Editor,
Nearly 40 years ago at University Stadium, a quarterback named Rocky Long, who would be the WAC Player of the Year, led the Lobos to a 51-8 rout of BYU. The Lobos, playing out of the “wishbone,” marched up and down the field at will. BYU, playing out of shotgun formation on every play, could do nothing right.
The greatest BYU memory for me, however, occurred 30 years ago on a Saturday evening back in 1980 on Labor Day Weekend. BYU, picked to win the conference, came in with Jim McMahon at quarterback. Joe Morrison had just taken over as head coach at New Mexico and hired a defensive coordinator named Joe Lee Dunn.
The Lobos came out blitzing on every play. BYU had never seen such a defense and didn’t have a clue as to how to adjust to it. McMahon was sacked about a dozen times. There were Lobos coming straight at him, from behind and from the side. It might have been one, three or seven Lobos taking him down. UNM won the game and Lobo fans, as shocked as BYU, stormed the field. McMahon could barely get himself to the locker room.
BYU also produced one of the most despised players to ever take the floor at the Pit. Danny Ainge was in the ear of the officials from the time he got off the bus. Unfortunately for Ainge, a full house of students in sections 19, 20 and 21 were on him from the time he took the court.
From well before Ainge to last year’s Steve Alford/Tavernari’s “what are you going to do about it?” run-in, the Lobos celebrated a conference title in the Marriott Center. It’s been quite a 60-year run.
In a few months, the two teams will meet for possibly the final time in Albuquerque. Lobo fans will have the opportunity to thank BYU for its service and wish them well in its future endeavors. That should be quite a night.
I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
John O’Mara
Community member
