The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
UTEP
No. 11 Football plays host to UTEP Saturday
09.06.2016 | Football
Coming off a 50-47 win over Notre Dame, the Longhorns welcome the Miners to town.
Texas game notes | UTEP game notes | Big 12 notes | Longhorns gameweek
The Opening Kickoff
Coming off a thrilling double-overtime victory against No. 10 Notre Dame, The University of Texas will play host to the University of Texas-El Paso on Saturday night. With their 50-47 victory against the Fighting Irish, the Longhorns claimed their 17th straight win in a home opener. It was UT's first win over a Top-10 program at home in week one of the season since they defeated No. 6 Arkansas on Sept. 1, 1980. UTEP also enters the game at 1-0 overall, coming off a 38-22 win over New Mexico State in their season opener last weekend.
National Game Coverage
• Saturday's game will be on Longhorn Network with Lowell Galindo handling the play-by-play call while Ahmad Brooks and Keith Moreland will provide the analysis. Dawn Davenport will be on the sidelines.
• Tune into LHN's Texas GameDay show live from the stadium beginning two hours before kickoff.
• A national radio broadcast can be heard on Sirius XM Channel 81.
At The Game...
• The Longhorn Band will perform the National Anthem
• The Red Bull jump team will enter the stadium from above prior to kickoff
• Honorary captains will be the Precursors Class of 1956
• The Outstanding Young Texas Exes will be recognized
• Swimming and Diving program reunion and recognition
• Legendary baseball coach Augie Garrido will be honored
• 2015-16 Big 12 Conference Championship teams will be recognized
Longhorns Jump Into National Rankings
• Texas is ranked No. 11 in the AP Top 25. It is the first appearance since Dec. 2013 and the highest ranking since week six of the 2012 season. The Longhorns are also ranked No. 20 in the Coaches Poll. It is their first appearance since week two of the 2014 season and their highest ranking since being No. 16 entering week two of the 2013 season.
Texas Sets New Stadium Attendance Record
• Longhorn fans showed up in a big way to Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium on Sunday night for Texas' 50-47 season-opening win over Notre Dame. A sellout crowd of 102,315 - a new stadium and school record - witnessed the first-ever overtime game played in stadium history.
• The sellout was the first for Texas since Nov. 28, 2013 - a Thanksgiving Night game against Texas Tech.
Swoopes, There It Is
• Quarterback Tyrone Swoopes rushed 13 times for 53 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday night in a 50-47 2OT victory against No. 10 Notre Dame.
• His third touchdown, the game-winner in double-overtime, clinched Texas' first win over a Top-10 opponent at home since 2008 and their first such win in a season-opener since 1980.
• Swoopes' first touchdown of the night came from one yard out, as he rushed over right end and plowed into the end zone to give the Longhorns a 21-14 halftime lead.
• Swoopes then impressed in the overtime sessions, scoring both of Texas' touchdowns. In the first overtime, he rushed in from three yards out to give UT a 44-37 lead.
• In the second OT, after Texas had fallen behind 47-44, Swoopes found the end zone from six yards out to give UT the win.
• With his 53 yards rushing, Swoopes is now seventh among QBs in school history with 845 yards rushing. His three touchdowns move him into a tie for third among QBs with 20.
• Swoopes continues to be efficient out of the 18-wheeler package, as six of his 13 carries on Sunday night went for first downs or touchdowns. Since the installation of the 18-wheeler package last season against Oklahoma State, Swoopes has 15 rushing touchdowns including three games with three-or-more scores on the ground.
• Swoopes was named Big 12 Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
Swoopes Tracking Toward Historic Milestones
• Senior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes is just 28 yards shy of 3,000 career passing yards entering Saturday night's game against UTEP. Just 12 quarterbacks in school history have passed for 3,000 yards in a career.
• Additionally, he is just 155 rushing yards shy of 1,000 career yards, Swoopes could join Colt McCoy and Vince Young as the only three quarterbacks in school history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for at least 1,000 in a career.
Buechele Makes History In Season Opener
• True freshman quarterback Shane Buechele got the starting nod for the Longhorns in Sunday night's victory over No. 10 Notre Dame.
• He became just the second true freshman all-time to start the season opener at quarterback for Texas and the first since Bobby Layne in 1944.
• Buechele finished the night responsible for three touchdowns – two through the air and one on the ground.
• In total he finished the night 16-of-26 passing for a true-freshman record 280 yards. His 313 yards responsible for were also a new school record for a true freshman.
