>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> Lou: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, COMMUNITY CONCERN IN LAS CRUCES.

A JOURNALIST COVERING LAST MONTH'S MASS SHOOTING UPDATES ON THE CITY'S RESPONSE AND HOW PEOPLE ARE RECOVERING.

>> D'Ammassa: THIS HAD THREE CASUALTIES, THREE FATALITIES.

AND, AGAIN, KIDS.

I THINK THAT'S THE PART THAT'S REALLY STICKING OUT FOR PEOPLE.

>> Lou: AND SAME CHERRY JACKET, NEW HEAD COACH.

THE LOBO MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM HAS A NEW PROGRAM LEADER AS COACH RICHARD PATINO LEAVES UNM FOR A JOB BACK EAST.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I'M SENIOR PRODUCER LOU DiVIZIO.

LOBO MEN'S BASKETBALL HAS WELCOMED A NEW HEAD COACH.

ERIC OLEN, WHO SPENT TWO DECADES RUNNING THE SHOW AT UC SAN DIEGO, ACCEPTED THE POSITION TO BE THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO'S 23rd MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH EARLIER THIS WEEK.

COMING UP LATER IN TODAY'S SHOW, ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL SPORTS WRITER GEOFF GRAMMER GIVES AN INSIGHT INTO OLEN'S APPROACH AS WELL AS THE LEGACY OF OUTGOING COACH RICHARD PATINO.

BUT FIRST, WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO LAS CRUCES, WHERE PEOPLE ARE STILL REELING AFTER LAST MONTH'S LATE NIGHT MASS SHOOTING AT YOUNG PARK THAT KILLED THREE TEENAGERS AND WOUNDED MORE THAN A DOZEN OTHER PEOPLE.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, A DONA ANA GRAND JURY INDICTED FOUR SUSPECTS IN THE SHOOTING ON FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGES.

THEY ARE: 20-YEAR-OLD TOMAS RIVAS, TWO 17-YEAR-OLDS, GUSTAVO DOMINGUEZ AND NATHAN RIVAS, AND 15-YEAR-OLD JOSIAH ONTIVEROS.

THE INDICTMENTS WERE HANDED UP THE DAY AFTER THE INTERVIEW THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JEFF PROCTOR.

THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO CORRESPONDENT ALGERNON D'AMMASSA HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT THE SHOOTING AND ITS AFTERMATH.

ALGERNON VISITED OUR STUDIO THIS WEEK TO TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW THE PEOPLE OF LAS CRUCES, INCLUDING CITY LEADERS, ARE DOING FOLLOWING PERHAPS THE MOST PUBLIC, JARRING ACT OF VIOLENCE WE'VE SEEN IN THE CITY IN 35 YEARS.

>> Jeff: ALGERNON, THANKS FOR BEING HERE AND WELCOME BACK TO NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

>> D'Ammassa: NICE BEING HERE, JEFF.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE A NEW JOB SINCE THE LAST TIME WE HAD YOU ON THE SHOW.

YOU ARE COVERING SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, NOW, FOR THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL.

IT WAS IN THE COURSE OF THAT WORK THAT YOU CAME TO DO SOME REPORTING ON THIS MASS SHOOTING AT YOUNG PARK IN LAS CRUCES.

I WANT TO KIND OF START FROM LIKE 30,000 FEET.

WHAT IS AN UNSANCTIONED CAR SHOW?

>> D'Ammassa: THESE ARE VERY POPULAR GET-TOGETHERS WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE, MIDDLE-AGED PEOPLE, FIND A SPACE WHERE THEY CAN SHOW OFF THEIR LOWRIDERS.

THEY CAN SHOW OFF CARS THAT THEY HAVE MODIFIED TO BE REALLY LOUD OR TO BACKFIRE ON COMMAND.

THERE'S SORT OF ONE FOOT IN THAT TRADITION OF CAR SHOWS WHERE -- THE MEXICAN CAR SHOWS WHERE THEY LIKE TO BOUNCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THESE ARE ROWDIER.

THERE'S A LOT OF SPINNING OUT, DOING DOUGHNUTS.

THERE'S TRICKS.

SOMETIMES THERE'S DRAG RACING.

THEY LIKE TO LEAVE MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT.

THEY LIKE TO RAISE A LOT OF SMOKE.

AND WHAT IS ALSO POPULAR IS PEOPLE WILL BRING GUNS AND THEIR RIFLES WILL BE MOUNTED WITH LASER SCOPES AND LIGHTS TO AIM THEM INTO THE SMOKE AND MAKE LIGHTING EFFECTS THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO VIDEO AND POST ON TIKTOK AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

THESE ARE CROWDED GATHERINGS.

THEY'RE REALLY ROWDY.

THEY'RE REALLY LOUD.

THE NEIGHBORS HATE THEM BECAUSE THEY RAISE A LOT OF SMOKE AND A LOT OF NOISE.

AND IT'S SCARY BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE TO GET REALLY CLOSE TO THE CARS THAT ARE DOING DOUGHNUTS AND FILM THEM, AND PEOPLE GET REALLY CLOSE TO CARS THAT ARE NOT REALLY IN CONTROL.

>> Jeff: YEAH, SOME OF THE VIDEO MADE ME INCREDIBLY NERVOUS JUST FROM WATCHING.

SO, IT WAS AT ONE OF THESE KINDS OF EVENTS WHERE THE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE.

WALK ME THROUGH THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT SORT OF LED UP TO THE EXCHANGE OF GUNFIRE.

>> D'Ammassa: WHAT WE KNOW IS RIGHT AROUND 10:00 THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN TWO GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

WITNESSES DESCRIBED ONE OF THESE FACTIONS AS THE RIVAS BROTHERS.

AND IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW MANY PEOPLE BROUGHT GUNS OUT OR WHAT LED TO THAT MOMENT.

PEOPLE WERE ENJOYING A CAR DOING DOUGHNUTS ONE MOMENT, AND THEN THERE ARE THESE GUNSHOTS THAT RING OUT, AND THE MOMENT IS CAPTURED ON VIDEO.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE ISN'T REALLY A REACTION RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE BACKFIRES ARE PRETTY COMMON AT THESE THINGS.

BUT THE POPS ARE COMING RAPIDLY.

AND PRETTY SOON PEOPLE START RUNNING.

AND WHAT APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED IS THAT FOUR PEOPLE PULLED OUT SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOLS AND JUST STARTED FIRING LOTS OF SHOTS INTO A VERY CROWDED PLACE AT THE HEIGHT OF THIS EVENT.

SOME PEOPLE SAY TWO, THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE WERE GATHERED IN THIS PARKING LOT AT THIS CITY PARK.

AND PEOPLE JUST RAN, TAKING COVER, TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE PARK AS FAST AS THEY COULD, RUNNING IN EVERY DIRECTION.

AND THE SHOOTERS CLIMBED INTO A CAR AND SPED AWAY FROM THE SCENE PRETTY QUICK.

>> Jeff: YOU GOT YOUR HANDS ON SOME FEDERAL SEARCH WARRANTS CONNECTED TO THIS MASS SHOOTING.

WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM THOSE DOCUMENTS?

>> D'Ammassa: SO, FEDERAL AGENTS WORKING WITH LOCAL POLICE WERE LOOKING FOR DNA TO MATCH THE PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN ARRESTED WITH THE GUNS THAT HAD BEEN RECOVERED.

SO, THE SEARCH WARRANT REVEALS SOME ELEMENTS OF THE INVESTIGATION THAT THEY PRETTY QUICKLY TRACKED DOWN FROM TALKING TO WITNESSES WHO MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

AND THEN, THEY SOON WERE FOLLOWING A CAR THE NEXT MORNING AND SAW WHAT THEY ALLEGE WAS ONE OF THE NOW DEFENDANTS IN THE CASE TRYING TO GET RID OF SOME OF THE WEAPONS IN A DUMPSTER OUTSIDE OF A RESIDENCE.

THEY ALSO WENT INTO THE RESIDENCE AND SOME MORE EVIDENCE WAS FOUND THERE.

ANOTHER GUN.

SO FAR, I THINK FIVE WEAPONS HAVE BEEN RECOVERED, AS WELL AS A JACKET THAT MATCHES A JACKET THAT WAS SEEN IN SOME OF THE MANY MOBILE PHONE VIDEOS OF THE INCIDENT.

SO, THROUGH THAT, WE LEARNED THAT THESE WERE THREE JUVENILE DEFENDANTS WHO HAD SOME PREVIOUS INTERACTIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SOME PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS THAT HAD GONE THROUGH THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED?

>> D'Ammassa: SO, THREE TEENAGERS WERE KILLED IN THIS INCIDENT.

15, I SHOULD SAY, ADDITIONALLY WERE WOUNDED.

AND ALL OF THEM WERE WOUNDED BY GUNFIRE OR SHRAPNEL.

THE THREE KILLED WERE THESE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LAS CRUCES.

ONE WAS 16, ONE WAS 17, ONE WAS 19.

AND, AS I SAY, 15 PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED AND MOVED TO VARIOUS HOSPITALS AND WENT TO EL PASO.

SO, WE HAVE FOUR FAIRLY YOUNG PEOPLE.

A 20-YEAR-OLD DEFENDANT, AS WELL AS TWO 17-YEAR-OLDS AND A 15-YEAR-OLD WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN THE CASE SO FAR.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE THEY CHARGED WITH?

AND WHERE DO THE CASES STAND AT THIS POINT?

>> D'Ammassa: SO THEY ALL HAVE THREE OPEN COUNTS OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE, AS WELL AS CONSPIRACY CHARGES.

THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

THERE MAY BE MORE CHARGES TO FOLLOW.

IN THE FEDERAL SEARCH WARRANT, FOR INSTANCE, THERE WAS MENTION OF THE FACT THAT THE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE ABOUT 350 FEET AWAY FROM A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

SO, THERE MAY BE SOME MORE CHARGES TO FOLLOW, DEPENDING ON WHAT ELSE WE LEARN.

