Jordan Palmer Hoping to Follow Brother's Footsteps

Four short years ago, Mike Price had coached the Washington State Cougars to the Rose Bowl and handed Heisman Trophy Winner Carson Palmer and the mighty USC Trojans a loss that conceivably kept them out of the National Championship picture (though the Trojans *did* win one of 16 NCAA-recognized titles that year). After a brief stay in Tuscaloosa, Price now finds himself in West Texas at the University of Texas - El Paso, pinning his hopes on the Heisman prospects of another Palmer: Carson's little brother Jordan.

Had Jordan Palmer chosen to follow in his brother's footsteps and attend Southern Cal, he'd be gunning for an unprecedented third stiff-arm trophy in a row for the Trojans. Instead, he chose the UTEP Miners and his name appears on trophy watch lists which had largely ignored his brother going into Carson's senior year...even if it is only in small print.

Palmer and the Miners open up thier 2006 campaign and bid for a third straight bowl appearance at San Diego State, whose expectations for 2006 are almost as high as UTEP's, followed by a home game against Texas Tech and games against the two new Mexico schools before opening conference play in October.