On Deck: Basketball Season is Here 13

Player Profile: Gina Soto 15

Football’s Ferocious Fely 16

The Final Word: Tulane or Bust 21

VOL 1 ISSUE 26 OCTOBER 12, 2011

MINERILLUSTRATED

MINERILLUSTRATED

VOL I ISSUE 26 OCTOBER 12, 2011

I don’t know about how many of you feel, but I sure am happy that fall has finally arrived. It’s been a very hot summer here in El Paso and thanks to some air conditioning problems, it’s been an even hotter summer in the Avila household.

Thankfully, the heat has dissipated and it’s nice to wake up to the cool breeze of the morning and it’s even better in the afternoon when sitting at football practice and it’s not blazing hot. Trust me, it’s a very welcomed change from the summer. You don’t know what covering football practice it until you sit at a practice when camp opens. Let’s just say you better not forget your chair and lots of water.

While the change in temperature is welcome, it’s also a sign of things to come, and between you and me, I can’t wait for the next sport to kick off. Yes, I’m talking about men’s and women’s basketball.

I had to jump at the opportunity to talk about both teams in this issue’s On Deck column and if it weren’t for the space that was assigned, I probably could have gone on for much longer and the column would have turned into more of and drug-out work than a quick taste to the season. There is so much more to write about both teams that we are already working on story lines for the website and the next issue.

Let’s just say that I’m moderately excited.

Okay, okay, I’m really excited for the season. Having said that, I haven’t lost any excitement for the football team and what they can still potentially accomplish in the second half of the season. They still have a lot to prove and big challenges ahead of them. As Josh writes in the Final Word, it’s Tulane or bust. I have to agree with him on his points.

In any case, I will leave you now with this thought: not may people are giving the Miners any kind of chance in football or either men’s or women’s basketball teams as pundits are picking UTEP to not do well. Sounds like the beginning of an underdog story if you ask me. Let’s see if the Miners can turn that little fire in to a blaze of success.

Chris Avila

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Cover photo: Junior college transfer Josh Fely readied himself for the next play

during the UTEP-Stony Brook during the season opener in September at the Sun Bowl. Photo: Ivan Pierre Aguirre/

UTEP Athletics

From The EDITOR

While there may not have been many defensive highlights during the UTEP-Houston game, there were cer-tainly plays where the Cougars felt the power of the Miners. Seen here, Aubrey Alexius (48) and Travaun Nix-on (5) make their presense known. Jeff Taylor

THE BIG PICK

Senior running back Joe Banyard found the light against Houston as he sprinted, ran, scampered and did whatever he could to earn over 240 yards on the ground. Jeff Taylor

Banyard found gaping holes several times during the game which lead to huge gains at vari-ous times during the game, much like the one here late in the con-test. Jeff Taylor

Junior Lavorick Williams was de-nied a score against Houston after Cougar defender Zachary McMil-lian interfered on the play and was flagged fro interference. Jeff Taylor

Joe Banyard and Leilyon Meyers weren’t the only ones who got yards in the running game. Freshman Nate Jeffery contributed as well with a score of his own against Houston. Jeff Taylor

M I N E R I L L U S T R A T E D . C O M1 0

readerRESPONSE

Shootout Ends in Miner Loss to Houston, 49-42

Wow what a game for both teams, the crowd that showed up supported the team thruout the game. I truly believe the miners are improving on the offensive front. A bowl game is surely possible if we can continue to pound the defense with our ground attack.

John79924

Avila: Why I’m Just Feeling “Meh”

Undoubtedly one can be unhappy at some of the plays, mistakes, etc. However, you must give this team credit for not quitting. Unlike some teams in the past this team plays hard to the end and been in every game going into the fourth quarter. This certainly isn’t Price’s most talented team, but this team plays hard despite their inexperience and depth. They’re young and hungry and, IMO, will continue to improve.

UTEP66

Elite football teams wins games because they are discipline. Utep needs to stop making so many mistakes and play at the caliber they are capable of because they handed that game to UH which pissed me off, missing easy tackles on three 50+ yards TD, and the two turn overs killed them, those 5 plays honestly ruined their chances of blowing Houston out @ home on TV which would have been great national exposure but no they just played “hard” and didnt “give up” but had the same outcome (a LOSS) as the prior teams that “gave up” in the 4th ,which by the way I don’t believe prior teams just “gave up”….I do have o admit though they definitely are improving but I just have higher expectations than improvements….. I want improvements that lead to wins that they work so hard for

Not Happy

“I just have higher expectations than

improvements” ——Well then how do you get better? Pretty unrealistic expectations in that case.

