Danny Gonzales ready to set foundation at University stadium

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — This is Danny Gonzales’ first media summit as the Lobos head coach.

Last year the media summit was wiped out by COVID, so the head coach of the Lobos is grateful to meet the media in Las Vegas.

Brandon: Every time you come to Las Vegas, what kind of emotions go through your mind when you think about the experience you went through in the COVID season?

Gonzales: That experience was hard but it was really good for our football team. I understand the state of New Mexico did what they had to do for the safety of our community, and I’m OK with that. I’m really proud that (UNM) President Stokes and Eddie (Nunez) gave us the opportunity to compete out here in Vegas, and with the help of UNLV, in the Mountain West Conference. We got it done. We landed on the plane yesterday and I looked at my wife and almost said, ‘it’s like being home,’ and she was ready to punch me in the face. This isn’t home, home is Albuquerque, so it’s cool that they have this deal here, but we have work to do back home in Albuquerque.

Brandon: And at home, those two wins, I feel like those were a big boost for your program and for the future – at least momentum into this season. Where would the home games rank for you as far as setting the tone for what you’re trying to do?

Gonzales: For the continuing of our program and getting the community involved, we need to play well at home. We need to be a competitive football team that has an opportunity to win football games. Our guys have to continue to do what they’re doing in the community and stay out of trouble and work hard. They’re doing a great job at school. It all comes down to winning. Everything we do in our football program is about competing, and if you’re going to do anything, why would you do it and not try to win? And that’s the number one goal in our program is to win the conference championship – well you gotta win all the other ones to get that done.