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Richard Stevens: Flanagan's Lobos feel the fans' love

By Richard Stevens
Saturday, March 10, 2007

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Valerie Kast says, "It's something I don't understand. It's unexplainable to me."

Now, you might be thinking Kast - a freshman for the University of New Mexico women's basketball team - is contemplating why Don Flanagan's Lobos seem to own the Mountain West Conference tournament.

The UNM women have won three of the past four MWC tournament titles.

If the Lobos beat Brigham Young today in the Thomas and Mack Center, it will be four of five.

Amazing.

This should be embarrassing to the rest of the MWC.

And it probably will happen.

But the mystery Kast is talking about is why so many fans go nuts, bananas, goo-goo over these Lobos women.

This thing in Vegas often goes beyond support. It's a passion, an itch, an obsession.

"These girls give back to the community in a way that makes them irresistible," said Rudy Chavez, an Albuquerque attorney and UNM booster.

The giving back obviously comes from Lobos fans being given the opportunity to back a winner. It gives them a chance for payback for all the dirty deeds handed down in so many sports over the years by BYU, Utah and the rest of the MWC schools.

The statement by Flanagan's Lobos also is one of domination. As much as anything, UNM is saying, "We have a better team. We have better fans."

It's an in-your-face thing. It's a happy hour.

"I think women's basketball is something the fans feel like they are attached to in a personal way, become a part of," said Mandi Moore, a former UNM player now on Flanagan's staff.

"And with us, they are supporting something that's successful."

The success in Vegas, so far, has been exactly what Lobos fans need and want.

UNM beat UNLV in Wednesday's quarterfinals.

UNM beat Wyoming in Friday's semifinals.

UNM probably will beat BYU today for the title.

But, win or lose against the Cougars, UNM should return to the NCAA Tournament.

The NCAA bid is a big thing for Lobos fans. It's validation that they belong. It's like Rocky Long's football team going to a bowl game. It places New Mexico on the national map.

You have to think a large part of this phenomena is Flanagan, too. He is a favorite son, sort of like Long. But more successful. Flanagan came to UNM from Eldorado High School.

He was a community and media choice to lead this program long before the stubborn brass at UNM realized they had a winner and a builder right under their noses.

Flanagan is one of us. He was a Lobo long before he was a Lobos coach.

"Don is a master coach," Chavez said. "His girls win, and let's face it - New Mexico fans are basketball junkies. Right now, the women play a better brand of basketball than the men. It's all infectious."

And, of course, there are the Lobos players. A pack of nice girls not so nice on the court. They play together as a team. They give honest effort. They understand the importance of defense.

They wave and smile at the crowd at the end of a game and they seem to mean it.

"I think the fans really realize that we appreciate their support and need it," said UNM's Angela Hartill. "But I'm not from (New Mexico). I'm still not sure I really understand all this."

What it is, is a lot of everything. But maybe the main sell is the chance to attach yourself in a personal way to a special team that wants and welcomes the attachment. You don't get this with the men's basketball team.

With Flanagan's Lobos, you are cheering for your sister or your daughter.

The Lobos women tease you with winning, embrace you with hope and, for the most part, avoid the big heads.

And there is mystery, too, which surely adds to the excitement.

"It's kind of strange," said Kast. "They do the same thing for basketball in Gallup. It must be a New Mexico thing. Maybe it's just geography.