Will Price retire after bowl game?

Since Mike Price and Bob Stull are not known for openness with the public/fans, I'm not sure if Price is really coming back as football coach, or not. He says he plans to return.

He's been here seven years, a lo.ooong time for a UTEP football coach. And unless he beats BYU Dec. 18 in the New Mexico Bowl he'll be on a skid of five losing seasons in a row. Nobody before him has ever survived that. And he talks about his grandkids a lot. And he's got picturesque properties on the West Coast and in Idaho. He's got money.

True, Price says he's not planning to retire, and Stull said that would be up to Price. UTEP''s money backers, which doesn't amount to a whole lot of money, seem to like Price. Stull says he's not planning to fire the coach. But when have either been up front? Never.They don't tell fibs, but they have mastered the fine art of weasel wording answers.

Recall when Stull was coach here, he knew nothing, he'd say, about speculation he was  leaving (for Stanford or Missouri). Not until right at the Independence Bowl trip to Shreveport, La., did he finally admit he'd agreed to be a Missouri Tiger. I'm not sure he officially announced it, or if somebody saw him wearing a Mizzou jacket and he had no choice. I've always said Stull won't admit today is Thursday until Friday. Only on Friday will he confirm yesterday was Thursday.

Price never goes public with team ongoings. Just one example: Fans were left to believe star running back Donald Buckram would be ready to play in Game 1 this year, then Game 2 ... He was always on a so-called "day-to-day" all the way through 12 games. He saw little action on what must have been a real bad knee. Probably opponent scouts knew more about Buckram's status than did the Miners' fans.

I like Price as UTEP's football coach. He's good in the community. He's one of the biggest winners, percentage wise, in the history of the school. His almost-.500 seasons sure beat the 1-win and 2-win seasons of so many of his UTEP ancestors  - going far back to the 1970s.

My only gut feeling now on this is (what do you think?):

If Price beats BYU (UTEP is a 12-point underdog), he'd have a good reason to retire. He'd be going out a winner (7-6) - because he is a winner as a man and a coach.

If he loses, well, THIS was supposed to be his big year. After Dec. 18 he's back in a building mode. He's got four untested quarterbacks for 2011. If he had a lot of confidence in one, as he did four years ago with Trevor Vittatoe, I don't think he'd keep mentioning the possibility of going after a JC quarterback, or even two.

Yes, I know that three supposed Vittatoe clones are no longer here, but that says something, too.

I just don't know why it's to Mike Price's benefit to stay in college coaching as he heads into his upper 60s and he's been National Coach of the Year - and he's got a great family ... and he's been one of those 365-days-a-year college coaches for 29 years now.

Recall 1993-99 coach Charlie Bailey didn't get the hook from UTEP, he got it from his wife.

If next year looked like a winner then I'd say Price would definitely be back, or plan to be back.

Now? You just can't make this call without it being just a guess.

Comments

[CLEOFITZWITZ]

There are no coaches who are completely upfront with the media. Price will retire after the bowl game on the 18th. Win or lose.

[bill]

Perhaps he should leave before the NM Bowl so he won't have a losing record his last season as the Miner football coach.

[Aristotle]

If I were Mike Price or Bob Stull, I wouldn't talk to you either, Joe.

[shesh]

I guess this means there's nothing else to talk about if we gotta start dragging out this will he/won't he stuff...

[elchucano98]

People need to shut up and support the program, win or lose because guess what?, Price is the best we'll do. We will not hire a better coach, who can recruit to El Paso, I don't know why it's so hard to recruit to UTEP but anyone who comes in and sees success, will leave UTEP for greener pastures, anybody. Money talks and everyone would leave UTEP for more money. It should be a good game, I hope we go out as winners...

[lee]

Why a column on a coaching change right before a bowl game. I'll tell you why, a "closet" UTEP haters' attempt to distract team players and insure a UTEP loss.This Joe is a real unbiased reporter, isn't he?

