and Stevens had goals to play in the College World Series in Oklahoma City. Maybe win a national title. Kids don’t always notice you lost to this team by 12 runs last year and by only a single run this year. They have dreams, too. They want a ticket to the College World Series that takes them through the players’ entrance.

“I’m going to go after the same kids that Patty Gasso (OU coach) goes after,” said Congleton. “The kid can say, ‘No,’ but we are going after them. I’m not intimidated by teams on the 1-to-50 RPI list (top 50 teams).

“We will always look at local talent, but we are after kids who can come here and play.”

Craig points out another hurdle for mid-major teams like New Mexico trying to climb the ladder, scratch out of a hole.

She says Arizona or Arizona State can hold tryouts and get “maybe 40 players” who can actually make the team better.

New Mexico does not have the talent pool to generate a productive walk-on system. The Lobo bench is not at the level of an Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Florida, etc.

“If you have nine starters and nobody is pushing them, it’s a lot tougher to get better,” says Craig. “That type of competition is difficult at New Mexico because you don’t have the numbers. That competition creates such a great atmosphere on a team. You sit on the bench for a couple of games and that’s a great motivator.”

Congleton comes to UNM after 19 seasons at Santa Barbara City College. The Vaqueros are a two-year community college giving no athletic scholarships. Congleton has made a big jump. She has scholarships to give. She has a coaching contract that is not tied into a teaching position. She needs to win – eventually.

“I came here by choice,” said Congleton, who played on

UNM’s 1983 postseason team. “I’m here to stay. I’m not looking for advancement in my career. When this job became available, it became a full circle in my life.”

At Santa Barbara, Congleton said her recruiting pitch was “you are 207 steps from the ocean.” It’s doubtful any coach at UNM has ever counted the steps to Tingley Beach. But how many steps is it to Oklahoma City and the College World Series?

“Paula has to build an attitude at UNM,” said Craig. “One of the best attitudes to have is that of an underdog with a chip on your shoulder. You go out and play hard and you get better and you start beating people and you start getting better kids.

“There are no secrets out there anymore because everybody is on the internet and every kid is on a travel team and every coach is seeing the same kids over and over again.

The competition is enormous. A growing program has to develop talent and then you have to get lucky” Craig’s Lobos had an attitude. They went to the AIAW postseason in 1981 and the NCAA playoffs in 1983 after posting a 35-16 record. She coached from 1978 through 2002. She had 13 seasons with 28 wins or more with highs of 42, 39 and 38 wins.

The next two Lobos coaches, Newbern and Singletary, never produced a winning season overall or in league play.

Singletary went 1-14 in the Mountain West in his final season. Beach (2011-17) coached UNM to two winning seasons (29-25 in 2015 and 27-25 in ’12) but never established a team that could compete for the Mountain West title. She finished ninth in the MW in her final season of 2017.

“The reputation at UNM was it wasn’t a program that was getting better,” said Craig. “Nobody was making it better.

You either get better or worse and UNM was getting worse.

Paula understands she has to work hard. She has to be seen.

She has to talk to people. She has to show her passion. You have to have a presence.

“It’s a selling job. Paula has to convince people that she is going to make a difference here. I think she is doing that.”

Congleton went 14-39 overall and 7-14 in MW play in her

“I came here by choice. I’m here to stay. I’m not looking for advancement in my career. When this job became available, it became a full circle in my life.”

--- Coach Paula Congleton, a three-time All-American as a Lobo 18 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

first season of 2018. That Lobos team went 2-14 to open the season and went 2-14 down the stretch. Bad start, bad finish.

“It’s a selling job. Paula has to convince people that she is going to make a difference here. I think she is doing that.”

Former Lobo Coach Susan Craig

The 2019 Lobos are showing slight improvement – a 1-0 loss to Alabama, a 1-0 loss to Florida, a 6-5 win over Oregon State. However, UNM took an 2-14 Mountain West record (12-35 overall) into May which had the Lobos in last place well behind 17-4 Colorado State. The Lobos gave up 34 runs and 39 runs in 3-game series with CSU and Nevada including an embarrassing 21-1 loss to Nevada in five innings. UNM was outscored 29-3 in three losses to New Mexico State.

The time-worn pitch by most coaches taking over a program is they have to “change the culture,” and bring in “my own players.” The culture-changing under Congleton still needs a few tweaks and obviously some more talent: better hitting, better pitching. But the first-time Division IA coach is still looking ahead to her third season at UNM and only her second complete recruiting year.

The jury is still out, but Congleton needs to change the numbers on the scoreboard. Congleton sees it all coming. She talks the talk and that’s fine and fair because that’s where she has to start. She also has rolled up her sleeves. This is

a program that works hard. It also is a program that has to start making steps.

First, UNM has to find success in the Mountain West and grab the NCAA automatic bid that goes to the MW champion. There are other MW teams ahead of UNM in that quest.

