UNM coach: Suspension won't impact spring practice

ALBUQUERQUE — University of New Mexico football coach Bob Davie said Wednesday he has been assured his 30-day suspension would not be imposed during the Lobos’ spring practice, which began on Friday and will extend into March.

University President Chaouki Abdallah announced the suspension without pay, stemming from three investigations into Davie’s conduct, on Feb. 8. On Tuesday, the UNM Board of Regents declined to consider Davie’s appeal of the suspension.

After Wednesday’s spring practice session, Davie said he hadn’t spoken with Abdallah or with athletic director Eddie Nuqez since being informed by his lawyer Tuesday evening that the Regents had chosen not to consider his appeal.

But, he said, “It was communicated to me before, (that) when the suspension was told to me that it wouldn’t affect our football team, wouldn’t affect our spring practice and (that) they would do what was best for the kids.”

Abdallah was out of town Wednesday and was unavailable for comment. But UNM spokeswoman Cinnamon Blair issued this statement:

“The University administration has not yet determined the start date of the suspension, as it is at the sole discretion of the President.

“Our top priority has always been the student athletes, and any decision will be (made) with their wellbeing in mind.”

A phone message left by the Albuquerque Journal for Nuqez was not returned.

Davie, asked what recourse he might have to avoid suspension in light of the Board of Regents’ response, said he had no comment.

As much as possible, he said, it’s business as usual.

“I’m out here coaching,” he said. “I’m not getting up on any soapbox right now. I’m still who I am, who I was. All I came here to do was make this place better.

“I think we’ll all agree (that) how we make this better is that I focus on coaching this football team and these football players.

Davie said he has kept his players updated on developments in the investigation while at the same time trying not to burden them.

“It’s a family,” he said. “So, every step of the way I’ve kept them abreast and made sure that they stayed out of it.”

Jalin Burrell, a senior cornerback, said the players have not allowed the investigation or the impending suspension to be a distraction.

“Coach Davie’s instilled in us that we just remain focused and remain on the task at hand, and he’ll deal with all that,” Burrell said.