Lobos losing streak costly for Davie

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - UPDATE 11/29: UNM has since provided attendance figures. Over 6 home games, UNM averaged 20,463 non-students. That means Coach Davie's attendance bonus for the year is $25,000.

Senior day at University Staidum was the last chance for UNM's departing players to play at home.

But it was a lackluster crowd, officially 17,290 on hand, the smallest attendance all year long.

"I can't really complain or comment about fans not coming out until we give them a better product on the field," said UNM head football coach Bob Davie.

A better home atmosphere wouldn't just help the team, it would also help the coach's pocketbook.

While Davie's contract gives him a base compensation of $700,000 his first year, there are a number of performance incentives built in for achievements on and off the field.

Attendance is a big one. If average paid attendance without students hits 19,000, Davie gets a payout of $25,000. If that attendance hits 21,000, that doubles to a $50,000 bonus.

The Lobos averaged a little more than 22,000 fans this year, up more than 11 percent over last season, but that number includes students. UNM athletics refused to provide the number without students.

However, there are some incentives Davie will definitely miss out on.

When a five game losing streak cost UNM a chance at playing in a posteason bowl game, that cost Davie a $20,000 bonus.

A comeback that fell short against then 24th ranked Boise State meant Davie lost another possible $10,000 payout for beating a ranked team.

There is still one major bonus on the table for this season. Winning Mountain West coach of the year would earn the coach a $10,000 check.

The biggest bonus in Davie's contract is a $150,000 one for playing in a BCS bowl game.

Unfortunately for Davie there isn't one for improvement, even though this year's Lobo team won more games than the squad did in the last three seasons combined.