For Starters
UTEP (2-2, 0-1 WAC) and Fresno State (3-1, 0-1) meet in Fresno,
Calif., for the first time since the 1999 season. The last two
meetings (2000, 2003) took place in El Paso. The teams did not play
one another during the 2001 or 2002 seasons. Fresno State controls
the series 8-2-1, including a 6-1 advantage in games played in
Fresno. UTEP's lone series victory on the road came in 1938 -- the
teams' first encounter. The Miners clipped the Bulldogs 23-13 in
2000 on their way to winning a share of the WAC title. Fresno State
topped UTEP 23-20 last year in the Sun Bowl.
UTEP is coming off a convincing 45-0 victory over New Mexico
State, while Fresno State looks to rebound after Louisiana Tech
knocked the Bulldogs out of the top 25 with a 28-21 upset in Ruston,
La.
On The Radio
UTEP's English flagship station is KROD 600 AM. The announcers
are Jon Teicher (play-by-play) and Bernie Ricono (color commentary).
Teicher is in his 24th season as "Voice of the Miners." Ricono was
the Miners' defensive coordinator from 1977-79. The pregame show
begins at 7 p.m. Mountain time. The game will also be carried on
KBUY 1360 AM in Ruidoso, N.M.
On Television
Saturday's game will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable Channel 7
in El Paso. Jon Teicher and Bernie Ricono will have the call as part
of a simulcast with KROD 600 AM.
Squeaking Them Out
The last three meetings between the Miners and the Bulldogs have
been nail-bitters, with each game being decided by less than 10
points. Fresno State pulled out a 23-20 victory in 2003. The Miners
outdid the Bulldogs 23-13 in 2000, while Fresno State held on for a
24-23 win in 1999.
Thrown Into The Fire
The first five games on UTEP's schedule were expected to be the
toughest for Mike Price's Miners. UTEP's two losses have come at the
hands of Arizona State and Boise State. Each are 5-0 and ranked 19th
and 21st respectively in the Associated Press top 25 poll. UTEP
blanked I-AA foe Weber State 32-0 and New Mexico State 45-0. The
Miners' next challenge will be traditional WAC power Fresno State,
which was ranked in the top 25 the previous three weeks before being
upset by Louisiana Tech 28-21.
The Miners' first five opponents carry a combined record of 14-10.
UTEP's final six opponents are currently 10-16 overall.
Scouting The Dogs
Fresno State is coming off a 28-21 loss at Louisiana Tech, a
setback which knocked the Bulldogs out of the top 25.
The Bulldogs rank 21st in the nation in rushing offense (206.2
yards per game). Fresno State's Wendell Mathis rates third in the
WAC, averaging 105.3 yards on the ground.
Fresno State has come to be known as "Quarterback U" in recent
years, with NFL quarterbacks David Carr and Trent Dilfer having
played for the Bulldogs. Behind their latest signal-caller, Paul
Pinegar, Fresno State ranks 102nd in the NCAA in passing offense
(153.8 ypg) and 104th in passing efficiency (100.78).
The Bulldogs rank 28th in the country in total defense (304.5
ypg), including third in passing efficiency defense (78.32) and 14th
in passing defense (157.2).
UTEP/Fresno State Ties
UTEP defensive coordinator Tim Hundley and Fresno State offensive
line coach Mark Weber were on the same staff together at Oregon
State.
Hundley was also the defensive coordinator at Washington when
Fresno State OL Robin Kezirian was a freshman at the school.
Miners Jordan Palmer and Joe Fleskoski both attended high school
with Fresno State's Robbie Dubois in Mission Viejo, Calif.
Miner OL Mark Parrish and the Bulldogs' Charles Tolbert and Clint
Stitser attended McQueen H.S. in Reno, Nev.
UTEP's Tyler Ebell, who is sitting out the 2004 season per NCAA
transfer rules, and Fresno State's Wendell Mathis were teammates at
UCLA.
UTEP has 18 players who hail from the Golden State, including
Anthony Barnes, Bryce Benekos, Jason Boyd, Anthony Casey, Josh
Chamois, Cedric Click, Oneil Cousins, Ebell, Matt Ellis, Robbie
Felix, Fleskoski, Chris Hurd, Jeremy Jones, Victor Jones, Palmer,
Daniel Robinson, Clay Salima and Adrian Ward.
Last Meeting
UTEP put together a gritty effort on Senior Day at the Sun Bowl,
but it was for naught as Fresno State edged the Miners, 23-20, on
Nov. 29, 2003.
