For the longest of moments it looked as if it might be a statement.
In the end, it was not.
But it was something almost as good. It was a win. And wins are hard.
UTEP played well at times and played as if it were the season opener at times. But, overall, the Miners were big and strong and physical.
And they were winners.
UTEP backhanded New Mexico State for an eighth straight time, taking an impressive 38-22 win over the Aggies in front of 30,119 appreciative fans on a beautiful Saturday night in the Sun Bowl.