UTEP vs UAB College Football
Source: UTEP Athletics
Miners Seek Conference USA Road Win
Riding a string of four straight wins, UTEP (5-1, 2-1 C-USA) hopes to end an eight-game Conference USA road losing streak on Saturday at UAB (1-4, 0-2 C-USA). The Miners’ last league road victory came on Oct. 4, 2008, a 40-37 double overtime triumph at Southern Miss. This is UTEP’s second conference road game of the season; the Miners stumbled at Houston, 54-24, on Sept. 10.
The Miners are 5-16 on the road in C-USA play since joining the league for the 2005 season, with losses in 11 of their last 12 games.
UTEP won at New Mexico, 38-20, on Oct. 2 and seeks its first road winning streak since 2005 (won at Tulane 45-21, won at Rice 38-31).
UTEP Jumps Out of the Gate at 5-1
UTEP is off to its best start since opening 8-1 in 2005. UTEP has posted wins in at least five of its first six games for the 12th time in school history, joining the 1930, 1931, 1932, 1948, 1949, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1987, 1988 and 2005 squads. Of those teams, six went on to record at least six victories in their first seven contests (1931, 1932, 1949, 1956, 1988, 2005).
Miners One Win Away From Bowl Eligibility
With one more victory, UTEP will be bowl-eligible for the first time in five years. The Miners have played in 12 bowls all-time, including two under coach Mike Price (2004 and 2005), and posted a 5-7 record. UTEP hasn’t won a bowl game since 1967.
Miners Good in October Under Price
The Miners are 17-8 in the month of October under head coach Mike Price, including 10-3 at home and 7-5 on the road.
UTEP is Streaking
UTEP’s four-game winning streak is its longest since 2005, when the Miners compiled five consecutive victories. Only four UTEP teams since 1965 have had winning streaks of longer than four games – 2000 (seven), 2004 (seven), 1988 (six) and 2005 (five).
Scouting UAB
The Blazers have been idle since Oct. 6, when they lost at UCF, 42-7. The Knights scored the game’s first 28 points and UAB didn’t dent the scoreboard until 7:44 remaining in the third quarter, when junior QB Bryan Ellis accounted for his team’s only TD with a 23-yard pass to sophomore WR Patrick Hearn.
Ellis has completed 72-of-133 passes for 926 yards for the Blazers, who will be playing their third home game of the season against UTEP. UAB is 1-1 at Legion Field with a pair of one-point decisions versus Florida Atlantic (lost 32-31) and Troy (won 34-33).
The Blazers have been proficient offensively, averaging 406.6 yards including 168.6 rushing. Sophomore David Isabelle, who has split time with Ellis at signal-caller, has hurt opponents with both his arm and his feet. He has thrown for 264 yards and three TDs and is also the team’s leading rusher with 77.8 yards per game.
The defense is led by senior end Bryant Turner, who ranks among the national leaders with seven tackles for losses and five sacks.
Series History
UAB leads the series 2-1. The visiting team has prevailed in all three games. The Blazers won in the Sun Bowl during the 2005 (35-23) and 2009 (38-33) seasons, and UAB posted a 36-17 triumph in Birmingham during the 2006 campaign. UAB is one of only two C-USA teams to beat UTEP twice in the Sun Bowl since 2005, joining Rice.
The Last Meeting
Joe Webb passed and ran for a touchdown and added a 14-yard reception for a score as UAB won its first road game of the year, beating UTEP, 38-33, on Halloween afternoon last season in the Sun Bowl.
UTEP couldn’t score enough points to go with 607 yards of offense and couldn’t slow UAB, which averaged 8.8 yards per play. The Miners dug a hole that they couldn’t climb out of, falling behind 21-3 late in the second quarter.
Trailing 38-20, UTEP nearly pulled off a dramatic fourth quarter comeback. A pair of touchdown drives in the final 4:05 closed the gap to 38-33 with a little over a minute remaining, but Logan Barrett’s onside kick attempt was recovered by the Blazers.
Trevor Vittatoe completed 24-of-45 passes for 419 yards for UTEP, but threw two first-half interceptions in opponent territory. Donald Buckram and Jeff Moturi also had big games for the Miners with 164 yards rushing and 161 receiving, respectively.
Webb finished with 163 yards rushing and 127 passing to lead UAB.