• The freshman from Arlington Lamar is just the second true freshman in school history to pass for more than 200 yards in a game, as Rick McIvor also did so against Baylor in 1979.
• His 72-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to John Burt was tied for the fourth-longest by a freshman in school history.
• Buechele was named Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Week.
A Texas Win Would...
• Mark the Longhorns 888th win in program history
• Be Charlie Strong's 50th career coaching victory. He enters the game 49-30 overall and 12-14 at Texas
• Move Texas to 5-0 all-time against UTEP, including a 4-0 record in Austin
Longhorns Triumphant In Season Opener, Again
• With their 50-47 win over Notre Dame, Texas improved to 103-18-3 (.843) all-time in home openers. The Longhorns have an impressive record of 69-15-3 (.810) in openers at Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium.
Ten Freshmen Make Debut Against Notre Dame
• Ten true freshmen either started or played in their debut game in the burnt orange on Sunday night against No. 10 Notre Dame.
• Two true freshmen got the starting nod: QB Shane Buechele and C Zach Shackelford.
• Another eight true freshman saw game action: WR Devin Duvernay, DL Jordan Elliott, WR Collin Johnson, DB Brandon Jones, LB Jeffrey McCulloch, RB Kyle Porter, DE Malcolm Roach and DT Gerald Wilbon.
• After starting a school-record 10 true freshmen during the 2015 season, Strong will again look to a young nucleus in 2016 to contribute. In total, 17 true freshmen played a season ago, while 35 total have played in Strong's first two-plus seasons.
First Time Starters, First Time Players
• Besides true freshmen, six other Longhorns made their first career starts on Sunday night: CB Sheroid Evans, RB D'Onta Foreman, RT Brandon Hodges, DT Chris Nelson, DE Charles Omenihu and WR Jacorey Warrick.
• Five other Longhorns made their first career appearance: OL Alex Anderson, KOS Mitchell Becker, PK Trent Domingue, DS Jak Holbrook and TE Michael Wilson.
Strong Start To Third Season With Longhorns
• Texas head coach Charlie Strong began his third season with the Longhorns with a thrilling 50-47, double-overtime victory against No. 10 Notre Dame on Sunday night.
• Strong is in his seventh season as a head coach, with a career record of 49-30. He is 12-14 in his time with Texas.
• Texas is 4-8 against ranked opponents under Charlie Strong, but has won three consecutive games over such foes (24-17 W vs. No. 10 Oklahoma, 23-17 W at No. 12 Baylor, 50-47 W vs. No. 10 Notre Dame).
• During his first two seasons at Louisville, Strong's Cardinals won just eight conference games and were around the .500 mark overall. But in his third season UofL burst onto the national scene with 11 wins and an appearance in the Sugar Bowl.
• Strong has led his teams to a bowl game in five of six seasons as a head coach. In total, Strong's teams have been to a bowl game 13 times in the last 15 seasons.
Longhorns Debut New Offense In Victory Over Notre Dame
• Texas offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert had a chance to debut his new offense on Sunday night in the season-opener against Notre Dame. Needless to say, the Longhorns impressed the nation by running 86 plays for 517 yards and scoring 50 points in their double-overtime victory against the Fighting Irish.
• True freshman Shane Buechele got the nod at quarterback, but redshirt senior Tyrone Swoopes saw plenty of action in the 18-wheeler package. In total, the quarterbacks combined for 366 total yards of offense and six touchdowns.
• Running back D'Onta Foreman had 131 rushing yards - the first 100-yard rushing game for a Longhorn against Notre Dame since Ricky Williams in 1996.
• John Burt caught six passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. Texas has already matched the total number of 100-yard receiving games that they had during the entire 2015 season.
• The 2016 season marks the fourth time in five seasons as a collegiate offensive coordinator that Sterlin Gilbert has been installing an offense as a first-year system.
Longhorns Win In First-Ever OT Game At DKR
• Sunday night's double-overtime win made Texas football history, as it not only was the first overtime game ever played at DKR - Texas Memorial Stadium, but also the first ever multiple-OT game in school history.
• In total, it was the third OT game in school history. Texas is now 2-1 all-time in overtime, having defeated West Virginia on the road in 2013 and losing to Oklahoma in 1996.
Nelson Makes Impact In First Career Start
• Sophomore defensive tackle Chris Nelson started the first game of his career on Sunday night against No. 10 Notre Dame at defensive tackle.
