Just Don't Want To Allow My Diminished Expectations Not To Be On the Record

[kyyote]

I admit from the start that I am mad as Hell about where UTEP Athletics stands and the direction it is heading.

Even before Price, UTEP was known as a basketball school with world class track and field.  Yes, football was and still is king, but being in the top teams of the country year in and year out in basketball was something! 

Price was like a sack of gold that fell out of the sky for us-and we let it be squandered away.  We had a chance at a chance for football relevance.  The filled Sun Bowl spilling out in all directions brought fun and money.  Magical amounts of money was moving around.  We had seen what a big name coach could do and instead Stull gave our future to an unknown, untested, untried  buddy of his.  And then, given a second chance to land a real name coach-he grabbed a retread off of the Discount Tire used tire rack.  Since 2004, ask yourself what UTEP ATHLETICS has done to keep up or fall like an rock from a cliff.  In basketball, we now are a scrappy lot at the Christian School level.  We go head to toe with the Oklahoma School of Arts and Sciences.  Seriously, go fucking look at what a UTEP basketball can get you at the Don!  A battle with the Permian Basin Christian Roughnecks School.  Should be a rock fight.

And now we are bring the excitement of Austin Peay to the Sun Bowl.  That should fill the transfer Portal with Blue Chippers.  Best case senario-he wins some games and leaves.  We get used as a stepping stone.  No return.  Try again.  Or we could elevate UTEP football to the heights of Austin Peay football.

Go UTEP Go Pee!

[Minermojo]

I've seen videos of Peays football games and I have to admit, they are much more exciting than the games at Utep. It's a fortunate thing that the RB from Peay will transfer to Utep as we need a running back badly. Much more than that we need a QB who can keep the defense guessing with his running or throwing. I've seen many second string QBs playing while their starter is recuperating from injuries and there are a lot of them. One to mention is the third stringer from Enemas U. He came in when Pavia got hurt and he did a fine job even with the few snaps that he took in real games. The other is the sub for Western Kenturkey but I heard that he was staying. Too bad for us and great news to them. There's good things in the Portal setup but there's also bad ones. Like here at Utep I've heard of some players putting their name out there for others to grab them.

I can't wait until fall for another year of Utep football and I hope that we can do better than this past year. That's all we can do is HOPE.

[MinerInWisconsin]

I?m looking forward to the Walden era. For a young, energetic, ambitious coach to take this job means he has tons of confidence that he can create a winning program. And yes, when he accomplishes that, not only will the Sun Bowl fill up but better players will buy what he?s selling. I expect him to succeed and then move on for a power school job. That?s fine with me. All non power schools are in the same boat. Good programs at Cincy, Fresno St, Boise St have gone through it. The last time UTEP replaced a football coach due to success was Bob Stull when he left for Missouri.

Go Miners!

[kyyote]

I hope for the best, of course.  I just have questions.  Walden had just signed an extension after his first year.  Did we have to pay a buy-out? 
His replacement has been given a four year contract worth about 1.4 million over 4 years, whicj would indicate about 350 k a year.

Senter told us that Walden will make about what Dimel did in his last year.  Around 850,000 dollars a year.  Is this a great deal?  The best we could get for our Nearly a million a year?  I assume Walden was good with what he was making and an extension.  But, Senter figured he was worth more than double what he was cool with. 

Like I said, I hope for the best but we went to the Dollar Store and Senter found us a deal  I get a deju vu feeling all over again like the gold we found in Abilene.  The march to a lower division continues.

[SisyphusMiner]

Has anyone here been following recruiting closely enough to have an opinion on what Walden is bringing in and retaining?  Granted the first year is a bit of a challenge.

[kyyote]

"New UTEP football coach Scotty Walden announced 23 new Miners on National Signing Day in the first of two signing periods for college football players.

The second signing period is in February.

The new 2024 class announced on Wednesday, Dec. 20, features eight transfers from Walden?s previous program Austin Peay, while the Miners signed nine student-athletes out of high school. In total, the program will see a total of 14 transfer student-athletes.

Of the 23 new Miners, 18 will be mid-year transfers and will start practicing during spring ball.

The mid-year student-athletes include: DB Kory Chapman, TE Martavious Collins, LB Tray Dunson, WR Trey Goodman, OL Isaac Hawkins, P Adam Jacklin, QB Skylar Locklear, LB Trace Meadows, WR Ashton Nickelberry, WR Kenny Odom, QB JP Pickles, DB Michael Ray, OL Jake Riggs, OL Brennan Smith, WR Jaden Smith, RB Marquez Taylor, WR/Miner Back Kam Thomas and OL Isaiah Wright. CB Justin Content, RB Ashten Emory, CB Kam Herring, TE Josh Schuchts.

Shay Smith, a quarterback, will come onto campus in the fall 2024. Smith, an El Paso product, played at Franklin High School. He is the son of Paul Smith, who was a running back at UTEP in the late 90s and who played in the NFL.

Walden and his staff signed 16 offensive players (three quarterbacks, two running backs, five wide receivers, four offensive linemen, two tight ends), six defensive players (two cornerbacks, two safeties and two linebackers) and one on special teams player (punter)."


I think I read that he is bringing something like 8 players from Austin-Peay, so we should be good enough to give the Governors a tussle.

[MinerInWisconsin]

23 in the early signing period and at least 10 since then. A few more  to sign on Feb 7. Must be a large exodus to be able to bring in that many new players. Seems to be mostly 3 stars but of course proof is to be seen in the Fall. All the new coaches have been beating the bushes all over Texas especially.

[MinerInWisconsin]

The new football staff is also making offers for 2025, 2026, and even some 2027 kids. Forgot to include that in the previous post.

Also they are inviting quite a few high school players for UTEP?s junior day on Feb 4th.

Love the energy and recruiting activity but as always, the product on the field will tell us if the effort has paid off or not.