As Las Cruces plans Aggie celebration, program capitalizes on success

Ahead of an Aggie celebration in mid-January, athletic director Mario Moccia told ABC-7 that the program will capitalize on the success from December’s historic bowl win.

“If you don’t strike now while the iron’s hot, you may lose it,” Moccia said. “So, we’re going full speed ahead on season tickets, on donors and everything in between and recognitions for the team.”

The Aggie celebration will be at noon on Saturday, January 20th, at the Plaza de Las Cruces, according to the city’s economic development director.

“We’ll have an opportunity to mingle with fans, and show the trophy, and it will be great just to be visible in front of the town,” Moccia said.

The athletic director told ABC-7 that New Mexico state’s historic bowl win will surely attract more attention to the program.

“I mean, you’ve got an unbelievably nationally compelling story about a team that doesn’t have all the resources, but manages to win seven games (and) win a bowl game on national TV in dramatic fashion.,” Moccia said. “I think we have a compelling story to tell, as well as some data to back it up, with, ‘Hey, this is how many fans we can bring to our events.'”

Moccia said a total of 20 to 25,000 Aggie fans colored the Arizona Bowl in crimson and white.

“I was blown away by the response – I really thought we were going to have ten and twelve thousand Aggies there,” Moccia said. “Those stands were packed and full.”

He said the team will also be recognized on January 20th during halftime of the men’s basketball game against Utah Valley.

“We want to milk this for all it’s worth,” Moccia said. “We also want to try to keep it going as best as we can and support our coaches and our programs.”