(07-28-2018 09:38 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  

(07-28-2018 09:29 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(07-28-2018 09:11 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  

(07-28-2018 03:32 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(07-28-2018 11:21 AM)HerdZoned Wrote:  I don't trust UTEP in football, except for a few years under Price and Kuglar's 2nd year UTEP football has been nothing but an utter disaster for the most part. Since 1980 UTEP has had exactly 5 winning seasons: 1988, 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2014. I could even take it one step beyond that and say that UTEP has had 5 winning seasons since Ive been on this earth, and I was born in Dec 1971.

If I was a betting man I would say 1-2 wins at the most. And Northern Arizona isn't a given.

Wow! I didn't realize UTEP has been that bad for that long.

I agree about Northern Arizona, but it will be hard for them to game plan for a UTEP team that there is no tape on. They can't really prepare for what Dimel will put on the field on opening day, and UTEP should have more talent.

Welp prior to your new AD and HC we had the same amount of winning seasons as you guys did since 1980.

Well that is very selective of you.

Without counting our winning seasons from our exile to D-IAA (1982-1994), we have 6 winning season. So, North Texas has produced 6 winning seasons in their last 24 FBS/D-IA seasons. While UTEP has 5 in their last 37. Neither is good, but I was surprised that UTEP has been that bad.

Herd Zone picked the starting point of 1980 I simply went with it. All I’m trying to say is that under the right leadership and correct coaching hire a team can go from rags to riches fairly quick in this league. Did you guys think after getting blown out by that FCS school at home that you would be playing for a conference championship two years later?

I didn't even dare to dream it.

The truth is, that loss to Portland State lit a fire under a sizable core in our fan base. It got ugly. Some who had close ties with Villarreal were upset by the banner that flew, and debates got heated about the future of the program. Some, like myself, were questioning Mac's coaching and recruiting even before the 2016 season even started. I did not go to the Portland State game, because I knew we were going to lose and lose badly. Since Apogee opened, I have missed 2 football games. The Portland St game, and a game against FIU, because my Grandmother had suffered a heart attack (She's okay, she's 97 now).

Littrell has not enjoyed the quiet hands-off fan base that his predecessors did. Our fans have been very quick to call out the AD and even the university president when things are not happening at a level we believe appropriate. Our fans have been happy with Littrell's coaching, but until this season recruiting has been an issue. Now, Littrell has hired a new recruiting staff, and we currently have the best recruiting class in C-USA. Right now, there is a sizable group within our fan base that isn't happy with our lack of defense. Littrell understands another down season on the defensive side of the ball won't be acceptable. If we don't see an improvement in our defensive scheme, there will be changes on the coaching staff. The Portland State game really changed the attitude of our fan base. We are not as tolerant as we once were, and that is a good thing.

(07-28-2018 10:35 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(07-28-2018 09:38 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  

(07-28-2018 09:29 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(07-28-2018 09:11 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  

(07-28-2018 03:32 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  Wow! I didn't realize UTEP has been that bad for that long.

I agree about Northern Arizona, but it will be hard for them to game plan for a UTEP team that there is no tape on. They can't really prepare for what Dimel will put on the field on opening day, and UTEP should have more talent.

Welp prior to your new AD and HC we had the same amount of winning seasons as you guys did since 1980.

Well that is very selective of you.

Without counting our winning seasons from our exile to D-IAA (1982-1994), we have 6 winning season. So, North Texas has produced 6 winning seasons in their last 24 FBS/D-IA seasons. While UTEP has 5 in their last 37. Neither is good, but I was surprised that UTEP has been that bad.

Herd Zone picked the starting point of 1980 I simply went with it. All I’m trying to say is that under the right leadership and correct coaching hire a team can go from rags to riches fairly quick in this league. Did you guys think after getting blown out by that FCS school at home that you would be playing for a conference championship two years later?

I didn't even dare to dream it.

The truth is, that loss to Portland State lit a fire under a sizable core in our fan base. It got ugly. Some who had close ties with Villarreal were upset by the banner that flew, and debates got heated about the future of the program. Some, like myself, were questioning Mac's coaching and recruiting even before the 2016 season even started. I did not go to the Portland State game, because I knew we were going to lose and lose badly. Since Apogee opened, I have missed 2 football games. The Portland St game, and a game against FIU, because my Grandmother had suffered a heart attack (She's okay, she's 97 now).

Littrell has not enjoyed the quiet hands-off fan base that his predecessors did. Our fans have been very quick to call out the AD and even the university president when things are not happening at a level we believe appropriate. Our fans have been happy with Littrell's coaching, but until this season recruiting has been an issue. Now, Littrell has hired a new recruiting staff, and we currently have the best recruiting class in C-USA. Right now, there is a sizable group within our fan base that isn't happy with our lack of defense. Littrell understands another down season on the defensive side of the ball won't be acceptable. If we don't see an improvement in our defensive scheme, there will be changes on the coaching staff. The Portland State game really changed the attitude of our fan base. We are not as tolerant as we once were, and that is a good thing.

Good to hear that your grandma is ok. I use you guys a lot on our board as a model for how quickly things can turn from dark to spark. Both of your major sports have experienced such fast turnarounds. As Miner fans we would be content with achieving half of what your university has accomplished the past two years.

Our problem with Stull was that he was such good friends with his coaches that he had a hard time pulling the trigger. His coaches would start off good but he would let them go year after year after year without any consequences. Had he fired Price after four straight losing seasons instead of seven or Kugler after regressing three straight years or Floyd after going seven years without a postseason win the new coach might have an easier time turning it around.

