Lobos, Aggies Will Compete in 12 Sports for Annual Trophy
The University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University announced today the formation of the Rio Grande Rivalry presented by Route 66 Casino. The Rio Grande Rivalry is not only for current student-athletes, but also to help build school spirit and pride in the alumni and fans that cheer for the Lobos or the Aggies.
The Rio Grande Rivalry begins in the 2007-08 academic year. UNM and NMSU are scheduled to conduct competitions in 12 sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, football, men’s and women’s golf, softball, women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s track and field and women’s volleyball. Points will be awarded to the winner of each competition with a total of 25.5 points possible. The school with the most points will be the winner.
The first competition of 2007-08 is Sept. 4 when the women’s volleyball teams meet in Las Cruces. The 98th football game between the Lobos and Aggies is Sept. 8 in Albuquerque.
The winner of the Rio Grande Rivalry will receive a trophy that is currently being designed with input from both institutions. The traveling trophy will remain in possession of the winning school for one academic year.
A news conference will be held at the end of each season to present the trophy to the winning institution. The winner will also be officially recognized at the first home football or basketball game of the upcoming season.
An updated tally of who’s leading the competition will be available on each school’s website: golobos.com and nmstatesports.com.
“I have been part of big rivalries and there is nothing more exciting,” said University of New Mexico president David Schmidly. “The Bedlam Series between Oklahoma State and the University of Oklahoma is a great example, and there is no reason why New Mexico-New Mexico State can't be as big and exciting.”
The athletics rivalry between the Lobos and Aggies dates back more than 110 years. The first competition between the two institutions was a football game in Albuquerque on Jan. 1, 1894. That was 18 years before the territory of New Mexico was granted statehood in 1912. The first men’s basketball game was played Dec. 22, 1904, in Las Cruces.
“New Mexico-New Mexico State already is a great college rivalry,” said UNM director of athletics Paul Krebs. “This effort will bring added exposure to both universities and will be a great point of pride for alumni from both schools.”
Media Contact: Greg Remington, (505) 925-5525; e-mail: gregrem@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at July 13, 2007 04:03 PM