Scott Galetti is giving up California coastlines - and the accompanying Pacific waves - to come splash around in the Rio Grande (Rivalry).
Galetti, who was named UNM's new play-by-play announcer last Monday, said he's anxious to call some classic Lobo-Aggie games.
"The only team that I've called in New Mexico was New Mexico State," he said. "They were in the Big West Conference when I was at Long Beach (State). Unfortunately, I've never had a chance to cover a Lobo game. I'm looking forward to that rivalry."
Galetti and fanatics of the cherry and silver have week four of the regular season circled in their calendars when the schools' football teams are set to meet at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces.
In the meantime, Galetti said he'll use the first three games of the season - starting with the season-opener against TCU - to get a feel for the Lobo fan base, including those cut-and-dry, give-me-the-facts type fans, to the high-maintenance, entertain-me types.
"The biggest challenge is being accepted," he said. "I'm just going to provide my own style - the style I've had ever since I started broadcasting. I think it's a good mixture."
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While Galetti will be calling football and basketball, he said he thinks he has the broadcasting heart of a hoopster.
"I like them both equally, actually," he said. "Football actually, once upon a time, was what I would have considered my weakest sport - now some people feel it's my best sport. I still feel basketball is my best sport, but that's for people to decide."
Most recently, Galetti was serving as the prep sports editor for the Pasadena Star-News.
Although his main responsibilities at UNM will be broadcasting, Galetti hinted at the possibility of continuing to write in some capacity.
"The blog has been brought up," he said. "We'll have to see how that goes, but I'd be very open to having a Lobo blog."
UNM Athletics Director Paul Krebs said he's confident Galetti will be good for the University's athletics program because of his experiences as a broadcaster and journalist.
"We trust Learfield Sports and know they have conducted a comprehensive search to ensure we have the right person in place to call Lobo games," he said. "We welcome Scott to the UNM family and believe Lobo fans will enjoy him immensely."
In spite of all his experience, from his first broadcast where he called a water polo match on cable TV to when he called the matchup between college football powerhouses Oklahoma and Nebraska in 2000, Galetti admits he's still a little gun-shy to call his first game at University Stadium.
"I'm anticipating equally as much, if not more, butterflies for this one," he said. "Obviously, this is the biggest university I've worked for."