Brett Visintainer kicked a 24-yard field goal with 9:37 to go in
the fourth quarter to break a 20-20 tie.
The Miners led 20-10 with five minutes to go in the second quarter
and 20-13 at the half. But UTEP, which had 195 yards of offense in
the first half, was held to 57 yards following the intermission.
Quarterback Paul Pinegar completed 22 of 31 passes for 325 yards
for the Bulldogs.
UTEP's Howard Jackson finished with 193 all-purpose yards, giving
him 2,146 for the season, a new school record.
Jackson had 66 yards rushing, 126 yards on kickoff returns and
one catch for one yard.
Miner quarterback Orlando Cruz completed 13 of 26 passes for 124
yards.
Cruz rushed for a touchdown and passed for another. His 14-yard
completion to Joe West with 5:02 remaining in the second period gave
UTEP the 10-point lead.
The Bulldogs tied the game at 20 on a 37-yard pass from Pinegar to
Marque Davis with 6:57 to play in the third quarter.
A Rough Go Since 1968
UTEP, which is in its 37th and final season in the Western
Athletic Conference, has struggled mightily in league road games,
posting a 21-114-1 record since 1968. UTEP has dropped its last
three conference road games, and is 1-12 in its last 13 WAC road
contests.
The Miners opened WAC play with a 21-19 win at SMU on Oct. 4, 2003
for their last conference victory on the road.
UTEP has won more than one conference game on the road in five
seasons (1969, 1970, 1987, 1988, 2000). The Miners posted three WAC
road victories in 1987 and 2000.
From 1980 to 1986, UTEP lost 25 conference road games in a
row.
While three is the school record for WAC road victories, five is
the mark for losses. UTEP played five of its seven WAC games on the
road in 1979, and dropped each of those contests.
UTEP will become a member of Conference USA on July 1, 2005.
Building A Winner
The Miners already matched their win total from a year ago when
they defeated New Mexico State 45-0 on Oct. 2. UTEP won only two
games in each of its past three seasons (2-9 in 2001, 2-10 in 2002,
2-11 in 2003).
The 2000 Miners finished 8-4, won a share of the WAC title and
played in the Crucial.com Humanitarian Bowl.
First-year head coach Mike Price is looking to change the fortunes
of a UTEP program which has had only three winning seasons (1987,
1988, 2000) since 1971.
Shutting Them Down
UTEP posted its second shutout of the season with a 45-0
trouncing of New Mexico State on Oct. 2. The blanking marked the
first time since the 1987 season that UTEP has recorded two shutouts
in a season.
UTEP has not had more than two shutouts in a season since posting
four in 1956. Now in their 87th season of football, the Miners have
had 21 years with two shutouts or more (1920, 1922, 1925, 1928, 1929,
1930, 1931, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1947, 1949,
1955, 1956, 1962, 1987, 2004).
The most shutouts in one season is five, set by the 1922 and 1929
UTEP squads.
More Tidbits On Big Scores, No Scores
UTEP's shutout of New Mexico State was its first over the Aggies
since the 1987 season. The 45-point margin of victory was also the
largest over a NCAA Division I-A school since the Miners defeated San
Diego State 58-7 on Nov. 12, 1988.
The blanking was also the biggest shutout win since the Miners
crushed Trinity 54-0 on Nov. 24, 1956.
Getting Tough On Defense
While much of UTEP's defensive personnel is the same as from the
2003 squad which allowed 448.3 yards per game, the unit has staged a
dramatic turnaround under new coordinator Tim Hundley. In 2004 the
Miners rate 55th nationally in total defense (348.0 ypg), including
37th in rushing defense (114.0 ypg).
Hundley's defense has limited two opponents to under 250 yards of
total offense (112 vs. Weber State, 226 vs. New Mexico State). It is
the first time that UTEP has performed such a feat since the 2000
season, and only the 12th time since 1965.
Against Weber State, UTEP put up its best defensive effort since
the 1967 Sun Bowl game, when it allowed 109 yards in a 14-7 victory
over Mississippi. The Miners held Weber State to 112 yards of total
offense (34 rushing, 78 passing). The performance marked only the
eighth time since 1965 that the Miners have limited an opponent to
under 150 yards of offense.
National Rankings
UTEP ranks 13th in the country in kickoff returns (25.7 ypr),
30th in net punting (38.4 ypp) and 32nd in punt returns (11.6 ypr).
The Miners hold the 37th-best turnover margin (.50).
The Miners rank 55th in total defense (348 ypg), 37th in rushing
defense (114 ypg), 49th in scoring defense (22 ppg), 49th in pass
efficiency defense (113.62) and 83rd in passing defense (234
ypg).
