Kansas Jayhawks, Sept. 12, Sun Bowl Stadium
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Kansas Jayhawks, Sept. 12, Sun Bowl Stadium
Posted by Pablo Villa on September 30, 2009 at 04:03 PM | Permalink
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Buffalo Bulls, Sept. 5, Sun Bowl Stadium
Posted by Pablo Villa on September 30, 2009 at 01:12 PM | Permalink
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In the latest UTEP football podcast, a somber Pablo Villa, Ruben Ramirez and Jay Koester take a look back at UTEP's loss to Texas and a look ahead at UTEP's coming game against the Houston Cougars.
To listen to the podcast, click here. (right click, save-target-as to download)
Or better yet, subscribe the Times sports podcasts on iTunes! That's right, with one click of the subscribe button, you'll automatically get the weekly UTEP football and high school sports podcasts.
Get signed up here: El Paso Times podcast page on iTunes.
Posted by Jay Koester on September 29, 2009 at 03:13 PM | Permalink
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Posted by Pablo Villa on September 29, 2009 at 02:03 PM | Permalink
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Posted by Pablo Villa on September 28, 2009 at 05:34 PM | Permalink
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Jay's Juárez Sportsbook Report™ has an interesting tidbit for you today. Both UTEP and NMSU are exactly 16.5-point underdogs as of Monday.
Of course, UTEP is taking on the #12-ranked team in the country, the Houston Cougars. Meanwhile, the Aggies are large underdogs to San Diego State, the proud owners of a victory over Southern Utah to go along with three losses. So it shows UTEP is still getting a little bit of respect, at least compared to NMSU.
First thoughts: I'll take the points with NMSU. Strangely enough this early in the season, NMSU and SD State have a common opponent in Idaho. NMSU lost to Idaho 21-6. SD State lost to Idaho 34-20. The game is in San Diego, but considering both teams are pretty scrubby, I'll take NMSU and the 16.5 points.
On UTEP, I'd love to have faith and take the points. I really would. But in the end, what I going to believe: my cheating heart or my eyes. My heart wants to believe in the Miners, but my eyes have seen UTEP shoot itself in the foot in every way possible. They just don't look very good right now.
Until they prove otherwise, I'm going to have to bet against them. Despite Mike Price's vow to turn the season around, I'll take Houston to cover.
Quick update: Losing to NMSU really pissed off New Mexico.
Posted by Jay Koester on September 28, 2009 at 04:20 PM | Permalink
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Four keys in the matchup between UTEP and Houston on Saturday at Sun Bowl Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
1.) Been there, seen that: It's difficult to imagine UTEP being nervous about squaring off with Conference USA's BCS hopeful. The Miners have played Houston tough the past two seasons with essentially the same guys lining both teams' depth charts. And both of those battles were tight -- a 42-37 Houston win in 2007 and a 34-31 Houston win in 2008. The Miners are physically capable of playing with these guys. But this still is another top 25 team coming to town. And everyone has certainly heard how it goes with UTEP and top 25 teams. But, for what it's worth, the game is at the Sun Bowl, which brings us to ...
2.) The crowd: It's Homecoming Week. But I doubt even that will be enough to draw the fans out. Two woeful games at home to start the year and a thrashing in Austin might keep many fans at home this weekend. It¹s a shame because when the Sun Bowl crowd wants to, it can really be a factor. But it won't be so this week. So count this intangible out. This low attendance is also gonna affect the Athletic Department's bottom line. If UTEP's season worsens, I'd hate to be Bob Stull trying to decide where to set Miner football season ticket prices next year.
3.) The trap game: Houston's win over Texas Tech this weekend drew the largest crowd in Robertson Stadium history. And the late-game heroics were sure to encite a high level of emotion from everyone in the stadium. Players included. It's tough to maintain that high level week-to-week. And the Cougars will need it again on Oct. 10 as SEC team Mississippi State awaits. And there's UTEP sandwiched in between two opponents from big-time conferences. Will we have Houston's full attention?
4.) The refs: Maybe I'm a conspiracy nut, but I wouldn't be surprised if UTEP sets a record for penalties if the game gets tight. Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky and the rest of the league big-wigs have to be licking their chops at the prospect of millions of dollars for a BCS
at-large bid. Houston certainly has the talent to earn the berth on its own, but if games started getting a little close ... ah, maybe I'm just a conspiracy nut.
There's plenty else to look at in this game. Start the discussion.
Posted by Pablo Villa on September 28, 2009 at 09:11 AM | Permalink
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Well, the second half wasn't any better.
There were high hopes for these Miners coming into the season, but it appears the UTEP offense is much, much worse than any of us thought it would be.
The defense actually looked pretty good Saturday ... you know, as good as you can look while giving up 64 points. They made a couple of good stands after the offense put them in some bad spots.
How bad was this one? Well, it's the worst beat-down Texas has given any school in the past two seasons. They beat the Miners by 57 points. The second worst beat-down this season was to Louisana-Monroe, who only lost by 39. Last season, the most they ever beat anyone was by 42 points. That's messed up.
Colt McCoy for Heisman?
Earlier in the week, I was interested in Pablo's note that some Texas Tech fans were saying that Texas made up a story about Colt McCoy being sick last week to protect his Heisman chances after a lackluster performance against Tech.
But then I got more suspicious when I searched YouTube today and couldn't find any footage of Melvin Stephenson's Pick Six off of Colt. Sure, I can quickly find footage of UTEP's punter getting jacked up and slo-mo of Texas cheerleaders, but no Stephenson. Even ESPN's highlight reel mysteriously begins with the score tied at 7-7!
But DrewShirleySports finally ruined the conspiracy ... though before the highlight he did get in a shot about UTEP being a "really, really bad team."
I hope the Heisman voters slip by the conspiracy and watch the above video. Because like I told the Texas fans watching the game at my house on Saturday, that should END any talk of Colt for Heisman. If you throw a Pick Six against UTEP, you should automatically be taken out of the running for the Heisman!
Seriously, though, nice play Stephenson. I appreciated the one chance to cheer and make fun of the Texas fans.
Posted by Jay Koester on September 27, 2009 at 08:41 PM | Permalink
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Posted by Pablo Villa on September 27, 2009 at 04:00 PM | Permalink
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I rushed over to Juarez this morning, feeling good about betting on UTEP at +36.
I figured, sure, we all expect Texas to win, but there is no way they'll cover that many points, right? The Miners will be up for this game.
Well, with a halftime score of 47-7, Texas has already covered those 36 points.
I guess I can pray Texas puts in some scrubs in the second half.
Posted by Jay Koester on September 26, 2009 at 03:22 PM | Permalink
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