New Mexico State Football: News and Notes from Day One of Fall Camp

Fall training camp has begun for the New Mexico State Aggies, as they now only have 29 days to prepare for their first football game against Arizona State in Tempe, Arizona.

So with training camp underway and the season coming fast, I thought I’d update Aggie nation on what has been going on in and around the football program.

Rivalry Game Time Set

The 108th “Battle of I-25” has been given a game time of 6 p.m. MST on September 9, according to a news release from nmstatesports.com. The game pitting NMSU versus UNM will be played at Dreamstyle Stadium in Albuquerque, NM in 2017. The Lobos lead the series 70-32-5 but the Aggies took the victory last season winning 32-31 in Las Cruces.

It was the Aggies first win in the series since October 1, 2011. Look for New Mexico State to take the game this year as they return a lot of talent and are very experienced.

Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images

Alton Robinson

Alton Robinson, the Aggies big JUCO recruit who was originally committed to Texas A&M, did not report to fall camp and has decided to attend Oklahoma State to play football instead.

Robinson had played last year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and had received interest from Oklahoma State after last season, in addition to being recruited by the Cowboys out of high school.

As disappointing as it is to see a promising recruit decide against the Aggies, we wish him the best. With Robinson gone, his scholarship has now gone to Jalen Guerrero.

Shooting Death at NMSU Players’ Home

According to KVIA-ABC 7 in El Paso, a 14 year old girl was tragically shot in the back of the head in a drive by shooting while attending a party held at Lui Fa'amasino and Leon McQuaker’s home.

The players had nothing to do with the shooting and two suspects have already been arrested. However, the story does not look good for the players and is really sad.

According to the report, there were lots of minors at the party, a plethora of alcohol being served and a bouncer frisking people for weapons before they entered the party.

Coach Martin would not comment on the issue with the investigation ongoing but said that both players practiced.

Lui Fa’amasino is a middle linebacker from Wilmington, California and played for Los Angeles Harbor College Seahawks last season.

Leon McQuaker is a weak side linebacker from Thatcher, Arizona who played for the Eastern Arizona College Monsters (JUCO) last year and is a projected starter.

Aggie Extras

Redshirt sophomore receiver Royce Caldwell has been ruled ineligible to play this season due to academics but will be able to practice with the team, according to Coach Martin.

Caldwell has 11 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown before suffering a broken leg last season against Kentucky.