Weir strikes the right tone but has long way to go

So, maybe first impressions aren’t everything. If they were, then many University of New Mexico fans were ready to ship Paul Weir back to Las Cruces in a large crate with a “Return to Sender” notice attached to it after learning Monday that the New Mexico State head men’s basketball coach was now the Lobos’ new coach.

By Tuesday, many in the Lobo community started to come around on Weir, and maybe their tone changed when he did not do what Steve Alford and Craig Neal did — put on that dang red jacket. Weir, who once coached with Neal and under Alford at Iowa, simply said he hadn’t earned the right to wear it.

Perhaps it was a nod to those circumspect fans he now inherits, recognizing that they demand a lot and won’t just give their blessing to any coach who walks through the door. In fact, Weir acknowledged the hunger the basketball community has for its Lobos, noting that “any doubter is a dreamer with a broken heart.”

You could almost see the ice melt over those stone-cold Lobo hearts.

It was a good first step toward developing a relationship with the fan base, one that was strained with Neal by the end of his four-year stint. So was talking about playing an aggressive, up-tempo style that emphasized defense, desire and effort (you know, that quality his predecessor said he didn’t need to coach or teach). He uttered Norm Ellenberger’s name, which is just what the veteran Lobo fans want to hear.

They remember those mid1970s teams and how they took Lobomania to heights that haven’t really been reached since. Never mind that ugly scandal which gutted and tarnished the program and how it turned Ellenberger into a coaching pariah for several years. Fans here easily forget the bad when reminiscing about the good.

Yet, by invoking names of the past, Weir also is tempting fate. Seven coaches stewed on that sideline since Ellenberger’s departure, and the community never quite gave those coaches their full blessing. Gary Colson restored some of the luster to the program, but couldn’t get the Lobos back to the NCAA Tournament. Dave Bliss did that, but was criticized for not reaching the Sweet 16.

Fran Fraschilla was a disaster, and Ritchie McKay was in over his head.

Alford came the closest, but even he couldn’t deliver when it mattered that most. If anything, Alford is remembered most for his last game with the Lobos — a 68-62 heartbreaker loss to Harvard when UNM was the No. 3 seed and a favorite by many national pundits as a Final Four favorite.

Two weeks after the loss, Alford was a Bruin. A week later, Neal took over and was feted by many in the community. The lovefest lasted just a season before three mediocre years led to his dismissal as the apathy in Loboland grew.

After nine days of watching a variety of contenders rise and fall, Weir emerged almost as a consolation prize to those who love to wear the cherry and silver. After Tuesday’s news conference, Weir found a way to connect with a disenchanted community — by appealing to their heart.

Weir might not be the coach fans wanted, but he wants to be the coach he feels they deserve.