Post by MinerMan2010 on Nov 20, 2012 10:31:09 GMT -5
Miner fans,
With the announcement of highly rated guard Isaac Hamilton committing to the basketball program, we need to see some changes in the UTEP Athletic Department. There are some things that are below standards and downright awful. Before we get to that, a quick comment on the next UTEP football coach.
I am glad to see Mike Price finally gone. I have torn him down enough, so no need to do it again. He said yesterday, that he wanted someone from the current staff to take over the position. Hopefully, he is just saying that and not actually believing that. Andre Patterson would be a horrible choice for head coach because he has already been critical of the fans. And the Price sons would obviously be a horrible choice. I don't mind if they keep one assistant on, but a culture change is needed! We don't need under-achievers on our coaching staffs anymore.
Back to the matter at hand, in order for UTEP to be a "national" basketball program, a change is needed; a change of conferences that is. The Conference USA that some of us knew and loved is no more. Memphis, UCF, Houston, and SMU are all leaving for the Big East. While UCF, UH, and SMU are not huge losses, they are still better names than their replacements. However, losing Memphis is HUGE. Even though they have dropped off a bit, they are without a doubt the best basketball program in CUSA. The most disappointing thing about CUSA has been that the Miners and Tigers only play once per year! Every year, we have only played once in the regular season. That is stupid in every way possible. How could you have 2 of the better programs in the conference only play once?
Coming to CUSA will be Charlotte, Old Dominion, FIU, North Texas, UTSA, and LaTech. Charlotte and ODU are nice programs, but nowhere near the level of Memphis. FIU, UNT, UTSA, and LaTech are crap. Low attendance and nobodies in college basketball. By remaining in CUSA, UTEP will have to have an outstanding record in non-conference play to have any shot at an at-large bid. Besides maybe Tulsa, is their anyone we would miss playing? ECU has horrible basketball, Tulane and Rice are jokes, and who really cares about USM, UAB, and Marshall?
So if we leave CUSA, where should the Miners go? That's easy, the Mountain West Conference. The MWC has the UNLV and UNM basketball programs. We would play those two teams at least 4 times every year! Not to mention, Utah St, Fresno St, and Nevada will be in that league. So we can play UNLV and UNM 4 times a year or play UTSA and UNT 4 times per year, which one is more beneficial to UTEP???
ESPN is reporting that BYU, Boise, and San Diego St are considering re-joining the MWC. espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8653727/boise-state-broncos-sdsu-aztecs-byu-cougars-talk-mwc-return-sources-say If that happens, UTEP needs to do whatever it takes to get over there. Do I think it will happen? Probably not. I think the Big East will take more CUSA football teams, and CUSA will take more Sun Belt programs with horrible basketball teams. No thanks. That's why a move to the MWC, has to happen. It just has to.
Another thing UTEP needs to improve is their online store and merchandise available to the fans. Check out the University of Montanas store www.mstoreonline.com/ I wish UTEP has some of the gear Montana has. If FCS school Montana can have good looking stuff, why can't we? UTEP has always done a horrible job at it. I remember in 2004 when Price started and had the city excited, you couldn't find, let alone buy a replica Nike jersey. Poor marketing by UTEP and its no wonder they struggle to get fans in their stadiums.
UTEP also needs to improve the way they conduct business with media. UTEP thinks they are the CIA and only puts out press releases after multiple websites report stuff. I don't know why the El Paso Times is so poor when it comes to UTEP coverage. There is never any articles on recruits visiting or potential games with schools. When Darren Hunt was there, we would see that. Now, in the digital age, there seems to be less information. How can that be?
?
Maybe it is time for a change in AD's. Bob Stull kept Mike Price around after 6 straight losing seasons. No other AD in the country would do that. He didn't want to fire his friend and it was a bad business move. His decisions have to be questioned. His Athletic Department is secretive, puts out poor merchandise, and he really doesn't care about the fans that come out to the games.
To recap, change ADs, change conferences, and improve your media and merchandise. "Lesser" schools can do it, there's NO reason why we can't.
