UTEP beats lightning flash

Coaches' press conferences on Mondays are hype, for both sides.

There is no explaining why UTEP is not supposed to poleax (my favorite verb) New Mexico Saturday afternoon in Albuquerque (will Time Warner have the game live?).

The Lobos are giving up (what?) something like 50 points a game. This week we hear they have hope, will, fortitude, desire ...  aw c'mon, and "it's a new season."

This is what bad UTEP teams have regurgiated at their Monday press luncheons - for many years. It's the beg to fans: Buy tickets, we're not as bad as our winless record (0-4) says we are. We've played some pretty good competition ...

Here's what happens: No lightning bolt from Heaven helps the Lobos. UTEP (3-1) has the seniors and the "need" to win this game. And it's not like the Miners are going into some hostile stadium with fans aroar for the home team. UNM has drawn little crowds for 30 years. They don't put 25,00 ticket-buyers into their seats at this time of a season.

UTEP's tiny crowds (such as last Saturday vs. Marshall), by and large, beat UNM crowds.

Bottom line:

UTEP: Seniors. Quarterback. Won't need RB Donald Buckram. Defense played well vs. Marshall Saturday (just don't down again ... )

New Mexico: The press conference UTEP fans have heard before: We're not as bad as our record indicates (insert TV interview with player). "We have a great team attitude."

UTEP wins and I'm still saying it's a 7-1 start for the Miners, who don't have to be a good team to beat New Mexico, and who can go 7-1 by playing determined, veternan-dominant offense - and keep getting better with Andre Patterson's defense.

 

Comments

[Miner Fan]

They played Memphis not Marshall.

[John Franco]

Miners will go 4-1, no doubt. However, the prospect of going 1-6 after that is looming. They beat Rice and UAB, i'll stop spouting the doom and gloom PJ's! I wonder when the last time UTEP won a significant conference road game?

[Paul in Tempe]

Boy! what a crepe hanger this guy Joe is. Out here in Tempe the sports "writers" are all wanting the local teams do well just for the press passes to the Super Bowl, Final 4, NBA finals, Rose Bowl etc which doesn't happen often, so they're all a bunch of self serving polly-annas but this blog out there is morbid. UTEP has a chance to go 10-2 but this blog is dripping blood and looking for a grave stone.

[RocketScientist]

UTEP has a really good shot at going 7-1... I really am disappointed that more UTEP fans won't go to this game. I've done the Albuquerque drive for years. 3 1/2 hours tops. I'd love to see University Stadium get over run by a bunch of rabid miner fans. We'd outnumber the slowbos in that stadium for sure...

[Fuga al De Infected]

Marshall? I just hope UTEP doesn't get exposed too bad.

[John Franco]

Tempe Paul, you need to look at the recent history of this team under Price to see why we expect the worst. Losing on the road to conference teams, atrocious record in November, a defense that couldn't slow down a high school team. Unless I see something different then the past 4 years, I ain't changing my tune( it doesn't count winning 3 games against pansies and 1 against a so so team). At least, Joe is trying to get that press pass to the New Mexico Bowl saying they will start 7-1!

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

John Franco, the recent history of UTEP football under Coach Price is the greatest run of wins in decades. I don't know if you've recently moved to El Paso or are kait too young to know. El Pasoans were used to winning 1 to 2 games a year. Mike Price has struggled here since going 8-4 his first 2 seasons. But the reasons that UTEP has had a losing football program for so long are far reaching. You are foolish to focus all your energy on firing Price.

[Stahala]

Nicely said Cleo.

Ay Joe...Marshall? And not once but twice? A mistake like that would cost me several points off a college paper, especially if I repeated the same mistake. Please, be careful. I really like this blog, and would not want it to be discredited with mistakes like that.

[John Franco]

I have lived here long enough to know Gary Nord won a WAC title and went to a bowl game, and that Price's only 2 winning seasons here were with players Gary Nord recruited. Also, I know JAT agrees with me that Nord got a bad rap in comparison to the chances Price has been given. Sorry, CLEO, can't generalize 40 years of futility without stating some well known facts.

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

Gary Nord is a good football coach. He won 8 games his first year as head coach at UTEP. And guess who he won with? Charlie Bailey's recruits. He proceeded to lose 30 games in the next 3 seasons. So you only served to validate my point. The problems at UTEP are a result of geographic isolation. Few D-1 recruiting prospects within the city of El Paso. One of the country's smallest athletic budgets. A history of losing which makes it hard to draw recruits. And "fans" like you who won't go to games. To call you shortsighted would be an understatement. Your dollars go to the athletic budget. With improved facilities, recruiting resources, assistant coaches pay, equipment... we would be well on our way to a better program. But you're so concerned about not lining Mike Price's pockets with your money, you fail to see the big picture. Once again, you show your brilliance.

[axe man]

How do u like your crow john franco? Eat some now.

[John Franco]

Well, I'm glad you and your sidekicks are so brilliant, CLEO. Since UTEP's athletic budget is so small, why in the world would you pay a coach over a million dollars per year for four years to have a losing record?!! Price has also lost over 30 games in his 4 losing seasons, Einstein! As everyone knows who sees your blogs week in and week out, you pretty much live in a fantasy world where Google is your only outlet! You like apples Axe Man? I just waxed your boy CLEO, HOW BOUT THEM APPLES!

[Stallion]

Franco, you're an idiot. You come up with some lame comments that completely are irevalent. Don't know your profession but maybe you should apply for the head coaching position at UTEP since you know all the answers (or think you do)!