Don't allow history to repeat

UTEP football has been in this "looking good" position before. Then fortunes don't snowball and the season melts into a puddle.

Note Coach Mike Price's last four seasons.

UTEP (2-1) is "looking good "after a 42-10 over archrival New Mexico State, and is an 11 1/2 point favorite at home against Memphis Saturday. The offense and the defense really did look good against the Aggies. And in the loss the week before, well, UTEP wasn't even in Houston's class to start with.

Memphis (1-2)  had to rally late to overcome Middle Tennessee last week.

Again, I'm sticking with my prediction that UTEP will  be 7-1 before it loses again. The schedule dictates that.: vs. Rice, at UAB, vs. Tulane and at Marshall.

This schedule almost , I say almost, looks like something former basketball coach Don Haskins would drag in for his good teams to beat prior to the opening of the conference season. Recall how there were always a few Doanes, Cardinal Stritches (located in Milwaukee) and Tahoe Paradises (no longer in existence)  early in the season. UTEP's football fare represents major-college opponents, but they are not good major-college teams this season.

UTEP isn't tha.aaat much better than Memphis, or the others. But the Miners are better. So there can't be an, oops, off night. UTEP can't even so much as think it's a good team right now (I say bench anybody who celebrates catching a pass or making a good run - or actually tackling somebody for a loss).

UTEP fans need a winning season after four losers. Coach Mike Price is no longer the toast of El Paso. We all know the litany.

I think a level-headed UTEP team will beat Memphis.

So, is there a snowball in the forecast for this football season?

NOTE: I don't see Mike Leach going to New Mexico. He's too big a name to go to the ravished program up in Loboville.  Forget his situation at Texas Tech. I still say Tech used the controversy with the player (player's father, actually) to fire him and get out of paying his large contract.

Comments

[Bill]

I'll believe it when I see it. Two cupcakes and one decent team. We trounce the cupcakes and get pasted by the decent team.

So far, there is no proof that the Miners can win against at the very least, even competition, or for that matter, on the road.

[John Franco]

Exactly, Joe, Miner fans have seen this before. I think a more realistic view would be the Miners go 2-3 the next 5, losing 2 away and 1 at home. Once again, I think you are pandering to the bloggers that give you a hard time about your negative postings on UTEP. Luckily, I don't care about their opinion and tell it like it is, without the puckering up the other bloggers do. I like the way no one answers me, also, as they know they'll get a dose of Franco reality!

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

That's because John Franco is the best. The most insightful, thought provoking internet expert there is. Sorry we can't hang with you.

[pjs]

Franco must be a Democrat doom and gloom.I would not want to hang with Chief Dark Cloud either.

[Stahala]

What??? Are you kidding pjs? You must have been drunk being that your post is at 2:42AM. The republicans are the doom and gloom group. i.e. Bush administration. It could be argued the Obama administration is overly optimistic(which isnt any better), but definitely not doom and gloom

[John Franco]

Thanks CLEO(or should I say Coach Price). Unfortunately, I don't have as much time to google information or have "inside" sources like you. But I did watch that game between UAB and Tenn that went to 2 OT's with UAB losing by 3. Thats gonna be a win for UTEP? HA HA HA! Sorry almost fell outta my chair. Doom and gloom? I love it PJs! Anyway more to come after Memphis game. Cmon Miners win this one you're supposed to!!!

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

That was pretty funny.