New Mexico State Aggies football

The New Mexico State Aggies football team represents New Mexico State University in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football as a member of Conference USA. New Mexico State spent the 2013 season as an independent and from 2014 to 2017 as a football–only member of the Sun Belt Conference, New Mexico State began playing as an independent again with the 2018 football season. On November 5, 2021, New Mexico State announced it would be joining Conference USA in all sports including football starting in 2023. History Early history (1893–1957) One of New Mexico State's earliest football games was the first match-up against in-state rival New Mexico on January 1, 1894. From 1914 to 1916, Clarence Russell served as head football coach of the Aggies, compiling a 7–2–6 record. Dutch Bergman served as head coach from 1920 to 1922, compiling a record of 12–1–5. R. R. Brown served as the head football coach of the Aggies from 1923 to 1925. He led the 1923 team to an undefeated 9–0 record, including victories over Hardin–Simmons, and rival teams New Mexico, and UTEP. Jerry Hines began coaching the Aggies in 1929, and was also coach of the men's basketball team. Hines’ teams competed well in the new Border Conference. Between 1934 and 1938, the football record was 31–10–6, and the team was invited to the first Sun Bowl in 1936 where they tied the powerful Hardin–Simmons Cowboys 14–14. Hines's coaching career ended with his induction into military service during World War II. Julius Johnston took over the Aggies football team after Hines's resignation, and led the Aggies for three seasons before departing to serve in World War II. In his absence, assistant coach Maurice Moulder led the team. Johnston's record was 6–21. The Aggies did not field a football team from 1944 to 1945 because of the events surrounding World War II. From 1946 to 1947, Ray Curfman was the head coach of the Aggies, then in the Border Conference. Curfman's Aggies compiled an 8–11 record. He resigned in December 1947 to work in the sporting goods industry in Texas. From 1948 to 1957, NMSU compiled a dismal 21–74 record under four head coaches (Vaughn Corley, Joseph Coleman, James Patton and Anthony Cavallo) that were either fired or forced to resign in succession. Fan support and attendance declined, recruiting was becoming more difficult and alumni and administration support was drying up. This would be a sign of things to come for the Aggie football program.