Staying up late on the East Coast to watch some of UTEP football has been rough to say the least. 2 or 3 weeks ago while watching the game I looked in the Miner offensive huddle and said out loud the Dimel era is over. It’s one thing struggling against good opposition and being able to take something from every game to move to the next. But we’ve gotten to the point where every week the team is regressing in a completely different facet of the game. From Offense to Defense to Special Teams it’s all a mess. And when you look at the players in the huddle their faces and body language says it all. Someone tell me these players haven’t checked out. You can’t! How can Dana Dimel relate to these players? Your younger coach on the staff Scotty O’Hara is in the press box with binoculars jotting notes. He sure as hell ain’t calling the plays. The players know they are stuck with Dimel. And it takes a lot for these players to keep showing up , and not turn on each other or even the coaches to the media. I actually commend the players in this aspect.
—Here’s my wild idea. You let Dimel finish the season. You take a huge risk on a YOUNGER-OFFENSIVE minded coach next season that won’t even cost 800k a year. GJ Kinne is making 800k a year right now ( the same salary as Dimel ) at Texas State and has beaten Baylor AND Nevada this season already. While putting up 77 points in a single game! I bring in MACK LEFTWICH, offensive coordinator, at Texas State. Yes former UTEP QB Mack Leftwich. At 28 years old, you’re not paying him 800k, so in a short term contract you’re recouping the Dimel last year loss. You give him 4 years. And if it doesn’t work out fine. But you take a RISK! You get someone younger in the building who is already familiar with the UTEP program, knows Texas- College and High School Football and you let the young man put together a staff. He ain’t gonna cost 800k and quite frankly , maybe Kinne advises him to stay with him. GJ Kinne is going to be one of the biggest names in college football if not already. So I wouldn’t be surprised if someone on his coaching staff says I’m sticking with him. It’s probably the smarter thing to do even for someone like Mack Leftwich.
In closing answer this question,
“What parent of a high school kid is even allowing Dana Dimel walk into their house and promise the world to their son, when we all know he won’t be at UTEP past next season?” Unless UTEP is your child’s ONLY D-1 offer you’re not even considering sending your kid to play under this staff at this moment. Dana Dimel has ZERO business recruiting any high school kid right now. He should be looking strictly at the portal and the JUCO ranks. ( oh but Dana Dimel doesn’t like pulling from the Transfer Portal ) what an old fashioned way to think. And a terrible way to evolve in todays coaching world. You actually think high school recruiting is what’s gonna help a school like UTEP in todays game?
Though I say let Dimel finish the year….It’s time. Make a change UTEP. Take a damn RISK!
