EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The 2005 UTEP football team is returning to El Paso this weekend, and in their honor, ticket prices for the Miners’ game vs. Jax State will resemble those from 20 years ago, the university said.
Fans can purchase $13 seats by clicking here.
UTEP and Jax State will square off in the Sun Bowl at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8.
The 2005 Miners finished 8-4 and ended the season in the GMAC Bowl, completing a run of 16 victories in two years. UTEP posted a 5-3 mark in its first season in Conference USA to land in second place in the league’s Western Division. The 2005 team was ranked as high as 24th in the country after winning eight of its first nine games.
Highlights from the 2005 season included a sweep of regional rivals NM State and New Mexico, a thrilling 44-41 double overtime win over Houston in UTEP’s first-ever CUSA game at the Sun Bowl, and a 41-38 win over Tulsa, which finished first in CUSA’s Western Division.
The 2005 Miners were stellar in all facets, ranking ninth in the country in passing offense (300.6 ypg), 23rd in tackles for losses (7.3 avg.) and 24th in net punting (36.1 avg.).
The 2005 team reunion coincides with the induction of Thomas Howard and Jordan Palmer into the UTEP Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend. Howard posted 85 tackles and seven tackles for losses that season, and Palmer threw for 3,503 yards and 29 touchdowns.
The Miners will wear a helmet sticker on Saturday, memorializing Howard, who died at the age of 30 in 2013.
Over 30 members of the 2005 team, including head coach Mike Price, will be in the stadium and will be recognized on-field at Saturday’s game.
Expected to attend Saturday’s game, listed alphabetically, are Mike Aguayo, Tony Barnes, Troy Collavo, Chris Day, Sir James Delgardo, Quintin Demps, Robby Felix, Daniel Garcia, Jose Garcia, Jacob Gonzales, Dawn Hearn (head trainer), Josh House, Jamar Hunt, Aaron King, Gabe Macias, Chris Marrow, Jason McQuay, Colby Meek, James Olalekan, Jordan Palmer, Aaron Price (quarterbacks/kickers coach), Mike Price (head coach), Reagan Schneider, Jake Sears, Ty Stout, David Sutton, Marcus Thomas, Bryant Tisdale, Jordan Tubig, Justin Watson and Kyle Wright.
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