MINER PRIDE - Spring 2013

www.MinerAthleticClub.com ‹ 1

He'sBack!!!

Coach Kugler Returns to the Sun Bowl

An Inside Look into the Current

MBB Season

Q & A With theLegendary

Chris Porter

2 › Miner Pride › Spring Edition 2013


DRAININ’ THREE’SSenior Konner Tucker puts up a three-pointer when UTEP took on Marshall on Jan. 12. The Miners rolled past the Thundering Herd 74-63.


ON THE FAST BREAKJunior Kayla Thornton sprinted out on a fast break when UTEP took on Southern Miss on Feb. 10. The Miners beat the Golden Eagles 60-55.



Miner Athletic ClubBrumbelow Bldg., Room 109

500 W. University Ave.El Paso, TX 79968

www.minerathleticclub.com

Jeff DarbySenior Associate A.D. / Communication

Chris ParkAssociate A.D. for External Relations & Development

Jon TeicherAssistant A.D./ Director of Broadcasting

Omar CruzAssistant Director for Development

Mark BrunnerAssistant Director for Media Relations

Denise MataAssistant Director for Media Relations

Drew BonneyAssistant Director for Media Relations

ContributorsJohn Dankovich, Bryan Gates, Genevieve Gomez, Angela Olivas, Daniel Veale


14WELCOME BACK COACHHead Coach Sean Kugler returns to the Sun City after a successful stint in the NFL. What enticed him to call El Paso home again?

18 BRINGIN’ BACK THE 80’sThe men’s basketball team is completing the toughest schedules in school history. Get an inside look with Coach Floyd as the team completes its 2012-13 campaign.

GIVING BACKEven though former UTEP running back Chris Porter is no longer making moves on the gridiron, he still leaves his mark in the lives of current student-athletes.

AND THE NUMBERS KEEP RISINGPregame basketball dinners, hosted by the Miner Athletic Club, have reached record numbers. What keeps the fans coming back?

3032

STORIES

10 TEICH’S CORNER

22 REPEAT IN THE MAKING

26 Q&A WITH THE NEWBIE

27 A GOLF OUTING

28 BATTER UP

29 OFF TO THE RACES

34 FACES IN THE CROWD

TABLE OF CONTENTSSpring Edition - 2013


TEICH’S CORNERJon Teicher - The ‘Voice of the Miners’

ob Stull’s selection of Sean Kugler as UTEP’s new head football coach in December

was a welcome one for long-time Miner fans.

“Kugs” first arrived in the Sun City as an 18-year old freshman offensive lineman from Buffalo, New York in 1984, one of many from the Empire State recruited to UTEP at the time by Head Coach Bill Yung and offensive assistant Max Bowman.

Like many a redshirt during his initial season in blue and orange, Kugler, along with Steve Casper, Robert Pufahl, James Spady and Dean Wittholz would form the foundation of an offensive line that carried the Miners from one win in 1985 to four for new Head Coach Stull in ’86 and seven (the most since ’67) in ’87. The best though, was still to come. Clearing the way for tailback John Harvey and keeping quarterback Pat Hegarty upright, Sean and his Miner teammates would accomplish in 1988 what no other Miner team before them had, a 10-win season and UTEP’s first bowl appearance in 21 years.

Unlike most offensive lineman, Kugler was quite the personality during his Miner playing days, outgoing, humorous, loud, brash, never lacking for confidence, a team jokester and leader.

He played professionally for a brief time, then entered the coaching ranks at the high school level before returning to UTEP and El Paso in 1993 as first a graduate assistant, then the tight ends coach and finally, the offensive line coach for six years. In 2000, his final season as a UTEP assistant, Sean helped guide

the Miners to the only Western Athletic Conference Championship in school history and a spot in the Humanitarian Bowl, the Miners first bowl appearance since his senior season as a player.

So highly regarded was Kugler, that the pros came calling. First, a 5-year stint with the Detroit Lions as a tight ends and offensive line coach. Then, a season back in the collegiate ranks as the Assistant Head Coach for an unbeaten Boise State squad that took down Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Finally, a return to the NFL, coaching the offensive line for his hometown Bills. Let go after three years with Buffalo, Sean was quickly hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers to coach the offensive line. His three seasons in Pittsburgh included a Super Bowl appearance in 2011. Given his success as a UTEP player and assistant coach, plus his time at Boise State and NFL pedigree, Sean Kugler was the perfect choice to lead the UTEP Football program into the future. Kugler’s Miners will be disciplined, physical, will hit you and will be difficult to play against, just as Sean himself was. We can’t wait! Welcome home, Sean!

