Longing for fans; being a fan

If you build it, they will come.

My apologies for the cliché — and to executive director Jeff Siembieda and the New Mexico Bowl, while I’m at it — but if coach Bob Davie and the Lobos want to fill seats at University Stadium, now is the time to get that concrete poured.

After the Lobos’ 59-17 demolition of Louisiana Monroe in a desolate University Stadium on Saturday, chances of a 6-6 season and becoming bowl eligible shouldn’t even be a topic.

The goals should be much higher for the 4-3 Lobos. So should the crowds.

Saturday’s announced attendance was a dismal 18,099 — and that was the inflated “official” number.

The average this season is even lower than last year.

“I understand what the economy, maybe, is,” Davie said, referring to the spattering of fans. “I understand we played a late game at night. UL Monroe is not a household name. So again, coach your team, right? Coach your team. I’ve got a lot more things to worry about than that.”

Yes, it was a night game — a beautiful Burque fall evening — but not a late one. A 7 p.m. kickoff on a Saturday is too late?

There are many factors and theories about the dismal crowds of recent years — the main one being the Lobos’ dismal performances of recent years. When you’ve got a powerhouse name like Louisiana Monroe coming to town for a program that has had just one winning season — barely, going 7-6 last year — in nearly a decade, you’re not exactly going to have a fanatical following.

It takes time to change that. And 6-6 won’t.

There isn’t a team left on the their slate the Lobos can’t beat. In fact, unless something dramatically changes — for the better or worse — every game they play the rest of the way will likely have a Las Vegas line around 3 or 4 points, with the exception of Nov. 5 when UNM plays host to Nevada (3-5, 1-3 in Mountain West). The Wolf Pack has a bye this week, and will likely be a doubledigit underdog to the Lobos (3-1 in MW) next week.

This week, UNM heads to the Islands to take on surprising Hawaii (4-4, 3-1) — one of the nation’s worst programs the last four years at 4-28 in league play.

After the Nevada game, the Lobos have back-to-back road games at Utah State (3-4, 1-3) and Colorado State (4-4, 2-2), then finish the regular season at home against Wyoming (5-2, 3-0).

Granted the Lobos have lost to New Mexico State and Rutgers — teams with a combined 4-11 record — but if they build a six-game winning streak when Wyoming comes to town on Nov. 26, more than the New Mexico Bowl could be at stake.

And the fans will likely come. And, just maybe, return next season.

FALL FANATICS: Speaking of building fan bases (different topic, but smooth transition, right?), the Chicago Cubs have had one for more than a century.

But has it ever been this big? While with my 6-year-old son at the mall on Sunday and later at the park, I couldn’t help but chuckle at all the Cubs gear.

There were T-shirts, jerseys and hats on folks from 8-to-80.

Ah, the bandwagon.

As I’ve aged, I’ve long-since separated from rooting for a certain pro team because that’s what I did as a kid. When I was a lad, my dad told me that would happen.

“You’ll grow up, someday,” he said. “Cheering for teams won’t matter much.”

He was right. But I think it was more than the aging process. Journalism played a big role, but I think part of the fanaticism was squelched when my child-hood heroes — the Minnesota Twins — finally won it all in 1987.

It was nearly as cool in 1991. After that, I kind of lost interest.

I find it a little goofy for adults to be so passionate about a pro team (and no matter what, grown ups should never wear a player jersey in public, sans Oct. 31), but I understand it in some cases.

Heck, I wrote a column all about it in 1987 (see abqjournal.com/sports for full version). I was guilty as charged.

And I certainly understand the fanaticism for this Fall Classic. It’s even got me interested — especially for a couple of buddies.

My long-time co-worker Rick Wright — my desk mate in the office — is a diehard Cleveland Indians fan. The Tribe last won the World Series in 1948. I can’t imagine Rick remembers it.

It was 1945 when the Cubs last went to the Series and 1908 since they won it.

Which brings us to former Journal

business editor Scott Merville, the ultimate Cubs fan — but a no-excuses guy who doesn’t need blue and white face paint or cuddly bears on sticks.

His life-long motto? “Wait until next year,” what else?

His father, Herb, was the same way. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it to this fall. Herb passed away in 2012. The longtime Albuquerque teacher and member of the Zion-Benton (Ill.) High School Hall of Fame (baseball, of course) was 81.

Widow Adelle, like Herb a native of Zion, will be glued to her tube this week in Albuquerque.

You see, Scott was more than just a co-worker. We grew up next door to each other. He’s been my friend since I was 18 months old. From Collet Park to Jackson to Eldorado, we stayed pals, traded baseball cards, played every sport imaginable and learned about life.

And he always remained loyal to the Cubs.

Scott now lives in Houston, but we stay in touch. And he still texts about the Cubbies.

I feel for Scott having to put up with all the bandwagon nonsense, although he’s never complained.

I knew the bandwagon feeling firsthand in 1987. With social media these days, I can’t imagine how bad it is for a lifelong Cub or Indian fan.

Still, as I wrote in that column nearly three decades ago, there is something that won’t change.

The diehard fans of this Series winner will find an inner peace, despite all the craziness around them.

And that’s how you can tell a true fanatic.