Aggie Badge Bowl brings community and law enforcement together
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The NM State football team and local law enforcement agencies partnered together for the Aggie Badge Bowl onFridayNight in Aggie Memorial Stadium. Donations at the flag football game exceeded $4,300 and will go to the Officer Jose Ismael Chavez Memorial Fund.
During the event, NM State recognized Officer Chavez and his family, family members of law enforcement officers, and former NM State quarterback Andrew Allen’s father. Allen’s father was killed in the line of duty last November.
In addition to student-athletes from the NM State football team, members of the Las Cruces Police Department, the New Mexico State University Police Department, the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Department, the Mesilla Marshal’s Department, the Dona Ana County Fire Department and the Dona Ana County Detention Center participated in the flag football game.
“[The Aggie Badge Bowl] is important because it ties into the community,” said Correctional Officer, James Provencio from Dona Ana County Detention Center. “We get to connect with the community and we get to understand them, and they get to see who we are. We are not just people who flex a badge. We’re human. These events help us get to know each other a lot better. When the community comes to support us, we feel like they’ve got our backs.”
“I had a lot of fun out here,” said NM State freshman quarterback Dominic Johnson. “It was a great experience. I’m glad NM State football could be part of such a special occasion. If it wasn’t for [law enforcement], our safety would be in jeopardy. They make a lot of sacrifices and help our community tremendously.”
The teams were made up of a combination of law enforcement and Aggie football players. The Crimson team captured a 52-31 victory in the seven vs. seven contest.
For more photos of the event, follow the football team on Twitter @nmstatefootball.
The Aggies kick off the 2016 season on Sept. 3 as they travel 45 minutes south to take on Battle of I-10 rival UTEP in El Paso, Texas. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
