In a show of camaraderie and spirited competition that's sure to delight football fans across New Mexico, the mayors of Las Cruces and Albuquerque have decided to quite literally wear their pride on their sleeves. They've engaged in a friendly wager that will see the mayor of the city whose university football team loses Saturday's game don the victor's colors for a full day. It's a tradition that adds an extra layer of local fervor to the longstanding rivalry between the two teams.
The stakes? Bragging rights, not to mention the sight of one mayor flaunting the other team's attire. Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez, a proud alumnus of New Mexico State University, is all in to support the Aggies. Meanwhile, Albuquerque's Mayor Tim Keller is ready to cheer on the University of New Mexico Lobos. According to the City of Las Cruces, Enriquez stated, "Mayor Keller and I are both proud of our home teams and it seems only fitting that we put our pride on the line at least once a year for a game that brings us all together.” The bet? Enriquez has vowed to "don cherry and silver for a day" should the Aggies fall, but would relish the opportunity to see Keller "in crimson and white."
The upcoming game, dubbed the Rio Grande Rivalry, is a prodigious event in the state's sports calendar and symbolizes a deeper, historical connection. For more than a century, the Aggies and Lobos have been duking it out on the field, with their first encounter dating back to 1894, making it one of the oldest rivalries in college football.
This year, the duel is set to take place at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, with kickoff at 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 28. With the NM State Aggies having won the last two encounters, the pressure is on for the Lobos to step up their game and reclaim some local football glory. As per the information shared by Las Cruces, the game will mark the 114th meeting between the two teams, demonstrating just how deeply interwoven the rivalry is with the state's identity and collegiate athletics.
