ESPN College Football

Mike Price said he has not been this excited about a game since his first as a collegiate coach back in 1981 at Weber State. "The things that have happened in the last year, that makes the majority of the way I feel," Price said. "But also, the community and players are excited. They've embraced us with open arms. They see a bright future."

After a year out of football following his being fired at Alabama before coaching a game amidst a scandal allegedly involving sex and strippers, the Price Era at Texas-El Paso begins Thursday night when the Miners visit Arizona State.

Price begins his second coaching life against a former Pac-10 foe. Strange, huh? Price was asked that Monday.

"Wouldn't you think I'd have thought going against a Pac-10 school would be ironic," he said. "But I have not even thought about the irony of that until you asked about it."

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