UTEP Football Team’s Had Tough Luck Getting Win In Albuquerque
Editor’s Note: Miner fans making the trip to Albuquerque, click here for additional events in Albuquerque to consider attending while in town for the game.
UTEP (3-1, 1-1 C-USA) pursues its third straight win on Saturday at long-time rival New Mexico (0-4, 0-2 MWC). The Miners and the Lobos are squaring off for the first time since 2007 and for the first time in Albuquerque in four years.
The Miners are also playing the first of five games in October, a month in which they have excelled under the leadership of head coach Mike Price. UTEP is 15-8 in October during the Price regime, including an undefeated run in 2004 (5-0). The Miners were 3-1 in October in 2005, 2-2 in 2006, 1-2 in 2007, 2-1 in 2008 and 2-2 in 2009. UTEP is squeezing five games into the month of October for the 23rd time in school history, joining the 1931, 1932, 1937, 1938, 1942, 1949, 1954, 1955, 1959, 1964, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999 and 2004 squads.
UTEP is 6-5 in October road games under Price with wins in five of its first six and losses in four of its last five.
Scouting New Mexico
The Lobos remained winless with a 45-10 setback at UNLV on Saturday. New Mexico has lost 19 of its last 20 games dating back to the 2008 season, with the lone victory coming at home versus Colorado State on Nov. 21, 2009 (29-27). New Mexico is 1-8 in its last nine games at University Stadium, where it has posted an all-time mark of 144-138-3.
UNM ranks 115th nationally in total offense (265.3 ypg) and 118th in total defense (506.3 ypg). The Lobos are last among the 120 FBS schools in scoring defense (56.3 ppg), and next-to-last in scoring offense (10.3 ppg).
QB Tarean Austin made his first collegiate start last week at UNLV and completed 17-of-40 passes for 177 yards with a TD and two interceptions. He became the first true freshman to start a game at signal-caller for the Lobos since Jeremy Leach in 1988.
Sophomore Demond Dennis rushed 13 times for 88 yards against the Rebels.
Series History
The Miners and the Lobos are meeting for the 76th time, making this the second-longest running series in UTEP history behind NM State (88 games). UNM leads the series 42-30-3, including a 26-9-1 advantage in games played in Albuquerque. The Lobos are 16-5 versus the Miners at University Stadium, including 14-2 in their last 16 games versus their Southwest counterparts at home. UTEP has averaged 13.5 points in its last 16 games at University Stadium and has been held to 14 points or less nine times during that span.
UTEP hasn’t won at New Mexico since 1998. In the Miners’ last two trips to Albuquerque, they have been beaten 26-6 in 2001 and 26-13 in 2006.
A win on Saturday would give the Miners only their third winning streak in the series ledger since 1970. UTEP beat the Lobos in three straight games from 1987-89 and two in a row from 1998-99.
UTEP and New Mexico were joint members of the Western Athletic Conference from 1968-98.
Miners Shoot For Sweep of Aggies, Lobos
With a victory over New Mexico on Saturday, UTEP would record a season sweep of its two primary rivals (UNM and NM State) for the 22nd time and the first time since 1999. UTEP has completed the sweep only five times in 33 attempts since 1970 (1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1999).
The Last Meeting
Terrell Jackson rushed for 70 yards — including the go-ahead touchdown with 13:08 remaining in the fourth quarter — propelling UTEP to a 10-6 victory over New Mexico on Sept. 1, 2007 in the Sun Bowl. The crowd of 43,326 was the second-largest for a UTEP-New Mexico game in the Sun Bowl.
After the teams traded field goals in the first half, John Sullivan gave New Mexico the lead by connecting on a 41-yarder with 14:29 remaining in the fourth quarter before Jackson put the Miners ahead to stay on a 36-yard run.
But the story of the game was the UTEP defense keeping the Lobos out of the end zone, despite Rodney Ferguson rushing 32 times for 128 yards. Quintin Demps led the Miners with 16 tackles.
