European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 25, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday March 252007 stars and i Pis Mae 41 Carlos Steve Alford left Iowa on thursday to take Over As head coach at new Mexico Alford and the Lobos Are hoping to reverse disappointing trends Alford slips on red coat As new Mexico by Pete Herrera the associated press Albuquerque no Steve Alford smiled slipped on a red Blazer and got that  feeling getting used to Green Chili Well that May take him a while Alford left Iowa and the big ten to take Over new Mexico struggling mid major basketball program he was introduced Fri Day to a raucous stand Ingro Moonly crowd of Lobos players school administrators students and fans during an hour plus news con Ference Alford spoke in detail about his decision to leave the Hawk eyes with four years re on his contract for a six year Deal at new Mexico that will pay him an annual salary of he spoke of his optimism for raising the Lobos to National prominence and of his desire to coach in the pit where Jim Val Vano gleefully sprinted across the court after North Carolina state won a National title 24 years ago Alford also mixed in a Little humor explaining that where he comes from breakfast int spiced up were still learning on the Fly out Here he said being mid westerners we just eat eggs we dont put red or Green Chili on them weve got a lot to learn and were going to dive right into it accompanied by his wife Tanya and the couples three Chil Dren Alford arrived wearing a dark suit but promptly switched into the red jacket a throwback color from his Days As a Star guard for Bob Knight at Indiana its been nearly 20 years since Ive had this color on Alford told the cheering crowd it was pretty magical the last time new Mexico fans among the most passionate in College Basket Ball Are counting on Alford still having some magic they merely expect him to turn around a pro Gram that been to the Mcaa tournament Only once since 1999 and has never made it past the second round Alford a key player on knights Indiana National championship team in 1987 spent the last eight seasons coaching at Iowa two years ago the Hawk eyes finished 259 won the big ten tournament and were a no 3 seed in the Mcaa tournament a first round loss to Northwestern state and a 1714 record last sea son put Alford on the hot seat in Iowa City and in the Market for a fresh Start when new Mexico athletic director Paul Krebs called Alford was ready to head West its a great situation and time for me Alford said i loved my time in Iowa and being in the big ten i had four years left on my contract and i just thought it was the right time this was going to be the smoothest time for me to make a move like this Minnesota fans warm up to new by Jon Krawczynski the associated press Minneapolis As Tubby Smith walked to the podium at Williams Arena hundreds of Golden gophers fans showered him with chants of Tubby Tubby he looked at the adoring Faith Ful of his new school and beamed this is what its All about Smith said Friday after being introduced As the new basketball coach at Minnesota i feel the love already it was quite a change for Smith dogged by criticism from Ken tucks notoriously demanding big Blue nation wildcats fans dubbed him 10loss Tubby and clogged internet Chat rooms and talk radio shows with complaints about a coach who won a National championship five Sec titles five Sec tournament titles and 76 percent of at Ken Tucky from the moment he stepped on stage decked out in a Gray pin Stripe suit and gophers tie it was Clear just How different things will be in Minnesota no matter How much he won at Kentucky Hes never going to catch Adolph Rupp Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi said he can actually build a program Here and develop a legacy Here that i dont think he could do at any of his other spots Smith came to Kentucky from Georgia in 1997 to replace Rick Pitino who guided the wildcats to two straight appearances in the championship game winning in 1996 before leaving to coach the Boston celtics despite one title and three appearances in the regional finals wildcats fans were growing rest less even before Kentucky lost in the second round of the Mcaa tournament to Kansas last week end there is no such pressure at Minnesota Smith inherits a team that went 922 last season and 313 in the big ten the gophers were Over matched nearly every time they took the floor driving their once vocal fan base away in droves Rob Tubby Smith who led Kentucky to a National championship in 1998 is facing a major project As Minnesota new mens basketball coach the Golden gophers went 922 last season including 313 in the big ten so Maturi set out to find a big name coach who would sell season tickets and energize Lethar Gic fans he shelled out Mil lion a year for seven years to lure Smith away from Kentucky and Smith acknowledged Friday he was ready for a change of scenery after 10 years in Lexington Smith downplayed those vocal wildcats fans role in his Depar Ture saying that was blown out of proportion and spoke glowingly about his time in Kentucky even thanking athletic director Mitch Barnhart in his opening statement i didst spend a lot of time listening to it the Smith said i was too Busy trying to win games were not running from anything were running to a great program the crowd erupted again after that statement and its Clear a Turis quest to find a galvanizing Force to Lead this woebegone pro Gram was off to a smashing Start less than two hours after thurs Days announcement More than 250 season ticket orders were filled Center Spencer Tollackson marvelled at the number of fans and students in the stands at will iams Arena for the press Confer ence we were driving Here from class and people were walking Down University Avenue in go Pher basketball shirts Tollack son said that just not Normal around Here right now we walked in Here and this place was going crazy were just really excited we cant wait to get going with coach Smith Smith has plenty of work to do his predecessor Dan Monson struggled mightily in recruiting and was unable to lift the pro Gram out of the Hole dug by a Mas Sive academic fraud scandal under Clem Haskins were going to develop a championship program Here Smith said its not going to be easy the 55yearold Farmers son who grew up with 16 siblings knows plenty about hard work from his earlier stops at Tulsa and Georgia and Hes won More Mcaa tournament games and made More appearances in the round of 16 and the final eight than the gophers have in their 111year history we needed a jump Start Maturi said lets be honest Here theres no Gamble with Tubby Smith if we dont win with Tubby Smith then we have to look inter Nally at Pur program and what were doing or not doing if we dont win its not because of the coach enjoy the Freedom you fight for its your turn to ride order your Bike exactly the Way you want it have it waiting for you when you arrive Home prices always under Srp lowest Price 100 satisfaction guarantee Harley Avidson visit us on base and Start living the dream today Wowen Iscom ask about the Safe motorcycle a Fifer safely did