Additionally, UTEP rates 54th in total offense (379.5 ypg), 45th
in rushing offense (171.3 ypg), 45th in scoring offense (29.3 ppg),
64th in passing offense (208.3 ypg) and 77th in passing
efficiency.
Duarte Fills in Fine
Senior QB Omar Duarte replaced Jordan Palmer after the latter
suffered a mild concussion in the first quarter against New Mexico
State. Duarte finished 10-of-13 for 146 yards with three touchdowns
and no interceptions.
His three touchdown passes tied his career high, which he had
previously set against SMU on Nov. 16, 2002.
Duarte has now played in 16 collegiate games and completed
95-of-183 passes (51.9 percent) for 1,188 yards and nine touchdowns.
Duarte has thrown four interceptions, but has not thrown one in his
last 120 attempts.
Backups Orlando Cruz and Joe Castro also saw action behind center
in the fourth quarter of the NMSU game.
First Time Callers
Ten players make their UTEP debuts against New Mexico State,
including Jake Belshe, Joe Castro, Johan Givens, Kevin Maurice, Josh
Fematt, Dustin Gersch, Gabe Macias, Jordan Tubig, Oniel Cousins and
Tim Ford.
Castro was the quarterback in the final two series of the game.
He finished with one carry for four yards. Givens rushed three times
for eight yards. Cousins posted his first career stop on defense in
the fourth quarter as well. The game was also a first for Jake
Sears, who caught his first collegiate pass (15 yards), and Josh
Chamois, who made his first appearance of the season after mending an
injury.
Mark Dowdy also made his return to the starting lineup after
missing the first three games. He had six stops and a pass breakup
against the Aggies.
Keeping Them Under 100
The Miner defense has not allowed an opposing player to rush for
over 100 yards in the first four games of the 2004 season. Overall,
the string is up to five games, extending back to the final contest
of the 2003 campaign.
Since 1970, UTEP has opened a season only three times (1975, 1983,
2000) without allowing a 100-yard rusher in four consecutive games.
Since 1970, UTEP has never started a season without allowing a
100-yard rusher through five games.
Fresno State will pose a stern test for the Miners. The Bulldogs
rank 21st in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 206.2 yards per
outing. Wendell Mathis ranks 23rd in the NCAA with 105.3 rushing
yards per game.
The Miners rate 37th in rushing defense, giving up 114 yards per
game.
Playing Without Flaws
After committing five turnovers in the season opener at Arizona
State, UTEP has coughed up the ball just three times in the last
three contests, including zero versus Weber State and one last week
against New Mexico State.
The Miners are showing better discipline, with their penalty total
decreasing in each game this season. UTEP opened with eight
penalties at Arizona State, had seven against Weber State, two versus
Boise State and two against New Mexico State.
The 2003 team was the most penalized in program history, setting
records for penalties (109) and penality yards (864). Last season
the Miners averaged 8.4 penalties a game, compared to 4.8 in
2004.
Hang On To That Ball!
The Miners have made tremendous strides holding onto the
football. UTEP has had only two turnovers via the fumble this
year.
Through four games last year, UTEP had given up nine fumbles. The
two fumble giveaways this season marks the best start for the Miners
since they only had one fumble lost through four games in 1988.
The Miners have had six turnovers via the interception. Jordan
Palmer had four of those interceptions in the first game at Arizona
State.
UTEP has not had an interception in either of its wins this
season.
No Flaws At All
After the Miners turned the ball over five times (four
interceptions and a fumble) in the opener at Arizona State, UTEP did
not give up the ball once in the 32-0 victory over Weber State. It
was the first time the Miners did not have a turnover in a game since
defeating SMU on Oct. 4, 2003. During the past three seasons
(2001-03) the Miners had only two games with no turnovers, while
committing a whopping 108 miscues during that span.
Games without turnovers are rare for UTEP teams. Since the 1965
season the Miners have played 432 games and have had only 29 games
(6.7 percent) with no turnovers. The school record for most games
without a turnover in a season is four, set in 1988.
Turnovers haven't been a problem for the Miners in 2004. They
have had eight giveaways and 10 takeaways this season. Their
turnover margin of 0.5 ranks 37th in the NCAA.
UTEP has not finished the season with a plus turnover margin since
2000 (+0.4 tm). Last year the Miners finished with 40 turnovers
(-1.2 tm). In 2002 UTEP had 37 miscues (-1.6 tm) and in 2001 the
Miners had 31 (-0.9 tm).
