Nationally Televised Friday Nite Pep Rally Coming To University Stadium
Oct. 1, 2008
UPDATE – The Mtn. – MountainWest Sports Network – is coming to University Stadium for a live nationally televised television special, “Friday Nite Pep Rally,” (Oct. 3) on the eve of the Mountain West Conference showdown between New Mexico and Wyoming. Hosts James Bates and Todd Christensen will welcome several guests including: Lobo quarterback Donovan Porterie, former UNM standout and current Lobo Radio Network analyst Josh Bazinet, LeeRoy Lucero of the The Red Menace and ASUNM Vice President Alex Reibli, representing the new Howl Raisers student group.
The Mtn. invites all fans to show the nation what Lobo football spirit is all as part of the live TV audience, beginning at 7 p.m. in the south end zone of the stadium. The show will wrap up at 8 p.m. and admission is free.
The pep rally will also include appearances by the UNM cheerleaders, marching band and Lobo Louie. The broadcast will also include a Lobo tailgating segment with the guests of the Rocky Mountain RV & Marine overnight RV tailgate section.
The Friday Nite Pep Rally is a live football preview show, airing from 7:30-8 p.m. on The Mtn., that covers this weekend’s Mountain West Conference football action. On Saturday, The Mtn. will provide live coverage of New Mexico’s football game against the Wyoming Cowboys, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m.
About the Guests
Donovan Porterie
A three-year stater, junior Donovan Porterie had played less than 12 quarters in 2008 before suffering a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee in week 4 at Tulsa that ended his season. He is expected to undergo surgery in the next few weeks and should be ready for spring practice in 2009.
Porterie could still finish his career as one of the best quarterbacks in program history. He has thrown for 300 yards or more four times and already ranks among the top-10 all-time at UNM in passing yards (4,345 – 5th), TD passes (21 – T-8th), completions (365 – 5th), completion percentage (58.3% – 2nd) and efficiency rating (122.57 – 7th).
The Port Arthur, Texas product is has a 13-5 record in games he has started and finished. He has also engineered four second half comebacks in his career, including 2 game-winning drives on the final possession of the fourth quarter.
His 3,004 passing yards in 2007 were the most by a Lobo since 1994 and ranked fourth on the UNM single season list. He was also third in the MWC with 15 touchdowns, while his nine interceptions were the second-fewest in the league.
Porterie capped his season with a career-high and Lobo bowl record 354 yards passing en route to 2007 New Mexico Bowl Offensive MVP honors in the Lobos’ 23-0 win over Nevada.
Josh Bazinet
Bazinet was a former Lobo walk-on who eventually received a scholarship and earned second team all-MWC honors as a senior safety in 2004. He was a two-time Special Teams Player of the Year selection by his teammates and a team captain as a senior.
Bazinet finished with 137 tackles and never missed a game in his (50 played) in his UNM career. He also tallied five sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss, along with four fumbles forced and six fumble recoveries.
Bazinet, who joined the Lobo Radio Network in July of 2008, graduated from UNM in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management and a minor in Spanish. He is a project manager for Enterprise Builders Corp., in Albuquerque. Bazinet graduated from Albuquerque’s West Mesa High School in 2000.
LeeRoy Lucero of The Red Menace
In 2001, Lee Roy Lucero helped found The Red Menace – a grassroots group of diehard Lobo fans who occupy the north end zone section of University Stadium and are dedicated to building and maintaining New Mexico football tradition.
The college football version of the legendary Cleveland Browns “Dawg Pound” and the Oakland Raiders “Black Hole” sections, Red Menace fans come to the games with painted faces, red wigs, signs and loud voices ready to do whatever they can to help the Lobos to victory.
Every Saturday, Lobo players, cheerleaders and band members all make the boisterous north end zone their first stop of the day. Meanwhile, any opponents within earshot are also not likely to forget this passionate group of Lobo fans. The group also raises money to send local YAFL teams to Lobo football games and presents a postseason award at the annual UNM football banquet to the player who best exemplifies the tradition and passion of The Red Menace.
Alex Reibli – Howl Raisers
ASUNM Vice President Alex Reibli will represent the new Howl Raisers student group. The goal Howl Raisers is to bring students together to create one of the best home site advantages in college athletics while leading the spirit, loyalty, sportsmanship and tradition of New Mexico’s campus. Howl Raisers members earn points toward free prizes for every home sporting event they attend.