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The 25-foot tall Aggie Cowboy effigy burns at the 2018 Red Rally on Johnson Field on Sept. 13, 2018.  

The 25-foot tall Aggie Cowboy effigy burns at the 2018 Red Rally on Johnson Field on Sept. 13, 2018.  

UNM students get ready for rivalry game at Red Rally

Students at the University of New Mexico did not start the fire.

Red Rally, UNM’s 15-year tradition of burning an effigy of New Mexico State University’s Pistol Pete mascot days before the UNM-NMSU football game, continued to burn bright on Thursday.

Crowds of students covered Johnson Field just to watch the pinata-like effigy go up in flames.

Langston Murray, defensive tackle for UNM and a red shirt freshman majoring in communications, has been playing football as a Lobo for the past two years. He said he appreciates Red Rally.

“It definitely gets us excited for the game and to see our fans support us like this and see us play — we definitely want to give them a win,” Murray said.

For the past two years UNM has lost the highly contested rivalry game against the Aggies — 31-32 in 2016 and 28-30 in 2017.

“There’s a lot of animosity,” Murray said. “We lost the last two years, so we definitely have a bad taste in our mouth and we’re looking to get out there and give it all we got.”

Red Rally was spearheaded in part by the Associated Students of UNM Lobo Spirit. Adam Biederwolf, the executive director for Lobo Spirit, said it takes upwards of four weeks to create the 25-foot Aggie.

The figure is made from chicken wire and old newspaper. Volunteers from the Sigma Chi fraternity, ASUNM and independent students helped create Pistol Pete.

“It’s important because Red Rally is all about the state game — it’s all about the rivalry, but to me, personally, I love Red Rally because it brings everybody together,” Biederwolf said. “It brings students of all backgrounds together and we all celebrate one tradition.”

Each year the pep rally has live music and a chance for students to interact with the University President, ASUNM leaders, the football and spirit teams. This year the University hired Disc Jockey Hazlo for music.

This year’s Red Rally was a first for many students, and the first for UNM President Garnett Stokes.

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“To think about how much time goes into building (Pistol Pete) is a wonderful thing,” Stokes said.

Coming from the University of Missouri before serving at UNM, Stokes said this is a wonderful tradition.

“I think it brings (people) together; I think it makes people feel like they are really a part of something special — so to me, this kind of activity is really important. It’s a part of bonding, being a part of UNM — being a Lobo,” Stokes said before lighting the Aggie.

The crowd of students turned to the Aggie as embers spiraled in the sky, their faces reflecting the amber flames.

“It’s hot,” muttered one attendee in the crowd. As flames consumed the effigy, the heat from the bonfire could be felt more than 120 feet away. Students danced and cheered as Pistol Pete was burned to his chicken wire frame.

Trenton Del Ferraro, a freshman majoring in biology, is originally from Las Cruces. He said events like this are important for bringing the school together for a common goal.

“We’re going to beat the Aggies, so it works out,” Del Ferraro said.

Noah Vigil, a freshman majoring in computer science, also from Las Cruces, said he expected Red Rally to be like a giant party.

“You get to enjoy yourself and be with your friends,” Vigil said.

Anthony Jackson is a freelance reporter with the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @TonyAnjackson.

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