The Rio Grande Rivalry between the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University is set with the football game on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces. But a lot’s happening leading up to the Lobo-Aggie game.
UNM and NMSU Army ROTC units are participating in the second annual “Rio Grande Rivalry Football Run,” where the UNM Army ROTC runs the official game ball to a half-way, hand-off point, to be picked up by the NMSU Army ROTC.
Both ROTC units take the job very seriously. “It’s important for students at both universities to see how much both Army ROTCs support this football game,” UNM 1Lt. Kenneth Morris said.
The game ball’s journey starts on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 4 p.m. at the football practice field when the ball is passed to the first UNM Army ROTC runner. After running the bosque to Isleta Pueblo and up the hill to I-25, the five shifts of UNM ROTC runners will run a total of 113 miles to Veteran’s Memorial Center in Truth or Consequences where it is handed off to an NMSU Army ROTC runner to continue on to Las Cruces.
According to Morris, at the symbolic hand-off at the Veterans Memorial Center military science professors from each university will give the corps words of encouragement before sending the ball on the final stretch toward reaching its destination in Las Cruces on Thursday, Sept. 25 – plenty of time before the game.
Building up the game day excitement is a flag football game between the two ROTC units on Saturday, Sept. 27, tentatively set for 1 p.m.
Although this football rivalry dates back to Jan. 1894, it wasn’t until the 2007-08 school year that the football game officially became part of what is now known as “The Rio Grande Rivalry.” In last year’s inaugural football game, UNM won 44-34.
The winner of the Rivalry receives the rotating trophy inscribed with the winners. The winning institution holds the trophy, and bragging rights, for the year.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu