Jeken Frye News

Tulane topped UTEP in overtime. 11/7/09 Photo: Tyler Kaufman NEW ORLEANS -- Consider, for a moment, the enormity of the following statement: UTEP's 45-38 overtime loss to Tulane represents a new low point for the Miner defense.

The situation actually was a bit too unlikely to be considered truly grim. The UTEP football team was in a shootout tie with Tulane midway through the fourth quarter Saturday, but an obviously key drive was mired at third-and-26 and the punt team and defense were getting ready.

The feats of Donald Buckram could fill an entire notebook, so here are a few more tidbits.

UTEP got some outstanding news on the injury front when a pair of defensive starters were cleared to face Kansas.

As a boy at Eastwood High School, Jo Jo Ortiz used to sit in the Sun Bowl, watching the UTEP players walk down through the Mine Shaft, wondering what that moment would feel like.

UTEP head coach Mike Price was pleased with all aspects but one after Wednesday's 60-play scrimmage, which was added to the schedule Tuesday night.

UTEP's first scrimmage of the fall ended on a high note when true freshman Andy McCloud capped a strong first week as a Miner with a 30-yard bomb to true freshman Marlon McClure for a score.