By Frank Mercogliano, Asst. A.D. for Communications
Not that a pick me up was needed at the fourth practice of the 2015 Spring Season, but it was most certainly delivered. It was delivered in the form of Special Olympian Abe Assaad, and he was the definitive highlight of the days events.
The second practice of the week, and the fourth of the spring, started much like all the others, with some special teams periods and a good team stretch. After that stretch, Coach Davie brought the team together, and brought in Abe into the huddle.
Abe, along with many other Special Olympians, took part in the Mayor’s Invitational, which was held at the Albuquerque Convention Center on February 21, and is a part of Special Olympics New Mexico. The UNM football players went down and served as judges, timers, coaches, cheerleaders and anything else for the event, getting to meet all of the Special Olympians, including Abe.
As a thanks, Abe sent the following note to UNM head coach Bob Davie.
“Dear Coach Davie,
Thank you and all the Lobo players so much for helping us at the Mayor’s Invitational! It is so awesome that you all are there because you know what it is like to eat egg whites when you want to eat donuts and to get up early to train when you want to sleep and stay late after practice to run drills when you want to go hand out with your friends. You all know what it is like to do all that and win, and sometimes you don’t win. You know what that is like so you treat all of us with respect. When great athletes like you respect us we feel so awesome like Rockstars! It really means so much to me. Thanks again!
Love,
Abe Assaad
PS… This is my fast face.
I would stand closer to your players but I train hard and lift heavy and I did not want them to look small! Hahaha”
As far as letters from fans go, that’s pretty great. So, Coach Davie brought Abe into the huddle, and Abe got the team ready to break for the start of practice, but not before an announcement from the head honcho.
Apparently, Abe who specializes in the 20-yard dash, wanted a piece of the fastest Lobo on the field. That would be Ridge Jones. Ridge Jones, the guy with the untouched 100-yard kickoff return in 2014. Ridge Jones, the guy who won the Mountain West Championship in the 60-meter with a school record 6.60 time. That Ridge Jones.
Davie announced the race would occur after period 10 (high 11 o’clock as it were…). That gave Abe 50 minutes to stretch and prepare, and for Ridge, coach announced “he had 50 minutes to mentally prepare”.
Soon enough, 10 periods had come and gone, and Davie stopped practice and had the players line the sides of the 20-yard racetrack, as Jones and Assaad looked each other up and down. On Davie’s whistle they were off. Jones was game, but let’s face it, there was only one way this was going to end. There was only one way it could end. With a big kick over the final five yards, Assaad knocked out the fastest man on the team. For a brief shining moment, Assaad was the fastest man on the field.
When you can beat Ridge Jones, you get the star treatment. The team, all 85+ raced over and chanted “ABE! ABE! ABE!” Even I got involved, becoming Abe’s publicist of sort, setting him up for a big interview with Van Tate and KRQE. There wasn’t a chisel big enough to get the grin and smile off of Abe Assaad’s face. Honestly, there wasn’t a chisel big enough to get the smiles off the Lobos’ themselves.
Now, the practices have been crisp. Bob Davie is feeling good. Lots of returners. Lots of guys who know the system. There is belief in the system. There is a pace about practice that is unmistakable. However, for a few brief moments, away from the sweat, away from the grind, the team got a chance to really see the impact that they can make in the Albuquerque community. An impact that Abe Assaad will never forget. I doubt many of the Lobos will either.
UNM’s next practice in Friday morning at 9 a.m. at the Lobo Practice Fields. The practices are a little over two hours and are open to the media and the public. You never know what you will see.