SO, 20-YEAR-OLD TOMAS RIVAS WHO IS IN CUSTODY, AND THREE JUVENILES.

GUSTAVO DOMINGUEZ, JOSIAH ONTIVEROS, AND NATHAN RIVAS WHO APPEARS TO BE THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF TOMAS.

AND THEY'RE ALL IN CUSTODY.

THE THREE JUVENILES ARE IN JUVENILE CUSTODY AHEAD OF FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, FERNANDO MACIAS, HAS INDICATED THAT HE'S GOING FOR A GRAND JURY INDICTMENT AND HE'S GOING TO TRY THEM AS ADULTS BASED ON HOW SERIOUS THIS CRIME WAS.

>> Jeff: GOTCHA.

SO, IF I'M DOING MY MATH RIGHT, BETWEEN THE FOUR ALLEGED SHOOTERS AND THE THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAD, ALL BUT TWO OF THEM ARE CHILDREN UNDER 18 YEARS OLD.

THIS SHOOTING TOOK PLACE ON THE SECOND TO LAST DAY OF A LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN SANTA FE, IN WHICH A HUGE AMOUNT OF THE DEBATE, ALTHOUGH VERY LITTLE PASSAGE OF ACTUAL LEGISLATION, WAS AIMED AT CRIMES COMMITTED BY CHILDREN.

GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM, OF COURSE, HAS ADMONISHED LAWMAKERS FOR NOT PASSING THOSE BILLS.

THERE'S ALMOST CERTAINLY GOING TO BE A SPECIAL SESSION WHEN WE SOME OF THOSE BILLS COME BACK.

HOW IS THIS CASE AFFECTING STATEWIDE POLITICS?

>> D'Ammassa: THE TIMING OF IT WAS UNCANNY.

THE SEVERITY OF IT, I MEAN, LAS CRUCENS ARE TRAUMATIZED BY THIS IN THAT IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST MASS-CASUALTY EVENTS PEOPLE HAVE SEEN, CERTAINLY IN LAS CRUCES, AND I THINK STATEWIDE, IN DECADES.

AND IT HAPPENED IN THE CLOSING HOURS OF A LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHERE THE GOVERNOR WAS ALREADY INDICATING THAT SHE HAD FRUSTRATION, THAT SHE HAD WANTED TO SEE A LOT MORE LEGISLATION RELATED TO CRIME AND ESPECIALLY PENALTIES RELATED TO CRIME.

AND SHE WAS GETTING PUSHBACK THAT SOME OF THE MEASURES SHE SUPPORTED DID NOT SUFFICIENTLY SHOW INTEREST IN REHABILITATION AND DIVERSION, ALTHOUGH SHE DOES SAY THAT SHE SUPPORTS THOSE THINGS TOO, BUT SHE DID WANT TO SEE PENALTIES.

SHE EVEN WANTED TO SEE A YOUNGER THRESHOLD FOR TRYING KIDS AS ADULTS.

AND WASN'T GETTING THOSE MEASURES FROM THE LEGISLATURE, SO THEN THIS HAPPENS RIGHT AT THE OPPORTUNE TIME.

AND AS THEY'RE CLOSING OUT THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WITH ALL OF THAT PRESSURE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE IMPETUS FOR TEASING A SPECIAL SESSION.

I'M CERTAIN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING A LOT ABOUT LAS CRUCES.

>> Jeff: YEAH, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LOCAL REACTION FOR A MINUTE.

YOU HAD JUST MENTIONED THAT PEOPLE IN THIS STATE HAVEN'T SEEN A MASS-CASUALTY EVENT LIKE THIS IN A LONG TIME.

THERE WAS A PARTICULAR PIECE OF CONTEXT IN ONE OF THE STORIES YOU WROTE, SAYING THE CITY HAD NOT BEEN ROCKED BY THIS KIND OF VIOLENCE SINCE THE BOWLING ALLEY MASSACRE 35 YEARS AGO.

I WONDER HOW IS THE COMMUNITY TAKING THIS, BASED ON FOLKS YOU'VE BEEN TALKING TO?

>> D'Ammassa: YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT - IT'S NOT QUITE THIS NEVER HAPPENS HERE, BUT THIS HAPPENS HERE RARELY.

AND FOR LAS CRUCENS, ESPECIALLY GENERATION X AND OLDER, PEOPLE REMEMBER THE 1990 SHOOTING EVENT, A SORT OF GANG-STYLE, LOOKED TO BE EXECUTION-STYLE, SHOOTINGS AT A BOWLING ALLEY.

THAT BOWLING ALLEY IS ACTUALLY NOT FAR FROM THE PARK.

TODAY, IT'S ALL BOARDED UP.

IT'S BEEN CLOSED FOR YEARS.

IT'S ALL BOARDED UP.

PEOPLE STILL LEAVE FLOWERS.

THE 35th ANNIVERSARY PASSED JUST RECENTLY.

AND PEOPLE STILL LEAVE FLOWERS AT THAT SPOT.

IT'S A VERY LIVING MEMORY THAT THIS HAPPENED TO US AND IT HAPPENS TO OUR KIDS.

AND, NOTABLY, THIS HAD THREE CASUALTIES, THREE FATALITIES, AND AGAIN, KIDS.

I THINK THAT'S THE PART THAT'S REALLY STICKING OUT FOR PEOPLE.

THERE'S ALSO FRUSTRATION AMONG THE COMMUNITY THAT LIVES AROUND THAT PARK BECAUSE PEOPLE TELL ME THEY'VE BEEN RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT THAT PARK FOR YEARS.

THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF MINOR CRIMES THERE.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CAR SHOWS THERE.

SOMETIMES THE ACTIVITIES WITH THE CARS ACTUALLY SPILL OUT ONTO WALNUT STREET.

AND WHEN ASKED ABOUT WHY NOT POLICE EVENTS LIKE THIS HARDER, LAS CRUCES POLICE CHIEF JEREMY STORY POINTS TO A LACK OF RESOURCES.

JUST A POLICE FORCE THAT'S TOO TAXED - THAT'S ALWAYS RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES, BASICALLY.

SO, IT COMES WITH THE MEMORIES, VERY FRESH, OF PREVIOUS INCIDENTS AS WELL AS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION OF WONDERING WHETHER ENOUGH IS BEING DONE TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE NOW.

>> Jeff: LET'S DIG INTO STORY JUST A LITTLE BIT, AS WE GET TOWARD THE END OF OUR CONVERSATION.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS HE'S GOT IN TERMS OF THE RESOURCES FOR HIS DEPARTMENT?

AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY SAYS IT'S GOING TO DO IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS SHOOTING?

>> D'Ammassa: YEAH.

SO, THE CITY HAS FUNDED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 220 POSITIONS AND STORY SAYS HE'S GOT LESS THAN 190 POSITIONS FULL.

POLICE AGENCIES ACROSS NEW MEXICO, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH WHERE THERE ARE MUCH POORER COMMUNITIES, MUNICIPALITIES OF LOWER BUDGETS, THEY'RE COMPETING WITH THE STATE POLICE.

THEY'RE COMPETING WITH AGENCIES IN OTHER STATES.

IT'S BEEN - I HEAR THAT COMPLAINT UNIVERSALLY THAT IT'S BEEN HARD TO RECRUIT GOOD OFFICERS WHO CAN STAY FOR THE LONG TERM.

ADDITIONALLY, JEREMY STORY HAS ADVOCATED STRONGLY FOR TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY A REAL-TIME CRIME CENTER THAT ESSENTIALLY CONDUCTS SURVEILLANCE IN AREAS OF INTEREST.

MORE OF THE CAMERAS THAT ARE MOUNTED PERMANENTLY IN PLACES TO SURVEIL WHAT'S GOING ON IN COMMUNITIES.

AND HE'S BEEN A VERY COGENT SPOKESPERSON AND ADVOCATE FOR THAT.

I IMAGINE, DURING A SPECIAL SESSION, WE WILL BE SEEING HIS FACE IN SANTA FE AS, INDEED, WE SAW HIM GO UP THERE DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE RESOURCES.

CHIEF STORY IS ALSO ONE WHO SAYS THAT HE WANTS TO SEE MORE DIVERSION.

HE WANTS TO SEE MORE PREVENTATIVE STUFF.

I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE A SMALLER FORCE WITHOUT THE RESOURCES YOU NEED, YOU WANT TO TRY TO ADDRESS THINGS BEFORE THEY BECOME PROBLEMS REQUIRING A POLICE RESPONSE.

>> Jeff: HIS IDEAS, WHETHER THAT'S THE REALTIME CRIME CENTER, WHICH OF COURSE WOULD BE MODELED AFTER THE ONE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE.

ADDITIONAL SURVEILLANCE, THOSE KINDS OF TOOLS, HOW DO THOSE IDEAS LAND WITH THE COMMUNITY?

ARE HIS IDEAS RESONATING AMONG RESIDENTS DOWN THERE?

>> D'Ammassa: A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT IDEA A LOT.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO LIKE IT ENVISION IT AS A PLACE THAT WILL BE WELL-STAFFED AND QUICKLY-RESPONSIVE TO SITUATIONS BEFORE THEY OCCUR.

THERE IS A CONTINGENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT REALLY LIKES TO EMPHASIZE PUBLIC DANGERS.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN FLASHPOINTS IN LOCAL POLITICS ON THIS THAT HAVE AFFECTED THE CITY AS WELL AS THE COUNTY.

A LOT OF FOCUS ON THE UNHOUSED POPULATION, AND A LOT OF FOCUS ON PROPERTY CRIME AS HARBINGERS OF MORE VIOLENT OFFENSES.

THE CITY-- THE DEPARTMENT, OF COURSE, JUST SAW ITS FIRST IN-THE-LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH NOT VERY LONG AGO.