The Mountain West is in a hole compared to the softball programs in the power conferences. UNM is in a hole in the Mountain West.

“We know it will take hard work and we are working hard,” she says. “I believe in what we are doing. We will be a premier program. We will be one of the mid-majors who make it to the College World Series.”

That’s a lot of steps, a lot of culture-changing, a lot of work, a lot of luck -- and a lot of buzz.

Same as the old buzz? Well, eventually there is a place to find the answer: the scoreboard. At UNM, the scoreboard is the same one used by Singletary and Newbern and Beach.

Now, Congleton has her shot.

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505.891.0100 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine 19

Do-Overs for

LOBO

FOOTB

By GREG ARCHULETA Photos by Richard Stevens

T

Defensive Coordinator, Coach Jordan Peterson

It also is somewhat of a gamble because of the dramatic he good thing about a do-over is you get to start with a blank slate. shifts – the do-overs -- on both sides of the ball.

The bad thing “We’re starting in about a do-over is a lot of ways comprobably there was pletely over, which “We’re starting right now like we just walked into this something wrong I think is dramatibuilding and walked into this program for the first time.” the first time that cally needed,” Coach Bob Davie on the dramatic shifts he plans on offense caused you to desays Davie, who clare a do-over. has a 33-54 mark and defense in 2019 at UNM with a 9-4 Welcome to Bob record in 2016.

Davie’s world.

“We’re starting right now like we just walked into this His do-overs for the 2019 Lobos football season – a new building and walked into this program for the first offensive scheme, a new defensive philosophy – are extime. We have a new offensive coordinator and we’ve pected to reverse the program’s fortunes after back-tochanged things dramatically on defense. back 3-9 campaigns in 2017 and 2018.

“It’s time now to rebrand it, and that’s how we’re going about it. The most tangible thing that we have to adEmbarking on his eighth year as University of New Mexidress is that we have to coach better, and we have to co football coach, Davie is embracing a unique strategy.

20 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

BALL

Offensive Coordinator, Coach Joe Dailey

play better. And it starts with me.”

Dailey’s 2019 Lobos offense – a spread option, triple option combo plate -- could be called a New Mexico-style attack.

Toward the end of 2018, Davie says he realized UNM must be schematically unique on offense and defense for the school “The most tangible thing that we have to address is to compete with its that we have to coach better, and we have to play Mountain West brethbetter. And it starts with me.” ren.

Lobo Coach Bob Davie

To that end, Davie hired new coordinators during the offseason. Davie chose Liberty offensive coordinator Joe Dailey after UNM’s former OC, Calvin Magee, got a pay raise to become Mississippi State’s tight ends coach.

Dailey, whose Flames scorched UNM’s defense in a 5243 upset last September at Dreamstyle Stadium, became available when Liberty hired head coach Hugh Freeze to replace retiring Turner Gill after last season.

The red and green chile.

“Your identity has to be unique in the sense that if other people are doing it, they’re not doing it the same way you’re doing it,” he says. “What makes New Mexico unique?

“A lot of places have chile, but no one thinks of their chile like we do in New Mexico. ‘Chile’ here means something totally different from the rest of the world.

That’s how we approach our offense.”

A red-hot – or green-hot -- offense would be a nice change from 2018. The Lobos averaged just 153.2 rush101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine 21

“I like to say my offensive background, my football background in general, is from an option standpoint,” says Dailey

He promoted second-year safeties coach Jordan Peterson to coordinator in February, relegating former DC Kevin Cosgrove to coaching linebackers. Cosgrove subsequently resigned from UNM in March to become lead defensive analyst for LSU. Peterson was part of UNM’s defensive staff last season and saw how opposing offenses were adjusting their game plans vs. the Lobos. When Davie promoted Peterson in the offseason, they had a pretty good idea of what had to change.

“Offenses were dictating to us what (defense) we were in by their formation,” Peterson says. “That’s something coming out of last season that can’t happen. (Offenses) can’t know that they’re getting into a formation that’s going to force us to be in a certain coverage or certain front.

“Because of that, quarterbacks last year got into a little bit of a groove. We never made those quarterbacks really get out of their comfort zone. They were never picking themselves off the mat.”

The solution? The Peterson Lobos intend to be much more aggressive, especially in rushing the quarterback. They also have to line up in multiple formations to disguise their blitzes and coverages. This multiple look hinders opposing quarterbacks being able to look at the defensive formation and know where to go with the football.

ing yards, and 330 total yards — which was the lowest in Davie’s UNM tenure.

Davie also is hoping his first-year defensive coordinator can add some fire to the UNM defensive attack. The Lobos defense in 2018 allowed 473.0 yards and 36.2 points per game. Davie, not happy with those numbers, not happy with the 3-9 record, went looking for a change.

