University of Texas at El Paso Athletics

Pablo Villa, UTEP Communications

It took just over a week for David and Gail Champion to realize they were meant for each other.

The pair met in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, while enjoying respective respites from their daily lives. At the time, David was a soldier in the U.S. Army while Gail worked in public education in the Dallas area. Eight days later they were engaged.

David's job took the couple from Panama to Dallas and various other places. In 2009, as the couple pondered where to spend the rest of their lives, David felt the pull of his alma mater — The University of Texas at El Paso — and eventually convinced his wife to move to the Sun City. Today, they are nearing their 30th year of marriage, a display of unwavering commitment that is only equaled by their support of UTEP Athletics.

David and Gail are Miner Athletic Club members. They started backing the Miners shortly after their arrival in El Paso as a way of fostering community with their new home.

"I think UTEP has a groundbreaking history," David said. "It's not only important to El Paso but to the country. We felt it was important to support UTEP Athletics, because you're giving students a chance to participate in something that will not only help them get to college, but also help them in their lives."

For Gail, the benefits of college sports are something she knows about first-hand. The Port Arthur, Texas, native played college softball at Texas Women's University in Denton. She said sports offer an avenue to success beyond the classroom.

"For me, being a student athlete, I wasn't only getting my education, I was also gaining many traits — teamwork, commitment, responsibility — that helped me in my life in a positive way," she said. "I'm sure that student-athletes today are gaining those traits as well. It's one of the reasons we support UTEP Athletics."

Another reason the Champions enjoy supporting the Miners is the camaraderie they experience with other fans. Many trips to UTEP games outside of El Paso involve meeting new people and building bonds with Miner fans away from home.

"It's exciting to meet people from out of town," Gail said. "We met a couple at a game in California. They were in their 90s and still traveling to support the team. So, meeting people from out of town that support UTEP is always fun."

It has also offered some memorable moments. David fondly recalls the UTEP men's basketball team's win against Xavier in the semifinals of the Wooden Legacy tournament in November 2014.

"That was one of my favorite moments," he said. "To share that with the UTEP community out of town is special. When we're out of town and we see someone with UTEP gear, there's an immediate bond with them."

Back home, the Champions also have vivid memories of the UTEP women's basketball team's high-profile run in the 2014 National Invitation Tournament, which saw the Miners host the final versus Rutgers inside a raucous, sold-out Don Haskins Center.

As the 2019-20 athletics season approaches, the couple is ready to provide their unwavering support and implore others to do the same.

"The Miner Athletic Club makes it easy to support the Miners," David said. "No matter the size of your gift, they will listen to your story and make you feel welcome. For the student-athletes, my message is just to keep working at it, not only in your sport but in school. That will make a great difference in your life."

Gail echoed those sentiments. 

"I think it's important that the students see that people in the community care," she said. "I think it's important that they see that people are excited about what they are giving back to the community as an athlete."

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