With the announcement of highly rated guard Isaac Hamilton committing to the basketball program, we need to see some changes in the UTEP Athletic Department. There are some things that are below standards and downright awful. Before we get to that, a quick comment on the next UTEP football coach.
I am glad to see Mike Price finally gone. I have torn him down enough, so no need to do it again. He said yesterday, that he wanted someone from the current staff to take over the position. Hopefully, he is just saying that and not actually believing that. Andre Patterson would be a horrible choice for head coach because he has already been critical of the fans. And the Price sons would obviously be a horrible choice. I don't mind if they keep one assistant on, but a culture change is needed! We don't need under-achievers on our coaching staffs anymore.
Back to the matter at hand, in order for UTEP to be a "national" basketball program, a change is needed; a change of conferences that is. The Conference USA that some of us knew and loved is no more. Memphis, UCF, Houston, and SMU are all leaving for the Big East. While UCF, UH, and SMU are not huge losses, they are still better names than their replacements. However, losing Memphis is HUGE. Even though they have dropped off a bit, they are without a doubt the best basketball program in CUSA. The most disappointing thing about CUSA has been that the Miners and Tigers only play once per year! Every year, we have only played once in the regular season. That is stupid in every way possible. How could you have 2 of the better programs in the conference only play once?
Coming to CUSA will be Charlotte, Old Dominion, FIU, North Texas, UTSA, and LaTech. Charlotte and ODU are nice programs, but nowhere near the level of Memphis. FIU, UNT, UTSA, and LaTech are crap. Low attendance and nobodies in college basketball. By remaining in CUSA, UTEP will have to have an outstanding record in non-conference play to have any shot at an at-large bid. Besides maybe Tulsa, is their anyone we would miss playing? ECU has horrible basketball, Tulane and Rice are jokes, and who really cares about USM, UAB, and Marshall?
So if we leave CUSA, where should the Miners go? That's easy, the Mountain West Conference. The MWC has the UNLV and UNM basketball programs. We would play those two teams at least 4 times every year! Not to mention, Utah St, Fresno St, and Nevada will be in that league. So we can play UNLV and UNM 4 times a year or play UTSA and UNT 4 times per year, which one is more beneficial to UTEP???
ESPN is reporting that BYU, Boise, and San Diego St are considering re-joining the MWC. espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8653727/boise-state-broncos-sdsu-aztecs-byu-cougars-talk-mwc-return-sources-say If that happens, UTEP needs to do whatever it takes to get over there. Do I think it will happen? Probably not. I think the Big East will take more CUSA football teams, and CUSA will take more Sun Belt programs with horrible basketball teams. No thanks. That's why a move to the MWC, has to happen. It just has to.
Another thing UTEP needs to improve is their online store and merchandise available to the fans. Check out the University of Montanas store www.mstoreonline.com/ I wish UTEP has some of the gear Montana has. If FCS school Montana can have good looking stuff, why can't we? UTEP has always done a horrible job at it. I remember in 2004 when Price started and had the city excited, you couldn't find, let alone buy a replica Nike jersey. Poor marketing by UTEP and its no wonder they struggle to get fans in their stadiums.
UTEP also needs to improve the way they conduct business with media. UTEP thinks they are the CIA and only puts out press releases after multiple websites report stuff. I don't know why the El Paso Times is so poor when it comes to UTEP coverage. There is never any articles on recruits visiting or potential games with schools. When Darren Hunt was there, we would see that. Now, in the digital age, there seems to be less information. How can that be?
?Maybe it is time for a change in AD's. Bob Stull kept Mike Price around after 6 straight losing seasons. No other AD in the country would do that. He didn't want to fire his friend and it was a bad business move. His decisions have to be questioned. His Athletic Department is secretive, puts out poor merchandise, and he really doesn't care about the fans that come out to the games.
To recap, change ADs, change conferences, and improve your media and merchandise. "Lesser" schools can do it, there's NO reason why we can't.
