UTEP Miners

Aug. 27, 2007

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Miners Open 2007 Campaign

UTEP (5-7 in 2006) hosts New Mexico (6-7 a year ago) in the season opener for both schools on Saturday in the Sun Bowl. Kickoff is slated for 8:06 p.m. MST. This is UTEP's 90th season of football. The game will be nationally televised on CSTV, with Carter Blackburn (play-by-play) and Brian Jones (color commentary) calling the action. It is the first of three nationally televised games for the Miners this season. CSTV will also have coverage of UTEP's games at SMU (Sept. 29) and at home versus Southern Miss (Nov. 17).

The Lobos ended the 2006 season with a 20-12 loss to San Jose State in the New Mexico Bowl. UTEP is opening a season against a team that played in a bowl game the previous year for the first time since 2000, when the Miners christened the year with a 55-14 loss at 19th-ranked Oklahoma. The Sooners played in the Sanford Independence Bowl the previous season.

UTEP is opening a season at home for the first time in the Mike Price era, and for the first time since 2002 overall. The Miners are 38-46-5 in season openers, including 29-16-3 in season openers at home. UTEP has won its last two season openers at home -- a 13-10 triumph over the Lobos in 1999 and a 42-12 demolition of Sacramento State in 2002. UTEP hasn't won three straight season openers since 1986-88.

UTEP is opening a season at home for just the third time in the last 15 years (1999, 2002).

The Miners are 2-1 in home openers under Price, beating Weber State (32-0) in 2004 and Houston (44-41 in double overtime) in 2005, and losing to Texas Tech (38-35 in overtime) last season.

UTEP is 13-5 in the Sun Bowl since Price took the helm of the program in 2004, although the Miners were 3-3 in the venue last season. UTEP has lost its last two games in the Sun Bowl, 37-31 to Rice and 38-19 to Memphis last November. It marks the first losing streak for the Miners in the stadium under Price.

The Miners are slated to play five games in the month of September for the first time since 2000 and only the third time since 1990.

The UTEP-UNM Ledger

New Mexico leads the UTEP series, which originated in 1919, by a 42-29-3 count. However, the teams have split the last 16 meetings, with the Miners going 6-2 at home during that span.

Overall UTEP owns a 20-15-3 advantage in games played between the schools in El Paso.

The Miners are opening the season against the Lobos for the fifth time in school history (previous 1935, 1991, 1999, 2001). UTEP is 2-2 when opening a season versus New Mexico, including 2-0 in the Sun Bowl with victories in 1991 (35-19) and 1999 (13-10). UTEP has faced only three schools more often than New Mexico in season openers -- North Texas (12 times), New Mexico State (seven times) and Arizona (six times).

The UTEP-New Mexico series is the second longest-running in school history (74 games) behind the New Mexico State series (84 games).

UTEP and New Mexico were joint members of the Western Athletic Conference from 1968-98.

The Last Meeting

UTEP fell behind 19-0 in the first half on the way to a 26-13 setback at New Mexico on Sept. 23, 2006.

The Lobo defense limited the Miners to just four first downs and 83 yards in the first half.

UNM took advantage of the sluggish start, with Chris Nelson tossing both of his touchdown passes in the opening quarter. The Lobos then tacked on five more points, courtesy of a safety and a field goal, before UTEP's Reagan Schneider connected on a 36-yard field goal to make the score 19-3 at the half.

The third quarter got off to an ominous start for the Miners, with UNM marching down the field on its opening drive. Nelson scored on a plunge from one-yard out, lifting the Lobos to a commanding 26-3 advantage.

The Miners responded with an 80-yard scoring drive on the ensuing possession, concluding with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Palmer to Daniel Robinson. After UTEP forced UNM to go three downs and out, Palmer drove the Miners to the Lobos' 12 yard line. Three straight sacks kept UTEP out of the end zone, but Schneider drilled a 49-yard field goal to bring the Miners within 13 points (26-13) with almost the whole fourth quarter left to play.

UTEP's defense did its job in the final period, keeping the Lobos off the scoreboard. Palmer and the Miners moved the ball effectively by driving deep into UNM territory, but UTEP was unable to put any more points on the board. Rodney Ferguson, who wore down the Miners' defense with 162 yards on 34 carries, helped the Lobos run out the clock.

