Page 9 - The University of Texas at El Paso Miner Guide 2024-2025

UTEP HISTORY
On September 23, 1914, the Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy opened its doors. Located on Fort Bliss, the School consisted of a 25 room dormitory and a 34 room Main Building. Two years later, in 1916, the Main Building was destroyed by a fire. Dean Stephen Howard Wor- rell led the administration in search of a new site. The school found a new home on a 22.9-acre area near the Rio Grande River in the western foothills of the Franklin Mountains. The school’s new buildings were inspired by distinctive Bhutanese architecture at the suggestion of Dean
Worrell’s wife, Kathleen. After reading an April 1914 National Geographic article titled “Castles
in the Air,” Kathleen felt that the Himalayan Mountains of Bhutan and the Franklin Mountains of El Paso had a great resemblance to each other. Thus, the photos were recommended as a model for the new campus buildings. The school became a branch of The University of Texas in 1919 and the name was changed to The Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy. In 1949, the Texas Leg- islature approved changing the school’s name
to Texas Western College to reflect the school’s increasing number of liberal arts programs. The University of Texas at El Paso became the official name of the University on March 13, 1967, when the University of Texas System renamed all schools under its umbrella.
UTEP COLORS
As the second-oldest academic component of the UT System, the original school colors of orange and white reflected the close association with The University of Texas at Austin. In the early 1980’s, students voted to add blue to the original colors of orange and white. Almost 20 years later, the new athletic logo changed the colors once again to the current blue and orange with a silver accent.
UTEP SPIRIT
The nickname “Miners” stems from the school’s original name: the Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy. Other names were considered such as “Ore Diggers” and “Muckers.” The first mascot was a student dressed as a prospector leading a burro name Clyde. After Clyde began making appearances at football games, University President Dr. Joseph Ray demanded that some- thing be done about “that sorry-looking, pot- bellied creature, not fit to represent the Miners.” In 1966, Clyde was replaced by another burro named Henry. The name “Paydirt Pete” was selected in 1974 from over 500 entries in a contest to give a name to the mascot. The first animated Paydirt Pete mascot was a lovable lil’ ol’ miner nicknamed “Sweet Pete,” but he was replaced later by the more rugged Paydirt Pete. Another version of the mascot was introduced in the fall of 1999 when the athletic department introduced a new logo. The current Paydirt Pete made his debut at a men’s basketball game during the 2004 season.
UTEP ATHLETICS
For over a century, the UTEP Miners have been El Paso’s sports team. UTEP currently spon- sors 17 NCAA Division I sports programs – men’s and women’s basketball, beach volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s golf, rifle, soccer, softball, tennis, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field.
UTEP has been a member of Conference USA since 2005. The Miners have won 21 NCAA team national championships, including the men’s basketball team’s historic victory over Kentucky in 1966. On March 19, 1966, Hall of Famer Don Haskins became the first coach to start five black players in the national championship game, as
MINER GUIDE 2024 - 2025 • THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO
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