I do think Senter made a good hire with Dimel. It's not a splashy established name or a hot young up and coming assistant but it is a solid coach for the current situation. Kugler spent the last five years building a roster to play smash mouth football. If it wasn't for his stubbornness and unwillingness to open up the offensive playbook he might have had better results. With Dimel we get a coach that comes from a program that plays with a similar style but does it so much better. He was also along side Snyder the entire process of turning KState from a bottom dweller to a formidable force. There's a good chance he can use the current roster to win some games immediately and also knows the process required to do a complete rebuild to set a strong foundation for the future.

Senter has a record of firing underperforming coaches so if it doesn't work he has the courage required to handle business in a professional manner. Of course Dimel and Terry will both have a few years to get the programs going and hopefully they leave due to the success they experience at UTEP.

For now the fanbase is energized and ready for a fresh start. It would be our wish to catch lighting in a bottle in the short amount of time the way North Texas did.

(07-28-2018 11:56 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  

(07-28-2018 10:35 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(07-28-2018 09:38 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  

(07-28-2018 09:29 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(07-28-2018 09:11 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  Welp prior to your new AD and HC we had the same amount of winning seasons as you guys did since 1980.

Well that is very selective of you.

Without counting our winning seasons from our exile to D-IAA (1982-1994), we have 6 winning season. So, North Texas has produced 6 winning seasons in their last 24 FBS/D-IA seasons. While UTEP has 5 in their last 37. Neither is good, but I was surprised that UTEP has been that bad.

Herd Zone picked the starting point of 1980 I simply went with it. All I’m trying to say is that under the right leadership and correct coaching hire a team can go from rags to riches fairly quick in this league. Did you guys think after getting blown out by that FCS school at home that you would be playing for a conference championship two years later?

I didn't even dare to dream it.

The truth is, that loss to Portland State lit a fire under a sizable core in our fan base. It got ugly. Some who had close ties with Villarreal were upset by the banner that flew, and debates got heated about the future of the program. Some, like myself, were questioning Mac's coaching and recruiting even before the 2016 season even started. I did not go to the Portland State game, because I knew we were going to lose and lose badly. Since Apogee opened, I have missed 2 football games. The Portland St game, and a game against FIU, because my Grandmother had suffered a heart attack (She's okay, she's 97 now).

Littrell has not enjoyed the quiet hands-off fan base that his predecessors did. Our fans have been very quick to call out the AD and even the university president when things are not happening at a level we believe appropriate. Our fans have been happy with Littrell's coaching, but until this season recruiting has been an issue. Now, Littrell has hired a new recruiting staff, and we currently have the best recruiting class in C-USA. Right now, there is a sizable group within our fan base that isn't happy with our lack of defense. Littrell understands another down season on the defensive side of the ball won't be acceptable. If we don't see an improvement in our defensive scheme, there will be changes on the coaching staff. The Portland State game really changed the attitude of our fan base. We are not as tolerant as we once were, and that is a good thing.

Good to hear that your grandma is ok. I use you guys a lot on our board as a model for how quickly things can turn from dark to spark. Both of your major sports have experienced such fast turnarounds. As Miner fans we would be content with achieving half of what your university has accomplished the past two years.

Our problem with Stull was that he was such good friends with his coaches that he had a hard time pulling the trigger. His coaches would start off good but he would let them go year after year after year without any consequences. Had he fired Price after four straight losing seasons instead of seven or Kugler after regressing three straight years or Floyd after going seven years without a postseason win the new coach might have an easier time turning it around.

I do think Senter made a good hire with Dimel. It's not a splashy established name or a hot young up and coming assistant but it is a solid coach for the current situation. Kugler spent the last five years building a roster to play smash mouth football. If it wasn't for his stubbornness and unwillingness to open up the offensive playbook he might have had better results. With Dimel we get a coach that comes from a program that plays with a similar style but does it so much better. He was also along side Snyder the entire process of turning KState from a bottom dweller to a formidable force. There's a good chance he can use the current roster to win some games immediately and also knows the process required to do a complete rebuild to set a strong foundation for the future.

Senter has a record of firing underperforming coaches so if it doesn't work he has the courage required to handle business in a professional manner. Of course Dimel and Terry will both have a few years to get the programs going and hopefully they leave due to the success they experience at UTEP.

For now the fanbase is energized and ready for a fresh start. It would be our wish to catch lighting in a bottle in the short amount of time the way North Texas did.

I hope UTEP does catch lighting in a bottle. It would be great for C-USA. My advice would be as a fan base to harp on the details. You need a sizable core of your fan base to ride the administration when you see an area that is not being addressed at a level necessary to grow the program. Negative motivation is a powerful tool, and can lead to positive results.

(07-28-2018 11:21 AM)HerdZoned Wrote:  I don't trust UTEP in football, except for a few years under Price and Kuglar's 2nd year UTEP football has been nothing but an utter disaster for the most part. Since 1980 UTEP has had exactly 5 winning seasons: 1988, 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2014. I could even take it one step beyond that and say that UTEP has had 5 winning seasons since Ive been on this earth, and I was born in Dec 1971.

If I was a betting man I would say 1-2 wins at the most. And Northern Arizona isn't a given.

The past is past, of course. To me what's important is if the University, from the president on down, is serious about putting together a top quality football program. Along those lines, I was underwhelmed by last year's coaching hire.