UTEP Coach Sean Kugler’s do-or-die mission to turn the Miners’ football program around in three years is on track.


Says here his team will likely not have a winner in his second year, but halfway through this season his team is already a game ahead of last year’s 2-10 record.  UTEP is idle this week and the six teams that remain on the schedule are either equal or better than the three teams the Miners have defeated amid their 3-3 mark. They beat lowlies New Mexico and New Mexico State, and had to hold on to their lead – down to the wire – to win their homecoming game Saturday vs. Old Dominion.

Unless the Miner passing game can get some oomph to take pressure off a good running game, the next six opponents can beat UTEP. Tackling better be crisp, too. It usually is not.

I just don’t see UTEP beating them all, or most of them: UT San Antonio on the road, Southern Miss at home, Western Kentucky on the road, North Texas at home, Rice on the road and Middle Tennessee at home. None of these teams have good records (best is Middle Tennessee’s 4-3). None have been blown away by a middlin’ team, as was UTEP at Louisiana Tech (55-3).
It’s head-game time for the Miners. They beat two patsies and held on to hold off upstart Old Dominion. Next up? There are six “next ups,” all about the same – fair to middlin.’
Kugler said he’d turn this program around in three years, or else he’d resign. He is on track – now at least – to begin the turnaround. The Miners were 2-10 last year. They are 3-3 so far this year.
What UTEP team will play the last six game? A new, successful team? The Miners of so many seasons past?

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