Ouch — UTEP Shoots Themselves in the Foot Again

If one looks back in history, UTEP is limping into October. Sometimes, as with this 2014 season, it’s because the Miners have shot themselves in the foot. Ouch! Limp! Two problems for the football program here:

1) UTEP is now 2-3 and is not heading into to a home game after a victory. The team was not a big underdog at Louisiana Tech Saturday, but lost 55-3. No bright signs for the future, for a winning season – again? Believe in the team or does a true fan need some help from the Tooth Fairy?
2) UTEP has to get back to selling some 40,000 tickets per game. A win would have done that. Now it’s back to an announced crowd (?) of 25,000 or so. Yes, it’s homecoming Saturday vs. Old Dominion. And the Miners are favored by a tad … but they sure weren’t (55-3) 52-point underdogs to one of those whozit Louisiana schools. Perhaps Old Dominion is a powerhouse (just never mentioned on national TV shows).
UTEP played as poorly Saturday as did so many of its ancestors, going back to one- or two-win seasons. Geez has it been a half-century already of this mostly rubbed-out season stuff? Yes it could well be.
This is not to say UTEP’s players have called it another losing season. Hooh Rah! But history doesn’t show UTEP teams pull out of these early season days. Custer had one “Last Stand.” UTEP hasn’t gotten past one, either. But history does show the fans pull out when the September optimism turns into the “It’s October swoon.” And UTEP needs fans (ticket money).

How many people will buy tickets to the remaining home games? UTEP needs that money. It sez here UTEP has to earn that money. This is not a PTA bake sale to help the kids. And that money not going to show up in the coffers when a 2-2 team goes to an NCAA peer like La. Tech and loses 55-3. Gotta be the team that turns it around.
Cubs fans, anyone?

Joe Muench can be reached at jmuench7@gmail.com.