The 2012 UTEP football season could mark the end of an era if head coach Mike Price decides to retire after its completion. Price will enter his ninth season at the helm with a 45-52 overall record, which ranks third in school history behind Mike Brumbelow (46) and Mack Saxon (66).

    Editor’s note: Between The Prospector’s last issue April 24 and this issue May 3, the Julio Cesar Chávez Jr.-Andy Lee fight set to take place June 16 at the Sun Bowl was deemed unsafe, cancelled, fought for by the city and then allowed once again by the UT-System Chancellor.

  The term student-athlete may often carry misconceptions about how the word athlete comes before student. In the case of senior sprinter Shane Hamm, the term stays true to its description. Hamm, a graduate of Burges High School in El Paso, had a long road to graduation.

Seniors depart UTEP as best hitting duo in program history

  Between the two of them, senior utilities Camilla Carrera and Chelsea Troupe have combined for 51 home runs this season alone. In their career at UTEP, the two have hit a total of 111 home runs. On May 2, the two played their final games as Miners and left UTEP as the best hitting duo in program history.

D-Line brings attitude, confidence to veteran defensive corp

If you talk the talk, then you better walk the walk. That’s exactly what defensive coordinator Andre Patterson expects from his defensive line unit that has given itself the nickname of “straight violence swag.” The starting four made up by a trio of juniors, Germard Reed, Horace Miller and Marcus Bagley, and senior Greg Watkins, are approaching the 2012 season with a mentality that screams confidence, toughness and attitude.

Raw footage of UTEP President Diana Natalicio's press conference April 27 to discuss the reversal of UT-System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa's decision on holding the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. - Andy Lee title boxing match at the Sun Bowl.
 

    The UTEP women’s basketball and rifle programs received recognition for their success during the 2011-12 season from the Texas House of Representatives April 18 in the Foster Stevens Basketball Center. State Reps. Dee Margo, R-El Paso and Marisa Marquez, D-El Paso from House District 78 and 77 respectively, were on hand to present the Miners with the accolades.

  The 2012 season was supposed to be a payback tour of sorts for co-head coaches Kathleen and James Rodriguez. After a 16-37-1 record during the 2011 season, the Miners looked to improve on their previous struggles. Kathleen Rodriguez said prior to the season that it was personal to her and wanted to use what the team went through the past season as motivation.

    The Miners entered their last Conference USA home series of the 2012 season against the second-best team in the league, the UAB Blazers, looking to keep their slim post-season hopes alive April 21-22 at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex. UAB won the series 2-1, taking the first two contests before falling to UTEP on Senior Day.

Players make time to showcase their artistic abilities

    During the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, an NCAA commercial stated that more than 400,000 NCAA student-athletes will be going pro in something other than sports once they graduate. Student-athletes are recognized for their performances on the court or field, often overshadowing their personal interests, especially their creative, artistic ones.

The UTEP women’s basketball and rifle programs received recognition for their success during the 2011-12 season from the Texas House of Representatives April 18 in the Foster Stevens Basketball Center.

After being swept by UCF April 6-7, co-head coach James Rodriguez felt that it would come down to the Miners’ lone showdown of the season against Memphis April 14-15 to determine who would get left out of the Conference USA Tournament. “The way they’re playing and the way we’re playing, it might be all that we need.

The UTEP soccer team finished their second and final home game of the spring against the Arizona Wildcats in a 1-1 tie April 15 at University Field. After a scoreless first half, both teams wasted no time getting on the board in the second frame. Just four minutes into the second, junior Jade Babcock took a pass from senior midfielder Tess Hall to score from the top corner of the penalty box.

Inconsistency in an athlete’s performance might be a coach’s biggest pet peeve. Inconsistency in coaching might be the same for an athlete and that’s what All-American senior sprinter Endurance Abinuwa had to endure throughout her collegiate career with the Miners.

On a day when seniors were supposed to enjoy their last home track meet at Kidd Field, Mother Nature struck with a dust storm that carried winds of up to 50 mph. On that same day, April 14, UTEP honored former football player turned entrepreneur Larry K.