They Call Them Takeaways
UTEP has forced a turnover in each of its last 23 games. Jahmal
Fenner and Thomas Howard each had interceptions against New Mexico
State to extend the Miners' interception streak to seven games. The
interception was the seventh of Fenner's career, and the second of
Howard's.
Fenner has now posted interceptions in back-to-back games.
This season the Miners have had four fumble takeaways and six
interceptions.
High Scoring Miners?
UTEP didn't exactly light up the scoreboard over the last three
seasons. However, times are changing under first-year head coach
Mike Price. The Miners scored 32 points against Weber State,
followed it up by totaling 31 points against #23 Boise State and
chalked up 45 points against New Mexico State.
It marks the first time that UTEP has scored 30 or more points in
three straight games since doing it four times in succession versus
San Jose State (47 points), Tulsa (40), New Mexico State (41) and
Hawaii (39) in 2000.
UTEP currently ranks 45th in the NCAA with 29.2 points per
game.
Senior RB Howard Jackson ranks 13th in the country with 10.5
points per game this season. He has scored seven touchdowns (five
rushing, one receiving, one kick return) overall.
Not A Bad Half
Howard Jackson got all but one play off in the second half
against New Mexico State. Jackson rushed 15 times for 158 yards and
a touchdown in the first two quarters, and also caught a pass for
eight yards. The only action he saw in the second half was when he
took the opening kickoff 91 yards for his second career kickoff
return touchdown. He also brought a kick back for 100 yards against
Nevada in 2001.
Jackson has now scored 25 touchdowns in his career, and is just
outside UTEP's top 10 career list for points with 150.
A Lotta Action From This Jackson
Senior RB Howard Jackson, a Doak Walker Award candidate, seeks to
continue his climb up the UTEP charts when the Miners meet Fresno
State. The slight (5-9, 160) but speedy (4.26 time in the 40)
Jackson ranks third in career rushing yardage (2,719), sixth in
rushing attempts (504) and sixth in rushing touchdowns (20). The
Freeport, Texas, native has had 11 career 100-yard rushing games,
which ranks third on the all-time list.
Jackson will catch Robert Elliott (1974-75-76-77) with another 115
yards to move into second on the rushing list. He is now 857 yards
away from tying school record-holder John Harvey (1985-86-87-88).
Jackson will need to average 122.4 yards per game over the last seven
contests to catch Harvey.
Jackson will also move into fifth place for carries with 12 more
attempts, passing Ray Holt (1974-75, 1978).
Jackson has already smashed UTEP's career all-purpose yardage
record. He has 5,012 all-purpose yards -- tops in school history --
and has averaged 135.5 all-purpose yards per contest, which is also
best in the record books. Last season Jackson racked up 2,146
all-purpose yards, shattering Hughes' single-season mark which had
stood for nearly 40 years.
Jackson rates third on the Miner charts in kickoff returns (72)
and kickoff return yardage (1,736).
UTEP coaches have hinted that he could be utilized on punt returns
as well this fall. Jackson hasn't returned punts since his freshman
year (2001), when he had one return for five yards at Rice. Jackson
was back for a punt return against New Mexico State on Oct. 2, but
did not field the punt.
More On Jackson
Howard Jackson was chosen first team All-WAC by three preseason
publications (Athlon, Lindy's, Street & Smith's), as well as an
honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith's. He was rated
a "Special Teams Demon" in the WAC by Lindy's, as well as a "Top 10
NFL Talent" in the league by that publication.
Jackson ranks 16th in the country with 110 rushing yards per game
this season.
Still Punting Away
Senior P Bryce Benekos ranks sixth in the NCAA with a punting
average of 45.8 yards this year. He hopes to continue his
improvement each week and gain consideration for the Ray Guy Award,
which is presented to the college punter of the year.
Benekos had four punts for 179 yards (44.8 ypp), including a
53-yarder, against New Mexico State. He also had one punt inside the
20.
Benekos rates second in school history in punts (216) and punting
yards (8,746). His punting average has risen steadily in four years
with the Miners, from 34.5 as a freshman to 40.8 in 2002, 44.1 in
2003 and 45.8 this season. His 45.8 average in 2004 stands as the
third-best seasonal figure in UTEP history.
In addition to ranking sixth in the country, Benekos leads the WAC
in punting average. He has also pinned six punts inside the
opponents' 20-yard line.
Benekos, who got married during the off season, is a three-time
Academic All-WAC pick.
Mr. Big Play
Junior Chris Francies has produced big plays over the first four
games. Seven out of his 11 receptions have been good for 14 yards or
greater. Francies had a 59-yard reception against Boise State and a
29-yard catch against New Mexico State.
