Turn Up the Orange | UTEP sports talk

Oklahoma could be coming to Sun Bowl; Sorry, USC fans

Another week of college football means another week of fun projections for the Sun Bowl.

First up, I told you a week ago, but now most experts agree that USC isn't headed to El Paso. Unless USC loses again, it appears they are headed to the Holiday Bowl.

Both of the ESPN bowl projections are saying it will be California vs. Missouri in the Sun Bowl. In my book, there's not a worse state in the union than Missouri, though they have their charms.

However a story in the Oklahoman titled Bowl watching: OU likely headed for the Sun Bowl has me convinced we'll get to see the Sooners.

The writer seems convinced that Oklahoma is coming to El Paso no matter what happens this Saturday against Oklahoma State.

Perhaps we'll get that Stoops vs. Stoops battle that some have been hoping for in Oklahoma vs. Arizona.

In alternate universe, UTEP basketball team loses

Arkansas State seems to be having a hard time accepting they lost to the UTEP men's basketball team on Saturday.

The Miners went to 3-0 on the year with an 82-56 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday at the Don Haskins Center.

But over at the Arkansas State official Web site, the scroll across the top as well as the scoreboard on the bottom of the page reads that Arkansas State beat UTEP by the same score. You can check it out here.

Nice try, Red Wolves, but you can't rewrite history that easily.

Can UTEP overtake Memphis in C-USA?

That's the question on basketball fans' minds this year. And it was certainly on mine as I watched Memphis on ESPN on Tuesday and UTEP at the Don last night.

On Tuesday, Memphis still looked like the class of of C-USA. They are so quick and smothering on defense that they completely shut down the offense of the #1-ranked Kansas Jayhawks.

UTEP's defense looked much less smothering last night. Randy Culpepper may be the only one with Memphis-like quickness. Unfortunately, he seemed inspired to use that defensive quickness only after he made a shot or two. After a made shot, he plays defense like a whirling dervish, but he needs to maintain that effort even if his shot isn't falling.

It looks like it's going to be a fun four-way battle at the top of C-USA this year, with Memphis, UTEP, Tulsa and Houston all thinking they have the talent to get it done. Should be fun to watch.

Photos from Wednesday's game against Arkansas Pine Bluff

Donald Buckram's bid gets help

UTEP running back Donald Buckram’s bid for the national rushing title got a little help. 

The Associated Press reported late Tuesday that Fresno State will be without the nation’s leading rusher, Ryan Mathews, for Saturday’s game against Louisiana Tech.

Coach Pat Hill said that Mathews will miss the game after sustaining a concussion last week against Nevada. Hill says he expects Mathews will likely be able to return for the season finale at Illinois on Dec. 5 for the Bulldogs (6-4).

Mathews leads the nation with 1,491 yards rushing. He has also scored 14 touchdowns. He is a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back.

Buckram is the country’s second-leading rusher with 1,422 yards, 69 yards behind Mathews. 

But the rushing title is based on average yards per game. Buckram could surpass Mathews’ average this weekend if he totaled 220 yards on the ground. And he’ll try it against the nation’s 103rd-ranked rushing defense. 

Podcast: UTEP to face Rice, but what about the Sun Bowl?

Pablo Villa, Ruben Ramirez and Jay Koester take a look back at UTEP's loss at SMU, then look ahead to Saturday's away game against Rice, plus talk about Sun Bowl match-up possibilities.

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.

Great football finish

Two years ago, the nation marveled at the wild 15-lateral finish produced by San Antonio school Trinity and Millsaps of Mississippi. 

Now another pair of Texas schools gives you their own spectacular conclusion to a football game.

Check out this story and video about Saturday’s 58-57 double-overtime playoff game between Texas A&M-Kingsville and Tarleton State, which featured a 64-yard field goal, two wild fourth-down conversions and a fan ripping off his shirt Hulk Hogan-style at the -29-second mark. 

By the way, those fourth down conversions were made possible by former Franklin High quarterback Scott Grantham. 

El Paso dreaming of USC Song Girls

Normally about this time of year, I have to start hearing all the fantasies about Notre Dame coming to the Sun Bowl. This year, El Paso has USC fever. Starting with my editor. 

Austin sets the general tone with his comment on the last post:

UTEP is awful, but let's look at the silver lining... USC IS COMING TO THE SUN BOWL!! Really, there's no way the Holiday and Rose will pass on Oregon and Stanford (55-21!). ESPN is already talking about USC spending New Year's in El Paso...

SONG GIRLS. SONG GIRLS. SONG GIRLS.

Song girls, indeed. Though I'm not sure anything can top the year of Oregon vs. South Florida. 

But, as I always was with the Notre Dame dreams, I have to once again be a party pooper and say I don't think it will happen. Why not? I can't say I have a good reason. Especially since ESPN's bowl projections both have USC in the Sun Bowl. 