In his first collegiate start, UTEP freshman QB Trevor Vittatoe completed six of 21 passes for 59 yards. UNM’s Donovan Porterie completed 25 of 39 passes for 190 yards.
UTEP-New Mexico Player Ties
New Mexico sophomore RB Kasey Carrier and Miner junior DL Bernard Obi were teammates at Pearland HS in 2006 and 2007. Junior QB Tate Smith transferred to UTEP from UNM. Miner senior OL Tanner Cullumber and UNM junior QB Brad Gruner played together for one year at Hamilton HS in Chandler, Ariz.
The Miners have one player from the state of New Mexico (junior LS Matt Camilli — Las Cruces). Camilli and New Mexico freshman DB Dante Caro are graduates of Las Cruces HS. UNM’s roster features 17 Texans, including one who hails from El Paso (freshman DL Mat McBain — Burges HS).
Lobo senior LB Terel Anyaibe and UTEP freshman DB Traun Roberson graduated from DeSoto [Texas] HS.
UTEP-New Mexico Coaching Ties
New Mexico offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey worked in that capacity at UTEP from 1994-96. Lobo head coach Mike Locksley and UTEP safeties coach Adam Gonzaga worked together at Pacific in 1995. UNM WR coach Matt Wells and Gonzaga spent one year together (2001) on the Navy staff.
UTEP Nips Memphis on Warren Field Goal
Dakota Warren kicked three field goals, including the game-winning 18-yarder as time expired, lifting UTEP to a 16-13 win over Memphis last Saturday in the Sun Bowl.
Warren also connected from 57 and 50 yards as the Miners beat the Tigers for the first time. UTEP had been 0-3 versus Memphis coming in and now has beaten every Conference USA school except East Carolina since joining the league in 2005.
The Miners overcame a sluggish offensive performance by moving 95 yards on 12 plays in the final 3:13 to break a 13-13 tie. The 16-13 lead was UTEP’s first of the night.
Trevor Vittatoe completed 16-of-33 passes for 171 yards for UTEP, and Donald Buckram rushed 13 times for a team-leading 59 yards in his first action of the season. Buckram had missed the first three games with a bruised knee.
Both teams finished with 288 yards of offense. UTEP’s defense did the job, surrendering 177 yards on three Tiger drives and giving up 111 yards on 29 plays (3.8 avg.) the rest of the game.
UTEP in the NCAA/C-USA Stats
The Miners rank in the top-50 nationally in kickoff returns (18th, 26.1 avg.), punt returns (22nd, 13.4 avg.), turnover margin (26th, 0.75), sacks allowed (34th, 1.3 avg.), passing offense (39th, 246.5 ypg), total offense (39th, 421.5 ypg), passing efficiency defense (40th, 115.28) and rushing offense (44th, 175.0 ypg). Individually, sophomore WR Marlon McClure is 10th in punt returns (17.0 avg.), 13th in all-purpose yards (165.7 avg.) and 18th in kickoff returns (29.8 avg.), junior DB TraVaun Nixon is tied for 20th in interceptions (0.7 avg.), senior QB Trevor Vittatoe is 28th in total offense (264.5 ypg) and sophomore K Dakota Warren is tied for 43rd in field goals (1.3 avg.).
UTEP is first in C-USA in kickoff returns and punt returns. The Miners are second in the league in turnover margin and third in scoring defense. Senior WR Kris Adams is third in C-USA in receiving yards per game (69.5), McClure is first in all-purpose yards & punt returns and second in kickoff returns, Nixon is tied for second in interceptions, Vittatoe is third in total offense and fifth in passing efficiency (130.02) and Warren is tied for fifth in field goals.
McClure Putting the “Special” in Special Teams
Marlon McClure and Oregon State’s James Rodgers are the only players in the FBS ranks listed in the top-20 in all-purpose yards, kickoff returns and punt returns. McClure’s 187 all-purpose yards versus Memphis last week were the second-most in his career behind the 215 at Houston on Sept. 10. McClure has had five games with 100 all-purpose yards as a Miner, including twice versus Memphis.
