ARCHULETA: UNM-UCLA matchup brings back memories of blonde ponytail and the question never asked
UNM football place kicker Katie Hnida attempts an extra point during the first quarter of UCLA’s 27-13 win in the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl. While the attempt was blocked, Hnida became the first woman to play in a Division I football game.
The UNM football team’s visit to UCLA brings back several moments of history, as local media learned during Tuesday’s luncheon.
But for one former Albuquerque Journal reporter, it was the biggest fumble of his writing career.
The Lobos (1-1) take on the Bruins (0-2) in the Rose Bowl on Friday night – an unusual night for college football.
Not as unusual as the previous UNM-UCLA date. Christmas Day, 2002.
Lobos Assistant Athletic Director for Communication Frank Mercogliano had a list of superlatives surrounding, UNM, UCLA and the Rose Bowl.
In 1929, the Lobos became the first college football team to fly to a game, playing mighty Occidental College in the historic stadium.
It was also first night game in Lobo history.
Mercogliano said UNM couldn’t see the ball in the night game and lost 26-0.
Earlier, Mercogliano pointed out the history of the only other UNM-UCLA meeting during that Vegas Christmas 23 years ago “was the first game where a female played in a bowl game and in an FBS game and in a Power Five (Conference) game.”
For whatever reason, Mercogliano didn’t mention the name of that female player, the Lobos’ very own Katie Hnida.
Hnida has been as vocal and proud Lobo alum as any UNM athlete has ever been. And even as gracious a person as she was and remains, her name still causes me to wince, so if Mercogliano didn’t say her name on camera to spare me, thank you.
I was the Lobo beat reporter for the Journal during that 2002 bowl game and watched UNM’s practices in Las Vegas in the days leading up to the game. During one of the practices, the offense scored, and the kicking unit trotted out onto the field for the extra point. That was a bit of a surprise because the Lobos didn’t usually attempt extra points right after practice TDs.
But then a kicker with a blond ponytail, the teams fourth-string kicker, trotted out with the unit to try the extra point.
“What a guy,” I thought to myself about Long, the Lobos coach. “He’s letting Katie practice, so she feels part of the bowl experience.”
I didn’t even ask Long after practice about Hnida’s practice attempt – I don’t know if he would have said anything, but clearly my journalistic Spidey Sense short-circuited under the flashing Vegas lights. I originally included a sentence in my practice notes article about her appearance, but my story was too long for the space allotted, so I deleted the Hnida note.
And lo and behold in the game, after Desmar Black’s 55-yard interception for a touchdown in the first quarter gave the Lobos a 6-3 lead, who would run out to kick the extra point?
The Bruins blocked Hnida’s kick, and that was the last UNM memorable moment of the day.
I felt sick the rest of the game. UCLA’s 27-13 victory that day was almost an afterthought as Hnida might national news. I had the scoop fall in my hands … and I waved it off like a blackjack bust card.
My attempts to reach Hnida this week were unsuccessful. I wanted to ask if she was going to watch. I know that kick still bugs her. I hope she doesn’t mind that it bugs me more.
