Author Topic: UTEP ATHLETICS STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-18  (Read 3311 times)

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kyyote

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UTEP ATHLETICS STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-18
« on: July 18, 2017, 02:42:07 PM »
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  • There is enough in here to keep us occupied all summer.  Just for starters is in red.  Anyone heard anything about this after 4 years?  Then there is the stuff in green.  I would love to see those, now wouldn't you? The one in maroon seems to have neglected to contact Demps. Maybe hit him up for some rings, huh?


    GOAL 1
    Consistently place all teams in the upper echelon of C-USA, competing for C-USA championships and earning national recognition through advancement to bowl games and postseason play.

    STRATEGIES
     
    A. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT - CONSISTENTLY EVALUATE AND WORK TO IMPROVE SPORTS PROGRAMS • Schedule according to status of the program to achieve winning records  while maximizing postseason opportunities • Evaluate conference affiliation and expansion Utilize exit interviews from student-athletes and coaches to evaluate programs • Utilize student-athlete yearly program review to identify program strengths  and weaknesses • Host C-USA championship events, beginning with men’s and women’s basketball  in 2014
    B. PERSONNEL • Hire motivated, enthusiastic and ethical coaches and staff • Invest in coaching and staff talent • Provide for personal growth and career development

    C. FACILITIES • Renovation of Sun Bowl (press box, concourse, locker rooms) • New video boards/sound system in Sun Bowl • New video boards/sound system in Don Haskins Center • Additional weight equipment for Larry K. Durham Center • Audio/visual system upgrade and computer replacement in  Larry K. Durham Center weight room • New flooring in Larry K. Durham Center • New carpet in Larry K. Durham Center • Volleyball standards and pads/official stands and pads upgrades in  Memorial Gym • New volleyball floor at Memorial Gym • Addition of new batting cage at Helen of Troy Softball Complex • Improve laundry facilities at Helen of Troy Softball Complex • Enhance field lighting at Helen of Troy Softball Complex
    • Enhance Hall of Champions at Foster Stevens Basketball Center • New pole vault pit at Kidd Field • New bleachers at Kidd Field • Upgrade sound system at Kidd Field • Computer upgrades at Life Skills office • Install tile in Hydro room at Durham Center training room • Hall of Champions renovation at Durham Center • Renovations performed to track and field offices • University Field bleachers, locker rooms and restroom upgrades • New University Field press box with internet access • Continued evaluation/maintenance of University Field playing surface • New men’s and women’s golf practice facility • New on-campus tennis facility • Refurbish Miner Vision video production truck • Introduce permanent ticket center at Sun Bowl Stadium


    kyyote

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    Re: UTEP ATHLETICS STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-18
    « Reply #1 on: July 18, 2017, 02:42:30 PM »
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  • Part 2

    GOAL 2
    Establish excellence in all areas of external relations to maximize the event experience and to build, sustain and inform our fan base. STRATEGIES
     
    A. DEVELOPMENT - INCREASE ANNUALLY THE CHARITABLE GIVING TO UTEP ATHLETICS TO ALLOW FOR A STABILIZED BUDGET, FULLY-FUNDED INITIATIVES AND PROVIDE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO ALLOW STUDENT-ATHLETES TO COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL • Develop comprehensive capital campaign for Sun Bowl stadium renovation  (press box, club seating, luxury suites, concourse, restrooms etc.) • Increase annual giving and Circle of Champions membership • Increase membership to the Miner Athletic Club through the sale of donor  season tickets • Make annual event (Orange Fever Fiesta) the premier fundraiser with  a goal of raising $500,000 • Express gratitude to donors through annual student-athlete “thank-a-thon” • Add and restructure development personnel (associate athletic director,  assistant athletic director, event coordinator, graduate assistants and  student workers) • Enhance and formalize the Miner Varsity Club for former student-athletes,  creating gathering locations for game day activities • Establish an Advisory Board of former Miners that meets three times a year  to discuss ways to enhance and grow the involvement of former student-athletes • Establish funding through former Miners to present graduating student-athletes  with a letterman’s ring