• Nelson led the Longhorns to a thrilling double-overtime win with a team-high eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
• Both marks – the eight tackles and two tackles for loss – were a career-high. Nelson's previous career-high was three tackles and one tackle for loss in a game.
• Nelson was named Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.
Evans Returns To Field For First Career Start
• Sixth-year senior Sheroid Evans waited 1,068 days to get back on the field in a Longhorn uniform and picked up his first career start on Sunday night against Notre Dame. He registered one tackle and also a pass breakup.
• A native of Sugar Land, Texas, Evans hadn't played in a game since tearing his ACL for the first time in a game on Oct. 3, 2013. In between games, Evans tore his ACL for a second time, earned a degree in applied learning and development and is currently pursuing a second degree in textiles and apparel with plans to open his own clothing line after college.
Texas-Notre Dame Most Watched Game
• Sunday night's two-overtime thriller delivered a total live audience measurement (TV+Streaming) of 11,093,000 average viewers, the most-watched college football kickoff weekend game on record across all networks.
• The game had a massive 7.0 overnight rating on ABC, while also setting multiple streaming records.
• Additionally, Austin had a 25.4 overnight rating, the No. 1 market for the game and Austin's best overnight for an opening weekend game ever on ESPN's networks.
Dickson Begins Sophomore Season Strong
• Michael Dickson punted six times for an average of 55.0 yards per punt in Sunday night's victory over Notre Dame, playing a crucial role in flipping the field throughout.
• Dickson, who set a new career long with a punt of 64 yards, allowed just two returns while downing one inside the 20.
• His 55.0 yards per punt average also set a new career high as did his five punts of more than 50 yards.
• The sophomore from Sydney, Australia was honorable mention All-Big 12 as a true freshman after punting 77 times for an average of 41.3 yards per punt.
Burt Blazing On The Field And Track
• Sophomore wide receiver John Burt had a standout freshman season on both the football field for Coach Charlie Strong and on the track for Coach Mario Sategna.
• A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Burt had six catches for 111 yards, including a touchdown reception of 72 yards in the win over No. 10 Notre Dame. His six receptions were a new career-high.
• Last season, Burt was Texas' leading receiver catching 28 passes for 457 yards and two touchdowns. He started all 12 games.
• On the track, Burt finished second in the 110m Hurdles at the Big 12 Championships and qualified for NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.
• Burt was one of five who also play football at their respective FBS schools to qualify for the NCAA Championships. He was one of just two freshmen to qualify in the 24-person field.
• Burt was named the 12th-fastest player in college football as part of the NFL.com "16 for '16" series.
Longhorns On Long Streaks
• In total, 19 Longhorns have played in every game dating back to the beginning of last season. Led by Paul Boyette's 27 consecutive games, four players have played in at least 19 consecutive games. Tight end Andrew Beck has appeared in 26 straight contests, while DT Poona Ford has played in 20 in a row and S Jason Hall 19.
• Both WR John Burt and LT Connor Williams have started 13 consecutive.
Longhorns Compete In Battle For The Belts
• All summer long, every program in college football goes through an intense and rigorous strength and conditioning program to prepare for the upcoming season. This summer, Longhorns' head coach for strength and conditioning Pat Moorer decided to add a fun twist to Texas' summer strength and conditioning program.
• Each week throughout the summer, Texas would compete in the Battle for the Belts. Three different weight classes - lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight - would crown a winner each Friday throughout the summer.
• In total, six weekly belts were awarded throughout the summer to each of the three weightclasses.
• The lightweight belt was won by Sheroid Evans three times and freshman Brandon Jones twice. The middleweight belt was won by Naashon Hughes three times and Andrew Beck twice, while Tristan Nickelson (four wins) dominated the heavyweight competition for much of the summer.
Jefferson Looking To Follow Up Impressive Freshman Campaign
• Malik Jefferson was named the Big 12 Conference's Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2015, following a season where he finished second on the team with 61 tackles. Jefferson also finished fourth with 7.0 tackles for loss, first with six quarterback pressures and added a forced fumble and a fumble recovery which he returned to the end zone for a touchdown.
• Jefferson's impact was felt on the field early and often Sunday night against No. 10 Notre Dame. A native of Mesquite, Texas, Jefferson had six tackles (all solo) to go along with a sack.