[Christopher Wilkins]

It doesn't matter whether he retires or stays, or whether the Miners beat BYU or not. We're looking at another losing season next year, perhaps 4-8 or even 3-9 or worse, unless hell freezes over. Who would want to come back and deal with that? Constant 2 and 3 star recruits aren't going to cut it. We all just need to face the reality that UTEP is a basketball school and will remain as such.

[jUTEP]

Traditionally a dog of a bowl, the New Mexico Bowl gets a UTEP team that lost five of its last six games, has no offensive consistency, and little defensive line.(Fox Sports)

For their last game as members of the Mountain West, the Cougars travel to ... a Mountain West stadium they played in earlier this year. They miss Las Vegas already.(Sports Illustrated)

Let’s be honest- this matchup falls under the “someone has to play in these bowls” category. Neither of these programs played well enough to warrant a post-season appearance, yet the inaugural bowl of 2010 saw fit to host them anyway.(Opposing Views)

Not even being the first bowl of the season saves this one.(Rivals)

I've got pages of these; I can go on!

FIRE PRICE NOW!!!

[Andy Springer]

If M.P. has the talent coming back that he thinks he does he will stay. Even with Megar, Smith and Hall, why not go after a J.C. QB. He is trying to get better. You are always looking for better than what you have on hand. Coaches go after need, but they also go after better. I agree quit speculating before a Bowl Game and support the program.

[Brad]

Joe forgets that four years ago no one had much confidence in Vittatoe (including himself). So whether the Miners would be worse than this year is a toss up. They have depth at running back, the defense has played better than before and a couple of receivers look promising. Sometimes all it takes is a couple of chips falling the right way. By the way Lee, Joe is not a "closet" UTEP hater, he is quite open about his contempt for the school and its athletics program. He is an NMSU graduate, he is always promoting his school while putting down the Miners. Even when he says something nice about UTEP, it is always a back handed compliment. The EPT keeps him at his post because he is an a-hole and he baits people. Only in El Paso would the local rag hire a partisan of the enemy school to cover our local university. We are stuck with him until he retires or he gets the long awaited heart attack he has been working upon his 300lbs + frame these long years.

[JAT]

Not sure if Price will retire after the bowl or not. I do know that the rest of the Conference stays the same or gets better next year (look it up). We get a little worse on offense by losing an all-time QB (Vittatoe) and WR (Adams). That does not bode well.

Yes, Joe is a little much at times but at least he's consistent. He's been this way since he was in print. But when Joe retires who will voice the obvious flaws and mistakes of UTEP and our coaches? Bloomquist? Knight? Hardly. Every team college or pro has a columnist that "keeps it real" and Joe is the closest one to that. UTEP records over the years provide plenty of ammunition so someone has to say it.

Football talk: This Bowl game will be tough as BYU will likely just line it up and try to run it down our throats. UTEP does well against true spread pass happy offenses like Tech, Tulsa and SMU because they are like UTEP. BYU is not the spread passing team it used to be which is bad for us. They are big and slow as usual but did I mention they are BIG? More football talk next week ladies...

[James]

Hey Joe, didn't know you were an Aggie! I'm reeeeal Soooory!It explains everything! I'll tell you what, tell your athletic director that the MINERS would consider bringing in the entire coaching staff of the (formidable) Aggies (couldn't help myself!) and enroll them in Mike Prices Football camp for kids! Couldn't hurt considering the season they had. If coach were to retire! On our worst day,we would attract a better coach than the last 2 at NMSU! It's a given that some time in the near future we will have a replacement for coach. However, until we cross that bridge,skin those cougars coach! Get your ORANGE ON folks! No Fair Weather Fans Needed! GO MINERS! P.S. Joe can't you find work in Cruces writing for the vuanted Aggies?

[Dragen]

Brad,

The only people talking about the Aggies is you and James. Can't remember the last time Joe mentioned the Aggies except when they were playing UTEP. If YOU want to talk Aggies, an Aggie forum is a much better place.

My pick for the NM Bowl, being a realist, is the Cougars. Figure BYU 37 and UTEP 21. And I graduated from UTEP, not NMSU.

