For Starters
UTEP (0-1) hosts Weber State (0-1) in the Miners' 2004 home
opener on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. Mountain time in
the 51,500-seat Sun Bowl. The Miners are coming off a 41-9 loss at
Arizona State last week. Weber State fell to Southern Utah 34-31,
snapping its four game winning streak dating back to last season.
On The Air
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 4 p.m. Mountain time.
The Miners can also be heard in Spanish on La Consentida 1150 AM.
KINT-TV weekend sports anchor Omar Ropele handles the play-by-play,
while former collegiate and high school coach Rick Bolanos serves as
the color commentator.
For Home Openers
The Miners have registered a 52-28-4 mark in home openers,
including going 22-17-2 since the inception of the Sun Bowl in 1963.
UTEP had won four consecutive home openers before falling to Cal
Poly, 34-13, in last year's first game in the Sun Bowl.
The Miners are 14-7 in their last 21 home openers dating back to
the 1983 season. UTEP has not lost back-to-back home openers since
opening with a 38-20 loss to New Mexico in 1997 and then falling
33-25 to Oregon in 1998.
Mike Price is 17-5 in home openers in his career. He went 8-1 in
home openers at Weber State and 9-4 at Washington State. Price
opened his final two seasons at Washington State with home wins over
Idaho (2001) and Seattle (2002).
History Of UTEP And Weber State
UTEP leads the series 2-0. Ironically, Weber State's head coach
in both previous matchups was Mike Price. The Miners beat the
Wildcats 40-34 on Nov. 19, 1983, and 48-21 on Sept. 10, 1988. Both
games were played in the Sun Bowl. The 1988 Miners went on to record
a 10-3 record and met Southern Mississippi in the Independence
Bowl.
Price has never faced the school where he started his head
coaching career.
Last Meeting
UTEP, then coached by current Miner athletic director Bob Stull,
defeated Weber State, then coached by current UTEP head coach Mike
Price, 48-21 at the Sun Bowl on Sept. 10, 1988. The two teams
combined for 881 yards of total offense (459 for UTEP) in the
shootout. UTEP's John Harvey (1985-88) rushed for 135 yards and
equalled the second-best touchdown total in a single game with five
(four rushing). Harvey additionally broke the school's touchdown
record on that day. Pat Hegarty (1987-88) completed 15 of 22 passes
for 163 yards and a touchdown. The Weber State team featured current
UTEP offensive coordinator Eric Price, who was a junior wide receiver
on the squad.
UTEP/Weber State Ties
Miner Head Coach Mike Price directed the Weber State program from
1981-88. He posted a 46-44 record with the Wildcats, including a
10-win season in 1987. Weber State was Big Sky conference
co-champions that year, and reached the quarterfinals of the I-AA
playoffs.
UTEP Offensive Coordinator Eric Price played for Weber State from
1988-89, earning his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1990.
He was also a student assistant coach for the Wildcats in 1990.
Eric Price and quarterbacks/kickers coach Aaron Price both
attended high school in Ogden, Utah, where Weber State is
located.
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach Lawrence Livingston,
Sr. is also a Weber State graduate ('86) who is a former Wildcat
assistant (1983-87, 1989-94).
UTEP has one player from the state of Utah on its roster &endash;
junior OL Michael Eddy, who attended Northridge High School in
Layton.
UTEP Versus The Big Sky
UTEP has posted a 9-1-1 all-time record versus schools currently
in the Big Sky Conference. The only blemish was a 12-10 setback to
Idaho State in the Sun Bowl on Sept. 10, 1983. UTEP is 7-1 versus
Big Sky programs in games played in El Paso. The Miners are facing a
Big Sky squad for the first time since 2002, when they routed
Sacramento State 42-12 in their season opener in the Sun Bowl.
Mike Price coached teams are 32-17 when playing against Big Sky
opponents.
Price And The Sun Bowl
Although he will be making his Sun Bowl debut as the Miners' head
coach on Saturday, Mike Price will be coaching his fourth game
overall in the history-enchanted stadium. In his previous three
experiences, Price posted a 1-2 mark (1-0 with Washington State, 0-2
with Weber State).
Price coached Weber State to a 40-34 loss to UTEP in 1983, and a
48-21 loss to the Miners to open the 1988 season.
In 2001, Price led Washington State over Purdue 33-27 in the Wells
Fargo Sun Bowl to cap a 10-2 season.
Price is not the first UTEP head coach to have previously won a
game in El Paso before taking over for the Miners. Tommy Hudspeth,
who coached UTEP from 1972-73, went 2-1-1 in El Paso while head coach
at BYU from 1964-71. Price, however, is the first coach to have won
a Sun Bowl game prior to coming to UTEP.
Overall, UTEP first-year head coaches have gone 11-12 in their El
Paso debuts.
First Year Head Coaches
Head coach Mike Price is one of 14 coaches 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 129-123 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), and compiled a 20-5 mark in his last two years at
Washington State. 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.
Inside the ASU Box Score
Field position was key in UTEP's loss at Arizona State on
Thursday. Arizona State's average starting field position was its own
35 yard line in 16 drives, while UTEP started its 18 drives at an
average of its own 26 yard line.
