UTEP’s Miners played Universities of Oklahoma and Mississippi so tough in their first two football games this season I 
thought I’d better have a talk with my crystal ball. I took it out of its drawer and told it, “You said the Miners would win only four football games this season. Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? The Miners gave Oklahoma all it wanted and not only played Mississippi well but did it without their main offensive weapon, injured running back Nathan Jeffrey. It looks like they’re going to win more games than four.”
The crystal ball looked down at the ground and made little circles with its toe. “Well,” it said sheepishly, “how did I know the Miners were going to come up with such a great defense?”
I LOOKED it in the eye. “How did you know? You’re a crystal ball. You’re supposed to know these things.”
My tone must have gotten its dander up. “Wait a minute,” it said. “The season isn’t over. In fact it’s just starting. I’m not ready to take back my prediction.”
I harrumphed. “Well,” I said, “you’re looking pretty foolish so far. I’m betting the Miners may yet win at least six games and go to a bowl.”
The crystal ball complained, “Hey, quit trying to steal my thunder.”
TRIVIA question: The New York Jets beat Baltimore 16-7 in their first Super Bowl but it wasn’t the first overall Super Bowl. It was the third. Who won the first two Super Bowls? Answer at end.
RECENT NEWS items: 1) UTEP is ranked among America’s 12 top colleges and universities. This is news? Heck, we’ve known that for some time now. Thank you for making it possible, Dr. Diana Natalicio 2) UTEP athletic director Bob Stull has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Leadership Council which supports the NCAA Board of Directors in identifying issues critical to the future of the NCAA. This is news but no surprise after what Stull has done for UTEP athletics.
I TOLD YOU last week that Red Hawk Golf Club in Las Cruces is offering $175 monthly memberships for unlimited play with a golf cart. True, but that’s only for weekdays from Monday through Thursday. For a family, it’s $275. Those memberships also include discounts on some items. No, I’m not promoting the course. I just know a great deal when I see it and like to pass it on to my fellow golfers.
MONTWOOD High School’s football upset of Odessa Permian in El Paso was a bit of a shocker. It was the first time in 52 years that an El Paso team had beaten Odessa Permian and it brought charges of “hometowning” by the refs. Permian was called for 16 penalties and Montwood only one. Which led at least one El Pasoan to say with tongue in cheek that Odessa Permian wasn’t “hometowned” but that it had no cause to complain anyway after all the times El Paso teams have been “hometowned” through the years at Odessa Permian.
NOTRE DAME seems even more like one of our home teams since coming to the 2010 Hyundai Sun Bowl and beating Miami. Therefore, many of us got a big kick out of seeing quarterback Tommy Rees, who led the Irish to victory in the Hyundai Sun Bowl as a freshman, come off the bench near the end of last Saturday’s game and lead the Irish to a field goal and a 20-17 victory over Purdue. Shades of Joe Montana.
ANSWER to trivia question: The Green Bay Packers won both.