Paul Aitken has a tricky task at hand.
It's more difficult than hurling a lacrosse ball 100 mph at a goalkeeper. As president of UNM's lacrosse team, he has to sell lacrosse, a highly popular East-Coast sport, to UNM and the New Mexico community.
Aitken had plenty of problems when he took over as president. The team lost its charter at the beginning of 2008. Then it lost its coach, and, to top it off, UNM couldn't even get on the field.
"We lost about everything," Aitken said.
In 2007-08, the Lobos were part of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference (RMLC). But over the course of those two years, the team played 10 games, three of which were in Albuquerque at UNM's Johnson Field, Aitken said.
"Part of the reason why we failed last year is because of the RMLC," Aitken said. "They weren't really working with us, and this is when we had a head coach."
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Scheduling problems and tiring travel demands factored into the Lobos' decision not to play lacrosse in fall 2008.
But this year, Aitken said UNM will be a member of a new conference. The Lone Star Alliance consists of schools from Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, including BCS schools like Texas, Oklahoma University and LSU. TCU is the only other current Mountain West Conference member of the Lone Star Alliance.
As far as concerns about money, Aitken said the Lobos have none this time.
ASUNM and the UNM Recreational Services Department have assisted the UNM lacrosse team in getting back on its feet. In addition, the Lobos will be sponsored by Harrow Sports Inc. Harrow is the biggest international supplier of lacrosse gear and supplies.
"It's very exciting to have a big name sponsoring us next year," Aitken said. "That essentially makes us ready to rock and roll."
Now all Aitken has to worry about is filling the roster.
He said he hopes to find students who have played lacrosse, but the team will be built around an inexperienced core.
"We are going to heavily recruit the first week of school (in the fall semester)," Aitken said. "We are hoping to get some new freshmen out on the team. Hopefully, we can get guys who have played lacrosse or even guys who just want to play lacrosse."
While past downfalls could have shattered hopes for the lacrosse program, Aitken said those struggles prepared the team for what they will face in the fall.
"With a new group of kids and the funding available, the only thing we are going to have to do is put a schedule together," he said. "Everything out there now has been given to us, and we are ready to take over the reins and eventually ride out whatever is thrown in front of us."
Eventually, Atiken wants to move the lacrosse games from Johnson Field to the UNM Soccer Complex in an attempt to garner more interest in the sport.
"I want to grow this sport like it is in Denver," he said. "And I come from the East Coast - you go to lacrosse games in the fall and (the stands are filled up) more than high school football games."
Aitken said that if lacrosse is going to become popular in New Mexico, it has to start at the high-school level.
"Lacrosse is growing so fast in New Mexico in the high-school system," said Aitken, who coaches Sandia Prep's lacrosse team. "Two years ago there were three teams. This year there (are) six, and next year there are going to be eight. It is absolutely great, because it will give those high-school kids a chance to play lacrosse in college."
The UNM lacrosse team will have a new Web site with information for anyone interested, Aitken said.
"It's going to be Lobolax.com, but we haven't done it," he said. "It will be up soon, though."