Gus Contreras

My expectations are no different. I want the Miners to win just like everyone else. For years I’ve endured, with the rest of the Miner fans, the losing and hopeless teams of the past. Been there, done that.

From my perspective this is the first time in a long time I could say the team played hard despite adversity. Correcting the mistakes is a must. If the mistakes are corrected and they continue to play hard the wins will come and will can build on the momentum.

With Thursday game last week and bye this week, there is no reason they should not be prepared. A win is an absolute must.

UTEP66

Great column! We have been in every game that we have lost and if it were not for turnovers and mistakes we could possibly be 5-0 like you mentioned but we are not because those if’s are just part of the game. Sometimes you can control them and sometimes they just happen. I am “curious” to see how we play in the remainder of season. Will they just shut it down early? I really don’t think so… this team has shown a lot of character in fighting all the way to the end. In past seasons we were not competitive in several games and I could honestly count the Miners out even before the game started but this team is different. IF we can correct our mistakes and keep improving I don’t see why we cant win all of our remaining games. Yes we do have a tough schedule remaining but what IF opposing teams start making the mistakes

for a change??

baballa31

Puga: Miners Must Get Defensive to Turn This Season Around

The problem with the defense is a combination of many things. I believe the biggest problem this team has been the tackling, its just awful!! no, its GOD AWFUL! At the Houston game I saw nothing but arm tackles and poor attacking angles. The second problem is the overall raw size and strength of individual players on defense. The UTEP defense is very athletic, but they are very thin. The linebackers should atleast weigh an average of 240-250, the defensive ends at 260-280, defensive tackles are at a good weight but they are very short and stumpy and cannot attain proper leverage at the line of scrimmage. The players in the box are just too light and nimble to handle more physical offenses such as south florida, and i hate to say it but Stony Brook as well. I know its not their fault for their size,they were born that way, but they can atleast work on muscle weight which plays a big factor in tackling. You guys remember the linebacker Troy Collavo? That guy cracked like 5 helmets because he hit so darn hard, and it came from all that power in his muscles (and a strong heart). Maybe I’m contradicting myself because I’m ranting, I’m just frustrated that these guys can’t bulk up enough in the offseason to be physical when the games come around. I don’t wanna put these guys down because I love UTEP football, I just want them to play with a chip on their shoulder and win!!

Miner Niner

(21-6), Tulane (34-24) and Marshall (16-12).

UTEP tight ends Kevin Perry, Eric Tomlinson and Craig Wenrick have totaled 12 catches for 162 yards with six touchdowns in five games. Last season, tight ends Perry, Elijah Goldtrap and Jonny Moore did not score a TD while combining for 138 yards on 15 receptions. UTEP tight ends are averaging 13.5 yards per catch, up from 9.2 in 2010. With Wenrick registering the first touchdown catch of his Miner career versus Houston on Sept. 29, UTEP has three tight ends with at least one score for the first time since 2008.

Mike Edwards has caught 22 receptions for 318 yards in 2011. Even more impressive is that 13 (59% avg.) of his receptions have resulted in first downs. Edwards registered two money receptions against Houston – for 16 and 21 yards – the latter that resulted in a touchdown.

completed 43-of-67 passes (64 percent) for 632 yards with a 2:1 (6/3) touchdown/interception ratio. Lamaison is the second quarterback to pass for 267 yards or more in the first two games of his UTEP career, joining Billy Stevens who threw for 500 yards versus North Texas and 297 at New Mexico to kick off the 1965 season.

Nick Lamaison’s passing efficiency rating of 147.11 would rank third in school history behind Jordan Palmer’s 149.60 in 2006 and Rocky Perez’s 147.14 in 2000.

October has traditionally been UTEP’s best month under eighth-year head coach Mike Price. The Miners are 17-11 in October during the Price era, although they dropped their last three games in the month a year ago to UAB

M I N E R I L L U S T R A T E D . C O M 1 1

UTEP has piled up 551 rushing yards (183.7 avg.) over the last three games after being held to 66 yards combined in the first two games of the season. The Miners gained 271 yards versus Houston on Sept. 29, their third-best total in a C-USA game under coach Mike Price. UTEP had 308 yards rushing in an overtime win at SMU in 2007 and 305 versus the Cougars in 2009.

