Turn Up the Orange | UTEP sports talk

The spirit of Orangeville shortlived

On Friday night, the Don Haskins Center was sold out, filled with 12,000+ fans rooting on the UTEP men's basketball team. A week of Orangeville events led up to the big day. UTEP played well, but lost to Pacific, 66-61.

Two days later ... well, I look out the window and see the star on the mountain is still orange, but the fan spirit quickly died.

Slightly more than 2,000 fans (2,000 is not a typo) showed up Sunday afternoon to watch the Miners beat Mercer, 87-74. I talked to several people who said it was the smallest crowd they can remember ever seeing at a UTEP men's basketball game. Sold out on Friday to 2,000 fans on Sunday is an amazing drop and has to be disappointing for the players.

To be sure, there were some extenuating circumstances. For one, the game wasn't included in the season ticket package because it was a tournament game. So, a lot of season ticket holders probably skipped it. Also, in this NFL-centric city, a basketball game at noon on Sunday is going to be a tough sell.

This looks to be a good Miner squad, so I don't expect many more sad scenes like we saw Sunday.

Evidence of Sunday's sparse crowd. (Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre)

 

Tofi's three-pointer helped UTEP beat Pacific last time

UTEP sent out some game notes for their Friday basketball game with Pacific that had some interesting history:

SERIES NOTES
        Pacific leads the series 3-1.  The teams have had some exciting battles over the years.  On March 17, 1967, the Tigers knocked the defending national champion Miners into the consolation draw of the NCAA Tournament with a 72-63 victory in Corvallis, Ore.  On Feb. 19, 2005, Pacific dealt UTEP a 73-66 setback in an ESPN BracketBuster game at Stockton, Calif.  The Miners avenged the loss with a 72-66 overtime triumph on Dec. 20, 2005 at the Haskins Center, as John Tofi’s three-pointer at the buzzer sent the game to an extra session.  Pacific also defeated UTEP, 64-62, in El Paso during the 1953-54 season.

THE LAST MEETING
        John Tofi’s first career three pointer forced overtime, and UTEP outscored Pacific 11-5 in the extra period to upend the Tigers, 72-66, on Dec. 20, 2005 at the Don Haskins Center.  The Miners rallied from a five-point deficit (59-54) in the final 2:59 to tie the game at 61.  Tofi, who had been 0-for-4 lifetime from beyond the arc entering the game, buried the trifecta with four seconds to go.

Here is video of Tofi's shot. I think the announcer goes a little far in calling it an "impossible" shot, but still exciting:

 

UTEP-NMSU podcast: Will the Miners find a bowl?

Turn Up the Orange's UTEP-NMSU football podcast

Pablo Villa, Felix Chavez and Jay Koester talk about UTEP and NMSU football, looking at UTEP's upset victory of SMU, and the Miners' bowl chances now that they are eligible. They also discuss what teams may be coming to the Sun Bowl.

To listen to the podcast, click here. (right click, save-target-as to download)

Or better yet, subscribe the Times sports podcasts on iTunes! With one click of the subscribe button, you'll automatically get the weekly podcasts. Get signed up here: El Paso Times podcast page on iTunes.

Or, if you have 20 minutes to spare at work, you can just hit the play button below and listen right now. Let us know what you think.

 

Podcast: UTEP, NMSU, the BCS and the Sun Bowl

Turn Up the Orange's UTEP-NMSU football podcast

Pablo Villa, Felix Chavez and Jay Koester talk about UTEP and NMSU football, looking at NMSU's dramatic victory over San Jose St., and the Miners' embarassing loss to Marshall. They also throw down on the BCS and what teams may be coming to the Sun Bowl.

To listen to the podcast, click here. (right click, save-target-as to download)

Or better yet, subscribe the Times sports podcasts on iTunes! With one click of the subscribe button, you'll automatically get the weekly podcasts. Get signed up here: El Paso Times podcast page on iTunes.

Or, if you have 30 minutes to spare at work, you can just hit the play button below and listen right now. Let us know what you think.

