PonyFans.com

anybody notice UTEP has committed 4 very nice recruits in the last week or so to bring their commitment list to 24 by the end of October. Geez in the old days they would have to beg kids to come visit after signing date in February.This is etremely unusual for a non-BCS school. I'm not sure I remember any non-BCS school have more than 10-15 commitments this early. You know they have to leave some room for the transfer brigade. Of course, they may have to hold on to some of those kids.

With all the great juco's and transfers they get every year, you would think they would be above 4-4.

Someone told me recently that more than half of their men's basketball roster is JUCO transfers.

The residue of all of this will be how many actually get into their school. You can sign your letter of intent. That doesn't mean you'll be stepping on their campus the following August because you can't meet academic requirements. UTEP is the kind of program that will always take the borderline academic kids. We won't.

I talked to a guy in their athletic department (he was here for the women's soccer tournament) and he said they have eight or nine newcomers -- including six JUCOs -- on their current roster. So apparently they did get in. How good they are, I don't know.

With a graduation rate of 4% (I think this is the general student body; the bball team many be 3%) I don't think UTEP is much concerned about academics.

4.5 grad rate in 4 years at UTEP. I don't know the bball rate but I would imagine it is in the same ballpark.

I can't past the article but it is on the internets. Googles it.

Why would anyone want to go to school in El Paso ? Coach Price and his staff have done a good job but come on.

Well, if I was a wide receiver or defensive back, I would think about SMU since Justin Willis is the quarterback and Chase and Pellerin are leaving, and god knows we need help in the secondary.

westexSMU wrote:Why would anyone want to go to school in El Paso ? Coach Price and his staff have done a good job but come on.

Price and his staff have excellent relationships with many of the pro teams and they have the reputation for preparing kids for the NFL. They also do a good job of positioning themselves with talented kids who choose an elite school but are probably going to be second team. When the kid gets frustrated and leaves, they calls Price because they know they will play and also get lots of exposure to the pros. The Florida State kid who is going to be UTEP's quarterback next year is a great example.

By the way, El Paso really supports that program and fills up the Sun Bowl......Degrees in "basket weaving" helps, too.........