ASU started two drives in Miner territory, thanks to a fumble and
a interception. The Miners also started two drives in Sun Devil
territory. Jahmal Fenner gave the Miners possession at the ASU 10
yard line following an 84-yard punt return in the fourth quarter.
The Miner defense, which showed great improvement from the 2003
season, was on the field for 86 plays, compared to 75 plays by the
offense. Arizona State also controlled the time of possession line
32:31 to 27:29, including eating up a whopping 10:32 of the clock in
the third quarter.
UTEP also struggled on third downs, converting 16.7 percent (three
of 18) of its tries. The defense did a solid job of shutting down
ASU on third downs, limiting the Sun Devils to five of 16 (31.3
percent).
Season Premieres
Fifteen Miners who had never seen action in a UTEP uniform made
the trip to Arizona State. Of the 15, nine stepped on the field for
the first time wearing the orange, white and blue. Among the
newcomers were freshmen Quintin Demps, Jake Sears, Marcus Thomas and
James Riley and juniors Anthony Barnes, Jayson Boyd, James Delgardo,
Michael Eddy and Daniel Robinson.
Boyd, Delgardo and Thomas were key contributors in the contest.
Boyd caught two passes for 25 yards, including a 17-yard reception.
Delgardo forced a fumble, recorded four tackles and picked off a
pass. Thomas rushed seven times for 29 yards.
Newcomers Andre Bailey, Anthony Casey, Oneil Cousins, Josh Fematt,
Mark Parrish and Clay Salima made the trip but did not play.
You Can Start Me Up
Six Miners made their debut in the starting lineup at Arizona
State. They were Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. (flanker), Bo Morris
(center), Josh House (offensive left tackle), Quintin Demps (free
safety), Brian Givens (left end) and Zach West (defensive right
tackle).
Demps was the lone freshman in the starting lineup. UTEP's other
starters were composed of five sophomores, five juniors and 11
seniors.
True Freshman
Former Parade All-American Marcus Thomas was the only true
freshman on the field for the Miners when he made his collegiate
debut at Arizona State.
Thomas carried seven times for 29 yards, leading the Miners with
4.1 yards per rush. He also caught two passes for five years.
Along with Thomas, 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).
In the Lineup Together!
Senior linebackers Robert Rodriguez and Godwin Akinduro were on
the field together for the first time in their career at Arizona
State. Previously Akinduro backed up Rodriguez. He was switched
from middle linebacker to weak side linebacker under the new
staff.
No Love For Tight Ends
UTEP's tight ends -- Jonas Crafts, Jake Sears and Casey Mauch --
did not have a reception at Arizona State. It marked just the fourth
time in UTEP's last 67 games that a tight end did not register a
catch. Last year UTEP's tight ends did not have a reception against
SMU, Tulsa and Rice.
Crafts, who has 53 career receptions, had one drop and had a
defender pick off a pass which was intended for him at ASU.
While receptions are not uncommon for UTEP's tight ends,
touchdowns are. The Miners have not had a tight end visit the end
zone over the last 26 games. The last time it happened was on Nov.
24, 2001, when Joey Knapp (1998-2001) caught a touchdown from Wesley
Phillips (1999-2001) versus Nevada.
A Natural On Returns
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 third in the NCAA in
punt return average (32.8 ypr).
Fenner (68 career returns) is now two returns within Javier
Sanchez's (1996-98, 2000) school record of 70. He also moved past
Sanchez (619 career yards) and Reggie Matthews (1966-68; 667 career
yards) with 691 career yards at Arizona State. Gerald Campbell
(1949-51) is career record-holder with 874 yards.
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.
Jackson Ready For More Action
Senior RB Howard Jackson, a Doak Walker Award candidate, will
resume his assault on the Miner record books on versus Weber State.
The slight (5-9, 160) but speedy (4.26 time in the 40) Jackson ranks
fifth in career rushing yardage (2,337), seventh in rushing attempts
(444), and tied for eighth in rushing touchdowns (16). The Freeport,
Texas, native has had nine career 100-yard rushing games, tied for
the fourth-top total in school annals, including six last season.
With one season left in the orange, white and blue, Jackson stands
to obliterate UTEP's career all-purpose yardage record. He has 4,453
all-purpose yards -- tops in school history -- and has averaged 131.0
all-purpose yards per contest (second in the UTEP books behind Chuck
Hughes' 133.0 average). Last season Jackson racked up 2,146
all-purpose yards, shattering Hughes' single-season mark which had
stood for nearly 40 years.
Jackson also rates third on the Miner charts in kickoff returns
(71) and kickoff return yardage (1,645). 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.
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.
He was first in the WAC and fourth in the country in all-purpose
yards (165.1 avg.) last season. The three players who were ahead of
Jackson at the national level -- Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams, Kansas
State RB Darren Sproles and Central Michigan RB Jerry Seymour -- are
all back in 2004.
Big Numbers For Rodriguez
Senior LB Robert Rodriguez has amassed a whopping 327 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 327 career tackles rate sixth among all active
players.