22 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

A confused offense, a befuddled quarterback, is a good thing for a young defense going through a do-over.

“We’ve got to get under the offensive coordinator’s skin and get the quarterback rattled back there,” Peterson says. “We have to get them on their heels.”

Davie expects his new hires to inspire new ideas. And more wins.

“We still have to be, from a schematic standpoint, a pain in the butt to prepare for,” Davie says. “And on a given week, we have to do some things different than that team we’re playing saw the week before.

“I don’t think that will ever change.”

Dailey’s task, as was Magee’s task before him, is to marry the triple-option and the spread-option. But while Magee came from a spread-option background, Dailey says his expertise is rooted in the triple.

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“We’ve got to get under the offensive coordinator’s skin and get the quarterback rattled back there,”

“We have to get them on their heels.”

Peterson says.

“I like to say my offensive background, my football background in general, is from an option standpoint,” says Dailey, who ran the spread at Liberty, but pulled out the ball-control strategy when necessary.

“I understand both spectrums. As a triple-option team, how do you eat up the clock? As a spread option team, it’s how do we use every second on that clock to run more plays and score more points?”

The Lobos understand both spectrums “because they’ve transitioned from an option team to a spread team,” Dailey says. “There are measures you can take within your system that allows you to execute as a tempo team or as a traditional eat-up-the-clock team. Those capabilities are part of our offense.”

Dailey adds that in 2017, his Flames ran 103 plays to beat Baylor 48-45. Last season, Liberty beat Troy (which beat LSU in 2017 and Nebraska in 2018) by a 22-16 count, running just 69 plays. Up tempo in one win; ball and clock control in the other.

Dailey will try to field a unique offense to confuse the enemy. Davie latched onto that concept of uniqueness when he first arrived at UNM in 2012. The Lobos became one of the few non-military academy programs to run the tripleoption offense, and Davie brought the program back from the dead.

26 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

The history of the Lobos offense and defense has its highs and lows.

New Mexico had won three games total in three years before Davie’s arrival. Former Lobos coach Mike Locksley changed the offensive scheme from a power running attack under Rocky Long to a spread-option offense.

Long went to five bowl games in six seasons leaning on the run. In 1982, UNM’s only 10-win season ever, that Joe Morrison team averaged 272.5 yards on the ground.

Under Davie and offensive coordinator Bob DeBesse, the Lobos became a perennial top-10 rushing offense.

They went to back-to-back bowl games in 2015-16 on the strength of a seldom-used triple-option attack that was “a pain in the butt” for opponents to defend.

During that 2016 campaign, UNM led the nation in rushing at 350 yards per game. The offense broke a school record with 5,964 yards of total offense and averaged 36.7 points per game.

Davie, however, was having second thoughts about the triple-option. In 2015, the Lobos rushed for “only” 252.2 yards per game — almost 50 yards fewer than any of Davie’s previous seasons.

The Lobos turned things around in 2016 but when UNM produced only 235.4 rushing yards and 20.7 points per game in 2017, Davie decided to part ways with the tripleoption — and DeBesse.

Davie hired Magee for his version of the spread-option that emphasized the run — but it was still a spread-option — the same offense Locksley tried.

DeBesse went to Georgia Southern and helped the Eagles engineer an eight-game improvement in wins from 2016. They went 10-3 in 2018, averaged 266.2 rushing yards per game —almost 40 yards more than in 2017 — and committed just five turnovers on the season.

Meanwhile, the Lobos struggled under Magee’s spread.

However, one reason UNM wants to keep elements of the spread is the early flashes quarterback Tevaka Tuioti showed throwing the football before his season-ending injury last year.

Another reason is the lack of an explosive tailback that the Lobos rode during the triple-option years.

“We don’t have that guy who can just stick that foot in the ground and take it (the distance) like we had with Kasey Carrier, Jhurell Pressley and Gip (Teriyon Gipson),” Davie says. “That is a concern, and that’s why we went to a little more of a spread.

“So, there’s a purpose and a plan to all this.”

Which also applies to the promotion of Peterson on defense, whose job is to overhaul the scheme to an exotic, aggressive system that is also — buzzword alert — unique.

A unique defense is how Rocky Long made his name with his 3-3-5 blitz scheme — not only at New Mexico, but also at San Diego State where he has compiled a 71-35 record in his eight seasons with the Aztecs.

The 1982 Lobos that went 10-1 were running a defensive scheme under coordinator Joe Lee Dunn that would serve as the foundation for Long’s 3-3-5 blitzing attack when he coached UNM. During Cosgrove’s first year as coordinator in 2014, UNM gave up 518.6 yards per game, an all-time high under Davie at the school. By 2016, Cosgrove brought it down to 394.8.

That defensive yield crept back up to 473.0 yards allowed per game in 2018, along with 36.2 points per game — the point total being the worst in Cosgrove’s four years.