AND THAT INVOLVED A PERSON WHO WAS UNHOUSED AND APPEARED TO BE IN NEED OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND WASN'T GETTING THEM AND A VIOLENT CONFRONTATION ENDED IN THE OFFICER'S DEATH, AND THAT HAS REALLY, I THINK, PITCHED THE CONVERSATION IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION.

ALTHOUGH, YOU ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS REALLY TRYING TO BRING THIS BACK INTO A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW DO WE HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE IN TROUBLE?

HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE INTO HOUSING?

HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE INTO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES WHERE WE'RE STILL REBUILDING A WHOLE SYSTEM TO DELIVER THAT KIND OF SERVICE, THAT MENTAL HEALTH CARE?

AS WELL AS, WHAT ARE WE OFFERING OUR JUVENILES?

WHAT ARE WE OFFERING YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO?

HOW ARE WE ENGAGING THEM AND NOT JUST GIVING THEM THINGS TO ENTERTAIN THEM, BUT HOW ARE WE REALLY ENGAGING THEM WITH THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY HAVE A SENSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL?

SO, WHICH OF THOSE STORIES IS GOING TO DOMINATE IS STILL AN OPEN QUESTION.

>> Jeff: ALGERNON, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE DRIVE UP.

I AM EXCITED TO CONTINUE READING YOUR COVERAGE ON THIS AND OTHER MATTERS IN THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL.

THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

>> D'Ammassa: ANY TIME, JEFF.

THANKS.

>> Grammer: THE REASON LOBO BASKETBALL IS REALLY GOOD IS BECAUSE, FOR SOME REASON, FOR 50 YEARS THEY'VE BEEN IN THE TOP 25 IN AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE.

THAT IS WHY I THINK EXPECTATIONS SHOULD BE HIGH.

I THINK THE COMMUNITY SHOULD DEMAND A LOT OUT OF THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE ASKING FOR A LOT OF MONEY.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE INVESTMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE INVESTMENT OF STATE DOLLARS.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE INVESTMENT FROM STUDENT FEES AND ALL THAT STUFF.

IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR ALL THAT, YOU BETTER DELIVER.

THERE'S SOME PRESSURE ON THE NEW GUY, BUT I THINK FANS SHOULD EXPECT IT TO BE A PRETTY GOOD TEAM.

>> Lou: THAT INTERVIEW WITH LOBO BASKETBALL BEAT WRITER GEOFF GRAMMER IS COMING UP IN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES.

AND THANKS TO ALGERNON D'AMMASSA.

WE MADE A MISTAKE LAST WEEK, AND WE NEED TO CORRECT THAT.

IN LAST WEEK'S BROADCAST, POLITICS CORRESPONDENT GWYNETH DOLAND SPOKE WITH REPORTER JERRY REDFERN FROM CAPITAL & MAIN ABOUT LOBBYIST CAMPAIGN DONATIONS HE UNCOVERED TO THE LEADERS OF STATE HOUSE AND SENATE.

THE DONATIONS APPEARED TO BE ON BEHALF OF AN OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY GROUP.

SUBSEQUENT REPORTING REVEALS THAT WAS INCORRECT.

THE LOBBYIST FILED THE REPORT WITH THE NEW MEXICO SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE WHEN HE WAS WORKING FOR THE INDUSTRY GROUP, BUT THE DONATIONS OCCURRED A FEW DAYS BEFORE HE BEGAN WORK THERE.

AND THE REPORT DID NOT REFLECT THAT.

REDFERN REGRETS THE ERROR.

WE ARE JUST THREE MONTHS INTO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S SECOND TERM, AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING A NUMBER OF POLICIES DESCRIBED IN PROJECT 2025 COME TO FRUITION.

IT'S A NEARLY THOUSAND-PAGE DOCUMENT PRODUCED BY THE CONSERVATIVE HERITAGE FOUNDATION AND DESPITE TRUMP SAYING HE NEVER READ IT, MANY OF ITS AUTHORS NOW WORK IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.

MASS DEPORTATION OF IMMIGRANTS, A CRACKDOWN ON UNIVERSITIES AND DIVERSITY INITIATIVES, FUNDS SLASHED TO PROGRAMS INVESTED IN CLIMATE SCIENCE AND GREEN ENERGY, THESE ARE MASSIVE CHANGES BEING MADE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND WE HAD TWO POLITICAL EXPERTS HERE LAST FALL TO SOUND THE ALARM.

TAPED TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION, POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGIST MARTHA BURK AND FORMER STATE SENATOR DEDE FELDMAN BROKE DOWN HOW THE PRESCRIPTIONS IN 2025 COULD AFFECT NEW MEXICO.

AS REPORTERS SCRAMBLE NOW TO COVER THE MANY CHANGES TRUMP HAS MADE FROM THAT INSTRUCTION MANUAL, WE WANTED TO RETURN TO THAT CONVERSATION HOSTED BY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JEFF PROCTOR.

>> Jeff: MARTHA BURKE, DEDE FELDMAN, WELCOME BACK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE WANTED TO START OFF COVERING THE BASICS OF THIS.

I FEEL LIKE FOR A LOT OF FOLKS PROJECT 2025 HAS BEEN REDUCED TO A YARD SIGN OR A SOCIAL MEDIA HASHTAG.

SO, WHAT IS PROJECT 2025?

WHO WROTE IT, AND WHY IS IT SO CONTROVERSIAL?

MARTHA, LET'S START WITH YOU.

>> Burk: WELL, WHO WROTE IT?

THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION.

ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MORE VICIOUS SO-CALLED THINK TANKS IN THE COUNTRY.

VERY CONSERVATIVE.

THEY, BASICALLY IN MY VIEW, THIS LATEST PROJECT 2025 IS THEIR MANIFESTO.

IT IS, BY THE WAY, POPULATED BY MANY PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ARE NOW IN HERITAGE.

I HAVE TO SAY AS AN ASIDE, THAT TWO-THIRDS OF THEM ARE MEN.

ABOUT A THIRD ARE WOMEN.

THEY HAVE FEWER WOMEN.

BUT IT IS A MANIFESTO TO DISMANTLE THE GOVERNMENT, BASICALLY.

THEY WANT TO DO AWAY WITH ANY GUARDRAILS.

THEY WANT TO, BASICALLY, INSTALL THE PRESIDENT AS A DICTATOR.

WITH THEIR HELP, OF COURSE, BECAUSE DEPENDING ON WHO IS IN THAT CHAIR THEY MIGHT NEED A LOT OF HELP INTELLECTUALLY.

>> Feldman: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I READ ABOUT IT, EVEN BEFORE I READ THE DOCUMENT ITSELF, WAS THAT THE LAST TIME A CONSERVATIVE ADMINISTRATION, NAMELY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, CAME INTO POWER THEY DIDN'T HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE BUREAUCRACY.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEIR PEOPLE IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, OR IN ANY OF THE KEY POSTS.

THEY WERE KIND OF AT A LOSS AS TO HOW TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT AND PUT THEIR PROGRAM INTO ACTION.

SO THIS DOCUMENT, PROJECT 2025, WAS DEEMED AS A RECRUITING TOOL AND A TRANSITION TOOL, SO THAT TRUMP WOULD HAVE AN OPERATING MANUAL ONCE HE GOT INTO POWER AND WOULDN'T JUST BE PLAYING THINGS OFF THE CUFF.

>> Jeff: SO THAT WE'RE CLEAR, I JUST WANT TO PICK UP ON SOMETHING THAT MARTHA SAID.

OF THE AUTHORS OF 2025, SIX OF THEM ARE FORMER TRUMP STAFFERS.

150 FORMER TRUMP STAFFERS ARE MENTIONED IN THE DOCUMENT.

INTERESTINGLY, IN THE LAST HANDFUL OF WEEKS, TRUMP'S BEEN ALL OVER THE PLACE ON THIS.

ONE MOMENT HE'S LIKE THAT THING LOOKS GREAT, AND IF HE'S SITTING DOWN FOR AN INTERVIEW HE'S LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHO DID THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE KID WHO SPILLS THE MILK ON THE CARPET AND RUNS AWAY AND SAYS I DON'T KNOW WHO DID THAT.

IN JUST THE LAST WEEK, THEY HAVE SAID WE WANT TO CREATE A SITUATION WHERE NONE OF THOSE PROJECT 2025 FOLKS WOULD BE IN OUR ADMINISTRATION.

DEDE, WHY WOULD TRUMP WANT TO RUN AWAY FROM A DOCUMENT LIKE THIS?

>> Feldman: WELL, HE'S GETTING FLACK FOR IT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE READING IT.

PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THIS IS A DOOMSDAY SCENARIO FOR THE UNITED STATES IN TERMS OF ALL KINDS OF POLICIES.

YOU KNOW, TRUMP HAS HIS RALLIES, AND AT HIS RALLIES HE ADVOCATES ALL OF THE POLICIES THAT ARE IN 2025.

AND, THEN, THE PROJECT 2025 IS THE CHAPTER AND VERSE FOR HIS RALLIES AS TO HOW TO, YOU KNOW, DEPORT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE ILLEGALLY, ALLEGEDLY.

AND HOW TO DISMANTLE THE EPA.

HOW TO DRILL, BABY, DRILL.

YOU KNOW, PROJECT 2025 DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE EXCLAMATION POINTS AND LANGUAGE LIKE MAGNIFICENT AND THE BEST, BUT IT FILLS IN THE BLANKS AS TO TRUMP'S DECLARATIONS AT HIS RALLIES.

>> Jeff: IS IT A LITTLE BIT OF A QUIET-PART-OUT-LOUD THING, MARTHA?

>> Burk: WELL, I THINK IT IS BECAUSE HE'S ONLY DISAVOWING IT UNTIL HE GETS ELECTED, AND THEN HE'S GOING TO PROBABLY EMBRACE IT.

I MEAN, HE'S ALREADY DOING THAT, AS DEDE SAID.

