In kicking off the Rio Grande Rivalry, the ROTC units from the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University will hand deliver the game ball on Saturday, Sept. 8. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m., and the ball will be making its way all the way from Las Cruces, N.M.

The ball will be presented to the New Mexico State ROTC by Aggies head coach Hal Mumme in Las Cruces on Wednesday, Sept. 5. Members of the Aggie Battalion will carry the ball up I-25 where it will be relayed to the University of New Mexico ROTC at the Veterans Memorial in Truth or Consequences on Thursday, Sept. 6th, for a ceremonial hand-off. NMSU ROTC will then carry the ball another 35 miles before handing the ball off officially to the UNM ROTC. The UNM ROTC will carry the ball the remaining distance to Albuquerque where it will arrive at University Stadium prior to kickoff. The 225 mile run is expected to take each ROTC unit about 20 hours apiece.

“This is a great event and myself and the Aggie football team are proud to be a part of this event,” Mumme said. “I wish the members of both ROTC battalions good luck on their run up I-25.”