HOUSE MEMORIAL 69

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Antonio "Moe" Maestas

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING FORMER UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEAD FOOTBALL COACH ROCKY LONG.

     WHEREAS, Rocky Long was a standout quarterback for the university of New Mexico from 1969 to 1971, winning the western athletic conference offensive player of the year award and being named the Lobos' most valuable player all three seasons; and

     WHEREAS, he also excelled off the field, as a three-time academic all-conference selection, recipient of the western athletic conference scholar athlete award and an honorable mention academic all-American; and

     WHEREAS, Rocky Long returned to his alma mater in 1998 as the head coach of the Lobos' football team, and under his direction the university of New Mexico experienced eleven seasons of unparalleled success; and

     WHEREAS, he led the Lobos to forty-nine victories from 2001 to 2007, the most prosperous span in school history; and     WHEREAS, under Rocky Long, the Lobos received invitations to play in five bowl games, including their first bowl victory since 1961 in a twenty-three to zero win over Nevada in the 2007 New Mexico bowl; and

     WHEREAS, he stepped down on November 17, 2008, ending his career as the winningest head coach in Lobo history, producing ten all-Americans, ten national football league draft picks and thirty-four all-mountain west conference honorees; and

     WHEREAS, Rocky Long continued the university of New Mexico's long-standing commitment to academic success, producing seventy-three academic all-conference and three academic all-American performers since 2001; and

     WHEREAS, he married Debby Meerdink, a 1972 graduate of the university of New Mexico school of nursing, and has two daughters, Roxanne and Hannah, who have both followed in their father's footsteps as coaches;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Rocky Long be honored for his dedication to excellence while at the university of New Mexico, for the leadership he provided both on and off the field for his players and for the sense of pride he brought to all New Mexicans; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to Rocky Long and the athletic department at the university of New Mexico.

- 3 -