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Lobo offensive linemen hand out over 270 Thanksgiving turkeys Sunday
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Ernie Martinez parked inside the University of New Mexico鈥檚 Stadium West parking lot at 3:30 a.m. Sunday to wait for a Thanksgiving turkey.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 sleep at home and was tossing and turning, so I thought, 鈥榃hat the heck?鈥欌�� he said.
About six hours later, at least 20 vehicles lined up behind Martinez, who was the first to receive a turkey and sides from several offensive linemen on the University of New Mexico football team.
Martinez said he is on disability, 鈥渟o this really helps me a lot.鈥�
Parked behind Martinez was Jennie Lucero, who arrived at about 7:30 a.m. despite feeling under the weather.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good to have things like this for the people who can鈥檛 afford it,鈥� she said.
Two hundred Thanksgiving meals 鈥� turkey and sides 鈥� were distributed to dozens of people. The players also handed out an additional 78 turkeys during the event, according to a UNM football Facebook post.
The turkey drive was funded by Names, Image and Likeness (NIL) donations from Lobo linemen and financial contributions from the community. NIL refers to opportunities now fully endorsed by the NCAA for collegiate athletes to receive compensation from third parties using their personal brand.
It鈥檚 the holidays and there鈥檚 no better time to spread the love, right guard and team captain Richard Pearce said.
It is important to thank the city that has been like a second home, center Malik Aliane said.
鈥淚 really wanted to give back to the community,鈥� the Rouen, France, native said.
Pearce and Aliane were two of several offensive linemen to donate their time during the team鈥檚 bye week to hand out food.
鈥淭hey work hard, you know, to help out their fans,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淪upport them and they support us. I really appreciate that.鈥�
UNM head coach Bronco Mendenhall also briefly stopped by Sunday morning.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing experience for a coach to see young people lead and serve,鈥� Mendenhall said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just really proud of them.鈥�
Event volunteer Rudy Chavez said he attributed the players鈥� selfless act to what he called 鈥渢he Bronco effect.鈥�
鈥�(Mendenhall) just influences people to be servant leaders, and these kids are servant leaders,鈥� Chavez said.
After receiving his turkey, Leo Apodaca wished the players luck. The Lobos (5-6, 3-3 Mountain West) will be in Hawaii on Saturday to close out the regular season.
鈥淒o a good job at the next game,鈥� Apodaca said. 鈥淕o Lobos.鈥�
鈥淭hank you, sir,鈥� a couple of players said.
