Seven El Paso area high school football players signed with Division I football programs on Wednesday, which is a healthy sign that high school football in El Paso is making some progress on a high level. Franklin's Derek Elmendorff, Andress' Ryan Metz and Burges' Aaron and Alvin Jones stayed home and signed with UTEP. Franklin's Connor Potts signed with Harvard, Franklin's Devin Houx is headed to Air Force and Coronado's Nick Annabi inked with Columbia.
It was a good group of seniors this year all around the city. Several others signed with Division II or FCS schools and Del Valle's Erik Ramirez could walk-on to UTEP according to multiple sources.
It'll be interesting to see if this year's success in terms of players signing D-I scholarships has an impact on future classes. UTEP appears eager to recruit El Paso and keep the top players here. Wednesday was a good sign that football is getting better in El Paso. Now comes the part where progress has to continue on a consistent level.
Whatever happened to Patrick Pettis? I thought he was bound for Ole' Miss.
Posted by: Brad | Friday, February 08, 2013 at 07:31 AM
UTEP has to win recruiting battles within 300 miles to the east, west, and north or El Paso. If they don't, they will never evolve as a football program.
The university also needs to step up academics so they can keep highly motivated student/athletes in El Paso. The SEC schools have made a major surge in that direction; many are respected engineering and business schools. They need to add honors level curriculum, similar to how Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, and Auburn did recently - those schools have seen 25% increases in comprehensive enrollment by doing so. The chancellor of U. of Alabama is a former dean @ The University of Texas. I'm sure he'd be happy to consult on this matter.
Dr. Natalicio is not a progressive mind. She was an admirable leader years ago, but academia and generating funds for the university requires a salesman, as well as an academic. She needs to go.
Posted by: Ed | Friday, February 08, 2013 at 07:47 AM
UTEP's academic reputation is ok every place except El Paso. That has historically been the problem, El Pasoan's especially the kids of the "Powers that be" in town have always derided the school as the "high school on the hill." It was that way when I was at El Paso High, it was that way when my daughter graduated from Hanks.
Having said that, let us see how these kids do. None nof them signed with what I would call a major power house. El Paso has always sent a kid to Texas A & M, UT or Texas Tech ever few years, but then they disappear in the crowd. Signing with Harvard or UTEP or New Mexico State isn't indicative of major progress for the High School programs in El Paso, but to improve the schools need to rely on coaching. El Paso high schools will never be able to match the money poured into the programs in Midland, Marble Falls, Dallas, etc. And money does make a difference, especially in locker rooms, weight rooms, indoor facilitiesl, etc. If UTEP does well over the next couple of years (big if) perhaps it can pull the El Paso schools up as well.
Posted by: georgeofthedesert | Friday, February 08, 2013 at 11:06 AM
Well said Georgeofthedesert. You're always the voice of reason.
Posted by: Pascal Fortran | Friday, February 08, 2013 at 01:32 PM
What happened with Patrick Pettis?
Posted by: Adam | Saturday, February 09, 2013 at 06:12 AM
@georgeofthedesert
You're right. It does come down to money, but that problem begins with the citizens of El Paso actually supporting any UTEP team. They have to buy tickets, concessions, novelty items. The more support the people show the more money businesses will put into advertising.
With more money coming in then UTEP can build its programs. But as I said that starts with people actually supporting the programs, win or lose.
People need to stand by, not be a bystander.
Posted by: Terrence L. Daniels | Saturday, February 09, 2013 at 10:20 PM