woMinnesota and Oregon each donated 1,000 Sun Bowl tickets to soldiers at Fort Bliss in El Paso who are preparing for duty in Iraq.

Sun Bowl executive director Bernie Olivas said his organization would provide additional free tickets for other soldiers who want to go to Wednesday's football game.

"This is just such an awesome experience because it gives us a chance to be around the true soldiers," Minnesota tight end Ben Utecht said. "I just have so much respect for these men and women."

The tickets will be offered to about 2,200 National Guard members temporarily stationed in El Paso.

The soldiers, from units in Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico, will spend a year in Iraq, Col. Bryon Greenwald said.

The National Center for the Employment of the Disabled, an El Paso company that makes chemical suits for the military, will donate money to buy meals for soldiers who attend the game.