The Last Meeting in El Paso

Two defensive players scored second-half touchdowns, and UTEP shut down New Mexico after the break en route to a 21-13 victory on Sept. 24, 2005 in the Sun Bowl.

UTEP improved to 3-0 for the first time since 1987 with the victory, while dropping the Lobos from the ranks of the unbeaten at 3-1.

The Miners trailed 10-7 at the half but outscored New Mexico 14-0 in the third quarter, as safety Joe Fleskoski and cornerback Nate Draughon scored on an interception and blocked punt recovery, respectively.

UTEP limited the Lobos to seven first downs and 123 yards of offense in the second half. New Mexico finished the game with 285 yards on 68 plays and one touchdown.

Jeremy Jones collected 12 tackles and Chris Mineo had two sacks for the Miner stop troops. Fleskoski added 10 tackles.

The defensive dominance was the story on a night when UTEP managed just 57 yards of offense in the second half. Jordan Palmer completed 16 of 31 passes for 178 yards for the Miners, and Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. had eight catches for 91 yards.

DonTrell Moore rushed for 161 yards for the Lobos. Kole McKamey completed 15 of 24 attempts for 136 yards for UNM, but he rushed for minus-four yards on 10 carries a week after running for 152 yards in a win over New Mexico State.

The Lobos rushed for 149 yards, but only 66 came in the second half.

UTEP in Brief

The Miners return 38 letterwinners (21 offense/17 defense) from last year's 5-7 squad that finished 3-5 in Conference USA's Western Division (fifth place). The Miners were picked fourth in C-USA's Western Division in the preseason coaches' poll.

UTEP welcomes back eight regular starters on offense and three regular starters on defense.

The Miners' biggest losses on offense are quarterback Jordan Palmer, the school's all-time leader in every passing and total offensive category, and Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr., the school's all-time leading receiver.

UTEP also lost its top tackler from a year ago, linebacker Troy Collavo, and both of its kickers (Reagan Schneider and punter Ryan Hotchkiss). Returning from a medical redshirt year is linebacker Jeremy Jones, who was the team's leading tackler in 2005 with 130 stops.

The offensive line returns largely intact, and the top six rushers are back. The top three receivers from 2006 have moved on.

UTEP's depth chart for the New Mexico game lists eight players in starting assignments on defense (SS Da'Mon Cromartie Smith, LCB Tim McCullouch, SAM Anthony Morrow, LT James Olalekan, LE Dane O'Neill, RT Steve Riddick, RE Robert Soleyjacks, MIKE Adam Vincent) who have never started a game at the collegiate level.

Taking a Look at the Two-Deep

UTEP's depth chart features 12 seniors (six on offense/six on defense), 12 juniors (five on offense/six on defense/one specialist), 17 sophomores (eight on offense/eight on defense/one specialist) and 12 freshmen (nine on offense/two on defense/one specialist). The two-deep lists 10 seniors in starting assignments (six on offense/four on defense). UTEP has no true freshmen in the season-opening depth chart for only the third time since 1988. This also happened in 2002 and 2004.

Price Already Fifth in Wins at UTEP

After only three seasons at UTEP, Mike Price is tied for fifth place in school history with 21 coaching victories. Jack Curtice is in fourth place with 24 wins. Price owns 150 career victories, placing him 11th among active Division I-A head coaches. The Miners have averaged seven wins per season under Price; the only coach in school annals to achieve similar success was Bob Stull from 1986-88 (21 wins). Stull is UTEP's director of athletics. Mike Brumbelow (6.6 victories per year) and Jack Curtice (6.0 per year) are slightly behind the standard set by Price and Stull.

Freshman Signal Callers Starting Season Unheard Of

Should freshman Trevor Vittatoe earn the starting nod against the Lobos on Saturday, he would become only the second rookie quarterback in program history to take the first snap of the season. Jay Wiley, who played only one year with the Miners, is the only freshman in school annals to achieve the feat. He was behind center in the season-opening 14-7 loss to New Mexico State on Sept. 5, 1981.

Here is a look at UTEP's starting quarterbacks in season openers and their stats for the game.

