The Dig: T Minus 10 Days Till UTEP Miner Football Kicks Off Edition
by Adrian Mac on Aug 26, 2010 9:41 AM MDT
in The Dig (Conference USA Round Up)
Email
Print
In The Dig: More on Evan Davis; A Frosh may crack the starting lineup on defense; some rumors from the recruiting trail and more.
The UTEP Miners
Not What the Miners Needed
Mike Price hasn't yet made up his mind on how he will discipline wide receiver Evan Davis. We were all hoping for a breakout year for Davis but luckily the Miners have some depth behind him.
At that point, Price had known about Davis' situation for about two hours. He indicated he was still gathering facts and presumably to see how the legal situation will play out. Though Davis is a starting receiver, that is probably the position with the least difference between the starter and the players behind him. Price indicated Pierce Hunter was the leading candidate to replace Davis if he is gone for an extended time. James Thomas, Corey Trisby, Russell Carr and Devorick Williams would also be factors.
Good & Bad
It looks like freshman Marcus Bagley may join freshman Germard Reed as the other starting tackle in Andre Patterson's 4-3. Bagley has the size and strength, but whenever you start two freshman at a position as key as defensive tackle, you can expect some growing pains.
UTEP's big defensive concern a month ago was defensive tackle. Now it looks like they could be starting a pair of freshmen in Germard Reed and Marcus Bagley (a true freshman). That may actually be a good thing. At 6-foot-2, 320 pounds, the three-star recruit Bagley is one of the first Miners in a while who looks like a prototypical defensive tackle
No Bull
The Texas Longhorns have changed around their future schedules due to the need to add a 9th conference game (The Big 10, remember?). Consequently, UTEP has moved their 2012 game with the Horns to 2016. The Miners add Wisconsin to the schedule instead. UTEP plays Arkansas this year, Kansas in 2011, Wisconsin in 2012, Colorado State in 2013, and Texas in 2016. All road games.
Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey Joe Muench
The arrest of Evan Davis is even more proof to Joe Muench that this Miner squad will be downright terrible. Joe doesn't discuss UTEP's depth at wide receiver, emerging stars in Lavorick Williams or anyone else. Last week, he said that losing Tim Curry was a sign that UTEP's quarterback play might be improving since Curry probably felt he couldn't move up the depth chart. This week, the departure is another sign that the team is set towards a disastrous 2010.
Success this season, as far as wins, is already iffy. The early two-deep roster shows 10 seniors starting on offense, but virtually no crystal ball prognosticators are picking UTEP to beat a lot of people, even in Conference USA.
The Transfer
Tate Smith, the transfer QB from New Mexico, talked to Craig Evans at Kyyotes Howl. Tate wouldn't taking a stab at his old squad.
Asked if he was looking forward to the upcoming UTEP/UNM game a broad grin spread across his face. "I definitely am…I definitely would like to go down there and beat those guys."
The Rumor Mill
Luke Cothron is a good looking post player out of Alabama. He originally was set to go to N.C. State before signing with Auburn (yes, Tony Barbee's Auburn) but last week he failed to qualify academically.
Cothron is a 6-foot-8 power forward who averaged 31 points and 13 rebounds as a high school senior.
Now, Jacey Zembal of an NC State Rivals site tweeted that Cothron may be headed to El Paso.
Former NCSU commit and Auburn signee Luke Cothron could be playing for UTEP this year, but we'll see. Still much to be determined.
Volleyball Online
The NMSU athletics office is reporting that the UTEP- NMSU volleyball game set for Friday, September 3, 2010, will be available to watch online, at ESPN3.com.
Taxpayer Dollars at Work: The Cit of Birmingham annually purchases 5,000 sets of season tickets to UAB football games to give away. Not 5,000 tickets- but rather 5,000 sets of season tickets. The Blazers clearly don't have much local support.
The Memphis Tigers
Sad for the Grizzlies: New basketball player Antonio Barton discusses what its like playing basketball at Memphis. It might be better than playing for the Memphis Grizzlies.
"It's like you can't even explain it," Barton said of the atmosphere in Memphis. "If we walked in the room the same time as the Memphis Grizzlies, everyone would run to us. We're the No. 1 team there. Every time we play at FedEx [Forum], we sell it out. It's all good. I love it."
JC Quarterback Matt Christian has been named the starting QB at NMSU over incumbent Jeff Fleming.
2 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Is it time for kickoff yet?...
Disappointing start of the season for Evan Davis. I guess we’ll wait and see what surfaces. Regardless of football, I hope he can get his personal affairs in order.
Marcus Bagley…..how big a name for himself is he making?! I know many were all over Nixon from this class and I must admit I was/am huge on Germard (Reed), but I’ve got to say that Marcus is definitely garnering some attention locally and I suspect will gain a vast amount of attention, in the form of double teams, from offensive line coaches and linemen throughout the season. Can’t wait to see him and Reed on the field.
Joe Muench….I guess he’s got a job to do, but I’m not quite sure what it is. I suppose if trivial, baseless, myopic anti-UTEPia rantings are in his job description then he’s definitely on point.
Luke Cothron….Interesting development? If he “failed to qualify academically” then how could he be eligible to possibly play here? Did he just fail to meet the entrance standards at Auburn or via the NCAA clearing house? Secondly, I suppose he’d have to maintain walk-on status as we should now be out of ‘rides’ correct? He does have some impressive #’s so would provide a solid lift in the frontcourt for us if this panned out.
Correct on Cothron-
But the buzz is growing, I’ll have more links later- but he might rather walk on here and get a scholarship after the season. That might be his best option right now- he had offers, if I’m not mistaken, by UConn and other powers, he’s a stud prospect who unfortunately hasn’ t been able to get it done academically.
Bagley and Reed are the future of this defense, I think we’ll be set there for the coming years, I just hope that the learning curve isn’t too steep in the early going. We do have Fehoko, who’s undersized but experienced at the JC level to spell him.
Ya, I probably should just stop with the Muench links- I literally grew up devouring his every sports column and it’s just kind of sad to see him mailing it in like this now. He used to be a great writer.
Mike Price still hasn’t made a determination on Davis- From this EPT report- we get his perspective on what happened. We’ll see what the DA does and we’ll see what kind of suspension he’s looking at but I don’t expect to see him opening night.
Axes Up. Miner Rush - For UTEP Miners Fans
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
