I have been very frustrated with and critical of Sean Kugler and the football he has brought to UTEP. Mike Price had given the football program a chance to break the gravitational pull of the black hole that UTEP football had been for so long. Even he was losing ground and sliding back, so when Kugler was hired I was ready for a Miner to lead our Miners and get back to putting distance between the team and its past. It didn’t work out as… I had hoped. But, this one isn’t about that. This one is about the players.
Let me begin with the offensive line. Coach Kugler coached the Steelers’ offensive line. So, let’s start with the assumption that they have learned their jobs from one of the best teachers around. All-American offensive lineman is a term usually reserved for cartel member teams only, and never before heard at UTEP. Now, think about how good at Texas Hold ‘Em you would have to be to win if the dealer was dealing your cards face up and the other player’s cards face down. So, we don’t look at the stats, or pile of chips. We look at the way they play within the way the game is being played. They make few mistakes. They don’t get rattled. They know the game itself quite well and play it as well as they can under the circumstances. They are still united, and focused. Throw out the stats and they probably deserve an “A” for what they have been asked to do.
Speaking of All-American UTEP football players, Brian Natkin is the UTEP Miners very own unanimous selection All- American tight end and he is at home here coaching the UTEP Tight Ends. So, they are also being coached by one of the best around. We can be sure that they know their craft and that expectations are set at the highest level. Take note of the fact that the tight ends are never flagged. They go to work and do their jobs as they are assigned. Rock solid.
That is the engine of the machine. It red lines at about 6 thousand rpm’s but it has so much torque it could pop a wheelie while pulling a 747. Top speed of about 95 but built for work. Some people build race cares and some people build for tractor pulling. Some engines burn nitro and some burn diesel. Kugler is a Kenworth kind of guy and he has built a fine rig.
We will look at some other units in the future. I don’t want to burn up all of my positive energy in one shot. There is still plenty of positives to talk about. How about that Jones kid! Next time.