B

“...Sean and his Miner

teammates would

accomplish in 1988 what no other Miner before them

had ...”



UPCOMING HOME SCHEDULE

MEN’S BASKETBALLFeb. 27 vs. Houston 7 p.m.March 5 vs. Memphis 7 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALLFeb. 21 vs. Houston 7 p.m.Feb. 28 vs. Rice 7 p.m.March 8 vs. Tulane 7 p.m.

TENNISFeb. 22 vs. Illinois State 1 p.m.Feb. 24 vs. Lamar 9 a.m.March 3 vs. Colorado St 9 a.m.March 8 vs. Tarleton St. 1 p.m.March 10 vs. Western N.M. 10 a.m.April 11 vs. Utah St. 2 p.m.

SOFTBALLFeb. 23 vs. NM State 1:30 p.m.Feb. 23 vs. South Dakota 4 p.m.Feb. 24 vs. South Dakota 11:45 a.m.Feb. 24 vs. NM State 2 p.m.March 9 vs. Memphis 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.March 10 vs. Memphis 11 a.m.March 26 vs. Siena 3 p.m. & 5 p.m.March 27 vs. Siena 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.March 29 vs. ECU 2 p.m. & 4 p.m.March 30 vs. ECU 12 p.m. April 13 vs. Houston 2 p.m. & 4 p.m.April 14 vs. Houston 12 p.m.April 27 vs. Tulsa 2 p.m. & 4 p.m.April 28 vs. Tulsa 12 p.m.

TRACK & FIELDMarch 23 Springtime Invitational All DayApril 13 UTEP Invitational All Day

Spring Edition - 2013



Get to Know Your Miners!

KEVIN PERRY - FOOTBALL

“I loved being home with my family and friends. It was extra special to be with my three nieces and have a chance to see how they have grown throughout the years. One of the most enjoyable parts by far was going fishing with my dad and younger brother.”

TAYLOR NIX - VOLLEYBALL

“My favorite part of this past holiday season was going back home and experiencing my one-year old niece running to me at the door

for the first time. It was nice to spend time with my family. I also got a chance to work out and prepare myself for the upcoming semester.”

KELLI WILLINGHAM - WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

“I loved being home and spending time with my family! The holidays are when family members get together and finally have a chance to hang out. We enjoyed eating, laughing, talking and playing games around the dinner table.”

What was your favorite part of the holiday season and what did you do?



WELCOME BACK COACH KUG’S


WELCOME BACK COACH KUG’S

Kugler Takes Over as UTEP’s Head Coach, Hits the Ground Running

Sean Kugler’s introductory press conference on Dec. 10 ushered in a new era of UTEP football. And the 25th head coach of the Miners didn’t mince words when asked about what it’s going to take to get the Sun Bowl rocking again.

“Well, ultimately we are going to have to win games, and we are going to have to be successful and put a product on the field that the fans want to come and see,” he said.

“Winning games brings in the fans, and El Paso fans are better than anywhere I’ve been.”

Kugler was a first-hand witness to the power of the UTEP fanbase in 2000, the year the Miners captured their first Western Athletic Conference title. UTEP averaged 44,715 spectators in the Sun Bowl that year, including 51,819 over its last three home games.

“When the Sun Bowl is packed, it’s a pretty difficult place to play,” Kugler said.

Following an eight-year stint as an assistant coach with the Miners (1993-2000), Kugler enjoyed an extended stay in the NFL as offensive line coach for the Detroit Lions (2001-05), Buffalo Bills (2007-09) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2010-12). He was assistant


head coach at Boise State in 2006 – the year the Broncos finished 13-0 and beat Oklahoma 43-42 in the Fiesta Bowl, widely regarded as the greatest college postseason game ever. Kugler also coached in the Super Bowl with the Steelers in 2011.

His first couple of months on the job were a whirlwind, as he assembled a staff, constructed his first recruiting class, and finalized preparations for spring ball, which will start on March 4 and conclude with the annual Orange and White game on April 12.

“It’s been hectic, but I’ve got an outstanding staff in place and everybody is working hard,” he said. “Recruiting was smooth. The coaches retained from the previous staff [Gabe Franklin, Brian Natkin, Robert Rodriguez] did an outstanding job of keeping the class together. No players defected from the class, and we added some good young talent. We’ve gotten some good, positive feedback from both the recruits and their parents on how much they enjoyed the process.”