True Freshmen
Former Parade All-American Marcus Thomas and Paul Darby have been
the only true freshmen on the field for the Miners in 2004.
Thomas is being eased into the college game. He has rushed 20
times for 74 yards, and caught two passes for five yards. Thomas had
career highs for rushes (nine) and yards (32) against New Mexico
State.
Darby, who has been suspended indefinitely, saw his first
collegiate action on special teams against Boise State.
Along with Thomas and Darby, 11 other Miners currently on the
active roster saw action as true freshmen. Among them are Matt
Austin (debut in 2001), Bryce Benekos (debut in 2001), Mark Dowdy
(debut in 2000), Justin Hunt (debut in 2000), Howard Jackson (debut
in 2001), Jeremy Jones (debut in 2003), Aaron King (debut in 2003),
Chris Marrow (debut in 2003), Phillip Moss (debut in 2002), Reagan
Schneider (debut in 2003) and Jimmy Smith (debut in 2001).
Still Bringing Them Back
Senior Jahmal Fenner returned three punts for 98 yards at Arizona
State. The 98 yards stand as the 11th-highest single-game total in
school history. Fenner had 115 yards (ranks fifth) in 2001 against
Texas Southern.
He also had his career-long return of 84 yards in the fourth
quarter versus the Sun Devils. His previous long was 62 yards last
year against Cal Poly. Fenner currently ranks 22nd in the NCAA in
punt return average (13.4 ypr).
Fenner (74 career returns) holds the school record for career punt
returns. The previous record was held by Javier Sanchez (1996-97-98,
2000) with 70. Fenner now has 714 career punt return yards. Gerald
Campbell (1949-50-51) is the career record-holder with 874 yards.
The Real Dynamic Duo
Senior linebackers Robert Rodriguez and Godwin Akinduro were on
the field together for the first time in their careers at Arizona
State. Previously Akinduro backed up Rodriguez. He was switched
from middle linebacker to weak side linebacker under the new
staff.
The duo is currently 1-2 on the team in tackles. Rodriguez leads
the unit with 36 stops, while Akinduro has posted 34 over four games.
Rodriguez also leads the team with seven tackles for losses. He has
one sack, three QB hurries, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup.
Akinduro has a tackle for loss and has recovered one fumble.
Throw in Thomas Howard -- UTEP's starting strong side linebacker
-- and you have a terrific trio. Howard ranks third on the team with
22 tackles. Howard, a big playmaker, has five TFLs, one sack, one
interception, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 2004.
Striving For Perfection
Sophomore Reagan Schneider has scored 33 points this season, with
seven field goals and 12 PATs. Schneider is 7-for-7 on field goals
this season, including a long of 52 yards. He is also 12-for-13 in
PAT tries.
Schneider booted four field goals -- including a 52-yarder before
halftime -- to tie the school record against Weber State. His four
field goals tied Scott Wedell (1983 vs. Weber State), Chris Jacke
(1988 vs. Colorado State) and Jason Gillespie (1990 vs. Hawaii and
1990 at Colorado State) for the top figure in school annals.
Schneider also set a personal high with 14 points (four field
goals, four PATs) versus Weber, which was the highest total by a
kicker since Jacke had 16 points (three field goals, seven PATs) in a
58-7 win over San Diego State on Nov. 12, 1988. Schneider is
currently 12th in the NCAA with 1.75 field goals made per game.
Very Special, Twice Over
Earlier this season, the Miners had back-to-back WAC Special
Teams Players of the Week for the first time in school history.
Sophomore Reagan Schneider earned honors on Sept. 13 after scoring 14
points (four FGs, four PATs) against Weber State. On Sept. 20,
senior Bryce Benekos gained accolades after averaging 47.3 yards on
seven punts versus #23 Boise State.
Since the WAC started naming a Special Teams Player of the Week in
1995, a school has had back-to-back winners 16 times.
Past WAC Special Teamers of the Week for the Miners have included
Glen Beard (Oct. 23, 2000; Oct. 11, 1999; Sept. 6, 1999), Ricky
Bishop (Oct. 18, 1999), Jahmal Fenner (Oct. 1, 2001), Matthew Finley
(Oct. 5, 1998), Jon Olsen (Sept. 30, 1996) and Keith Robinson (Oct.
21, 2002).
Freshman Of The Year?