• Prior to the 2016 season, Jefferson was recognized as a preseason All-American by both Sporting News and Sports Illustrated, as well as being named the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
• Additionally, he was named to the preseason watch lists for the Bednarik Award, Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award and Walter Camp Award.
Notes From The Win Over Notre Dame
• The win marked Texas' third straight over a ranked opponent dating back to last season when they defeated No. 10 Oklahoma and No. 12 Baylor.
• It was the Longhorns first home win over a ranked opponent since beating No. 24 West Virginia on Nov. 8, 2014.
• The last time Texas had defeated a Top-10 opponent at home prior to Sunday night was Oct. 25, 2008 when they beat No. 7 Oklahoma State.
• It was the first time UT had beaten a ranked opponent in week one since defeating No. 21 Penn State on Sept. 8, 1990. Additionally, it was the Longhorns' first win over a ranked opponent at home to open a season since downing No. 11 Auburn on Sept. 15, 1984.
Did You Know?
• Texas' win against Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly marked his first career loss as the coach of a Top-10 team playing against an unranked opponent. He was previously 20-0.
Heard Finding A Groove At Wide Receiver
• Sophomore Jerrod Heard made the switch from quarterback to wide receiver this summer and has quickly found a home at the inside receiver position for the Longhorns.
• Heard had two receptions for 73 yards in his debut at WR againt No. 10 Notre Dame on Sunday night, including a 68-yard reception where he got behind the defense and was tripped up just short of the end zone.
• Last season at QB, just two of his 92 completions were for more than 68 yards. In fact, his 73 total yards receiving were more than he had passing in six games in which he attempted a pass during the 2015 season.
Foreman Brothers Are A Dual-Threat
• Twin brothers Armanti and D'Onta Foreman both opened up their junior campaigns by scoring a touchdown in the Longhorns' thrilling 50-47 two-OT victory against No. 10 Notre Dame.
• Armanti, a wide receiver, caught three passes for 25 yards and his touchdown in the win. The touchdown, an over-the-shoulder grab where he was able to drag a foot in-bounds, came from 19 yards out.
• D'Onta, a running back, rushed 24 times for 131 yards and a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. The 24 carries were a career-high, while the 131 yards marked the fifth time in his career he has surpassed the century mark.
• Both Armanti and D'Onta started Sunday night. For Armanti it was the seventh of his career, while for D'Onta it was his first.
Offensive Line Holds Strong In Week One
• Texas returned just three starters to its offensive line in 2016 and was breaking in two first-time starters against No. 10 Notre Dame on Sunday night. However, the Longhorns did not surrender a sack all night to the Fighting Irish defense.
• Connor Williams (13 starts) got the start at left tackle. He was joined on the left side by guard Patrick Vahe (11 starts). Senior Kent Perkins also returned from last season. Sunday night was Perkins' 25th career start and his seventh straight. Center Zach Shackelford and right tackle Brandon Hodges both picked up their first career start. Shackelford is a true freshman from Belton, Texas, while Hodges is a junior college transfer who redshirted last season from Aberdeen, Miss.
• The offensive line led a balanced attack with the Longhorns passing for 280 yards and rushing for 237.
Defensive Line Stepping Up
• Entering the season, the Longhorns' biggest question mark on the defensive side of the ball was the line. With just six returners expected to contribute, Texas will look to a large freshman class to fill some voids.
• Senior Paul Boyette Jr. (Humble, Texas) has embraced his role as a leader among the defensive line. He is joined by fellow senior Bryce Cottrell. Four other returners, including juniors Poona Ford and Naashon Hughes and sophomores Chris Nelson and Charles Omenihu, will contribute for Texas in 2016.
• Three true freshmen saw action against Notre Dame on the defensive line in Malcolm Roach, Jordan Elliott and Gerald Wilbon.
Haines A Game-Changer In The Secondary
• Senior safety Dylan Haines has proven to be a playmaker in the Longhorns' defensive secondary throughout his career. Haines has played in 25 games, starting 24 (including Sunday night's season opener).
• Haines, a native of Lago Vista, Texas, enters the 2016 season with nine career interceptions and 200 career return yards. His 200 career return yards are second-most in school history, just 61 yards behind Chris Carter (1993-96).
• Haines, a five-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, was named to the preseason watch list for both the Senior Bowl and Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Longhorns Face Challenging 2016 Schedule
• The 12-game 2016 slate features six games at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, while the Longhorns will play five road games and the annual Red River Showdown in Dallas against Oklahoma.