 

UTEP-NMSU podcast: The future of Mike Price

Turn Up the Orange's UTEP-NMSU football podcast

Pablo Villa, Felix Chavez and Jay Koester talk about UTEP and NMSU football, looking ahead to UTEP vs. Marshall and NMSU vs. San Jose St. They also talk about (gasp!) the future of Mike Price after last week's loss to Tulane.

To listen to the podcast, click here. (right click, save-target-as to download)

Or better yet, subscribe the Times sports podcasts on iTunes! With one click of the subscribe button, you'll automatically get the weekly podcasts. Get signed up here: El Paso Times podcast page on iTunes.

Or, if you have 20 minutes to spare at work, you can just hit the play button below and listen right now. Let us know what you think.

 

UTEP football: What's the matter with Kansas?

On the podcast yesterday, I mentioned that after I attended the K-State demolition of the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday, it was clear that UTEP had a great shot at beating the Jayhawks when traveling to Lawrence next year. Now it looks like that trip won't happen next year after all.

Miner Rush broke the news (at least to me) in a post titled, UTEP Miners Football Team Will Play USF in 2011; Kansas Game Moved?  They pointed out that on the date, Sept. 24, 2011, that UTEP was supposed to travel to Lawrence, they are now traveling to play South Florida.

I was looking forward to the game, so I tried not to believe it. But I then checked KU athletics department official schedule for 2011, and it now has Sept. 24 as an open date for the Jayhawks.

Too bad.

Paydirt Pete news

It's been hard to keep up with all the Paydirt Pete news this year. First, Pete is still undefeated in the Capitol One National Mascot of the Year competition. But this week, the Idaho Vandals are coming, and they are ready to defeat Pete.

But Paydirt Pete is an another competition, as well.

Go vote for Pete in the The 2010 Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year competition.

Podcast: UTEP, NMSU try to bounce back

Turn Up the Orange's UTEP-NMSU football podcast

Pablo Villa, Felix Chavez and Jay Koester talk about UTEP and NMSU football, looking ahead to UTEP vs. Tulane and NMSU vs. Idaho.

To listen to the podcast, click here. (right click, save-target-as to download)

Or better yet, subscribe the Times sports podcasts on iTunes! With one click of the subscribe button, you'll automatically get the weekly podcasts. Get signed up here: El Paso Times podcast page on iTunes.

Or, if you have 15 minutes to spare at work, you can just hit the play button below and listen right now. Let us know what you think.

UTEP football podcast for Oct. 18

UTEP's season salvageable

Commenter Sweetlou said in a previous post on this blog that pointing to UAB’s offensive line as a reason for UTEP to have a healthy fear of the Blazers heading into Saturday’s Conference USA showdown was a copout.

But it became pretty obvious with 12:05 remaining in the fourth quarter and UAB pinned at its own 1-yard line clinging to a 14-6 lead how the Blazers took charge of the game.

Behind their five monoliths, UAB began chewing up the yards, gashing the Miners on the ground and holding steady through the air, to march down the length of the field and score the decisive touchdown in their win in Birmingham, Ala.

UTEP was out-physicaled and was not able to overcome hapless play on offense and defense, along with a spate of injuries.

And so, the Miners will have to wait a week for another attempt to assure themselves bowl eligibility. The chance will come against Tulane in the Sun Bowl on Saturday. The Green Wave has never beaten the Miners in El Paso and UTEP opens as an 11-point favorite.

But read some of the comments posted on our Topix forums and over on Joe Muench’s blog, and you’d think the Miners have no chance of winning any of their remaining five games, the next two being games the Miners will be favored to win.

Odd that so much faith is seemingly gone after a loss against a very physical team — on the road, no less — and the squad is left with a 5-2 record. And while a Conference USA West title is less likely now than it was a week ago, it is not mathematically impossible.

The wheels are far from coming off this season.

Why is UTEP an underdog?

Many are asking why UAB is favored to beat UTEP when the two teams meet in a pivotal Conference USA showdown Saturday at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

The Blazers (1-4, 0-2 in Conference USA) are 2.5-point favorites in their fourth-ever meeting with the Miners (5-1, 2-1).

So why the love for UAB?

