Good news for Aggie football

In the wake of DeWayne Walker announcing that he will be back with the Aggie football team in 2010, I can't help but be happy.

Even if coach Walker did get an offer from the Seahawks and left, I wouldn't have had a hard time with it. Would it have been bad for Aggie football? I think so. But, and I've said it before, an NFL defensive coordinator job is a once-in-a-lifetime deal. And who knows where it would have led after that? If Walker did a standout job, he may have moved up the football ladder even further.

But that's neither here nor there. Walker will be back in 2010 and it will be a score for Aggie football. It looks like the Aggies will have a strong recruiting class coming in on Feb. 3. Walker staying ensures that the players will be here too and will buy into the program from the get-go.

Will he leave eventually? Most likely. But the hope is that he'll build the program to the point where he can take off. If the Aggies get to a bowl game and he leaves after that? Hey, he accomplished something that hasn't been done in a long time. He deserves to be rewarded for his efforts.

But lets just focus on the present day. He's here and the Aggie program will have a legitimate shot at growth. I'll make the argument that the recent reports with him and the NFL will help the program bring in better players. The perception out there is that coach has strong ties to the NFL level. And athletes follow that. It makes NMSU an attractive place to play football if the coach can make you a better player and possibly get you to the next level.

There will be renewed excitement in the program going into the 2010 season. I still think this team has a ways to go. But the optimism will continue to grow. Hey, it got me excited for the season. Spring ball is right around the corner.