UTEP-UAB Player Ties
UTEP LB Greg Holleman and UAB OL Greg Bulls are both natives of Lubbock, Texas. Blazer reserve OL Adam Arthur and Miner TE Jonny Moore each hail from San Antonio, Texas. Overall UAB has five Texas players on its roster, including junior DB Ugonna Amarikwa (Houston), sophomore QB Joe Bento (The Woodlands) and sophomore DB A.J. Wilson (Marshall).
UTEP-UAB Coaching Ties
UAB defensive line coach Lorenzo Costantini previously served as strength & conditioning coach (1995) and defensive line coach (1996-99) at UTEP. He was a Miner letterman from 1986-89, seeing action primarily in the defensive line. “Zo” was a member of UTEP’s 1988 Independence Bowl squad.
Miner co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Bob Connelly and UAB WR coach Tim Bowens worked on the Alabama staff from 2003-06.
UTEP Turning it Around Versus C-USA East
The Miners have won back-to-back games versus Conference USA East Division teams for the second time since joining the league. In 2008, the Miners started 2-0 in C-USA play with a 58-13 pasting of UCF and a 40-37 double overtime triumph at Southern Miss. UTEP capped the 2009 season with a 52-21 rout of Marshall, then slipped past Memphis, 16-13, in the Sun Bowl on Sept. 25.
UTEP is 6-10 versus C-USA’s East Division, including 2-5 on the road (1-0 versus Southern Miss, 1-0 versus UAB, 0-1 versus East Carolina, 0-1 versus Marshall, 0-1 versus UCF, 0-2 versus Memphis).
Miners Traveling Great Distances in 2010
UTEP’s trip to Birmingham will encompass 2,297 miles round trip, making it the Miners’ second-longest jaunt of the season behind the 2,859 they will consume when they travel to Huntington, W. Va. and back for the game at Marshall on Oct. 30. The UAB trip is the longest for the Miners since the 2008 season finale at East Carolina (3,372 miles round trip).
Road Gets Tougher for the Miners
While UTEP’s five wins have come at the expense of teams with a combined record of 5-23 entering the week, the Miners’ final six games are against schools with a cumulative mark of 15-17 — including a season-ending three-game stretch versus SMU, no. 12 Arkansas and Tulsa (combined 11-6 record). UTEP will be on the road for four of its last six contests.
UTEP in the NCAA/C-USA Stats
The Miners rank in the top-50 nationally in kickoff returns (sixth, 27.6 avg.), punt returns (16th, 13.5 avg.), sacks allowed (18th, 0.8 avg.), turnover margin (tied for 21st, 0.67), passing offense (28th, 263.2 ypg), passing efficiency defense (29th, 112.81), total offense (32nd, 430.7 ypg), scoring offense (40th, 32.5 ppg), scoring defense (48th, 21.8 ppg), rushing defense (50th, 143.8 ypg) & rushing offense (50th, 167.5 ypg). Individually, senior WR Kris Adams is 17th in receiving yards per game (92.2), sophomore WR Marlon McClure is 11th in punt returns (14.0 avg.) & 12th in kickoff returns (30.7 avg.), junior DB TraVaun Nixon is tied for 43rd in interceptions (0.4 avg.), and senior QB Trevor Vittatoe is 24th in total offense (280.0 ypg) & 41st in passing efficiency (138.81).
UTEP is first in C-USA in kickoff returns & punt returns. The Miners are second in the league in scoring defense, turnover margin & sacks allowed, and third in total offense, passing efficiency defense & passing efficiency. Adams is first in receiving yards per game & fourth in scoring (8.0 ppg), McClure is first in punt returns & second in kickoff returns, Nixon is tied for fifth in interceptions, Vittatoe is second in passing efficiency & fourth in total offense, and Dakota Warren is tied for fifth in field goals (1.0 avg.).
Vittatoe Shatters Records in Rout of Rice
Trevor Vittatoe became UTEP’s all-time leader for passing yards (11,260), passing touchdowns (89) and total offense yards (11,117) in the Miners’ 44-24 thumping of Rice last Saturday in the Sun Bowl.
Vittatoe completed 19-of-32 passes for 327 yards and three touchdowns as the Miners beat the Owls for the first time in five years. After Rice scored the game’s first touchdown, UTEP put up 37 of the game’s next 40 points in cruising to the victory.
Kris Adams (five catches for 134 yards) and Pierce Hunter (five catches for 105 yards) both went over 100 yards receiving for the Miners, who had two wideouts over the century mark for the first time since Oct. 13, 2007 versus East Carolina.