Is it because the Blazers haven’t won a game in 26 days?

Is it because UAB hung tough before eventually falling to a Tennessee squad that is now 2-4 and can notch Tennessee-Martin as its only other victory?

Is it because do-it-all quarterback Joe Webb, who single-handedly beat the Miners last season, moved on to the NFL?

None of those sound like good reasons.

Some will point to UTEP’s 5-16 Conference USA road record, including 11 losses in the past 12 games. Others will mention that UAB will have nine days to prepare for the Miners. A few pessimistic souls will even bring up UTEP quarterback Trevor Vittatoe’s atrocious game against the Blazers last season.

Eh, not buying it.

For one, Trevor Vittatoe is a changed man this season. His focus this year has been refreshing and is helping make believers of not only the few fans who are showing up to the Sun Bowl, but his team as well.

The road wins thing is a bit of an anomaly. The Miners haven’t played consistent ball the last three seasons. Road losses come with that. So do home ones.

But there’s one reason UAB might have an edge in this game. A big one. Literally.

Matt McCants will line up at offensive left tackle for the Blazers. He’s a behemoth at 6-foot-7 and 295 pounds. The Blazers like to run behind him, but have plenty more sirloin to run behind on an offensive line that averages 6-foot-4 and 292 pounds across the board.

And let’s not forget that while junior Bryan Ellis will likely get the start under center for UAB, sophomore David Isabelle is a big-time threat on the ground behind that line. Isabelle set the C-USA record for most rushing yards by a quarterback back on Sept. 2 against Troy. Who held the record previously? The aforementioned Joe Webb. The Blazers are just as talented at the quarterback position this year with this two-pronged attack. And if you want to say that quarterback play did the Miners in last season, it is in position to do the trick this year. 

Big test for the Miner defensive front seven this week. If they can’t get it done, it could be a long day. But if the game does come down to a field goal, you have to like UTEP’s chances with kicker Dakota Warren.

UTEP is No. 39

UTEP is quietly beginning to get a little respect.

The Miners received a vote in Sunday’s Harris Top 25 college football poll, which was released mere hours after UTEP defeated Rice 44-24 in the Sun Bowl on Saturday night. The win was the Miners’ fourth consecutive win and their second Conference USA victory.

UTEP is one win from bowl eligibility with six games left to go this season. There’s definitely reason to be excited about Miner football.

And while the Associated Press and USA Today polls haven’t hopped on the Miner bandwagon, UTEP can get their attention during the next few weeks.

Here is the complete Harris poll.

Harris Top 25
The Top 25 teams in the Harris Interactive College Football Poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Oct. 9, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and previous ranking:
     Record    Pts    Pv
 1. Ohio State (79)    6-0    2,793    —
 2. Oregon (23)    6-0    2,722    —
 3. Boise State (10)    5-0    2,601    —
 4. TCU    6-0    2,409    —
 5. Nebraska    5-0    2,363    —
 6. Oklahoma (2)    5-0    2,276    —
 7. Auburn    6-0    2,105    —
 8. Alabama    5-1    2,030    —
 9. LSU    6-0    1,942    —
10. Utah    5-0    1,793    —
11. South Carolina    4-1    1,616    —
12. Michigan State    6-0    1,591    —
13. Arkansas    4-1    1,433    —
14. Stanford    5-1    1,361    —
15. Iowa    4-1    1,253    —
16. Wisconsin    5-1    969    —
17. Florida State    5-1    913    —
18. Oklahoma State    5-0    863    —
19. Missouri    5-0    776    —
20. Nevada    6-0    741    —
21. Arizona    4-1    717    —
22. Florida    4-2    450    —
23. Air Force    5-1    349    —
24. Michigan    5-1    336    —
25. West Virginia    4-1    172    —
Other teams receiving votes: North Carolina State 137; Miami (FL) 124; Oregon State 93; Northwestern 38; Texas 30; Kansas State 20; Virginia Tech 19; Syracuse 4; Georgia Tech 3; California 2; Illinois 2; Maryland 2; Baylor 1; UTEP 1.