Quintin Demps is building his candidacy for WAC Freshman of the
Year. Demps is the fourth-leading tackler on the squad with 21
stops. He has also recorded an interception, two pass breakups,
blocked a kick and returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Potentially a future Jim Thorpe Award candidate, Demps had eight
stops, an interception, a 51-yard fumble return for a TD, a blocked
PAT and a pass breakup against #23 Boise State.
Down But Far From Out
After a rocky start at Arizona State, sophomore Jordan Palmer put
together back-to-back solid efforts versus Weber State and Boise
State. He suffered a mild concusion in the first quarter against New
Mexico State after completing his first three pass attempts.
Counting his brief stint versus NMSU, Palmer has completed 58.7
percent (37-for-63) of his passes for 473 yards with only two
interceptions over the last three games. He completed 21-of-44
passes for 196 yards and four interceptions at Arizona State.
He completed 16-of-32 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns
versus Boise State, including a 70-yard strike to Howard Jackson.
His yardage total was the second-highest of his career. He threw for
287 yards against Tulsa last season.
Palmer went 18-for-28 for 223 yards and no interceptions against
Weber State.
Palmer is the younger brother of Carson Palmer, winner of the 2002
Heisman Trophy at USC and the first pick by Cincinnati in the 2003
NFL Draft.
First Year Head Coaches
Head coach Mike Price is one of 14 coaches who are new at NCAA
Division I-A schools this season. Price was named National Coach of
the Year when he led Washington State to a 10-2 record and a Rose
Bowl appearance in 1997. Price is not the only former national coach
of the year to start at a new school this year. Army's Bobby Ross
and Central Florida's George O'Leary have also earned that honor in
the past. Ross was the 1990 National Coach of the Year after
directing Georgia Tech to an 11-0-1 record, while O'Leary was also
recognized after leading Georgia Tech to a 9-3 mark in 1999.
First time Division I-A coaches include J.D. Brookhart (Akron),
Mike Stoops (Arizona), Brian Kelly (Central Michigan), Mark Dantonio
(Cincinnati), Jeff Genyk (Eastern Michigan), Nick Holt (Idaho),
Sylvester Croom (Mississippi State) and Bill Callahan (Nebraska).
Price has now compiled a 131-124 record in a 23-year coaching
career at Weber State (1981-88), Washington State (1989-2002) and
UTEP (2004). He directed the Cougars to three 10-win seasons (1997,
2001, 2002). During his 14 years in Pullman, Price coached five
players who were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft,
including quarterbacks Drew Bledsoe and Ryan Leaf.
Turning Defensive
The Miners have six defensive players who began their careers on
the other side of the ball, including starting linebackers Robert
Rodriguez (running back) and Godwin Akinduro (tight end). Mark Dowdy
(wide receiver), Matt Elwood (wide receiver), Justin Gissendanner
(offensive line) and Phillip Moss (quarterback) also came to UTEP as
offensive players.
Moss played one game at quarterback against Boise State in 2002.
He went three of 13 for 25 yards in that contest. He was redshirted
last year to make the transition to defense.
Senior Jimmy Smith began his Miner career on the defensive side of
the ball before switching to running back. He notched 14 tackles in
eight games in 2001.
Big Numbers For Rodriguez
Senior LB Robert Rodriguez has amassed a whopping 358 tackles in
his career despite having a down year (50 stops) in 2002. He has led
the WAC in tackles two of the last three years, registering 137 stops
in 2001 and 135 in 2003.
An El Paso native and converted running back, Rodriguez had a
personal best 22 stops against SMU and Rice in 2001. He has posted
double-digit tackles in 18 career games, including nine of the last
10 contests in 2003.
Rodriguez's 358 career tackles rate fifth nationally among all
active players. He also ranks eighth on the UTEP career list.
More On Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez's preseason honors included first team All-WAC
by Athlon, The Sporting News, Street & Smith's and Lindy's;
honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith's; and second
team All-Texas by Dave Campbell's Texas Football. He was rated the
14th-best inside linebacker in the country by The Sporting News.
Rodriguez ranks eighth on UTEP's all-time tackle list. Next on
the list is Pete Shufelt (1989-92), who posted 385 stops in his Miner
career.
Rodriguez is trying to become only the fourth Miner to lead the
team in tackles in three seasons this fall. This was previously
achieved by Raymond Morris (1980-83), Barron Wortham (1990-93) and
Micheal Comer (1994-96). Morris, Wortham and Comer all went on to
enjoy NFL stints. Morris was with Chicago, Comer was with Arizona
and Wortham was with Houston, Tennessee and Dallas.
Rodriguez is on the watch lists for the Butkus Award and Rotary
Lombardi Award, presented to the nation's best linebacker and finest
lineman respectively.
