The Texas Longhorns are 4-0 all-time vs. the New Mexico State Aggies and unless hell freezes over, Texas fans should expect that record to increase to 5-0 after next Saturday’s meeting in Austin. Global warming made its way toward the capitol city a few years ago but it looks like it is almost gone. For this game it will be nonexistent. Al Gore just lost a million bucks….
Let’s take a trip back in time to look at the how things shook out when the ‘Horns and Aggies faced off on the gridiron in years past.
09/07/1996 – DKR Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX
TEXAS – 41, NEW MEXICO STATE – 7
Remember the good old days when you could order a Longhorn football game via Pay Per View? Well, this was one of those times. After romping Missouri 41-10 in the season opener, the Longhorns hosted New Mexico State and made sure they left Austin with bad memories. Head Coach John Mackovic would let James Brown and Ricky Williams do most of the damage to the Aggie defense and Texas would beat New Mexico State 41-7. Hell, Richard Walton even saw some mop-up time in this one, throwing for 126 yards. On the receiving side for the Longhorns, Tight End Pat Fitzgerald led the team in receiving with 93 yards. Yes, Texas did once have Tight ends that were a force. Fitzgerald was one of them.
How the season would end:Â Texas finished 8-5, winning the inaugural Big 12 Championship game against Nebraska and losing 38-15 to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl.
09/05/1998 – DKR Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX
TEXAS – 66, NEW MEXICO STATE – 36
Hello Pay-Per-View Again. And hello Mack Brown in his first year as head coach. This game was nothing short of the Ricky Williams show. The senior would gouge New Mexico State for 215 yards on the ground resulting in a whopping 6 touchdowns. Starting quarterback Richard Walton threw for 282 yards and a touchdown and the Longhorns won big in Austin, 66-36. Wane McGarity led the team in receiving with 117 yards on 6 catches.
How the season would end: Texas finished 9-3, winning the Big 12 South and beat 25th ranked Mississippi State in the Cotton Bowl. Ricky Williams would win the Heisman and every other award college football offered before wearing a wedding dress after being drafted 5th overall in the NFL draft by Mike Ditka and the Saints.
Season Notable: Major Applewhite would start his first game for the Longhorns 2 games later against Kansas State and would lose to the Wildcats 48-7.
09/01/2001 – DKR Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX
TEXAS – 41, NEW MEXICO STATE – 7
Thank God for Fox Sports Net – a bunch of Texas fans just saved $39.99. Chris Simms retained the starting quarterback position for the Longhorns in the ’01 season and threw for two touchdowns and 182 yards against the Aggies. Cedric Benson led the Longhorns in rushing with 66 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns. Roy Williams grabbed 5 passes for 70 yards and the ‘Horns would cruise to a 41-7 victory over New Mexico State.
How the season would end:Â Texas finished 11-2, tied for first place the Big 12 South and beat Washington 47-43 in the Holiday Bowl behind the gritty play of quarterback Major Applewhite.
Season Notable: Chris Simms would infamously get “manhandled over the top†by Roy Williams in the Cotton Bowl and be pulled many games later in the Big 12 Championship against Colorado. Senior quarterback Major Applewhite would end his career at Texas with a win against the Huskies in the Holiday Bowl.
08/31/2003 – DKR Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX
TEXAS – 66, NEW MEXICO STATE – 7
Fox Sports Net came through again! Mack Brown would notch his 50th win as head coach of the Longhorns on this night and after a slow start by both teams, the Longhorns would gas it up. The ‘Horns would put up 31 points in the 2nd quarter, including a 97-yard kickoff return by Selvin Young. Texas quarterback Chance Mock would zing it for 156 yard and two touchdowns and Vince Young would lead the Longhorns in rushing with 61 yards on 5 rushes. Roy Williams led Texas in receiving with 104 yards on 4 catches and two touchdowns.
How the season would end: Texas finished 10-3, finishing second in the Big 12 South. The Longhorns would lose to Washington State 28-20 in the Holiday Bowl.
What we can deduce from an historical perspective of playing New Mexico State?
For the most part nothing, as far as the current state of football affairs is concerned. But there is an “Aggie†correlation. Every year in which the Longhorns beat New Mexico State they beat Texas A&M.   They also beat Oklahoma State and Baylor.
Additionally we know:
- Pay-per-view RULES. It’s old school but capitalistic and non-discriminatory
- Texas will never play a football game in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
- New Mexico State averages 14.25 points per games against Texas in 4 games. Conversely, Texas is averaging 53.5 points per game against the Aggies in the same 4 games.
- Texas likes 41 and 66, New Mexico State likes 7.  The ‘Horns scored 41 points against the Aggies in 1996 and 2001, and 66 points against them in 1998 and 2003. New Mexico State has hung a 7-spot on Texas 3 times (1996, 2001 & 2003).
- The WAC still exists. New Mexico State proves this.
It’s coming folks, it’s coming.
08/31/2013.
Hook’Em.
