There's certainly promise now

I'm sticking with the previous post. UTEP is now looking at a 7-1 start.

The 42-10 domination of archrival New Mexico State puts UTEP at 2-1. The Miners will likely be favored, sometimes favored big, in their next five games: Games are: Vs. Memphis, at New Mexico, vs. Rice, at UAB and even at Marshall.

Teams don't poleax an archrival and not deserve some props. So props to the Miners. They  were a two-TD favorite over NMSU, but led by that much after the first quarter - and by 42-10 after three quarters. UTEP QB Trevor Vittatoe threw 5 TD passes and the defense frustrated those Aggies virtually all night.

I don't see the next five UTEP opponents being much better than NMSU.

It was a definite skills/physical domination. It wasn't like one team messed up and got behind because of fumbles and pass intereceptions. There were no turnovers by either team until the Aggies threw a pass interception while already down 42-10.

UTEP is a senior-dominated team on offense and still a question mark on defense. But, on paper, UTEP, as it is right now, is still better than its next five opponents.

7-1.

 

 

Comments

[John C.]

Do not take Rice litely!!!

They physically dominated Texas-----they lost but gave Texas fits with their physical ability.

Rice's new coach has them in fighter physical form. They are of course tough mentally. No one gets into Rice without some smarts. Now they are physically dominating and pose some real threat to anyone they play. UTEP will have to play their most physical game to even stay with them.

Therefore, if UTEP is to loose to anyone of the schools in the next 4-5 games I predict it will be Rice.

[Stamford]

As long as the Miners are playing Aggie-quality opponents at home, the future looks bright.

Beware better quality opponents on the road.

[MAL]

@John C.

good point, over the past years the Miners have not beaten Rice, home and away, even when the Miners have been HEAVILY favored.

UTEP has a better record against UH and Tulsa than Rice since they joined C-USA. They have only beaten Rice ONCE and it was by a TD @ Rice in the first year of their C-USA football season.

The only C-USA teams in football that the Miners have not beaten since they joined are ECU, and Memphis. However, I wouldn't count ECU USM and UCF in until after the 2012 season since they will have met all 6 C-USA East teams 4 times.

Either way this game against Memphis is by far the biggest game yet since they are a horrible 0-3 against them since joining the league. If they can get this win, and NOT lose to a team like Memphis, then we will know that these Miners are for real and will not lost games due to a lack of hustle, mental preparationg and discipline like in the past years.

GO MINERS!!!!!!

[lee howard]

If the miners are a bad football program according to Joe in one of his blogs this summer, then what kind of a football program is his ala matter:NMSU?

lee h

[Dean Dunham]

I certainly hope Joe is right about UTEP's prospects of going 7-1. But UTEP always has a way of blowing it against teams that they are favored to beat.

[Monchis]

UTEP loses to Memphis, and Rice!
Ergo, the 7-1 prediction falls by the way side!
Memphis always gives UTEP fits, and Rice always plays it's best game of the year, against UTEP!
So much for your 7-1 UTEP winning record!

[John D]

The Miners under Price have always been consistent about one thing, they are inconsistent. The players will feel that after creaming NMSU they are ready to play Alabama for the National Championship, and they will get lax and lose to teams that have no business beating them. The Miners go 6-6, go to one of those bowl games no one has ever heard of, and get creamed. But Price's contract is renewed, and the Miners go on down the road, wasting a few talented players by surrounding them with players who don't care, and coaches who let it go on.

[El Paso]

Miners have had a pretty good start this season. And this last game was just awesome. I think they have more luck when they play home, in El Paso. Hope it continues this way. Can't wait for the game with Memphis. Go miners!

[Prospero]

HEY MONCHIS,

JUST CURIOUS, WHOSE YOUR FAVORITE COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM?

[John C.]

Houston----has lost Keenum for season with torn ACL. In addition, they lost the #2 QB to a broken collar bone.

It appears that CUSA West will be wide open and if----just if Miners come away with a 6-1 or 7-1 as we are blogging about-----UTEP could be in the hunt.