    B. MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS - ENHANCE THE EXPOSURE OF THE UTEP MINER BRAND LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF ALL 16 ATHLETIC TEAMS • Strengthen resources needed to fully implement daily marketing functions  through additional staffing structure (Director of Marketing, Assistant Director,  three graduate assistants, three student assistants, fifth-year postgraduate  student-athletes) • Increase campus involvement through Miner Maniacs membership  (1,500 goal), incorporate student-athletes into campus life, increase faculty  and staff participation and attendance, and attend university initiatives  (i.e. new student orientation) and university celebrations and events • Target large groups (school districts, Boy/Girl Scouts, youth teams) to increase  ticket sales • Amplify fan and athlete interaction via autograph sessions, promotional  distribution and themed activities • Collaborate with Fort Bliss Public Affairs office, BOSS program and MRW to  enhance marketing efforts to all military personnel • Increase school and youth involvement through initiatives such as Team Days,  Miner Kids Club, youth clinics and school visits • Preserve quality media partnerships through placing coaches, players,  cheerleaders and Paydirt Pete on live radio and TV shows • Interact with fans through current social media trends, updates and contests • Generate creative radio, television and print advertising to inform the general  public of athletic sponsored events • Secure national attention through participation in collegiate initiatives  such as National Mascot Challenges, College Game Day and National Cheer  competition

    • Continue theme days and giveaways to capture additional fan attendance and  improve game day atmosphere • Maintain a fully updated website for easily accessible schedules and  event information • Efficiently manage channels of communication such as Netitor, mailouts, etc. • Intensify student elements incorporated into game day events such as  marching band, pep band, cheer and Golddiggers • Pioneer interactive promotional ideas for potential sponsorship opportunities • Introduce alternative mediums to promote sponsorships such as social media,  advertising, events and student organizations C. TICKET SALES - PROVIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT EXCEEDS THE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR FANS AND DONORS WHILE IMPLEMENTING PRICING POLICIES TO MAXIMIZE REVENUE FOR THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT • Coordinate with IMG to maximize season and group sales for football  and men’s basketball • Redesign the ticket office customer service area to foster the best environment  for our walk-in customers; evaluate the feasibility of adding ticket windows • Increase offerings of online ticketing options to our fans through department  promotional resources • Produce a sales training manual for all individuals working in the ticket office  to include renewal timelines, policies and procedures • Cross-train full time staff on steps and procedures to allow for backup when  an unexpected absence occurs • Hire additional full-time staff to manage growth of season ticket base • Provide customer service that exceeds expectations of donors and fans; ensure  ticket office inquiries are responded to in a timely manner D. MEDIA RELATIONS - COMMUNICATE THE ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC SUCCESSES OF UTEP STUDENT-ATHLETES THROUGH UTEPATHLETICS.COM, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS • Increase staffing - add full-time social media coordinator, full-time  photographer with in-house studio, and full-time sports reporter.   Sports reporter will deliver daily practice reports and features in both  electronic and print media format on utepathletics.com and social media  channels • Continue to increase social media presence and bolster fan interaction with  student-athletes and coaches • Translate all press releases into Spanish in efforts to connect with Latino  fan base • Update Miner Strong website, produce new video content • Create Athletics Centennial website, to be launched in the summer of 2014 • Continue digitization of all file photos • Expand historical sections for individual sports on utepathletics.com to include  archived biographical information, photos and statistics • Implement media services website where television, radio and newspaper  personnel can obtain practice times, request interviews, download photos and  sign up for credentials, among other functions • Work with video production department to produce more feature stories  and practice reports for utepathletics.com and social media channels • Work with communications school to develop short video segments on  UTEP student-athletes and coaches that can air on Miner Sports Weekly show  and be published on utepathletics.com and social media channels • Assist in design process for new Sun Bowl press box • Integrate new live scoring software for media in Sun Bowl press box and  courtside at the Don Haskins Center, replacing outdated stat monitors
    • Purchase new computers and labtops for all staff members • Purchase SLR Digital camera for staff photographer • Create network server for easy file sharing with all UTEP athletics staff E. VIDEO PRODUCTION AND GRAPHIC DESIGN - ESTABLISH A VIDEO AND GRAPHIC DEPARTMENT CAPABLE OF PRODUCING FIRST-CLASS SCHEDULE POSTERS, SCHEDULE CARDS, BILLBOARDS, PRINT AND DIGITAL ADVERTISING, COMMERCIALS, AND HIGHLIGHT PACKAGES FOR THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT • Increase staffing - hire full-time director and assistant director with a minimum  of three student workers annually  • Eliminate outsourcing and produce all video and graphic design content  in-house • Work with communications school on campus to solicit additional student help. These students can be utilized to shoot home athletic events that are streamed  on utepathletics.com and also assist in Miner Vision production for football  and basketball games • Install all-new HD equipment in Miner Vision video production truck • Work with campus to install HD video boards in the Sun Bowl and Don Haskins  Center • Create Miner Vision studio • Archive football & men’s and women’s basketball games on utepathletics.com • Upload one-minute highlight reels to utepathletics.com at conclusion of every  football and basketball home game • Produce more in-depth video content to upload to utepathletics.com and social  media channels • Update and renovate Miner Strong website
    F. IMG MEDIA RIGHTS - IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN UTEP ATHLETICS AND IMG TO MAXIMIZE REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES FROM THIS PARTNERSHIP • Include head coaches and the Director of Athletics during sales presentations  and closings • Create crossover partnerships that support IMG media rights, fundraising,  ticket sales and marketing initiatives • Facilitate upgrades to video board and scoring systems at the Sun Bowl and  the Don Haskins Center to help IMG maximize sponsorship revenue to enhance  the fan experience • Work with main campus during university corporate contract negotiations to  increase dollars allocated through sponsorship to IMG and Athletics G. RADIO & TELEVISION - INCREASE EXPOSURE AND PENETRATION OF FOOTBALL, MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL • Explore means of televising more football and men’s basketball road games  in the El Paso market • Hire a professional radio play-by-play announcer for women’s basketball • Pursue a radio home for all women’s basketball games (home and away) • Explore opportunities to carry all football and men’s basketball  Spanish radio broadcasts on the FM dial
    ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE GOAL 1
    Graduate student-athletes at a higher rate than the overall student body and be recognized for academic excellence within the university, the conference and nationally STRATEGIES
     
