There is a rift developing between head coach Steve Alford and UNM men's basketball team manager Mike Mares.
Alford, who has an undying affinity for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has spent the last week badgering Mares, an Arizona Cardinals' fan who has aspirations to become a basketball coach.
"I grew up a Steeler because the Colts weren't in Indiana at the time," Alford said. "The thing I've appreciated about the Steelers is the consistency they've had in winning."
Mares said Alford's enjoyed the consistent winning a little too much.
"Ever since the NFC Championship game, I've heard some smack talk for a good week and a half," Mares said.
But it's not the first time Alford has lashed out. Alford once blasted a reporter for wearing a Dallas Cowboys T-shirt to a news conference.
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"Seriously, you're really going to come to my press conference wearing that shirt?" Alford said. "They haven't won a playoff game in 13 years - 13 years! The Steelers have had four decades of success. Do you understand? Forty years."
Indeed, the Steelers have a rich tradition of winning, capturing five Super Bowl rings in seven appearances.
Arizona, on the other hand, has been mostly abysmal since the team was founded. The Cardinals' only contribution to the NFL vault comes in being historically atrocious. Their lone NFL championship came in 1947 - 20 years before the first Super Bowl was played. Since then, the Cardinals have 10 postseason appearances since vagabonding from Chicago to St. Louis and finally settling down in the desert in 1988.
Mares, who can be seen around campus sporting his Cardinals' gear, said Arizona is no longer a punch line. He readily conveyed that to Alford.
"I told him, 'Sunday, we start our dynasty,'" Mares said. "I'm the only Cardinals fan anyone's ever met."
Unquestionably, if that dynasty is to start on Sunday, Larry Fitzgerald will have to be a part of the equation.
"Automatic - it's Fitzgerald," Mares said. "Three teams have game-planned for him and nothing's happened."
Fitzgerald has already surpassed Jerry Rice for most receiving yards in one postseason.
In three postseason games, Fitzgerald racked up 419 and will likely add to that on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has the league's top-ranked defense.
Alford said he and Mares don't have any friendly bets going as of right now. Still, even if the Cardinals win, don't expect the Lobos' head coach to put on an Arizona jersey.
"I don't know if Mike told you, but Mike's a manager. So, he's not going to make me do anything," Alford said, chuckling.
Alford and Mares are anxiously awaiting Sunday - Mares a little more.
"Ever since I was born, that's how long I've been waiting," Mares said. "Twenty-one years, man. I've been made fun of every day of my life."
And if the Cardinals lose to Pittsburgh on Sunday, Mares can expect to tally another year to that total.
