Calling All Aggies

Written By Steve Macy, NMSU Associate Athletic Director

When we announced the Aggie Economic Relief Plan, there were some who were quite curious. For us in the marketing world, it is pure fun. For the past few months, we have been inundated with woeful economic news. It has been hard to watch. Our thought was to offer our very own economic relief plan.

Times are tough for many. The dollar is stretched thin and thoughts of entertaining an entire family or a group of friends are requiring a lot more thought. With our $2 ticket and concession special, we want to say thanks to the Las Cruces community by giving it a little relief. Two bucks is all it takes to get in the gates. Couple it with the game being on the 22nd at 2PM and two dollars made all the sense in the world at this time for this community.

Written By Steve Macy, NMSU Associate Athletic Director

November is a crazy month for the NMSU marketing staff, with four major sports all rolling at the same time. Choosing marketing priorities is difficult, at best.

But, this week, we have some great events.

Written By: By Steve Macy, NMSU Associate Athletic Director

In the marketing of a major sports program, my job is to sell tickets and raise revenues. It is that simple. How I do it is what gets most of the attention, but the job really is simple to explain. The game this Saturday though, is very different. I get to promote something that is close and true to my heart. I get to promote something that I believe in from a personal standpoint. The fact that it is also part of my job makes it all the more fulfilling.

The football game against Hawaii on Saturday at 2PM will be very special to the entire region as we pay tribute to the brave men and women that serve and have served our country.  Highlighting the halftime festivities will be a Community Covenant signing between the regional military installations, the City of Las Cruces, and New Mexico State University.  This historic event will take place during halftime and will signify a dedicated covenant to work together as one community.

Written By: Steve Macy, NMSU Associate Athletic Director

Losing hurts. Losing a game you think you should win hurts even more. As we are trying to build a successful athletic department, the on-field success is a great barometer. But, in sports, things happen and then you move in preparation for the next event. In football, it is the next game, or the next season.

Be frustrated; be upset; but, be a fan. That means you get ready for the next game. It also means that you look to the next game as an opportunity. What greater stage than to have an opportunity to do something great against the highest-ranked opponent to ever play at Aggie Memorial Stadium in front of a homecoming crowd?

Here are 10 reasons to go to the game on Saturday:

Written By: Steve Macy, NMSU Associate Athletic Director

I am still flying high over the results from this past weekend. One of the greatest things about being on a college campus versus being in a conference office is that you really care about the results on the playing surfaces. Winning gives you an extra bounce in your step. I have some serious "hops" this week!

This week is a very special week, indeed. It is Tough Enough to Wear Pink week and unless your head is buried in the sand, you have been inundated with information on this important week. Breast cancer touches everyone. Whether you or your family has lost a loved one, or you know someone that has battled this terrible disease, breast cancer is very real. Through a collaborative community effort, a college football game is all about finding a cure and raising money for cancer research. In addition, the two home volleyball games will also feature the Tough Enough to Wear Pink theme.

Written By: Steve Macy, NMSU Associate Athletic Director

What a great weekend for Aggie athletics. OK, that is a HUGE understatement, but it is hard to find the right words to describe it. Signature program wins for both football and volleyball in the same weekend…. how do you capture that in words? Awesome? Fantastic? Amazing? Incredible? How about, “we are on the way.”

For many months, the NMSU athletic department has talked about the investments made to improve the program. Unfortunately, those improvements in terms of investment do not have overnight effects. Today, as we look at the football win at Nevada and the volleyball sweep (SWEEP!!) at #7 Hawaii, we look at each of the wins as program changing events. Each opens up the doors of possibilities. Each allows us to see the fruits of the investment labors. Each allows us to see the future as a very bright place, full of success and rewards.

Written By: Steve Macy, NMSU Associate Athletics Director

What a great environment we had Saturday night. That is exactly the kind of atmosphere we have been building over the past few years. Thank you for being part of the night.

The cow bells worked. The cheering was loud and consistent. Quite frankly, you the fans were awesome!!

I know you share my disappointment with the loss Saturday night, but I also hope you share my continued enthusiasm for the rest of the year. We are in a marathon… not a sprint. While we always want to win the sprints, our ultimate goal is a bowl game and that one game will not make or break that goal.

Written By: Steve Macy, NMSU Associate A.D.

Yes, you might be thinking that I am talking only football here, but Saturday, September 27th is rivalry day for the Aggies. First our fine volleyball team takes on its nemesis from the Islands, #7 Hawaii at 3 P.M. at the Pan Am. Then, the NMSU football squad welcomes the Lobos at 6 P.M. at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

Fans have a tough choice…. Tailgate or go see the volleyball team against a Top 10 opponent. We are sweetening the pot a bit to encourage you to attend the volleyball match by making tickets just $1 if you show your football ticket. As always, kids 12 and under are free to all home volleyball matches. Yes, the schedule of our biggest home football and volleyball games on the same day stinks, but we cannot control that. We still ask that you give up a little bit of your tailgate time to come and support the volleyball team….they will need all the rowdy fans they can get.

Written By: Steve Macy, NMSU Associate Athletics Director

There is way too much talk about must-win games this week in both El Paso and Las Cruces. I have never have been a fan of that kind of talk, because it is silly to have any time before the latter part of the season. Either team could get on a roll after a loss or hit the skids after a win. It is way too early to worrying that a single game will make or break the whole season. But, this game is huge.

It is not huge because it must be won, but it is huge because it is a rivalry game. It is OK to root against the Miners and hope that we blow them out of the water. Personally, I have no love lost for UTEP. They elected to leave the WAC citing hurt feelings over infrequent visits to their campus and a desire to have more frequent contacts with their in-state brethren.

Written By: Steve Macy, NMSU Associate Athletics Director

Having spent over 13 years in the WAC office, seeing the long road for an extension with ESPN come to a close with today’s announcement was personally gratifying. As a member of the NMSU staff, this deal is very good for the Aggies.

Not only will the money be increased significantly, but the number of appearances on the ESPN networks will make NMSU athletics even more widely distributed. The timing for the Aggies is fantastic.

There has been significant investment in the athletic department and that investment is paying off. Men’s basketball is coming off of back-to-back championships; the women’s basketball team continues to play in the upper half of the league; the volleyball program is approaching national elite status; the football program is poised for an historic season; and our Olympic sports programs are all contributing at high levels.