Flowers had court date on the day of his death
Saturday football game against Air Force rescheduled for Nov. 23
Nahje Flowers, a 21-year-old University of New Mexico defensive lineman who died unexpectedly on Tuesday morning, had been due in court later that day on a petty misdemeanor charge that involved an accusation of “keying” a car of an “exfriend,” according to a criminal complaint.
Meanwhile, the Mountain West Conference announced Wednesday that, due to Flowers’ death, it will reschedule the Lobos’ football game against Air Force to Nov. 23 at noon at Dreamstyle Stadium. It had been scheduled for Saturday at noon in Albuquerque.
The Lobos men’s basketball game on Saturday against Cal State Northridge will be played as scheduled.
The UNM football team practiced on Wednesday, a session that was closed to the public and the media. The Lobos are expected to do the same on Thursday.
Several teammates and friends of Flowers continue to express their feelings on social media. A GoFundMe page was established on Tuesday and surpassed $7,000 by Wednesday evening with a goal of $10,000 to cover the Flowers family expenses.
Flowers had been accused of causing damage to a car with a cost to fix of “approximately $800,” according to the criminal complaint that said the alleged vandalism took place on June 23.
UNM announced Flowers’ death on Tuesday morning. No details were given concerning his death.
UNM athletic director Eddie Nuñez reached out to the Mountain West Conference to begin the process of rescheduling Saturday’s planned game. UNM (2-7, 0-5) and Air Force (7-2, 4-1) had the same open date on Nov. 23.
“In light of the circumstances and following a thorough review of all factors, which included multiple conversations with both institutions, the conference office has determined this is the appropriate course of action,” Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson said in a statement. “Our focus is on the family, friends and teammates who have been affected during this difficult time.”
This is the second time this calendar year that an Air Force team has had its schedule impacted by the death of a UNM student-athlete. Baseball player Jackson Weller was fatally shot in May. The final two games of a three-game baseball series in Albuquerque were canceled.
“We share New Mexico’s grief over the tragic loss of Nahje Flowers and offer our deepest condolences,” Air Force athletic director Nathan Pine said in a statement. “Air Force will now make the necessary steps to go along with Commissioner Craig Thompson and the Mountain West’s unprecedented decision to cancel this weekend’s game and reschedule. While Air Force has been disadvantaged by the decision, it pales in comparison to the loss New Mexico experienced.”
Flowers recorded three tackles, one unassisted, in the Lobos’ 21-10 loss at Nevada on Saturday. He missed the previous game at home against Hawaii because of a shoulder injury, said Frank Mercogliano, UNM assistant athletic director of communications.
Flowers, a redshirt junior from Los Angeles, had practiced with the Lobos on Monday morning, Mercogliano said.
Flowers lived off campus in a home with two other roommates, including 21-year-old UNM student Hayden Armstrong, who has been devastated by the loss of one of his closest friends.
Armstrong said he left the house early Tuesday morning about 4:30 for work, but was texted by another roommate to return home about an hour after leaving.
Armstrong said police cars and an ambulance were at the home when he arrived.
Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, said on Tuesday that there were no signs of foul play or criminal activity.
Armstrong did not comment on Flowers’ cause of death.
Armstrong is in his fourth year at UNM. He met Flowers when they were freshmen in 2016. They were roommates since May, Armstrong said.
“The first thing that always comes to mind about Nahje is that every interaction with him always ended with laughter,” said Armstrong, a La Cueva graduate. “He never was someone who liked talking about drama. He never brought up drama. He always laughed it off. He always found the best side of any situation. He was somebody to talk to and make you feel better about any situation. I would talk to him about a lot of things just to vent. I wasn’t the only one to go to him with stuff and he always made us feel better. He was always the life of the party. He never met a stranger. Everyone was his friend.”
Several of Flowers’ teammates and friends were to gather for a memorial-type event on Wednesday evening, Armstrong said. Another memorial is expected in the coming days.
“His presence was always known around campus,” Armstrong said. “The best quality about him was he accepted everyone for who they were. He loved everyone.”