On eve of ESPN showcase, Davie facing investigation
Website reports UNM looking into allegations of mistreatment of players, compromises in drug testing program
On the eve of its ESPN close-up, The University of New Mexico football team was making national headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The website NMFishbowl.com reported Wednesday that Lobos head coach Bob Davie is under investigation for allegations ranging from his mistreatment of players to compromises in the athletic department’s drug testing program.
The report suggests an internal review was launched in the wake of player exit interviews following last season, but it did not explicitly say that the interviews were the direct cause for the investigation about Davie or the program.
The story then circulated nationally to various news organizations, including Bleacher Report, Deadspin and ESPN.
The school confirmed that it is taking part in an internal review but did not specify who or what was being targeted. The athletic department issued the following statement through UNM sports information director Frank Mercogliano on Wednesday night:
“I can confirm there is an initial review and preliminary investigation underway in Athletics,” he wrote in an email. “We will not be offering any additional details or comment until the full inquiry is complete.”
That is the same statement attributed to UNM spokeswoman Cinnamon Blair in the various national reports, including nmfishbowl.com’s feature story.
Davie, 62, was not available for comment since he and the rest of the team is on the road in Boise, Idaho, for Thursday’s nationally televised game against Mountain West Conference rival Boise State. It is the only college football game Thursday and affords UNM a rare chance to be alone under the national media glare.
It is but the latest public relations headache for the school in recent months. Ranging from sagging attendance and the ugly dismissal of former men’s basketball coach