2006- Jordan Palmer, SR (20-29-4, 213 yards, 3 TD)
2005- Jordan Palmer, JR (15-26-0, 187 yards, 3 TD)
2004- Jordan Palmer, SO (21-44-4, 196 yards, 0 TD)
2003- Orlando Cruz, SO (13-25- 1, 121 yards, 0 TD)
2002- Jon Schaper, SO (14-28-1, 134 yards, 2 TD)
2001- Wesley Phillips, SR (18-30-1, 211 yards, 1 TD)
2000- Rocky Perez, SR (18-37-2, 197 yards, 1 TD)
1999- Rocky Perez, JR (15-20-2, 152 yards, 0 TD)
1998- John Rayborn, SR (11-24-2, 180 yards, 0 TD)
1997- Craig Strickland, JR (4-13-1, 33 yards, 0 TD)
1996- Leonard Lilja, SR (8-20-2, 92 yards, 0 TD)
1995- Leonard Lilja, JR (12-21-1, 147 yards, 0 TD)
1994- Shawn Gray, SR (8-26-0, 114 yards, 0 TD)
1993- Shawn Gray, JR (12-30-2, 123 yards, 0 TD)
1992- Shawn Gray, SO (14-18-1, 174 yards, 0 TD)
1991- Mike Perez, SO (11-20-1, 146 yards, 1 TD)
1990- Howard Gasser, SR (4-7-0, 52 yards, 0 TD)
1989- Howard Gasser, JR (22-37-2, 237 yards, 1 TD)
1988- Pat Hegarty, SR (10-20-0, 208 yards, 1 TD)
1987- Pat Hegarty, JR (15-29-1, 155 yards, 2 TD)
1986- Sammy Garza, SR (36-49-1, 458 yards, 7 TD)
1985- Sammy Garza, JR (6-13-2, 35 yards, 0 TD)
1984- Sammy Garza, SO (16-32-2, 227 yards, 1 TD)
1983- Kevin Ward, JR (4-12-0, 38 yards, 0 TD)
1982- Kevin Ward, SO (4-13-0, 41 yards, 0 TD)
1981- Jay Wiley, FR (5-12-0, 69 yards, 0 TD)
1980- Paul Sieczkowski, JR (13-22-1, 73 yards, 1 TD)
1979- David Stone, SO (6-10-0, 56 yards, 0 TD)
1978- Oscar Ramirez, SR (7-27-2, 43 yards, 0 TD)
1977- Don Amerson, SR (6-8-1, 106 yards, 1 TD)
1976- Don Amerson, JR (5-9-0, 69 yards, 0 TD)
1975- Bobby McKinley, SR (5-18-1, 73 yards, 0 TD)
1974- Bobby McKinley, JR (9-17-1, 113 yards, 1 TD)
1973- Frank Duncan, JR (11-24-0, 148 yards, 2 TD)
1972- Gary Keithley, SR (21-38-2, 327 yards, 3 TD)
1971- Garry Keithley, JR (8-14-0, 99 yards, 2 TD)
1970- Bill Craigo, JR (19-38-2, 255 yards, 0 TD)
1969- Bill Craigo, SO (10-25-4, 188 yards, 1 TD)
1968- Brooks Dawson, SR (29-65-0, 342 yards, 2 TD)
1967- Brooks Dawson, JR (17-26-2, 175 yards, 4 TD)
1966- Billy Stevens, JR (15-44-2, 256 yards, 3 TD)
1965- Billy Stevens, SO (21-35-2, 500 yards, 2 TD)

Starting Over at QB

UTEP's top two quarterbacks -- senior Lorne Sam and freshman Trevor Vittatoe -- have combined to attempt six passes for the Miners, all by Sam in 2006. No matter who lands the starting nod for the New Mexico game, UTEP will have its most inexperienced returning quarterback in terms of career passing attempts. Here is a look at some other UTEP opening day starting quarterbacks with fewer than 70 career passing attempts entering the game.

1982- Kevin Ward, SO (2-9-1, 43 yards)
1984- Sammy Garza, SO (39-66-6, 437 yards, 4 TD)
1992- Shawn Gray, SO (13-33, 263 yards, 2 TD)
1995- Leonard Lilja, JR (3-10-1, 24 yards, 0 TD)
2001- Wesley Phillips, SR (6-16-1, 42 yards 0 TD)
2002- Jon Schaper, SO (25-60-5, 232 yards, 0 TD)
2003- Orlando Cruz, SO (28-58- 6, 466 yards, 3 TD)

Demps Among Career Leaders In Interceptions

Senior DB Quintin Demps ranks seventh in school history with 12 career interceptions, including seven last season. The San Antonio native's next pick will push him into a tie for fourth place with three other players. Charlie West (1965-67) holds the school record with 19 career interceptions. Demps is tied with Boise State's Marty Tadman -- also a senior -- for the national lead among returning players with 12 interceptions. Demps is also sixth among returnees in interception yards (184).

