NMSU increasing security for rivalry game against UNM at Aggie Memorial Stadium
New Mexico State's football team runs out ahead of a game against Sam Houston State at Aggie Memorial Stadium on Oct. 10, 2023.
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New Mexico State is planning on increasing security ahead of Saturday’s New Mexico-New Mexico State game at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces.
NMSU Police Department interim Chief of Police Justin Dunivan told the Journal additional officers from the Las Cruces Police Department, Sunland Park Police Department, New Mexico State Police and UNM Police Department have been added to help staff what’s expected to be one of the most well-attended games of the year.
Surveillance for student sections and various tailgating areas will also be in place, while rival student sections will be more separated than they had been in the past. Dunivan said the security increase is similar to what NMSU did for a previous game against Liberty this season.
“There’s a lot of passions with (fans) and their teams,” Dunivan said on Thursday. “We just want to make sure everybody has a good time.”
Dunivan said visiting UNM fans are to enter through the stadium’s northwest gates while NMSU students and fans will enter through the northeast gates. NMSU’s regular clear bag policy will also be in place; Dunivan added that there will be no changes to the regular metal detector process.
The enhanced security stems from a brawl at the UNM-NMSU football game on Oct. 15, 2022 that led to former NMSU basketball player Mike Peake shooting and killing UNM student Brandon Travis in self-defense over a month later. Peake and Travis were among the groups fighting each other at the football game.
Ahead of last year’s UNM-NMSU game in Albuquerque, UNM increased security and staffing to help deter any similar fights.
“Just like with any rivalry game, we want to make sure everyone comes with a positive attitude and we respect one another,” Dunivan said.
