Source: UTEP Headed To New Mexico Bowl
The question of the week has been: What bowl game will the UTEP football team be playing in over the holidays.
According to a source close to the game, UTEP will play former Western Athletic Conference rival BYU in the New Mexico Bowl on December 18th in Albuquerque. The official announcement is expected at a 1 p.m. news conference at UTEP today.
The Miners, with six wins and six losses this season, have already been guaranteed a bowl spot. To play in the New Mexico Bowl, UTEP’s conference, Conference USA, would have had to make a swap with another bowl game since the New Mexico Bowl is not affiliated with the league.
There are a number of things attractive about the New Mexico Bowl for Miner fans, including its proximity, less than four hour drive for El Pasoans.
In addition, the Miners would face old rival BYU, which is is also 6-and-6 and brings back a lot of memories for old Miner fans.
New Mexico Bowl officials weren’t as quick to confirm the UTEP-BYU matchup when contacted Wednesday afternoon, although they did admit that they want UTEP!
“I think everything about UTEP is attractive to us,” New Mexico Bowl Executive Director Jeff Siembieda said. “The proximity, the passion that Miner fans have for that program, the tradition they’re got there, the familiarity with New Mexico football with UTEP. There’s so much that’s attractive about them.”
ABC-7 did speak with UTEP athletic director Bob Stull earlier this week. He said UTEP and BYU in the New Mexico Bowl is not out of the question, although not yet confirmed. He added that in his opinion, it’s down to the New Orleans or New Mexico Bowl for the Miners.
