We're amid "all's quiet time" as far as college football is concerned, a good opportunity for the UTEP staff to be mum on a big question - the UTEP's quarterback situation. This might be left up in the air until fall drills begin in August.
Senior Trevor Vittatoe is off throwing-shoulder surgery after first being in Coach Mike Price's doghouse in early spring for issues never explained. It's Vittatoe who's on stride to set all kinds of all-time UTEP passing records, although last fall was a trip in stride. He wasn't as good as a junior as he was as a soph, or at least that's how it looked. Was it the throwing-shoulder pain? Are there personal issues?
Other than Vittatoe, UTEP has no proven quarterback to carry out the Price offense. James Thomas is no passer. The other guys are still unknowns.
Perhaps Price will toss a clue this summer? If he's talking up Vittatoe big time, that's good news for the program. If he's hedging, then there still might be cause to call this a UTEP quarterback mystery.
UTEP has a great QB coming back, stats wise at least, and all is quiet.
He is still a big question mark coming into his senior season because he doesn't seem to have NFL aspirations anymore. He didn't have the drive to achieve last year and he wasn't injured like his previous seasons. He played with a lot of heart as a freshman and sophomore. There was no need for self medication. What he is playing for is to go out with a bang. At least we hope.
Curry has a lot of potential but Vittatoe is the man for UTEP. We will either live or die with him at the helm.
Posted by: CLEOFITZWITZ | May 28, 2010 at 04:09 PM
Carson Meager looked good in the spring, arguably better than Curry. Vittatoe is our key to success though so hopefully he shows up to play.
Posted by: Jake | May 28, 2010 at 04:52 PM
Shoulder surgery is not to take lighly!!
The shoulder joint is the most complicated of all---knee, hip,ankle,elbow, or wrist.
Any shoulder surgery is serious!!
Because the shoulder is not a true joint-capsule. It is a saucer and plate coupled with "Rotator-cuff tendons and muscles that help create articulation in the joint.
The hip is a true joint with a socket(a saucer & cup) and joint that fits snuggly into it.. That is it is easier to repair or replace.
I know from my experience with recent shoulder AC and Humerous open-reconstruction surgery that was necessary from many years of sports ( collegiate baseball catcher position) that created damamge to the joint later in life. It was complete open and has taken more than 18 months to regain some semblence of original strength.
If Vitatoe had shoulder surgery---there are two kinds (complet open-rotator cuff with humerous & AC joint reconstruction---to arthoscopic repair of bone spurs and minor rotator tendon damage). Even the latter repair is serious and takes several months to rehabilitate.
Point in case: Sam Bradford suffered a separated shoulder in early 2009---he had surgery to repair the separation in order to heal quicker for NFL draft. It was arthoscopic and less intrusive. He has advertised it as completely repaired and rehabilitated!! WE will see next year when put under pressure in the NFL.
The point also is that shoulder surgery (whether complet-open and invasive to arthoscopic and less invasive) takes several months or possibly years to regain original strength!!
This maybe a wait and see issue with Vittatoe as even with arthoscopic surgery of the shouder the wait time with heavy rehabilitation may take 12-18 monts for real healing. Not to mention taking hits on the football field.
Is Mike Price telling all there is to the matter??
Posted by: John C | May 28, 2010 at 06:19 PM
trevor needs to chill, stop forcing and drilling every single pass at 250 mph, get a lil touch going also. the important thing is to chill out a bit, don't get desperate or frustrated its, going to be an awesome season.If the long bomb did'nt work the first time do it again and again and again trevor, rack up the score like theirs no tomorrow. gooo miners!!!!!!!
Posted by: ray | May 29, 2010 at 11:20 AM
Once a competent center begins delivering the ball well to Trevor, he'll be okay. Whether that center is Atkinson (I hope so) or a more mature Cullumber (his incompetence cost more than a few games) I believe we will see an improvement in Vittatoe's production.
Posted by: Brad | May 29, 2010 at 03:10 PM
Who is the real coach at Memphis???
Change of subject from current blog!!
Point---Pastner is 31 years old and a previous Calipari assistant. For how long?? ---- Not very long!!
This time last year Tim Floyd turned down the kittens (U of Memphis) along with Pearl from Uof Tennessee. Both for an undisclosed amount to be in excess of Calipari----2.5 to 3.5 million.
Memphis State University nka U of Memphis hired Pastner for $.8 million.
Compared to the likes of UTEP's Floyd, U of Tennessee's Pearl, and Caliparit----Pastner is in diapers!!
In fact he just hatched his first recently-----
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/may/30/diaper-dandy-changes-pastner-lineup/?partner=popular
I will bet $$$ that Pastner Sr has no more coaching/recuriting experience than Little Pastner!!
So----The big question who is really coaching Memphis State University??? Is it the mayor of Memphis or "The Board of Directors of FEDEX" with assistance from "The Board of Directors of AutoZone"???
I would bet $$$ that these people told RC Johnsons (AD of Memphis) get some wet behind the collar kid and we will do the rest!!!
This wet behind the collar kid---Pastner going up against the likes of Floyd at UTEP and Larry Eustachy at Southern Miss, and Mike Davis at UAB. You got to be kiddin me!!!
Posted by: John C | May 30, 2010 at 07:14 PM
BTW:
ESPN reports that the NCAA infractions committee will release its ruling on the recent USC investigation into the football and basketball program. Go to
http://espn.go.com/
Posted by: John C | May 30, 2010 at 08:05 PM
On the eve of the week that NCAA rules infraction committee release their findings in regards to the alleged recruiting violations at USC football and basketball programs------see the following link to article in LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/sports/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-bkc-utep-floyd-returns,0,1833275.story
Posted by: John C | May 31, 2010 at 09:03 PM
I don't go along with the premise that Trevor Vittatoe is UTEP's key to their success this coming fall! All one needs to do is look back at last season! Vittatoe was the main reason UTEP lost several games!
He has neither the soft touch for short gainers, nor the accuracy on deep pass routes!
He's been very inconsistent, and has shown a propensity for making unwise, or poor decisions during critical situations on the field!
I believe UTEP would do well to prepare itself (when Vittatoe starts fumbling around), no pun intended, to arm itself with a quarterback, by begining to groom him now!! A little bit of insurancer if you will, to have Trevor's replacement ready when Trevor faulters! It will happen, you know! I guarantee it!
Posted by: MONCHIS | June 03, 2010 at 06:52 PM
No NCAA rules infractions on USC football or basketball this week--------
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2010/06/with-no-word-from-ncaa-usc-is-not-expecting-an-annoucement-in-bush-case/1
Posted by: John C | June 03, 2010 at 08:40 PM
USA Today reports USC top athletic salaries for 2008------to include Tim Floyd!!!
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2010-06-04-carroll-usc-salary_N.htm
Posted by: John C | June 04, 2010 at 02:36 PM