Chris Nelson wanted to make a splash at New Mexico, but I know this isn't what he had in mind when he came from Garden City, Kansas, to New Mexico.

His name and picture have been splashed everywhere after he was charged with aggravated drunken driving early Sunday morning. He was stopped at a sobriety checkpoint on Broadway and Central, one of several traps set up to catch people leaving the Downtown bar scene. Trish Hoffman, the Albuquerque police spokeswoman, said that Chris was argumentative, combative and so difficult to deal with that officers had to point their Tasers at him before he calmed down and began cooperating. He failed several field sobriety tests, refused to take a breath test and was booked in the Metropolitan Detention Center, according to police.

Coach Rocky Long got Chris' side of the story Monday and said it was vastly different everything that has been reported, but he declined to share more details about it. Rocky added that he figures the truth is somewhere in the middle. He has suspended Chris for one game and several practices this week. He reserves the right to extend the suspension if he learns more information from police and other sources that conflict with team rules. Rocky said there also will be some in-house discipline for Chris, who will have to earn back respect from his teammates and coaches following the incident.

Back in the spring and fall camps, Chris said he saw New Mexico as his last shot to make something of himself in football. He hoped to learn the offense and contribute as best he could to the program. During interviews, he has had plenty of chances to say he was the best or push himself as the better starting quarterback. He didn't. Instead, he showed respect for starter Kole McKamey and the current system by saying he was focused on working hard and learning the offense. He looked solid in spring and fall drills, but he just didn't have the experience or knowledge of the offense to surpass Kole.

His demeanor had earned enough respect from coaches that they were toying with the idea of letting him play a lot more than last year's backup, Tali Ena. During blowouts this season, it would be easier to rest Kole now that he doesn't need extra experience and protect their starter. Chris was going to be the beneficiary of that extra time. Instead, he will have sit out a week and work his way back into coaches' good graces. That won't come easily.

For more information this, here's some recent Tribune stories on it:
http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_local/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19858_4038532,00.html
http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/sp_lobos/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19873_4038573,00.html

And you can pick up Tuesday's paper or check it out at www.abqtrib.com to learn the latest about the backup quarterback situation.

Posted by ilimon at 07:40 PM | Permalink