    A. ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE RATE (APR) / FEDERAL GRADUATION RATE / GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE (GSR) - STEADILY INCREASE GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE AND IMPROVE APR SCORES TO EXCEED NCAA MINIMUM • Recruit academically prepared student-athletes with desire to graduate • Work directly with the MAAC to identify and address issues or concerns that  could impact individual teams APR and ensure broad base participation  in sustained APR improvement • Emphasize to each coach their individual responsibility for student-athletes’ academic success
    B. ENHANCE FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENT TO PROMOTE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE • Establish minimum academic standards with coaches for student-athlete  recruitment
    • Implement policies with coaches to ensure student-athlete attendance at  academic appointments and obligations including tutoring, mentoring, advising • Expansion of progress report program to increase percentage of return from  faculty through GradesFirst • Establish computer replacement program • Examine feasibility of iPad distribution for student-athletes • Establish MAAC website to better serve all student-athletes GOAL 2
    Enhance relationships with faculty, the MAAC, and academic units on campus STRATEGIES
     
    A. MINER ATHLETE ACADEMIC CENTER - ENHANCE COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION • Coaches collaborate with the MAAC to identify academically underprepared  student-athletes during recruiting process to manage admission profiles  and determine resources necessary for success • Increase communication regarding academic progress through regularly  scheduled meetings • Include MAAC staff in recognition of academic success of student-athletes
    B. FACULTY - BUILDING TRUST AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH UTEP FACULTY AND STAFF • Establish plan with Intercollegiate Athletics Committee to improve  communication between athletics and faculty and staff
    • Increase communication with Faculty Athletics Rep regarding life skills,  athletic and academic awards, student-athlete concerns, etc. • Promote academic success of student-athletes among faculty on campus • Enhance faculty coach program; create faculty participation opportunities  through pre-game special events (i.e. faculty free throw contest)
    GOAL 3
    Reward and celebrate academic excellence of student-athletes STRATEGIES
     
    A. INTERNAL CELEBRATION AND RECOGNITION • Implement new program
    STUDENT-ATHLETE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT GOAL 1
    Provide opportunities in areas of personal growth through programming and interaction STRATEGIES
     
