Why We Don't Like You: UTEP Miners

Each week, we'll look at some reasons to taunt, belittle, and bully the Longhorns' football opponent. Picking on the little guy again, here are the UTEP Miners.

You Can Get Nasty: During the telecast of last year's game, ESPN cameras zoomed in on a couple sitting together on a slope above the endzone, where things began to get a little amorous. Also, Miners coach Mike Price fought off allegations of sex with strippers during a Florida golf tournament. As a result of the Sports Illustrated story, Price was fired as coach of Alabama before he coached a single game.

Get Me A Cheeseburger: As a weather delay stretched into its third hour last week during the Miners' game at New Mexico State, the UTEP players were feeling peckish, having last eaten in mid-afternoon. So Price headed to the stadium concession stand and ordered 80 turkey legs and 60 sloppy joes. "They are 4 or 5 dollars apiece and the Aggies gave us zero discount. Cash only."

Flattery Will Get You Nowhere: Price was effusive this week in his praise of the Longhorns. "They are coached by the finest college football coach in America in Mack Brown. It's a tremendous program. He is a great role model for any coach at any level. We're so proud to have him in the state of Texas and he's a real credit to the profession. He's a wonderful person and his quarterback is the same way. It goes without saying that they're the best football team in the country right now. I think they're tremendous." Well, thanks, coach. Unfortunately, sucking up isn't going to make the Longhorns take it any easier on you.

You're Playing Our Song: UTEP's official alma mater and official fight song are carbon copies of "The Eyes of Texas" and "Texas Fight". In 1920, the UTEP student body adopted "Eyes" as their alma mater after it had been declared the school anthem for UT. The fight song, "Miners Fight" is a word-for-word remake of "Texas Fight", with "Miners" substituted for "Texas" and "Kentucky" substituted for "A&M".