Feb. 27, 2008

UTEP will host the University of Texas at Austin for the first time in school history this fall, highlighting the Miners' 2008 football schedule.

"I think it's a really exciting schedule," UTEP coach Mike Price said. "We're kind of breaking it up into three seasons. We have the Buffalo and UT-Austin season, then we have a bye, then we have five games and a bye and another five games. It should be a fantastic home schedule with UT-Austin, New Mexico State and UCF."

The Miners and the Longhorns will square off for only the third time - and the first time since 1933 - on Sept. 6 in the Sun Bowl. The game will be nationally televised on either ESPN or ESPN2. The Longhorns finished the 2007 season ranked 10th nationally with a 10-3 record, including a 52-34 victory over Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl. It marked the seventh consecutive season that the Longhorns have won 10 games or more.

The Longhorns have also made 10 straight bowl appearances under head coach Mack Brown. Last year's Longhorns ended the season rated sixth in the country in rushing defense (93.4 ypg), 13th in total offense (462.9 ypg), 14th in scoring offense (37.2 ppg) and 17th in rushing offense (207.5 ypg).

The Longhorns return junior quarterback Colt McCoy, who threw for 3,303 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.

UTEP's home schedule also includes matchups with I-10 rival New Mexico State, defending Conference USA champion UCF and in-state adversaries Rice and SMU, as well as Tulane.

The Miners will open their 91st season of football at Buffalo of the Mid-American Conference on Aug. 28. The Bulls were 5-3 in the MAC's East Division a year ago, and 5-7 overall. Coached by former long-time Nebraska assistant Turner Gill, Buffalo returns an 1,100-yard rusher (James Starks), a 2,500-yard passer (Drew Willy), three 400-yard receivers (Brett Hamlin, Ernest Jackson and Naaman Roosevelt), and its leading tackler (safety Davonte Shannon).

The Miners will play three straight home games beginning on Sept. 6. UTEP and New Mexico State will meet for the 86th time on Sept. 20. A week later, the Miners will kick off the Conference USA slate at home versus UCF, which finished 10-4 last season and lost to Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl.

UCF is one of six 2007 bowl teams on the Miners' schedule, including five within conference play. UTEP has road games scheduled versus PapaJohns.com Bowl participant Southern Miss (Oct. 4); GMAC Bowl participant Tulsa (Oct. 18); Texas Bowl participant Houston (Nov. 22); and Sheraton Hawaii Bowl participant East Carolina (Nov. 29).

The Miners will host Tulane Oct. 11, Rice Nov. 1 and SMU Nov. 15. Rounding out the schedule is a Nov. 8 non-conference game at Louisiana-Lafayette, which was 3-9 in 2007 and 3-4 in the Sun Belt Conference.

UTEP will conduct spring drills from April 1-May 2, with the annual spring game scheduled for May 2 at 7 p.m. MST in the Sun Bowl.

Season tickets are on sale now by calling (915) 747-6150.

2008 UTEP Football Schedule

Aug. 28 at Buffalo
Sept. 6 University of Texas at Austin
Sept. 20 New Mexico State
Sept. 27 UCF*
Oct. 4 at Southern Miss*
Oct. 11 Tulane*
Oct. 18 at Tulsa*
Nov. 1 Rice*
Nov. 8 at Louisiana-Lafayette
Nov. 15 SMU*
Nov. 22 at Houston*
Nov. 29 at East Carolina*

Times to be announced. All dates subject to change. * Indicates Conference USA game.