UNM head football coach Rocky Long is preparing for the beginning of his fourth season leading the Lobos. Long played for UNM from 1969-71. He talked with the Daily Lobo about himself and the football program.
Q Who is the best player you ever coached?
A Brian Urlacher (1996-99) because of the strength, size and speed he possesses.
Q What is the best game you have ever been involved in?
A Oregon-Oregon State game which they call “The Civil War.” Oregon was ready to go to a bowl game and I was coaching at Oregon State. We beat them at Oregon and knocked them out of a bowl bid. (Nov. 20, 1993, Oregon State 15, Oregon 12).
Q What is your most memorable moment as a player?
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A Playing my last home game here at the University of New Mexico stadium. It was a happy moment and sad moment all at the same time.(Nov. 20, 1971, victory over Wyoming 49-14).
Q As a coach?
A Still waiting for it to show up.
Q What’s the worst thing about being a head coach?
A There is a lot of administrative things that a head coach has to do. It takes you away from the actual coaching that you like to do.
Q What is the state of UNM football right now and in the future?
A Right now we’re in the improvement stage and I think we’re a lot better than we were a couple of years ago. I think we can continue the improvement and be a lot better in the future.
Q What are your hobbies outside of football?
A I don’t have any and my wife says I should have some. Maybe I’ll get one when I retire.
Q Which living person do you most admire and why?
A I admire my mom and dad the most for all the support they have given me; all the things that they stand for that I think are the right things.
Q Two people (alive or not living) you would most like to have dinner with?
A Dwight Eisenhower and Marilyn Monroe.
Q What is a common meal or ritual you have before a game?
A I don’t have any. A lot of players and coaches do. As a player I always used to drink Ginseng before a game.
Q What would you do if you won $280 million?
A The first thing I am going to do is build an indoor practice field for the athletic department and after that I’ll have to decide if I’m going to keep coaching or not.
Q How do you think the team will do this season?
A I think we are going to have a very competitive football team and have a chance to win every game.
