Did it, Miners did!

UTEP is breathing a new kind of air. A win came ever so untraditionally, 16-13 over Memphis Saturday.

UTEP (3-1) was favored by 11 1/2 points. But UTEP was favored because of its offense.

The win came because its defense played great and new FG kicker, Dakota Warren, would hit on long arcs of 57 yards, 50 yards - and then a game-winning 18 yarder as time ran out.

UTEP's defense gave up one TD all night, and that came in the second quarter when Memphis set up at the UTEP 20 via a rare Trevor Vittatoe interception.

What was also rare was that Vittatoe and his receivers, supposedly the oomph this year, stunk most of the night. Vittatoe lost his aim and the receivers wore mitts of cinderblock. Usually this would mean the other team wins in a rout.

And  there wasn't much moving the ball until the last  when, using the running of Joe Banyard and the back-from-injury Donald Buckram, the Miners averted overtime by going 96 yards in 3:13, ending with the field goal. Clutch. That counts!

For a while it did not look like UTEP would achieve my prediction of a 7-1 start. But the way UTEP won this game, and the fare in the next four weeks, keeps the prognostication alive, I believe. At least we know one thing. UTEP can come from behind (it never led until the game-winning FB).

UTEP will beat: New Mexico, UAB, Rice and Marshall. It's not because UTEP is a good team yet, but because it is better than the next line of opponents.

However, by poleaxing rival New Mexico State 42-10 last week, then using defense and kicking - and some big special teams offense by Marlon McClure - UTEP found some new things in what was touted as just an offensive arsenal.

The corner toward a winner has not yet been turned, but UTEP is in turning-the-corner mode.

 

Comments

[ksdksdksd]

Dude, I want what you are smoking! Don't you think other teams will figure out what Memphis did?

[John Franco]

While Los Lonely Boys were playing "Heaven", i found out the Miners won. Way to go Miners! Hopefully Joe is right and I am wrong this year!

[just a thought]

The game was a little ugly to some but I'll take a low scoring, every tackle matters game over a 45-42 "beauty" any day. I guess that's just the defensive player in me.

My preseason line for the UNM game included the words TRAP GAME and that is never more true than right now. The Miners and all of El Paso practically have this one penciled in right now. Believe me, the Lobos could care less about UTEP and their plans to continue this streak.

Be wary.

[Zagnut]

I don't think the Memphis defense really "figured out" anything against UTEP. The offense came out like a wet noodle. They were sluggish up till the 4th quarter. It would be nice to see all the elements come together for one game instead of good offense with swiss cheese D, or defense with little O.

[harker]

7-1 thats funny remember when "utep took to long to beat pine bluffy" and you said "This game did not show that UTEP, with a veteran offense, is heading toward a winning season. A win by 31-10 looks like a romp in most cases. This 31-10 was not a romp."

[Prospero]

^^
good point Harker,

After the Pine Bluff game, you did NOT predict a 7-1 start for the MINERS JOE.

If you would have said that before the season, right now you might have looked a tad-smart.

-Joes just a bandwagon jumper like most of El Paso.

[Stahala]

In Joe's defense, it did not become clear how weak our schedule was until after the first two weeks. After seeing teams perform, 7-1 looked possible, not because of how great we're playing(though we are not doing so bad), but simply cause we happen to have teams that are worse than us scheduled all in a row first,then all the good teams are at the end, instead of having a play good team then play bad team schedule which is usually the case. It is possible, even probable, 7-1. But I still say we can very easily lose to Rice or Marshall, hell we can lose to any of the teams(except UNM, trap game? I dont buy it JAT) but the fact remains we will be favored in each of these games, and Im guessing it shocked Joe as he looked at the schedule after week 2 that it is very possible for UTEP to go 7-1. They will be big underdogs in the last 4 games. But for some reason I think we can upset Tulsa in back to back seasons, which will offset the Rice or Marshall loss I am predicting(hope Im wrong). 7-5 looks very possible, but I think we will settle for 6-6.

[pjs]

please just enjoy the moment,the win,and the record.You can tell El Paso is a city of liberal democrats, all the time doom and gloom,pessimism,sky is falling,complaining,critical,and nothing is ever good enough.Smile,laugh enjoy life,oh I forgot you are a liberal democrat thats impossible.The rest of you enjoy!

[just a thought]

Stahala,

Reasons UNM is a trap game:

1) Game is sandwiched between an emotional Memphis game and a distraction filled Homecoming week against Rice. The players are looking forward to riding floats and shaking hands.

2) Overconfidence? If we had lost against Memphis, the Miners go to UNM hungrier for a win. Everyone and their mom thinks we have this in the bag. When did we suddenly become Alabama?

3) We don't play well up there. UTEP hasn’t won at New Mexico since 1998 (I had a good game by the way).

4) We are UTEP and we know how to flub a game as well as anyone in the country.

[Mikeyr91]

UTEP is better than they have been. I'm pretty confident we'll beat UNM, Rice, Marshall, and who ever else we play.

[Stahala]

JAT, even if UTEP plays their worst game of the season, UNM will find a way to lose. This is not their year. UNM fans are asking if its basketball season yet.

On another note, you know when someone shares their political bias on a sports blog, for no good reason, they know nothing about politics or sports.

I sure hope youre right Mikeyr91.

[just a thought]

Stahala, I think that UTEP will win this game. I just don't think UNM is as much a pushover as everyone seems to think they are.

We don't need to be looking at the huge Conference, nobody goes to class Homecoming week, 2000 WAC Champion reunion, we will be 4-1 Rice game like I think many of the players (and some coaches) probably are.

I could easily see this game being either 42-7 UTEP or 28-24 UNM.

[Toasted Whitebred]

There is so much negative information coming out of that program that their players must be at an all time low for morale.

Those guys have to find something to play for and I don't think its their coach. Judging by some of the things our UNM transfer Tate Smith has said, many of their players might not want for him to be coaching there much longer.

Speaking of Tate Smith, he knows the the UNM offense backwards and forwards. I'm sure he's running the scout team offense this week. I'm sure our defensive coaches are picking his brain to the bone.

Speaking of qb's, UNM is down to their 3 stringer if Holbrook backup Mike Bruner can't go again Saturday.

[Stallion]

Good points Toasted. Let's let the team do the talking and let's get ourselves some popcorn. GO MINERS!!!!

[El Paso]

I loved the game against Memphis. That was so intence. We cheered and enjoyed it a lot. The only thing I didn't like was the LOUSY commentator! What's up with that guy! Whenever UTEP scored he commented with NO enthusiasm at all! It almost seemed like he wasn't on Miner's side. A good commentator can really help the general mood of the game a lot!