A Storied Emblem: Exploring the Evolution of the New Mexico State University Logo
New Mexico State University (NMSU), a public land-grant research university in University Park, New Mexico, has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1888. Originally established as Las Cruces College, it became the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1889, solidifying its identity as a land-grant institution. Over the years, NMSU has evolved, and its visual identity, particularly its logo, has reflected this transformation. This article delves into the history of the New Mexico State University logo, examining its various iterations and the stories behind them.
The Aggies: A Symbol of Athletic Prowess
The athletic teams representing New Mexico State University are known as the Aggies, a moniker derived from the university's agricultural roots and its status as a land-grant institution. NMSU's colors are crimson and white, and since 2023, the Aggies have competed in Conference USA in all men's and women's sports. The university maintains major rivalries with the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, called the "Rio Grande Rivalry," and with the University of Texas at El Paso, called "The Battle of I-10."
Prior to 2000, the women's intercollegiate athletic teams were known as the Roadrunners. By the late 1990s, sentiment began to grow for the university to adopt a single, uniform mascot for all its athletic teams, and during the 1999-2000 academic year, the school's female student athletes voted to adopt the "Aggies" moniker.
Early Logos: A Cowboy with Revolvers (1983-1995)
The 1983 New Mexico State Aggies logo featured a rugged cowboy character, epitomizing the spirit of the American West. This illustration was detailed with sharp lines, highlighting the cowboy’s intense expression and determination. He was depicted holding two revolvers, emphasizing readiness and resilience, essential traits for a competitive sports team. The cowboy’s attire was traditional, including a wide-brimmed hat, a bandana around his neck, and chaps, which were intricately detailed with spurs and stitching. The bold maroon color dominated the logo, symbolizing strength and passion, while the white accents provided a striking contrast, ensuring the image stood out. The cowboy’s mustache and stern look added to the persona of a tough, no-nonsense individual, perfectly embodying the spirit of the Aggies.
The Monogram Logo (1995-2005)
The New Mexico State Aggies badge used by the club for twenty years starting 1986, featuring a simple yet bright combination of two letters, “N” and “M”, placed above the white uppercase “State” in a bold sans serif, on a dark maroon background. The monogram had its letters black and white, with the “M” placed a bit lower than “N”, and overlapping it.
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The Lasso Larry Era (2005-2006)
The redesign of 2005 introduced a new logo concept - with the image of a cowboy placed above a two-leveled inscription. The upper level was taken by “Aggies” in a bold serif font, with all letters capitalized and the first one enlarged. The bottom “New Mexico State” level was set in smaller capitals, italicized on a thin black banner. The cowboy was wearing a burgundy shirt and hat, a white neckerchief, and had a black lasso spinning above his head.
In 2005, the university adopted the current state-shaped logo as its official identifier for then NMSU System with the purpose of unifying all of our campuses into a “one university” model. The current athletics logo was initially designed in 2005 as part of a plan to remake the university's image on the national stage; Pete's pistol was replaced with a lasso, and his name was briefly officially abbreviated to simply "Pete". In addition to the new logo, the costumed mascot seen at games was also given a new look, losing his six shooters and holster belt in favor of a lasso. The disarming of Pete led to a massive uproar among students, alumni and outsiders demanding the return of Pete's guns. The most popular nickname given to the widely unpopular new mascot was "Lasso Larry".
Return of Pistol Pete (2006-2016)
After one year the university changed the mascot in favor of a real student dressed in more traditional cowboy attire, carrying a holster belt and six shooters, and wearing nothing on his head but a black cowboy hat. The "Pistol Pete" name was also restored. The logo of the New Mexico State Aggies features a caricature of Old West gunfighter and lawman Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton. Interestingly, the same character was depicted on the historic athletic logo of Oklahoma State used between 1973 and 2000. On the New Mexico State Aggies logo, Pistol Pete is depicted in cowboy attire (a hat, a vest, and chaps). On the emblem introduced in 2007, Pete is holding two pistols in his hands.
The Modern Logo (2016-Present)
The current New Mexico State Aggies logo features a confident and formidable cowboy mascot, reflecting the team’s enduring spirit and competitive edge. This modern design presents the cowboy in a striking pose, holding two revolvers, ready for action. The intense expression on his face, complete with a stern look and a prominent mustache, conveys determination and toughness. The maroon and white color scheme remains dominant, symbolizing strength and passion. The cowboy’s attire is detailed with a hat, bandana, and a vest marked with “NM State,” signifying pride and identity. The bold lettering of “NM State” beneath the mascot reinforces the team’s name and regional affiliation. This logo successfully combines traditional elements with a contemporary design, creating a dynamic and memorable image.
Other Symbols and Traditions
The Triangular Logo
The triangular logo design was created in 1968 to represent the three areas of the Land Grant mission - education, research and public service - and was used in the inauguration of President Gerald Thomas in 1970. The unique NMSU triangles were created to represent the three areas of the Land Grant mission - education, research and public service. The interior lines represent the historical trails of the New Mexico Southwest. These trails, blazed by such notables as Hiram Hadley, Fabian Garcia, Ralph W. The notion that the triangular logo was designed to represent just three cultures - Hispanic, Native American and European Americans is incorrect.
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The "A" Mountain
In 1920, students of then New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts scouted for an appropriate place to display their school letter. Tortugas Mountain, located three miles (5 km) east of campus and associated with the Piro, Manso, and Tiwa tribe members of Tortugas Pueblo, seemed a natural spot. Students gathered enough stones to form a big "A" easily visible from campus and the surrounding area. On the following day, April 1, they trudged up the mountain side with their five-gallon cans of whitewash and splashed it on the stones, turning them into a white "A". For many years, giving the "A" its annual fresh coat of whitewash was an all-school effort.
The Aggie Fight Song
NMSU's "Aggie Fight Song" is based on a popular turn-of-the-century song titled "Oh Didn't He Ramble." The music and lyrics are similar to songs used by several other universities, most notably Cal ("California Drinking Song") and Ohio State ("I Wanna Go Back to Ohio State"). However, only NMSU uses it as the primary school song. Additionally, during the time that NMSU's women's teams were known as the Roadrunners, an arrangement of the theme song from the Warner Bros. "Road Runner" cartoons was used as the unofficial women's fight song.
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