After missing two games with a shoulder injury, quarterback Nick Lamaison returned to the starting lineup versus Houston and completed 19-of-29 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns. Lamaison also started the opener versus Stony Brook and passed for 365 yards. So in two starts this season, Lamaison has

Joe Banyard had the best game of his UTEP career against Houston on Sept. 29, rambling for 240 yards on 22 carries. The 240 rushing yards are the fourth-most in school history behind Fred Wendt’s 326 yards versus New Mexico State in 1948, and Donald Buckram’s 262 yards and 241 yards versus Houston

and SMU respectively in 2009. Banyard is the ninth Miner player to have a 200-yard rushing game, joining the likes of Wendt (four times), Buckram (three times), John Harvey (three times), Toraino Singleton (twice), Robert Elliott, Elzie Johnson, Ed Smith and Marcus Thomas. Banyard is third in C-USA in rushing, averaging 76.6 yards per game.

318

4th

183.7

by theNUMBERS 162

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3rd

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been successful over the years and last year it was evident wen UTEP made a push during the Conference USA tournament by defeating SMU in the opening round game and then taking nationally ranked Houston to the brink of elimination. The biggest thing to take away from last year’s squad was that they were fighters to the end and didn’t quit. Gloria Brown was the team’s standout player and has been rightfully chosen as a C-USA preseason team member. She should be a major contributor to the team again this year. Adams’ challenge this year will be integrating standout player and Parade All-American Jenzel Nash who has a natural tendency to run and push the

ball up the court more. It’s not a stark contrast from what Adams likes to run, but it puts a wrinkle in what plays she may call from the bench. If anything, Adams may have to let go of some of that control and let the ladies just run the ball. Even more important than the offensive set that Adams might call, there will be an even higher pressure to continue to improve on defense. One of the beautiful things about running the court offensively is that you force your opponent to adjust much more. But in order for that run to happen, Adams’ team will have to play solid defense so the run can get kick-started. There will be little room for error with her team defensively. As Tim Floyd begins his second season at the helm, there will be a completely new look to the team, and quite honestly, it’s hard to say right

now what kind of team they will be. The one constant will be the emphasis on defense and for returning player and lone senior Gabe McCulley, it should come as no surprise as to the demands of running an Floyd defense. The question will be whether he and other returning player Mike Perez, John Bohannon will be able to assist with the steep learning curve everyone else on the team is facing. It won’t be an easy task, but it isn’t insurmountable either. Perhaps the two players I am most excited to see from the men’s team is Jacques Streeter and Julian Washburn. Streeter was with the team last year, but because of transfer rules had to sit out from games and only worked

with Floyd and the team during practice. His learning curve will be much lower than the rest of the new players, but as the potential starting point guard, he will have to find a way to utilize his blazing speed and

tremendous vision on the court to help his teammates get better as well. As for Washburn, there is no doubt in my mind that he has the most natural shot of any player to come through the doors of the Don that I have seen in quite a long time. His range is impeccable and his constant work ethic allows him to continue to get better. Having had a chance to watch him outside of practice last year and again this year during open gym, his game has improved immensely and he will now simply have to weave his game into Floyd’s game plan. For both UTEP teams, there is no question the players and coaches are excited to get the new season underway and begin writing the next chapter in the history books. Only a couple days more till everything is right with basketball once again.

CHRIS AVILA

If someone were to ask me what images come to mind when thinking of baseball, I would probably think of the smell of cut grass, the crack of the bat and the cheer of the crowd when a homerun is hit. Ask me about football and I think of tailgating and tasty adult beverages, cold weather and the sound helmets make when they cash into each other But if you ask me about basketball, I don’t have any generic memories like the swish of a net or anything like that. When I think of basketball, the only thing I think of are screaming fans chanting “AMEN” at the end of a game and the voice of the public address announcer yelling “Mmmmminer Ball!” I think of UTEP basketball. I’ve been counting down the days till I knew basketball season would kick off. That time is finally here. With the women’s basketball team having kicked off practice last week and the men kicking off practice this week, nothing more excites me than the idea of heading over to the Don Haskins Center, getting interviews from coaches and players, and then sitting back to watch and learn from some great coaches. This season will be interesting for both men’s and women’s squads. There are changes afoot and there is no question that both teams will have a different look this season. For Keitha Adams and the women’s team, there are some new faces that will bring a different kind of game than fans are used to seeing. For several years, Adams has been methodical about the way her offense and defense has been setup. She is a stickler for perfection and during practice; she demands it from her players. It has

