On the heels of an unlikely change of heart by former UNM head coach Fran Fraschilla, the nine players that left under his tenure have agreed to come home.
The "New Mexico Nine" were startled when UNM Today told them of Fraschilla's apology for his action and all agreed to come home.
RT Guinn, Rafael Berumen, Kevin Henry, Malcolm Battles, Attila Cosby, John Robinson II, Isaiah "Zeke" Johnson, Alvin Broussard and Marlon Parmer all left the program during Fraschilla's tenure. All but Battles, who was kicked off the team for allegedly beating his girlfriend, cited the coach's verbal abuse the main reason they left.
Parmer told UNM Today that he never really wanted to leave anyway. His exit came in the Fraschilla's third and final year on the sideline, and Parmer was among the more vocal players who had pushed for Fraschilla's resignation.
"I don't know about everybody else, but I'm ready to come back," former point guard Marlon Parmer said. "All I ever wanted is for coach to apologize. To be honest with you, I kind of felt sorry for the guy, but I had to do what was right for myself. Now that he has admitted he was wrong, we can get back to putting the ball in my hands and winning."
Guinn and Robinson, who also left citing the coach's verbal abuse, also say that they are ready to come home to better food in New Mexico.
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"My dad and I talked it over, and he was cool with it because we want to get back to New Mexico," Guinn said. "I mean, you just can't get the best green chile anywhere else. Plus, all I ever wanted was for the guy to say he was sorry. We'll be a good running team once everyone comes back."
Robinson echoed Guinn's sentiments.
"It's just too damn cold up here anyway, and I had some good games up here but it's Nebraska - there's not much more to say after that," he said.
Henry told the media he had a positive relationship with Fraschilla and that his decision to leave was spurred by playing time, but he now says that the coach's behavior was the major reason he left.
"I love Texas, but there just isn't much to do in Waco," Henry said. "I'm going to petition the NCAA for another year at UNM and see what they say. They let Luke Recker play forever, and I think I have suffered enough to be a hardship case."
Raphael Berumen, who played this year for the University of Miami, told UNM Today that he was tired of being ignored in Miami.
"If I come back to be a Lobo, I know I will get lots of attention," he said. "Coach said he was sorry, so I'll come back."
Broussard, who left quietly but whose mother has told UNM Today that Fraschilla was the problem, said he is ready to leave San Francisco.
"All I asked for was an apology," Broussard said. "He wouldn't just say that he was wrong and would never give an inch, so I left. Now that he has had to admit his flaws, I can come back."
Johnson is eager to become a Lobo again.
"If he's done being all bitchy, then I'm ready to come back," Johnson said of Fraschilla. "His attitude was terrible and he yelled all the time. He always made Patrick (Dennehy) cry. It was just bad."
Battles and Cosby, who have each battled legal problems since they left, say they have put their criminal problems behind them.
"If coach wants me back, I'll come no matter what," Battles said. "I am ready to get away from courtroom and back on the basketball court. It's where I'm at my best."
Cosby, a prize recruit who backed out of his agreement with UNM, is ready to return to basketball as well.
"I just want to play ball again, and this seems like the only place that will take me," he said. "I need a second chance just like Coach Fraschilla does."
