UTEP fans planning for basketball game against Arizona, traveling to New Mexico Bowl
It will be one of the biggest sports weekends ever for the UTEP Miners.
On Friday night, UTEP plays host to No. 3 Arizona, the highest ranked basketball team to ever play at the Don Haskins Center. Just over 15 hours later, the football team will kick off the New Mexico Bowl against Utah State in Albuquerque.
“We’re gonna support our Miners versus Arizona Friday night and head up early Saturday morning to Albuquerque to win a bowl game,” said Miner fan Gregg Bush, who pointed out those are two UTEP games no fan wants to miss, although it will take some effort to see both. “Get some sleep, pack up early, get some coffee, some breakfast burritos and make it up to Albuquerque to rally with all of our great UTEP miner sports fans/alums. I know several people (that are doing the double). Some fans are going to pick one or the other, but there’s a staunch group of diehards like myself and like yourself that are going to make that road trip.”
Some Miner fans have told me they’re going to leave right after the Arizona game at about 11 p.m. on Friday night, they’re going jump right in their cars and head to Albuquerque.
“We’ve had a lot of folks that are going to be road warriors,” said Chris Park, UTEP senior associate athletic director. “They’re going to be in the arena along with the 12,200, then they’re going to hit the road and support us in Albuquerque. Hopes are high for this weekend and I know there’s going to be just a lot of UTEP and Miner pride Friday night here at the arena and up I-25. I have a feeling there will be a lot of horns honking and people excited headed up to that bowl game in Albuquerque.”
“We can sleep as we retire,” Bush added. “But this is one of those very rare occasions we would not miss to be around great UTEP Miner fans, friends, great relationships and support a great university.”
UTEP received 5,000 tickets for the New Mexico Bowl and ABC-7 was told Wednesday they’re selling better than 2010 when Miner fans resulted in the secondlargest crowd ever for the bowl.
