Texas biggest game?
Can it be that UTEP's home game Sept. 6 against Texas REALLY IS the Miners' biggest football game ever? Many El Pasoans are saying that. Tickets are going faster than for any other UTEP home football game — ever.
My first reaction to that was, no way! How could a non-conference game, only the second game of a season, be any school's biggest game ever? It's not like soccer in old Iraq — win or Saddam has you shot.
Now I'm thinking, maybe it IS the biggest game ever. Because, when has UTEP ever had a real big game? Can you think of one?
UTEP has never won a conference championship, although it played TCU for the WAC title in 2000 (losing 47-14). That game was in Fort Worth. Nobody was calling it the biggest game ever. And if they did, by the third quarter nobody was admitting to having done so.
Then there was 1985 when UTEP beat defending national champion BYU, 23-16. Recall that BYU was down to its third-string quarterback. Next in line to call signals was ... probably the center would snap to a split-end in motion. At the time of the win UTEP was 0-6. And the Miners would finish 1-10. No, that wasn't the biggest game.
Games against rival New Mexico State can't be the "biggest" games because El Pasoans expect UTEP to beat those littler Aggies every year.
Bowls? Eh! The Miners have never been in a big bowl, where a win meant they'd finish high in the national rankings. Fact is, they haven't won a bowl game since the 1967 Sun Bowl (14-7 vs. Ole Miss).
Geez, it's weird to say this, but UTEP has been playing football since before World War I, and its biggest game ever might just well be the early season home game against the big school in the state, the Texas Longhorns.
So far, anyway. Check with the fans at the end of the third quarter.
The biggest game in UTEP football history was the game of hide the dollar Mike Price played with a stripper in a Florida hotel room...allegedly. This prompted Alabama to fire him and UTEP to hire him.
A couple of bowl games and a handfull of sellouts later, we're drawing national attention.
Posted by: Toasted Whitebred | August 19, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Toasted, you ignoramus!
At this juncture we aren't even getting national attention anymore.
Mike Price's luster has worn off due to his failure to produce a winner here!
Mike Price proved to be human after all.
I do believe the failure to lure quality athletes here is one reason for the failure to produce a winner! Who would want to come and play for UTEP?
Let's face it UTEP and El Paso are doomed to failure!
Our location and population determines that! I don't think we would reach national prominence, even if Jesus himself were to come here!
Even if UTEP loses big to Texas we'll all enjoy watching this quality team dare to come here and take on the likes of UTEP!
I'm still rooting for UTEP though! Go Miners!!!
Posted by: Monchis | August 19, 2008 at 08:04 PM
This is an important game with nationally ranked Texas in town. Win against them, and we get that national attention. Play well and lose, we're still in good shape for nmsu and conference play.
Posted by: Maven | August 19, 2008 at 08:41 PM
There goes Monchis on his tyrad again. Even though he is right about Mike Price failing to live of to expectations thet he himself set by having extremely successful 1st two seasons, I have no idea where he bases his arguement that quality athletes don't come to UTEP.
Did anyone see a former UTEP sprinter finish 3rd in the 100m and has a shot at medaling in the 200m at the olympics.... but Monchis says quality athletes don't come to UTEP.
The Miners now have more football players getting drafting and playing in the NFL then at any other time in the programs history.... but Monchis says quality athletes don't come to UTEP.
The Miners have the Best player in C-USA this year and will be an NBA draft pick after this season.... but Monchis says Quality athletes don't come here.
Contrary to what Monchis believes, the evidence is out there, UTEP has had some great athletes in just these past few years alone.
As for the actual post, because of UTEP's poor football history, the Biggest game in school history has to be the 1985 BYU game. Now this Texas game can end up being the biggest game in school history but that is all dependent on the out come of the game.....
Posted by: Jon | August 19, 2008 at 10:34 PM
Beat UT-Austin.
Posted by: The Truth | August 20, 2008 at 06:58 AM
Hey Monchis:
Stick to what you know totally NOTHING about, like UTEP Basketball. You cannot get change back from a fifty cent word. How do you live with yourself?
Posted by: 2myeye | August 20, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Granted we have had some quality athletes come here, however, they are an anomaly, and an exception!
These athletes got here due to error more than them choosing to come here.
They were overlooked for some reason or another and somehow ended up here at UTEP!
That being said, how many winning seasons have we witnessed here?
What national prominence can we boast about, other than the 1966 basketball championship?
All I'm saying is El Paso isn't the destination of blue chip athletes!
Why would they come here when there's no national exposure, no television, etc?
Gentlemen, we are no USC, Notre Dame, UT, Oklahoma, Ohio State, etc., etc., etc!!
2myeye, jealous I see, I know more than you'll ever dream of knowing, or will ever know!
All you have to do is give it time and I'll be vindicated with my observations!
What insight do you offer, other than childish insults?
Answer, NONE!!!
Posted by: Monchis | August 20, 2008 at 01:55 PM
Monchis you evil nitwit...UTEP's track and field teams have enjoyed almost unparralelled success. The shooting team was once if not still is one of the best in the country AND our basketball program is recognized as one of the premier programs in the county. It is already raising some eyebrows and the season has not even started. Didn't we just send one of our past coaches to Kentucky?
Also, it doesn't take a genius to see that the quality of football recruits has gone up significantly around here (there's a hidden insult in the last sentence for you) since Price took over.
