UTEP worries me

[PerunaPunch]

UTEP is a hot and cold team. Our defense once again showed it can take a 0-8 team and turn some of its unknown players into Heisman candidates. Imagine what we could do against a team with some talent.

UTEP has a good running back and a QB that can make plays. Throw in a defense that might actually play up to potential and UTEP has a perfect storm for an upset against us.

Special teams saved us last week. We need a stronger performance from the D and a more consistent O.

And all this bowl talk could put the mojo on our young kids that are thinking before performing about a bowl game.

We had a must win situation last week and won against a team we should have dominated. We once again have a must win but we are playing a team with much more talent and capability.

I hope our kids are focused and prepared and perform to a higher standard this week.

Dude, you're saying what I've been thinking all week. UTEP has proven they're able to beat anyone in CUSA on any given Saturday. One small caveat in what you posted: It's my belief that it was poor officiating, as much as our defense, that let Rice hang in there. Although I'd much rather see the D all over the oposing QB like they were at Tulsa and Houston, but Rice's O-line seemed much more substantial than I would have thought.

[PerunaPunch]

Should we have dominated Rice? We are playing better than we did last year, but does that really translate into being able to dominate any team? Let's not forget that we aren't that far removed from 1-11 and poor performances against SFA.

I don't think we matched up well against Rice. Their O-line was pretty dominant, and their receivers were huge. I think our size and speed matches up better against the Tulsa's and Houston's of the conference rather than bigger and stronger teams like TCU and to a degree, Rice.

[StallionsModelT]

I too am worried about this game. UTEP has some good skill guys and we are not good enough yet to overlook any opponent. Expect another knock down drag out affair but I think we find a way to come out on top.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

UTEP scares the hell out of me too! They have faster and bigger athletes at most
positions. It will most likely take 35 points to win this game. We better be ready!

[mustangxc]

I am very weary of this game!!! I think that UTEP will beat us and then lose to Rice the following week! We definitely cannot take them lightly! I think that the result actually depends more on their attitude towards us than our attitude towards them! Having beaten UH and Tulsa and lost to Memphis and Tulane it is fairly obvious that they beat the teams they respect and lose to the teams they do not respect. I really hope they associate SMU with being the bottom feeders of CUSA as we have been and not with being the solid first place team that we currently are.

[Cadillac]

I am very weary of this game!!!

Have a nap, or maybe a cup of coffee.

-CoS

[couch 'em]

The team in the past has been full of losers - that is, players that are accustomed to losing, and find a way to make it happen.

We now seem to have a much higher % of winners - players that find a way to make winning happen.

UTEP should be wary of us, because they have lost to a lot of teams and we have beaten 5 teams.

[gostangs]

They have been pretty poor on the road and really good at home. Good news -they are on the road against us. the Tulsa and Houston games were both in El Paso.

I agree with the sentiment of being concerned. Any pony fan who is not concerned whomever the opponant has not been around much.

Getting up in the qb's face early and controling the LOS early when we are on D are keys.

[Moose]

Dude, you're saying what I've been thinking all week. UTEP has proven they're able to beat anyone in CUSA on any given Saturday. One small caveat in what you posted: It's my belief that it was poor officiating, as much as our defense, that let Rice hang in there. Although I'd much rather see the D all over the oposing QB like they were at Tulsa and Houston, but Rice's O-line seemed much more substantial than I would have thought.[/quote]

There was no worse officiating that I have ever seen as what happened in the UH game. We could have easily won that game if it were not for the inept oficials. They could not even remember what the call was that they were reviewing. I think Padron has shown his ability to adapt and run the ball if he has to. We def need to play better than we did against Rice. If we play like we did against Houston and hold onto the ball, we have a really good chance of widening out the score a bit this Saturday. Let's fill up Ford and support our Ponies!

[Stallion]

we could have won every game on our schedule according to some of you homers if the referrees hadn't screwed us. Go back and check-there is constant [deleted] about the damn refs. You win some you lose some-rarely can you say you lost because of the referrees-and generrally it evens out over the season

[George S. Patton]

We will beat UTEP!

[Dooby]

Should we have dominated Rice? We are playing better than we did last year, but does that really translate into being able to dominate any team? Let's not forget that we aren't that far removed from 1-11 and poor performances against SFA.

Ironically, per Sagarin, SFA is ranked 124 and UTEP is 125.

Fact is that every time should worry us. We are 1 game over .500 and were 1 game below .500 two weeks ago. We are getting better, but we are not capable of taking a team lightly and winning.

UTEP plays much better at home than on the road; they always have. The Sun Bowl is a tough place to play. Glad we have them at home this season. They have some athletes and I still think Price can coach. The players and the fans need to be ready for this one.

[ready4abowl]

We win this one.

[The PonyGrad]

UTEP should scare the hell out of us...funny how people point out that we could be 7-2 but don't mention that we could just as easily be 3-6 without a few breaks going our way.

In reality this is a .500 team that needs to claw and scratch for each win...I think we will win, but am worried...On the plus side, the Rice game should have reminded all the players that they cannot just show up and win.

And we almost lost to UAB and had a scare vs. SFA. We could easily be 1-8 so let's not get ahead of ourselves. We need to have a good team effort to beat UTEP. No question.

[SMU21TCU10]

I am scared because UTEP keeps beating the better teams in our conference. And we are one of those better teams!