M I N E R I L L U S T R A T E D . C O M 1 3

ON DECK:Challenges Face the WBB and MBB Teams

When I think of basketball, the only thing I think of are

screaming fans chanting “AMEN” at the end of a game.

town to play for coach Cross. “I was thrilled to get Gina here,” Cross said. “I kid with Gina about this story; the New Mexico State coach was recruiting her as much as I was and we literally almost got into a fist fight over her because that’s how badly we wanted her here. Of course we never had a fight and I’m just exaggerating that, but he was really disappointed she didn’t go play for New Mexico State. “ Cross was wise in recruiting her because she has performed at practice and on the field. As a freshman Soto played in 18 games, while starting 10 of them. She managed to score three goals, two assists, and a game-winning goal against then ranked Memphis. Going into her sophomore season Soto had broken into the starting lineup, and was looking to help her team in every game, but then in a game against Prairie View A&M she was kicked in the ankle and suffered an injury that took her out for a while. “In training camp a lot of people would have thought that she was our most talented player,” Cross said. “She had an extremely strong training camp and was very motivated. I think it was the Prairie View game where we had the game wrapped up, and girl kicked her really hard in the ankle, and then the next week at Stephen F. Austin she got hit in the same place.” Going from being used primarily as a sub to starting as a sophomore is one difficult task, but getting injured in the process is a difficult task to overcome for any player. “An injury will always hurt you and I hate sitting on the bench,” Soto said. “ Its still affecting me because I’m not getting as many minutes as I should be, I’m not starting so yeah it really hurts.” Soto has recovered from her injury, but it will take some time for her to get back into game shape and ready to start. There is always a bit of rust when coming back in soccer because you have to regain the pace and feel for the ball, but it shouldn’t take a talented player like Soto very long to regain her touch. Life is difficult for student athletes, but Soto understands what is asked of her. The one thing that makes the current UTEP team special is their youth and Soto adds to that. The majority of the players are underclassmen but they are learning to play with each other and forming a bond with one another. Soto is an integral part in the team’s development and is a major bright spot in the Miners attacking offense. Soto is an exciting player to watch, and fans will definitely want to keep their eye’s peeled to what she can do on the field for a couple more years.

GUS CONTRERAS

Speedster is one word that you can use to describe UTEP’s sophomore winger Gina Soto. You can always tell when she is out on the field because she is usually the fastest player on the field and running around defenders with her impressive speed along with some good dribbling skills. The Miners have a young talent in Soto, which is difficult to find; having a player that can sprint while dribbling the ball while having the ability to change direction at such a high speed is not an easy thing to find. Soto’s center of gravity and her small stature help her achieve such feats, and makes life difficult for defenders to guard against. “She is an incredibly quick and a good dribble; when she plays her best soccer she would be equivalent to our Lionel Messi at Utep’s level,” head coach Kevin Cross said. “She can cut through the defense at high speeds, and that’s what we encourage her to do when she’s playing her best soccer; last year she won a few games for us like that.” Soto hails from Utah where she grew up, and when her family moved to El Paso where she attended high school at Coronado High School. The change from Utah has been an unusual one for her, but she has settled in El Paso quite well. “I was born in Utah, and lived there all my life; I’ve only lived in El Paso for about four years and finished off my high school here,” Soto said. “It’s a huge difference between Utah and El Paso; the weather, the people, the atmosphere, everything is different. Utah is really cold and the weather is really nice here, and it’s a big Hispanic culture here; its cool I like it.” Soto grew up playing soccer at a young age, and developed a quick liking to it. The teams she has been on have found success at the high school level and at the club soccer level. The game and the competition is something that has always been in her life. “I started playing when I was about six years old, and it was pretty much because my parents used to play soccer and they thought it would be a good idea if I started playing,” Soto said. “I’ve always been involved in soccer, it’s always been in my life. I can’t remember a time when I have not played soccer everyday or gone out to soccer tournaments, whether its in California or Nevada so its always been in my life.” Going to school in El Paso, Soto got the attention of UTEP and New Mexico State’ s coaches. They both wanted to sign her, and were working hard to acquire her services to their respected teams. In the end Soto chose UTEP and to stay in