    A. HEALTH AND SAFETY - PROVIDE SUPERIOR MEDICAL COVERAGE AND TREATMENT FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES • Schedule speakers addressing personal health issues and well being (i.e.  eating disorders, drugs and alcohol, sexual health and responsibility) • Provide educational programming addressing domestic violence,  sexual harassment and hazing • Create policies and procedures to reduce the cost of non-injury related expenses • Provide education to ensure emergency action plans (i.e. Miner Alert)  are followed by coaches and training staff • Ensure concussion plan and protocol are properly followed • Add one full-time member to training staffs to recognize student-athlete academic success  (i.e. student-athlete breakfast, GPA recognition clubs 3.0/4.0) • Expand recognition of student-athlete academic success at athletic events • Continue recognizing student-athlete academic success at Dinner with the  Miners banquet
    B. MEDIA RECOGNITION OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS - KEEPING MEDIA OUTLETS INFORMED AND MOTIVATED TO RECOGNIZE ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF STUDENT-ATHLETES • Promote student-athlete academic success locally and nationally through  media relations • Continue to publicize academic accomplishments of student-athletes  and athletic teams
    B. CAREER DEVELOPMENT - PROVIDE CONTINUED PERSONAL GROWTH AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES AFTER GRADUATION • Further develop resume writing workshops • Further develop “career day” concept to expose our student-athletes to potential  employers and future employers to our quality student-athlete graduates • Develop peer advising program • Implement graduate school preparation workshops for all student-athletes C. SOCIAL ENHANCEMENT/ADJUSTMENT • Provide student-athlete social opportunities to interact • Counseling for at-risk or special needs student-athletes • Social media training • Utilize SAAC to advise problems/opportunities for interaction and growth • Execute a minimum of 3,000 hours of community service from coaches  and student-athletes • Encourage student-athlete participation in SGA and other on-campus  organizations • Expand and support the Athletes Supporting Athletes (ASA) program for all  athletics home events • Create a support program for international student-athletes tranistioning  to UTEP
    GOAL 1
    To maintain a quality athletic department based on the commitment to integrity in all areas STRATEGIES
     
    A. NCAA, OCR, UNIVERSITY RULES AND REGULATIONS - CONTINUE EMPHASIS TO ENSURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW THE RULES • Update our compliance risk assessment document • Implement the head coaching control policy • Continue to emphasize rules education and compliance from the top down • Maintain and adjust to ongoing NCAA rules changes • Develop comprehensive compliance calendar • Examine an “elite student-athlete” policy • Develop a more comprehensive education plan for boosters, donors,  parents and the university community including, but not limited to,  hotels and restaurants • Enhance compliance website
    PROGRAM INTEGRITY B. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY • Work with VP of university finance and staff to coordinate efforts in the  budgeting process • Consider construction of budgets based on “zero base” concept • Develop manual to demonstrate team travel cost savings opportunities  and strategies • Examine a plan to initiate student athletic fee • Update financial risk assessment
    • Operate Department of Athletics in a fiscally sound manner while minimizing  expenditures • Work with Vice President of Business Affairs together with other key university  staff members to coordinate the budget development process • Implement PeopleSoft software through education and training of department  personnel • Stabilize Athletic Business Office by fully staffing all positions • Maintain current online Athletic Department Policy Manual together with  training to provide operating policies to all department personnel • Provide coaches and staff travel research data and information to minimize  team and recruiting travel costs • Focus on improving fiscal controls for travel, service awards, equipment,  cell phones and M&O accounts • Improve internal control and risk management through in-house and campus  training programs, including emphasis to coaches and staff through the annual  employee performance review
    C. GENDER EQUITY - DEVELOP PROCEDURES TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS AND OBJECTIVES OF GENDER EQUITY • Evaluate the Title IX university survey to determine possibility of additional  women’s programs • Continue to examine sports programming for women in El Paso and impact  of program expansion, including the Universities club and recreation programs • Examine gender equity plan, status and strategies to comply with OCR • Examine roster management strategies • Provide educational opportunities for department staff members to enhance  their knowledge and sensitivity to the importance of diversity and gender  equity
    D. MINORITY ISSUES - ESTABLISH A ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT MINORITY PLAN THAT COMPLIES WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF MINORITY ISSUES • Make a strong effort to recruit diverse pools of applicants for athletic job  opportunities • Actively recruit minority student-athletes, coaches and staff • Provide educational opportunities for coaches, staff and student-athletes on  key minority issues • Examine feedback from minority student-athletes’ exit interviews • Provide professional development opportunities for all staff members  to strengthen performance and leadership skills with special focus on the  development of women and minorities in leadership positions

    Chanson

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    Re: UTEP ATHLETICS STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-18
    « Reply #2 on: July 18, 2017, 04:00:19 PM »
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  • Damn, KY.