The Miners signed 18 players on National Signing Day (Feb. 6), including four El Pasoans – offensive lineman Derek Elmendorff (Franklin HS), quarterback Ryan Metz (Andress) and twin brothers Aaron and Alvin Jones from Burges HS. Aaron is listed as an athlete and Alvin is a safety.

“Ultimately we want to focus our initial recruiting in the city of El Paso,” Kugler said. “We really feel we targeted the top four players in El Paso, we got every single one of them, and we want to do that year-in and year-out.”

“Winning games brings in the fans, and El Paso fans

are better than any-where I’ve been.”


Now the focus turns to spring ball, and Kugler emphasized that all jobs are wide open.

“I want everybody to know that they have a clean slate with me,” he said. “I’m going into this with the mindset that everybody will have an equal opportunity.”

While he may not know who’s going to fill his starting lineup, Kugler does have an idea of the qualities his players and team should embody.

“I want to see a team that displays mental toughness. I want to see a team that plays smart. I want to see a team that plays with passion and that enjoys playing. I want to see a team that embraces each other,” he said. “That’s what a true team is.”

“When the Sun Bowl is packed,

it’s a pretty difficult place

to play.”


BRINGIN’ BACK THE 80sMiners Hanging Tough in C-USA’s Title Chase


BRINGIN’ BACK THE 80sMiners Hanging Tough in C-USA’s Title Chase


The UTEP men’s basketball team reached the midway point of the 16-game Conference USA schedule in great position, tied for third place in the league standings – a game behind second-place Southern Miss and two games back of first-place Memphis. And while a home court loss to Tulsa was somewhat damaging, the Miners still control their own destiny as they battle to secure a first round bye in the C-USA Tournament.

A bye would be a sign of significant progress for a UTEP team that finished 7-9 in league play a year ago. The Miners are zeroing in on surpassing last year’s overall win total (15) in what could certainly be termed a transitional year. UTEP is still extremely young, with freshmen and sophomores accounting for nearly 60 percent of the team’s points and close to 70 percent of its rebounds. With a top-notch recruiting class coming in next season – rated as high as no. 9 by some experts – the future couldn’t be any brighter for coach Tim Floyd’s Miners.

The 2013-14 season, however, is several months away, and this year’s team still has a chance to accomplish some great things, particularly with games remaining versus the top two teams in C-USA – Southern Miss (Feb. 20) and Memphis (March

5). The Tigers will venture to the Haskins Center, where the Miners have fashioned a stellar 12-2 mark this season.

Coach Floyd and his staff put together a non-conference schedule that was rated the most challenging in the country by ESPN. The Miners showed that they weren’t ready for it early on, but they really hit their stride in mid-December, when the backcourt was bolstered by the infusion of McKenzie Moore and Konner Tucker. Since their arrival, UTEP has been a much more versatile offensive team and a much more competitive one on the boards. The Miners rallied from a 1-4 start to post victories in 12 of their next 17 games.


“I haven’t seen anyone play a [non-conference] schedule like we have,” Floyd said in early January. “It has been a real challenge. You’re either going to get better or you’re going to get worse, and I think our team has gotten better.”

In Moore and Tucker, UTEP added two players who have combined to average over 20 points per game. Julian Washburn continues to lead the team in scoring while establishing himself as a lock-down defender. Jacques Streeter has provided a calming influence at point guard, ranking in the top-10 nationally in assist/turnover ratio. Cedrick Lang has been his usual steady self while anchoring the interior defense. And Chris Washburn has shown flashes of greatness in his freshman season.

The Miners have pieces. They’ll have even more next year.

“We’re not a dominant team by any means,” Floyd said following a 65-53 win over Rice on Feb. 6. “We have to get better every night out. But I like our team. And I really like us in the years to come with what’s happening right now and what’s coming in here in the future. As long as we get an opportunity this year, we’re going to try to steal every game we can, and look up and see where this thing is at the end.”

“You’re either going to get better or you’re

going to get worse, and I think our team has

gotten better.”


REPEAT IN THE MAKING

Excitement and expectations were high heading into the 2012-13

UTEP women’s basketball season.

The Miners had seven letterwinners back from a record-setting 2011-12 team that won both the 2012 Conference USA regular-season and tournament championship on the way to appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the program’s history.

Then before the season could even officially get underway, the Miners’ aspirations for a magical campaign were dealt a big blow when sophomore guard and projected starter Jenzel Nash suffered a torn ACL in an exhibition game. With Nash’s injury still hanging over the team like an ominous cloud, UTEP regrouped and rattled off three straight wins to start the regular season off right.

