With each passing hot summer day, football fans across Albuquerque inch closer and closer to the highly anticipated UNM home opener on Aug. 30. But before everyone starts rolling their barbecues and coolers into the University Stadium parking lot, the Lobos must work out all the off-season kinks in preseason practice.
At 6 feet 4 inches tall and 220 pounds, sophomore Hank Baskett III is the biggest receiver on the Lobo football team, which is loaded with senior leadership at that position. "He's got great size and ultimately he will be a leader," offensive coordinator Dan Dodd said.
The UNM men's basketball team received good news and bad news last week. Sean Phaler, considered one of the nation's top high school recruits, committed to the Lobos on Friday. However, the 6-foot-9-inch freshman-to-be got into a serious car accident just days before he made his decision.
Highly recruited high school basketball star Sean Phaler made an official visit to UNM last week. Although still undecided on which school he will attend next year, Phaler said he liked what he saw in Albuquerque. "I like it a lot," he said. "It's not gloomy like Washington was, it's nice weather and stuff like that.
The Isotopes beat the Edmonton Trappers 2-1 on Tuesday, snapping a three-game losing streak, salvaging a victory in the four-game set. "There's some pride in that room and you never want to be swept in a series, especially at home," head coach Dean Treanor said.
The past few summers in Albuquerque have been a time for Lobo sports enthusiasts to go into hibernation. Sure, we could talk about the football team's chances next year or delve into the prospects of the basketball squad's new recruits, but those of us who thrive on live action are out of luck - until now.
While most of the attention of UNM athletes going pro this summer has gone to basketball standouts Ruben Douglas and Jordan Adams, two players from the Lobo baseball team have gone under the radar in their quests to reach the next level. In the June 4 Major League Baseball draft, James Vermilyea and Chris Alexander were selected in the ninth and 15th rounds, respectively.
This year's group of UNM athletes was loaded with individual talent. The Fall 2002 season started with a bang as freshman Ben Ashwill scored a team and conference-high 12 goals on the men's soccer team. Then there was Jordan Adams of the women's basketball team whose size and skill has earned her a spot on the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA.
Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, UNM Athletic Director Rudy Davalos always had aspirations of greatness. "I always wanted to be good at what I did," Davalos said, his Texan accent still very much present. "I've been involved in athletics for about 46 years.
The Lobo softball team used a clutch two-out RBI triple by Stephanie Kennedy and a dominating performance by Amy Dumas on the mound to beat league leading San Diego State 2-1 Sunday afternoon at Lobo Field. "She has the ability to hit for power," head coach Kim Newbern said of Kennedy.
Solutions by The State News
