Monday, June 13, 2011

The Countdown 2011: 82 Days to Go

2011 Opponent Profile: New Mexico State


School: New Mexico State University

Mascot: Aggies

Conference: WAC

Last Conference Championship: 1978 (Missouri Valley Conference)

Head Coach: DeWayne Walker (3rd season, 5-20 overall record)

DeWayne Walker became head coach at New Mexico State in 2009 after spending three years as defensive coordinator at UCLA (and as interim head coach in a loss to BYU in the 2007 Las Vegas Bowl). He has failed to have much success at New Mexico State, winning only a single conference game each of the last two years.

Rivals: New Mexico and UTEP

Last Season: 2-10 (1-7 in WAC)

Interesting Fact: "The Woodson Curse"

Future hall of famer Warren B. Woodson became coach of the Aggie program in 1958. His team won the 1959 Sun Bowl and went a perfect 11-0 during the 1960 season. After a few more successful seasons, the university administration invoked a clause which required state employees to retire at age 65. Woodson was turning 65 that year, and despite another winning season and a blow out over rival New Mexico (53-7) he was forced into retirement. In 40 years since Woodson's forced retirement, the Aggies have only had 4 winning seasons and have not returned to a post season bowl game.

New Mexico State travels to Athens to take on the Dawgs on November 5.

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