As most teams did in Conference USA, head coach Mike Price tried out something new this spring by starting practice sessions Feb. 28, three weeks earlier than years past. The 2012 spring season concluded after 15 practice sessions with the annual Blue and White Game April 6 at the Sun Bowl.

Former club sport attempts a return to UTEP

UTEP Athletics and rugby are no strangers to each other and may become acquainted again as there have been talks of bringing back the sport. Leading the negotiations is Doug Park, the current director of El Paso Area Rugby Union and a UTEP graduate. According to Park, a new club rugby team may take its residence at UTEP this coming fall, where they will be on a one-year probation before competing at the division-1 level as all new sports must abide by.

UCF’s bats had been quiet since entering Conference USA play. That all changed when they came to El Paso. The Golden Knights added to the Miners’ pitching woes by scoring a combined 36 runs off 35 hits to sweep UTEP in a three-game series April 6-7 at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex.

As senior outfielder Courtney Ware left the field following a two-game sweep against UCF April 6, tears began falling down her face. The tears were evidence of her leadership role with the team and, as she put it, were streaming because she felt she had let her children down.

RB stands out in Spring Game despite defensive effort

In past spring games, it was customary to see the team separated into two squads. This year, it was simply offense (Blue) vs. defense (White) due to several injured offensive linemen not being able to perform. The Blue and White game was played on Good Friday, April 6 at the Sun Bowl, and a good Friday it was for sophomore running back Nathan Jeffery, who finished the game with 122 yards on 18 carries.

April 1 marked the last day for college football programs around the nation to sign players and the 22 athletes that UTEP signed, all on the first day of the signing period had plenty of opportunities to showcase their talent during spring drills. The 2012 recruiting class is getting ready to experience their first in-game action at the collegiate level, in this case amongst each other during the annual Spring Game April 6 at the Sun Bowl.

Wounded Miners prepare for Spring Game

The Miners will conclude spring drills with the annual Blue and White game at 7 p.m. April 6 at the Sun Bowl. After weeks of practice and scrimmages, players said they were anxious to get on the field and play for bragging rights, but before that, they will have to recover from the amount of contact they went through the past week.

UTEP softball will return to Helen of Troy Softball Complex with the hopes of snapping their current seven-game losing streak when they host Marshall March 31 in a doubleheader and a single game April 1. Both teams will be meeting in the midst of a losing streak, as the Thundering Herd was recently swept by UAB in a three-game series March 23-24 at home.

For the better part of my childhood I grew up idolizing wrestling stars such as Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. Ever since the newest generation of wrestlers entered the ring, it has almost been a decade since I’ve distanced myself from watching World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

The Miner offense is going through an experiment of sorts during this spring as tight ends look to be the focal point of the passing game. In 2011 the trio of their tight ends, sophomore Eric Tomlinson, junior Kevin Perry and junior Craig Wenrick, accounted for only 14 percent of the Miners’ passing game, a combined 27 catches, 391 yards and five touchdowns.

The Miners’ second scrimmage of the spring March 24 at Glory Field was by no means a traditional one. Featuring a variation of big plays and many failed snaps during shotgun and field goal formations, the scrimmage still ended in a manner that was sure to please the non-existent crowd: with a touchdown.

Injuries plague early start to preseason drills

The injury bug has hit UTEP early. And as the Miners near the end of spring practices, the players have found a silver lining, hoping to get the injuries out of the way now and have a healthy team in the fall. “We’re just getting them taken care of and in the fall we’ll be rolling,” sophomore running back Nathan Jeffery said.

The outdoor season not only marks the second half of the track and field season, but it symbolizes the end to a number of athlete’s careers as head coach Mika Laaksonen hopes to have both of his squads competing for the Conference USA outdoor title. The Miners will commence the outdoor schedule of the 2012 season with the UTEP Springtime meet March 24 at Kidd Field.

