(05-09-2022 10:34 PM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  

(05-09-2022 10:09 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  Let's say UTEP never got the call up for CUSA 2.0. Left behind in the WAC for eternity like NMSU.

Today they would be in CUSA 4.0 just like they are now.

Unless the WAC was able to finish of the SBC. Karl Benson flipping from WAC to SBC was also a key factor in all of this.

If UTEP never got the call to C-USA 2.0, it would be in the MWC where it belongs.

Let’s not forget if the rumor is true from 2010, it was UTEP who told the MWC what BYU and Karl Benson were trying to do with “the project.” Probably the one school that would have been left in the cold in the WAC with NMSU and Idaho is San Jose State not UTEP. If Utah State got invited to the MWC, the one school that tried with BYU to destroy it there’s no reason why UTEP would’ve been invited if it was still in the WAC. Another rumor floating from Utah State fans back then was San Jose State got the 12th spot because UTEP said no. When San Diego State was still undecided if they were going back to the MWC once Boise State changed its mind in going to the Big East, they apparently were told by the MWC they had x days to make a decision or “we’re going to call UTEP.” Let’s say SJSU was left behind. Would they have gone to the Sun Belt with NMSU and Idaho for four years? Drop to FCS like Idaho did? Tried independence like NMSU?

So in other words, had UTEP not made the mistake in accepting the C-USA invite in May 2004, it would be in the MWC by now. That spot in C-USA belonged to Louisiana Tech. I hope UTEP had learned the lesson and stops chasing Texas schools, nothing good has come from doing so since the 90s from the WAC-16 to now. Enough.

I'm actually surprised that UTEP didn't get that MWC call last year... since they were working the phones feverishly with Baker (UNT), Karlgaard (Rice), and Campos (UTSA).

Subsequent to AAC expansion, the MWC took that opportunity to throw shade at UTEP. Thompson must have forgotten about the project.

That being said, in 2005 UTEP was on the rise with BCG coaching MBB and Mike Price coaching FB.

This is speculation, but (IMO) Mike Price - due to his time at Washington State - felt that the recruiting grounds in the East (specifically the other Texas locales) were more fertile than the ones he had just left in the West. UTEP was also packing the Sun Bowl at that time and the alumni bases in Dallas and Houston were attractive.

There was no reason to believe that UTEP would fall off like they did. If Mike Price could've built UTEP like George O'Leary built UCF, those Dallas and Houston roots would've yielded much more fruit than anything out West. It also didn't help matters when BCG (and Doc Sadler to a lesser extent) bolted quickly after UTEP got the CUSA invite.

Would Louisiana Tech been a better invite? In hindsight, yes... knowing that Price couldn't keep the crowds and BCG would leave so soon. However, how do you say no to 40-50K at the Sun Bowl?? CUSA was hoping for an ECU-Caliber Football program (with an NCAA worthy MBB team) on their Western edge and it just fizzled out. It's hard to fault that thinking with the infrastructure and coaches in place at that time.