UTEP tailgating and NMSU girlfriends

UTEP tailgating

UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull wrote a letter to students asking for their support during the football game Saturday against Rice, and also explaining the reason behind the tailgating rules. Excerpt:

We have always encouraged tailgating on our campus – that's what makes the UTEP football game day experience special! ... Unfortunately, in recent years this safe environment has been threatened, particularly with the influx of underage drinkers on campus. We have found that many people are coming to our campus just to party and aren't even going to the game. ...

The UTEP athletic department, in conjunction with university police, is working very hard to eliminate underage drinking and re-install a safe tailgating atmosphere on campus. But in the meantime, in the best interest of all of our students – including those who have classes on game day – we have had no choice but to push the inner campus tailgating start time back two hours.

I've complained in the past that the rules seemed excessive. But after seeing some of the out-of-control drinking Stull is talking about, I've changed my tune.

And, quite frankly, I appreciate the honest explanation from Stull. That was something that was lacking when the rules were first unveiled last season. Hopefully this is the beginning of a new trend of UTEP being honest and open with the media and the public.

NMSU girlfriends

Students and fans over in Las Cruces are REALLY putting on the pressure for the team to win. Forget about booing (of which I heard none last Saturday during NMSU's game against Boise St.), someone is going after players where it really hurts.

According to this story by SportsbyBrooks, fliers were posted around the NMSU campus today asking Las Cruces women to not give any, ummm, "love" to NMSU football players until they win a game. The censored flier can be seen at left.

If that doesn't inspire the Aggies to beat New Mexico, nothing will.

UTEP-NMSU podcast: Where is the local talent?

Turn Up the Orange's UTEP-NMSU football podcast

Pablo Villa, Felix Chavez and Jay Koester talk about UTEP and NMSU football, answering a listener's call about recruiting local talent, plus looking ahead at UTEP vs. Rice and NMSU vs. New Mexico.

To listen to the podcast, click here. (right click, save-target-as to download)

Or better yet, subscribe the Times sports podcasts on iTunes! With one click of the subscribe button, you'll automatically get the weekly podcasts. Get signed up here: El Paso Times podcast page on iTunes.

Or, if you have 30 minutes to spare at work, you can just hit the play button below and listen right now. Let us know what you think.

Podcast: UTEP Miner Podcast for Oct. 4, 2010

Of field goals and national rankings

Here’s some clarification on a couple things that came up in this week’s podcast.

UTEP kicker Dakota Warren was praised during the discussion between host Jay Koester, Felix Chavez and myself for his three field-goal effort in the Miners’ Saturday home win against Memphis. We told you that Warren’s 57-yard kick in that game was the fourth longest in UTEP history. We also told you that the longest field goal ever made by a Miner (64 yards) was booted in 2008 by Jose Martinez.

I mentioned that the longest kick in NCAA history — at least in a bowl game — was also kicked in the Sun Bowl by one Tony Franklin. Franklin made a 62-yarder for his Texas A&M Aggies against Florida on Jan. 2, 1977 (and 1977, for you trivia buffs, is the only year that the Sun Bowl was played twice in the same calendar year).

But that wasn’t Franklin’s longest kick.

Franklin set the NCAA record for the longest field goal on Oct. 16, 1976, against Baylor when he put the foot to a 65-yarder, a distance which I incorrectly attributed to his Sun Bowl kick. How long did Franklin’s record stand? Mere hours, as later the same day, Abilene Christian University kicker Ove Johannson nailed a 69-yard attempt against East Texas State University at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene. Johannson’s kick is the longest successful field goal made by a kicker at all levels of football. But since Abilene Christian was an NAIA school, Franklin held the NCAA record.

It was broken a year later as Texas Longhorn kicker Russell Erxleben kicked a 67-yarder against Rice on Oct. 1, 1977. The record was matched two weeks later by Steve Little of Arkansas.

Franklin, meanwhile, is listed as a “Legend of the Sun Bowl” by the Sun Bowl Association and is a member of the Sun Bowl’s 75th Anniversary All-Sun Bowl Team.

Interesting that alot of these record-setting kicks were made in about a one-year span and most of them were booted in Texas.

