FB Field Trip: SMU vs. UTEP at Moody Coliseum

On Saturday night, my wife and I took our son to Moody Coliseum to see the SMU Mustangs face off against the UTEP Miners in a Conference USA clash. He was upset that the YMCA had decided to cancel his PK4/5 basketball team’s Friday evening practice as well as the Saturday morning game and team pictures. So he was excited for the chance to at least watch some basketball, but probably happier about the fact our family package included vouchers for free hot dogs and soda. The game was good, and much better at the end, but I was more interested in what was going on in the stands.

If I didn’t know better, I would have assumed it was a UTEP home game, as there were at least as many fans in orange and blue (some even wearing miners’ helmets — not a good look) as there were those sporting SMU colors. They were much louder, too, and organized; they led their own chants and one group unfurled a giant UTEP flag. So, a question, to anyone who might know: did the UTEP faithful travel all the way from El Paso, or is there a giant stronghold of UTEP alums in the North Texas area? And while we’re here: SMU fans, step up. (Not looking at you, small but vocal student section.)