The last one came against Pacific 12 member Arizona State, just the Miners’ fourth victory ever against a school from a power league, but the cost was steep. Starting senior center Kristine Vitola was lost for the year after tearing her ACL late in the contest.It would have been understandable for the Orange and Blue to slip into a season-long slump as result of the injuries. Or at the very least, be saddled with inconsistent play and be forced to wonder what if?

What has transpired, though, is the stuff of cinema. UTEP didn’t miss a beat, powering through the rest of non-conference play. It wrapped up non-league action at 12-1, setting the school standard for the most wins before tipping off league play. Included among the victories were three against programs from power-leagues (Arizona State, Arizona & at Kansas State, an improbable feat under the circumstances.



The Miners surged out to a 5-1 start in C-USA action while moving to the cusp of the top-25 before sustaining consecutive losses for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign. UTEP was held off by league leader SMU, 82-73, on Feb. 4 and then was edged at Tulane, 56-49, on Feb. 7.

Making matters worse, freshman and the team’s sixth player, Saidah Zuberi Allen, joined Nash & Vitola on the sideline as result of a torn ACL at Tulane. The prospect of a three-game losing streak and dropping to the middle of the pack in Conference USA suddenly seemed real as UTEP headed into a home match-up with Southern Miss on Feb. 10.

“What has transpired,

though, is the stuff of cinema.

UTEP didn’t miss a beat, powering

through the rest of non-

conference play.”


It battled hard but things looked particularly bleak when they trailed by seven (55-48) with less than two minutes to play in regulation against the Golden Eagles. Once again, though, UTEP stared down the adversity and refused to quit. The Miners summoned a potentially season-saving 12-0 run over the final 1:47 to pull out a 60-55 win against USM.

The Miners remain in the hunt for a top-4 seed at the Conference USA Championships and have posted 18 victories overall. It marks the fifth time in the past seven years that UTEP has reached the 18-win plateau, something that was achieved just once in the first 32 years of the program.The final script for the season has yet to be written, but it is certain that UTEP will go down fighting to the very end.

“...UTEP stared down

adversity and refused

to quit.”


An Inside look into Tennis

Q&A with New Tennis Coach Mark Roberts

Mark Roberts was hired in the summer of 2012 as the new head coach of UTEP’s women’s tennis team. The native of Durban, South Africa is a former player and coach at rival New Mexico State. Roberts then served as an assistant coach at UNLV the last four seasons prior to coming to El Paso.

Let’s get to know more about the new coach…

How did you feel when Bob Stull offered you the head coach position at UTEP?

Very excited, especially because it was my first head-coaching job. Before this position, I was an assistant and moving into a program that I could make my own was a challenge I was looking forward to.

What are your expectations of the team this season?

Very high expectations. I am a very competitive person and I thrive on winning. Every match is a challenge; I expect my team to be as competitive as me. I want my team fighting in school and tennis to be as successful as they can be. It takes focus and hard work, and I expect every student-athlete on my team to exhibit these qualities.

How are you going to build the program for the future?

Building a sold program takes time. It’s important to be consistent every day, consistent with team expectations and consistent with hard work and effort. The life of a student-athlete is challenging and one of my biggest goals is to recruit student-athletes who are committed to studying hard in school as well as being a high caliber tennis player. This balance is not easy to find and as I build the program my focus is to bring in kids who value both school and tennis. Have you ever attended a Grand Slam tournament? If so, which one/ones?

Yes, the US Open. It was an awesome event, the tennis is incredible and it’s great being in an environment close to so many players and amazing matches.


An Inside look into GolfUTEP Golf Teams Leap

Into Spring Season

The UTEP golf spring seasons are underway. The Miner men will play in eight tournaments, and the women have five events on the docket. The men’s Conference USA Championship is slated for April 21-23 in Texarkana, Ark., and the women’s is set for April 22-24 in Gulf Shores, Ala.

The men capped an abbreviated fall schedule (four tournaments) by finishing fifth at their first home tournament since 1998. That followed a season-best third-place showing at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate in Las Cruces, where the Miners shot 851 as a team – their top team score in three and a half years.

Martin Simonsen, the 2012 C-USA Freshman of the Year, has shown no signs of a sophomore slump. He fashioned a 71.6 scoring average in fall competition.

“Martin has been a super solid player for us,” UTEP coach Scott Lieberwirth said. “He has been an absolute stud. All in all, we made some strides [during the fall].”