O-Line Is Youngest Unit
UTEP's biggest graduation losses from 2003 are in the offensive
line. Three starters have departed -- RG Robert Clayton, LT Trey
Darilek and C Chris Kerr. Darilek was chosen by Philadelphia in the
fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft.
Two of this year's starters -- junior LG Jose Garcia and senior RT
Robert Espinosa -- have started 14 and 22 career games, respectively.
Senior RG Ben Graniello has started on nine occasions. Senior Bo
Morris and junior Josh House -- who start at center and left tackle,
respectively -- made the first starts of their careers in the season
opener at Arizona State.
Also seeing action on the offensive line this season have been
Anthony Casey, Alex Dimatteo, Luis Espinosa, Tim Ford, Dustin Gersch,
James Riley, Clay Salima, Andy Smith and Jordan Tubig.
UTEP Picked Eighth
The Miners were picked to finish eighth in the Western Athletic
Conference this season by league media. Boise State is picked first
(434 points), followed by Fresno State (427), Hawaii (384), Tulsa
(312), Nevada (256), Rice (212), Louisiana Tech (199), UTEP (179),
SMU (95) and San Jose State (87).
Media Takes Notice
The hiring of Mike Price has brought a great deal of national
attention to the UTEP football program. Since the beginning of
August, television crews from ESPN, Fox Sports Net Southwest and
College Sports Television (CSTV) have made visits to Miner practices.
Also in attendance have been writers from the Associated Press
Dallas bureau, Albuquerque Journal, Arizona Republic, Denver Post and
ESPN The Magazine. USA Today also ran a piece on Price via the Reno
Gazette Journal in late July.
All In The Family
When it comes to the UTEP football coaching staff, the Price is
right -- times three. Father Mike is the head coach, and sons Aaron
and Eric are the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator,
respectively. Although the Prices bring a combined 56 years of
coaching experience to the gridiron, 2004 marks the first time that
they have worked together on the same staff. Eric played for his
father at Weber State in 1988, and Aaron was Mike Price's kicker at
Washington State from 1991-93.
Gone Bowling
The Miners know what it takes to win. Fifteen players are still
around from the 2000 Humanitarian Bowl team which finished the season
8-4. Seniors Mark Dowdy and Justin Hunt each saw action in the bowl
game. The other Miners redshirted that season. Among those players
are Godwin Akinduro, Jonas Crafts, Dirk Dillard, Omar Duarte, Matt
Elwood, Robert Espinosa, Jahmal Fenner, Brian Givens, Ben Graniello,
Ibok Ibok, Bo Morris, Aaron Osborn and Robert Rodriguez.
Back Again
When he was hired as UTEP's head coach in December 2003, Mike
Price opted to retain three members of the previous coaching staff.
Returning in 2004 are linebackers coach Tim Duffie, offensive
graduate assistant/tight ends coach Brian Natkin and Director of
Football Operations Nate Poss. Poss is the elder member of the Miner
staff. He is beginning his eighth tour of duty in the Sun City.
Breaking Down the 2004 Miners
The 2004 UTEP roster features 97 players -- 21 seniors, 30
juniors, 23 sophomores and 23 freshmen. The Miners have a large
senior class for the first time since 1998, when they had 25 seniors
(UTEP had 13 seniors in 2000 and 2001, 16 in 2002 and seven in
2003).
C-USA in '05
UTEP will join the realigned Conference USA in July, 2005. The
Miners will be grouped in the league's Western Division with Houston,
Rice, SMU, Tulane and Tulsa. UTEP has been a member of the Western
Athletic Conference since September 1967, and has won 20 team
national titles as WAC members. The most famous was the 1966 men's
basketball national championship, in which legendary coach Don
Haskins made history by starting five black players.
Oh Brother
UTEP has four brother combinations on its 2004 roster: the
Espinosas (OL Luis and OL Robert), the Givens (WR Aaron and RB
Johan), the Hunts (TE Jamar and TE Justin) and the Jones (LB Jeremy
and DB Victor).
3.0 Club
Thirteen Miners had grade point averages of 3.0 or better at the
conclusion of the spring 2004 semester. They are sophomore DL Jake
Belshe, senior P Bryce Benekos, freshman QB Joe Castro, senior DB
Matt Elwood, junior DL Tevita Fifita, senior DL Brian Givens, senior
OL Ben Graniello, freshman TE Jamar Hunt, senior DB Victor Jones,
senior OL Bo Morris, senior DB Mike Perez, freshman DL James Riley
and sophomore PK Reagan Schneider.