    I hope you cut and pasted a lot of that. Lots of material.

    I didn't see anything about online opportunities. UTEP has UTEP Connect which is a dummied down version of University of Phoenix. All departments need to be on board with that in order for it to work. Currently a good handful of departments are not on board, because of old school mentality. I know 1st hand that old mentality of thinking is being pushed out or just left. Once that political piece is in place, that is a HUGE cash cow and has already proven to be. Look out for this in 5yrs.

    Also, the football program is not being pushed. El Paso is a football town (Cowboys). Look at the Oregon Ducks. Eugene Oregon has a population of about 170k, but look at what the school has become.
    Hell, El Paso is bigger in population than Portland Oregon, yet UTEP can't find a way to get the football program rolling. This is also a proven cash cow amongst a vast sea of schools.

    The solution is easy. Look at what they do. Translate it to our culture and demographic. Enjoy the benefits. No re-inventing the wheel is needed. It a "monkey see monkey do" approach.

    But NOOoooo. The Matriarch and the Politics won't allow the school to change with the times.

     
      "He who has nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature & has no chance of being free unless kept so by better men than himself.

    kyyote

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    Re: UTEP ATHLETICS STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-18
    « Reply #3 on: July 18, 2017, 05:42:46 PM »
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  • I looked this up because I wanted to see if there is any real commitment to the Athletic Department.  Look, I have watched for 35 years.  In that 35 years, the Athletic Department and UTEP scored twice.  They got Stull as an assistant promoted to a HC position.  He immediately left.  A flash in the pan.  Then, we stumbled into Mike Price.  Had he not done what he had done, we would have been down to just one.  Buildings are going up all over UTEP so fast we4 can't keep track of which ones are which.  I understand that funding comes from different accounts.  But come on, after 35 years, you have to say that UTEP doesn't give a skinny rat's ass about the football program.  It's El Paso. Do you think for one minute that as driven as Dr. Natalicio is that she cares?  I have met her and had a number of occasions over the years to sit with her and talk.  I think she is a great educator who has done something that has become the model for others to follow.  But, damnit she has seen the same shitty football for 35 years as we have, and this year is just like the last 30 shitty seasons.  That's why I just chuckle at this happy horseshit plan.  We had to do the same shit at our campuses when I taught.  This plan shows that the plan is to spend God knows how many millions to build luxury boxes for WHAT?  So donors can watch the team continue its historic mission of sucking?  Lord Almighty don't go out and hire a known coach that might be able to get players to come here to play!  No, have the Gold diggers make more appearances. I look at the schedule and Kugler's likely win/loss record after he's been here and what he is expected to do this year and it is just the same old shit.  The current strategy is to catch that shooting star that comes along every 40-50 years or so and pray for a fall from grace every once in a while. 

    Now, Stull and Nat are getting old, so the question becomes is there any change in the future.  My guess would be not no, but FUCK NO!


    UTEPDefense

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    Re: UTEP ATHLETICS STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-18
    « Reply #4 on: July 18, 2017, 10:23:42 PM »
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  • At the time that we were constantly losing our basketball coaches to "bigger" jobs(BG, Sadler, and Barbee), I wondered why UTEP didn't look into capitalizing on that differently.  If our mid-major placement is going to always make us a Coaching "Farm System" where we take these young Assistant Coaches and give them their first Head Coaching jobs.  Then they leave us for bigger schools and money as soon as they become succesful and win.  Then if that is going to be our place for the time being, then why not make that our business?  Why not turn a negative into a positive.  Why not create a contract structure where we are making so much consistent buy-out money that we almost hope that Coaches will get hired away.  There are quality young Coaches who will always want our D1 job, especially as more and more Coaches get big pay days from big schools after coaching here.  So if we are going to suffer a little with their natural growing pains as a first time head coach, then let's start getting paid for our development of them.  Instead of a simple $100,000 buyout like we are doing now, why not do something like a 5 year buy-out, where the other school has to pay us $250,000/year for 5 years.  Or place into a coaches contract that if they leave to another school, then we also recieve 2 home games from that school within a 5 year period or a million dollar payment per game if they wish to buy-out of the 2 home games.  Basically fill every new Coaches contract with creative buy-out benefits that will benefit UTEP for a period of time and help us turn the tide as a mid-major.  Force that TV money that the big conferences recieve to filter down to us.  Then hopefully the next Coach gets hired away before the first Coach's buy-out benefits expire and we will always recieve yearly benefits.  In the case of BG and Doc, using the 5 year scenario, we could have had 4 years of double-dipping recieving payments from both Texas A&M and Nebraska since they were hired away in back-to-back years. 