Demps is on preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player in college football) and the Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back). He is the only player from a school in the state of Texas on the Thorpe Award list. Demps, who is projected to be a first day pick in the 2008 NFL Draft by some analysts, landed on preseason All-America teams by The Sporting News and Street & Smith's.

Jones Makes Comeback

Senior LB Jeremy Jones returns in 2007 after breaking his leg in practice and missing all but two games of the 2006 campaign. Jones was UTEP's leading tackler two seasons ago, racking up 130 stops to earn second team All-Conference USA honors. He averaged 10.8 tackles to rate third in the league and 14th in the NCAA.

Jones has recorded double-figure tackles in nine of his last 14 collegiate games, including a career-high 18 versus Rice on Oct. 29, 2005. He is on preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Chuck Bednarik Award, both presented to the top defensive player in college football.

Thomas Could Be In Elite Company

Senior Marcus Thomas has paced the Miners in rushing yards the past two years, and if he does so again in 2007, he would become just the seventh player in program annals to achieve the feat in at least three straight seasons. Howard Jackson was the most recent player to record this accomplishment, doing so from 2002-04. Thomas rushed for 513 yards last season while operating behind an inexperienced offensive line. The former Parade prep All-American has accumulated 1,449 yards rushing in three seasons with the Miners -- putting him 15th on the school's career list. He needs 450 yards to crack the top 10. Thomas has rushed for over 100 yards four times in his UTEP career -- all during the 2005 season. Thomas is tied for 10th place in school history with the four 100-yard rushing games.

Felix a Staple in the Starting Lineup

Junior Robby Felix is on the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy -- presented to the top center in college football -- for the second consecutive season. Felix is the veteran of the Miner O-line, having started all 24 games over the last two seasons. He was appointed third team All-Conference USA by league media and honorable mention by the coaches a year ago -- significant achievements considering that UTEP averaged just 57.6 yards rushing. It marked the Miners' lowest rushing average since 1965 (45.4 ypg).

High-Profile Transfers Make UTEP Debuts Saturday

Miner fans are eagerly awaiting the arrivals of junior RB Terrell Jackson, sophomore WR Fred Rouse and junior LB Adam Vincent this week. All three are Division I transfers with sterling credentials. Jackson appeared in seven games for Oregon in 2005, rushing 27 times for 107 yards. He was a SuperPrep and PrepStar All-American at Centennial High School in Moreno Valley, Calif. Jackson was rated one of the top 15 running backs in the country and one of the top two in the state of California coming out of the prep ranks.

Rouse was regarded as the top wide receiver in the country by most publications and a five-star recruit following his time at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, Fla. Rouse was listed as the no. 6 overall player in the country by ESPN.com's Tom Lemming. He played in 11 games for Florida State in 2005.

Vincent joins the Miners after appearing in 11 contests for Arizona State in 2005. He had 13 tackles for the Sun Devils and a half-sack versus top-ranked USC. Vincent was pegged the no. 14 player in the state of Arizona by SuperPrep as a senior at Hamilton High School. He piled up 355 tackles and 25.5 tackles for losses during his prep career.

It's Got the Distance ...

Junior Jose Martinez, who redshirted last year after transferring from Bakersfield College, has displayed a lively leg in training camp. Martinez boomed 57-yard field goals in scrimmages on Aug. 17 and Aug. 25, which would tie for the third-longest in school history if they came in regular season games.

Unusual Move For Dew

After spending his first two years in El Paso at quarterback, sophomore Brandis Dew has been moved to the defensive line for the 2007 season. The 6-5, 275-pound Dew is listed as the top backup to Robert Soleyjacks at right end heading into the New Mexico game. Dew redshirted in 2005, then did not see action in 2006 while battling a shoulder injury. He put up eye-popping numbers as a signal-caller at Hemet (Calif.) High School but was coveted by many big name programs, including LSU, as a defensive prospect. Dew saw action on both sides of the ball at Hemet High.

Who Are These Guys?

