UTEP Accepts Bid to 2005 GMAC Bowl

MOBILE, AL- The University of Texas El Paso Miners today accepted a bid to participate in the 7th annual GMAC Bowl. UTEP will face Mid-American Conference representative Toledo at Ladd Peebles Stadium on December 21, 2005 at 7:00PM CST. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

“We are thrilled to have UTEP in Mobile this year,” stated Bowl President Jerry Silverstein. “Over the past six years the bowl has built a reputation of providing college football fans with NFL caliber players and exciting high scoring football games. The match-up between UTEP and Toledo should build on that tradition. We’re looking forward to the kick-off”

The 8-3 Miners have put up impressive offensive numbers this season. UTEP ranks sixth nationally in passing offense (310.5 ypg), 20th in passing efficiency (142.52) and total offense (438 ypg), and 21st in scoring offense (33.6 ppg). Quarterback Jordan Palmer is the catalyst of the Miner offense. The junior signal caller is the school record-holder for passing yardage (7,326), passing touchdowns (61) and total offense (7,397 yards). He is only the third Miner quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in a season, totaling 3,340 yards through the air in 2005.

Under second year Head Coach Mike Price, UTEP will be making back-to-back bowl appearances for only the third time in school history, and the first time since 1954. The Miners lost to Big 12 North champion Colorado, 33-28, in the 2004 EV1.net Houston Bowl.

“We’re really excited about earning an invitation to the GMAC Bowl,” stated UTEP head coach Mike Price. “Our players are really going to enjoy Mobile. It’s a special place with a lot of history. The GMAC Bowl people do a tremendous job with hospitality. We’re facing a tough opponent in Toledo. It should be an exciting game.”

The Miners will face off against The University of Toledo Rockets. Led by senior quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, the Rockets averaged 35 points per game in 2005. Gradkowski, a three-year starter for UT, holds 19 school records and three MAC marks. He has thrown for 2,171 yards and 24 touchdowns this season.

The GMAC Bowl will mark the first ever meeting between UTEP and Toledo.