Those numbers helped convince Davie that a change was needed.

UNM faces a couple of major hurdles in carrying out Davie’s vision of starting over on offense and defense. The

first is the roster’s relative inexperience.

The Lobos have a whopping 27 seniors on the squad, but only 10 fifth-year seniors who have grown up entirely under Davie’s tutelage.

Only eight seniors, including fourth-year senior wide receiver Elijah Lilly, have three varsity letters, and only two — Lilly and senior linebacker Alex Hart — are established starters.

“We are a program that has older guys that aren’t necessarily experienced guys,” Davie says. “That can be a tremendous positive. We should be hungry. But it can also be a negative because we have guys that haven’t played a lot.”

The other issue is the pressure on Davie to reverse the team’s fortunes quickly.

“We are up against the wall a little bit in the fact that it hasn’t gone well the last two years,” Davie says. “We can’t waste one second in the spring of doing something that we may not do in the fall. We’ve got to be exact with everything we do because last year, we weren’t exact and we paid the price.”

Another reason Dailey and Peterson are now in their current roles is to speed up the players’ learning curves.

“Anything’s possible in 12 months. I wholeheartedly believe that,” Dailey says. “At Liberty, we transitioned from an FCS football team to an FBS football team, and they were all FCS players. We went into different venues, and we beat a bunch of FBS teams. So, the transition is possible.

“There’s got to be some productivity from our end of it as a program, but we also have to have support from the fans and alumni. The more backing we have by our fans and alumni to get out here in the stands and create an atmosphere that’s intimidating, the more likelihood of achieving those goals.”

In a way, the Lobos are asking some UNM fans to do a doover, too: Start coming out to the games.

101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine 27

Scott Galetti

By RICHARD STEVENS / Photos by Richard Stevens

John and Pat from Buffalo, N.Y., were curious what the young man was doing in the upper seats behind home plate in Anaheim Stadium.

“Before, it was just kind of a hobby,” said Galetti, who handles the playby-play for high school football and basketball for Albuquerque’s premier sports station, ESPN Radio 101.7 (FM) The TEAM.

“These two guys come out of nowhere and asked if they could sit by me and listen.”

John and Pat were baseball nuts. They would travel the country visiting Major The college-aged kid had all these League ball parks. They also were ranotes spread out in front of him and dio guys. They sat appeared to be next to Galetti, abbroadcasting playsorbed his play-byby-play between the play, and came to a Angels and the visitconclusion. ing Cleveland Indians.

This kid was pretty But there was no ragood. He needed to dio equipment just a Scott Galetti on contemplating a career in broadcasting talk to more people recorder. Was the kid than just himself. just talking to himself?

“I would bring a recorder to the top “They asked me what radio station I was doing this for and I told them So, John and Pat went to check things of the stadium, way up behind home it was just a hobby,” recalls Galetti. out. You could say their impromptu plate so I wouldn’t bother anyone and “They said, ‘You need to do this as a visit was the final spark that pushed I’d just practice. I would get all the living.’ I never really thought I could do Scott Galetti toward his career in game notes and do all the preparation it before. It’s what I always wanted to broadcasting. and record the play-by-play. do but I never thought I could actually

“I never really thought I could do it before. It’s what I always wanted to do but I never thought I could actually get a job doing it.”

28 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

get a job doing it.”

John and Pat from Buffalo gave Galetti a push toward the microphone, but, really, that calling had been there for a long time.

Galetti’s father also was a radio guy because in the 60s that was where you would get your sports fix. He would turn the dials to whatever game could be found in the Los Angeles area: Angels, Dodgers, Lakers, Rams. Galetti listened, too. You could say a dream was born – or at least brewing.

up and be a broadcaster. I still have the tape somewhere.”

Galetti had an itch for the radio but sometimes childhood dreams have to be set aside by reality. Hey, we can’t all grow up to be astronauts, cowboys, movie stars or New York Yankees.

Then John and Pat marched up some steps in the old Anaheim Stadium and the rest is history. Galetti changed his major to broadcasting and journalism.

He got an internship at a Long Beach radio station which turned into a job as sports director. His first college job came at Cal State Fullerton in 1984 doing play-by-play for Titans basketball and baseball. He missed the Norm Ellenberger Lobos’ NCAA collapse to the Titans by a few years.

It’s fair to say Galetti has more than paid his dues in this field.

He has done play-byplay for high schools, junior colleges, Continental Basketball, minor-league hockey and the New Mexico Lobos.

He has done call-in shows, TV shows, game management, and even done some gigs in media relations.

“I love what I’m doing now. Really, it’s another dream job for me because the timing of it was so perfect.”

“I credit my dad a lot because our radio was on for every game, for every sport. We listened to everything,” said Galetti. ”I remember my dad interviewed me before my fourth birthday and I’m on there saying I want to grow

Scott Galetti on joining The TEAM

Galetti started college as a business major.