BUT IT'S IN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT WAY.

HE'S TRYING TO SUPPORT THE IDEAS WITHOUT SAYING THAT HE REALLY IS ON BOARD WITH THESE PEOPLE.

HE'S SAYING HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THESE PEOPLE.

SOME OF THEM WERE IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> Feldman: PETER NAVARRO.

BEN CARSON.

>> Burk: HE DOESN'T KNOW THEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A TYPICAL TRUMP THING.

HE'S GOT TO HAVE IT ONE WAY, DIFFERENT AUDIENCE, HAVE IT ANOTHER WAY.

IT'S OKAY TO LIE, YOU KNOW, HE'S DONE IT ALL HIS LIFE.

AND, I THINK, IT'S CLEAR THAT HE WOULD GO ALONG WITH - I MEAN THEY WROTE IT FOR HIM.

>> Jeff: I WANT TO STICK WITH YOU FOR JUST A SECOND.

THE OFFICIAL TITLE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS MANDATE FOR LEADERSHIP, THE CONSERVATIVE PROMISE.

IT'S NOT UNLIKE THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION TO COOK UP DOCUMENTS LIKE THIS.

WHY DO YOU THINK THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH CONCERN AND HEAT THIS TIME AROUND?

>> Burk: WELL, I THINK, THE CONCERN IS THAT THEY'RE ALL PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY CLOSE TO TRUMP.

IF HE WINS, HE'S GOING TO MARCH TO THEIR TUNE IF HE'S STILL SANE, WHICH IS A QUESTION IN MY MIND RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT'S MUCH MORE BLATANT THAN ANYTHING THEY HAVE PUT ON PAPER BEFORE.

THEY'VE ALWAYS HAD SORT OF THE PSEUDO-INTELLECTUAL CONSERVATISM IN THEIR POLICIES.

NOW, NO.

WE'RE GOING TO DISMANTLE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

WE'RE GOING TO TOTALLY OUTLAW ABORTION.

AND ON DOWN THE LIST.

SO, IT'S MUCH MORE RAW, IF YOU WILL.

AND, I GUESS SO TRUMP CAN UNDERSTAND IT, I DON'T KNOW.

>> Jeff: IT'S A 960-PAGE DOCUMENT.

>> Feldman: AND, KEEP IN MIND THAT IN 2020, WHEN TRUMP RAN BEFORE, THERE WAS NO PLATFORM, EVEN.

AND THE PLATFORM THAT EXISTS THIS TIME IS PRETTY SKETCHY.

THERE'S REALLY NO THERE, THERE.

IT'S ALL GENERALITIES, AND IT'S MUCH MORE LIKE A TRUMP RALLY THAN THIS.

SO, FOR A LONG TIME, THERE WAS NOTHING OUT THERE BUT PROJECT 2025.

AND SO, PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY READING IT TO FIND OUT THE STANCE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND OF TRUMP ON MANY OF THESE ISSUES.

BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OTHER PLACE TO FIND OUT.

>> Jeff: YEAH.

I'VE GOT A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT IN THIS SEGMENT.

I'M GOING TO PICK ON SOMETHING YOU JUST SAID.

WE INVITED THE NEW MEXICO GOP TO SEND SOMEONE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING TODAY.

THEY DECLINED, CITING THE FRAMING OF THIS DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE HAVING.

THEY ALSO SENT US A COPY OF SOMETHING CALLED AGENDA 47, AND SAID IT WAS TRUMP'S TRUE PLATFORM.

WE LOOKED THROUGH THAT 16-PAGE DOCUMENT, AND FOUND IT TO BE PRETTY HOLLOW.

NO NUMBERS, NO DATA, NO REAL POLITICAL STANCES.

MAINLY RHETORICAL.

SHOULD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THAT'S THE PLAN, OR THAT PROJECT 2025 IS THE PLAN?

>> Feldman: WELL, PROJECT 2025 IS THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THE VERY SKETCHY DOCUMENT THAT IS NOW BEING USED AS THE PLATFORM.

AND IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT THEM BACK TO BACK, AND I DID DO THAT, YOU FIND THAT BASICALLY THEY ARE THE SAME EXCEPT THE PLATFORM DOESN'T GO INTO DETAIL, BUT PROJECT 2025 DOES GO INTO DETAIL.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS A LITTLE AFRAID OF PEOPLE READING WHAT'S IN THERE.

THEY WOULD RATHER JUST GO WITH THE RHETORIC, THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: KIND OF A HAND-IN-GLOVE SITUATION, RIGHT?

WHERE THE UNDEFINED PORTIONS OF THE PLATFORM ARE DEFINED IN THIS OTHER SPACE.

>> Burk: IT'S PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

>> Jeff: WELL SAID, MARTHA.

LISTED AT THE TOP OF AGENDA 47'S PLATFORM IS THIS QUOTE, SEAL THE BORDER AND STOP THE IMMIGRANT INVASION.

MIGRANTS ARE MENTIONED THROUGHOUT THE DOCUMENT AS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WITH IMPLICATIONS OF NEGATIVE IMPACTS IN NEARLY POLICY CATEGORY.

THAT INCLUDES DRAINING MEDICARE, OVERBURDENING SYSTEMS MEANT FOR VETERANS.

DEDE, HOW HAS THIS TYPE OF RHETORIC, WHETHER IT'S IN THAT DOCUMENT OR AT A TRUMP RALLY, SHAPED THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION AND THE CONVERSATION HERE IN NEW MEXICO ABOUT IMMIGRANTS?

>> Feldman: WELL, I THINK IT'S HAD A VERY DAMAGING EFFECT.

PARTICULARLY HERE IN NEW MEXICO, WHERE IMMIGRATION IS A PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR LIFE HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

ALMOST EVERY FAMILY IN NEW MEXICO HAS SOME CONNECTION TO IMMIGRANTS.

THEY MAY BE THEIR FATHERS, THEIR MOTHERS, THEIR GRANDFATHERS.

AND NOT JUST FROM MEXICO, BUT FROM OTHER PLACES AS WELL.

AND IN NEW MEXICO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 6,000 OR SO, MAYBE MORE, DREAMERS.

AND THERE IS A TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM DREAMERS AND ALSO FROM, MAYBE THE 60,000, OR SO, UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE FOLKS IN NEW MEXICO.

THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THE ECONOMY, SO HEARING THAT RHETORIC, I THINK, JUST STRIKES FEAR INTO THEIR HEARTS.

AND WITH FEAR INTO THEIR HEARTS, IT MEANS THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO - OR THEY FEEL THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO APPLY FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE, OR GO TO THE POLICE IN A CASE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHICH REALLY THREATENS ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY HERE IN NEW MEXICO.

SO, IT'S HAVING A VERY DAMAGING EFFECT IN ADDITION TO CREATING THIS 1930S ATMOSPHERE OF ENEMIES WITHOUT PERMEATING OUR BORDERS AND WE NEED TO ARM OURSELVES AND PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THE ALIENS, THE OTHERS.

THAT KIND OF A MENTALITY IS THE GROUNDWORK FOR AUTHORITARIAN RULE.

AGENDA 47 WHICH, AGAIN, IS THE TAMER VERSION OF THE REPUBLICAN PLAN, CALLS FOR, QUOTE, THE LARGEST DEPORTATION OPERATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

PROJECT 2025, OF COURSE, ECHOES THAT SENTIMENT.

CAN TRUMP DO THIS?

IS IT LEGAL?

>> Burk: I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S LEGAL OR NOT.

I MEAN, BECAUSE THE WORD ILLEGAL IS SPREAD AROUND EVERY CHANCE THEY GET.

I DO HAVE ONE THING THAT THEY ARE DOING THOUGH THAT IS QUITE SCARY.

THE POLICY RIGHT NOW IS THAT IMMIGRATION AGENTS DO NOT COME INTO SO-CALLED PROTECTED AREAS WHICH ARE SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, HOSPITALS TO HARASS PEOPLE.

>> Jeff: COURTHOUSES TOO.

>> Burk: AND THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE THAT WHERE THEY CAN GO ANYWHERE ANY TIME.

IT JUST SPEAKS OF NAZIS.

>> Feldman: YEAH, I THINK IN THE AREA OF IMMIGRATION THERE IS MORE LEEWAY FOR EXECUTIVE ACTIONS.

AND IT'S BEEN SO HARD TO GET AN OVERALL SOLUTION THROUGH CONGRESS THAT THE PRESIDENTS HAVE BEEN CALLED UPON TO DO VARIOUS THINGS.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FIND MOST FRIGHTENING ABOUT THESE DOCUMENTS IS IN TERMS OF IMMIGRATION, IS THE IDEA THAT THEY ARE MOVING BEYOND JUST SO-CALLED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS INTO BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENS.

BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENS ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BORN IN THE UNITED STATES TO FOLKS THAT CAME FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

AND THEY NOW ARE SUBJECT TO DEPORTATION.

THAT IS GOING TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT IN NEW MEXICO.

I THINK IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL AND WILL BE CHALLENGED IN COURT, BUT IT'S JUST THE FEAR TACTIC, I THINK, THAT IS BEING USED TO CREATE FEAR, TO CREATE ILL WILL AND DIVISION AMONGST THE FOLKS OF HISPANIC ORIGIN THEMSELVES.

SO THAT THEY WILL, YOU KNOW, BE AFRAID OF ANYBODY COMING IN MORE RECENTLY.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S WORKING OR NOT, BUT IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.

>> Jeff: YEAH.

THE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP PART, TOO, IS UNDER-COVERED.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH OF THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE.

GO AHEAD, MARTHA.

>> Burk: HERE'S A DIRECT QUOTE FROM PROJECT 2025 THAT IS CHILLING.

PROJECT 2025 SAYS IT IS A CALL TO REINSTATE, QUOTE, "EVERY RULE RELATED TO IMMIGRATION THAT WAS ISSUED", UNQUOTE, DURING TRUMP'S FIRST TERM.

