New Mexico State may hire firm to land football conference

New Mexico State athletics director Mario Moccia speaks at a press conference in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019 during an announcement that the Aggies has signed six-year deal with ESPN events around bowl games. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)

New Mexico State athletics director Mario Moccia speaks at a press conference in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019 during an announcement that the Aggies has signed six-year deal with ESPN events around bowl games. (AP Photo/Russell Contreras)

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State athletic director Mario Moccia says the school may hire an outside consulting firm to help its football team join an athletic conference.

Moccia told reporters in Albuquerque last week the university is looking into hiring a firm to assist the university in putting together a robust package after the school tried to do it alone.

Sun Belt Conference announced in 2016 it was dropping New Mexico State and Idaho from its football conference.

New Mexico State is in the Western Athletic Conference for other sports.

Moccia says the school is in an isolated region near the Mexico border but is close to the airport in El Paso, Texas.

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The Aggies are 0-4 this season and are operating as an independent team.