UTEP is getting 3 Mill for the two body bag games this year. And we have Texas next year. Fire Walden.
If Utep loses to Kennesaw State...
- Thread starter FiliUTEP
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lol hahaha Utep ain’t Notre Dame or the NFL, no school in the Group of 6 fires a couch after the 1st year for wins or losses lol Get A Clue, Not Happening!
We need an OKG at QB that is a PTP'er.
Find a bit of a difference-maker at QB and most teams will find wins or at least be in it most of the games. I'm not talking All-American here, somewhere between a Rocky Perez and a Jordan Palmer. I don't think that guy is on the roster. I hope I'm wrong.
Find a bit of a difference-maker at QB and most teams will find wins or at least be in it most of the games. I'm not talking All-American here, somewhere between a Rocky Perez and a Jordan Palmer. I don't think that guy is on the roster. I hope I'm wrong.
To add on to this, this is the list of seniors I had when the final roster dropped in August.
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Seniors 2024:
- Isiah Wright
- Jaden Smith
- Otis Pitts
- Julian Lopez
- Kevin Hurley
- Trey Goodman
- Corey Wren
- Mo Westmoreland
- Sione Tonga'uiha
- Bryton Thompson
- Tevita Tafuna
- Jalen Rayam
- Hunter Rapolla
- AJ Odums
- Oscar Moore
- KD Johnson
- Jayce Hunter
- Dorian Hopkins
- Jake Hall
- Yessman Green
- Devin Goree
- Tray Dunson
- Corey Chapman
- Chase Bibler
- Josiah Allen
- Angelo Tejada
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Jaden Smith got hurt early on and might be back next season. I don't know if a good chunk of these guys have played and might be eligible for redshirt.
There is a combination of factors as to why this season did not work out. Walden is new to FBS and is just young in general. No matter how you slice it, he is still learning on the job. I have read many complaints over the years that we never go with the young, up and coming coach. Well, we finally did. And this is the risk you take when you go young and relatively inexperienced, in comparison to guys like Dimel. And let's be honest, a GOOD experienced coach like Gary Patterson or Rich Rodriguez isn't coming to UTEP at the salaries UTEP pays. Walden had to take a payout to bring his coaching staff in. The MWC move will help with that atleast.
Walden has done a great job rebuilding the brand on the recruiting trail in Texas. This past class, the core of the class was HS kids with a lot of Austin Peay kids (they also had to all adjust to FBS together). The 2025 class will be even heavier on HS kids. The team will be built with HS kids, which means it'll take a couple years for them to get experience and get stronger and become key players. Kyran Duhon is a good example of a kid that is balling out as a freshman. Shufelt is another. Jaylin Jones is getting a lot of opportunities. As long as there isn't a mass exodus through the portal, I am liking the future of the defense through the young guys. The offense has a good core at WR and RB. TE is a mystery.
When you turnover a roster as much as Walden did, a slow/bad start was inevitable. Yep his offense is putrid. Bad OL and bad QB play. Walden needs to utilize the transfer portal to bring in an experienced QB and OL. Easier said than done, but I hope Walden pulls in a grad transfer QB. Someone that can be transitory for Chad Warner. Waldens playcalling is baffling at times, but he's limited by his QB and his OL (still completely Waldens fault).
I think he has until year 4 to turn this thing around (UTEP isnt paying a buyout unless its a year out from the end of his contract, which is 2028), and based on his recruiting, I think he will do it.
Could have gone with the young OC from UNLV. Some players would have stayed. Better offense. From your list, it appears the defense is going to take a hit next season...
This really shows how far UTEP has fallen down the pecking order. A coach like Rodriguez wouldn’t consider coming here for the $800k that Walden is set to make, yet he’s willing to take that same amount at a transitioning FCS program. After an impressive first year at JSU, he earned a contract extension with a salary increase. It’s disheartening to see where things stand.
From what I have read, Walden is getting less than 800k this year to pay for his coaching staff.
I liked Marrion too. That was my favorite of the bunch. But we would have to be patient with Marrion too.
He’s guaranteed 800k.
Breaking Down UTEP Coach Scotty Walden's Contract: What to Know
Earlier this week, Steve Kaplowitz and 600 ESPN El Paso obtained a copy of the official contract for coach Walden, which featured no real surprises. Here are some key takeaways:
krod.com
Except at ULM. Pay a coach half of what Walden makes, turnover more players on the roster, while being lucky to get 10k fans for Saturday home games, but can’t do it here. Have to lower expectations every time.