AND IF IT'S EVERY RULE THEN, IT'S GOING TO BE EVERY RULE AND MORE IF HE GETS BACK IN.

>> Feldman: AND REMEMBER, ONE OF THOSE RULES WAS FAMILY SEPARATION.

>> Burk: YES.

>> Lou: THANKS AGAIN TO MARTHA BURK AND DEDE FELDMAN FOR THEIR TIME LATE LAST YEAR.

YOU CAN WATCH THEIR WHOLE CONVERSATION WITH JEFF ABOUT PROJECT 2025 ON THE NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS YOUTUBE PAGE.

NOW, FOR A BIT OF BREAK FROM THE HEAVINESS OF THE NEWS CYCLE RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK LOBO BASKETBALL.

UNM FANS HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE RINGER THEMSELVES OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

THE TEAM HAS GONE FROM REGULAR SEASON MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPS TO CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT LOSERS.

THEY WERE VICTORIOUS IN THE FIRST ROUND OF MARCH MADNESS, ONLY TO LOSE A HEART-BREAKINGLY CLOSE GAME IN THE SECOND ROUND.

AND DAYS LATER THEIR COACH, RICHARD PATINO, ANNOUNCED HE WAS MOVING ON TO GREENER PASTURES IN THE BIG EAST.

TOSS IN EIGHT ROSTER PLAYERS ENTERING THE TRANSFER PORTAL AND THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AROUND LOBO BASKETBALL THIS OFFSEASON.

THE SCHOOL MOVED QUICKLY TO SOLIDIFY ONE OF THOSE AREAS, SIGNING PATINO'S REPLACEMENT, ERIC OLEN, FROM UC SAN DIEGO LAST WEEKEND.

THE SCHOOL FORMALLY INTRODUCED HIM TUESDAY.

>> Olen: THIS IS A CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM.

THE BEST FANS IN THE COUNTRY DESERVE A TEAM THAT WALKS INTO THE PIT WITH THE SAME ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM THAT YOU DO.

A TEAM THAT SHOWS A CARE FACTOR THAT RIVALS YOURS.

WALKING ONTO THE FLOOR LAST NIGHT GIVE ME CHILLS.

I'M SO FIRED UP TO FEEL IT IN PERSON.

[CHEERS] >> Lou: ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL SPORTSWRITER GEOFF GRAMMER HAS COVERED THE LOBOS FOR YEARS.

HE VISITED OUR STUDIO AFTER OLEN'S INTRODUCTION FOR SOME PERSPECTIVE ON WHERE THE TEAM STANDS THIS OFFSEASON.

GEOFF GRAMMER, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WELCOME BACK.

>> Grammer: ABSOLUTELY, MAN.

>> Lou: YEAH.

WE'VE CAUGHT UP THE LAST THREE YEARS AFTER THE NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S STILL GOING ON BUT THE LOBOS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.

WE JUST RAN THROUGH THE YEAR THAT WAS LEADING INTO THIS.

I'LL GET TO THAT WITH YOU IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM THE NEW COACH ERIC OLEN.

YOU WERE AT HIS INTRODUCTION WEEK.

AND YOU HAD HIM ON YOUR PODCAST, TALKING GRAMMER, EARLIER THIS WEEK TOO.

HE SOUNDS EXCITED.

WHAT SHOULD LOBO FANS KNOW ABOUT HIM?

>> Grammer: SMART.

I MEAN, HE KNOWS -- IT'S FUNNY, AT THE INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE I HAD ALREADY HAD HIM ON THE PODCAST, AS YOU MENTIONED, SO I TALKED TO HIM FOR 40 MINUTES.

I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO TALK ABOUT AT HIS PRESS CONFERENCE.

I SAW HIS WIFE SITTING AT THE SIDE AND I TALKED TO HER FOR 25 MINUTES.

I SAID, ALL RIGHT, WHAT DO WE REALLY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GUY?

SHE SAID, HE'S A BIT OF A NERD.

HE CAN FIGURE OUT A RUBIK'S CUBE.

HE TALKS ABOUT NUMBERS ALL THE TIME.

AND THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF THAT I THINK LOBO FANS ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO SEE, MAYBE NOT THE RUBIK'S CUBE PART, BUT HE'S REALLY INTO NUMBERS.

HE IS REALLY INTO EFFICIENCY.

HE WANTS TO PUT PLAYERS ON THE FLOOR THAT COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER STATISTICALLY.

HE WANTS TO PUT THEM ON SPOTS ON THE FLOOR, AND EVERYTHING HE'S DOING IS WITH SOME CALCULATION INVOLVED.

IT IS NOT JUST LET'S ROLL THE BALL OUT THERE AND HOPE WE HAVE THE BEST ATHLETES.

IT IS GUYS THAT CAN SHOOT THREE-POINTERS.

LOBO FANS SHOULD KNOW THAT HIS UCSD, UC SAN DIEGO TEAM WHERE HE CAME FROM, SOME OF THE HIGHEST THREE-POINT RATES IN ALL OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL.

THEY SHOOT MORE THREE-POINTERS THAN MOST TEAMS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

THERE ARE 364 DIVISION-I TEAMS.

HIS TEAMS ARE CONSISTENTLY IN THE TOP 10 OR 20 IN HOW MANY THREE-POINTERS THEY SHOOT.

AND THE OBVIOUS PART OF THAT IS THE MATH IS THREE POINTS ARE WORTH MORE THAN TWO.

THEY'RE GOING TO SHOOT LOT OF THREES.

IT'S WHAT MODERN NBA BASKETBALL IS ABOUT.

MODERN BASKETBALL THAT'S GOING THAT WAY.

HE IS ALL ABOUT WHERE THE MATH ON THE FLOOR WORKS IS WHAT HE IS GOING TO TRY AND ATTACK.

AS HE SAID, MAXIMIZE WHAT WE'RE GOOD AT, MINIMIZE OUR DEFICIENCIES.

IF WE'RE NOT GOOD AT THIS, LET'S NOT DO IT.

ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT LOBO SHOULD KNOW IS THIS PAST YEAR WHEN HE WENT 30-5 AT UCSD, IT WAS A PRETTY SMALL TEAM.

HE HAD FOUR STARTERS THAT WERE DIVISION-II TRANSFERS.

BECAUSE HE WAS SMALL, HE KNEW HE WASN'T GOING TO WIN MANY REBOUNDING BATTLES.

INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BEAT TOUGHER, BIGGER TEAMS IN REBOUNDING, HE JUST CHANGED THEIR DEFENSE IN THEIR MATCH-UP ZONE DEFENSE TO TRY AND�-- ON THE PERIMETER, STEAL THE BALL BEFORE THEY EVER GOT IT INSIDE.

THEY NUMBER TWO IN THE COUNTRY IN STEAL RATE BECAUSE OF IT.

HE WILL FIGURE OUT WHAT HIS ROSTER IS GOOD AT AND BAD AT AND TRY AND ADJUST BASED ON THAT.

LIKE I SAID, THEY WERE ONE OF THE TOP TWO OR THREE TEAMS TO THE COUNTRY IN STEAL RATE BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM GETTING THE BALL INSIDE.

HE WANTED TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE BALL AWAY FROM THEM SCORING INSIDE BECAUSE HE JUST KNEW HE DIDN'T HAVE SIZE.

HE'S A REAL SMART GUY.

I THINK LOBO FANS ARE GOING TO ENJOY HIM.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HE DOES IN TERMS OF HANDLING 15,000 FANS IN AN ARENA WHEN HE WAS A DIVISION II COACH FOR A LOT OF HIS CAREER.

AND THIS PAST YEAR THEY GOT UP TO OVER 2,000 FAN FOR ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES IN THAT SCHOOL'S HISTORY, PER GAME.

HE'S IN FOR A BIG CHANGE IN TERMS OF THAT, BUT THE BASKETBALL SHOULD BE FUN.

THE GUY IS A REAL SMART GUY.

>> Lou: OKAY.

YEAH, IT SOUNDS LIKE HE HAD A PRETTY GOOD THING GOING AT UC SAN DIEGO.

WHY DID HE DECIDE TO COME HERE IN PARTICULAR?

>> Grammer: IT'S INTERESTING.

BASKETBALL, THERE'S A LOT OF JOBS IN THE COUNTRY.

YOU CAN KIND OF BE A VAGABOND A LITTLE BIT.

JUST JOB TO JOB, HOPPING AROUND.

NEWSPAPERS SOMETIMES ARE THAT WAY.

YOU CAN SPEND A COUPLE YEARS IN A NEWSPAPER AND GO TO ANOTHER ONE.

COACHING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE AN ASSISTANT AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE DIVISION-II, YOU GET FIRED EVERY COUPLE YEARS.

OR YOU MOVE ON TO ANOTHER JOB EVERY COUPLE YEARS.

WHEN HE WAS 24 -- HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MOBILE, ALABAMA.

WENT TO COLLEGE AT AN NAIA SCHOOL IN MOBILE, ALABAMA, AND PLAYED BASKETBALL THERE.

HE WAS 24 YEARS OLD.

HIS FORMER BASKETBALL COACH THERE GOT A JOB AT UC SAN DIEGO.

AND HE ASKED HIM, HEY, DO YOU WANT TO BE AN ASSISTANT COACH?

HE MOVES, AT THE AGE OF 24, THINKING I'LL BE HERE A YEAR OR TWO AND I'LL PROBABLY GET FIRED.

HE TOLD HIS GIRLFRIEND AT THE TIME, WHO IS NOW HIS WIFE, DON'T EVEN MOVE OUT HERE BECAUSE I'M PROBABLY GETTING FIRED AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

COACHES MOVE AROUND ALL THE TIME.

AFTER FIVE YEARS OF THAT, THEY SAID, OKAY, THIS LONG DISTANCE THING ISN'T WORKING, I'LL MOVE OUT THERE.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE THINGS IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL THAT HE, AT THE AGE OF 24, SPENT 21 YEARS AT THE FIRST JOB HE GOT.

