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HOME ~ College Football History |
School
Name
New Mexico State was originally known as New Mexico College of
Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. In 1959, after two years of state-wide
discussions, the school�s Board of Regents voted to change the name of
the institution to New Mexico State University as a symbol of progress,
growth and stature.
Hall of Fame
Allan Sepkowitz (Football 1969-71) helped New Mexico State to its only
two bowl victories during his three seasons as an Aggie lineman from
1959-61. Sepkowitz played four positions on the offensive line (both
guards and both tackles) as well as starting on the defensive line under
Warren Woodson, the winningest coach in Aggie
 history. NMSU posted a
24-7-1 mark during Sepkowitz' career. The 1959 and '60 teams earned Sun
Bowl victories, defeating North Texas State, 28-8, and Utah State,
20-13. The 1960 club posted a perfect 11-0 mark and won the Border
Conference Championship, the Aggies' first in 22 years. A key to the
league title was a 27-24 win over Arizona State at the Sun Devils'
homecoming. ASU lead 24-20 and was driving for a clinching score when
Sepkowitz forced and recovered a fumble on the goal line. NMSU then
drove for the gamewinning touchdown. Sepkowitz accepted a position as a
biology teacher and assistant football coach in 1965 at Andress High
School in El Paso, Texas. In 1976, he took over as head coach and went
on to become the winningest coach in El Paso high school football
history. From 1987-1992, Andress won an El Paso record 45 consecutive
games against local teams. Sepkowitz graduated from NMSU in 1961 with a
degree in biology. He and his wife, June, have four children, Chad,
Mike, David and Holly.
Aggies & Roadrunners
These days, when people think of "Aggies" they think of New Mexico State
University athletics. Historically, we're called Aggies because NMSU
started out primarily as an agricultural school. We first opened our
doors in 1888 and were long known as the New Mexico College of
Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. Now New Mexico State is a major
university, offering undergraduate and graduate programs and conducting
important research in a wide range of fields. But for many years, NMSU
was one of the few schools in the country that had separate nicknames
for its men�s and women�s teams. Men�s teams were known as the Aggies
while the women�s teams were known as the Roadrunners. When the women�s
program first began at NMSU, it was a separate entity from the men�s
athletic department, and thus, decided on a different mascot. When the
two departments merged in the 1970s, Roadrunners was kept as the women�s
nickname. Today, all NCAA athletic teams at NMSU are proudly called "Aggies."
Pistol Pete
New Mexico State�s mascot, known as Pistol Pete, roams the sidelines at
Aggie games. But the name Pistol Pete comes from a real western gunman
in the late 1800�s named Frank Eaton. As a child, Eaton�s father was
killed by the four Campsey brothers and the two Ferber brothers, all
members of the Regulators. By the age of 15, Eaton had become a
quickdraw and a marksman, but went to Fort Gibson, a cavalry fort in the
northeast part of Indian Territory, to improve his shooting skills. It
was at the fort where he gained the nickname Pistol Pete. In a fair
gunfight in 1881 in Albuquerque, Pistol Pete killed the last of the six
men responsible for his father�s murder.
Victory Bell
In the 1940s, the Victory Bell, a gift of the Class of 1939, was housed
in an open-sided structure on the Horseshoe and rung to announce Aggie
victories. In 1972, the bell was rededicated as the NMSU Engineer's Bell
and now sits on a platform near Goddard Hall. On game days, various
school organizations take turns in toting the ringing bell around Las
Cruces prior to kick-off. The Bell is then taken to Aggie Memorial
Stadium where it salutes Aggie touchdowns with its distinctive - and
loud - chimes.
Fight Song
�Aggies, Oh Aggies
The hills send back the cry
We�re here to do or die
Aggies, Oh Aggies
We�ll win this game or know the reason why
And when we win this game
We�ll buy a keg of booze
And we�ll drink to the Aggies
�Til we wobble in our shoes
A-G-G-I-E-S
Aggies, Aggies, go Aggies
Aggies, Oh Aggies
The hills send back the cry
We�re here to do or die
Aggies, Oh Aggies
We�ll win this game or know the reason why�
"A" Tradition
In 1920, students of then New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic
Arts scouted for an appropriate place to display their school letter.
Tortugas Mountain, located three miles east of campus, seemed a natural
spot. Brave males gathered enough stones to form a big "A" easily
visible from campus and the surrounding area. On the following day,
April 1, students trudged up the mountain side with their five-gallon
cans of whitewash and splashed it on the stones, turning them into a
gleaming white "A".
For many years, giving the "A" its annual fresh coat of whitewash was an
all school effort. The seniors mixed lime and water at the foot of the
mountain � freshmen and sophomores toted the mixture up to the juniors
who splashed it on the "A." With the growth of the university through
the years, the tradition was taken over by the Greek Council.
The Logo
Previously, New Mexico State�s men�s athletics logo has been a
caricature of Pistol Pete, while the women�s teams have used a
Roadrunner. Recently, NMSU introduced an androgynous logo that
represents both the men�s and women�s programs.
Conference Affiliation
New Mexico State is currently in the Sun Belt Conference. Throughout the
school�s athletic history, New Mexico State has been a member of the
Border Conference, the Missouri Valley Conference and the Big West
Conference.
Smoki the Wonder Dog
At every Aggie home football game, fans are treated to a showing by
�Smoki the Wonder Dog.� Smoki takes the field to retrieve the kicking
tee following each NMSU kickoff.
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