Bold prediction No. 1

UTEP wide receiver Marlon McClure will make a tide-turning kick return for a touchdown at some point this season.

Seeing the nation’s elite

Boise State’s visit to Aggie Memorial Stadium this weekend is being touted as a chance to see the highest-ranked rank team to ever visit Las Cruces.

In fact, the Broncos will be the highest-ranked team to visit the El Paso-Las Cruces area.

I figured the highest-ranked team to visit El Paso was No. 7 BYU in 1985 (and as most of you know, a game in which UTEP pulled off its greatest upset in history).

But, alas, that’s incorrect.

The Miners hosted the nation’s No. 6 twice — Wyoming on Nov. 18, 1967, and SMU on Sept. 18, 1992. Both were losses for UTEP.

Bold prediction No. 2

Dakota Warren will make a 60-plus yard field goal attempt this season.

Dogging New Mexico

In case you missed it yesterday, ESPN ranks the Lobos the third-worst team in the nation.

Podcast: UTEP, NMSU football heading different directions

Turn Up the Orange's UTEP-NMSU football podcast

Pablo Villa, Felix Chavez and Jay Koester talk about UTEP and NMSU football, looking ahead to UTEP vs. New Mexico and NMSU vs. #3-ranked Boise St.

To listen to the podcast, click here. (right click, save-target-as to download)

Or better yet, subscribe the Times sports podcasts on iTunes! With one click of the subscribe button, you'll automatically get the weekly podcasts. Get signed up here: El Paso Times podcast page on iTunes.

Or, if you have 21 minutes to spare at work, you can just hit the play button below and listen right now. Let us know what you think.

 

UTEP's defense is ... good?

The UTEP defense is no longer a place to pad stats.

The Miner unit's national ranking no longer sports a third digit. UTEP ranks No. 82 nationally in total defense, a far cry from the days of No. 110 or worse during the past three seasons.

Granted, the Miners have benefited from not having the Texases, Texas Techs and Kansases of the world on their schedule. But it's not difficult to see the improvement this unit has made under the guidance of new coordinator Andre Patterson.

The move to a 4-3 alignment, more specifically a mix of a 13 and 22 front, has shored up run coverage a bit for the Miners and has also built in more angles of attack in pass defense. UTEP currently ranks No. 71 and 74 in run and pass defense, respectively.

We still see the defensive line make mistakes in run support. Houston, in particular had great success on cross blocks and traps to create running lanes between the tackles. The Miner line must do a better job of taking on blocks to let their impressive linebackers run free to the ball.

In the secondary, UTEP has yet to be tested by a prolific passing attack since playing Houston on Sept. 10. But the Miner corners and safeties have done enough since then to maintain a 223.5-yard average per game. Not great. But not bad either. And this with the loss of phenom Braxton Amy to injury.

The defense's shining moment came against Memphis on Saturday. In the second half, the Tigers' drive summary results read "punt, punt, interception, field goal after drive stalls in the red zone, and punt." This while the UTEP offense was struggling and tried several times to hand the momentum of the game back to Memphis.

Anytime, you only ask your offense to score the equivalent of two touchdowns and PATs to win a game, you're doing a good job.

UTEP a premium football team

Things must really be looking up for the 3-1 UTEP Miners: A glance at the UNM football ticket page shows that UTEP is one of three "Premium" games that New Mexico fans must pay extra to see. UNM's "premium" games are UTEP, Utah and Texas Tech. Their "standard" games are SDSU, Wyoming and TCU. Stand tall, Miners. You are premium.

Sad times in Albuquerque

New Mexico appears to be pretty bad again this year. They lost to UNLV on Saturday by a score of 42-10. Fans are quickly turning on their coach, Mike Locksley. I enjoyed this little slideshow today: UNM Football: 10 Reasons Why Mike Locksley Should Get Fired

Odds

How many points would you demand before putting a bet on NMSU in their Saturday match up with #3 ranked Boise State? 30 points? 40? 50? Maybe even 60? Well, what you are going to get is 40. NMSU +40 points is where the line opened on Sunday. That's not enough for me. I'll be taking Boise St.

