strange things heard on UTEP game broadcast

[RGV Pony]

Can someone tell my why I heard the UTEP band playing "Texas Fight" during the under-6 minute play stoppage?

Maybe I'm losing it, but I heard what I heard. Weird.

[Stallion]

Its one of their fight songs-always has been.

[RGV Pony]

Its one of their fight songs-always has been.

strange. One of the six things about UTEP I didn't already know. Kind of makes you wish "Boomer Sooner" had been one of ours for awhile...or maybe Rocky Top?

[Sasser Rules]

Another strange thing heard was when the announcers were talking about someone's shot getting blocked, and whether it was a legitimate block or if it should have been a goaltend. I don't know which announcer it was, but one of them said the shot had "eclipsed its apex." It makes sense, of course .... you just don't hear that a lot on broadcasts.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

I'm sure glad I didn't go to UTEP. What kind of school steals fight songs from other schools. What losers.

[MrMustang1965]

I'm sure glad I didn't go to UTEP. What kind of school steals fight songs from other schools. What losers.

Lots of high schools 'steal' songs from colleges. For example, Ennis' band plays the Aggie fight song.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

I think he meant more along the lines of a university. Every HS in America has some university's fight song. Heck, even HP plays their version of "Peruna." As for UTEP, I believe there is some history behind them playing "Texas Fights" as well as "March Grandioso" which is also played by UT and Tech.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

I really don't know what to make of UTEP. They steal fight songs and their mascot is extremely insensitive (based on all of the recent tragedies).

I imagine their alumni/alumnae are embarrassed to claim UTEP as their alma mater.

[MrMustang1965]

I think he meant more along the lines of a university. Every HS in America has some university's fight song. Heck, even HP plays their version of "Peruna." As for UTEP, I believe there is some history behind them playing "Texas Fights" as well as "March Grandioso" which is also played by UT and Tech.

The reason that HP plays "Peruna" is because the great Jack Rohr's sons (John and Rick) were members of the band and he gave permission to the HP band director for it to be played. God knows I played it A LOT on my trombone from 1971-1974!

[SMUPhil]

Well, UTEP is part of the University of Texas system, so I imagine that early on, they just took the traditions of the "flagship school", I think that also explains their orange color.

Jack Rohr wrote some great stuff, btw his granddaughter is currently in the Mustang Band.

[WildBillPony]

I wouldn't dog UTEP too much if I were you. They managed to turn out 11,000+ fans tonight at the game. Probably made a big difference. Have you seen that at Moody lately??? The UTEP Athletic site and Doc Sadler were also very complimentary of SMU afterward.

UTEP adopted the UT fight song "Miners Fight" and the orange theme long ago when they were known as Texas Western College. Things were a lot different back then. Even in 1966, the Glory Road year, they were using the UT fight song. It was a different time, a different era, and not as small of a world, even in Texas. The school eventually adopted the pseudo-Marty Robbins-esque fight song, and rightly so, in order to distinguish themselves from UT-Austin. Once in a while, they will play the old tune-not sure why, maybe to remind everyone of the old tradition and maybe old roots.

It doesn't bother me to hear them play it. I grew up there and I'm used to it. Keep in mind also, in case you forgot, they are the only Texas school to ever win the NCAA Basketball Championship, not UT-Austin. And I hope no other Texas school does, either..........except maybe smu

[CalallenStang]

http://www.collegefootballhistory.com/m ... istory.htm

School Colors/Song
Research failed to produce where and why the school selected the colors orange and white. We do know the student body debated in the early 1920s as to whether it would continue with these colors after the school changed its name for the first time. The students voted to keep the colors and in the early 1980s, blue was added so now the official colors are orange, white and blue. When the new UTEP athletic department logo was introduced in the fall of 1999, a darker hue of blue was incorporated into the logo, as well as a silver accent to go with the customary orange.

"The Eyes of Texas are Upon You" was adopted by the 1920 student body when the song had been "declared the school anthem for the University of Texas (Austin)."

UTEP's fight song, "Miners Fight" was also an offshoot from the Austin campus. However, in the late 1980s and with Marty Robbins' blessing, the UTEP Music Department rewrote the song with the melody "El Paso."

"Miner Fight Song"
Down in the west Texas town of El Paso
Home of the River they call Rio Grande
Down on the border the town of El Paso
Home of the Miners the best in the land
Fighting till end the Miners of UTEP
Long live the College of Mines, the College of Mines
Loyal forever, we're standing together
Onward to victory Orange and Blue, we will be true!
(Repeat)

I don't know where I read it, but I remember reading about two years ago that the adaptation of "Texas Fight" as the UTEP fight song was due to the students' allegiance to the flagship school of the UT system.

Also...to whomever said the Miners nickname is insensitive:

Nickname
We must presume the nickname "Miners" came from the fact that the school was founded as the "State School of Mines and Metallurgy." In doing research on this project, early mention of "Ore Diggers" and "Muckers" for the nickname was found, but nothing to determine if the name "Miners" was voted upon by the student body, or if a faculty member, John W. (Cap) Kidd, chose the name. Kidd was a big booster of athletics, especially football, and in 1915, when funds were rather lean at the school, Kidd donated $800 to equip the football team. He also assisted with coaching, although he was not the head coach. The present track facility on campus bears Cap Kidd's name.

Would you rather them be called Ore Diggers or Muckers?

[Lucaminer]

[quote="DanFreibergerForHeisman"]I really don't know what to make of UTEP. They steal fight songs and their mascot is extremely insensitive (based on all of the recent tragedies).

I imagine their alumni/alumnae are embarrassed to claim UTEP as their alma mater.[/quote]

No offense, pal, but that is one of the stupidest post I have ever read. The mascot is extremely insensitive? Dude, they were called the Miners long before the unfortunate incidents in West Virginia. Funny, we just played at Marshall and they didn't have a problem with the nickname. Are SMU alums embarassed to claim them as an alma mater because of the scandals in the 80's that caused the death penalty? Sports related to the school are seperate from the education you receive there.

[mustangbill67]

UTEP (Texas Wesstern) was originally the Texas College of Mines. There has been extensvie metal and non-metal mining/prospecting in far west Texas as well as southern New Mexico since the 1800's. Thus, the nickname Miners. Very little to do with coal mining.

[mrydel]

I really don't know what to make of UTEP. They steal fight songs and their mascot is extremely insensitive (based on all of the recent tragedies).

I imagine their alumni/alumnae are embarrassed to claim UTEP as their alma mater.

No offense, pal, but that is one of the stupidest post I have ever read. The mascot is extremely insensitive? Dude, they were called the Miners long before the unfortunate incidents in West Virginia. Funny, we just played at Marshall and they didn't have a problem with the nickname. Are SMU alums embarassed to claim them as an alma mater because of the scandals in the 80's that caused the death penalty? Sports related to the school are seperate from the education you receive there.

If you really think that is one of the most stupid quotes you have ever read, you certainly have not been reading his other ones. Peruse them for a while and you will see that this one does not even rank in the top 10.