Player Profile:Soccer’s Gina Soto

M I N E R I L L U S T R A T E D . C O M1 4

Sophomore Gina Soto, seen here against Prairie View A&M, utilizes her speed to get the ball past the defender. Michael P. Reese

Socorro was kicking off, Fely was put in a bind emotionally. His grandmother, who he lived with, fell ill and the junior linebacker went back home to help his family in anyway possible. “The health issues at home have made it rough on him,” Price said. “During two-a-days at Socorro he was not able to be with us, so he got far behind, which did not help him athletically or football wise.” His grandmother made a full recovery, but the time he spent away from the team took a toll on his performance on the field and learning the playbook. Like any great player though, Fely bounced back from that bump in the road and found himself steadily making his way back into the rotation. Right before the season started, Carter or Anthony Morrow were fighting for the spot at Will linebacker. There was not even a buzz about Fely in any of the media outlets until a week before the season opener against Stony Brook. In the Miners final scrimmage of the fall, neither Morrow nor Carter were at the starting spot despite the depth chart listing Carter at the No. 1 spot. Fely found his way into the starting role because of injuries, but his perseverance is what has sustained him at the position this long. “Our policy and coach [Andre] Patterson’s policies have always been to play the very best guy,” linebacker coach Robert Rodriguez said. “I think everybody gets opportunities and it is about making the best out of those opportunities and that is certainly what he did.” The season got off to a fairly good start when he recorded 5.5 tackles against Stony Brook in the opening game of the season. Individually he played good, but as a unit, the linebackers found themselves in hot water for overplaying their roles on the field and Fely was no exception. The next week the junior linebacker found himself again in the starting position against SMU. This was Fely’s worst game of the year finishing the game registering zero tackles and giving up a touchdown to SMU running back Zach Line after he leaped Fely to find his was into the end zone for a second touchdown. “Once he knows the defense like the back of his hand, he’s going to be a great player,” Rodriguez said. “He has not had a great fall yet, but he works hard and that’s one thing I

SAL GURERRO

The linebacker is arguably the most versatile player on the defensive side of the ball. The great Fielding H. Yost invented the position intended to be a middle ground between the pass and the run. If Yost could see UTEP linebacker Josh Fely, he would simply nod his head and agree that the young transfer fits that mold. Hailing from the Oceanside, Calif., the 5-feet 11-inch Fely is more than just the average transfer from a junior college. He attended Oceanside High School with an alumni list of professional athletes that stretches well beyond any normal school. Among the famous players is former NFL great Junior Seau, who Fely said he has always looked up because of skill at linebacker and the connection they share on and off the field. “We looked at Fely right out of high school,” head coach Mike Price said. “We got him out of junior college. He comes from a great family and his brother is a good player at San Diego State.” So far this season Fely has burst out onto the scene after missing most of summer camp at Socorro, New Mexico and finding himself in the second string position behind senior linebacker Isaiah Carter. “It started off slow coming from junior college. We don’t really have too many plays and I come here and there’s a playbook that changes from week to week depending on who we play,” Fely said. “Schemes change and I am still getting the hang of all that and the coaches have helped me out with that.” Fely transferred from San Diego Mesa College where in two years with the Olympians, he compiled 156 tackles, 17.5 of those were for losses. He arrived here this past spring and impressed the coaching staff with his ability to play the outside linebacker position. Coaches were happy with his performance over the offseason, but it was a series of unfortunate events in his life and on the football team, which pushed Fely into the starting role this season. Over the summer right when the Miners annual Camp

FOCUSED AND DETERMINED:Josh Fely’s Focus Has Made an Impact with Team

Continued on page 20

M I N E R I L L U S T R A T E D . C O M1 6

Junior college transfer Josh Fely, seen here making a play during the Houston game, has made an immediate impact on the team. Ivan Pierre Aguirre

