Miner Orangeville hysteria is in full swing as El Paso has made this year's season opener versus Pacific the first opening day sellout since 1986. KVIA reports that the game sold out shortly after noon today, and Time Warner Cable will be broadcasting the game live on TWC channel 24. *Apparently a limited amount of student tickets are still available so students if you haven't gotten your tickets yet you still have a chance to grab one.
The University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas State University, and the University of Denver have all accepted formal invitations to join the Western Athletic Conference beginning in the 2012 school year. The schools will officially join the conference on July 1, 2012.
A home and home agreement has been reached between UTEP and Colorado state for football games in 2011 and 2018. The Rams were looking for another opponent to fill an open slot after Fresno St. and Nevada announced they would remain in the WAC through next season. The Miners get the first date at home on October 22, 2011, and will return the favor sometime in 2018. The Miners and the Rams already have a home and home series slated for September 21, 2013 in Fort Collins and September 20, 2014 in El Paso, thus the postponement of the second trip to Fort Collins.
According the AP, UTEP along with 6 other schools will join host Hawaii, in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic to be held next December. As of right now, UTEP, Clemson, Hawaii, Long Beach State, Texas A&M, and Xavier are set to take the court in the three day event. The other two spots in the tourney have yet to be filled. Check back for more updates.
Malcolm Moore, and Mitch Marquis have both committed to playing for Tim Floyd at UTEP.
Eamonn Brennan of ESPN.com has compiled his list of the top basketball conferences in the country. The Power 6 fill slots 1-6, naturally. Surprisingly though is the Big 10 coming in at no. 1 and the Almighty Big East coming in at no. 4. Following the Big 6 are the MWC, the A-10, the Colonial, and C-USA.
Johnson is also considering UNLV and San Diego State. ESPN has a brief, but detailed description of his skill set. Thanks to MinerXfactor at Kyyote's Den for posting this link.
Great news for Jeff Moturi as he has landed on the Colts practice squad this week. He'll join teammate Cornelius Brown who is now on the Colts active roster.
There have been rumors flying about this for weeks, but now it's official. Linebacker Brandon Durant from Copperas Cove, TX has decommitted from UTEP and committed to the Missouri Tigers. Durant was perhaps the highest rated of all of UTEP's incoming class as he was rated as the 71st best overall prospect in the state of Texas. This has to worry coach Mike Price. As UTEP's season is fading away, will other programs pluck away the top of his 2011 class?