New Mexico football wrapped up its final spring practice as players and coaches took time to reflect and fantasize about a bright future.
Davie said he remembers every player’s situation, specifically. He recalled humorous times such as when a parent’s cell phone went off during a meeting and the ringtone was another school’s fight song.
The head coach said he thinks back to the joy of meeting parents and siblings on recruiting trips as well as the pain of seeing one of his players crumble to the floor after he heard the news that his father died.
“The accumulation of all those things to me is really what a program is about and what family is about,” he said.
Davie said the staff takes time to talk to the players every day, and each time there is a message that is shared. He said the new strength and conditioning staff just did a presentation on the topic of having respect for women.
The message is an important one. He said major programs in the country might spend millions of dollars on life skills, and he is proud New Mexico is also teaching its players those lessons. Davie said he’s not sure people really understand and appreciate everything that goes into that process.
Davie said the staff recently showed the team a video of an alleged road rage incident that resulted in former NFL player, Will Smith, and his wife being shot. Smith died in the shooting and his wife was reportedly shot in the leg.
It only takes a few moments for someone’s life to be changed forever. He said it is an example of how each day the staff feels a responsibility as a family to prepare the men to make the right decision.
On December 22, 2015, the team did lose one of its family members. Safety Markel Byrd died in a car accident while he and his girlfriend were traveling back home for the holidays.
Byrd may be gone, but his impact is still felt throughout the locker room, especially with teammates Daniel Henry and Lee Crosby, who played alongside Byrd last season.
Byrd was a player that took a lot of gambles, but most of them paid off and he often shared that knowledge. Crosby said Byrd was one of the best football players out there, and he made plays that were unbelievable.
“He sees things that other players can’t see out there, Crosby said. “He was basically a coach on the field out there on defense.”
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Henry said he felt this was the best spring ball he has seen the defense play. He said Davie threw a lot of the young players into the fire early, and they responded well.
The safety said he used to be focused on dealing a big hit, but one of Byrd’s lessons to him was to go for the ball first. He said that is something the secondary has taken to heart and the
Henry and Crosby both said they expect the team to do something to honor the former safety. The team is likely to wear a commemorative patch, but the duo said their fallen teammate wouldn’t be interested in that and they plan to do something more.
“The big thing for us is just honor him and how we play,” Henry said. “Our attitude, our work ethic and playing well is what’s gonna honor him the most, because knowing ‘Kel, that’s what he’d care about.”
Robert Maler is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers cross country, tennis, and track and field. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @robert_maler.
