On the heels of a school human resource investigation, UNM has suspended head football coach Mike Locksley for 10 days for his role in a September 20th altercation with assistant coach J.B. Gerald. Locklsey cannot have any contact with his team during his suspension and will not coach the Lobos in their October 24th homecoming game against UNLV. Locksley will also lose $29,000 in salary and in the next three months has to take part in a class on conflict resolution.

The punishment fits the crime here. Especially in today's society, you can't get in a physical altercation in the workplace. Said altercation was established in the UNM HR investigation. Losing the 29-grand in salary is like a parking ticket compared to the 750-grand a year Locksley makes. A conflict resolution class can be good for anyone and should be for Locksley as well. But the hardest part for Locksley will be the 10 days he can't be around his team. That's very tough on any coach during their season. 10 days is a lot of time to reflect.

As for the Lobos team itself, life will go on with interim head coach George Barlow. The Lobos are on a bye this weekend and it's probably a good elixor for them, given the last two weeks of negative publicity surrounding the altercation and the ongoing investigation, combined with the team's 0-6 start. Even though the team is 0-6 and handing the reigns to Barlow for one game, don't expect any drastic lineup changes or new offensive or defensive formations. It will still be Locksley's game plan against UNLV. But if Barlow and the Lobos win the game, things could get a little interesting. Barlow for permanant head coach? Somehow I doubt it.