“I was planning to follow my uncle’s footsteps and go into accounting,” he said. “I would go back to Chicago in the summers during high school and he would train me in his accounting firm.”

Prior to coming to New Mexico to re101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine 29

place the legendary Mike Roberts as “The Voice of The Lobos,” Galetti was in the newspaper business for seven years in the L.A. area.

In 2008, the Lobos lured him back behind a mic.

“The Lobos were a dream job because of the overall package of play-by-play with football and basketball and doing all the TV and radio shows,” said Galetti. ”It also was being part of the Lobo community. I turned down jobs trying not to move my family around, but we committed to come here and be a part of this community.

“The tough thing was I felt like the most hated man in New Mexico for a while because I was replacing Mike Roberts, who was so loved by the Lobo community. When I finally met Mike, we hit it off and he told me that he never held anything against me.

“When I came to work for 101.7 The TEAM, I was filling in for Mike again, but it was a much better situation because Mike had decided to retire.”

Galetti was the “Voice of the Lobos” from 2008 to 2013 when his contract

30 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

was not renewed. It was the same fate the Lobos threw at Roberts. Broadcasters, like coaches, are subject to the whims of administrators.

“I was never given a reason,” said Galetti. “I still don’t know why I was let go. I heard some rumors but never got any answers. It hurt. I cherished that job, moved my family out here because of that job, and it was a lot of fun.”

When Roberts retired from 101.7 The TEAM, Galetti took over the play-byplay duties for high school football and basketball. He teams with David Williams in football and Brian O’Neill in basketball. The broadcasts are outstanding.

“I’ve been amazed over the years how fortunate the station has been in hiring outstanding on-air talent,” said Joe O’Neill, The Team’s President. “That talent includes Mike Roberts, Bob Brown, Robert Portnoy, Jim Villanucci and Scott. These are national-level broadcasters.

“I do not hesitate in saying that I think the combinations of Scott and Dave in football and Scott and Brian in basketball provide broadcast teams that can

stand up to any broadcast teams on the national level whether at the highschool level or the college level. They produce outstanding broadcasts and are big reasons our station was named the Radio Station of The Year by the New Mexico Broadcasters Association.

“Scott also is a jack-of-all-trades for us.

Anytime you make a hire, dependability is key and Scott is someone you can count on.”

Galetti says there are several phone calls etched into his memories; calls that influenced his career and changed his life. He says the phone call he got from Joe O’Neill in 2013 rates high on the list.

“That call from Joe might be the best call I ever got,” said Galetti. “I had lost the Lobo job, but I wanted to get back into the business. I didn’t want to move my family again and then Joe calls me up and says, ‘Let’s talk.’

“I love what I’m doing now. Really, it’s another dream job for me because the timing of it was so perfect.”

ChrisJans

By RICHARD STEVENS / Photos courtesy of New Mexico State Athletics

T

o understand the drive in Chris Jans, it helps to understand his small-town roots and the values spun out by a blue-collar community of the heartland.

Fairbank, Iowa: rural, blue collar, middle America, farm land, simple.

A dawn-to-dusk kind of lifestyle. If you were looking for the heartbeat of America, Iowa might be a good place to start. There is a cornfield somewhere with a beat in it.

Jans’ hometown could be called a one-horse, no stoplight bump on an Iowa highway and probably not too many folks in Fairbank would take offense. You live in Fairbank and you get what you get because that’s what you want.

“I call them dot towns,” said the second-year New Mexico State Aggies’ men’s basketball coach, who already has 58 wins at NMSU. “If you look on a map, they are just pencil dots. There wasn’t a stoplight or a fast-food place in Fairbank.”

You look at the Fairbank website and in the “things to do” category it lists five municipal parks, a baseball field and a big swimming pool.

There is a picture of two boys fishing at one of the parks and they could be stand-ins for Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

32 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t

have a job.

That’s just the way it was and what you did.

It was what was expected.”

Chris Jans on growing up in Fairbank, Iowa.

101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine PB

“There wasn’t a lot of room for error and it would have been much easier to go backwards as a program than to move it forward.

- Aggie Coach Chris Jans

Or Christopher Paul Jans and a buddy.

Jans’ clan ever picked up and left.

“It was a farming community build around hard work and sports,” said Jans. “There wasn’t a lot going on in our town.”

“I’m the only one in my family who didn’t move from that community,” said Jans, who is listed in Wikipedia as Fairbank’s lone “notable” alum. “There is a great quality of life there. When I go home, I can see everyone in my family.”

Jans was born and raised in in Fairbank. Just like his parents. Kevin Costner could have carved his “Field of Dreams” out of a nearby Fairbank cornfield, if Costner hadn’t picked Dyersville – about an hour to the East on an Iowa highway.

