The 2008 season came to an end this evening as the University of New Mexico
Football team held their season ending banquet. The night is always
cool and
somewhat emotional as guys that have played, practiced, gone to school
with one
another start a new direction in their lives while saying good-bye to
the fans…
What made it more emotional was that former Coach (who hard is it to
say
that?) Rocky Long was asked by the seniors to attend the banquet. Rudy
C. did
some taping of Coach Long for you to hear what he had to say.
Coach
Long’s speech
Like the players told Rocky, “We are going out together.” So just
like the
classic Westerns ever made, the hero rides off into the sunset with all
the
people sniffling and saying, "There goes the best guy I ever met!"
The speech by Rocky Long at the end of the banquet is something every
Lobo fan
should hear and remember. It is truly The ROCK at his finest
Also TheRedMenace.com presented its annual Red Menace Fan
Appreciation Award
to the outgoing senior that for his career at UNM was always there for
the
fans. The player that made Lobo fans feel special and a part of the
team.
This year’s recipient is none other then CB DeAndre Wright. DeAndre
was what
The Red Menace Fan Appreciation Award has always been about. How can
you ever
forget his infectious smile and winning attitude, and the joy that he
brought
to The Red Menace after every Lobo victory being the first player to do
The
Lobo Leap. DeAndre also took the Lobo Leap on the road jumping as he
sailed
into the Lobo fans in Las Cruces.
Click
here to listen
to DeAndre Wright
Tradition!
The Lobo Leap is a tradition, one that DeAndre
said he took learned from 2005 winner Hank Baskett III, who watched
guys like
2004 winner Kyle Coulter make the leap, who watched 2002 winner Brandon
Gregory
make the Leap, which was started by 2001 winner Scott Gerhardt!
I’m
hoping that this year’s juniors, sophomores, and
freshmen learn from DeAndre and these former guys and that next year
YOU MAKE
THE LEAP! There are so very few traditions associated with Lobo
football, but
things like running to The Red Menace before the game, and doing the
Lobo Leap
after victory are two that are very special to the fans and hopefully
the
players! So please seniors to be, make it hard on us to pick next
year’s Fan
Appreciation Award Winner!
Other Award winners
tonight are as follows:
Most
Valuable Offensive Scout
Fr. DB Joe Stoner
Most
Valuable Defensive Scout
Fr. WR Andre McQueen
Chuck
Cummings Award – Most Inspirational Player
Jr. S Ian Clark
Outstanding Offensive Lineman
Jr.
C Erik Cook
Zia Award – Most Valuable New
Mexico Player
Sr. LB Zach Arnett
Leading Tackler
Jr. S Clint McPeek
Outstanding Special Teams Player
Sr. S Jake Bowe
Clyde Hill Award – Most Improved Player
RS-Fr. QB Brad Gruner
Col. HJ Golightly Award – Most Valuable Defensive
Player
Sr. CB Glover Quin
Reese Hill Award – Most Valuable Offensive Player
Sr. RB Rodney Ferguson
Bill Brannin Award – Most
Valuable Player
Sr. CB Glover Quin
Congratulations to all this year’s winners as we look
forward to seeing some of you on the field next year, and for those
outgoing
seniors
Thank you! Thank you for being such classy and great
individuals that came together as a team, working your butts off,
sweating,
bleeding, fighting off injuries, and allowing us to have so much fun
being fans of yours.