In the wake of Tuesday's terrorist attacks on the East Coast and the cancellation of many sporting events nationwide, Saturday's football game between UNM and New Mexico State University has been postponed until Nov. 24.
The decision ended discussion about whether the contest would go on in the shadow of the tragedy, as many other universities and colleges wrestled with the same issue.
The commissioners of the 10 major Division-I conferences met Wednesday and discussed postponing all of this weekend's games, but they were divided over the issue. The Atlantic Coast, Pac-10 and Big East conferences all voted to not play this weekend. The other seven conferences, including the Mountain West, voted to play, but left the final decision to the schools. Thursday all the conferences decided to postpone their games, leaving no Division I football games to be played this weekend.
At about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, the UNM Athletics Department announced that the game would be played at the later date.
"The events of the past few days have affected a lot of people," Athletics Director Rudy Davalos said in a press release. "We just believe it would be in the best interests of the institutions, student-athletes and fans that we move the football game to a different date."
UNM football coach Rocky Long said watching television coverage of the terrorist attacks had left him with a "sick feeling."
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"We were comfortable with either decision to play or not play, but I think this is the right one," Long said. "Playing the game probably would have been tough on all involved. It's just a game."
UNM will continue what is now a four-game road trip Sept. 22 against Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
The Lobos next home game will be Oct. 13 versus Brigham Young University.
Staff and Wire Report
