New Mexico To Relocate To Las Vegas To Prepare For Hawaii Game

Local restrictions have UNM working out in Las Vegas

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UNM’s season is gonna get weird.

New Mexico already had to cancel its season opener vs. Colorado State, Week 2 vs. San Jose State was moved to the Bay Area, and now after their game vs. the Spartans, the Lobos will relocate to Las Vegas to prepare for its road game at Hawaii for Week 10.

BREAKING: UNM football has planned to relocate to Las Vegas, Nevada next week to practice & prepare for its next game at Hawaii Nov. 7, UNM AD Eddie Nunez said. The Lobos are relocating due to prevalence of COVID-19 in Bernalillo County that restricts their training. More to come

— Steve Virgen (@SteveVirgen) October 30, 2020

There are restrictions in the state of New Mexico that requires anyone who enters the state to have a two-week quarantine so being in California and then returning to the state would basically knock them out of their next two games.

The move to Las Vegas sidesteps that as they prepare for Hawaii the following week but this will be a large endeavor not just on the financial side but also taxing on the players and according to the Albuquerque Journal, it could be longer than just a week in Sin City and maybe through November.

The Lobos will be training at Sam Boyd Stadium and separate from the UNLV football team.

This was started with a suggestion from athletics director Eddie Nuñez approved by New Mexico school President Garnett Stokes.

The length of stay all depends on the status of COVID-19 infection rate in New Mexico and outside of the Nevada game that is to be played at home, there is some time to figure to be able to play a home game. However, returning home to train, live, and go to school is still up in the air.

New Mexico’s schedule the rest of the way

10/31 at San Jose State

11/7 at Hawaii
11/14 vs. Nevada – this could be moved to Reno
11/20 at Air Force
11/26 at Utah State
12/5 vs. Wyoming
12/12 vs. Fresno State

Money is an issue in having New Mexico being a nomadic team this year but not playing games to fulfill the Mountain West’s media rights deal is also a big concern. Even with traveling around, it could make financial sense to try to get a season in.

“We’re going to be as economical as we can understanding the factors at play,” he said. “We also have to keep in mind, if we do this safe and we’re able to play, then we’re going to be able to retain the conference distribution instead of not receiving it because we chose not to play.”

Nuñez also said he wanted to give these athletes an opportunity to play and he is doing his best to make it happen. The Lobos will still be attending classes and be tested three times a week as they would be if at home.

Safe to say this is going to be a long season for New Mexico and Danny Gonzales’ first year as a head coach.

It was said on the latest Week 9 preview podcast but now it is the time to officially brand New Mexico as the #Roadbos