If intensity and enthusiasm are characteristics to describe what a football coach should have, newly-hired safeties coach Tom Williams epitomizes those traits. “I believe that in order to get the most out of the experience you have to enjoy it. I talk to my players all the time about it, enjoying the journey.

For junior pitcher Cynthia Villastrigo, the opportunity to play college athletics is driven from more than just accolades; her purpose is to make a difference for her family back home in Monclova, Mexico. Co-head coach Kathleen Rodriguez praises Villastrigo for her attitude and focus and believes that has carried onto the rest of the team.

It seems that a loss to Stephen F. Austin brings out the worst in college basketball coaches. Just ask UTEP head coach Tim Floyd and Lamar head coach Pat Knight. Knight, the son of hall of fame head coach Bob Knight and currently in his first year at Lamar after being fired by Texas Tech last year, really made a name for himself this year following that specific loss.

A running back attacking the line of scrimmage is often referred to as “hitting the hole.” The Miners find themselves with a hole to fill at the running back position after losing their three most productive backs from 2011. As the senior class of 2011 graduated, so did 1,634 yards of production by a trio of running backs in Joe Banyard, Vernon Frazier and Leilyon Myers.

After having to rally from a slow start, Penn State turned to their three most reliable players to hold off UTEP’s depth in the second half. The three-seed Nitany Lions ended the No. 14 Miners’ record season in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, 85-77, March 18 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Photos of the C-USA champions and NCAA viewing party.

With about 250 fans cheering and the pep band playing the fight song as soon as they heard UTEP's name, senior forward Gloria Brown get on her cell phone and spoke as loud and clear as she could to it.

All season, head coach Keitha Adams preached to her players that they had done nothing all year. After the Conference USA regular season champions won the tournament title March 10 to lock up their place in the NCAA Tournament, Adams let them know they had accomplished something, and their fans let them know it, too.

Junior sprinter Anthony Wright had the best performance of his career Feb. 26 at the Conference USA Championships. He placed first in the 60-meter dash, clocked in a personal best time of 6.74, but as the 42nd best time in the nation he did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament March 9-10.

Spring football at UTEP usually comes after spring break, but not in 2012. Head Coach Mike Price began spring drills Feb. 28, three weeks prior to its usual starting time. "I think it does a lot of things. One, when spring ball's over, there's still school left to where they can still get back with our strength coach, run and lift to get stronger," defensive coordinator Andre Patterson said.

The Miners have not had much success in the Conference USA Tournament since their last regular season championship in 2008. With just two wins in the tournament since then, UTEP will have a chance to redeem themselves as the No. 1 seed in this year's tournament when they will receive a bye, avoiding a first-round game March 7.

On Senior Night, the Miners fell short 68-61 to Rice in a game of mixed emotions Feb. 29 at the Don Haskins Center.

UTEP (14-14, 7-7 C-USA) will step onto the Don Haskins floor one last time this season Feb. 29 to honor the lone senior forward Gabriel McCulley on Senior Night against Rice (16-13, 7-7 Conference USA).

When he entered UTEP under former head coach Tony Barbee, senior forward Gabriel McCulley expected to have his Senior Night with his five fellow recruited teammates. But every year, McCulley had to deal with an injury, a red-shirt year, a new coach or a rebuilding team.

Depth, humble attitude keeps team striving

The Miners have not had many negative moments prior to their recent loss to Rice Feb. 26 but in addition to focusing on one game at a time, head coach Keitha Adams has found other ways to keep her team on the ground. UTEP began a 15-game winning streak New Year's Eve when they beat Texas State and continued it to their most recent win Feb.

UTEP celebrated before the game for their seven seniors, after for winning the Conference USA regular season title but Rice had the final say.The Owls took an early second half lead, held off multiple second-chance opportunities by the Miners and defeated UTEP 52-48 to give them their first C-USA loss of the season Feb. 26 at the Don Haskins Center.

As they did all season in league play, UTEP led from start to finish. The Miners defeated SMU 68-50 Feb. 23 at the Don Haskins Center to clinch their second Conference USA regular season title in program history.

