NMSU got kicked out of the Sun Belt. Will the Aggies have something to prove?

They are no longer a member of the Sun Belt Conference, but the New Mexico State Aggies might have the league on their minds as they face Louisiana.

The Ragin' Cajuns host the Aggies for homecoming at 4 p.m. Saturday at Cajun Field — and for the first time in five years the meeting won't have an impact on the Sun Belt standings. NMSU, after a four-year run in its second stint in the Sun Belt, had its football-only membership terminated by a conference vote two seasons ago and played its final Sun Belt campaign last fall.

Advocate
Dan McDonald

I went to NMSU last time we played them. It's a great trip. I love the El Paso area. It's too bad we couldn't get them as a full conference member along with UTEP. Both schools would add so much value to basketball.

I understood the Idaho deficiencies and travel hurdles but NMSU seemed like a good fit for the western side of the conference.

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Originally Posted by Turbine

I understood the Idaho deficiencies and travel hurdles but NMSU seemed like a good fit for the western side of the conference.

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Really? Lafayette is closer to Statesboro, GA than Las Cruces, NM.

It’s still a 9+ hour trip from San Marcos to Las Cruces.

Yea, 2 hour bus ride after a flight to el paso, no thanks

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Originally Posted by GeauxCajuns

Yea, 2 hour bus ride after a flight to el paso, no thanks

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Nah. It was less than an hour to Las Cruces

My dad and I drove there for the game in 2014. We left Thursday at lunch drove to San Antonio. Woke up and played la cantera, then drove Friday afternoon to las cruces. Got there around 10pm. Played red hawk in las cruces Saturday morning, the best visual golf course I’ve played. Then drank a few at a local bar and grill. Watched the Cajuns win 44-16. We were so fired up after we drove back about 4 hours. Then drove about another 12 home on Sunday. We decided to go on Wednesday night at about 10pm. Great trip. Dad got remarried soon after, needless to say that was our last crazy bro trip. We had a few but that was the craziest.

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Originally Posted by GeauxLouisiana

Really? Lafayette is closer to Statesboro, GA than Las Cruces, NM.

It’s still a 9+ hour trip from San Marcos to Las Cruces.

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And yet does anyone drive to either? I drove to Savannah last year and passed the exit to Statesboro off the interstate, which I think was about 27 miles from campus. I have no interest ever driving that distance for any sport, nor to Las Cruces. Both are fly trips for athletics and for fans.

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Originally Posted by CajunT

And yet does anyone drive to either? I drove to Savannah last year and passed the exit to Statesboro off the interstate, which I think was about 27 miles from campus. I have no interest ever driving that distance for any sport, nor to Las Cruces. Both are fly trips for athletics and for fans.

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Guess you don’t like golf. Haha

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Originally Posted by Jacob81

Guess you don't like golf. Haha

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Not my sport, but I wouldn't drive to see a major across country either. I've been to the New Orleans Classic several times and Houston for major events. If I was lucky enough to have tickets to the Masters, I would fly.

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Originally Posted by CajunT

And yet does anyone drive to either? I drove to Savannah last year and passed the exit to Statesboro off the interstate, which I think was about 27 miles from campus. I have no interest ever driving that distance for any sport, nor to Las Cruces. Both are fly trips for athletics and for fans.

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Exactly my point. Turbine wants to think that NMSU is a good fit for western SBC schools. It’s not.

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Originally Posted by CajunT

Not my sport, but I wouldn't drive to see a major across country either. I've been to the New Orleans Classic several times and Houston for major events. If I was lucky enough to have tickets to the Masters, I would fly.

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My point was, we drove and were able to play a few rounds of golf, and saw some country I otherwise wouldn’t have. But honestly, I’d rather a 10 hour drive than the airport hassle.