UNM Needs A Cleaner

Posted at: 11/07/2009 1:42 AM | Updated at: 11/07/2009 9:30 AM
By: J.P. Murrieta

The University of New Mexico needs a good PR firm to clean up their public image.  That's not a joke, it's a serious suggestion.  As if the UNM athletic department didn't have enough of a black eye in the national media with the Mike Locksley situation, now soccer player Elizabeth Lambert makes the school look REALLY bad.  If you haven't seen it yet, you're probably one of about 3 people in the country who hasn't, check it out on the web.  It's not that difficult to find.  Lambert was seen on t.v. pulling down a BYU soccer player BY HER HAIR!  Tripping, punching, forearm shoving, hair pulling… it's all in there.  My written description doesn't do it justice.  You have to see it.  It was completely inappropriate and the University and Lambert have since admitted so.  The school released a statement by Lambert that read:

"I am deeply and wholeheartedly regretful for my actions," said Lambert. "My actions were uncalled for. I let my emotions get the best of me in a heated situation. I take full responsibility for my actions and accept any punishment felt necessary from the coaching staff and UNM administration. This is in no way indicative of my character or the soccer player that I am. I am sorry to my coaches and teammates for any and all damages I have brought upon them. I am especially sorry to BYU and the BYU women's soccer players that were personally affected by my actions. I have the upmost respect for the BYU women's soccer program and its players."

UNM either needs a new speech writer or they need to edit Lambert's comments.  "I have the upmost respect for the BYU women's soccer program"?!?!?  No you don't!  If you did, you would have never pulled that girl's hair and thrown her to the ground.  Rough, physical play is a part of almost every sport.. but this was WAY OUT OF BOUNDS.  There's no way anyone could defend these actions.  This story made national headlines EVERYWHERE. The video got more play than balloon boy and the Octomom in her prime COMBINED!  ESPN, Dan Patrick, Fox Sports, MSN.com, I even got a call from Inside Edition.

As a fallout of the Mike Locksley situation, UNM Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs said the athletic department was working on a specific plan to win back the trust of their fans.  I would consider a PR firm to help in the process, just a suggestion.  This might be a mess even Mr. Wolf* can't clean up.

*Pulp Fiction reference

And one more suggestion, I know you're doing the best you can with a messy situation involving putting together a basketball season around construction of the Pit.  But you should have poster-size drawings ALL OVER THE WALLS of the concourse of what the new design will look like.  If people are going to be inconvenienced, at least give them something to look forward to.  But that's just my opinion.

If you need more suggestions for the problems listed above, just call.  You know the number.

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