THE FIRST COACHING JOB HE EVER HAD IN HIS LIFE WAS UC SAN DIEGO.

HE WAS THERE UNTIL SUNDAY, WHEN HE ACCEPTED THIS LOBO JOB.

THE REASON HE DECIDED TO COME TO NEW MEXICO -- I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THE OBVIOUS REASON IS HE WAS GETTING PAID $345,000 BASE SALARY AT UC SAN DIEGO.

HE'S NOW GETTING PAID $1.2 MILLION, ANNUALLY, AT UNM.

BUT THE OTHER PART IS HE, FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, HAS BEEN AT A POINT - HE'S 44 YEARS OLD.

AND I THINK THROUGH THE LATE 30s, ESPECIALLY, AND INTO HIS EARLY 40s, HE WAS AT A POINT WHERE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE GET WHERE THEY WANT TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES.

AND HE GENUINELY WANTS A BIGGER OPPORTUNITY, A BIGGER CHALLENGE.

AND THERE'S NOT BIGGER CHALLENGES OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY ON THE WEST COAST, THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY, THAN GETTING NEW MEXICO BASKETBALL.

HE'S GOT A BIG RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DEPENDS A LOT ON LOBO BASKETBALL MAKING ITS MONEY IN TERMS OF ATHLETICS.

>> Lou: I HATE TO ASK THIS SO EARLY ON, BUT AFTER SPENDING 20 YEARS AT A PROGRAM, COMING TO A NEW PLACE, IS THIS -- DO YOU SEE HIM SPENDING A LONG TIME HERE?

OR COULD THIS JUST BE THE FIRST RUNG ON A LADDER UP THE NCAA RANKS?

>> Grammer: IT COULD BE.

YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T KNOW.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KIND OF -- WHEN A COACH MOVES ON LIKE RICHARD PATINO JUST DID, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY WHAT ARE WE ANYMORE?

JUST A STEPPINGSTONE KIND OF JOB.

THE REALITY OF NEW MEXICO BASKETBALL IS SINCE THE 60s, THE MODERN ERA OF LOBO BASKETBALL STARTED IN 1966 WHEN THE PIT OPENED AND BOB KING WAS COACH.

IN THIS MODERN AREA, SINCE THE MID 60s, THERE HAVE BEEN THREE COACHES THAT MOVED ON TO BETTER JOBS.

IT WAS DAVE BLISS, AND HE SPENT A DECADE AS THE LOBOS COACH.

IT WAS STEVE ALFORD THAT WENT ON TO UCLA, AND HE SPENT SIX YEARS AT THE LOBOS COACH.

AND IT WAS RICHARD PATINO WHO WENT ON TO THE BIG EAST AND XAVIER AND A BIGGER PAYDAY.

AND THAT WAS AFTER FOUR YEARS.

AND ALL OF THEM WON MULTIPLE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

SO, IF THIS IS A STEPPINGSTONE LIKE THOSE JOBS WERE FOR THOSE COACHES, THEN THE LOBES ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE A COUPLE MORE CHAMPIONSHIPS, A COUPLE MORE NCAA TOURNAMENTS, AND IT COULD BE HE JUST MOVES ON.

NOBODY REALLY KNOWS BECAUSE HE HAS A 21-YEAR COACHING RECORD THAT WAS ALL AT ONE PLACE.

SO THE FACT THAT HE'S EVEN HERE IS SORT OF THE ANOMALY RIGHT NOW.

WILL HE MOVE ON?

IT COULD BE.

WE'LL FIND OUT.

THIS IS A NEW ERA OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL WHERE EVEN THE PLAYERS ARE MOVING ON EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

THAT'S PART OF HIS CHALLENGE.

HE HAS TO NOW RECRUIT AN ENTIRE ROSTER AT A LEVEL OF BASKETBALL THAT HE'S NEVER COACHED AT BEFORE.

SO, THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, BUT IF THEY HAVE SUCCESS HERE LIKE SOME PEOPLE THINK HE'S CAPABLE OF HAVING, HE MIGHT MOVE ON, BUT I BET YOU IT WILL BE AFTER A LOT OF REALLY GOOD SUCCESS.

>> Lou: YEAH, WE'RE ALL EXCITED TO SEE WHAT HE CAN DO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT PATINO FOR A MINUTE.

WHEN WE SAT HERE LAST YEAR, YOU TOLD ME PATINO WAS HAPPY.

THAT WAS CONSENSUS AROUND EVERYBODY ON THE TEAM.

WAS IT JUST THE MONEY?

OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S A HUGE -- I MEAN FOR ANYBODY, IT'S HARD TO TURN THAT DOWN.

WHAT ELSE ABOUT THE XAVIER JOB WAS TOO HARD TO PASS UP FOR HIM?

>> Grammer: A COUPLE THINGS.

SINCE LAST YEAR -- AND LAST YEAR, WHILE HE WAS STILL HAPPY AT NEW MEXICO, HE DID TALK AND WAS A FINALIST AT LOUISVILLE.

THERE WAS A JOB OPENING AT LOUISVILLE AND HE HAD COACHED THERE BEFORE.

PAT KELSEY ENDED UP GETTING IT AND THEY DID GREAT.

HE DID TALK WITH ANOTHER JOB THERE.

WOULD HAVE GOT PAID A LOT MORE MONEY TOO.

THIS OPPORTUNITY, ABOUT MIDWAY THROUGH THIS SEASON, IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL CIRCLES AND HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE THAT RICHARD PATINO'S NAME WAS OUT THERE.

AND IT WAS OUT THERE BECAUSE WHILE HE DIDN'T TELL HIS AGENT GO FIND ME ANOTHER JOB, HE MADE IT CLEAR TO HIS AGENT IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY LET'S EXPLORE IT.

I'LL TAKE CALLS.

PART OF THAT HAS TO DO -- I REALLY THINK A BIG PART OF IT, TO BE HONEST, IS THE PAC-12 AND MOUNTAIN WEST SPLIT-UP.

THERE ARE FIVE MOUNTAIN WEST TEAMS THAT ARE LEAVING JULY 1st, 2026.

AT THE END OF THIS COMING SEASON, THEY'RE GOING TO REFORM THE PAC-12.

THE MOUNTAIN WEST THAT IS LEFT, INCLUDING NEW MEXICO, WHICH BASICALLY GOT LEFT BEHIND, IS GOING TO BE A MUCH LESS FOOTBALL CONFERENCE.

THE BASKETBALL CONFERENCE WILL BE A LESSER CONFERENCE AS WELL.

AND COACHES DON'T WANT TO BE IN LEAGUES THAT ARE CONSIDERED ONE-BID LEAGUES.

THAT MEANS THE ONLY WAY YOU GET TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT IS IF YOU WIN YOUR CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT.

THERE'S A FEAR THAT THE MOUNTAIN WEST MAY BECOME THAT WITH THE SEPARATION OF THE TEAMS.

SAN DIEGO STATE, UTAH STATE, COLORADO STATE, BOISE STATE ARE ALL LEAVING TO HELP REBUILD THE OLD PAC-12.

AND A BIG PART OF HIM LEAVING HAD TO DO WITH UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE, STABILITY OF NIL.

HE IS GETTING, IN THE BIG EAST, AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE THE NCAA IS ABOUT TO HAVE REVENUE SHARING.

AND YOU CAN GIVE MONEY -- THE SCHOOLS NOW DIRECTLY CAN GIVE MONEY TO THEIR ATHLETES.

WELL, EVERY SCHOOL THAT HAS A FOOTBALL TEAM, THE BULK OF THAT MONEY IS GOING TO GO TO FOOTBALL.

BIG EAST SCHOOLS, LIKE XAVIER, WHERE PATINO WENT, DON'T COMPETE WITH FOOTBALL.

ALL THAT MONEY GETS TO GO TO THE SPORTS THEY DO HAVE, WHICH IS PREDOMINANTLY MEN'S BASKETBALL.

I THINK HE IS GOING TO HAVE AT HIS DISPOSAL, I WOULD GUESS, FIVE OR SIX MILLION DOLLARS TO PAY ATHLETES TO COME PLAY FOR HIS TEAM.

WHEREAS, NEW MEXICO, WHICH HAS A VERY GOOD NIL RELATIVE TO MOUNTAIN WEST AND OUT WEST, MIGHT BE IN THE THREE-MILLION-DOLLAR RANGE.

HE PROBABLY AT LEAST DOUBLED THE MONEY HE HAS AVAILABLE TO BUY A ROSTER.

THAT'S PART OF IT.

BUT HE ALSO TRIPLED HIS SALARY.

THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT TOO.

>> Lou: OKAY.

WHAT'S HIS LEGACY HERE NOW THAT HE'S GONE?

>> Grammer: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, MAN HIS LEGACY -- PART OF HIS LEGACY, I THINK, WAS FORMED YESTERDAY.

HE HAD HIS INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE AT XAVIER UNIVERSITY.

HE TOOK TIME, NOT JUST TO SAY THANK MY PREVIOUS EMPLOYER, I HAD A GOOD TIME AT NEW MEXICO.

HE TOOK THE TIME -- AND THERE'S A CLIP OF IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYBODY INTERESTED IN IT -- SOME PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM THE OLD COACH.

BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND PEOPLE FIND THIS CLIP.

IT IS HIM BASICALLY SAYING I WAS 30 YEARS OLD.

I HAD A GOOD SEASON AT FIU.

I WENT TO MINNESOTA WITH THE BIG-10.

30 YEARS OLD.

DIDN'T WIN AS MUCH AS I HAD HOPED, BUT I SPENT EIGHT YEARS THERE AND I GOT FIRED.

I WAS 37, 38 YEARS OLD.

I GOT FIRED AND I GOT HUMBLED.

IT WAS SOBERING.

I WAS DOWN.