His 57 punt return yards against the Tigers were the most by a UTEP player since Quintin Demps had 81 yards on four returns versus Houston in 2007. McClure’s 53-yard punt return in the third quarter was the longest by a Miner since Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. had an 88-yard attempt versus Tulane in 2006.
More on Mighty Marlon
Marlon McClure leads the team with 10 “big plays” (20 yards or more), with eight coming via the kickoff return. He has had 31 kickoff returns for 20+ yards in 12 collegiate games.
His 165 kickoff return yards versus Houston (Sept. 10) are the ninth-most by an FBS player this season, while his 57 punt return yards against Memphis last week are tied for the 28th-most this year.
Incidentally, McClure also led UTEP in receiving for the first time last week with four catches for 48 yards.
Welcome Back “Buck”
Donald Buckram made his season debut against Memphis last week after sitting out the first three games with a bruised knee. Buckram ran for a team-high 59 yards on 13 carries and caught three passes for 15 yards.
The nation’s no. 2 leading returning rusher entering 2010, Buckram needs just 25 yards to tie Fred Wendt (1942,46-48) for 10th place on UTEP’s career rushing list. Buckram has 382 carries for 2,141 yards in a Miner uniform. With 3,214 career all-purpose yards, Buckram needs 17 to tie Wendt for 10th place in that statistical category as well. Buckram’s next rushing TD will be the 21st of his career and lift him into a tie for sixth place on the UTEP chart with Owen Price (1938,40-41).
Vittatoe Zeroing in on School Records
Trevor Vittatoe continues to inch closer to breaking UTEP career records for total offense, passing yards and passing touchdowns. Vittatoe trails Jordan Palmer (2003-06) in all three categories. He needs 547 yards of offense, 415 passing yards and six passing TDs to overtake Palmer in the respective categories.
Vittatoe Climbing Up C-USA Career Lists as Well
Trevor Vittatoe is the seventh player in Conference USA history to throw for 10,000 yards. Against Memphis last week, he passed Tulsa’s Paul Smith (2005-07) into fifth place on the all-time C-USA passing list. Vittatoe is also fifth in touchdown passes (83) and eighth in total offense (10,495 yards).
C-USA Career Passing Leaders Player (School) Years Yards 1. Case Keenum (Houston) 2007- 13,586 2. Kevin Kolb (Houston) 2003-06 12,964 3. Chris Redman (Louisville) 1996-99 12,541 4. Gino Guidugli (Cincinnati) 2001-04 11,453 5. x-Trevor Vittatoe (UTEP) 2007- 10,669
C-USA Career TD Pass Leaders Player (School) Years TDs 1. Case Keenum (Houston) 2007- 107 2. Chase Clement (Rice) 2005-08 99 3. Kevin Kolb (Houston) 2003-06 85 4. Chris Redman (Louisville) 1996-99 84 5. x-Trevor Vittatoe (UTEP) 2007- 83
C-USA Career Total Offense Leaders Player (School) Years Yards 1. Case Keenum (Houston) 2007- 14,448 2. Kevin Kolb (Houston) 2003-06 13,715 3. Chris Redman (Louisville) 1996-99 12,129 4. Gino Guidugli (Cincinnati) 2001-04 11,661 5. Chase Clement (Rice) 2005-08 11,526 6. Paul Smith (Tulsa) 2005-07 11,304 7. Danny Wimprine (Memphis) 2001-04 10,634 8. x-Trevor Vittatoe (UTEP) 2007- 10,495
x- indicates active player
Warren Plays a Big Hand in Memphis Win
Dakota Warren became only the second UTEP player since 1950 to hit two 50-yard field goals in a game when he nailed a 50-yarder and a 57-yarder versus Memphis. Chris Jacke hit a pair of 51-yarders at New Mexico in 1988.