The Miners improved their largest winning streak of the season to four in historic fashion. UTEP overcame the largest deficit in school history by rallying from 16-points down against league-leader Southern Miss to win in double overtime, 86-78, Feb.

In head coach Mika Laaksonen's first year last season, it was his relay team and throwers that sent some UTEP athletes to the NCAA Championships. But after sophomore hurdler/sprinter and Clemson transfer Janice Jackson entered prior to the current indoor track and field season, he may have found a way to send an athlete in all facets of track and field to the NCAAs.

Moving from another country wasn't the only challenge senior guard Baiba Eglite had to overcome. Losing her mother, while being thousands of miles away, has been a wound that basketball has helped her heal. "At first it was hard, but I was just trying to stay busy and not let myself down.

Floyd: Young Miners ‘have surprised me’

When head coach Tim Floyd held a free scrimmage to UTEP fans at the Don Haskins Center prior to the season, he used the opportunity not only to introduce the team, but send one message: be patient, this is a rebuilding year. But while Floyd let his fans in on his plan, he said he never really told his players the same idea.

When the Miners take on Memphis Feb. 18 at the FedEx Forum, it will not only be a game of last-time occurrences, but a chance for UTEP to achieve something for the first time.

In what head coach Mike Price considers his most competitive schedule since he took over UTEP in 2004, the Miners announced their opponents for 2012, which will commence with a home game against Oklahoma Sept. 1 at the Sun Bowl.

Conference-USA and the Mountain West Conference announced Feb. 13 that the two have agreed to form a new intercollegiate association, which will begin in 2013-14. "We think that the institutions that we would be partnering with in the Mountain West are institutions that we've always had a great deal of respect for," UTEP President Diana Natalicio said.

Players make relationships work, even during a season

Finding the time to maintain a relationship as an athlete might not be easy, but some of the UTEP men's basketball players gave details about their relationship, what it takes to balance out things and some Valentine's surprises. "I have been with this girl almost a month now and I like her a lot.

Despite sophomore center John Bohannon not being able to score in regulation, one of the best scorers on the team was still able to come in the clutch. Bohannon scored all five of his points in the last two plays in overtime and the Miners avenged their loss to Tulane from earlier in the season, 54-52 Feb. 11 at the Don Haskins Center.

Senior forward Erika Warren was feeling it from the beginning. She hit the game's first points, a 3-pointer just seconds into the game, and finished with a career-high 20 points to lead UTEP past Tulane 80-65 Feb. 12 at the Don Haskins Center.

Some college programs have fans with a level of confidence that borders that dreadful term of cockiness. Whether it's Texas, USC or Notre Dame and their historic football programs, Duke, North Carolina or UCLA and their basketball teams, these fans have every right to brag about their respective schools and their accomplishments.

The Miners will travel to College Station to compete in their final meet before the Conference-USA Indoor Championships in hope of staying sharp and not overlooking the event Feb. 11 at Texas A&M. Head coach Mika Laaksonen is hoping the team stays focused but is aware that athletes may look past the event and have the C-USA championships, which is Feb.

The Miners took the early lead and never trailed, ending the Tulsa Golden Hurricane's seven-game winning streak and halting UTEP's four-game slump in a 64-55 victory Feb. 8 at the Don Haskins Center. Freshman guard Julian Washburn came out of the locker room, scored eight of his 13 points to begin the second half and put the Miners up 38-25.

Miners out for payback from 2011 record

The memory of the 2011 season still lingers in the back of co-head coach Kathleen Rodriguez's head, and she plans on making that the driving force for the 2012 campaign. "There's a lot to be said for someone who has a lot of competitiveness. There's a lot to be said for someone who still kind of hurts from last year.

El Paso native and senior thrower Matt Dudley has his goals set beyond an NCAA title. Instead, he wants to follow in his father's footsteps and earn a trip to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Matt's father, Steve Dudley, once qualified for the Olympics in the discus throw, the same event Matt has excelled in this year.