Legend has it that Las Cruces, N.M., home of New Mexico State University, got its name from a row of crosses — "cruces" in Spanish — near where the town sprung up in the 19th century.

More recently, however, the name could be derived from the expanding graveyard for head coaching careers that Aggie football has become.

DeWayne Walker, who brings the Aggies to Aloha Stadium Saturday as 20-point underdogs, is the ninth intrepid soul to take on the NMSU job and its daunting history since the Aggies last went to a bowl in 1960.

It is the nation's longest current streak of postseason absence and one not likely to end this year for the Aggies, who are 3-6 (1-3 WAC) with four games remaining.

CBS Sportsline ranked NMSU, which hasn't experienced a winning season in six years and managed just three in 30 seasons, the worst major college football program — No. 120 of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams — of the decade.

And it wasn't hard to see why. An off-the-beaten path location, lack of a winning tradition, shoestring budget (NMSU earlier this year asked fans to donate after-practice snacks for its players) and necessity of playing "body bag" games (the Aggies got $850,000 for a 45-0 pounding at Ohio State last month) make it a tough place to win.

Little of it was lost on Walker, who acknowledges that when he pursued the job, "I know a lot of people were probably turned off because of the history of losing. But I (viewed it) as a challenge."

It was also an indication of how badly, after 18 years as a college and NFL assistant, he apparently longed to be a head coach and, with a dearth of positions going to African-Americans, how the 48-year-old ex-UCLA defensive coordinator wasn't able to be choosy. "Where my career was at the time, it was time for me to take a shot at it," Walker said.

Walker, with his recruiting ties, would have been a better fit at San Diego State, where he also interviewed last fall, or found a more promising situation at Utah State, where he was also considered.

But it was New Mexico State that made an offer 10 months ago and, for a $375,000 annual salary, likely grabbed a bargain.

"When you look at being a BCS (level) coordinator and having a pretty good reputation, you can always wait for something better to come about," Walker said. "But I've always been taught a bird in hand is better than two in the bush and I really believe there are enough resources for us to get this turned in the right direction."

Any path that doesn't add another coaching tombstone would be noteworthy at New Mexico State.