• The Longhorns' 2016 opponents combined for a record of 89-64 (.582) in 2015, making it the 26th-toughest schedule in the country entering the season. Through the first week of the 2016 season, Texas opponents are 8-4 (.667).
• Nine of Texas' 2016 opponents went to bowls, including three – Notre Dame, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma – who played in one of the New Year's Six bowls.
• Five opponents – Baylor (10), Notre Dame (10), Oklahoma (11), Oklahoma State (10) and TCU (11) – totaled double digit wins a season ago.
• UT will play 11 of its 12 opponents from the 2015 schedule once again this season, swapping out Rice in week two for a matchup with UTEP.
• Texas will also travel on the road for just the third time ever, and first since 1964, to play at Cal in week three.
Strong Revamps Coaching Staff For Year 3
• Texas head coach Charlie Strong made several staff changes during the offseason, bringing in five new assistant coaches including four on the offensive side of the ball.
• Strong hired Tulsa offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert to install his up-tempo offensive system with the Longhorns. Along with Gilbert came offensive line coach and run game coordinator Matt Mattox to assist with the install of the offense.
• With two other openings on the offensive side of the ball, Strong hired Anthony Johnson and Charlie Williams. Johnson, a Texas running back from 2001-05, will coach the Longhorns' running backs. Williams, a longtime collegiate and NFL coach, will coach the outside receivers. Those four new additions team up with Jeff Traylor to round out the coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball.
• On the defensive side of the ball Clay Jennings was hired from Arkansas to coach the Longhorns' defensive backs. Jennings, a longtime assistant coach in the state of Texas, will join defensive coordinator Vance Bedford, defensive line coach Brick Haley and linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary.
Texas-Notre Dame Light Up The Scoreboard
• The Longhorns and Fighting Irish combined for 97 points on Sunday night in Austin, marking the sixth-most combined points ever scored in a Texas game.
• The 97 combined points were the most scored in a Texas game since a school-record 106 combined points were scored in a 56-50 win over Baylor on Oct. 20, 2012.
Three Named To Senior Bowl Watch List
• Three Longhorn seniors were named to the Senior Bowl watch list on Tuesday, Aug. 23. DT Paul Boyette Jr., S Dylan Haines and OG Kent Perkins were all named to the preseason list.
• Since the game began in 1950, 66 Longhorns have played in the premier senior collegiate football postseason game. Nine of those 66 players are still active on NFL rosters heading into the 2016 campaign.
The Last Time... (Prior To Notre Dame)
• That Texas scored 50-or-more points was a 59-20 win over Kansas on Nov. 7, 2015
• That the Longhorns totaled more than 500 yards of offense was in that Nov. 7, 2015 win over the Jayhawks
• There was a 100-yard rusher was Dec. 5, 2015 against Baylor. Texas has had a 100-yard rusher in five straight games dating back to last season.
• That UT had a completion of 70 yards-or-more was Nov. 27, 2014 against TCU. Shane Buechele connected with John Burt for 72 yards on Sunday night to break that streak.
• A Texas punter had a 60-yard punt was Michael Dickson last season on Nov. 7, 2015 against Kansas. Dickson had a career-high 64-yard punt on Sunday night.
Hughes' Field Goal Block
• Junior Naashon Hughes blocked a Notre Dame field goal late in the third quarter that proved to be huge, as the Fighting Irish mounted a comeback. The Longhorns eventually got the game into overtime where they won, 50-47.
• For Texas, Hughes' field goal block was the first in the last 30 games. Jackson Jeffcoat was the last to block a field goal when he did so against Kansas on Nov. 2, 2013.
Did You Know?
• Texas had 517 yards of total offense in the season opener against No. 10 Notre Dame. That total would have been the Longhorns' third-highest offensive output last season. Additionally, it marks a drastic change from the 163 yards of total offense Texas had in last season's loss to the Fighting Irish.
Texas Athletics Celebrates BEVO 100
• Following the passing of BEVO XIV last October, The Silver Spurs Alumni Association began the search for BEVO XV. Prior to kickoff against Notre Dame last week, BEVO XV was revealed at Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium.
• BEVO XV's debut corresponds with the 100th anniversary of BEVO's first appearance at a University of Texas Football game. BEVO has been a fixture at Texas games since Nov. 30, 1916 - a Thanksgiving Day 21-7 victory against Texas A&M in Austin.
