What a waste of resources.

Nothing will change as long as Bob Stull is the AD. I wouldn't be shocked if attendance drops below 20k this year. The last time UTEP averaged less than 20k in a season was in 1984. UTEP has many advantages most G5 schools wished they had, the foundation is there; we just need new leadership. But until then, it'll be just like C2 perfectly said, just a waste of resources.

(01-13-2017 02:45 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  OBLIVIOUS AD=Program Failure(unless univ. pres. takes action).

Thank goodness the AD has retired and the search is on for a new one. The new AD will be looking for a new football coach at the end of this season and we will find out then if the UTEP admin is going to make a real effort to upgrade the athletic dept, especially the football program.

The just retired AD should never have hired a position coach as the head man just because he once coached him. Disgusting situation and a likely 0-12 season to endure this year.

(09-24-2017 01:49 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Nothing will change as long as Bob Stull is the AD. I wouldn't be shocked if attendance drops below 20k this year. The last time UTEP averaged less than 20k in a season was in 1984. UTEP has many advantages most G5 schools wished they had, the foundation is there; we just need new leadership. But until then, it'll be just like C2 perfectly said, just a waste of resources.

I agree. A metro area of a million plus, no pro teams, a bg 50k plus stadium, a historic Bowl (The Sun Bowl) A legendary basketball team that won the NCAA tournament over Kentucky. I've always thought UTEP was underachieving, but this is unreal. I heard that when the MWC went to 12 five years ago or so that UTEP was invited, and turned them down! (They then had to take SJSU)--bad. UTEP turning down the chance to be in a MWC-Mountain Division with their historic rivals New Mexico, Colorado St, Wyoming and Air Force is shocking to me...Pink Floyd used to be a great basketball coach, what the heck happened to him?

They shouldn't be getting shown up by schools that didn't have top level football teams 20 years ago, some that didn't or barely existed when they won the national title in the 60's.

Like some others such as New Mexico, BYU and Colorado State, they'd likely be in the Big 10 if they were in the Midwest and vice versa for Iowa, Wisconsin and Purdue if they were in the western interior.

(09-24-2017 06:36 AM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(01-13-2017 02:45 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  OBLIVIOUS AD=Program Failure(unless univ. pres. takes action).

Thank goodness the AD has retired and the search is on for a new one. The new AD will be looking for a new football coach at the end of this season and we will find out then if the UTEP admin is going to make a real effort to upgrade the athletic dept, especially the football program.

The just retired AD should never have hired a position coach as the head man just because he once coached him. Disgusting situation and a likely 0-12 season to endure this year.

Stull retired? How in the world did I miss that? I hope the new AD cleans house and makes the right hires in FB and BB.

(09-24-2017 11:07 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  They shouldn't be getting shown up by schools that didn't have top level football teams 20 years ago, some that didn't or barely existed when they won the national title in the 60's.

Like some others such as New Mexico, BYU and Colorado State, they'd likely be in the Big 10 if they were in the Midwest and vice versa for Iowa, Wisconsin and Purdue if they were in the western interior.

Yes, UTEP should be tearing it up in a conference with newbies/start ups. It's surprising to me that they are struggling like this...

(09-24-2017 09:28 AM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(09-24-2017 01:49 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Nothing will change as long as Bob Stull is the AD. I wouldn't be shocked if attendance drops below 20k this year. The last time UTEP averaged less than 20k in a season was in 1984. UTEP has many advantages most G5 schools wished they had, the foundation is there; we just need new leadership. But until then, it'll be just like C2 perfectly said, just a waste of resources.

I agree. A metro area of a million plus, no pro teams, a bg 50k plus stadium, a historic Bowl (The Sun Bowl) A legendary basketball team that won the NCAA tournament over Kentucky. I've always thought UTEP was underachieving, but this is unreal. I heard that when the MWC went to 12 five years ago or so that UTEP was invited, and turned them down! (They then had to take SJSU)--bad. UTEP turning down the chance to be in a MWC-Mountain Division with their historic rivals New Mexico, Colorado St, Wyoming and Air Force is shocking to me...Pink Floyd used to be a great basketball coach, what the heck happened to him?

I can't really blame the President and AD for not taking the MWC invite. Back then, C-USA still had Memphis, Tulane, ECU, Tulsa plus Rice, USM and UAB. The MWC just lost Boise and SDSU to the Big East and it was rumored Fresno, UNLV, New Mexico and Colorado State were targeted as well. The last thing UTEP wanted was to be in a MWC that was as unstable as the WAC which was about to die in 2012. C-USA with all its flaws, has geography on its side. It can just backfill on Sun Belt or FCS schools. The MWC just like the WAC, don't really have many backfill options out West unless the Montana schools and Northern Arizona want to move up which is very unlikely. If you're UTEP, would you rather be in C-USA 3.0 with other Texas schools or the MWC that has NMSU, Idaho, SJSU, Nevada and Hawaii in it?