UTEP had a 463-342 advantage in total yards as the defense compiled 10 quarterback hurries, six tackles for losses and two sacks.
Fast to Five
UTEP is one of 22 FBS teams to record at least five wins in the first six weeks of the season, joining Air Force, Alabama, Auburn, Boise State, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, N.C. State, Nebraska, Nevada, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Stanford, TCU, Utah and Wisconsin.
Price Vying For 40th Win at UTEP
UTEP’s next victory will be its 40th under the direction of coach Mike Price. Only Mack Saxon (66), Mike Brumbelow (46) and Bobby Dobbs (41) have posted more wins at the helm of the Miner program. Incidentally, a win at UAB on Saturday would also put Price back over the .500 mark for his UTEP tenure; he enters the game 39-39 with the Miners and 168-161 overall.
Vittatoe Supplants Palmer as UTEP’s Career Passing, Total Offense Leader
Trevor Vittatoe is UTEP’s new career leader for passing touchdowns (89), passing yards (11,260) and total offense (11,117), eclipsing Jordan Palmer in all three categories against Rice. Palmer has 88 passing TDs, 11,084 passing yards and 11,041 yards of offense.
With 14 career 300-yard passing games, Vittatoe is still two shy of tying Palmer’s school standard.
Vittatoe on the NCAA, C-USA Lists
Trevor Vittatoe is tied for 21st on the NCAA FBS career passing touchdowns list (89) with Tennessee’s Peyton Manning and Marshall’s Byron Leftwich. Kansas’ Todd Reesing ranks 20th with 90 TD passes. Vittatoe is also 25th on the NCAA career passing yardage chart (11,260 yards) and will take aim at Western Michigan’s Tim Lester (24th, 11,299 yards) on Saturday.
Vittatoe also rates third in passing TDs, fifth in passing yards and seventh in total offense on the C-USA career charts. He needs 193 passing yards and 187 yards of offense to move up on the lists.
Adams Now Eighth on Receiving Yardage List
Kris Adams is ranked eighth in UTEP history with 2,140 receiving yards. He needs 21 yards to tie Bob Wallace (1965-67) for seventh place, and 94 to tie Ed Puishes (1969-71) for sixth place. Adams is also fourth in school annals in TD catches (24), and tied for seventh in 100-yard games (eight). Adams is tied for 14th on the C-USA career touchdown receptions list.
Adams Ties Mays’ Record For Multiple TD Games
Kris Adams tied Lee Mays’ (1998-01) school record for games with multiple TD receptions against Rice last Saturday. Adams and Mays have both recorded at least two touchdown catches in seven contests. Adams has had three games with three TD catches and four with two.
Adams Regains Sophomore Form
Following a subpar 2009 season, Kris Adams’ numbers look a lot like they did in 2008, when he racked up 50 catches for 958 yards and 14 TDs. Adams is on pace to tally 46 receptions for 1,106 yards and 16 scores. His 24.0 yards per catch would easily best the school record of 21.9 established by Volley Murphy in 1967.
Adams has scored seven touchdowns over the last four games, racking up 14 receptions for 391 yards (27.9 avg.) during that span. Adams has strung together consecutive 100-yard games for the first time since closing out the `08 campaign with three games over the century mark.
Adams Extends Streak of Games With Catch
Kris Adams has caught a pass in 30 consecutive games, tied for the 10th-longest active streak in the country.
Consecutive Games With a Reception Player (School, Year) Games Scotty McKnight (Colorado, Sr.) 42 Dwayne Harris (East Carolina, Sr.) 36 Titus Young (Boise State, Sr.) 35 James Rodgers (Oregon State, Sr.) 33 Jock Sanders (West Virginia, Sr.) 33 Greg Salas (Hawaii, Sr.) 33 Tyron Carrier (Houston, Jr.) 32 Damaris Johnson (Tulsa, Jr.) 32 Shane Vereen (California, Jr.) 31 Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma, Jr.) 30 Kris Adams (UTEP, Sr.) 30 Kito Poblah (Central Michigan, Sr.) 30 Kendall Wright (Baylor, Jr.) 30
Adams & Vittatoe Listed Among FBS Career Leaders
Through Oct. 9, senior WR Kris Adams was fifth among active FBS players in touchdown catches (24), and 15th in receiving yards (2,140). Senior QB Trevor Vittatoe was second in pass attempts (1,447), completions (815), passing yards (11,260) and passing touchdowns (89); third in total offense (11,117 yards) and TDs responsible for (90); fourth in passing yards per game (268.1) and fifth in total offense per game (264.7).
