The 1959 New Mexico A&M Aggies football team represented New Mexico State University in the

Border Conference The Border Conference, officially known as the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association, was an National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA-affiliated college athletic conference founded in 1931 that disbanded following the 1961–62 season. ...

during the

1959 NCAA University Division football season The 1959 NCAA University Division football season saw Syracuse University crowned as the national champion by both final polls, the AP writers poll and the UPI coaches polls. A major rule change widened the goal posts from to . This width re ...

. In their second year under head coach

Warren B. Woodson Warren Brooks Woodson (February 24, 1903 – February 22, 1998) was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Arkansas State Teachers College, now the Universi ...

, the Aggies compiled an 8–3 record (2–2 against conference opponents), finished in third place in the conference, and defeated North Texas State in the

1959 Sun Bowl The 1959 Sun Bowl featured the New Mexico State Aggies and the North Texas State Eagles. Background New Mexico State represented the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association (BAAA) and finished tied for third in Warren B. Woodson's second ...

. The team's statistical leaders included Charley Johnson with 1,449 passing yards,

Pervis Atkins Pervis R. Atkins Jr. (November 24, 1935 – December 22, 2017) was an American football player. Early years Atkins was born in Ruston, Louisiana, and raised in Oakland, California. He graduated from Oakland Technical High School in 1953. ...

with 971 rushing yards, and R. Cassell with 519 receiving yards. For the first time in what proved to be four consecutive years, a New Mexico State back won the NCAA rushing title, Pervis Atkins in 1959, Bob Gaiters in 1960, and

Preacher Pilot James Isaac "Preacher" Pilot Jr. (January 22, 1941 – January 2, 1991) was an American football player. He played for the New Mexico State Aggies football team from 1961 to 1963. He led the country in rushing yardage in both 1961 with 1,27 ...

in 1961 and 1962. Head coach Warren Woodson was later inducted into the

College Football Hall of Fame The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and interactive attraction devoted to college football. The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951 to immortalize the players and coaches of college football that were vote ...

Schedule

References

New Mexico State Aggies The New Mexico State University teams are called the Aggies, a nickname derived from the university's agricultural beginnings. The mascot is known as " Pistol Pete". NMSU's colors are crimson and white. Since 2005 the Aggies have competed in the ...

New Mexico State Aggies football seasons Sun Bowl champion seasons New Mexico State Aggies football {{collegefootball-1950s-season-stub