OPINION: Building a championship future at NMSU — together

Aggie Nation,

We’re in a new era of college athletics filled with opportunities we’ve never had before. The Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) movement, which allows student-athletes to be compensated for their personal brand and partnership opportunities, has changed the game, and it’s up to us—players, coaches, fans, businesses, and New Mexicans alike—to embrace it. NIL is more than just a set of new rules. It’s a chance to take New Mexico State Athletics and our state to the next level. Communities that embrace NIL will compete for championships like we did a year ago; those that don’t will watch from the sidelines.

While athletic scholarships are often called “full rides,” they don’t cover the true cost of attending college. For the past decade, the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) has allowed universities to cover the full cost of attendance for student-athletes. Today, peer programs bridge this gap by providing additional financial support for their athletes. Unfortunately, N.M. State isn’t in a position to do the same. That’s where NIL comes in for us. Think of it as that extra support our Aggies need to compete on a genuinely “full-ride” scholarship — one that reflects the true cost of being a student-athlete.

But NIL is about more than financial support. It’s about partnerships. When local businesses team up with our athletes, they’re not just supporting NM State; they’re investing in their own growth and our economy. Our athletes are competitors, they’re also ambassadors who can bring energy, pride, and visibility to businesses across the state. Imagine an Aggie football player representing your company, connecting your brand to a loyal and passionate fanbase. That’s not charity—that’s good business.

Recently our friends at A-Mountain Sports NIL Collective installed new leadership by the addition of three Aggies in Jordan Banegas, and brothers Paul and Luke Smith. These three bring their skills and experience at the national level back home to New Mexico to lead our Aggies through this important time. I know them and I can tell you they are turning these NIL opportunities into real results.

At A-Mountain Sports, they’re building something that goes beyond the scoreboard. They’re helping my players develop life skills they’ll need long after they leave Aggie Memorial: financial literacy, character development, and professional growth. We are equipping the next generation of leaders while developing role models for young New Mexicans who so desperately need them.

I ran out of that locker room on Saturday afternoons wearing the crimson and white, I know what it means to be an Aggie. So do these guys at A-Mountain. They are from here and understand the pride, the grit, and the chip on the shoulder mentality that make this community special. That’s why I am asking you to get on board.

Whether you’re a fan, a business owner, or alum, you have a role to play in this journey. Chip in what you can, we need everyone on board, whether it’s $5.75 a month or much more, it all helps our players win.

We saw what can happen when this community all moves in the same direction. Just one short year ago, I was on the sidelines as we competed for a conference championship on national television. And you were there as we took over University Stadium in Albuquerque at the New Mexico Bowl. Let’s seize this opportunity. Let’s invest in our athletes, our university, our economy, and our community.

We’re not just playing to win more games—we’re building a legacy. Join us.

Go Aggies.

Tony Sanchez is the head football coach at New Mexico State University.