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Sports

Keeping up with a winning streak

Cesar Davila | August 15

Take it nationally. That’s what Joe Franklin’s cross country team intends to do. After back-to-back sweeps in 2009-10 at the MWC Championships and the NCAA regionals, the Lobos are galloping toward a three-peat, but are more preoccupied with winning a national title. Franklin, the 2010 NCAA Mountain Region Coach of the Year, said how quickly the team adjusts to losing 10 seniors will determine how successful it will be.

Sports

Godfrey gone after one season

Nathan Farmer | July 25

It looks like it’s one and done for Stump Godfrey. The UNM sophomore left the Lobos following just one season, after head coach Mike Locksley announced that he approved a conditional release request July 19.

Sports

US had no reason to lose

Nathan Farmer | July 25

The disappointment is still there. I’m talking about how the U.S. women’s team blew its chance in the choke of the year against Japan on July 17 in the Women’s World Cup final. It’s not just that the women lost, but the way they lost. They played the entire game with the arrogance and poise that should be indicative of a team ranked No.

Sports

Brothers a team of success

Cesar Davila | July 25

Lucas Reed has followed in his brother’s footsteps for his entire life. Thanks to Brooks, Lucas is two years away from potentially joining his brother in the NFL. Born and raised in Tucson, Ariz., Lucas did it all as a kid: soccer, baseball, wrestling, swimming, and football.

Sports

UNM athletics in an identity crisis

Isaac Avilucea | July 25

The Athletics Director, a brusque, somewhat likeable Ohio State alum, had a vision when he accepted the UNM position. In not so many words, he spelled it out.

Sports

Ex-tailback’s indifference led to his unraveling

Isaac Avilucea | July 18

Way back in October, head football coach Mike Locksley decided he had enough. Lack of on-field production was something he could deal with. Lack of production in the classroom, however, was not. So against his better sense of compassion, he jettisoned tailback Demond Dennis, citing Dennis’ failure to fulfill the academic standards the coaching staff had deemed necessary.

Sports

Dennis booked on multiple felony charges

Staff Report | July 18

It has been a freefall from grace for former UNM running back Demond Dennis. Once a three-star recruit and the Lobos’ featured tailback, Dennis, 21, faces multiple felony charges stemming from his alleged role in an armed robbery in Lawrenceville, Ga.

Sports

Player gets a taste of minor-league format

Cesar Davila | July 18

Aside from learning how to put bat to ball more consistently, Trey Porras needs to learn one more thing: When it comes to baseball, Ray Birmingham knows best. “If he does what I ask him to, he’ll have a major opportunity to play a lot,” said Birmingham, the Lobos’ head baseball coach.

Sports

US beats Brazil cool and steady

Cesar Davila | July 10

As they did twelve years ago to the day, the U.S. women’s soccer team delivered. It was July 10 when Brandi Chastain scored the game-winning penalty kick against China in the 1999 women’s World Cup final — the goal that prompted Chastain to take her shirt off and fall on her knees with her fists clenched.

Sports

No Sunday football means more time for cooking, music

Ryan Tomari | July 10

Imagine the prospect of a pigskinless Sabbath. A report circulated last week that the NFL owners and players are close to reaching a Collective Bargaining Agreement that would end the 2011 lockout.

Sports

Galetti still Lobos’ voice

Ryan Tomari | July 10

For the last three years, UNM fans have known — scratch that — been informally introduced to Scott Galetti on the radio. Galetti, UNM’s play-by-play announcer for men’s basketball, football and baseball, recently signed a multi-year deal to remain the voice of the Lobos.

Sports

New Mexico: Step into the cage

Ryan Tomari | July 4

The Pit is getting ready to rumble. University Arena has seen its share of concerts, men’s and women’s NCAA tournament basketball games and boxing bouts. Now, mixed martial arts will debut Aug.

Sports

Sanchez’s staff knows Pit, MWC

Cesar Davila | July 4

Whether by accident or with intent, almost all of UNM head women’s basketball coach Yvonne Sanchez’s assistant coaches have some connection to the Mountain West Conference or The Pit.

Sports

‘Mess’ of a team wins nothing but my heart

Ryan Tomari | July 4

It’s not easy being a New York Mets fan. Even in New Mexico. Seriously. I’ve come to find out that I am the butt of baseball jokes.

Sports

US takes over despite few fans

Cesar Davila | June 27

Twenty years ago in soccer, Mexico vs. USA meant another win for our southern neighbors. In fact, it was so lopsided from 1934 to 1991 that Mexico dominated the U.S., going 23-2-3. Since then, however, it has become one of the best sports rivalries in North America. It doesn’t have the history of Yankees vs. Red Sox, or the popularity of Lakers vs. Celtics, but it does have two countries whose fans and players genuinely dislike one another. Since 1991, the U.S. is a remarkable 13-10-7 against Mexico. This is extraordinary given America’s disinterest in soccer.

Sports

State bowl teams up with corporations

Ryan Tomari | June 27

The New Mexico Bowl has been given a fashionable new look. ESPN and Gildan Activewear Inc. announced a multi-year deal on June 20 to sponsor the bowl beginning with the 2011 Gildan New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium.

Sports

Athletics Year in Review

Ryan Tomari | June 20

There’s never a dull moment in UNM Athletics, even on the field, which is why this column is about a month overdue. With the unexpected four-game winning streak of the UNM baseball team at the Mountain West Conference tournament at the end of May, I stalled on a “2010-11 in review” of Lobo sports. But the time to look back on Athletics this past year has finally presented itself. UNM Women’s Soccer First, I’d like to give a round of applause to the UNM women’s soccer team. The team advanced to its first NCAA tournament appearance in its history in 2010. They won the MWC regular-season championship for the first time in school history.

Sports

Flight flips when shorts sag

Ryan Tomari | June 20

UNM football player Deshon Marman has yet to play a single down for the Lobo football team, but he’s already made a name for himself. San Francisco Police said Marman — a junior college transfer defensive back — was arrested at the San Francisco International Airport for sagging his pajama pants while boarding a US Airways flight back to Albuquerque on Wednesday. San Francisco Police Sgt.

Sports

Senior defender’s skills ‘integral part’ of success

Cesar Davila | June 20

There was more screaming than kicking for UNM women’s soccer player Roxie McFarland growing up. McFarland, who is a Lobo midfielder, said she played on a boys’ team when she was younger.

Sports

Crossing ocean, finish line for All-American title

Cesar Davila | June 13

The UNM track and field team has two All-American Englishmen. Rory Fraser and Keith Gerrard ran in the men’s 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races, respectively, this weekend at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, and both finished in the top eight. Fraser ran one of his best times (13:39.40) and said his strategy was to keep up with the fresh legs by not running the 10,000-meter the day before. For the first time since he left England three years ago, his parents were in the audience watching him compete. “There were some guys that were just doing the 5k, and they knew that they could make it faster and help their chances to make the other guys even more tired,” he said. “So they basically just went quick from the very beginning, and I just tried to hold on as long as possible, and I just ran for as long as I could and that’s what got me sixth place.”