June 25, 2008
The University of New Mexico captured the inaugural Rio Grande Rivalry presented by Route 66 Casino Hotel. The presentation of the trophy was made official Wednesday night at Route 66 Casino Hotel when UNM Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs accepted the trophy from Jerry Smith, President of Laguna Development Corp. More than 50 UNM coaches and staff were on hand for the reception.
The Rio Grande Rivalry made its debut a year ago. It is a competition between University of New Mexico and New Mexico State athletic teams with points being awarded to the winner of head-to-head competitions during an academic year.
The Lobos won the inaugural award by outscoring the Aggies 16.25 to 6.75. UNM claimed wins in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s track and field, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, baseball and softball.
The athletics rivalry between UNM and NMSU dates back more than a century. The first competition between the two institutions was a football game in Albuquerque on Jan. 1, 1894. That was 18 years before the territory of New Mexico was granted statehood in 1912. The first men’s basketball game was played Dec. 22, 1904, in Las Cruces.