Thirty-point underdogs heading into their game against the Oklahoma Sooners, the UTEP Miners were down by just three points after three quarters. While the Miners surrendered a pair of unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter, their strong effort against the fourth-ranked Sooners was among the more impressive opening weekend performances by an underdog.
Along with a lethal pass rush and a sturdy defense, the Miners had a secret, seedy weapon: Mustard.
With UTEP players cramping up late in the game, cameras cut to the sidelines to show several bottles of mustard on the training table. As it turns out, the yellow condiment can be used to replace minerals the body is lacking during a cramp.
Muscle cramps are often caused by a deficiency in acetylcholine, and the acetic acid in mustard helps the body produce more acetylcholine. Vinegar and pickle juice also provide acetic acid, but according to Core Performance, mustard is the tastiest alternative. The mustard is consumed, not applied to the muscle.
Unfortunately for UTEP, the mustard may have helped with the cramps but it ultimately did not make a difference in the game. The Miners fell behind by 17 points in the fourth quarter, so it looks like what they really needed was some "ketchup".
(H/T to Off The Bench)
