The Iceman’s Travels With The UTEP Women’s Basketball Team

When I was asked by 600 ESPN El Paso to travel with the UTEP women's basketball team and be the play-by-play broadcaster for their games at UAB and Middle Tennessee it was literally a dream come true for me.  Let's face it, this was the  opportunity of a lifetime, one that not every sportscaster could handle, nor gets the chance to carry out during their careers.  Someone once told me that the definition of luck was being in the right place at the right time and ready for the chance.

My experience of traveling with the team to Alabama and Tennessee to call their games is one that I compare to a reality TV show for the ultimate sports fan, except this was literally reality!  My trip began last Wednesday January 28 when I met the team at their practice facility inside the Foster Stevens Center. After meeting with Coach Adams, Coach Ewa, and Coach Damuth I was escorted by Associate Media Relations Director Mark Brunner to the team's shuttle to leave for the airport. Once the team and coaching staff boarded the shuttle it was my first opportunity to experience what it was like to see the behind the scenes of a division I college basketball squad.

Once we arrived in Birmingham the team and I boarded a Champion bus that took us anywhere we wanted to go and we had the same driver throughout the duration of our trip.  Our first stop was by far one of the most important as it was for a team dinner at Chili's.  The following day which was game day, the team and I went to Bartow Arena for a shoot around in the morning.

Lulu McKinney talked about her role on the team among other things as well.

Once the team played their game at UAB we wasted no time leaving to our next destination which was Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  We left the arena right after the game at around 9 PM and arrived in Murfreesboro by midnight.  The following day we headed to the Murphy Center on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University at around 10:30 AM for a team practice.

Kirsteine spoke about what it is like for her to play for UTEP.

Rudi Eduardo spoke about what it is like to play for Coach Adams and this year's team.

Sparkle Taylor had this to say prior to the team's game at UAB.

Stacie Telles spoke about the Miners' season and her collegiate career.

Following practice we headed back to the team hotel where the Miners worked on their school studies and prepared for the game which was not only broadcast live by 600 ESPN El Paso, but also on national television as well.

Here is an interview with Irene Gari

Overall words cannot truly describe how incredible of an experience it was for me to travel with the UTEP women's basketball team, get to know the players and coaching staff, call their games and see what it is like behind the scenes of a college basketball team.  There is no doubt that these young women have the upmost respect by myself, and their work ethic is tremendous.

People don't realize how much work that the coaching staff and athletes put into their respective sports.  My special thanks to Mark Brunner, Steve Kaplowitz, Mando Medina, and Brad Dubow for making this trip possible and for tremendous advice.  It was an honor to be part of the Miners' latest road trip, one I am truly grateful for and will never forget.