New Mexico Head Coach Jason Eck leads his team out onto the field in 2025. ***Photo: Chris Rodarte/Game Pass Media***

Lobos fans, we deserve to be happy right?

The University of New Mexico football team just finished the regular season with a 9-3 record and were computer-biased out of a chance to play in its first ever Mountain West Conference Championship Game.

Head coach Jason Eck just signed an extension tying him to Albuquerque through 2030, and fans flocked to University Stadium in droves this season, leading the nation in year over year attendance from 2024.

The Lobos sold out their first home game since 2007 this season and just recorded their biggest November home crowd in 17 years a few weeks ago against Colorado State. They then topped that with their regular-season finale vs. San Diego State.

Eck is also the newly minted Mountain West Coach of the Year. His son Jaxton is the conference's Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

They're the first father-son duo to ever do that.

“My family and I, we really like it here,” Eck said at a news conference Monday. “We’re winning; we think we’ll be really good again next year. I like the people I’m working with. (And) moving’s a pain in the ass.”

There’s also a bowl game – destination to be determined – to look forward to for the first time since 2016.

The vibes, as they say, are immaculate.

This is everything we Lobos fans wanted and more.

But there is an uneasiness in the air in some corners of the Lobo Fandom. A disturbance in “The Force” (aka social media).

It’s almost as if Lobos fans are stuck in an alternate rom-com world when it comes to accepting that something good has finally happened for us.

Instead of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” Lobos fans are stuck living in “Forgetting Steve Alford.” So, forgive us if we project those anxieties on our latest coaching dynamo in Eck.

Here’s a sampling from The Pit Press social media pages.

When it comes to retaining coaches, we have trust issues in New Mexico, and we often don’t forgive or forget.

Alford will always be the example Lobos fans remember.

Alford was arguably the best Lobo men’s basketball coach ever. He was 155-52 in six seasons at UNM. He won four MW regular-season championships, two MW Tournament titles and led the Lobos to three NCAA Tournament appearances.

Days after signing a 10-year extension at UNM after the 2013 season, however, Alford went the runaway-bride route and ditched the Lobos for UCLA. It’s been 12 years, but it still stings.

Bronco Mendenhall leaving after one season (2024) as Lobos football coach – that didn’t help either.

What sets Eck apart from other recent UNM football and men’s basketball coaches is how much he and his family have embraced the Albuquerque community.

“Him, his wife, his family, they're fully bought in; they’re fully invested,” UNM Athletic Director Fernando Lovo said. “I think you can say wins and losses matter, which of course they do, but beyond that you've got to build some belief, build some hope.”

The 2025 football season is one for the ages. Not just from a fan perspective, but for people associated with the program for decades.

“It’s not always about winning," legendary Lobos running back DonTrell Moore (2002-2005) told The Pit Press Live. “There’s this perfect combination of love and support for who is winning. So, a lot to be proud of as a Lobo right now and just pulling for coach Eck and this team.”

We don't know how long coach Eck and his family will be here, but we need to enjoy the time we do have with them.

The things we know for certain are that the 2025 Lobos have a chance to win 10 games for the second time in school history (the 1982 team went 10-1 but were snubbed from bowl season) and the Eck family really likes us, too.

Take it from the man himself.

“We love it here, and we believe New Mexico can be a perennial Mountain West contender,” Eck said.