More On Rodriguez
Robert Rodriguez's preseason honors include 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 is rated the
14th-best inside linebacker in the country by The Sporting News.
Rodriguez needs just eight tackles to move into a tie for 10th
place on the UTEP career chart. He 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 (1980-81-82-83),
Barron Wortham (1990-91-92-93) and Micheal Comer (1994-95-96).
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.
Benekos Moving Up Charts
Senior P Bryce Benekos rates third in school history in punts
(201) and punting yards (8,134). His punting average has risen
steadily in four years with the Miners, from 34.5 as a freshman to
40.8 to 44.1 last season and to 44.2 in 2004. His 44.1 average in
2003 stands as the fourth-best seasonal figure in UTEP history. He
was also second in the WAC and 13th nationally in punting a year ago.
Benekos finished the season strong, averaging 46.3 yards per punt
over the last nine games. He booted his career-long punt for 76
yards against Cal Poly.
A three-time Academic All-WAC pick who got married during the
off-season, Benekos is on the watch list for the Ray Guy Award,
presented to the nation's best punter. His 44.1 average in 2003
ranks 11th among returning players this season.
Palmer Learning on the Job
Making his seventh career start, sophomore Jordan Palmer was 21
of 44 (47.7 percent) with four interceptions and 196 yards passing at
Arizona State. The four interceptions were a career-high. He threw
three picks in back-to-back games versus Tulsa and San Jose State
last season. The 196 yards passing marked the second-highest total
of his young career. Palmer registered 287 yards through the air
against Tulsa a year ago.
Palmer showed flashes at ASU. He connected with Johnny Lee
Higgins, Jr., on a 37-yard strike and Aaron Givens on a 33 yarder.
Palmer's favorite target was Chris Marrow, who caught five passes for
33 yards.
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.
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 11 and 19 career games, respectively.
Senior RG Ben Graniello has started on six occasions. Senior Bo
Morris and junior Josh House -- who started at center and left
tackle, respectively -- made the first starts of their careers at
Arizona State.
Also seeing action on the offensive line at Arizona State were
Alex Dimatteo, Michael Eddy, Luis Espinosa, James Riley and Andy
Smith.
The offensive line allowed just two sacks at Arizona State. UTEP
rushed for 87 yards.
New Rule
Among the most noticeable new rules in college football this
season is the head official putting a number with each penalty.
Jayson Boyd, James Delgardo, Michael Eddy, Jose Garcia, Josh House,
Ibok Ibok and Andy Smith were all hit with flags at Arizona
State.
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. Over the last month alone,
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 98 players -- 21 seniors, 31
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.
Tough Start
UTEP's first six games are against Arizona State, Weber State,
Boise State, New Mexico State, Fresno State and Hawaii -- teams that
posted a combined record of 47-31 (.603) in 2003. Three of those
teams -- Boise State, Fresno State and Hawaii -- are coming off bowl
seasons, while Arizona State was a Holiday Bowl participant just two
years ago.
If the Miners can weather the early-season storm, the last five
contests are versus Louisiana Tech, San Jose State, Rice, SMU and
Tulsa -- teams with a composite mark of 21-39 (.350) a year ago. And
that includes Tulsa's 8-5 record, which catapulted the Golden
Hurricane into the Crucial.com Humanitarian Bowl.
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
Sophomore QB Jordan Palmer attempted 44 passes at Arizona State,
most by a Miner signal-caller since Rocky Perez at TCU on Nov. 18,
2000 (46 attempts)...junior WR Chris Francies blocked a punt with
2:16 remaining in the second quarter at ASU. It was the first
blocked punt by a Miner player since Josh Chamois versus Tulsa last
season...sophomore Reagan Schneider's extra point attempt at ASU with
1:49 to go in the second quarter was wide left, making him 10 for 11
lifetime on PATs...the temperature at kickoff was 104 degrees, making
it the second-hottest game in school history. The record is 106
degrees at kickoff on Sept. 2, 2000 at Oklahoma...UTEP has two
players returning who are coming off 100-tackle seasons. They are
senior LB Robert Rodriguez (135 stops in 2003) and junior LB Thomas
Howard (118)...two former Miner football standouts -- Don Maynard and
Jesse Whittenton -- will be inducted into the UTEP Athletic Hall of
Fame on Sept. 17. Maynard is already in the NFL Hall of
Fame...senior DB Jahmal Fenner is sixth in kickoff return yardage
(1,147) and seventh in kickoff returns (48)...two receivers -- junior
Chris Francies and sophomore Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. -- 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
(Arizona State game)
Offense -- None.
Defense -- James Delgardo
(DB, JR, 5-11, 175, Seattle, Wash.)
Had four tackles (three solos), a forced fumble and an interception
in a reserve role at Arizona State...it was his first game for
UTEP.
Special Teams -- Jahmal Fenner
(DB, SR, 5-8, 180, Austin, Texas)
Had three punt returns for 98 yards (32.7 avg.) at Arizona
State...long return was for 84 yards in the fourth quarter, setting
up Reagan Schneider's 33-yard field goal...it was the fifth-longest
punt return in UTEP history, and the longest of Fenner's career.
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