The only time UTEP had a realistic shot of going to the MWC after that was when the MWC gave an ultimatum to SDSU after Boise went back of "if you don't make a decision in x days we'll call UTEP."

(09-24-2017 01:49 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Nothing will change as long as Bob Stull is the AD. I wouldn't be shocked if attendance drops below 20k this year. The last time UTEP averaged less than 20k in a season was in 1984. UTEP has many advantages most G5 schools wished they had, the foundation is there; we just need new leadership. But until then, it'll be just like C2 perfectly said, just a waste of resources.

UTEP's move to C-USA was the right move when UTEP was playing Southern Miss, Houston, Rice, SMU, and TCU.

Conference alignment has hurt the Miners and El Paso.

(09-24-2017 12:13 PM)chess Wrote:  

(09-24-2017 01:49 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  Nothing will change as long as Bob Stull is the AD. I wouldn't be shocked if attendance drops below 20k this year. The last time UTEP averaged less than 20k in a season was in 1984. UTEP has many advantages most G5 schools wished they had, the foundation is there; we just need new leadership. But until then, it'll be just like C2 perfectly said, just a waste of resources.

UTEP's move to C-USA was the right move when UTEP was playing Southern Miss, Houston, Rice, SMU, and TCU.

Conference alignment has hurt the Miners and El Paso.

Not necessarily. UTEP's struggles are internal, not external. If UTEP is getting blown up by C-USA 3.0 schools, just imagine how bad it would fare against MWC competition. Geography is often used as an excuse but if Boise football and Gonzaga basketball can be successful being geographically isolated so can UTEP. Look at New Mexico too. They're an underachiever as well. Both benefited being in the WAC back when it was seen as a "power" conference and both carried he conference in basketball. Both have not been the same since the WAC split.

STULL.

UTEP should have pushed to get into the MWC during the infamous May 4th expansion where both C-USA and the MWC blew up the merger. Sure Boise St and San Diego St were out of the picture at the moment but the MWC wasn't in that bad of shape. Presumably San Jose St, Idaho, and New Mexico St (maybe Texas St could come into play too) had they lost any more schools.

UTEP is in bad shape. They've actually fallen back from their days in the WAC.

(09-25-2017 08:36 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  UTEP is in bad shape. They've actually fallen back from their days in the WAC.

UTEP always had good basketball in the WAC. That was a very tough basketball conference when Utah, New Mexico and UTEP were clicking. Don Haskins at Utah, Rick Majerius at Utah and Dave Bliss at New Mexico in the 90's. That was an exciting era in college hoops. BYU and Fresno St used to have some good runs and of course UNLV was finally admitted to the WAC about 20 years after being "invited" lol...That was when ESPN weeknight basketball was exciting. CUSA was awesome during that time period too.
My favorite college hoops era.

Back when most everyone stayed in school for years at a time.

It's too bad that the 16 Team G5 model is completely dead. UTEP, Rice, UTSA, and UNT to the MWC would be a solid move and unlike the failed 16 Team WAC that failed after the 1998 season the quads and rivalries work out.

Quad I--Fresno St, San Diego St, San Jose St, Hawaii (CA schools stick together)
Quad II--Nevada, UNLV, Boise St, Utah St (Nevada sticks with both of their biggest rivalries)
Quad III--Wyoming, Colo St, AFA, UNM (front range schools forever)
Quad IV--UTEP, UTSA, UNT, Rice (the God bless Texas quad)

The only big rivalry I see needing to protect is UTEP/UNM or you just do 2 8-team divsions with only one crossover game, again, no one in Mountain would be heartbroken to lose a match up from West and vice versa.

UTEP coach just resigned after an 0-5 start.

(10-01-2017 04:43 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  UTEP coach just resigned after an 0-5 start.

Yep, new AD soon then a new head football coach. Hopefully that light at the end of a tunnel is a fresh beginning and not a freight train.

Pink Floyd quits after loss to Lamar and 1-5 start.
UTEP football finished 0-12 and listed the worst football team in FBS by ESPN.
Lucky UTEP doesn’t have a baseball team otherwise they’d somehow find a way to be last in that as well.....
Wow....

(09-27-2017 04:51 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  It's too bad that the 16 Team G5 model is completely dead. UTEP, Rice, UTSA, and UNT to the MWC would be a solid move and unlike the failed 16 Team WAC that failed after the 1998 season the quads and rivalries work out.

Quad I--Fresno St, San Diego St, San Jose St, Hawaii (CA schools stick together)
Quad II--Nevada, UNLV, Boise St, Utah St (Nevada sticks with both of their biggest rivalries)
Quad III--Wyoming, Colo St, AFA, UNM (front range schools forever)
Quad IV--UTEP, UTSA, UNT, Rice (the God bless Texas quad)

The only big rivalry I see needing to protect is UTEP/UNM or you just do 2 8-team divsions with only one crossover game, again, no one in Mountain would be heartbroken to lose a match up from West and vice versa.

That seems like a best case scenario for UTEP. Regain front range school rivalries while preserving the greater Texas exposure.