Probably from the same street corner.

Jans was raised in a community of corn and hay and hardworking folks putting in an honest day’s effort.

But there are benefits to small-town living. The community usually wraps around itself like an old blanket. There is comfort and security in small towns. There also are opportunities to play ball.

Jans’ parents were like that. Dad worked for the ChicagoNorth Western Railroad until it shut down and then dad went into plumbing supply. Chris Jans was the oldest of five kids. If he wasn’t playing sports or going to school, Jans was working.

“The nice thing about growing up in a community like that is you don’t have to be very good in sports to make a team. No cutting. Really,” said Jans. “I played just about every sport that was offered. My life revolved around whatever sport was in season.”

“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a job,” he said. “That’s just the way it was and what you did. It was what was expected. Most of my jobs when I was younger were farm-work jobs.”

Jans played them all: football, basketball, wrestling, track, baseball, golf. He wrestled into high school but had to chose between wrestling and basketball. He chose basketball. Obviously a life-changing decision.

Fairbank has a population of about 1,200, however, that number would drop down a few percentage points if the

“We were more of a wrestling school than a basketball school, but I just loved basketball,” he said. “I might have

34 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

been better in wrestling, but I didn’t see a career in professional wrestling.

“As a young kid, you always have that dream of being a pro basketball player. You don’t know any better. I’m sure at that age I wasn’t aware that the competition was going to change very quickly.”

Jans was not very tall and not major-college quick, but he had something important to every team. He could shoot it. He went to Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.

Dubuque is about half-an-hour East of Dyersville on that same Iowa road.

The city butts up to the Mississippi River. Loras is a popular college in Iowa especially if you are catholic. Jans was raised catholic. Jans said Loras College sees itself as a little Notre Dame.

Jans was a big man on his high-school campus and a big man for the Loras College basketball team from 1987 to 1991 at the NCAA Division III level.

He set a school record for career 3-pointers with 214 bombs. Jans was a gunner, averaging 28.3 points in 25 games during his senior year of 199091 with 133 baskets from beyond the arc.

When he graduated from Loras College, Jans’ path was as clear and as straight as a row of Iowa corn. He decided to bypass his boyhood dreams of the NBA, bypass the farm work of Fairbank, and try his hand at coaching.

His career path has been as winding as a country road: Elmhurst College, Grand View, Kirkwood CC, Independence CC, Idaho, Howard JC, Chipola JC, Illinois State, Wichita State, Bowling Green, back to Wichita State and now at New Mexico State.

“We enjoy

coaching kids who are

appreciative of the opportunity to be

here and play here and not be thinking they should be somewhere else.”

NMSU Coach Chris Jans 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine 35

NMSU season, but the Aggies lost a lot of talent. Jans has a reputation as a builder, but usually he had found success with programs coming off down years or programs with no winning tradition. “It was definitely a different challenge,” said Jans. “This is the sixth time I’ve taken over a program but it’s the first time I took over a program where they had won the previous season at a high level. It was a different feeling.

“You always have internal pressure as a coach, but this time there was the pressure of not just the recent success of the program, but the whole decade before with all the wins and all the NCAA appearances.

“I came up the hard way. I started at the bottom,” said Jans. “My first assistant job was at Elmhurst in the Chicago area and my contract was $1,000 for the year. I would get four checks during the season for $250 bucks. The next year I got a raise to $1,500.

“You come up that way and it’s special to be in a community like Las Cruces where the fans are so into the product and into the results. We enjoy coaching kids who are appreciative of the opportunity to be here and play here and not be thinking they should be somewhere else.”

It probably would be easy for Jans to be thinking he should be somewhere else. He won 28 games his first season as an Aggie and 30 games in 2018-19 ending his season with a one-point, heartbreaking NCAA loss to an outstanding Auburn team. Auburn cruised by mighty Kansas by 14 points two days later.

Jans took over a New Mexico State program with a tradition of winning and expectations of winning immediately.

Jans has done exactly that. Consider just a few scores: 9669, 98-94, 62-58, 100-65, 75-56, 72-63, 80-60, 65-62 – all Jans-led Aggie wins over the New Mexico Lobos and the UTEP Miners.

Amazingly, Jans’ Aggies are 8-0 in two seasons against those geographical rivals. It’s been a painful two seasons for Lobos and Miners fans. Jans hopes to continue that pain.

His Aggies also have not lost to Western Athletic Conference rival Grand Canyon and have won four WAC crowns (regular season and tournament) and have twice marched into NCAA play. Jans has won back-to-back WAC Coach of The Year honors and set the NMSU program record for wins this season with 30. The Aggies demolished Grand Canyon 89-57 to grab the 2019 WAC title and the automatic NCAA bid. NMSU took a 19-game win streak into the postseason. If Jans ran for the mayor of Cruces, the current mayor probably would vote for him.