NEW MEXICO WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

>> Patino: THEY CALLED ME AND OFFERED ME A JOB.

I HAD BEEN THERE ONE TIME FOR A GAME IN THE ELITE EIGHT.

MY DAD BEAT WEST VIRGINIA TO GO TO THE FINAL FOUR IN THE PIT.

SO, I TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH AND I WOULD NOT BE AT A DREAM JOB LIKE XAVIER WITHOUT THE PEOPLE AT NEW MEXICO.

THE FANS, THEY TREATED MY FAMILY SO VERY WELL.

THE ADMINISTRATION, WHETHER IT WAS EDDIE NUNEZ, FERNANDO LOVO, THE NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, THEY BELIEVED IN ME.

GARNETT STOKES, OUR PRESIDENT, BELIEVED IN ME.

AND I LEARNED IN ORDER TO SUCCEED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL YOU CANNOT DO IT ALONE.

AND SO MANY PEOPLE THERE HELPED ME WIN THOSE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

HELPED ME GO BACK TO NCAA TOURNAMENTS.

AND I'M TRULY, TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THEM.

IT WAS VERY, VERY EMOTIONAL AND HARD TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO SO MANY SPECIAL PEOPLE.

>> Grammer: IF HE WAS JUST PAYING LIP SERVICE, HE WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT MOST COACHES DO WHEN THANK THEIR PREVIOUS EMPLOYER.

TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT LEGACY, HE WON A COUPLE CHAMPIONSHIPS, HE REBUILT THE PROGRAM THAT WAS A DECADE DROUGHT FROM THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, BUT HE ALSO SHOWED A WHOLE LOT OF GRATITUDE IN DOING SO, WHICH WAS A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO WHEN STEVE ALFORD LEFT FOR THE UCLA JOB.

IT KIND OF CAME ACROSS IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS AS, HEY LOOK, UCLA IS BETTER, HOW CAN I TURN IT DOWN?

AS OPPOSED TO, YES, I'M LEAVING NEW MEXICO AND IT IS A BETTER OPPORTUNITY, BUT YOU GUYS HELPED ME SO MUCH.

I THINK HIS LEGACY IS GOING TO BE REMEMBERED VERY FONDLY HERE.

>> Lou: GOOD.

THAT IS NICE TO HEAR.

NOW, AS FOR THE PLAYERS, EIGHT OF THEM ARE GOING TO THE TRANSFER PORTAL, INCLUDING DONOVAN DENT, MUSTAPHA AMZIL, TRU WASHINGTON.

IS THIS JUST BECAUSE PATINO IS LEAVING?

OBVIOUSLY, NIL MONEY HAS LOT TO DO WITH IT.

WHERE DO THE LOBOS GO FROM HERE, LOSING THAT MANY PLAYERS IN ONE YEAR?

>> Grammer: I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, BY THE TIME THIS AIRS, THE ROSTER COULD BE AT ZERO.

IT WILL PROBABLY BE AN ENTIRE ROSTER TURNOVER.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE NEW ERA OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL.

WITH INSTANT TRANSFERS BEING ALLOWED NOW, YOU CAN PLAY ANYWHERE YOU WANT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT OUT.

WITH NIL, IT PROBABLY IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF EVERY PLAYER EVERY YEAR TO ENTER THE TRANSFER PORTAL.

FANS HATE HEARING THAT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT'S PROBABLY WORTH THEM TESTING THE MARKET EVERY YEAR.

BECAUSE IF YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL -- IF YOU'RE NOT GET TO THE NBA AND YOUR EARNING POTENTIAL IS ACTUALLY WHILE YOU'RE A COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYER, WHICH I KNOW SOUNDS WEIRD.

IT'S NEW FOR US ALL TO GRASP.

BUT IF THEIR EARNING POTENTIAL IS RIGHT NOW, YOU SHOULD TEST THE MARKET EVERY YEAR AND SEE IF THERE'S ANOTHER SCHOOL WILLING TO PAY MORE, I SHOULD PROBABLY EXPLORE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

NOW, IN DONOVAN DENT'S CASE, JUST TO PUT FIGURES ON THIS, HE SPENT THREE YEARS AT UNM.

GETS IN THE PORTAL, KENTUCKY WAS AFTER HIM.

IT CAME DOWN TO KENTUCKY AND UCLA.

HE IS FROM CALIFORNIA.

HE'S GETTING $3 MILLION TO PLAY COLLEGE BASKETBALL NEXT YEAR.

DONOVAN DENT MAY END UP AT THE NBA AT ONE POINT.

MAY END UP AT A REALLY HIGH EUROPEAN LEAGUE LEVEL, BUT HE'LL PROBABLY BE MAKING HIGH SIX FIGURES, MAYBE A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

NEXT YEAR MIGHT BE THE MOST HE EVER EARNS IN ONE YEAR BY STAYING IN COLLEGE AND ENTERING THE TRANSFER PORTAL.

THAT'S THE REALITY WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS A BIG, MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY COLLEGE ATHLETICS IS.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THESE LAST FEW YEARS, THE PLAYERS GET A PIECE OF THAT FINANCIALLY.

YES, IT IS NOT WHAT FANS LIKE.

YOU DON'T GET TO KNOW PLAYERS FROM THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR TO THEIR SENIOR YEAR ANYMORE.

MAN, IF YOU'RE TELLING ME I IF HAD A CHILD WHO WAS IN COLLEGE AND NOT EVEN AN ATHLETE, BUT SHE WAS JUST A BIOLOGY MAJOR, IF SHE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL AND GET $3 MILLION WHILE DOING IT, I WOULD SAY, YES, DO THAT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY HERE.

YOU DON'T KNOW ANYBODY ANYTHING.

THAT'S WHAT THE PLAYERS ARE FACING.

IT'S A REALITY THAT DOESN'T MAKE COLLEGE BASKETBALL -- MAYBE AS FUN FOR FANS ANYMORE.

BUT, MAN, I WOULD NEVER TELL A KID DON'T GO EARN $3 MILLION TO GO HOME TO YOUR HOME STATE.

>> Lou: YEAH, IT'S HARD TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND.

WHO CAN ARGUE WITH IT?

>> Grammer: YEAH.

>> Lou: IN TERMS OF BRINGING NEW PLAYERS IN, WHAT KIND OF CACHET DOES OLEN CARRY?

ARE PLAYERS AWARE OF THIS COACHING PHILOSOPHIES?

IS THAT ENOUGH TO GIVE GUYS AN IDEA THAT I WANT TO COME HERE AND MAYBE BUILD UP MY NAME A LITTLE BIT?

>> Grammer: THE EASY ANSWER AND SAFEST ANSWER -- I WON'T PRETEND TO KNOW MORE THAN I DO.

THE SAFEST ANSWER IS WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT WHAT HIS REPUTATION REALLY CARRIES AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

I WILL SAY THIS, AT UC SAN DIEGO HE DIDN'T HAVE NIL MONEY.

HE DID START A TEAM THIS PAST YEAR WITH FOUR DIVISION-II TRANSFERS.

HE MADE ONE OF THEM THE BIG WEST -- DEVELOPED HIM, I SHOULDN'T SAY HE MADE HIM.

HE DEVELOPED HIM INTO BIG WEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

A GUY FROM NEW ZEALAND, PLAYED AT HAWAII-HILO, A DIVISION-II TEAM.

AND MAY END UP PLAYING IN THE NBA.

AND HE DEVELOPED THESE GUYS INTO THAT.

BUT HE WASN'T OUT THERE SAYING, HEY, WE CAN PAY YOU $300,000 IF YOU WANT TO COME PLAY FOR US.

SO, HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT AT HIS DISPOSAL.

NOW, HE HAS A COUPLE MILLION, MAYBE $3 MILLION, TO USE IN THE RECRUITING CIRCLES.

AND WHAT I DO THINK LOBO FANS WHO ARE A LITTLE NERVOUS THAT HE'S NEVER RECRUITED AT THIS LEVEL SHOULD UNDERSTAND ABOUT HOW COLLEGE RECRUITING WORKS -- THERE'S NOW A BASKETBALL PREP SCHOOL HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE.

BRANDON MASON, A FRIEND OF MINE SENSE COLLEGE, RUNS THE PLACE.

HIS TEAM OF 12, 13 PLAYERS IN THE SCHOOL, PLUS THEIR CLUB TEAMS IN THE SUMMERS, THIS IS ABQ PREP IS THE NAME OF THE PREP SCHOOL.

IT IS BASKETBALL-CENTRIC.

HE HAS 12 OR 13 PLAYERS.

AND THE AAU TEAMS HAVE ANOTHER 20 OR 30 PLAYERS.

WELL, WHEN DIVISION-I TEAMS COME -- WHEN A NEW MEXICO-LEVEL TEAM COMES, IT'S NOT THAT UC SAN DIEGO AND ERIC OLEN, IN HIS PREVIOUS JOB, DIDN'T HAVE THE EXACT SAME CONTACTS.

THEY MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN RECRUITING THE SIXTH OR SEVENTH BEST PLAYER ON THE TEAM, AS OPPOSED TO THE STARS ON THE TEAM.

BUT HE HAS THE EXACT SAME CONTACTS, AS DOES RICHARD PATINO AND ISAAC CHEW, WHO DID THE MAIN BULK OF THE RECRUITING HERE AT UNM.

HE HAS ALL THOSE SAME CONTACTS.

HE EVEN SAID THIS WEEK, LAST WEEK WHILE I WAS STILL RECRUITING TO UC SAN DIEGO, I TALKED TO -- PLAYERS ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE AGENTS NOW BECAUSE OF NIL MONEY.

I WOULD TALK TO AGENTS WHO SAID, WELL, I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND YOU WOULD BE A GOOD FIT BUT THE MONEY ISN'T RIGHT.

THOSE GUYS -- SOME OF THOSE AGENTS HAVE ALREADY CALLED HIM BACK AND SAID THE MONEY SOUNDS A LITTLE BETTER NOW NOW THAT YOU'RE IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

SO, HE HAS THE SAME CONTACTS.

