In an age of pass-happy, spread-the-field offenses, the Charlotte 49ers football team is something of a throwback to a more grinding day.
That's just fine with UTEP throwback players such as middle linebacker Stephen Forester and tackle Keenan Stewart, the type of blue-collar bruiser who welcomes the challenge of stopping Charlotte tailbacks Tre Harbison and Aaron McAlister.
The 49ers are a team that runs the ball the majority of the time, they bring a hammer, and a UTEP defense that has made big strides stopping the run this season gets a chance to show its work Saturday.