Series with Aggies is Old, But Not a Lot of Games

The first game in our series with New Mexico State was played 77 years ago, with 4,000 fans in little Quesenberry Field in Las Cruces, and ended in a 7-7 tie. That was a good Aztec team, losing only to the Marines that season.

The next year, 1937, it was a 20-0 Aztec win in Aztec Bowl, with 7,500 fans. That was a very tough Aztec team, going 7-1, and giving up only 16 points all season! Their one loss, to Redlands, was 10-9. They opened the season with four shut-outs before that loss. And, no, I did not see either of those games!

But I did see the next one in 1949 in Aztec Bowl, and was in Las Cruces for a disappointing 26-6 loss in 1955. The next six games, I random years, were all here and all wins. The last game was 2010 in Las Cruces where Aztecs won big, 41-21.

Dick Adair carries vs. New Mexico A&M, as the Aggies were known in 1949 (SDSU Photo)

The most memorable game in the series was the Aztecs’ 70-21 victory in 1969. Three NCAA records that were set in that game still stand or have been tied: most TD passes by a team in a game, 10; most TD passes in a half, 7 by Dennis Shaw; most TD passes in a game, both teams, 13.

Aztec QB Dennis Shaw (photo by Ernie Anderson)

History in a series like this doesn’t mean much, but even with today’s game on the road, I sure see us ready for a win. With the progress shown in the Oregon State game (offset in the minds of some by the tag-end loss), this can be the turn-around game for this season.