Jans, who came to NMSU looking at a rebuilding challenge, has been spectacular. Former Aggie coach, Paul Weir, now at UNM, had won 28 games in the previous 36 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

“There wasn’t a lot of room for error and it would have been much easier to go backwards as a program than to move it forward. A lot of steps had already been taken.”

Jans nudged the program forward. Still, there are steps to be taken in Las Cruces and challenges to be faced. This is New Mexico State and Las Cruces – not UCLA and Los Angeles.

There are some realities about coaching basketball at New Mexico State. This isn’t necessarily a destination city for basketball talent and Las Cruces can be culture shock for inner-city kids. The Aggies play in the WAC – not the ACC, the SEC or the Big 10. There aren’t many NCAA at-large bids coming out of the WAC. You either win the tournament or you turn in your jerseys – or maybe go NIT. The Aggies haven’t won a first-round NCAA game in six straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, although the Sam Lacey/Jimmy Collins Aggies went to the Final Four in 1970.

Comparing life in Las Cruces to life in a major city might be like comparing life in Fairbank, Iowa to life in, well, Las Cruces.

Which also means there are some good things to see.

Jans see them.

“There are a lot of positive here,” said Jans. “A huge positive is the community support and playing for an appreciative fan base that cares about your program and your players. The Aggies are the only show in town and the basketball program has the tradition of winning championships and going to the NCAA postseason. That’s important to players. We can sell that.

“We need to go out and beat some power schools, win an NCAA game, but you want challenges. We talked about winning championships from the first day we arrived and fortunately that’s what we have been doing so far. ”I don’t think there needs to be a ceiling on what’s possible here.”

Jans has never really known ceilings, because coming from Fairbank, Iowa, you don’t really have time to think about them. You rise with the sun, roll up your sleeves and get to work. That’s actually what Jans has been doing at New Mexico State.

Well, besides winning, winning, winning.

Be inspired. Walk with us.

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National Senior Games

By RICHARD STEVENS Photos courtesy of NM Senior Olympic Games

38 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

Move over, millennials.

You haven’t taken over the planet or the pole vault pits just yet.

The Baby Boomers, the Silent Generation, Generation Xers, and any other generation producing 50-year-plus athletes are coming to New Mexico to strut their stuff and further the notion that age is just a number.

These seniors are not going quietly to their couches or turning in their athletic gear just yet. More than 12,000 seniors will turn up in the Albuquerque area to compete in the National Senior Games that will run June 14 to June 25.

Hey, dispose of some of that loot in Albuquerque!

AARP claims half of all consumer spending comes out of Americans who are 50-plus in age. Welcome to Albuquerque Old Town, Boomers. The Candy Lady and the Church Street Cafe awaits you.

So, this is a big deal and a good deal for the Albuquerque-area economy. These big spenders will be around for about two weeks.

“I am ecstatic that we finally have the Games,” said Cecilia “Ceci” Acosta, Executive Director of the New Mexico Senior Olympics. “And it will take a village to support these games “I think our organizational staff is one of a kind and these Games will be a historic year in terms of competitors. When everything is said and done, this will be a huge feather in Albuquerque’s hat.”

The Games begin June 14 with practice sessions with competition set to end June 24. Some events have rain-out dates set for June 25, but the Games should end on June 24 – weather permitting. The celebration of athletes is set for June 19 in Dreamstyle Arena.

Finally, standing room only in The Pit?

“It’s amazing “It’s amazing what these athletes are doing,” said Marc T. what these athletes Riker, CEO of the National Senior Games Association. are doing. “We have “We have athletes in their 80s pole vaulting. These athletes in their 80s pole people are saying, ‘Why shouldn’t I be doing this?’ vaulting. These people are “We have a woman 103 competing in the 50 and saying, ‘Why shouldn’t I 100-meter dash.” be doing this?’”

The bet here is that she just might be a strong favorite in her age group. But there are lots of other age groups and sports open for competition from athletes hailing from all 50 U.S. states and several foreign countries.

Marc T. Riker, CEO of National Senior Games

“And there is no admission. Every event is free,” said Riker.

This is a big deal for the Albuquerque-area economy, but surely some of these visitors will head up to Santa Fe for plaza walking, museum gawking or Meow Wolf, er, meowing.

The estimate from the city is a $36 million shot in the economic arm as hotels, wineries, breweries, restaurants, car rentals, souvenir shops, Old Town, Up Town, Down Town, pizza joints, Uber cars – you name it – benefit from the 12,000-plus athletes and 15,000 to 30,000 tagalongs. That’s like family and friends.

Oh, sure, some of the Baby Boomers are on a fixed income, but most of them have money to burn. The Buntin Group (marketing/advertising strategy firm) estimates the Boomers control 70 percent of the disposable income.