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

What we saw on Saturday was a definite improvement in short yardage situations. Putting Solyjacks as the lead blocker for Banyard (or hopefully Buckram) could pay off big for us. Vittatoe was on and the receivers were making catches. The line blocked well in pass protection. They could definitely improve their run blocking but 2-1 is a good place to be considering we haven't handed Buckram the ball yet this season.

I saw some good things on defense too. We allowed some catches with some super soft coverage, but we didn't allow Aggies to run wild after the catch. We still have no pass rush but we attacked the ball and tackled better.

All in all, we looked better against NMSU than we did against Pine Bluff. Could that be a sign of good coaching? Nah! Fire Price now!

[Monchis]

Prospero, you asked for it: here it is, my favorite college football team is.... ta, ta, ....oh, wait my wife just called me, gotta go! I'll get back to you on that!

[just a thought]

UTEP played with confidence and that makes everything better. They'll need confidence to get over the mental thing knowing they haven't beat Memphis. It's like playing a big brother knowing eventually he's going to win.

But confidence can only take you so far against a physical team like Memphis that has dominated the line of scrimmage every game under Price.

Memphis is down this year but not completely out. This should be a good one.

[Jim]

UTEP is suspect to the running game. Anyone can run on UTEP. If you can slow down UTEPs offense and run, it usually results in an ugly UTEP loss.

Which UTEP team will show? The high powered offense, or the highly penalized team.

[SM]

Good win for the Miners. Absolutely no comparison between the talent level of the two teams, which is unfortunate, not just for Aggie fans but for Miner fans as well. Mumme did a number on the program and left the cupboard absolutely empty. Even though I really like Walker and agree with his approach to the game, he is going to have a real tough time recruiting players going forward, especially if the WAC disbands.

It looks like my Aggies are in for another long couple years. We are never going to get the large play-making skill position players. The only hope going forward is to recruit big guys on the O-line and D-line that are under-recruited. There are a ton of them out there, as evidenced by this last year's draft which included many former walk-on linemen.

My apologies to Cleo - who I realize hates blog talk regarding the Aggies...just had to rant.

JAT - how you been man?

[just a thought]

I've been good SM. Good to hear your thoughts on NMSU and I agree with every bit of it.

Recruiting great players to EP/Las Cruces is a tough job. Good luck the rest of the way including the Boise St. game. An OT scare or win against them would be quite the headline.

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

SM, hate is a strong word. I just don't like when Joe makes the Aggies the topic of conversation on the Miner blog. But you are an intelligent poster and your comments are always welcome here.

[SM]

Cleo - I hear you. I confess that I sometimes can't shutup about the Aggies. I do it on the Aggie blogs too, but I like the setup of this blog and know some of the other bloggers.

JAT - I can only imagine how tough a sell it is to get kids to come to the area. As a player, I'm sure you had to find interesting ways to lure recruits, like: "Hey, have you tried Chico's? Trust me, you'll love this stuff!" The best way to do it, I suppose, is have the students come to a game like the Miners v. Aggies. MP was probably pretty sure the Miners would win this game and he knew the environment would be electric with the rivalry. Great time to get some students out.

Good luck to the Miners the rest of the way. I will likely go back to my infrequent postings (until basketball season), as I prefer to pretend that the Aggies do not have a football team. See you in November!

[Prospero]

hahaha

[axe man]

SM making a cameo appearance. U, my man, are welcome here even to discuss aggie ball.

[SM]

Thanks, axe man. You'll notice that are not as many of us obnoxious Aggies galavanting around this blog. Most of us are riding out the tide and hoping for better days. We are also giving Walker some time to rebuild. (Side note - can you call it rebuilding if your team has never been that good? I was a senior our last winning season in 2002. Is that what we are rebuilding to? I guess so. Got to love being an Aggie football fan!)

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

Mike Leach to UNM?

[axe man]

I've discussed mike leach to the miners to anyone who would listen since cmp openly discusses retirement. Either way mike leach belongs coaching college football. It just does seem the same without the pirate. Imagine the credibility and attention he can bring to any football program not to mention the excitemen and winning...

[axe man]

*it just does not seem the same with the pirate*

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

I got the lead from my news source in Albuquerque. Nothing is confirmed of coarse. Just in the talking stages.