Buckram Making the Most of Limited Playing Time
Donald Buckram, the nation’s no. 2 leading returning rusher for the 2010 season, has only played in two of UTEP’s first six games while nursing a bruised knee (he hurt the knee in practice on Sept. 1). But Buckram has led the Miners in rushing in both games, running 13 times for 59 yards against Memphis and nine times for 47 yards versus Rice.
Buckram passed Fred Wendt (1942,46-48) into eighth place on UTEP’s career rushing list with 2,188 yards against Rice. He also moved into 10th place on the UTEP career all-purpose yardage list with 3,267 yards.
Buckram’s next rushing TD will be the 21st of his career and will lift him into a tie for sixth place on the UTEP chart with Owen Price (1938,40-41).
Winning Big in C-USA Play
UTEP has now posted eight conference wins by at least 20 points in the Mike Price era. That matches the total number by the Miners from 1988-2003.
Explosive Offense in C-USA Play
In 43 C-USA games since joining the league for the 2005 season, UTEP has scored 1,425 points (33.1 avg.) and totaled 19,168 yards of offense (445.8 avg.). The Miners are averaging 36.0 points (791 total) and 464.0 yards (10,207 total) in C-USA home games, and 30.2 points (634 total) and 426.7 yards (8,961 total) in C-USA road games. UTEP has scored 30+ points 16 times in C-USA home games and 10 times in C-USA road games. The Miners have scored 40+ points nine times in C-USA home games and four times in C-USA road games.
Last year UTEP was 0-4 in C-USA road games despite putting up more yards (1,950) away from home than in any of its previous four seasons as a league member.
Scoring Big Under Price
The Miners posted their second 40-point game of the season, and their school-record 21st under coach Mike Price, against Rice last Saturday. UTEP led the Owls 30-10 at the midway point, scoring 30 points in a half for the eighth time under Price. The others: 2004 versus SMU (33 points, second half); 2005 versus NM State (31, first half); 2006 versus NM State (31, first half); 2007 versus Texas Southern (38, first half); 2008 versus UCF (31, second half); and 2009 versus Houston (41, second half) & Marshall (32, second half).
Take it Away
The Miners already have eight interceptions in six games, a total which ranks tied for 14th nationally and tied for first in Conference USA. UTEP has had three games with multiple interceptions this season (Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Memphis, New Mexico), tying its total number from the 2009 season.
No Takeaways, No Problem
For only the third time in the modern era (post 1965), UTEP scored 40+ points in a game in which it did not force a turnover (fumble/interception) against Rice. The other occurrences also came during the Mike Price era, against Texas Southern on Nov. 12, 2005 (45-0 win) and versus Rice on Nov. 1, 2008 (49-44 loss).
Pushing `Em Back
Over the last three games, UTEP’s defense has produced 18 tackles for losses and five sacks. In the first three contests of the season, the stop troops registered six tackles behind the line of scrimmage with two sacks. Junior LB Jamie Irving and freshman DL Germard Reed are tied for the team lead with 3.5 tackles for losses, while sophomore DL Ruben Munoz and senior DL Robert Soleyjacks are first on the squad with two sacks apiece.
Keeping the Yardage Down
UTEP has held four of its first six opponents under 300 yards of offense for the first time since 1966 and the third occasion of the modern era. UTEP opened the 1966 campaign with six such games. In 1965 the Miners held four straight foes and seven of the initial eight below the figure.
Putting it into Perspective
UTEP’s stop troops have registered a quartet of games in which the opposition failed to eclipse 300 yards. That makes this just the third UTEP team since 1977 and the 10th in the modern era to record four such contests in a season. The breakdown for the other squads to achieve the feat, including their tally at this juncture of the season, is as follows:
Games Holding Opp. Under 300 Yards of Offense Year Six Games In Season Total 1965 5 8 1966 6 8 1967 2 5 1969 2 4 1970 2 5 1971 3 5 1976 2 5 1990 2 4 1997 1 4
More Along Those Lines
The Miners are yielding 349.5 yards and 21.8 points per game. It marks the fewest yards per contest surrendered since 1997 (349.0), and the fewest points per game allowed since 1991 (21.0). In fact, only three times since 1970 has UTEP given up fewer points per game — in 1971 (19.7 ppg), 1988 (21.3 ppg) and 1991.