UTEP has a lot of new faces in general this season, but the Miners are particularly starting from scratch in the special teams area. UTEP is replacing its kicker, punter, holder and snapper from a year ago. Freshman Kyle Petersen is listed as the first-string punter, junior Jose Martinez is atop the two-deep at kicker, sophomore QB Kyle Wright is the holder and junior TE Jamar Hunt is the snapper. UTEP does have some experienced kickoff and punt return guys in Quintin Demps and Josh Ferguson.

UTEP Games a Hot Ticket Under Price

UTEP has averaged 43,851 fans at home over the last three seasons under coach Mike Price, including a record attendance average of 47,899 spectators in 2005. Last year the Miners averaged 42,443 fans per home game. Since Price's arrival in the Sun City, UTEP has posted a record of 11-3 in home games with the attendance greater than 40,000 (2-3 in the last five contests).

Noting UTEP's Prolific Offense Under Price

The Miners have scored 30 or more points in 61.1 percent of their games since Mike Price took over as head coach in 2004. That effort is the best of any of UTEP's 24 head coaches throughout the years. Bill Alton (1981) is next on the list at 55.6 percent, followed by Bob Stull (1986-88) at 53 percent. Bobby Dobbs (1965-72) owns the most 30-point games with 25 on his coaching ledger, followed by Price with 22. UTEP is 18-4 under Price when tallying 30 points or more, compared to 3-11 when being held under 30 points.

Under Price, the Miners have averaged 31.6 points per game (1,139 points in 36 games), a school record. Stull's teams averaged 29.8 points to rate second.

The Miner offense has accumulated plenty of yards under Price, averaging 395.6 per game with twenty 400 plus-yard showings. Only Charlie Bailey and Dobbs (25 each) compiled more 400-yard games at the helm of the UTEP program. Price has needed only 36 games to achieve twenty 400 plus-yard contests, while Dobbs required 58 tilts and Bailey needed 68 contests.

Miners Hoping to Get Ground Game Back on Track

If the Miners are to rebound from last year's 5-7 record, they will need to run the football better than they did a year ago. Last year UTEP averaged 57.6 yards per game on the ground, and did not have a player run for 100+ yards in any game for the first time since 1992. It also marked only the fourth time since 1950 that the Miners went through an entire season without having a 100-yard rusher. Marcus Thomas produced a season-high 81 yards rushing versus New Mexico State.

The Miners compiled 100+ yards rushing as a team in only three games last season, their lowest total since 1990 (also three games).

UTEP has now gone 13 consecutive games without having a 100-yard rusher, its longest dry spell since a 23-game run spanning across the 1991, 1992 and 1993 seasons.

The Miners haven't had a 100-yard rusher in their last four season openers. The last UTEP player to kick off a season with a 100-yard game was Howard Jackson against Sacramento State (21 carries-157 yards) in 2002. The last time a Miner rushed for 100+ yards in a season opener versus a Division I-A team was nine years ago, when Paul Smith rambled for 138 yards on 32 carries against New Mexico.

Lobo Defense Has Given Miners Problems in the Past

UTEP has averaged 17.0 points and 244.5 yards of offense in two games against New Mexico over the last two seasons. The Miners have averaged 30.7 points and 417.4 yards of offense versus all other opponents since 2005.

UTEP has averaged just 50 yards rushing in the two games against the Lobos, including 30 last season.

Miner Nuggets

UTEP will face seven 2006 bowl teams this season, beginning on Saturday against New Mexico. Five of the games will be played in the Sun Bowl ... the Miners have posted a 3-5 record versus Mountain West Conference schools since the league was formed for the 1999 season (2-2 versus New Mexico, 1-1 versus San Diego State, 0-2 versus TCU) ... UTEP junior DB George Kelly -- a transfer from Pima Community College -- is one of only 14 native Alaskans playing Division I-A football. Kelly hails from Anchorage and attended Robert Service High School. Of the 14 Alaskans on I-A rosters, 11 are from Anchorage ... UTEP is 0-4 all-time when playing on Sept. 1 ... UTEP has enjoyed four separate win streaks of at least three straight games in the Mike Price era. Putting that into perspective, the Miners achieved winning streak of three games or more on just four occasions from 1975-2003 ... Mike Price and Bob Stull are the only coaches in UTEP history whose teams haven't been shut out in a game ... UTEP's scoring margin under Mike Price (+4.2 ppg) ranks second-best in the modern era of football at the school behind Bob Stull's +4.5 ppg margin from 1986-88.