If the Miners can get consistent contributions from the other players in the lineup to complement the steady Simonsen, they could emerge as a dark horse candidate for the C-USA title.

The UTEP women, meanwhile, are in more of a rebuilding mode with two freshmen and two sophomores encompassing two-thirds of the roster. Junior Emma Edin and sophomores Nathalie Castillo and Camino Sardinero were virtually neck and neck in the fall, posting scoring averages of 77.9, 77.8 and 77.7, respectively.

“I don’t think we played our best in the fall, but we showed signs that we can play,” UTEP coach Jere Pelletier said. “Hopefully we can be more consistent this spring.”


An Inside Look Into Softball

Looking Towards a Grand Slam SeasonThe UTEP Miners enter the 2013 season with high expectations following last season’s disappointing record. Co-head coaches James and Kathleen Rodriguez, who have donned the Orange and Blue since the inception of the program in 2004, are looking for this season’s squad to make strides.

“With 56 games to go we’re going to take it one game at a time,” says co-head coach Kathleen Rodriguez. “It’s a long season played in a short period of time, one pitch at a time and we’re not going to take bigger chunks than what we can handle.”

The Miners return six seniors, along with six juniors (three being junior transfers), three sophomores and five freshmen. The seniors include Charissa Ballesteros, Ashley Collazo, Joanna Krienitz, Kayla Oranger,

Cynthia Villastrigo and Kayleigh Walts. The returning juniors are Kayla Black, Colleen Hohman and Laura Ramos, while the junior transfers making their El Paso debuts are Erika Arcuri, Alanna Leasau and Miraya Montiel. The sophomores are Ashley Eldridge, McKenzey Finley and Tahla Wade. The new faces on the squad are Taylor Grohmann, Kawehiokalani Netane, Danielle Pearson, Morgan Rasmason and Jade Rodriguez.

Finley, Grohmann and Rodriguez all played their high school softball here in the Sun City.

The Miners play their home games at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex, which is considered one of the finer fields in the nation. The 607-seat facility includes a VIP seating area, lights, a scoreboard, three batting cages and two bullpens. The field is located on Sun Bowl Drive.

Fans are encouraged to come out and cheer on their team, Go Miners!


An Inside look into Track & Field

The UTEP track and field team has started their 2013 indoor campaign on a high note.

Letterwinner Anthony Rotich has proven to be a threat on the track, clocking in with the third-fastest time in the nation in the mile according to the Track and Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). The sophomore recorded a time of 4:03.06 at the New Mexico Classic, winning the event for the second time this season.

Rotich didn’t stop there as he also holds the No. 4 spot in the nation in the 5,000m with a personal-best time of 13:38.58 at the UW Husky Classic. The All-American con-tinued to build momentum as he took to the track again in the 3,000m and clocked in with a personal best perfor-mance of 7:53.43 at the Husky Classic, earning him the No. 11 spot in the national rankings.

Kicking off the Season with a BangTexas transfer Mark Jackson sprinted out of the blocks and crossed the finish line second with a time of 6.72 in the 60m at the UNM Classic. Jackson isn’t just stellar on the track, but is also dominant on the field. The junior recorded the 10th-best mark in the nation of 15.86m (52-00.50) in the triple jump at the Texas A&M In-vitational. He also competed in the long jump in College Station, Texas and regis-tered a leap of 7.35m (24-01.50), claiming the top spot in Conference USA heading into the league championships.

On the women’s side, Janice Jackson has picked up where she left off last season. She has posted three first-place finishes in the 60m hurdles in all of the Miners’ meets thus far. The junior is ranked 17th in the nation and second in C-USA in the event. Jackson couldn’t be stopped as she clocked in with a time of 8.29 at the Texas A&M Invitational, barely missing her own school record.

On the field, sophomore Nickevea Wil-son has set the bar high for the 2013 season. The newcomer is ranked 28th in the nation in the triple jump with a leap of 12.52m (41-01.00) at the New Mexico Classic. Her performance earned her the No. 2 spot in the league in the event.

Both squads will look to continue their success as they prepare to compete at the 2013 C-USA Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Ala. Feb. 23-24.



Q&A with UTEP Great - Chris PorterThe Miner Athletic Club’s Locker Campaign gives supporters the opportunity to create a lasting impact with current and future UTEP student-athletes. Monies raised from this campaign will help offest the costs of student-athlete scholarships. Recently the MAC caught up with former UTEP running back Chris Porter on his contributions to a program that helped make him succesful.