Miners Getting the Ground Game Going Without Buckram
Despite Donald Buckram playing in just two of the first six games due to a bruised knee, UTEP has been more than effective at running the football in 2010. The Miners are averaging 167.5 yards per game on the ground, including 5.0 yards per carry. Both numbers are significant improvements from a year ago, when UTEP averaged 151.1 yards rushing and 4.5 yards per attempt.
The Miners have hit the century mark in rushing yards as a team in each of the first six contests despite not having an individual 100-yard back. It marks the first time since 1992 that UTEP has both rushed for 100 yards in its first six games and done so without an individual eclipsing the century mark.
Joe Banyard has helped cover for Buckram’s absence by rushing for a team-leading 344 yards, including a pair of 90-yard performances (94 versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 90 at New Mexico). He has paced the Miners in rushing in four of six outings.
McClure Putting the “Special” in Special Teams
Marlon McClure is one of three players in the FBS listed in the top-20 in kickoff returns and punt returns, joining Oregon State’s James Rodgers and Utah’s Shaky Smithson. He has had five games with 100 all-purpose yards as a Miner.
McClure leads the team with 11 “big plays” (20 yards or more), with nine coming via the kickoff return. He has had 32 kickoff returns for 20+ yards in 14 collegiate games.
UTEP Restoring Home Field Advantage
After splitting 24 home games with their opponents over the previous four seasons, the Miners are 4-0 at home for the first time since 2005 and have won five consecutive home games (dating back to 2009) for the first time since 2005. It marks only the 10th time since the Sun Bowl’s debut in 1963 that UTEP has won four or more home games in a season. The others: 1965 (6-1), 1966 (5-1), 1967 (6-1), 1987 (4-2), 1988 (6-0), 1999 (4-1), 2000 (5-0), 2004 (5-1) and 2005 (5-1).
Miners Showing Resolve
UTEP is 4-0 this season when its opponent scores first. Entering 2010, the Miners had been 9-19 under Mike Price when falling behind at the start.
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 19th-highest figure in the country. Among C-USA teams, only Tulsa (26.2 avg.), East Carolina (23.6 avg.) and Houston (23.6 avg.) average more first downs per game.
Miners Doing a Great Job Hanging on to the Football
The Miners have given the ball away only six times in six games, putting them in a tie for 13rd nationally in turnovers lost. UTEP leads C-USA in the statistical category.
Trevor Vittatoe has a sparkling 14-2 ratio of touchdown passes to interceptions. Vittatoe has thrown only two picks in his last 263 pass attempts dating back to the 2009 season. As a team, UTEP is tied for sixth nationally in interceptions thrown.
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 92 starts to its credit entering the UAB game — has done a nice job paving the way for the Miners to average 32.5 points and 430.7 yards per game. The offensive line has yielded only five sacks in six games to tie for 18th in the country.
The Miners haven’t allowed a sack in back-to-back games for the first time since the initial two contests of the 2006 season.
Third Quarter Has Been Huge for the Miners
UTEP has outscored opponents 63-6 in the third quarter this season. The Miners have gained more yards in the third period (753, 125.5 per game) than in any other. Nine of UTEP’s 25 TDs have been scored in the third quarter.
Miners Awfully Good on Third Down
UTEP entered the week rated first in C-USA and eighth nationally in third down conversion percentage (.529).
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.
A different UTEP senior will wear Amy’s #1 jersey each game for the rest of the season. LB Anthony Morrow did the honors against NM State, WR Pierce Hunter versus Memphis, DL Robert Soleyjacks at New Mexico and WR Kris Adams against Rice.
Miners Spreading the Wealth on Offense Once Again
Eighteen different UTEP players have made receptions through six games — the most in the Mike Price era. Twelve players caught a pass in the Miners’ loss at Houston on Sept. 10, the most for UTEP in the Price regime.
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.
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.
29th Season For Price
UTEP’s Mike Price is 168-161 in his 29th season as a collegiate head coach, including 39-39 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 168 victories behind Penn State’s Joe Paterno (397), Ohio State’s Jim Tressel (235), Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer (233), Texas’ Mack Brown (217), Nevada’s Chris Ault (212), South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier (181), Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly (174) and Arizona State’s Dennis Erickson (171).
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: Tulane
UTEP and Tulane will meet for the sixth time on Oct. 23 in the Sun Bowl (7:05 p.m.). The Miners lead the series 3-2, but dropped a 45-38 overtime decision in New Orleans last season. UTEP has only two home games remaining, including a date with C-USA West Division leader SMU on Nov. 6.
