Nov. 22, 2008
Around the Pit with… Mackenzie
“A Fan’s Perspective…”
Name: Mackenzie
Game: New Mexico vs. University of Central Florida
1. How long have you been coming to Lobo basketball games?
Mackenzie: I have been attending since the mid 90’s with Kenny Thomas, Charles Smith, David Gibson, and those guys. I have been here for a lot of good years and a lot of bad years.
2. What keeps you coming back to watch the Lobos every year?
Mackenzie: When you grow up in the city and you go to the school, you just bleed cherry and silver. I think The Pit has had a major resurgence as of late and I wouldn’t miss it for the world. The only time I miss games is when I am out of town, but when I am here, I definitely commit to being here.
3. What do you think about our student section, Section 26?
Mackenzie: The student section is going to be the heart of the resurgence of The Pit. I think it really started last year and we are trying to build on it this year. We kind of approach it like building a new basketball program – you have to recruit new people and you have to get new leadership. It’s not about any one person or any group of people; it’s about building that momentum and keeping it going.
4. Why is the student section so important to the basketball program and to our university?
Mackenzie: The students are the first line of defense. When the game gets down or when it gets slow, the students should be the first people to get the team going and the team really feeds off the support of the fans, and the students should be the start of that.
5. For three years now the university has been offering students free tickets, what has that done to help the student section?
Mackenzie: Free tickets are huge. That is the single biggest thing that they could have done for us.
6. What do you think Steve Alford has brought to the university and Lobo Basketball?
Mackenzie: I think Coach Alford has brought a lot of swagger. And swagger can often be misconstrued as a bad thing but he exudes confidence. I think the fans buy into that, and they believe in the team as much as he does.
7. If you could ask Steve Alford any question, what would you ask him?
Mackenzie: What do you like most about New Mexico and the New Mexico basketball program?
UNM Media Relations intern Amanda Wiley will be searching the crowd during every Lobo Men’s Basketball home game to find a Lobo fan for the next edition of “Around the Pit”. Come early, be loud, wear red, and YOU could be next!