HE'S RECRUITING THE SAME WAY AS HE DID.

HE JUST HAS A LITTLE BIT BIGGER POOL OR MAYBE A LITTLE BIT BETTER POOL TO DRAW FROM NOW.

I THINK HE'LL BE FINE.

BUT WE WILL SEE IS THE BEST ANSWER.

>> Lou: OKAY.

NOW, NELLY JUNIOR JOSEPH, HE WAS A MONSTER IN THE LAST GAME AGAINST MSU.

HE'S BEEN A HEART-AND-SOUL GUY THIS WHOLE TIME AT UNM.

I KNOW YOU FOLLOWED HIM PRETTY CLOSE.

NOW THAT HE'S DONE, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO SEE HIM END HIS CAREER WITH THE LOBOS THAT WAY.

>> Grammer: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, NELLY JUNIOR JOSEPH IS GOING TO GO DOWN IN MY COVERAGE OF SPORTS IN GENERAL, BUT AS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLAYERS EVER TO COVER.

THE GUY HAD A DISPOSITION ABOUT HIM THAT, YOU KNOW, IT ALMOST SEEMED FAKE SOMETIMES HOW HAPPY HE WAS ALL THE TIME.

HE WAS GENUINELY GRATEFUL FOR HIS OPPORTUNITIES.

I DID A STORY, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, ON HIM.

HE GREW UP HOME - HE DIDN'T GROW UP HOMELESS, BUT HE WAS HOMELESS WHEN SOMEBODY FOUND HIM IN THE STREETS OF NIGERIA.

HE WOULD GO OUT AND LOOK FOR WORK EVERY DAY AT 13 YEARS OLD.

HE WOULD BE IN THE STREETS IN NIGERIA LOOKING FOR FOOD AND WORK.

AND IF HE GOT SOME WORK THAT DAY TO BUY SOME LUNCH OR BUY SOME DINNER, THEN HE WOULD GO PLAY SOCCER.

AND SOME SAW THIS 13-YEAR-OLD KID WHO WAS REALLY TALL, HE SAID SHOULD GO TRY BASKETBALL.

SURE ENOUGH, HE WENT AND TRIED BASKETBALL.

HE WASN'T GOOD AT IT AND DIDN'T LIKE IT AND SAID IT'S NOT FOR ME.

SAME GUY SEES HIM A FEW MONTHS LATER AND SAYS, HEY, DID YOU EVER TRY BASKETBALL?

HE SAID, YEAH, I DIDN'T LIKE IT.

HE WAS LIKE, GO TRY IT AGAIN.

HE ENDS UP TRYING BASKETBALL, LOOKING REALLY GOOD AT IT.

LONG STORY SHORT, NBA AFRICA GETS INVOLVED.

IT'S AN ACADEMY IN AFRICA THAT FINDS PEOPLE LIKE NELLY JUNIOR JOSEPH.

THEY LINK HIM UP WITH RICK PATINO AT IONA.

RICHARD PATINO'S DAD IS WHERE HE STARTED NELLY JUNIOR JOSEPH'S CAREER.

HE TRANSFERS TO UNM FOR HIS LAST TWO YEARS.

BY THE END OF HIS COLLEGE CAREER, WHICH WAS JUST A WEEK OR TWO AGO IN CLEVELAND IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, HE WAS DOMINATE INSIDE.

HE WAS ONE OF THE -- I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THE BEST, BUT HE WAS ONE OF THE BETTER BIG MEN IN ALL OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL AT ANY LEVEL.

HE WAS JUST A FUN GUY TO COVER.

HE ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE.

AND HE WAS REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES HE HAD.

>> Lou: YEAH, THAT'S AWESOME.

I'M, BY NO MEANS, A BASKETBALL EXPERT BUT JUST WATCHING SOME OF THOSE GAMES, HE REALLY WAS DOMINATE IN THERE.

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR, NEW COACH, LOTS OF TURNOVER, WHAT SHOULD FANS EXPECT?

>> Grammer: LOOK, FOR LOBO BASKETBALL THE REASON THEY'RE PAYING $1.2 MILLION TO A GUY WHO WAS GETTING PAID AT A DIVISION-II SCHOOL THAT JUST TRANSITIONED TO DIVISION I JUST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO -- THIS YEAR, THIS PAST YEAR, WAS THEIR FIRST YEAR ELIGIBLE FOR THE NCAA TOURNAMENT.

THE REASON WHY A PLACE LIKE NEW MEXICO IS PAYING A GUY LIKE THAT TO COME HERE, $1.2 MILLION, AND TAKING A CHANCE ON HIM IS BECAUSE THIS PROGRAM SHOULD HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

THIS PROGRAM AND THIS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND THE INVESTMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY OR IN THE PROGRAM -- THE OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROGRAM REALLY ISN'T ABOUT SUCCESS IN THE POST SEASON, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR THE PROGRAM.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TO A SWEET 16.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN A FINAL 4.

THEY HAVEN'T WON ANY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

THE REASON LOBO BASKETBALL IS REALLY GOOD IS BECAUSE, FOR SOME REASON, FOR 50 YEARS THEY'VE BEEN IN THE TOP 25 IN AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE.

THE FANS THAT COME IN HERE -- ALL AROUND THE ARENA, NOT JUST THE STUDENT SECTION OR NOT JUST ONE BOOSTER SECTION, ALL AROUND THAT ARENA MAKE A DEAFENING ARENA WHEN THE THINGS ARE RIGHT BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT IT, FOR SOME REASON, MORE THAN EVERY OTHER -- ALMOST EVERY OTHER COMMUNITY.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY FIVE TO TEN OF THEM AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT ARE PRETTY SPECIAL PLACES LIKE THIS.

BUT, FOR SOME REASON, WITHOUT THAT POSTSEASON SUCCESS, NEW MEXICO'S BOUGHT INTO WHAT LOBO BASKETBALL CAN BE.

AT ITS BEST, THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITY PRIDE.

YOU GUYS DEAL WITH POLITICS ALL THE TIME.

I RARELY DO, BUT A YEAR AGO WHEN THEY WENT TO THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, THEY HAD A LITTLE CEREMONY FOR THE LOBO BASKETBALL TEAM DOWNTOWN AND TIM KELLER SAID -- I DON'T THINK HE REALIZED HOW HONEST A COMMENT HE MADE.

HE SAID, MAN, THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO TO MAKE MORALE AROUND ALBUQUERQUE ANY BETTER THAN WHAT YOU GUYS DID GOING TO THE TOURNAMENT.

HE WAS PROBABLY PRETTY RIGHT.

I THINK THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST GENUINELY HAPPY WATCHING A GOOD LOBO BASKETBALL TEAM.

IF THEY COULD EVER GET THAT FOR FOOTBALL HERE, IT WOULD BE A HECK OF A THING.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S LOBO BASKETBALL.

AND WHEN IT'S RIGHT, PEOPLE REALLY GENUINELY APPRECIATE AND BUY INTO HOW GOOD IT CAN BE.

SO, THAT IS WHY I THINK EXPECTATIONS SHOULD BE HIGH.

I THINK THE COMMUNITY SHOULD DEMAND A LOT OUT OF THAT.

BECAUSE THEY'RE ASKING FOR A LOT OF MONEY.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE INVESTMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE INVESTMENT OF STATE DOLLARS.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE INVESTMENT FROM STUDENT FEES AND ALL THAT STUFF.

IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR ALL THAT, YOU BETTER DELIVER.

SO, THERE'S SOME PRESSURE ON THE NEW GUY, BUT I THINK FANS SHOULD EXPECT IT TO BE A PRETTY GOOD TEAM.

>> Lou: ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

GEOFF GRAMMER, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> Grammer: I APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS.

>> Lou: THANKS TO GEOFF GRAMMER.

IF YOU'RE A LOBO FAN OR WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TEAM, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND GEOFF'S PODCAST, TALKING GRAMMER.

HE INTERVIEWS PLAYERS.

HE CHATTED WITH THE NEW COACH THIS PAST WEEK.

AND REGARDLESS OF WHO HE IS TALKING, GEOFF REALLY IS JUST THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE LOBOS REPORTER OUT THERE.

SO, CHECK IT OUT.

NOW, WE WANT TO END THIS SHOW THIS WEEK WITH AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT LONG IN THE MAKING.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS WILL SOON HAVE A NEW FULL-TIME HOST.

NASH JONES IS COMING TO NMPBS AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OVER AT KUNM WHERE THEY HOSTED ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, MORNING EDITION, LET'S TALK NEW MEXICO, AND PRODUCED COUNTLESS PIECES FOR LISTENERS FROM BOTH THE STUDIO AND THE FIELD.

SO, MANY OF YOU WILL BE GOOD AND FAMILIAR WITH NASH'S VOICE.

CAREFUL NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS VIEWERS WILL RECOGNIZE THEIR FACE TOO.

NASH HAS GUEST HOSTED OUR SHOW AND PRODUCED A FEW SEGMENTS, DIVING INTO THE LONG-RUNNING FIGHT OF HOW ELECTION MAPS GET DRAWN IN OUR STATE, THE WORKER SHORTAGE IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND MORE.

NASH IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY WHO USES THEY/THEM PRONOUNS.

AN ALBUQUERQUE NATIVE, AND MANY-TIMES AWARDED JOURNALIST AT THE STATE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL LEVELS.

THEIR FIRST DAY IN THE BUILDING WILL BE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE THEM ON THE AIR NOT LONG AFTER THAT.

WE CAN'T WAIT FOR NASH TO JOIN OUR TEAM AND HELP US EXPAND OUR JOURNALISM ON THE SHOW ONLINE AND ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

FOR NOW, THANKS TO ALGERNON D'AMMASSA, GEOFF GRAMMER, AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS WEEK'S EPISODE.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.