Meanwhile, UTEP opened as a 14.5-point favorite over New Mexico. Considering all of the troubles the Lobos are having, I think I'd take UTEP there.

Podcast

If you want to call in a comment or question to the UTEP-NMSU podcast, which will be recorded Monday night, just call 546-6120. Leave a message on the voicemail, and we'll use the audio in the podcast.

Podcast: UTEP blasts NMSU, both teams look ahead

It's week two of Turn Up the Orange's UTEP-NMSU football podcast.

Pablo Villa, Felix Chavez and Jay Koester take a look at UTEP's dominating victory over NMSU, then look ahead to UTEP vs. Memphis and NMSU vs. Kansas.

To listen to the podcast, click here. (right click, save-target-as to download)

Or better yet, subscribe the Times sports podcasts on iTunes! With one click of the subscribe button, you'll automatically get the weekly podcasts. Get signed up here: El Paso Times podcast page on iTunes.

Or, if you have 17 minutes to spare at work, you can just hit the play button below and listen right now. Let us know what you think.

UTEP football victory has many drinking the Kool-Aid

PODCAST

Just wanted to note that you still have time to call in a question or comment to be played on next week's UTEP-NMSU football podcast. Just call 546-6120, leave a message, and we'll get you on there.

ODDS

UTEP has opened as a 9.5-point favorite over Memphis. NMSU has opened as a 22.5-point underdog to Kansas.

AND ENDS

The big victory on Saturday has Joe on Utepia drinking the Kool-Aid.

I'm sticking with the previous post. UTEP is now looking at a 7-1 start.

Joe is usually right with his predictions ... but usually he's predicting 3-win seasons. We'll have to see how this one turns out.

Miner Rush is drinking even stiffer Kool-Aid and talking about how Case Keenum's injury, and a favorable schedule, give UTEP a chance to win the C-USA West.

UTEP has the most favorable C-USA East draw because the Miners draw UAB and Marshall. Marshall has some great talent on defense but right now they probably aren't in the same class as ECU, UCF, and Southern Miss.  SMU gets East Carolina.  Tulsa already lost to ECU and still plays Southern Miss.  Houston still has to play UCF and Southern Miss. 

Here is where I'm tempted to scoff and do one of those stunts like, "If UTEP wins C-USA West, I'll streak buck-naked through Memorial Triangle to the union." But nobody wants to see that. And, you know, the Miners did look impressive Saturday. And I can't argue with the Miner Rush schedule analysis. So, what the heck, let's dream a little.

The debut of the UTEP-NMSU football podcast

It's rivalry week. So what better time to kick off Turn Up the Orange's new combined UTEP-NMSU football podcast!

Pablo Villa, Felix Chavez and Jay Koester will take a look each week at UTEP and NMSU football. This week, we look back at last week's losses, then ahead at the showdown on Saturday.

To listen to the podcast, click here. (right click, save-target-as to download)

Or better yet, subscribe the Times sports podcasts on iTunes! With one click of the subscribe button, you'll automatically get the weekly podcasts. Get signed up here: El Paso Times podcast page on iTunes.

Or, if you have 17 minutes to spare at work, you can just hit the play button below and listen right now. Let us know what you think.

It's a game of inches, even when you lose by 30

Joe on Utepia told us this was going to happen. But it still wasn't fun watching UTEP get beat 54-24 by Houston.

There was a big moment of hope in the third quarter that ended up 10 yards short. With UTEP down 20 points, UTEP's Trevaun Nixon intercepted Case Keenum and began an amazing run for the end zone. He broke tackle after tackle, spinning away from one defender then another ... and then was brought down by a lucky fall by a Houston player. If Nixon gets in, UTEP is down only 13 points, with Keenum out for the game with a concussion. That would have been big.

Instead, a lucky grab stops Nixon at the 10, the offense goes nowhere, then misses the field goal.

It's a game of inches, even in a 30-point loss.

Here are some video highlights from the game, including that nice Nixon interception return.

Better odds

In other news, the early line has UTEP favored by 15 points over NMSU.