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Soccer: Junior forward Brittany Kindzierski has been selected as the Conference USA Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Kindzierski torched Houston and Rice for a combined five goals to help the Miners (10-3-2, 4-1-1 C-USA) forge a perfect mark (1-0-1) to maintain their unbeaten record (8-0-1) at home in 2011. She got things going with a hat trick to proper the Orange and blue past the Cougars, 6-3, on Oct. 7. It was the first hat trick of her career and the 22nd all time in program history. Kindzierski followed that performance up by finding the back of the net twice in a span of less than seven minutes during the first half of the contest against the defensive-minded Owls. It marked just the second time on the year that Rice had permitted two goals in a game, let alone a pair by the same player. It is the initial C-USA Player of the Week award this year for Kindzierski, and the second of her career. Her efforts helped the Miners hold onto a share of third place in the highly-competitive Conference USA standings. No. 6 Memphis (13-0-1, 5-0-1), which UTEP will challenge on the road at 6 p.m. MT Friday, and Colorado College (7-4-3, 5-0-1) are tied for first place with 16 points. The Miners and SMU (8-5-1, 4-1-1) are deadlocked in third with 13 points, followed by UCF (8-2-4, 3-1-2) with 11 and RU with 10 (8-4-2, 3-2-1). Photo: Michael P. Reese/UTEP Athletics

Track and Field: UTEP head coach Mika Laaksonen and co-head coach Paul Ereng announced Tuesday the addition of Scott Roberts to the UTEP track and Field staff. Roberts will be overseeing UTEP’s sprints, jumps, hurdles and multievents. “I think coach Scott Roberts is a perfect fit for our program,” head coach Mika Laaksonen said. “Scott is an experienced coach with a tremendous set of skills that will benefit our program. We are very fortunate to be able to hire a coach of his stature.” “This program has been so successful over the years with all the national and individual titles,” Roberts said. “I’ve always admired this program throughout my career and it’s an honor to be able to come and be apart of UTEP.” Roberts comes to UTEP from the University of Alabama where he served as an assistant coach in sprints, hurdles and jumps from 2007-11. While at Alabama, Roberts mentored eight All-Americans, one World Championship participant, four SEC champions, nine All-SEC performers, two SEC Freshman Athletes of the Year, 22 NCAA Qualifiers and five Drake Relays Champions. Roberts has produced some of the best athletes in Alabama school history with 23 top-10 all-time marks including six school records. At Alabama, Roberts worked as a Speed Trainer and Consultant for Crimson Tide Football during the 2010-11 school year. He trained All-American and NFL first round draft choice Rolando McClain and All-American and second draft pick Javier Arenas. He is a Certified strength and Conditioning Specialist and is a USATF Coaching Education Levels I and II Lead Instructor. Roberts is the author of two books: Progressions for Coaching the Sprints and Progressions from Coaching the Hurdles. Roberts and his wife, Kris, are parents of two children, Courtney and Zachary. “I want to win team titles and continue that tradition that’s been so strong at UTEP.”

Photo: Michael P. Reese/UTEP Athletics

noteWORTHY

Fely (continued)

never have to worry about with [Fely].” The next two games against New Mexico State and South Florida were more productive for Fely who totaled seven tackles combined in those two games while splitting time with Carter at linebacker. “He’s done good and bad at his position, but he has done more good than anything,” Rodriguez said. “He’s earned everything he’s got. That’s why he fits in with this group; he’s not some silver spoon player. We have guys who have had to work hard for what they got.” So far this season Fely has gained notoriety for having a nose for the ball. He has racked up 26 total tackles in five games, 12 of which are solo. The biggest game of the season came against Houston where he accounted for nine tackles. The Miners went on to a close game to the Cougars, but despite that Fely led the way in tackles for the first time this season. “That game was Fely’s best so far,” Rodriguez said about the Houston contest. “That this is why we recruited

him; Fely can give you games like that and we saw that on film right off the back.” “I’m not real big on JUCO guys and Fely came out here from Calif. from another college,” linebacker Jeremy Springer said about his teammate. “In the past some JUCO guys didn’t work out, but this year he has been big for us. He has stepped up and done really

good things.” Springer continued his commentary by saying he felt Fely exhibited some of the best instincts on the field to include situations where the JUCO transfer might now completely doesn’t know what is going on. Springer said Fely has continued to find his way to

M I N E R I L L U S T R A T E D . C O M

the ball “because he can sniff out the play no matter what.” “We have our arguments now and then because as a defense we want to be perfect,” Springer said. “He comes in here and studies his ass off and learned the playbook. He makes mistakes, we all have, but he’s instinctive so it makes up for it.”Off the field the players said Fely is

a laid back person who is always talking about Calif. but on the field he has some of the play intuition of anyone, a quality the coaches have come to love about him. With seven games left in the season, Fely has plenty of time to show coaches and fans what he is capable of. If he is anything like the warrior he is made out to be, Fely is sure to shine this season and next. “It has been awesome recruiting [Fely] and getting him here at UTEP,” Rodriguez said. “I think that is a kid who has his best work ahead of him and he will continue to get better.”