    I guess instead of just sitting back and simply saying this is our role as a mid-major, let's instead find ways to capitalize on what we do have.  If we have the benefit of being a Coaching Farm System for young first time coaches, then let's get the most out of that role.
    « Last Edit: July 18, 2017, 10:30:13 PM by UTEPDefense »

    kyyote

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    Re: UTEP ATHLETICS STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-18
    « Reply #5 on: July 19, 2017, 07:30:04 AM »
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  • Maybe that is an idea that could be part of the strategy.  But, I don't believe winning has anything to do with UTEP.  It is considered entertainment and like Disney on Ice.  It's something to do.  There is absolutely no concern about winning. UTEP "A Commitment to Shitty, But We Make It Family Fun!"  Maybe UTEP should just go full on Clown family fun.  Come out in clown uniforms.  Just embrace the fact that winning isn't everything, as a matter of fact we don't even know what winning is like.  We just show up and have some fun.  I'm just so disgusted with our acceptance of three win seasons year after year.  Like I said, We have won twice in 35 years and one of those was an accident or it would have been once.  Kugler is looking at a two or three win season before it begins.  Again.  But we need luxury boxes!!  WHAT THE FUCK!  Maybe that's the problem.  Maybe the donors with all the money don't give a shit about winning as long as they can watch the clown act in comfort!  Ask the 25 thousand die hard fans if they want new luxury boxes or a winning fucking team!  Ohh...new luxury boxes!   Ohhh... that woukld be soooo cool!  My ass!  The 25 thousand don't mean a fucking thing.  Winning means nothing!  Millions for the donors to have a nice seat to watch the weekly slaughter.  Maybe it is a cultural thing like bull fighting.  We are the bull each week.

    I hate being the Debbie Downer about the school I love, but the administration has chosen a path, the path of a commuter school.  There has been no attempt to build and foster an atmosphere of a University.  When you run the school like a place to take classes for a few hours in you day instead of the special place of reverence for the traditions, history, and where people go to make the giant step forward in there lives, where the respect for the institution is special you end up with a place where the people look at it as nothing.  You just have to go there to take classes.  People don't go to college at UTEP.  They take classes.

    The thing that is so insane is that UTEP degrees change people's lives in a much bigger way that most other places.  The rich white kids maintain their lives with their degrees at other universities, but UTEP degrees change lives dramatically!  But, because the graduates took classes at UTEP instead of went to UTEP there is much less connection to the school.  Stop and think how many of the 800,000 residents of El Paso are graduates of UTEP and yet there are only 25 thousand fans and two thirds of them are family members.  So, the only university in a city of nearly a million can only muster maybe a few thousand for a game. Then add to that the fact that they almost always lose.  All of those children raised to know that their university just sucks it every Saturday swing by after high school to take the classes they need. It's not like they have a choice.  Well, there's nmsu.  At least they act like a university.  They suck just as bad, but at least they can say they went to college instead of they took classes at.

    Fuck!  How many more weeks until the circus comes to town.  The OU show should be a slaughter everyone will want to see!  Take the kids for that one.  The kid zone should have a gallows.  Fun, fun, fun! 

    EMA884

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    Re: UTEP ATHLETICS STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-18
    « Reply #6 on: July 19, 2017, 08:31:07 AM »
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  • I find this conversation very interesting and well worth the read.  I believe UTEPDefense presented some very good ideas.  It is that type of thinking that would help UTEP's athletic programs build rather than remain stagnant or even go into decline year after year.  Kyyote, you hit the nail on the head in your discussion about UTEP's stigma as a commuter school rather than a true university.  I know from my experience upon graduating from Franklin High School in 2002, most people in my graduating class did not want to go to UTEP following graduation.  Why is that?  It has a lot to do with the reasons presented by Kyy.  It seems as if people were almost embarrassed or ashamed to say they would be going to UTEP after graduation, which is ridiculous.  UTEP, as noted earlier, is top notch is academics and provides students with an excellent education.  The problem though is that many kids want that university feel, the classic college experience, and for whatever reason I guess UTEP doesn't provide that.  This also would make sense that probably very few high school graduates across the state (outside of El Paso) aspire to attend college at UTEP, instead opting for places like UT, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, TCU, Baylor, etc.  Is it El Paso?  Is it the culture along the border?  Is it the reputation of laughable sports programs?  Is it that the university is so far from the rest Texas?   

