Price, Miners Look To End Bowl Losing Streaks
UTEP (6-6, 3-5 C-USA) makes its first postseason appearance since 2005, taking on BYU (6-6, 5-3 CUSA) in the fifth annual New Mexico Bowl.
The Miners and the Cougars met 36 times from 1946-1998, including on 30 occasions as members of the Western Athletic Conference (1968-98). Tip-off is set for noon MT on Dec. 18 at University Stadium in Albuquerque.
The game will be nationally televised on ESPN with Bob Wischusen, Brian Griese and Jenn Brown handling the call. UTEP tied for fourth place in the West Division of Conference USA, and BYU tied for third place in the Mountain West Conference. The Miners are making their 13th bowl appearance (5-7 record), while BYU is appearing in a bowl for the 29th time (10-17-1 mark). The Miners have been designated as the home team for the New Mexico Bowl.
Bowl History Mike Price becomes the second coach to lead the Miners to three bowl games, joining Mike Brumbelow who engineered Sun Bowl appearances in 1954, 1955 and 1957. Price guided the Miners to the Houston Bowl in 2004 and the GMAC Bowl in 2005.
Price?s bowl record is 3-4 (lost his last three). UTEP has lost in its last four bowl trips dating back to a 14-7 win over Mississippi in the 1967 Sun Bowl.
Series History BYU holds a 28-7-1 lead in the series ledger and has won 25 of the last 27 matchups between the schools. UTEP and BYU have never met on a neutral field; the Miners are 4-14-1 versus the Cougars in El Paso and 3-14 at Provo.
While UTEP owns only four wins over AP Top-25 teams in its football history, half of the victories have come at BYU?s expense. In 1985 the Miners stunned the defending national champion and seventh-ranked Cougars, 23-16, in El Paso for their lone victory in a 1-10 campaign. In 1997, UTEP scored a 14-3 upset of no. 25 BYU in the Sun Bowl.
What Rivalry? UTEP?s history with BYU is unfamiliar to many associated with this year?s Miner team. In fact, the only football staff members still around from the last time the Miners and Cougars faced one another (in 1998) are Director of Operations Nate Poss, head trainer Dawn Hearn and video coordinator Juergen Karp.
Something Familiar The Miners and the Cougars have had one common opponent this season. UTEP won at New Mexico, 38-20, on Oct. 2 and BYU knocked off the Lobos in Provo, 40-7, on Nov. 20.
Where This Year?s UTEP Team Ranks Here?s a look at where the 2010 Miners rate in the school?s record book. Category Statistic Ranking Best since … Yards per rush4.60 7th 1988 (4.98) Touchdown passes 20 T10th2008 (34) Punting average 44.13 1st — Kickoff return yards 1,3362nd 2008 (1,365) Kickoff return avg.25.692nd1996 (27.30) First downs 252 T4th2009 (261) Passing first downs 131 8th 2009 (141)
Two Miners Garner All-Conference Honors Senior OL Rod Huntley and junior DB Travaun Nixon were named second team All-Conference USA players based on a vote by league coaches. Huntley started 10 games at right guard this season, and Nixon, a cornerback, led the team in interceptions with three for 97 yards.
The Miners? honorable mention All-League honorees included senior WR Kris Adams, junior RB Joe Banyard, junior LS Matt Camilli, sophomore P Ian Campbell, junior LB Isaiah Carter, sophomore DB DeShawn Grayson, senior DB Wiston Jeune, sophomore KR/PR Marlon McClure, senior OL Anthony McNac, senior DL Robert Soleyjacks, senior OL Alex Solot and junior QB Trevor Vittatoe. DL Germard Reed was appointed to the C-USA All-Freshman Team.
Source: UTEP Athletics