The 57-yard field goal by Warren against the Tigers is tied for the fourth-longest in UTEP history and is the second-longest by a sophomore. Keith Robinson holds the school sophomore record with a 59-yarder versus Rice in 2002.
Warren is the first UTEP player to make three field goals in a game since Jose Martinez versus SMU in 2008 (five).
UTEP Off to a Fast Start
UTEP’s 3-1 record marks its best four-game start since 2005, when it was also victorious in three of its first four contests. The Miners have won at least three of their first four games for only the sixth time in the last 46 seasons (1965, 1987, 1988, 1991 and 2005 were the others). Of the aforementioned teams, four started the slate 4-1 (1965, 1987, 1988 and 2005).
Nice to Win a Game That Way
UTEP won only two games over the last four seasons where the offense put up fewer than 300 yards — a 34-27 triumph at San Diego State in 2006 (243 yards) and a 10-6 victory over New Mexico in the Sun Bowl in 2007 (195 yards). Quite frankly, the Miners didn’t stand much of a chance with their defense yielding an average of 34.7 points per game during that span.
For the first time in a long while, UTEP is winning games with defense in 2010. The Miners are yielding 21.8 points and 379.5 yards per game, down from 33.5 ppg and 446.9 ypg a year ago.
UTEP knocked off Memphis last weekend in the Sun Bowl despite gaining only 288 yards — its fourth-lowest total in the last 39 games and its second-fewest versus an unranked team during that span. The 16 points were the second-fewest scored by the Miners in a win under Mike Price behind the aforementioned 10-6 conquest of New Mexico. UTEP improved to 2-11 under Price when scoring fewer than 20 points.
A Few Defensive Tidbits
UTEP has held three of its first four opponents under 300 yards of offense for the first time since 1991. The Miners have limited three of their first four opponents to 13 points or fewer for the first time since 1987.
The Miners have yielded 267 yards in the fourth quarter this season, an average of 66.8 per game. UTEP has yet to allow a touchdown in the second half of a home game, outscoring foes 51-3 after the break while surrendering a total of 312 yards (104 per contest).
UTEP Restoring Home Field Advantage
After splitting 24 home games with their opponents over the previous four seasons, the Miners are 3-0 at home for the first time since 2007. UTEP also won its first three home games during the 1929, 1930, 1932, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1987, 1988, 1999, 2000 and 2005 seasons. The last time UTEP started 4-0 at home was in 2005.
Miners Need Some Road Wins
While UTEP fans are excited about the team’s best four-game start in five years, the fact remains that the Miners need to start winning road games in order to enjoy a banner 2010 season. UTEP is 1-8 in its last nine games away from home dating back to the 2008 campaign with the lone triumph coming at NM State, 38-12, last season. The Miners certainly have been competitive in the eight losses, with four being decided by a touchdown or less.
UTEP’s road record under Mike Price is 12-23, including 3-11 in day games and 6-19 since 2006.
UTEP Showing Resiliency
The Miners have certainly demonstrated resolve early in the 2010 season. In the season opener versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff, UTEP allowed the Golden Lions to move 80 yards on 10 plays for a TD on their initial drive before outscoring them 31-3 the rest of the night. Last Saturday against Memphis, the ordinarily explosive UTEP offense was held in check for most of the game before putting together a 12-play, 95-yard game-winning drive (punctuated by Dakota Warren’s 18-yard field goal) over the final 3:13.
The victory over Memphis made UTEP 7-28 under Mike Price when trailing at the half and 11-30 when tied or trailing entering the final quarter. UTEP is also 2-0 this season when its opponent scores first.
Thinking Positive
A third of the way into the season, the Miners have had only 61 negative rushing yards (UTEP has gained 761 yards on the ground). Last season UTEP had 347 negative rushing yards in 12 games. The Miners are averaging 175 yards rushing per game, nearly 24 more than they did in 2009 (151.1 ypg) despite averaging about two fewer carries per contest. UTEP’s yards per carry is up from 4.5 to 5.6 despite Donald Buckram only handling the ball 13 times thus far.