But I just know it never seems to work out perfectly for the Sun Bowl. If USC wins out, I'm guessing they get picked by the Holiday Bowl. If they lose again, they could end up placing sixth in the Pac-10 (that's where they are currently), making it hard for the Sun Bowl to pick them.

My less-sexy prediction is Arizona vs. Texas Tech. 

Back to UTEP

I talked Sun Bowl because that seems to be of more interest right now, but I did want to link to this Yahoo blog that mentioned UTEP's last game. Here's what they had to say:

UTEP racked up more than 600 total yards -- led by 395 passing by Trevor Vittatoe and 240 on the ground by Donald Buckram -- and at one point went on consecutive touchdown drives of 70, 99 and 80 yards, yet still lost at SMU, 35-31, despite also finishing +1 in turnover margin. Mustang running back Shawnbrey McNeal had 170 yards rushing on just 18 carries.

Time to look ahead to Rice. UTEP has opened favored by a touchdown, but it's really all about Buckram now.

Podcast: UTEP in must-win bowl situation

Pablo Villa, Joe Muench and Jay Koester take a look back at UTEP's loss at Tulane, then look ahead to Saturday's away game against SMU.

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.

Four Quarters: SMU Mustangs

Four keys in the matchup between UTEP and Southern Methodist on Saturday at Gerald R. Ford Stadium in Dallas. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. MST. Game will be televised on Time Warner cable Channel 24.

1.) The Mustang passing game: The Miners need to pull out all the old Hawaii game films from the WAC days. June Jones runs essentially the same passing offense in Dallas that he did in Honolulu. It's heavy on the pass, but the Mustangs aren't gonna try to go deep on UTEP if they're not giving them a good look. So the Miners need to have a safety playing centerfield or two defenders giving a Cover 2 look most of the game. Take care of the underneath stuff and those quick outside swings, flares and tunnel screens and you'll find success. SMU quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell is young and will make bad throws if the Miners can pressure him. The sophomore has thrown 10 interceptions this season. But make no mistake of his ability to pick UTEP apart if he's given time to read in the pocket.

2.) The Mustang running game: At Hawaii, Jones was content putting the ball in the hands of Colt Brennan or Timmy Chang and letting it fly. At SMU, Jones has balanced his aerial attack with a decent ground assault. Shawnbrey McNeal is Donald Buckram-like at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds. He's speedy and can cause fits for a defense that offers so many built-in alleys as the 3-3-5 does. Look for McNeal to get 20 touches against the Miners. More if the ground game gets churning.

3.) Donald Buckram: We have a rising star on our hands. Aren't you fans glad he's coming back next season? UTEP will no doubt need to feed Buckram the ball again. I'd go a step further and say give him the ball on 3rd and 7 or shorter. Defenses know that while the Miner offensive line has been able to push people five yards downfield, they are struggling to keep a pocket for quarterback Trevor Vittatoe on long passing situations. That coupled with receivers who aren't doing enough to get free downfield is resulting in sacks and collapsed pockets. So run the draw on 3rd and 7. Buckram has proven he won't be denied.

4.) Motivation: What more do these Miners want? Lose again this year and you're staying home for Christmas. Most fans who are appalled right now have every right to be. And after Memphis coach Tommy West's firing today, they're only gonna get more vicious if UTEP loses this or any other weekend this season.

UTEP's bowl hopes fading

The rollercoaster continues its descent.

The UTEP football team continued its inconsistent ways with a 45-38 overtime loss against Tulane in New Orleans on Saturday. The Miners have been inconsistent all season. And there was something about last week's Halloween loss to UAB that made some think the wheels might be coming off of UTEP's season. But most fans expected the Miners to bounce back.

But unlike the weeks after disheartening losses to Memphis, Texas and Kansas, the Miners couldn't shine their brightest when hopes are the dimmest.

The UTEP defense wasn't able to stop what Tulane threw at it. While it did manage to hold the Green Wave on fourth down on a potential game-tying drive with 4:09 left to play, the Miners allowed a heart-wrenching 86-yard drive that culminated with Tulane tying the game with 1 second remaining in regulation. And in overtime, the Green Wave easily scored the go-ahead touchdown.

Running back Donald Buckram was stellar again, scoring four times to help the UTEP offensive effort. Trevor Vittatoe shook off two early errant throws that were nearly picked off to play solid, at times showing the flashes of brilliance that have endeared him to fans the past two years. But leading late in the fourth quarter, UTEP couldn't string together a few first downs to ice the game. And in overtime, penalties and faulty pass protection cost the Miners a chance to tie.

A shot at the Conference USA title is completely out of the equation. And the Miners, with their 3-6 record, can't lose another game if they hope to be bowl eligible. But with a visit to surging SMU coming up next week, you have to wonder if this rollercoaster ride is all but over.