The Golden Eagles were supposed to be a challenge and perhaps the Miners would get their comeuppance. In reality, I think I experienced a feeling I have never had before watching a UTEP football game. There was a point in the game that I actually felt sorry for Southern Miss. Their walk on quarterback is great and tried his best, but was risking his life on every pass play and every run play was stuffed. The defense was like a pack of wolves on a wounded elk. It was almost hard to watch. Meanwhile, the offense kept up the Rocky-esque pounding body shots with their seemingly endless supply of hungry running backs and occasional left hook that staggers the opponent into a corner where the body attack continues. I have to say that the addition of the forward pass has done what all of us have known it would do. For years the offense had been constipated trying to crap croquet balls running the ball or passing laterally to run the ball from a little wider out on the field knowing that a pass or two downfield once in a while would move things along so much better. The only explanation we got was trust the process and time of possession, both of which seemed to taunt us with some vague connection to the constipation of offense from which we all ached. Suddenly, the long forward pass has emerged. Part of the process? Or was it the change of coordinators? Or some miracle development of players from one year to the next?
We have a week to chew on the results of the game, but the Miners went east, on the road, into a bully's backyard, and put an ass whuppin' on him. I think I heard "Momma" coming from the pile after one of the tackles in the Southern Miss backfield. The must win game was decided in the first quarter. If it remained as it was, the Miners were going to grind these poor bastards into the sod and make 'em eat dirt. This team is real.
Normally, the Miners couldn't beat LA Tech if you gave our guys Billy clubs. There may be some who think Tech is down. Don't. They played 19th ranked NC State straight up. I think a bullshit call screwed them maybe out of a win. They are always tough. They are well coached, by maybe the best coach in CUSA. But, they are in for a surprise. The Miners defense is feeling froggy as hell and just looking for Tech to come into our yard to jump bad on them. The offense is going to do what it does. Like they say in boxing, the offense is going to get the Tech defense to where they like getting punched. Used to it. Then comes the hook. And they are stepping into post holes.
I believe that every game so far, people have expected that the next team was going to show the real truth. I think it has, indeed. The Miners are pretty damned good! Like top twenty-five good? No. But, upper levels of CUSA good? Yeah. Maybe even shocking some others. We still have games to play, but the Miners are gaining strength with each game. The games aren't squeakers. They are like a young prize fighter, learning, building up strength, endurance, confidence, and a resume. This week's fight is the Miners toughest since they got the boxing lesson from BSU.
LA Tech will test the Miners. But the thing is, the Miners will test Tech. Yeah, the first few rounds, those body shots don't hurt. But, sonofabitch! After a while each one starts to just hurt all the way to the bone! The Sun Bowl is going to dish up a treat this week!
