UTEP Athletic Director Jim Senter need not look far for advice. Forever and always, Miners fans are eager to tell him how to do his job. This has never been truer than since Oklahoma and Texas recently announced their departure from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference.

Interesting articles (in the last issue). My brother (Ronnie) and Bob Tackett played at Bel Air High School in El Paso together and were really good friends. 

Back in the days of sock hops, four-hole Buicks and letter sweaters, eating ice cream from a local dairy, while in game uniform, was harmless fun. But since the leather helmet days, the NCAA regarded any commercial activity — or anything fun — as spitting on the sidewalk, a veiled attempt to overthrow the government.   It follows that the student-athlete was banned from profiting if a business used his/her presence to sell tires, donuts or pantyhose. Only the school could benefit. The athlete could receive nothing tangible.  No cash, no car, no haircut at the local barber, no extra starch on his shirts at the dry cleaners. Oh, but let there be light … In just these past few months, there has been enough tide shift to flood the Galveston Seawall. New rules reveal the NCAA as a toothless tiger, as college sports will never be the same. 

My border spies tell me UTEP’s 2021 football fortunes will be told before October gets here. Probably true, though I’d rather have the season graded on the results of key Conference USA games just before Thanksgiving. So far, here’s what we think we think: When teammates compete vs. teammates, evaluating spring training can be tricky. … Continue reading UTEP Football 2021: Victory No. 1 a Must for Miners (September 2021) →

Before the Sun Bowl was built, the Miners played at Kidd Field. Where did the visiting football team dress?

Most know that John Birkelbach wound up a national-class athlete in the shot put by pure-dee happenstance. John was a freshman at El Paso Austin High when he wandered into the shot-put ring while waiting for his older brother to get out of practice.  

Spring football, forever and always, raises as many questions as it answers. After all, your team is playing vs. itself, like boxing in the mirror. 

Cheerleaders and athletes from the Texas Western era of 1958-1962 will gather in El Paso Sept. 24-26 for a reunion and a memorial to classmates who have passed on.