Friday, June 5, 2009

Money games; Polo Gutierrez

With the Aggies getting $925,000 for going to the University of Georgia, we take a look at money games.

I, for one, don't have a problem with it. I am not talking about the fact that a school can throw around hundreds of thousands of dollars during a time when many people are struggling to make ends meet. I do have a problem with that. I'm talking about NMSU playing in them. I don't have a problem with that.

First off, I think it's good for the Aggies to play the big schools because it puts them on the map. Some would say that it puts them out there, but not in a good way. They could lose by a ton. But they could be competitive as well. When they went to Auburn a few years ago, the team battled in the first half. The second half, things turned ugly. But there were factors surrounding that defeat.

I also like seeing how NMSU does against the nation's elite. Going to an SEC school, maybe the Aggies can battle. That says a lot about a team. Even if they're competitive, you know they're going to get some national attention. And at a school like NMSU, that's nothing to take for granted. Again, it's a two-way street. If they get pummeled, they will get attention also, just not the way one would hope.

It's also good, in my opinion, to have a variety of competition on your schedule. Just take a look at how things are shaping up for the Aggies. Go to San Diego State. That seems about even. Prairie View A&M. Favor the Aggies. New Mexico and UTEP. Just about a wash if you ask me, particularly with the new coaching situations at UNM and NMSU. And then at Ohio State. You get a little bit of everything. And I like a mix in that respect.

Overall, I don't have a problem with the money game. As long as it's a close one. That sure makes it a lot better to watch.

...

Congrats to Polo Gutierrez getting a tryout with the Buffalo Bills. It's tough not getting a change when you think you deserve at least a look. And Polo is now getting that look.

He's athletic for a lineman and might be able to stick. Polo's pretty versatile and Buffalo likes blue-collar, under-the-radar types. This is the change he's been waiting for.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The only problem I have is that the game is in Athens, Ga. How many Aggie fans are making that trip? Hell the only reason I'm going to Columbus is because that's my fiance's hometown, kind of a two birds one stone situation.

Aside from Austin the last two times they played there, the furthest I've ever traveled to see the football team play is Abq. I'm still hoping go to the SDSU game. I have no problem with the money game. But it would be nice to be able to go see the team too.

Just like when the hoops team opened at UCLA a few years ago, that was a nice trip.

Anonymous said...

I don't think any game 2,000 miles away is going to be good for any team's fans.

I like the fact that the Aggies take on opponents as a big underdog. In the unlikely event that they pull out a victory, automatic notoriety for them. If they lose as expected, so what. As long as there aren't any season-impacting injuries, the game is a good thing. And there is a big positive in the kind of experience the Aggies will get playing that caliber of team.

The best thing, though, is the payday. It would be nice if the athletic department did something about it being millions of dollars in the hole, especially now. We shouldn't be expecting the students of NMSU to be footing that bill in the form of higher tuition and fees.

Anonymous said...

FYI Athletics are not funded in any way by tuition.