NM State Aggies vs FIU Panthers Football 10-1-22 Part 1

 So, we’re picking up where we left off.  Aggie Volleyball had suffered an embarrassing defeat this afternoon.  Ron and I were walking up from the Softball Complex where we didn’t watch the exhibition game.  I should mention that we were only going to this Aggie Football game because I’d noticed on Twitter there was a $10 deal on tickets.  They had to be purchased before game day.  Ron got them when he went to Friday’s Soccer match and wouldn’t let me pay him back today.  Thanks, Ron.  (I had to work that night and couldn’t take it off.)

 

We were passed on the quick hike by a short girl with big hair.  Oh, it’s Xitlaly Hernandez from the Soccer team.  She looked good in her little Daisy Duke cutoffs.  She was also on a mission, so I was reluctant to greet her.  When we passed by the concessions, I thought I saw former Volleyball player, Lindsay Blakey.  She still has some eligibility left.  Unfortunately, she’s not a setter.  I saw her again after the game.  I think she was waiting for her boyfriend on the team, punter Josh Carlson. 

 

We took our seats on the southwest end like in the previous two games (8-27-22 and 9-25-22).  Up on the videoboard, they were showing videos of all of the players introducing themselves.  The Cheerleaders were below us taking pictures of each other and playing with Wave the Wonder Dog.  Today was a band day.  There were 11 high school bands, some out-of-state, joining the Pride of New Mexico Band.  These bands filled in the east side of the stadium.  During the opening ceremony, Pistol Pete was still horseless coming out of the tunnel.  We’re going to have to fix this.  It was a decent crowd of over 10,400.  I don’t know how many came because of the ticket offer.  It wasn’t well advertised.  The Student Section looked about half full.

 

First Quarter

The Aggies won the toss and deferred.  (If I didn’t report on this, you’d wonder.)  Score one for the crowd and my new cowbell.  Florida International’s first play was a false start.  It’s hard to prepare for cowbells in practice.  The Aggie defense was stout with sacks on second and third down, which forced a punt.  Gavin Frakes started for the Aggies.  After getting a first down after a series of short gains, a dropped third down pass ended the drive.

 

Pistol Pete came up and worked the crowd.  He didn’t come by me.  I would have asked about the horse.  The Pride band mingled with the visiting bands to form one huge band in the stands.  They all played and cheered together.  FIU began their drive.  Aggie defender Lazarus Williams was knocked down on a play.  The trainers helped him back up.  Jack Nixon on the radio call reported, “Lazarus has risen.”  Ron and I both groaned.  The Panthers were moving at a very quick tempo that kept the Aggies off balance.  There was a big 32-yard run and then a short pass for a touchdown.  7-0 FIU.

 

It may not have been a full Student Section, but it looked like they were getting into it with FIU on the sidelines.  Given they’re located right behind them, I assume visiting teams are getting the business all game long, but I seldom see them giving it back.  Meanwhile, I was smelling pizza.  I’d seen the boxes being delivered from Papa John’s on our way in.  I’d already had a full meal beforehand, but this was inhumane.   

 

The Aggie offense sped up their tempo a bit.  Frakes found Bryce Childress on a 25-yard slant.  On a fourth-and-four on the FIU 33, Frakes connected with Eric Marsh to continue the drive. 

 

Second Quarter

There was this very tall beautiful girl on the sidelines in little mini-skirt with long brunette hair.  Her and her father (?) drifted around the team and she was a constant fan distraction.  I can only imagine what this was doing to the team.  I wonder if she has any eligibility.  Could she play volleyball?  Does she know how to set? 

 

Back to the Aggie drive, a Pass Interference by FIU in the endzone put the ball on the goal line.  From there, Star Thomas ran it in to tie the score 7-7.  The ROTC cannon fired once when the team rushed out on field, but didn’t fire here.  Ron said they were having more problems.  The cadets did pushups instead. 

 

There was an out-of-bounds kick that gave FIU the ball on their 35.  Again, the Panthers rushed and passed quickly and well.  On the last play of the drive, they completed a 25-yard swing pass with a broken tackle that resulted in a touchdown.  14-7 FIU.

 

The T-shirt Gatling cannon fired into the crowd in the break.  The Aggies came out in the Wildcat formation, which unfortunately led to a false start penalty.  They went three-and-out afterward.  The Sundancers performed in the north endzone. 

 

The Panther quarterback nearly fumbled on the first play of their drive.  The Aggie defense is still looking for a takeaway.  On third down, the cowbells came out and FIU called a timeout.  Syrus Dumas broke up a pass to bring up third down.  There was a late Aggie sub before the play, which went to the other side of the field.  There was a swing pass Lexington Joseph.  He turned on the jets and danced down the sideline for 60 yards into the endzone.  21-7 FIU.  That was the first real big play breakdown I’d seen by the Aggie defense.      

 

On the Aggie sideline, some IR players were dancing and singing to Wagon Wheel, the team’s unofficial theme song.  There’s a viral video of the team singing along with a lady on guitar.  The Aggies gained a first down on another Pass Interference penalty.  There was an open receiver downfield that was overthrown.  This was the second deep ball for nothing in the game.  The Aggies made a fourth-and-one on the 50.  Then there was another deep ball thrown into double coverage and broken up. 

 

The punt by Carlson was a bit of an adventure.  The snap was very low and he had to bend down to get it before punting.  FIU wanted a challenge that he’d touched his knee down before kicking.  Thankfully, he didn’t.  Nice job.  The Aggie defense held for a three-and-out.  Frakes was chased on first down trying to make a pass.  The player going after him ended up getting injured.  There was another dropped pass on third down and the Aggies had to punt.  FIU took a knee to end the half.

 

Halftime

Wave and his handler came up the stairs.  He was getting petted the whole way up.  I was blocked by the crowd.  The Cheerleaders came up and sold more cowbells.  The giant combined band performed and did well.  A giant moth attacked the crowd.  Then Godzilla showed up and ran her off.  Kids on the hill in front of the Fulton Center were having fun catching practice kicks.  As the team came back out, Pete was raised on an elevated platform to unveil the “More Cowbell” banner.  The crowd and myself responded.  Ron was annoyed.  Some people don’t like cowbells.     

On to Part Two.