As far as Coach Price, he does well with what he has. Underfunded athletic program and traditionally terrible football combined with the city of El Paso/UTEP being in a far off wasteland as far as recruits are concerned, doesn't do much for recruiting. UTEP is much better than it used to be. Remember when UTEP was always in the ESPN Bottom 10 not too long ago? UTEP now just makes it there every once in a while.

So, yes, the Miners are perennially. They still are, just not as bad.

[James]

Ok Dragen, if your a true MINER than start acting like one! If you think for a minute that the (formidable)Aggies would not be twisting the knife after sweeping us,your a bit wet! C'mon Dragen, get your ORANGE ON! Enjoy the success our program had this year dumping the Aggies! Support your University Athletics,they (MINERS) work hard to win for us so show your appreciation! Quit defending the (formidable Aggies)what have they ever done for you? No Fair Weather Fans Needed! GO MINERS!

[Amigo Man]

It is rather amazing that Mike stayed around as long as he did. Those UTEP boosters of old (and fading) who befriended him and showed him the benefits of sticking around and how he could make money here, goes to show what should be done and should have be done with our basketball coaches. Why do you think that Haskins stayed? He stayed because we befriended him and made him a big fish in a small pond who could do as he wanted and did. That is what will need to be done with out coaches of the future. If we expect coaches to invest in UTEP, then we need to INVEST in them. If we expect to have winning programs and compete with big time schools, then we need to pitch in and pony up some money so that we can attract big name coaches and student athletes. If Price retires then we should maybe go after Mike Leach and let him do as he pleases here as he did at Tech. Should be no harder to recruit to El Paso than it is to Lubbock.

[Dragen]

You know, James, I could care less about the Aggies. But I'm enough of a fan to know that when they play us without their starting power forward, the one that has led their conference in rebounding the last two years, and their starting center...only to have both replaced with a couple freshman, then beating them doesn't have quite the impact on me.

If you want to continue to live with the "signature" victories over the Aggies, fine. I'm more interested in gloating over victories over Tech and some truly tough teams than hanging my hat on some team that has lose five games in a row.

But that is just me.

[James]

Dragen, sounds like you care more about the (formidable) Aggies then you are letting on! Those were some impressive reasons for the MINERS sweep. Yea, baby I am gloating over thier(MINERS) sweeping of the formidable(not my words;Did Joe M.know they were missing these 2 great players?) Aggies! As far as Tech is concerned, I didn't realize they were that good! Jr. is going to call Dad to help with the game plan, I guarantee you! Tim Floyd is no Tony Barbee,but the disciple of Don Haskins! The same coach who handed Dad (Bob Knight)his a...(10 gallon hat) in El Paso.So Dragen(closet Aggie)get with the program! Enjoy the beating of our arch rival(formidable Aggies),its ok, really its OK!When the shoe is on the other foot they won't be extending us any breaks! Get your ORANGE ON! No Fair Weather Fans Needed! GO MINERS! P.S. Dragen, did Joe Muench know that the mighty Aggies had lost 5 in a row,before his remark " the Formidable Aggies come to the Haskins Center"?

[tio Tomas]

Regardless of Joes' retarded opinion, Price is old, tired and not really up for the fight, just the paycheck. Price start collecting your social security check, Stull can do the same. Both are as useless as teats on a bull.

[jUTEP]

Traditionally a dog of a bowl, the New Mexico Bowl gets a UTEP team that lost five of its last six games, has no offensive consistency, and little defensive line.(Fox Sports)

For their last game as members of the Mountain West, the Cougars travel to ... a Mountain West stadium they played in earlier this year. They miss Las Vegas already.(Sports Illustrated)

Let’s be honest- this matchup falls under the “someone has to play in these bowls” category. Neither of these programs played well enough to warrant a post-season appearance, yet the inaugural bowl of 2010 saw fit to host them anyway.(Opposing Views)

Not even being the first bowl of the season saves this one.(Rivals)

I've got pages of these; I can go on!

FIRE PRICE NOW!!!