NMSU game on Saturday has special meaning for Doug Martin

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – They say cancer touches us all – yes, even tough-nosed football coaches.

At his weekly news conference Tuesday, NMSU head coach Doug Martin fought back tears as he recalled his relationship with Lori Paulson, an honorary team captain for two years who passed away in March of this year after battling pancreatic cancer. She was 35.

He was discussing the significance of this weekend’s contest, which is not your typical home game. This Saturday the Aggies will play their annual “Pink Game” against Georgia Southern at 6 p.m. Money raised at the game and other events this week will help fund cancer research. (You can find a list of events by clicking here).

Martin said you couldn’t mention the Pink Game without mentioning Paulson, who became a mentor and friend to many coaches and players, despite her lengthy battle against cancer. Some on the team simply called her “Miss Lori.”

“She represents what the Pink Game is all about for us,” said Martin. “It’s not about a color. It’s about people. And to this day, I come here every morning with a passion to coach, not for myself, but for her, because I want her to know, and Jeremiah, who’s our captain now, to know, that she was motivation enough. That’s what this is about.”

Martin recalled one occasion, after a loss, that sticks with him to this day.

“We had lost a big game, and she was almost in tears talking to me in my office,” said Martin. ” And she said, ‘You know, I just thought I would be motivation enough to get these guys to win. And I’m so regretful that I’m not motivation enough.’ And to this day, that haunts me.”