Growel!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 31, 2003 -- The New Mexico State Aggies, picked to finish a strong second and very likely first in the Sun Belt, geared up to play against then-ranked #4 U. of Texas. In typical NMSU fashion, the Aggies were handed quite the loss, 66-7, giving UT its first win of the year.
October 4, 2003 -- Coming off a disappointing 24-17 loss to in-state rival New Mexico, the Aggies commenced Sun Belt conference play. Eager and ready to take the crown from perennial champion North Texas, the Aggies began the game well, leading 28-0 against U. of Idaho early in the third quarter. The tide quickly turned, however, as the Aggies gave up 28 unanswered points -- the last touchdown occurring with 14.9 seconds left on the clock -- allowing Idaho to triumph, 35-31. Incidentally, before the game, UI boasted a 0-5 record; the Aggies gave Idaho its first win of the year.
October 11, 2003 -- After a heartbreaking loss at home, the Aggies travelled to Murfreesboro, TN, for a heated contest with Sun Belt rival Middle Tennessee State University. MTSU, with a 0-5 record, looked pumped but easy to beat for the Aggies. However, turnovers plagued NMSU, and MTSU handed the Aggies a 35-18 beating. This gave MTSU its first win of the year.
October 16, 2003 -- The Aggies, now 1-5 overall (0-2 in SBC play), travelled to Lafayette, LA, to face perennial punching bag UL-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns. The Cajuns, with its 0-7 record, looked again to be an easy opponent for the Aggies. After taking the lead in the third quarter, the Aggies allowed the Cajuns to score 9 unanswered points, the final field goal coming with 8 seconds left on the clock -- a 26-24 win for ULL. This gave ULL *altogether now* its first win of the year.
Are we noticing a pattern here? This team was picked to win it all by many ESPN college football experts, and now the Aggies have eliminated themselves from contention. Every other team in the Sun Belt Conference has won a conference game. No other team in the whole of college football has given four different teams its first win on the year. Additionally, our only win has come against an NCAA Division II school, Western New Mexico University.
My question is, how can the Aggies blow games like these? Fatigue? Injuries? Bravado? Cockiness? Bad coaching? Weak leadership? There are a million possibilities, but they all add up to one thing: six losses and no chance for a bowl game.
Beyond all this, I'm still a diehard Aggie fan. I'll still go to the games. I'll still cheer and root. But I refuse to be surprised or shocked when (and yes, when) we lose another game.
At least the Aggies will not give another team its first win this year -- the rest of our opponents already have one. Or 4.
October 4, 2003 -- Coming off a disappointing 24-17 loss to in-state rival New Mexico, the Aggies commenced Sun Belt conference play. Eager and ready to take the crown from perennial champion North Texas, the Aggies began the game well, leading 28-0 against U. of Idaho early in the third quarter. The tide quickly turned, however, as the Aggies gave up 28 unanswered points -- the last touchdown occurring with 14.9 seconds left on the clock -- allowing Idaho to triumph, 35-31. Incidentally, before the game, UI boasted a 0-5 record; the Aggies gave Idaho its first win of the year.
October 11, 2003 -- After a heartbreaking loss at home, the Aggies travelled to Murfreesboro, TN, for a heated contest with Sun Belt rival Middle Tennessee State University. MTSU, with a 0-5 record, looked pumped but easy to beat for the Aggies. However, turnovers plagued NMSU, and MTSU handed the Aggies a 35-18 beating. This gave MTSU its first win of the year.
October 16, 2003 -- The Aggies, now 1-5 overall (0-2 in SBC play), travelled to Lafayette, LA, to face perennial punching bag UL-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns. The Cajuns, with its 0-7 record, looked again to be an easy opponent for the Aggies. After taking the lead in the third quarter, the Aggies allowed the Cajuns to score 9 unanswered points, the final field goal coming with 8 seconds left on the clock -- a 26-24 win for ULL. This gave ULL *altogether now* its first win of the year.
Are we noticing a pattern here? This team was picked to win it all by many ESPN college football experts, and now the Aggies have eliminated themselves from contention. Every other team in the Sun Belt Conference has won a conference game. No other team in the whole of college football has given four different teams its first win on the year. Additionally, our only win has come against an NCAA Division II school, Western New Mexico University.
My question is, how can the Aggies blow games like these? Fatigue? Injuries? Bravado? Cockiness? Bad coaching? Weak leadership? There are a million possibilities, but they all add up to one thing: six losses and no chance for a bowl game.
Beyond all this, I'm still a diehard Aggie fan. I'll still go to the games. I'll still cheer and root. But I refuse to be surprised or shocked when (and yes, when) we lose another game.
At least the Aggies will not give another team its first win this year -- the rest of our opponents already have one. Or 4.