Apparently, in head football coach Mike Locksley's eyes, "if you look better, you play better."
So in accordance with that philosophy, Locksley unveiled the Lobos' 2009 season uniforms at a news conference on Friday.
The slightly modified uniforms have a more traditional, almost throwback feel to them, Locksley said.
Entering its second year of a six-year contract with Nike, UNM decided to tailor the uniforms for this season. Jacque May, UNM's equipment operations manager, worked closely with Nike representatives to come up with a blueprint of what the University wanted in a uniform. This year's retooling marks the first since 2005.
And, four years later, stripes are once again en vogue.
"As we know with fashion, everything goes in cycles," Locksley said. "The last few places that I've been, and with the look that we've had here, has been more of a new-wave look with the piping and all the things that the previous uniforms had. If you look now, this is more of a traditional uniform."
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Indeed, the uniforms have an old-is-new retro look to them with the reintroduction of striping on the jersey sleeves and down the side of the pants. Bannered across the chest just above the numbering are the words "New Mexico," which is embroidered on the fabric in the Athletic Department's official "Lobo" font.
During home games, UNM will wear cherry jerseys with silver pants, while its road attire will consist of white jerseys against cherry pants. However, the one thing that remains the same is the head gear: UNM will continue to take the field wearing silver helmets.
Of course, the most important consideration was style. And two Lobos were kind enough to put on a fashion show for a handful of media members who attended Friday's press conference.
The south end zone of University Stadium became a makeshift catwalk for Lobo football players Daryl Jones and Carmen Messina.
Both strutted around, striking poses and bathing in snapshots from cameras while modeling the team's uniforms.
"It's a 2009 old-school look. We're coming out to play old-school football," wide receiver Daryl Jones said. "Just call us the Ground Breaking Crew. With these uniforms on we're going to break ground."
Needless to say, though, Jones - a tad flashier than Messina - is looking forward to being able to accessorize with these new threads.
And forget about no one on the corner having "Swagger Like Us." No one opposite the cornerback will have swagger like Jones - or so Jones says.
Jones said he plans to enhance his gameday ensemble with an assortment of add-ons.
"I plan to have a couple more wrist bands on. Get me a little swagger," Jones said. "It's all about swagger. One thing our coach teaches us about is to play with swagger - playing like I believe in myself, playing like I know I can do something, playing like every snap there's no one on the other side of the ball that can handle me. When I come out on game day, my swagger level is already high, because I already practiced these things. When I come out, it's just time to ball."
And ball while, apparently, looking fresh - and staying fresh, even in the most sweat-soaked conditions. The mesh, cotton-free uniforms feature "the latest Nike fabric and materials, giving players a lighter and more breathable gameday jersey," according to the school's news release.
Incidentally, the uniform redesign also coincides with a new era in Lobo football, something Messina says is symbolic of the change Locksley's ushering in.
"With the new look, it definitely relates to (Locksley) trying to change things around here, make things a lot better for the players overall," he said. "I think it's a good thing for the new era to come out with a different look."
A new era, a new coaching staff and new uniforms. Lobo fans will just hope the season results aren't the same old thing.
"Last year we had a bad season," Messina said. "Now it's time to come out with a new look, new attitude."
