Just got back from being in Ruidoso for a couple of days. I had not been in that area for several years, but was surprised at the beauty of the entire mountain area. The summer rain transformed the entire valley, a solid green. One would think one was in Aspen or those other wonderful resort areas in Colorado or Utah. Simply beautiful. As far as Camp Ruidoso is concerned - fantastic facility!! I have been to Cowboy and Raider camps in Cali, but IMO Camp Ruidoso is superior. The Sierra Blanca lodge, the Convention Center, and the football fields have to be ranked in the superior category. Additionally, the camp is adjacent to a beautiful golf course with reasonable prices to boot!!
Watched a Miner practice and saw perhaps, the largest young men on the face of this earth! The lineman are as big or perhaps bigger than any NFL team IMO. At the cookout, later that afternoon I met several of these young guys and had enjoyable conversations, especially those coming from Cali. The largest and most interesting kid was Chris Misaalefu (sp?). At first, I thought he was Latino and it brought a hearty chuckle from this giant kid. He informed me he was Samoan from a small town outside Fresno. Attended a school that was primarily Hispanic and fit in perfectly. Roster lists him at 6'5" - 375, but I think he is perhaps 6"7" - I took a pic with him and a kid named Chance Bishop - a freshman from Dallas who is 6'6" 325 - Chris was taller than Chance and much, much larger. I was the shrimp at 6"1". Anyway, it was a great community event hosted by UTEP - lots of folks, good food, cold beer, lots of camaraderie from the old days - glad I jumped on a plane and made my way to Camp Ruidoso! See you folks at some of the home games - feeling good about having a great season.
Watched a Miner practice and saw perhaps, the largest young men on the face of this earth! The lineman are as big or perhaps bigger than any NFL team IMO. At the cookout, later that afternoon I met several of these young guys and had enjoyable conversations, especially those coming from Cali. The largest and most interesting kid was Chris Misaalefu (sp?). At first, I thought he was Latino and it brought a hearty chuckle from this giant kid. He informed me he was Samoan from a small town outside Fresno. Attended a school that was primarily Hispanic and fit in perfectly. Roster lists him at 6'5" - 375, but I think he is perhaps 6"7" - I took a pic with him and a kid named Chance Bishop - a freshman from Dallas who is 6'6" 325 - Chris was taller than Chance and much, much larger. I was the shrimp at 6"1". Anyway, it was a great community event hosted by UTEP - lots of folks, good food, cold beer, lots of camaraderie from the old days - glad I jumped on a plane and made my way to Camp Ruidoso! See you folks at some of the home games - feeling good about having a great season.