ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — By Mark Smith and Rick Wright
OF THE JOURNAL
Last month, state Rep. Jimmie Hall raised the ire of some and drew belly-laughs from others by introducing legislation to require New Mexico’s state universities to give 50 percent of their athletic scholarships to in-state athletes.
But while the lawmaker’s proposal likely sounds ludicrous to most, it has also opened some eyes to a law that a lot of folks around New Mexico don’t know exists.
“We’re obviously aware of it now,” Mario Moccia, New Mexico State’s second-year athletic director, said of the law that requires state universities to provide 25 percent of their athletic scholarships to in-state athletes.