With the permission of the estate of Marty Robbins, the UTEP Music Department in the late 1980s wrote new words to the melody of his Grammy Award-winning country-western hit "El Paso". This gave UTEP a fight song all its own, to a tune recognized across the nation.
=== Rivalries ===
New Mexico State University: UTEP has a strong rivalry with New Mexico State University, known as "The Battle of I-10". UTEP and NMSU are just over 40 miles apart.
== Notable people ==
=== Faculty ===
Zuill Bailey, professor of cello, professional cellist
Steven Best, professor of philosophy and co-founder of the North American Animal Liberation Press Office
Andy Cohen, Major League Baseball second baseman who coached university team for 17 years
Jorge Gardea-Torresdey, chemistry professor and nanoparticle researcher
Laurie Ann Guerrero, writer and Texas Poet Laureate
John Haddox, philosopher and Latin-Americanist
Anna Jaquez, art professor
Jorge López, physics professor and educator
Urbici Soler y Manonelles, Spanish sculptor
Benjamin …