Take it Away
The Miners already have six interceptions in four games, putting them on pace for 18 which would tie their top seasonal total since 1990. UTEP also registered 18 picks during the 2004 and 2007 seasons. The Miners’ interception total is tied for 15th in the nation and tied for second among C-USA teams with Tulsa (Houston has a league-leading seven picks).
That’s Another Miner First Down …
Although UTEP’s school-record streak of consecutive games with 20+ first downs ended at eight against Memphis, the Miners have still averaged 23.3 first downs this season — tied for the 20th-highest figure in the country. Among C-USA teams, only Tulsa (NCAA-best 27.5 avg.) and East Carolina (25.3 avg.) average more first downs per game.
No Passing TDs Definitely Not the Norm
The Miners did not have a passing touchdown last week for only the 10th time in 76 games during the Mike Price era. The others came in 2004 versus Arizona State and Weber State; 2006 versus Houston; 2007 versus New Mexico; 2008 versus NM State; 2009 versus Buffalo, NM State and Texas; and 2010 versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Adams Moving the Chains
Kris Adams leads the team with 13 receptions for 278 yards and a TD. Twelve of his catches have resulted in first downs, with seven coming on third down. Adams made only one catch against Memphis last week while nursing a sore back, but it was a big one. His 30-yard reception on the Miners’ final drive moved the ball from the UTEP 42-yard line to the Memphis 28 and helped set up Dakota Warren’s game-winning field goal as time expired.
Adams Extends Streak of Games With Catch
Kris Adams has caught a pass in 28 consecutive games, tied for the 11th-longest active streak in the country.
Consecutive Games With a Reception Player (School, Year) Games Scotty McKnight (Colorado, Sr.) 40 Dwayne Harris (East Carolina, Sr.) 34 Titus Young (Boise State, Sr.) 33 James Rodgers (Oregon State, Sr.) 32 Jock Sanders (West Virginia, Sr.) 32 Greg Salas (Hawaii, Sr.) 31 Tyron Carrier (Houston, Jr.) 31 Damaris Johnson (Tulsa, Jr.) 30 Shane Vereen (California, Jr.) 30 Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma, Jr.) 29 Kris Adams (UTEP, Sr.) 28 Kito Poblah (Central Michigan, Sr.) 28 Kendall Wright (Baylor, Jr.) 28
Miners Doing a Great Job Hanging on to the Football
The Miners have given the ball away only four times in four games, putting them in a tie for 13th nationally in turnovers lost. Only East Carolina has fewer giveaways among C-USA teams (three).
UTEP has two fumbles lost on the year, and Trevor Vittatoe has a sparkling 8-2 ratio of touchdown passes to interceptions. Vittatoe has thrown only two picks in his last 194 pass attempts dating back to the 2009 season.
The Miners never had fewer than five turnovers combined in their first four games of a season in the modern era of football (since 1965) prior to this year.
A Shout-Out to the O-Line
While the Adams, Buckrams and Vittatoes of the world may get all the attention, the UTEP offensive line — with a combined 82 starts to its credit entering the New Mexico game — has done a nice job paving the way for the Miners to average 28.2 points and 421.5 yards per game. UTEP is averaging 5.6 yards per rush, its best figure since a school-record 6.1-yard average in 1948.
The offensive line has yielded only five sacks in four games to tie for 34th in the country.
Third Quarter Has Been Huge for the Miners
UTEP has outscored opponents 49-6 in the third quarter this season. The Miners have gained more yards in the third period (518, 129.5 per game) than in any other. Seven of UTEP’s 14 TDs have been scored in the third quarter.