2 0

m nerillustrated.com

Your independent site for news, analysis and opinion about the UTEP Miners.

“Our policy and coach [Andre] Patterson’s

policies have always been to play the very best guy,” linebacker

coach Robert Rodriguez said. “I think everybody

gets opportunities and it is about making the best out of those

opportunities and that is certainly what he did.”

M I N E R I L L U S T R A T E D . C O M 2 1

JOSH PUGA

As I sat looking at my computer screen thinking of what to write I was reflecting about the upcoming Tulane matchup for the 2-3 Miners and how this game will make or break UTEP’s 2011 season. It may not seem like I am going out on a limb to say if UTEP loses in New Orleans this Saturday that the chances of a winning season will be slim to none, but can anyone really see the Miners winning anymore than 3 games with 6 to play to achieve a .500 record or better. You can count me out. Sure I predicted the Miners to be 2-3 at this point of the season and while I will admit, I love to be right I was really hoping I the team would prove me wrong. Actually, before the season started I considered going with a 3-2 record in the first five games thinking they could win one of the two games versus SMU or Houston, but in the end I just couldn’t pull the trigger and unfortunately it was the right decision. Believe me I am not bragging, just making a point that the Miners have proved to be what I thought they would be and that is a mediocre team trying to find their identity. As someone that has followed the Miners for a long time it is difficult to admit the mediocrity of this team when they could have potentially started this season at 4-1. With that said, the season is still not over. Most college football fans understand when coaches say “the next game is the most important,” well this upcoming game on Saturday versus the Green Wave couldn’t be truer for this Miner team and

I honestly believe this game will be the turning point for the season. First the negative impact of a loss; if the Miners lose to go 2-4 and as much as it pains me to say, there is no chance at a winning record or even getting to 6-6 with games remaining versus Southern Miss and Central Florida. Coach Mike Price might as well start evaluating potential starters for next season. Not trying to rain on anyone’s parade, just the reality of the situation. Now, if the Miners win to go 3-3

then there is a glimmer of hope to keep this season alive. Return home to face Colorado State and possibly run the record up to 4-3 before hosting Southern Miss and potentially pulling the upset to go 5-3. With four games left and two at home, six wins is certainly possible and that magic seventh win might not be too far out of reach. So you see how one win can change the entire complexion of the season? As for the matchup with Tulane, it certainly won’t be a walk in the park. UTEP isn’t the best road team and playing in the Superdome hasn’t been as fun as it sounds for the Miners as they have

lost their last two games in New Orleans. I am still trying to forget 2009, when Tulane scored an improbable last-second touchdown to send the game to overtime in a game the Miners let slip away 45-38. After more than two weeks between games it is imperative the Miners come out strong against Tulane and get off to a fast start. In all five games this season the Miners have not had a lead at the half and that will have to change in the remaining games. No more excuses from the offense or

defense as both units will be as healthy as they have been all season. The offense seems to be playing with a ton of confidence after the Houston performance, especially with the return of Nick Lamaison and the emergence of the running game. We have seen firsthand that the defense has struggled mightily, but those poor performances are in the rearview mirror and now they have a golden opportunity to help UTEP turn this season around and prove they are better than they have been playing. Time is running out for this team, but a win

on Saturday could be the spark that is needed to keep the hope of a winning season alive. Honestly, I believe that this team has enough talent to go on an extended win streak and prove the doubters and myself wrong. However, until this team can figure out a way to put it all together from start to finish we are still left wondering the true makeup of this year’s Miner squad. Hopefully we will find out soon enough with a Miner victory in the Superdome this weekend.

THE FINAL WORD:Tulane or Bust

As someone that has followed the Miners for a long time it is

difficult to admit the mediocrity of this team when they could have potentially started this season at 4-1. With that said, the season is still

not over.

signing OFF

Meyers is up and over.

Jeff Taylor

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