 Classic SI photo by Bob Rosato |
Duke of Url
Probably the best football player to ever come out of the University of New Mexico (and the state of New Mexico), Brian Urlacher was a first-round pick (9th overall) of the Chicago Bears in the 2000 NFL Draft. Urlacher led the nation in tackles in his junior year as a Lobo, and was a first-team All-American. Urlacher did a little bit of everything during his stint at New Mexico. He saw spot duty as a wide receiver during his senior season, catching six touchdown passes, and also returned punts.
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GREATEST ATHLETES |
Ralph Kiner, Santa Rita
Hall of Fame outfielder led National League or tied for lead in home runs first seven years of his career (1946 to '52).
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Al Unser Sr., Albuquerque
Patriarch of auto racing's first family won Indianapolis 500 in 1970, '71, '78 and '87.
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Nancy Lopez, Roswell
In 1969 won New Mexico women's amateur golf title at age 12; has won 48 titles and more than $5 million on LPGA tour.
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FLASHBACK |
1992: The End Of the Line
For the past 20 years, losing football games has been the woeful tradition at New Mexico State
This is tough to check, but players at New Mexico State swear that the crowd at last year's homecoming game more than doubled after halftime. "It was 21-21 at the half," says Aggie tight end Todd Cutler, " and I guess people heard it on the radio and ran over to see if we could hold on. We came out for the second half, and the crowd had jumped from about 7,000 to about 17,000. I couldn't believe it."
FULL STORY
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SI COVERS |
Lopez owns the links
Nancy Lopez came on like gangbusters in 1978, her rookie year on the LPGA tour. She won nine tournaments, including a record five in a row. She was the LPGA golfer of the year -- an award she would win three more times in her storied career.
Click here to see a gallery of every golf cover
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THE SI POLL |
Who do New Mexicans root for? SI asked the Land of Enchantment residents to weigh in* on sports.
Favorite major league baseball team
Arizona Diamondbacks | 12% |
Los Angeles Dodgers | 10% |
New York Yankees | 9% |
Favorite NFL team
Dallas Cowboys | 22% |
Denver Broncos | 15% |
Green Bay Packers | 8% |
San Francisco 49ers | 8% |
Favorite NBA team
Los Angeles Lakers | 17% |
Chicago Bulls | 8% |
Favorite NHL team
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Favorite pro team
Dallas Cowboys | 18% |
Denver Broncos | 12% |
Favorite announcer
John Madden | 28% |
Terry Bradshaw | 8% |
Greatest athlete who ever lived in or played for a team in your state
Brian Urlacher | 49% |
Luc Longley | 7% |
Michael Cooper | 6% |
Tommy McDonald | 4% |
State's biggest rivalry
New Mexico-New Mexico State | 79% |
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More a fan of college or pro sports?
Favorite sport to play
Billiards | 17% |
Hiking | 12% |
Swimming | 12% |
Baseball/softball | 11% |
Fishing | 11% |
Favorite sports to watch on TV**
Football | 83% |
Winter Olympics | 47% |
Summer Olympics | 40% |
Auto racing | 36% |
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**Harris Interactive poll, conducted online, of 400 New Mexico residents who identified themselves as sports fans. Margin of error +/-5.
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FAST FACTS |
Admission to statehood: Jan. 6, 1912 (47th)
Area: 121,593 square miles
Bird: Roadrunner
Capital: Santa Fe
Economy: Agriculture: Cattle, dairy products, hay, nursery stock, chilies. Industry: Electric equipment, petroleum and coal products, food processing, printing and publishing, stone, glass, and clay products, tourism.
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Flower: Yucca flower (Yucca glauca)
Nickname: Land of Enchantment
Population: 1,819,046 (36th)
Pro sports teams: None
Major college programs: New Mexico State University Aggies, University of New Mexico Lobos, Western New Mexico Mustangs
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Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary |
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STATITUDES |
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0 for 1 Career point-after record of Katie Hnida of the New Mexico Lobos. Hnida became the first female to play in a Division I-A football game when she attempted an extra point against UCLA on Dec. 25, 2002 in the Las Vegas Bowl.
1 Winning season for the New Mexico State Aggies football team since 1967.
2 NFL first-round picks from the University of New Mexico (Robin Cole in 1976 and Brian Urlacher in 2000).
7.1 Home runs per 100 at-bats for Santa Rita native Ralph Kiner, the third-best mark in baseball history behind Babe Ruth's and Mark McGwire's.
12 Age of Nancy Lopez when she won the New Mexico Women's Amateur golf tournament.
27 Loses in a row for New Mexico State from October 1988 to November 1990.
9 Total combined Indianapolis 500 victories for Al Unser Sr., Al Unser Jr. and Bobby Unser.
204 Yards gained by Hobbs native Timmy Smith in Super Bowl XXII.
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ENEMY OF THE STATE |
Rick Majerus
Majerus's success against New Mexico as the basketball coach at Utah got him his second Enemy title. (Wyoming also picked him.) Most hated opponents: BYU (25%), UTEP (17%) and the University of Utah (14%).
Rick Majerus | 24% |
Dave Bliss | 12% |
Bob Knight | 11% |
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