Your Undocumented Pipeline to Collegiate Athletics
You Miners Forever have no mixed feelings about this one … In the past seven years we have sat around these campfires together, only the sudden departure of Coach Sean Kugler generated such an uproar.
Someday, when he grows up, Kai will sit on a lonely bar stool staring into his mug of life, searching for a cure to self-inflicted wounds.
By Mark S. McDonald Sr., undocumented railbird Pre-season football magazines will be out soon. While following the UTEP Miners like a reputation, I try to get my college football fix every weekend. Any fewer than six games makes my hands shake in withdrawal. Any more than 12 gets to be sensory overload. Before I explain … Continue reading Cliché Alert — College Football Season Looms Just Ahead
By Mark S. McDonald, undocumented railbird As I get older and rounder, events such as this weekend give me more pause, more pause to be thankful. Memorial Day leaves me grateful for our armed service men and women, all those nameless people who stood up for me, for America and for the freedom we hold … Continue reading Memorial Day — A Grateful Salute to Old Glory and to the UTEP Experience
By Mark S. McDonald, undocumented railbird Nothing pleases a college football coaching staff more than a forgettable summer. Yes, this is when they reintroduce themselves to their wives and kids and take a few days off for family vacation. Last thing any program needs is transfers out, players on the police blotter, flunk-outs, injuries or … Continue reading The Sound of Silence – UTEP Miners Football Quietly Rehabs and Rebuilds
By Mark S. McDonald, Under-qualified but unrelenting UTEP correspondent Once in a great while, a UTEP post strikes home, triggering unpredictable reader reaction. It recently happened, not once, but twice — with a flurry of comments on former Miners track coach Wayne Vandenburg and the late trainer, Ross Moore. Here are nuggets from the mine shaft: … Continue reading Ross Moore & Wayne Vandenburg – Two Historic UTEP Sports Figures Still Strike a Chord
By Mark S. McDonald Sr., Totally Self-Serving Miner Forever Sixty years of living and football, plus two years of research and writing, just washed up on my doorstep today. A 5,213-pound package containing 1,500 copies of my baby. You may recognize it as my new release: Beyond The Big Shootout – 50 Years of Football’s … Continue reading Where Texas Western Led, Others Followed — Miner’s New Book Chronicles UTEP’s Historic Stake in American Culture
By Mark S. McDonald, undocumented UTEP railbird Wayne Vandenburg was on fire the other night, poking at a plate of enchiladas at a Permian Basin café, serving up 55 years of UTEP athletics for dessert. Vandy came to Texas Western from the University of New Mexico to coach the track/field and cross-country teams. He was 24. … Continue reading Vandy Still a Dandy — Hall of Fame UTEP Coach in Full Stride
By Mark S. McDonald Sr., undocumented college sports railbird In case you missed it, cable sports gorilla ESPN just drove a $40 million wedge between NCAA haves and have-nots. Specifically, the network signed an agreement, beginning this year, for ESPN+ to deliver Big 12 football and basketball games on its online subscription streaming service. This … Continue reading No Plus for the Miners — What ESPN’s New Deal with the Big 12 Does for UTEP and Conference USA
By Mark S. McDonald, A.K.A. “Mr. Manners” It’s been awhile since long-suffering UTEP basketball and football fans have had much to celebrate. Perhaps we could take a lesson from our neighbors in Lubbock. Last Saturday night after Texas Tech beat Michigan State to reach the NCAA men’s basketball championship game, Hub City hooligans “celebrated” by … Continue reading Caution UTEP Miners — Tech fans carry a torch for their team