    kyyote

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    Re: UTEP ATHLETICS STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-18
    « Reply #7 on: July 19, 2017, 10:50:25 AM »
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  • I might as well really piss people off while I'm at it.  I have a degree from the University of Texas at El Paso.  I am very proud of that connection to the Texas University system.  UTEP is a nice nickname for the university.  But, if you claim it as a separation from the University of Texas, as though the University of Texas is the shit enemy and somehow the school out in far west Texas is the special one you kind of get the treatment a child would get if the treated their family as though there was no connection.  I root for every Texas school.  They are family.  They treat us like red headed step children because lots of the children tell everyone they hate their family and are there own non connected family.  Bullshit!  My UTEP is a very special, very unique member of the family, a family I am proud to call my own.  My degree is from the University of Texas at El Paso, not UTEP.  I went to UTEP among those who know what that is, but if there is any doubt, I don't hesitate to say that it I went to the University of Texas at El Paso.  People all over the world know what the University of Texas is and the one in El Paso is one.  Not that many people know what a UTEP is. Tell them it is the El Paso university and see how that goes.  We shoot ourselves in the foot on this one all the time.  The Texas university system is respected and half of the graduates want to disassociate themselves from it.  They celebrate the El Paso part more than the Texas part.  To me, that is flat out backwards.  I am very proud to be an Evans.  I am Craig.    I don't throw my family aside so that I can be Craig.  I love being part of a great family.  I guarantee that the Evans name holds a damned sure more respect than Craig.  Craig is alright, but he is just one of the great Evans family.



    utep2step

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    Re: UTEP ATHLETICS STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-18
    « Reply #8 on: July 19, 2017, 03:12:33 PM »
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  • UTEP holding their own quite nicely. Money put them in the top 30 for southern schools and The Brookings Institution just put UTEP #1 for public universities.

    http://utep.edu/newsfeed/campus/UTEP-Ranks-No-1-in-Brookings-Institution-Study-of-US-Public-Universities.html

    Football: Just win more games (after this year. This year would be a success if they win 3).

    Basketball: Stop recruiting head cases and the "play one year and let's see how you do" recruits needs to stop.

    MinerInWisconsin

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    Re: UTEP ATHLETICS STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-18
    « Reply #9 on: July 20, 2017, 06:47:40 AM »
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  • UTEP - since I'm old, I would have preferred that the name Texas Western College had been changed to Texas Western University. Always loved the Texas Western moniker. And what a year to change it, right after the mbb team won the national championship!

    UTEP has taken a big step forward this year in it's marketing of sports. The WeAreMiners campaign that is saturating the entire community is going to contribute to bigger and better things for the Miners. Expect the crowds for Rice and Arizona to be very good. The rest of the season's crowds will depend on how the team is shaping up. MBB is holding a game for the fans prior to the Aug trip to Costa Rica to not only raise money but involve the fans more. A solid idea that needs to be recognized positively. Join in these efforts instead of bitching so much and maybe EP attitudes towards UTEP will change for the better.

    Stull came to UTEP as the head football coach after a successful stint as the head man at UMass, a D1-AA school at the time. When he went looking for a coach after Price, he should have been looking for someone who was a successful head coach at some level, not a position coach. Maybe Kugler will be successful this year and I hope he is because starting over from scratch is always painful. He does have a solid QB coming back. He has what Phil Steele has tabbed as the best O-line in the conference. There are 2 very good TE transfers and a bevy of talented but unproven RB's.  With Sinegal, Redix, Juniel, K. Johnson, Batson and Rodriguez, there are some quick WR's that can help move the chains. The defense should be the best UTEP has had in quite a while. Can't wait for the season to start!

    I've watched the Miners play football for a long, long time and will always pull for them to be successful. My first game was as a young kid about 1950 at Kidd Field when Texas Western beat Arizona. As a family we were new to EP and I went as a guest of neighbors who were long time fans. I look forward to watching the Miners effort vs Arizona this year on ESPN and will be pulling for that big turnaround win to get the program on a high level.