That Will Do

Price Talks Tigers, Lobos

UTEP head coach Mike Price had much to discuss after the Miners' 16-13 comeback win over the Memphis Tigers and UTEP's pending game with the New Mexico Lobos. Among them: Dakota Warren, named Conference USA Player of the Week and joining Chris Jacke as the only Miners to kick two field goals of 50-yards or more, then hitting the 18-yard chip shot with no time left to win the game.

Price also subtly notes that UNM head coach Mike Locksley terms this Saturday's game with the Miners as the beginning of "the soft part" of the Lobos' schedule.

 

View on ExposureRoom

D-Buck Starts Here

UTEP and RB Donald Buckram didn't get the start they wanted to Buckram's senior campaign, but they and he are happy he has returned to the lineup.

 

View on ExposureRoom

UTEP Grabs Tigers at the Tail

The ugliness was evident, but the UTEP Miners still managed to do something Saturday night that they have never done -- beat the Memphis Tigers.

Dakota Warren kicked an 18-yard field goal with no time on the clock to complete at 90-yard drive and win the game, 16-13. The drive took just over three minutes, and it took a complete effort by the Miners previously dysfunctional offense to make it work. It was just enough.

UTEP improves to 1-1 in Conference USA play, 3-1 overall.

View on ExposureRoom

View on ExposureRoom

Which Price Is Right?

UTEP head football coach Mike Price reviews the Miners 42-10 blowout of their I-10 rivals, New Mexico State, and looks forward to next Saturday's Conference USA game in the Sun Bowl vs. Memphis, where he will face his son, Eric, for the first time. 

UTEP's former offensive coordinator now runs the Tigers' offense and is splitting the rooting interests in the Price household.

The game will be televised live statewide via The Texas Channel and will air tape-delayed in El Paso (Sunday 9/26, 5:30 p.m. MDT) on Time Warner Cable Sports, Cable Ch. 24.

 

View on ExposureRoom

Miners Talk About Big Win

UTEP's 42-10 waxing of their I-10 rivals went about as perfect as the Miners could have wanted. UTEP went 5-for-5 in the red zone, scored on six of their seven possessions, Trevor Vittatoe looked impressive throwing five touchdown passes and the Miners' defense shut down NMSU on all but two possessions.

UTEP's players and head coach Mike Price had a lot to say after the big win as the Miners are now 2-1 headed into their home game against Memphis next Saturday. 

It will mark the very first time Mike Price has had to face a family member as his son, Eric -- formerly UTEP's offensive coordinator -- is now the OC for the Tigers.

Kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. MDT and the game will be viewed live statewide on Time Warner Cable's The Texas Channel, tape-delayed on Time Warner Cable Sports-El Paso, Cable Ch. 24.

View on ExposureRoom

View on ExposureRoom

Price Pressing at Presser

Dismayed and angry after the Miners 54-24 thrashing at the hands of the now-nationally-ranked Houston Cougars, head coach Mike Price vows to get back to basics before facing New Mexico State in the Sun Bowl this Saturday. The newly-christened Sonic Drive-Ins Battle of I-10 will be televised live statewide on The Texas Channel (7 p.m. MDT) and air on a tape-delayed basis in El Paso.

View on ExposureRoom

UTEP Football: Grief After Game 2?

The Five Stages of Grief for UTEP fans were on full display Friday night in many a sports bar and den...

Denial. "No WAY! I did NOT just see that!"

Anger. "Where the #*&@ is the defense?!"

Bargaining. "C'mon! Just...c'mon!"

Depression. "This sucks."

Acceptance. "When does basketball practice start?"

So, what's different from most other years?

UTEP's 30-point thrashing by Houston was just the second game of the season, that's what.

Not that the Miners haven't been thoroughly beaten in a second game before. Just that usually those pole-axings come in paycheck games. Some big-name program gets to use UTEP as a piñata, the Miners make good bank and UTEP's women's rifle team gets ammo and airfare.

But this woodshed whipping is different because Houston is a Conference USA opponent. A very good one, no doubt. Maybe even better than many had thought.

However, that won't assuage Miners fans already searching for Floydemption. And UTEP doesn't even get a fat check as a poultice for their wounds, physical or emotional.

Miner management will say it's only the second game of the season. Things can improve.

Yes, things can.

One sign that Houston really might be better than anyone thought this season was that it played defense. Judging from any number of past UTEP-UH games the Cougs used to think "played defense" referred to a stage role.

Sure, Donald Buckram was missing, but UTEP's veteran offensive line wasn't and still the Cougars held the Miners to just 100 yards rushing. 

Sure, UTEP's Trevor Vittatoe threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns, but Houston kept the Miners to just 24 points.

And if you were looking for UTEP defensive coordinator Andre Patterson's charges to show something more...why?

Not to be completely sarcastic -- it's a serious question. Any drastic defensive improvement wouldn't happen by Game Two. 

Really, who is surprised UTEP's defense gave up big run after big run to Houston? The Miners' strength has been that their offense kept them in games. 

As for the Cougars, they may have found enough of a defense to finally put them in the Liberty Bowl. 

Only time will tell -- and the same must be said of the Miners.

Coaches and players need to be sensitive to UTEP fans, though. Any poke to the paper shoji screen that separates the Miners' football present from its past is never, ever good.

Remembering the Bear

Hard to believe it's been two years. Here's the piece that aired in this space in 2008, with video taken from Don Haskins' public viewing in the Haskins Center.

View on ExposureRoom

UTEP Post-Game

UTEP running backs Vernon Frazier and Joe Banyard, along with quarterback Trevor Vittatoe, defensive players Braxton Amy and Ruben Munoz weigh in on the Miners' 31-10 win over Arkansas Pine Bluff.

UTEP head coach MIke Price adds his thoughts, too.