It’s the 107th edition of the Battle of the Rio Grande between Albuquerque and Las Cruces. It’s literally north versus south here. It’s also man versus parking space. As Ron and I drove in, it was apparent all of the football and even Pan Am Center parking was taken. We were going to Schlotzsky’s anyway for dinner across the street and parked there. (We had the pretzel bread bacon cheese sandwich with the tomato/basil soup side. This combo has the same effect on everybody who has it: they want another. It’s awesome.)
Ron’s in his Aggie shirt. I’m in my crimson and camo with my Aggie t-shirt and a long-sleeve camo undershirt. Ron smuggled in a water bottle in his pants. It’s not that he’s against buying concessions, but he must have thought ahead about what the lines were going to be like. Speaking of that, yikes! I was planning on getting a slice of pizza from the tent at the entrance later. $4 a slice! Yeah, its Papa John’s, but still.
There are two Lobo tractor trailers prominently on display inside the stadium, one at the entrance. Greeters are handing out Aggie football cards of great former players at the gate. I always love the cards. I look for a program, but I don’t see anyone handing them out or selling them. Football programs aren’t all that useful, since you’re not keeping a scorecard, but it’s a keepsake. (Does anyone, other than the broadcasters, do such a thing?) There’s a drone flying over the stadium. The PA gives a five-minute explanation of the device, the upshot of which is: we’re not spying on you and don’t bring your own.
Our seats were on the south west side in the upper section. I have my mom’s old stadium seat and Ron brings his seat cushions, which I put on top of the seat. I’m sitting pretty for the whole game with a commanding view of the field. The temperature is in the 80’s with a light breeze. It’s all very comfortable.
There were a lot of people around. The official attendance was just under 18,000. People kept filing in in an endless stream during the first quarter. From our seats in the upper section, we could see huge numbers of people passing below us. We saw a few people from work and any number of pretty young women going by. This was a constant distraction from the game. If I wasn’t looking, Ron was. I’m not complaining, just stating. The hottest girl in the stadium (or at least the most exotic) walked by at the end of the first quarter. I spent the rest of the game looking for her.
Amazingly, the little girl from the softball game, who had the biggest cheer in the stadium, sat down in front of us after we got settled. Ron is thrilled, as he really got a kick out her. What were the odds of being randomly seated next to someone you know in a big stadium full of people? I saw the kid that was shagging balls at the Aggie baseball games on the concourse later, whom I’m still convinced I saw up in Denver at the baseball game there. Now that’s really long odds.
There were two sections of the Lobo fans in the north-east end of the stadium, with the Lobo band on their right. Next to the Lobo fans was a packed student section. They all appeared to be standing. In the front row was the usual group of shirt-less guys with letters painted on their chests. I think it said “Go Aggies.” Maybe. How embarrassing. You go to all the trouble of painting yourselves up and the people you’re facing can’t read it. On the students’ left was the Aggie Pride band and in front of them were the Sundancers. It might be worth getting deafened to sit in front of the band to watch the girls, but this isn’t an option for the fans. On our side of the stadium is the pressbox. Whoopee. I’m missing the Aggies’ large cheerleading squad. They’re on our side, but on the other end. It’s just not the same without human pyramids in front of us. I’m wishing for binoculars at this point.
The crowd stands as the PA asks for a moment of silence for 9/11, a Lobo player who recently died, and for Lori Paulsen, the Aggies’ honorary team captain who died last season. In a stadium full of people, it was literally quiet enough to hear the flags on the other side of the stadium flapping. The Aggie Pride band played the Star Spangled Banner. Afterward, with the music still playing, the PA read the preamble to the Constitution. The band then formed two, facing lines, and played the Aggie fight song, as the team charged out onto the field. The team went to the endzone and knelt in prayer. The Lobos came out afterward, lead by a player carrying the Zia, New Mexico’s state flag, with the Lobo band playing.
The Aggies’ new Underarmor uniforms rate a mention. They look about the same as before, but I’d say that’s a good thing. As long as they keep that crimson, black, and white color scheme, you really can’t go wrong. Ron and I both fiddled with our radios to get the game call. Ron discovered his main earplugs were missing and speculated that he lost them taking out his wallet, paying for his tickets. Thankfully, he had a backup pair. So, the familiar, pleasant voice of Las Cruces sports, Jack Nixon, joined us for the game. (Note that 99.5 FM’s Internet feed plays music, not the game.) Unlike the baseball posts, where I separate describing the experience and the game play, that isn’t going to work here. So, things will be mixed together here.
