Mar. 17, 2008
I would like to congratulate our Lobo Women's Basketball program on their performance in the Mountain West Conference tournament and wish them luck in the NCAA Tournament. It is very fitting for our senior leaders, Brandi and Dionne, to get one more opportunity to compete on a national stage. They have worked very hard to develop this program into one of the most competitive in the country and UNM Athletics is eternally indebted to them.
Also, while Coach Alford and his staff held high expectations and are disappointed that they were not invited to the NCAA Tournament, I want to emphasize that this team achieved over and above what was expected of it. And as Coach Alford said after the team's win over UNLV, we are building a program, not just a season. Good luck to the Men's Basketball team as they compete in the National Invitational Tournament this postseason.
Finally, as the saying goes, spring is in the air. It is time to head out to the baseball diamonds, softball fields, and tennis courts and support our spring sport teams. We have recently completed over $1 million worth of renovations to the Lobo Softball field to create a more fan-friendly environment. This is just one more stepping stone in our path to national recognition. Also, Lobo Baseball is amidst one of the strongest schedules in program history. Those games are played at Isotopes Park, perhaps one of the greatest home fields in the country among collegiate-level baseball stadiums. Coach Birmingham is a true perfectionist and, I believe, a key piece to the progression of college baseball. I wish for the best for both teams as they continue their seasons.
I want to extend my thanks and gratitude to all members of the UNM family who have helped shape athletics into a welcoming and enthusiastic community. Thank you for supporting and being a part of what we do. As we move forward, I hope to see you all at more Lobo events this spring. And, as always, keep up with all of your Lobo news at www.GoLobos.com.
Jan. 25, 2008
I would be remiss if I did not talk a little about the renovations that are to be made on the The Pit. We intend to make The Pit the best college basketball facility in the country, one that will take us to the next level in recruiting student-athletes as well as enhance the fan's experience without changing the overall atmosphere that USAToday has named one of the 10 great places to watch college basketball.
During the last 3½ months, we have gathered information to help put a plan in place to do exactly that. We have visited facilities across the country, including trips to the recently rennovated facilities at the University of Tennessee, Kansas State and Wichita State. We have spoken with our own athletic teams, university personnel, as well as our ticket office and the Lobo Store to help gain a sense of how our product could be better presented. We have met and will continue to meet with a team of architects on a weekly basis to provide feedback on how to make University Arena the top facility in the country.
As mentioned, our goal is to maintain The Pit's existing fan experience and incorporate significant upgrades that will complement our loyal fan base. The plan in place currently includes roughly $60 million for technological advancements and refurbishments that will provide one of the top entertainment atmospheres in all of college sports. The planning process should be complete later this spring, allowing us to move forward with construction immediately after.
