My Albuquerque Journal colleague Bob Christ once wondered aloud if any veteran rodeo contestant, whether in interviews or perhaps while doing a reverse-mortgage commercial, had ever said, “This isn’t my first football game.”
Certainly, Thursday’s University of New Mexico football game against Houston Baptist wasn’t Danny Gonzales’ first football rodeo. It was, though, and forever will be, his home debut as the Lobos’ head coach — improbably, almost 22 months after he took the job.
So, how did it go?
Could have been better, a lot better. The Lobos, outscored over the final 51 minutes, 44 seconds, had to hold on for a 27-17 victory over a team from a lower level of NCAA football.