Aug. 29, 2010

Complete Game Notes in PDF Format

Miners Kick Off Season Versus Golden Lions

UTEP will open its 93rd season of football at home versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Miners will play four of their first six games in the Sun Bowl, where they have posted a 22-14 record under coach Mike Price, before hitting the road for four of the last six outings, including three of the last four. Three of UTEP's last four contests are versus teams that played in bowls a year ago - at Marshall (Oct. 30), versus SMU (Nov. 6) and at Arkansas (Nov. 13).

Scouting Arkansas-Pine Bluff

UTEP and Arkansas-Pine Bluff are squaring off for the first time. The Golden Lions are members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and were 5-5 last season, including 3-4 in league play. UAPB's top returning players are quarterback Josh Boudreaux (974 yards passing, 9 TDs in `09) and cornerback Joe Brown (42 tackles, 4 INTs a year ago). Arkansas-Pine Bluff will be facing a Division I opponent for the first time since dropping a 20-17 decision at New Mexico State in 2007. The Aggies' Paul Young kicked a 37-yard field goal with one second remaining for the game-winner.

UTEP Versus the SWAC

The Miners are 3-0 all-time versus members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. UTEP beat Texas Southern during the 2001, 2005 and 2007 seasons by a combined count of 149-18.

UTEP-UAPB Ties

UTEP senior OL Anthony McNac and Arkansas-Pine Bluff sophomore DB Charles Williams were teammates at Lancaster (Texas) High School. UTEP has two Dallas Skyline HS products on its roster (freshman QB Javia Hall, freshman DB Adrian James), and UAPB has two (sophomore DL Michael Johnson, freshman RB Nick Young).

UTEP and Openers

The Miners are 39-48-5 in season openers. UTEP is 32-18-3 in season openers at home. The Miners are opening a season at home for the second year in a row, but just the fifth time in the last 18 years (1999, 2002, 2007, 2009). The last time UTEP kicked off a season at home in consecutive years was a seven-year run from 1986-92.

The Miners are 3-3 in season openers under coach Mike Price but have lost their last two under his watch. UTEP is also 3-3 in home openers in the Price regime.

A Rare Occurrence ... UTEP Carries a Win into 2010

For the first time since 1987, UTEP enters a season coming off a victory in its final game of the previous year. The Miners had lost 22 straight season finales before breaking through with a 52-21 win over Marshall to cap the `09 campaign.

UTEP is 17-13-3 all-time in season openers after winning its final game the previous year.

UTEP in September Under Price

UTEP has fashioned a combined 10-11 mark in six Septembers under Mike Price (1-2 in 2004, 3-0 in 2005, 1-2 in 2006, 3-2 in 2007, 1-2 in 2008, 1-3 in 2009). Overall the Miners have posted a winning record in September just seven times over the last 38 years (1987, 1988, 1991, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2007).

UTEP in Non-Conference Games Under Price

The Miners' record in non-conference games during the Mike Price era is 11-13 (7-5 home, 4-6 road, 0-2 in bowls). Over the last two years, however, UTEP is 2-6 in non-conference games, including 0-4 in the Sun Bowl.

The last time the Miners won a home non-conference game was on Sept. 22, 2007 versus Texas Southern (52-12), and the last time UTEP defeated an FBS opponent in a home non-conference game was New Mexico on Sept. 1, 2007 (10-6).

Six Miners Sidelined For Opener

UTEP players who will likely miss the Arkansas-Pine Bluff game due to suspensions or injuries include senior WR Evan Davis, senior TE Elijah Goldtrap, sophomore WR Marlon McClure, junior DB TraVaun Nixon, sophomore OL Paul Santillan and junior LB Jeremy Springer.

Taking a Look at the Two-Deep

If the depth chart holds, UTEP would start 10 seniors on offense for the Arkansas-Pine Bluff game. The only non-senior in the projected lineup is junior wide receiver Donavon Kemp. The Miners have two seniors, five juniors, three sophomores and one freshman listed as first-string defensive players. The six freshmen in the two deep are Kevin Perry (backup tight end) on offense, and Adam Ayala (backup defensive end), Marcus Bagley (backup nose tackle), DeAndre Little (backup linebacker), Germard Reed (starting defensive tackle) and Traun Roberson (backup cornerback) on defense. Bagley, Little and Roberson are true freshmen. The Miners utilized five true freshmen all of last season (LB Aubrey Alexius, OL Brander Craighead, DB DeShawn Grayson, WR Marlon McClure, DB Richard Spencer).

Based on the depth chart, UTEP could have six first-time starters on defense in the opener.