Posted by: Toasted Whitebred | August 20, 2008 at 02:29 PM
I was watching the preseason game between the Raiders and the 49ers.Higgins ran the football back for a touchdown and did a cartwheel somersault.The cool thing was the announcers mentioning his school but he also made it on NFl Live's Top 5 Preseason plays for the week! I think it was 1 or 2.I hate the raiders but love higgins! Watch opening night for MNF.Raiders against the Broncos! Maybe we will get to see him say UTEP.
Posted by: c dude | August 20, 2008 at 05:55 PM
My bad ,thats for sunday night football which used to be monday night! Either way he might be number 2 on the depth chart!
Posted by: c dude | August 20, 2008 at 05:59 PM
How can you guys forget Thomas Howard? He's had more success in two years in the NFL than any other UTEP player in recent memory...and he was a walk-on at UTEP iirc.
Posted by: Mike | August 21, 2008 at 08:16 AM
With the season exactly one week away I present to you -- The Preseason Joe on Utepia Awards. All in good fun of course.
Is it basketball season yet?
winner: RJ, runner-up: OMAR DOMINGUEZ/SM tie
Most consistent/relevant post.
winner: CLEO, runner-up: SM
Most likely to call Claudia Porras for WNBA expansion team.
winner: Joe Cole, runner-up: LowercaseRay
Best NMSU Insider.
winner: Vic, runner-up: Joe Muench
Best blog redirection.
winner: Toasted Whitebred, runner-up: marcus_g_23
MissingInAction.
winner: four-way tie -- jwest, Maven, johnfranco, StevenG
Most cynical.
winner: Austin, runner-up: gonow
What is he talking about?
winner: Monchis, runner-up: Gabe G.
Al Bundy has-been award. NMSU winner: Who's your Mumme, UTEP winner: just a thought
It could happen/there is always a chance.
winner: ShyMiner, runner-up: Jon
Posted by: just a thought | August 21, 2008 at 12:15 PM
Off the subject but it looks as though UNM is going to feel the NCAA pinch a little harder then their self-imposed punishment for academic violations. They are getting three years probation and a cut of five scholarships. I expect this will greatly impact the quality of football they will put out in the field in the coming years. For those who want to read deeper into this, here is a CBS post on this subject.
http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10940529
Posted by: Lowercase Ray | August 21, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Toasted, wow, "evil nit wit"?
Can you say foreign track athletes? They don't know any better, that's why they end up in El Paso! Just joshing, insert sarcasm here!
Let's suppose you are all correct, where is the national exposure, notoriety, television contracts?
Not even our local sports station, carried on Time Warner wants to pick up the UTEP games!
I don't see espn, cbs, nbc, abc, nor other sports networks knocking down our doors, or parked outside UTEP's doorsteps waiting to get the scoop and to report on UTEP's exploits!
If UTEP could recruit the type athletes it takes to be successful, we'd be national champions in every conceivable sport!
Go ahead call me a nit wit, the facts speak for themselves!
Where did the UTEP basketball team end up last season, the UTEP football team?
I rest my case!!!!
Posted by: Monchis | August 21, 2008 at 06:11 PM
I neglected to mention the basketball team even with Stefon Jackson, the best player in C-USA.
Howard, Higgins, Palmer, quality athletes, yet how many C-USA crowns did they manage to bring to UTEP?
As I stated before, anomolys, and diamonds in the rough that UTEP lucked in obtaining!
Wasn't Howard a walk on?
That means no one recruited
him! That gentlemen, is what I refer to as an anomaly!
Posted by: Monchis | August 21, 2008 at 06:18 PM
Don't forget...
Quentin Demps
Oniel Cousins ( who would be starting for the ravens if it wasn't for injury)
Marcus Thomas
Players on this years roster that may have NFL future,
Robby Felix
Trevor Vitattoe
Jeff Moturi
Jose Martinez
This list will probably grow after this season.
There are currently 11 Miners playing in the NFL. Not that many, but out of those 11, 9 were drafted after Mike Price took over the head coaching position. Also, there has been at least 1 player drafted every year since Mike Price has been here and it doesn't look like it will change anytime soon with Robby Felix getting plenty of attention from NFL scouts.
Where Monchis sees anomolies I see a pattern. An anomoly is having a player get drafted once every couple of years if your lucky. However, having players get drafted from your school in 4 straight years and having NFL scouts come back to see the talent availible for next years draft.... well thats no longer an anomaly.
Posted by: Jon | August 21, 2008 at 10:00 PM
woohoo, I win!
Ofcourse there is always a chance for a repeat, right?
Posted by: ShyMiner | August 22, 2008 at 09:19 AM
oh and this game is pretty big! For many reasons...
UT- has never played UTEP at the SB? right?
Mike Price has stumbled some, but he still has his fire! The Miners will NOT get blown out! It will be fun!
A top 10/11 team coming to down!
Sucks, to be the pooper scooper for Bevo after he see's the score!
Posted by: ShyMiner | August 22, 2008 at 09:21 AM
oops town not down...
Posted by: ShyMiner | August 22, 2008 at 09:22 AM
The Texas Longhorns are the Dallas Cowboys of college football in Texas. People are packing the Sun Bowl to see them, not so much the UTEP Miners. But people do want to see a possible upset. I mean, here's our chance.
Posted by: King David | August 22, 2008 at 10:20 AM
hey c dude...Johnny Lee Higgins would be cut if the Raiders weren't so sorry at WR....did you see the last game where he fumbled the ball in his own end zone ??
Posted by: rjp | August 22, 2008 at 03:44 PM