Dogs add to 2011 schedule
Georgia has filled out its 2011 football schedule by adding New Mexico State for a November game at Sanford Stadium.
The Western Athletic Conference school will receive a contract guarantee worth $925,000.
That's the most Georgia has ever paid an opponent for a game. The price tag is driven by the marketplace, said associate athletic director Arthur Johnson.
A copy of the contract signed by both schools' athletic directors was obtained Monday by the Athens Banner-Herald under a Georgia open records request.
The New Mexico State game is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2011. It comes the week after a game against Florida and the week before a game against Auburn.
"The stars aligned," Johnson said. "They were looking for a game and we had an opening and it worked out."
Georgia's nonconference schedule in 2011 also includes home games Sept. 3 against Louisville, Sept. 17 against Coastal Carolina and a visit to Georgia Tech on Nov. 26.
The New Mexico State contract includes a buyout of $600,000 if either school pulls out of the game.
The Aggies hired UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker in December to replace Hal Mumme after a 3-9 season that included seven losses to end the season.
Georgia is 3-0 against New Mexico State, including a 41-10 victory in 2002 during the Bulldogs' Southeastern Conference title season. Georgia also won 37-0 in 2000 and 40-13 in 1995 in Athens.
Johnson also confirmed that Georgia has been approached about playing a nonconference game in 2010 in the Georgia Dome, but declined to comment further. Bulldogs coach Mark Richt last week called playing in such a game a "pipe dream," and said "a lot of things have to come together," for a deal to be struck.
Georgia still has two spots to finalize on the 2010 slate, "preferably at home," Johnson said. Georgia already has a nonconference game at Colorado in 2010.
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