What brought you to UTEP?Football was what introduced me to UTEP. I began receiving recruiting letters from the football program which is what initially sparked my interest. When I made my official visit, I spoke with the coaches, learned about the program and the school. But it wasn’t only about athletics that interested me. The academics and the city of El Paso played a major role in my decision.

What is your favorite UTEP memory?Securing a share of the Western Athletic Conference Championship with our victory against Rice. That was definitely my favorite memory. We played in front of a sold out Sun Bowl. It was intense; over-flowing with energy. The fans and the city was behind the team. It was such a lasting memory because everyone rushed the field. We were able to celebrate, not only with family, but the students and the city of El Paso.

Can you explain the importance of giving back to your alma mater?I think it’s important because it’s the foundation and the spring-board into a student-athlete’s career at UTEP and thereafter. I gained so much during my time as a student that it’s important to help others continue to grow as a person. The experiences are the base for them to move forward. It’s important to give back - pay it forward - so that others can have the experience that I did.

How has being a former student-athlete helped you become successful in your career, family and other relationships you have fostered?Learning teamwork and how to foster relationships is an asset I attained as as student-athlete. Playing a sport, an individual encounters many different people from different backgrounds and walks of life. A person learns to become comfortable in any type of setting and in any type of condition. It is certainly something that one needs in life and in career.

Explain why you picked the quote “Never Stop Trying” on your locker plaque.It was the attitude of the team during my time at UTEP. Regardless of what the score was, the down and distance or any obstacle that was in front of us, we never quit. Our team always wanted to keep going and pressing onward to be the best. The quote can also be used in life. Despite what someone may tell you, if you believe in yourself and never quit, you can accomplish any goal you set your mind to.

For more information on how to be a part of the Locker Campaign, please contact the Miner Athletic Club at (915)747-8759 or via email at [email protected].


The Miner Athletic Club has hosted three (3) of four (4) basketball pre-game receptions that --for the first time in program history --have all been sold out in the Larry K. Durham Sports Center.These dinners have been highlighted by an inside look given from Assistant Coach Ken DeWeese regarding that night’s game opponent as well as UTEP basketball updates.

“The crowds have been great and the feedback our program receives has been tremendous,” stated Assistant Coach Ken DeWeese. “When I come to a full house it displays the amazing support this town has for their team and shows why we truly have the best fans than anywhere else.”

The events are also catered by some of El Paso’s great restaurants that offer a vast menu and delicious desserts. Chicago’s Street Food, D’Lox, P.F. Chang’s and Quintero’s Meat Co. all give a first-class service to enhance the event experience. A cash bar hosted by Sodexho catering services is also on hand at every pre-game dinner.

This year, Cornerstone Mortage Company and Leslie Bergen helped sponsor each night’s ‘Soldier of the Game’. This allowed military members the opportunity to enjoy the reception dinner with family or friends. These soliders also recieved a first hand look into UTEP’s athletic facilities.

“These dinners offer a great atmosphere and are extremely convenient for my family and me,” explained first-timer Edgar Montiel. “We love hearing the break-down coach gives at every reception and enjoy using the athletic department’s wonderful facilites.”

The night is concluded with a gift-basket raffle donated by Fudge-N-More that includes many delicious items such as chocolate covered cherries, orange cream ‘Miner Fudge’, different chocolate cluster and some UTEP basketball memorabilia.

Basketball Pre-Game DinnersEvenings full of laughs, memories and the inside scoop on UTEP Basketball


With only one more pre-game reception left, the Miner Athletic Club hopes to continue the success of previous dinners and enhance the gameday experience for all donor, fans and supporters. The last event will take place on Tuesday, March 5 when the Miners will take on Memphis for Senior Day.

If you have any questions or would like to reserve your seat today, please contact the Miner Athletic Club at (915)747-8759 or via email at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you all there!

“We love hearing the break-down coach gives at

every reception and enjoy using

the athletic department’s

wonderful facilities.”


Faces in the CrowdMAC Appreciation Giveaway, National Signing Day Reception,

& Pregame Basketball Dinners



THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO

Miner Athletic Club I Brumbelow Building, Room 109 I 500 W. University Ave. I El Paso, TX 79968

[email protected] I 915.747.8759

facebook.com/minerathleticclub I twitter.com/UTEP_MAC I Linkedin.com/in/minerathleticclub

www.minerathleticclub.com

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MINER PRIDE - Spring 2013