1st Quarter
The Lobos receive the opening kickoff. Striking the Wonder Dog retrieves the tee to a round of applause. (He’s going to get a workout today.) They march down the field, pretty much all rushing, and score a touchdown. 7-0 Lobos. The net behind the goal posts catches the ball on the PAT, so there’s one stadium improvement from last year.
The Aggies get the ball and move down the field, mostly in the air. They go for it and make it on a 4th and short on the Lobo 48. The Lobo band plays, for some reason, as the Aggies kick a field goal. 7-3 Lobos. With the ball back, the Lobos move downfield again. They face a 3rd and long at one point and make it, along with a roughing the passer penalty. The next play is a keeper for a touchdown. 14-3 Lobos. Over the Lobos fans’ section, a giant banner is unfurled. It takes some effort to read, but I finally figure it out: “Pistol Pete shot Hamrambi.” They’re referring to that gorilla that was shot at the zoo and the NMSU’s mascot. It’s taken down soon after.
With the ball returned, Aggie quarterback, Tyler Rogers, makes a big 20 yard rush on a broken play. I admit, he’s the only name I was catching during game and that’s only because it was getting called on every offensive play. Our star running back, Larry Rose, is out right now. He’s the only other name I know on the team. The first quarter ends.
The Aggie Women’s Basketball team is honored on the field as last season’s regular season champions. Later, the PA calls everyone’s attention to the south end of the stadium. There are some fans sitting on a couch behind the endzone. This is “The best seat in the house” promotion by a furniture company. I’m waiting for the “Be the Sundancers towel boy for a game” promotion. Speaking of promotion, the Las Cruces Comi-Con was this weekend. I was apparently the only one who didn’t know about it. There at Schlotsky’s there were some people in comic book themed attire, amongst the football fans. On field, the two main guests of the show were honored: an actor from the Walking Dead and the star of Starship Troopers. I’m not enticed to attend.
2nd Quarter
The Aggies are able to continue driving downfield, mostly on the strength of Roger’s legs, for another field goal. 14-6 Lobos. The Aggies are able to hold the Lobos on their possession and force a punt. There was an exceedingly strange play before the punt, where half the Lobo line didn’t move. The Aggies across from them didn’t either. It was like it was a blown dead play for just half the field. The other half of the line did move and the quarterback did a little shot-put to a receiver. The radio call gave no indication of how weird that play was.
I get a Pistol Pete sighting finally. He’s down below on the field getting the crowd into it. At about this time, the sun is starting to set. The windows on the luxury box across from us on top of the east (student) side of the stadium start reflecting blinding sunlight onto the other side of the stadium. This goes on for about 15 accursed minutes. Gosh darn that stupid bank that sponsored this ill-conceived promotion. Ooops. Wait. That’s me and Ron’s employer. Meanwhile, the other big bank in town was the primary sponsor of today’s game without blinding anybody.
The Aggie drive goes backwards on a sack and a penalty. They do get off a good punt that sets the Lobos well back. On their first play, the Aggies force a fumble. They takeover on the Lobo 20, though this does take a lengthy review. The Aggies have to settle for a field goal though. 14-9 Lobos.
The breeze is getting colder, but I’m not freezing, just wishing for a jacket. The radio calls my attention to a gentleman in a red hat standing on field at the 20 yard line. He’s the guy who tells the officials when the game is in or out of commercial. Nothing happens until he leaves the field. If you look carefully on the sidelines of an NFL game, there’s a guy wearing big orange oven mitts, who serves the same function. On the concourse, I have multiple sightings of Albuquerque Isotopes’ hats. No El Paso Chihuahuas though.
UNM gets the ball back. Late in the drive, the Lobo quarterback is shaken up on an option and taken out. There’s two timeouts, some unexplained dead time, and something like three penalties. I turn to Ron, “Yeah this is why I hate baseball. It’s so boring and nothing happens. It’s not like football where there’s constant excitement.” The crowd gets up four times to cheer on the defense, but it all ends on a Lobo field goal. 17-9 Lobos.
The Aggies get a good return on the kickoff. A deep shot downfield works and a penalty leads to a passing TD. That was a good two-minute drill. The PAT is missed however. As per last year, our kicker is inexplicably not good on these, but doesn’t have problems further out. 17-15 Lobos at the half.
Part 2
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