Said Ceci Acosta: “It took nine years for this to happen for (New Mexico). In our first attempt to get the Games, we did not make the final running. We applied again in 2015 and in 2017 we were awarded the 2019 Games. The whole region will benefit from the Games.”

Said Riker: “We saw that there was a community here that was very close knit and wanting to work together to conduct a great event. It’s also a city that has great respect for its seniors. We know our seniors coming into town will be very welcome here.”

Anthony Romero is one of the workhorses assigned to the Games by the City of Albuquerque. He has been on loan to the Games out of the city’s Department of Senior Affairs since August of 2018. He has been the nutsand-bolts guy doing a little bit of almost everything.

These 50-plus aged athletes will compete in 20 sports and 17 public and private venues had to be lined up.

101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine 39

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However, maybe the bigger issue was finding volunteers to make sure every event runs smoothly.

“We are still in the process of securing volunteers to join us in contributing to the success of the games,” said Romero. “We need about 3,500 volunteers. This is an exciting event for New Mexicans. We have around a thousand more New Mexico athletes competing in 2019 than we had in 2017. That’s amazing.”

The New Mexico seniors have a good chance to dominate simply based on numbers. “But our athletes have always had a strong showing at nationals,” said Acosta, who said around 1,800 New Mexico athletes actually qualified.

“It’s a very inspiring event,” said Riker. “This is a great opportunity for folks in the area to come out and see people who are 50 and older compete and think, ‘My gosh, if that person can do that, why can’t I do that?’

“We have a number of people who didn’t start competing until they were 60 or 65. It’s never too late to get into the Games. It creates a legacy of staying active, staying involved, and maintaining your health so you can enjoy everything life has to offer.”

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Together we can make New Mexico the best place to be a kid.

“Pull Together,” is a community engagement effort that calls on New Mexicans to join the fight in improving the quality of life for every child and making our state the best place to be a kid.

The effort includes connecting New Mexicans in need to resources in their communities and around the state, while also helping those who want to make a difference find ways to help.

The main focus of the effort is to encourage communities to play a role in improving the quality of life of every child – whether that’s learning how to be a better parent or finding ways to help another family.

services, and tips on how to keep children safe.

The effort will also serve as a resource to help New Mexicans who want to make a difference in their community.

This includes adopting or fostering a child, donating a backpack to a child in need, reporting child abuse or neglect, or even applying for a job at CYFD. “It is important that New Mexicans know that to improve the quality of life for our children one agency cannot do this alone,” said CYFD Cabinet Secretary Monique Jacobson. “It takes all New Mexicans working together and helping each other, to make a true difference in the lives of our children regardless of existing challenges in our state.”

“It is important that New Mexicans know that to improve the quality of life for our children one agency cannot do this alone.”

The Pull Together effort will direct New Mexicans in need to various resources available through state and local agencies, businesses, and nonprofits. This includes where to find low-cost child care assistance, free summer meals, substance abuse and behavioral health treatment and

Pull Together will provide a multi-pronged approach to reach New Mexicans who need support or want to help.

Information is available online through PullTogether.org,

1-800-691-9067 | info@pulltogether.org 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine 43

44 101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine

frame your sports memorabilia and sports collectibles

The Man Cave – Protecting Your Collectibles Collectors have always enjoyed their collections of baseball cards, hockey sticks, helmets and jerseys. Signed memorabilia is the most special type of memorabilia and should not be kept in a box. It is believed that keeping them in a box provides the most protection but that is just not true. Touching your items endangers their value as lotions, skin oils or other contaminants may be on your hands.

Gloves or plastic sleeves will help.

National chain hobby stores can provide frames or shadow boxes but that does not protect the value of your item. Whether your goal is to enjoy the item yourself, to hand it down to a relative or for resale, you should know how best to protect your item.

Items that are on paper are only as good as the paper they are printed on and the ink that was used to sign it . Keeping them out of direct sunlight and the using ultraviolet shielding glass helps

protect the items from deterioration from ultraviolet light. If the wrong materials are used to hinge or attach an item to a backing, it can cause major damage.

101.7 The TEAM Sports Magazine PB

Displaying jerseys has always been popular. There are many things to think about other than the backing, such as the items used to hold up the jersey, attach it (stitch it) to the backing. Jerseys are made of fabric and the fabric can stretch, thus damaging it if it is not properly supported. Fishing line, stainless steel needles and plastic hooks should be used in various combinations.

Collages with a combination of two and three dimensional items, are very intricate. Layers of backing and different methods of attaching the items are necessary to hold everything in place while not affecting the value. It is both a technical and artistic talent to display your items.

Picking out a frame shop to frame your sports memorabilia is just like picking any other professional. A little research on the internet, visiting a couple of shops close to you and looking at their displays or a referral from someone you trust can help you avoid a big mistake. The best thing you can do is ask questions. Good luck and happy displaying of your items!

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