Lobos will call Sin City home this season
As COVID-19 cases grow, the possibilities for a return to normal in schools and sports is dwindling.The University of New Mexico football team is a perfect example.The Lobos remain the only Division 1 football team that can’t practice or play in their own state, and funding the now Las Vegas Lobos isn’t cheap.“They’ve found a way to create a bubble away from home,” radio host for 95.9 The Sports Animal’s J.J. Buck said.Buck has been following the unprecedented journey of the Lobos football team, including the cost of living out of a hotel in Nevada.“UNM is estimating it’s about $70,000 a week that it is costing them to house the team,” he said.But the Mountain West Conference is picking up the slack.“The Mountain West is covering the cost of weekly testing for every university in the conference,” he said.So where is the money coming from?“The Mountain West, prior to this year, agreed to a new six-year television contract with CBS and FOX Sports, which upped their allotment to $4 million per year for each school,” Buck said.He said that nearly doubled what the Lobos were getting before.And with the team losing both its million-dollar payday games against Mississippi State and Southern Cal, he said they had to find a way to make football happen. “Those were off the table, so playing a Mountain West schedule was imperative, something that had to happen for the Lobos,” he said.Lobos Head Football Coach Danny Gonzales talked about what it’s been like for the coaches and players.“We’re in a wing of the hotel that no other people or patrons of the hotel who stay here come through. There’s very limited activity amongst our kids. If they’re not in study hall or they’re not with their position coach or we’re not doing a walkthrough, they’re in their hotel room, so it’s a really boring life,” Gonzales said.The Lobos will technically play their first home game Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium, the former home of UNLV.As for when the Lobos could come home for real, early estimates could be at the end of the Mountain West regular season.The Mountain West championship game is scheduled for Dec. 19, so even if the Lobos make it, they could still be home for Christmas.
As COVID-19 cases grow, the possibilities for a return to normal in schools and sports is dwindling.
The University of New Mexico football team is a perfect example.
The Lobos remain the only Division 1 football team that can’t practice or play in their own state, and funding the now Las Vegas Lobos isn’t cheap.
“They’ve found a way to create a bubble away from home,” radio host for 95.9 The Sports Animal’s J.J. Buck said.
Buck has been following the unprecedented journey of the Lobos football team, including the cost of living out of a hotel in Nevada.
“UNM is estimating it’s about $70,000 a week that it is costing them to house the team,” he said.
But the Mountain West Conference is picking up the slack.
“The Mountain West is covering the cost of weekly testing for every university in the conference,” he said.
So where is the money coming from?
“The Mountain West, prior to this year, agreed to a new six-year television contract with CBS and FOX Sports, which upped their allotment to $4 million per year for each school,” Buck said.
He said that nearly doubled what the Lobos were getting before.
And with the team losing both its million-dollar payday games against Mississippi State and Southern Cal, he said they had to find a way to make football happen.
“Those were off the table, so playing a Mountain West schedule was imperative, something that had to happen for the Lobos,” he said.
Lobos Head Football Coach Danny Gonzales talked about what it’s been like for the coaches and players.
“We’re in a wing of the hotel that no other people or patrons of the hotel who stay here come through. There’s very limited activity amongst our kids. If they’re not in study hall or they’re not with their position coach or we’re not doing a walkthrough, they’re in their hotel room, so it’s a really boring life,” Gonzales said.
The Lobos will technically play their first home game Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium, the former home of UNLV.
As for when the Lobos could come home for real, early estimates could be at the end of the Mountain West regular season.
The Mountain West championship game is scheduled for Dec. 19, so even if the Lobos make it, they could still be home for Christmas.