New Mexico’s football team might not have made it on time for its game at Auburn tonight were it not for the assistance of the South Alabama athletic department.
With bad weather forcing the Lobos to fly into Mobile International Airport at Brookley Field rather than Montgomery on Friday afternoon, the Jaguars provided four busses and some food for part of the trip. The New Mexico traveling party then met its regularly chartered busses in Atmore to make the remainder of the journey to its hotel in Montgomery.
South Alabama athletics director Joel Erdmann told AL.com on Saturday morning that a New Mexico representative reached out Friday afternoon to USA deputy AD Daniel McCarthy, who is in charge of the Jaguars’ scheduling. McCarthy worked with Erdmann, senior associate AD Jason Kelly, transportation director Todd Culp and football chief of staff John Clark to help ensure the Lobos arrived at their destination.
“They just said they needed some help and so (McCarthy) was able to rally the troops quickly,” Erdmann said. “And it’s pretty admirable that people responded in the manner that they did. John Clark … got them some pizzas for the road. They landed at Brookley, got on four South Alabama busses and had pizzas waiting for them. And then the bus company that (New Mexico) had contracted in Montgomery was heading south to get them.
“All credit goes to Daniel and Jason, and a big gold star to Todd Culp. … For him to get four (bus) drivers on short notice, early Friday evening, is pretty astounding.”
Erdmann said South Alabama and New Mexico would “settle up” at a later date as to whatever costs the Jaguars absorbed for the entire venture.
“We’ll look at that next week,” he said. “They just need to focus on the task at hand and we’ll circle back as needed.”
Auburn hosts New Mexico at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The game will be televised by ESPN2.