Balanced Attack on the Ground
The Miners have recorded at least 100 net rushing yards in the first three games of the year for the first time since 1992. Overall UTEP has achieved the feat in 10 seasons in the modern era (1970, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1991, 1992, 2010), but only four times — including this season — have the Miners done so without an individual back reaching the century mark. This also happened in 1975, 1982 and 1992. Junior Joe Banyard owns the most rushing yards by a UTEP player this season with 94 versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 4.
Balanced Attack, Period
Twice in the first four games, UTEP’s passing and rushing output has fallen within five yards of one another. The Miners gained 234 yards on the ground and 229 through the air in the season opener versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Against NM State, UTEP finished with 249 yards rushing and 246 passing.
For the season the Miners have run 148 passing plays and 126 rushing plays, amassing 986 yards passing (58.5 percent of the team total) and 700 rushing (41.5 percent).
UTEP Loses Amy For the Season
If a 54-24 loss at Houston on Sept. 10 wasn’t tough enough for the Miners, they lost their best defensive player to a season-ending injury in the process. Senior SS Braxton Amy sustained a torn achilles tendon that required surgery. That closes the book on a collegiate career that has produced 229 tackles, 8.5 tackles for losses, 10 interceptions and 10 pass break-ups in 32 games, including 23 starts.
Amy, UTEP’s 2010 defensive captain, is tied for ninth on the school’s all-time interceptions list and is tied for 10th in career interception yards. The plan was for him to be utilized as the team’s primary punt returner in 2010, and he averaged 9.0 yards on his first four attempts.
A different UTEP player will wear Amy’s #1 jersey each game the rest of the season. Senior LB Anthony Morrow did the honors against NM State and senior WR Pierce Hunter wore Amy’s jersey versus Memphis.
Miners Spreading the Wealth on Offense Once Again
Seventeen different UTEP players have made receptions through four games — tying the high water mark of the Mike Price era originally established in 2008.
Twelve players caught a pass in the Miners’ loss at Houston on Sept. 10, the most for UTEP in the Price regime.
Here Come the Rookies
To date, 12 freshmen have seen action for the Miners this season. They are DL Adam Ayala, DL Marcus Bagley, LB James Davidson, TE Katrae Ford, OL Wayne Frazier, DB Adrian James, QB Carson Meger, DB Chad Moncure, TE Kevin Perry, DL Germard Reed, DB Traun Roberson and TE Craig Wenrick. Bagley, Ford, James, Moncure and Roberson are true freshmen. UTEP also played five true freshmen all of last season.
Miners Have Tri-Captains
UTEP’s captains for the 2010 season are senior RB Donald Buckram (offense), senior DB Braxton Amy (defense) and junior WR Donavon Kemp (special teams).
Miners Have Experience
UTEP’s roster features 26 seniors, including 16 on the offensive side of the ball. The 26 seniors ties UTEP for the fourth-top total in the country behind Hawaii (31), Louisville (27) and TCU (27). Army, Iowa and Syracuse also have 26 seniors. The Miners have 22 juniors, 19 sophomores and 40 freshmen (30 true/10 redshirt).
Adams & Vittatoe Listed Among FBS Career Leaders
Through Sept. 25, senior WR Kris Adams was tied for seventh among active FBS players in touchdown catches (19). Senior QB Trevor Vittatoe was second in pass attempts (1,378), passing yards (10,669) and passing touchdowns (83); third in passing yards per game (266.7), completions (776), total offense (10,495 yards) and TDs responsible for (84); and fifth in total offense per game (262.4).
Vittatoe Could Cap Career as One of NCAA’s All-Time Leading Passers
Trevor Vittatoe has 10,669 career passing yards. If he throws for 3,228 yards in 2010 — his average in his first three seasons with the Miners — he would conclude his career as the no. 9 all-time leading passer in NCAA history. Vittatoe has 83 career TD passes, and 17 more in 2010 would place him in a tie for 11th place on the all-time NCAA list. Here is a look at the 11 signal-callers in NCAA history who have hit the century mark in touchdown passes.
