Even in a rivalry between two schools that has brewed for 114 years, new traditions between UNM and NMSU continue to surface.
In its second year, the Rio Grande Rivalry Football Run is getting more attention.
This year, the UNM and NMSU ROTC cadets are running Saturday's game ball from UNM's practice field to Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces.
Lt. Col. Erik Sevigny of the UNM Army ROTC came up with the idea for the run last year, prior to the Aggies' visit to Albuquerque.
Members of UNM's Army ROTC have already started the arduous trek from Albuquerque down south.
The run is made up of eight groups of five or six runners from each school. This year's run began with UNM head coach Rocky Long handing the ball off to UNM head Army cadet Luis Sanchez on Wednesday.
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"It is a big honor," Sanchez said. "I am honored to be here today, (to) show our spirit for the big football game and hopefully go down there and beat State."
The UNM Army ROTC ran the ball down to mile marker 120 in Truth or Consequences at the Veterans Memorial Park.
Both schools had a commemorative ball handoff Thursday. The remaining 110-mile run is now up to NMSU's ROTC.
Long said the run should help spawn more traditions.
"I think the Rio Grande Rivalry is a good idea," he said. "The traditions will expand, build throughout the years and become more important. The proper place to start the Rio Grande Rivalry this year was right here at the UNM Practice Field."
