ESPN ranks Lobos as 3rd worst in nation

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - An official with the University of New Mexico Athletic Department said Monday that the Lobos football head coach's job continues to be safe even after another loss this past weekend.

A UNM Athletic spokesperson repeated what he'd said two weeks ago when the Lobos were two games into the season: they will evaluate whether to keep Locksley or buy him out of his contract at the end of the season.

Sports Director Frank Mercogliano repeatedly answered, "Mike Locksley is our coach," when asked about the coach's future.

The statement comes after this weekend's blowout 45-10 loss to University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Last week ESPN pegged the Lobos as the third-worst team in the nation going up against UNLV, the eighth worst team. The Lobos are now 0-4 after Saturday's game.

They've been outscored by an average of 56 to 10.

"The Lobos did the best they could," said Lobo fan Kit Vogenthaler.

ESPN described Saturday's game as the "pillow fight of the week" involving two teams that were 0-3 at the time and both ranked in ESPN's Bottom 10 of the worst football teams in the nation.

"I'm definitely looking forward to basketball season," said UNM student Leland Churan who watched the game.

Even with the losses in games and now fans, it seems Locksley will hold his job for now.

"Personally, I won't judge him until after year three," said UNM student Fernando Santillanes.

But there are some fans, like Vogenthaler, who feel enough is enough.

"Let him find a job somewhere else," he said. "We need a new football coach."

The Lobos host 3-1 UTEP on Saturday. The weekend after that, the Lobos get New Mexico State in Las Cruces.

The Aggies are ESPN's fourth-worst team in the country.

So could the Lobos move in to the bottom two in ESPN's rankings this week? Maybe.

The worst team, Western Kentucky, has dropped 25 straight. So they're safe.

But the second-worst team, Eastern Michigan, only lost 73-20 at Ohio State.

That's 20 more points than UNM managed to put on the board when the Lobos got drilled 72-0 at Oregon.

The new list comes out in a couple days for those who are curious how the Lobos will rank this week.

"I grew up here, and I'm a huge fan," Santillanes said. "I'm going to continue to support them no matter what."