Player School Years TDs Graham Harrell Texas Tech 2005-08 134 Colt Brennan Hawaii 2005-07 131 Ty Detmer BYU 1988-91 121 Timmy Chang Hawaii 2000-04 117 Tim Rattay Louisiana Tech 1997-99 115 Danny Wuerffel Florida 1993-96 114 Colt McCoy Texas 2006-09 112 Case Keenum Houston 2007- 107 Dan LeFevour Central Michigan 2006-09 102 Chase Daniel Missouri 2005-08 101 Chad Pennington Marshall 1997-99 100
Watching Buckram
Donald Buckram is the first Miner ever to make the preseason watch list for the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year Award. Buckram is one of 30 players on the list, which includes reigning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram from Alabama. Buckram is one of 49 players on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, presented to the nation’s top running back. He was a semifinalist for the award last season.
Defense Gets an Overhaul for 2010
UTEP has a new defensive scheme — with a 4-3 base — and a largely new defensive staff for the 2010 season. The Miners employed a 3-3-5 scheme in 2008 and 2009. UTEP’s new defensive coordinator is long-time NFL defensive line coach Andre Patterson. Adam Gonzaga takes over coaching the safeties, and former Miner Robert Rodriguez has been elevated from a graduate assistant to linebackers coach. The only holdover on the defensive staff is cornerbacks coach Allen Johnson.
Recapping 2009
UTEP was 4-8 last season and tied for third place in Conference USA’s Western Division with a 3-5 mark. The Miners lost five games by a touchdown or less, and were 28 points shy of winning nine games.
UTEP beat two bowl-bound teams in Houston and Marshall. The Miners’ 58-41 conquest of the 12th-ranked Cougars on Oct. 3 marked their first win over a ranked opponent in 12 years. UTEP was named the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week following the win over Houston, and RB Donald Buckram was appointed the Walter Camp Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 262 yards versus the Cougars.
29th Season For Price
UTEP’s Mike Price is 166-161 in his 29th season as a collegiate head coach, including 37-39 in his seventh year at the helm of the Miner program. He has coached seven bowl teams during a career that has taken him to Weber State, Washington State and UTEP, including two with the Miners (2004 Houston, 2005 GMAC).
Price ranks ninth among active FBS coaches with 166 victories behind Penn State’s Joe Paterno (397), Ohio State’s Jim Tressel (233), Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer (231), Texas’ Mack Brown (217), Nevada’s Chris Ault (210), South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier (180), Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly (172) and Arizona State’s Dennis Erickson (170).
Miners Have Set School Total Offense Standard in 2 of the Last 3 Seasons
The top two total offense marks in UTEP history have been established over the last three seasons. In 2007, the Miners set a school standard by racking up 5,074 yards. They bettered the mark a year ago by compiling 5,144 yards.
The UTEP season benchmark for passing yards (3,754) has also been produced in the Mike Price era (2006).
Miners Achieving Success in the Classroom and the Community
Nineteen Miners posted cumulative grade point averages of 3.0 or better following the spring 2010 semester. Senior DB Braxton Amy has already graduated and is pursuing his Masters of Leadership Studies.
UTEP football players performed 664 hours of community service during the 2009-10 athletic year, tops among the school’s 16 varsity sports. Leading the way were senior tight end Jonny Moore (36.5 hours) and sophomore DB Richard Spencer (24 hours).
Up Next: vs. Rice (Homecoming)
UTEP will play its 79th Homecoming game against Rice on Saturday, Oct. 9 at 7:05 p.m. in the Sun Bowl. The Miners haven’t beaten the Owls since 2005.
UTEP’s all-time Homecoming record is 35-42-1. The Miners have won eight of their last 12 Homecoming affairs. The 10th anniversary of UTEP’s 2000 WAC championship team will be observed on Homecoming this year.
UTEP football notes courtesy UTEP Athletics.
