The Mine Shaft | UTEP athletics with Bret Bloomquist

Al Simmons says he's staying put

<a href=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskyfootballblog/2017152445_a_hint_at_a_new_defensive_back.html>While a report on a Seattle Times blog</a> strongly suggests UTEP's safety coach Al Simmons is a candidate to be a defensive backs coach at Washington, Simmons said he has had no contact with anyone at the school and that the rumor is unfounded.

UTEP women begin conference

As tournament selection day nears, the RPI (rating percentage index) becomes a major measuring stick used by the NCAA for selecting and seeding the field.
This early in the season, though, it is a strange metric. According to the mirror site rpiratings.com, UTEP is currently 116th, which is third among C-USA schools behind Tulane (42nd) and UAB (96th).
The leader of those rankings? Try Delaware, which is 10-1. Undefeated Baylor, a unanimous No. 1 in both polls, is fifth, three spots behind a three-loss Tennessee team it beat.

As C-USA play tips off, the top of the standings look similar to the pre-season coaches poll with two big exceptions - Rice and UCF. The Owls, picked to finish second behind Memphis, are mid-pack at 6-7, while third-place pick UCF has the second worst record in the league at 6-7.
The only team worse is Houston, which went unbeaten the regular-season conference games last year, graduated four starters and is 1-11.
UTEP shares the best record, 11-2, with the team it was picked to finished tied for fourth with, Tulane. Preseason favorite Memphis is 9-3, as well as sixth-place selection UAB.

Tulane has the conference's best victory, beating then-No. 21 LSU 65-62 in overtime in the season's third game.