For most of the UNM football players, the idea of playing with a girl took some getting used to.
"Coach Long mentioned to us that a girl was coming in," backup center Derek Watson said. "He said to treat her like a teammate, but at the same time she's a lady, so be respectful and courteous."
Watson had been on the team for three years before Katie Hnida came on board. He said it was a little different at first, but it didn't take long for Hnida to click with the guys on the team because they were all there for the same reason - the love of the game.
Watson said Hnida soon became like "one of the guys."
After Hnida made history for the second time on Aug. 31, 2003 by being the first woman to score in a college football game, Long told the media he put Hnida in for the extra points because the team was urging him to do so throughout the game.
"They wouldn't leave me alone about it," he said at the time.
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While the other players may see her as one of the guys on the field, Hnida seems to be supported by a sort of big-brother support system as she endures the process of revealing her past at the University of Colorado.
Watson said facing the media and dealing with the issues in a public spotlight has to take a toll on Hnida, but she is doing well handling the situation.
"I hope she's doing better now that this is off her chest," he said. "We're just encouraging her and trying to be her friend and teammate. They guys on the team are behind her 100 percent."
Watson said he was taken completely by surprise when he learned of Hnida's allegations last week. He said the players were aware of stories about how she was harassed and mistreated at Colorado, but they were not prepared for what she told them.
"We can't even say what we want to say about Colorado to the media," Watson said. "They've got all kinds of problems. Somebody needs to go in there and clean things up. That's despicable."
Watson said he doesn't think the behaviors that have taken place in Boulder, Colo. could happen at UNM because there are chaperones and ambassadors who are involved in the recruitment process.
Several women have come forward in recent weeks claiming they attended large sex parties used to recruit football players to CU.
Also, Watson said Long has instilled a sense of integrity in the players.
Hnida filed an appeal with the NCAA last week, requesting another year of eligibility. She argued she missed one year due to the traumatic experiences she faced at Colorado.