Four Miners are playing the 2004 season as graduate students --
Givens, Graniello, senior TE Justin Hunt and Morris.
From The Weight Room
Some noteworthy numbers from the Miner strength and conditioning
program ... senior RB Howard Jackson has been timed at 4.26 in the
40, while sophomore WR Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. has been timed at
4.28 and freshman DB Quintin Demps at 4.31. UTEP's team average in
the 40 is 4.79 seconds, down from 4.95 in 2003. Junior LB Thomas
Howard, at 230 pounds, has posted a 4.38 time in the 40.
Nine Miners have registered vertical jumps of 40 inches or better,
compared to two in 2003. Twenty-six players have vertical jumps of
over 35 inches.
Senior DLs Ibok Ibok and Aaron Osborn can both bench press 429
pounds. Twenty-five players bench pressed 350+ pounds over the
summer, compared to 17 in the summer of 2003.
Junior WR Jayson Boyd has achieved a standing long jump of 10 feet
seven inches. Junior DB Cedric Click has the top vertical jump on
the team at 42.5 inches.
Miner Nuggets
Senior LB Godwin Akinduro, who picked up 12 tackles, a tackle for
loss and fumble recovery against New Mexico State, is this week's WAC
Defensive Player of the Week...sophomore K Reagan Schneider has made
all four of his field goal attempts from 40+ yards this season. Last
year, Schneider was 0 for 3 on field goal tries of 40 yards or
more...UTEP has averaged 36.0 points in its last three games, while
giving up an average of 15.7 during that span...UTEP's quarterbacks
completed 75.0 percent (15-of-20) of their passes against New Mexico
State, which was the best since Miner signal-callers completed
26-of-33 passes (78.8 percent) at Colorado State on Oct. 3,
1998...UTEP is 12 for 15 in red zone opportunities this season. The
Miners have scored nine touchdowns and kicked three field goals.
UTEP's opponents are eight for 10 in red zone opportunities, with six
touchdowns and two field goals...the Miners are 2-0 when Howard
Jackson rushes for over 100 yards...Jackson was the last Miner to
return a kickoff for a TD (Nevada, 2001) before he took the
second-half kickoff 91 yards to the end zone versus New Mexico
State...TE Jonas Crafts registered the first TD reception by a tight
end against New Mexico State since Justin Hunt and Joey Knapp each
caught one on Nov. 24, 2001 against Nevada...UTEP limited both Weber
State and New Mexico State to less than 10 first downs, the first
time this has happened twice in a season since 1997...TE Jake Sears
caught the first pass of his career versus NMSU...Jordan Palmer, Omar
Duarte, Orlando Cruz and Joe Castro each saw action at quarterback
against New Mexico State... WR Jayson Boyd has attempted two passes
on wide receiver throwbacks. Both passes were incomplete and
intended for Chris Francies...Boyd and Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. each
had their first TD receptions at UTEP against New Mexico State...the
Miners controlled the time of possession line against New Mexico
State, 36:35 to 23:25. The Miners held on to the ball for 21:04 in
the second half...three receivers -- junior Chris Francies and
sophomores Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. and Chris Marrow -- have had
100-yard games at UTEP. Junior RB Matt Austin has gone over the
century mark in rushing twice.
WAC Player of the Week Nominees
(New Mexico State game)
OFFENSE &emdash; Howard Jackson (SR RB)
Rushed 15 times for 158 yards (10.5 avg.) -- all in the first
half -- in UTEP's 45-0 win over New Mexico State...scored a touchdown
on a four-yard run...had runs of 11, 17, 18, 20 and 30 yards versus
NMSU...also had one reception for eight yards...finished with 257
all-purpose yards, including a 91-yard kickoff return for a
touchdown...moved into third place on UTEP's all-time rushing list
(2,719 yards) with his 11th career 100-yard game (third in school
history).
DEFENSE &emdash; Godwin Akinduro (SR LB)
Totaled 12 tackles (nine solos), one tackle for loss and a fumble
recovery in UTEP's win over New Mexico State...the Miners recorded
their biggest win over their I-10 rivals since a 69-7 rout in 1949,
and shut out NMSU for the first time since 1987...the victory also
gave UTEP two shutouts in a season for the first time in 17
years.
SPECIAL TEAMS &emdash; Howard Jackson (SR RB)
Opened the second half with a 91-yard kickoff return for a
touchdown versus New Mexico State...it was his second career kickoff
return for a score and his only KO return of the game...the 91-yard
kickoff return marked the 10th-longest in school history.
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