COACHES REVEAL THEIR TOP MUSICAL ARTISTS
So who did UNM’s Bob Davie and NMSU’s Doug Martin list? What about ex-Lobos coach Mike Locksley?
Bob Davie probably hasn’t had much time for music lately.
But while the stress mounts as the University of New Mexico football coach is trying desperately to end the program’s slide — five losses in a row this season and an 8-24 record since winning the 2016 New Mexico Bowl with three of those wins coming against FCS teams — maybe he finds some solace from Van Morrison.
The 72-year-old Irish-born singer song writer is the favorite musician of Davie, according to a lighthearted survey posted this week on WatchStadium.com that polled all 130 FBS football coaches and 10 conference commissioners with one simple question: Who is your favorite musical artist (individual or group). Multiple answers were not allowed, and just one coach — Marshall’s Doc Holliday — said he did not have a favorite.
Morrison, whose top Billboard hit was “Domino” in 1971 but is also known well for hits like “Brown Eyed Girl” (Billboard No. 11 in 1967) and “Gloria” (Billboard No. 10 in 1966 while he sang for the band Them), was selected by only
Davie on the survey.
New Mexico State University head coach Doug Martin, also in the midst of a losing streak (0-7 this season) might be turning to Alison Krauss to relax after games. The bluegrass/country singer who performs individually and with the band Union Station, was Martin’s pick for favorite musician.
Stadium’s survey revealed the top vote getter was country singer Kenny Chesney (eight votes), with Eric Church (six) and Dave Matthews Band (five), finishing second and third.
Former UNM football coach Mike Locksley, now the head coach at Maryland, chose blues/ soul performer Citizen Cope as his favorite musician while San Diego State coach and former Lobo Rocky Long went with the far more well-known AC/DC.
As for Davie’s coaching peers around the rest of the Mountain West Conference, including commissioner Craig Thompson? Here are the league’s results:
■ Commissioner Craig Thompson: The Rolling Stones
■ Air Force coach Troy Calhoun: Brad Paisley
■ Boise State coach Bryan Harsin: Garth Brooks
■ Colorado State coach Mike Bobo: Michael Jackson
■ Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford: Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
■ Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich: Ka’ikena Scanlan
■ Nevada coach Jay Norvell: Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
■ New Mexico coach Bob Davie:
Van Morrison
■ San Diego State coach Rocky Long: AC/DC
■ San Jose State coach Brent Brennan: Snoop Dogg
■ UNLV coach Tony Sanchez: Van Halen
■ Utah State coach Gary Anderson: The Cars
■ Wyoming coach Craig Bohl: The Eagles And just what are the coaches leading the nation’s top-ranked teams listening to?
Ed Orgeron, the head coach of No. 1 LSU, picked Creedence Clearwater Revival.
No. 2 Alabama’s Nick Saban is an Eagles fan. No. 3 Ohio State coach Ryan Day chose Chesney. No. 4 Clemson coach Dabo Sweeney, like Boise State’s Harsin, is a fan of Garth Brooks. And No. 5 Penn State coach James Franklin selected Jay-Z.
Top 25 notes
ALABAMA: Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has returned to practice on a limited basis, but tight end Miller Forristall could be out for the next six weeks.
Coach Nick Saban says Tagovailoa could be “a game-day decision” with a sprained right ankle but he took snaps and went through some work “on air” in Wednesday’s practice. He didn’t go through team drills as the Tide prepares for the Nov. 9 game against No. 1 LSU.
AUBURN: Auburn backup quarterback Joey Gatewood has left the team and plans to transfer.
Tigers coach Gus Malzahn said Wednesday Gatewood opted to enter the NCAA’s transfer portal to give himself more time to find a school to compete for a starting job.