The Prospector

Issue date: 1/15/08 Section: Sports

Editor's note: The following facts were taken from stories written over the spring, summer and fall semesters of 2007 by The Prospector staff. Not every story from the year was included in this compilation.

1. In January, the first annual All-Star game, Texas versus the Nation, came to El Paso. Mike Price coached the Texas team and former Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals Coach Buddy Ryan coached the Nation Team. Both rosters included over 80 NFL prospects from Texas and around the nation. The players that were selected to play in the Texas vs. the Naiton were judged on their collegiate performance, NFL draft eligibility and recommendations of their coaches.

2. In June, the men's and women's track and field team overcame a 12-hour flight delay in Dallas to arrive in Des Moines, Iowa, for the NCAA Midwest Regional meet. The team rented a charter plane owned by comedian and actor Jim Carrey. Not letting jet lag deter them, the Miners' qualified 10 members for the NCAA Championships.

3. In June, Heavyweight boxer Evander Holyfield returned to the ring after a two-year absence to fight Lou Savarese at the Don Haskins Center.

4. As the Miner's set foot on the field for the Battle of I-10, bragging rights went to the NMSU Aggies, leaving the Miners with a battered loss of 29-24.

5. Beckham-mania arrives in August, as Beckham announced on Jan. 11, that he would be leaving the Spanish club Real Madrid to sign with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer (MLS) in August. His debut came a little earlier than expected in the Galaxy's July 21 exhibition against Chelsea of the English Premier League.

6. In August, ground was broken for the 13 million state-of-the-art Foster Stevens Basketball Center on the corner of Mesa Street and Glory Road. Completion of the 43,000 square foot facility is targeted at October 2008.


7. Orange Fever swept the campus in August as the 2007 football season goes underway.

8. December, seven UTEP football players were honored with All-Conference USA Honors. UTEP joined Southern Miss and UCF as the only schools to have at least four first team selections. Senior offensive lineman Oniel Cousins, sophomore wide receiver Jeff Moturi, senior defensive back Quintin Demps and junior placekicker Jose Martinez were all selected first team All-Conference. Demps was also chosen second team All-League as a punt returner.

9. In November, the UTEP men's cross country team finished 10th at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. The Miners ended an outstanding season, having won the Conference USA Championships with a perfect score and earning a trip to the national meet on an automatic bid ticket for only the second time in 15 years.

10. The UTEP volleyball team's 2007 season came to an end in November as they fell to Rice, 3-0 (27-30, 17-30, 20-30) in the first round of the Conference USA Championships. The Miners ended their campaign 9-20, 3-13 in league play.

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