Prior to hiring Vincent, they had Bowden. He went 10-26 and got fired after 3 seasons. Would UTEP do the same if after 3 years Walden has a similar record?
Dimel went 5-27 in his first 3 years here, ironically with a win over ULM and he still wasn’t fired.
If Walden doesn’t win 4 or 5 games next year, he should be fired. UTEP would be ruining their chance to have real excitement for the program with the MWC move. Imagine rolling out 4-20 Walden out there and trying to get the fans excited for a new conference.
If he can’t beat fcs and fcs transitioning teams from CUSA what the hell do we think he’s gonna do in the MW?
He's guaranteed his base, which is 500k a year.He’s guaranteed 800k.
Breaking Down UTEP Coach Scotty Walden's Contract: What to Know
Earlier this week, Steve Kaplowitz and 600 ESPN El Paso obtained a copy of the official contract for coach Walden, which featured no real surprises. Here are some key takeaways:
Did you even read the article?
“He will receive a base salary of $500,000 per year, with a guaranteed media supplement of $300,000 annually, totaling to an $800,000 contract on a yearly basis”
Read More: Breaking Down UTEP Coach Scotty Walden's Contract: What to Know | https://krod.com/breaking-down-utep...-know/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Agree. I don't understand why he's not using this highly touted class now. With the way this crappy season is going, my guess is more than a handful of those recruits are going to go elsewhere.
People need to stop relying on built in excuses like “We don’t pay enough” or “He doesn’t have his own players.” In today’s world, it’s easier than ever to fact check and get accurate information.
I also read someone claiming that Senter designed his contract to make it hard to fire him. However, as the linked article confirms, this is yet another false claim.
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Some still are hanging on player development. These guys will leave whenever they want. Not to mention, if some player isn’t doing well, Walden (or any other coach) will still replace him.
Walden has next season to be “competitive”. UTEP cannot afford to keep a 4-20 coach going into the MWC. There’s no way he wins 9 games in 2026 if he could only win 2 or 3 with a CUSA schedule.
Walden is recruiting decently well. Give him a couple of years to show progression and then decide. Meanwhile UTEP needs to work on facilities and whatever collective we have needs to keep growing. If UTEP needs to move on at least the next coach may have some tools in the toolbox.
In regards to systems most coaches are not rocket scientist. They are gonna run what they know and what has worked. Most are stubborn in that regard. Better players will always help too. Again, Walden needs a QB.
In regards to systems most coaches are not rocket scientist. They are gonna run what they know and what has worked. Most are stubborn in that regard. Better players will always help too. Again, Walden needs a QB.
The defense has made major strides. One of the best sack units in CUSA. The offense still needs work but Jackson is getting it done. UTEP needs bigger hogs on the O line. The penalties have really diminished. I am seeing improvement, but not letting Pickles throw doesn't work at this level with today's faster defensive players, even at mid major level. I'm seeing good things, and I'm realistic with a 4th stringer QB.
Maybe the defense is better, but he’s an offensive coach! If the defense really is better and people notice, the d coord will be gone after the season. Then we start over on defense or hope the linebackers coach is just as good.
Some people are so set in their opinions that no amount of evidence or reasoning will sway them. Even when presented with facts that contradict their beliefs, they double down, filtering out anything that challenges their perspective. It becomes less about the truth and more about holding on to a narrative they’re emotionally invested in.
A P5 win and a bowl win, but I will take a bowl win.
Walden caught a break with our move to the Mountain West in 2026, otherwise, he was likely facing a 1-3 start. The logical move would be to replace SJSU with NMSU for the non conference schedule. It’ll probably still be an away game, given that we’re set to host them in 2025.
True. And you could have dropped this in the Ominous thread and it would apply there too.
Oh, trust me, that comment was written with that thread in mind. It’s precisely why I stopped engaging there, it’s just not worth the time or energy.
Yes, hate or love it, it's America's past time. Second, UTEP has new silver lining; we got invited to the MW.
4th best rushing RB in CUSA improvement on offense? Not too shabby IMO.
NCAAF Player Stat Leaders, 2024 Regular Season - ESPN
The 2024 NCAAF Regular Season Player stat leaders on ESPN. Includes stat leaders in every category from passing and rushing to tackles and interceptions.
Depending on if Locklear will return Walden should win 3 or 4 this year and next year 5 or 6. After that I think the quality recruiting really shows and year 3 could be really fun. It’s still early, but the jury is still out, but I think he will ultimately end up winning and moving on. If not this University is truly cursed and a Graveyard for coaches lol
I don’t see why Locklear is being viewed as the key to finishing strong. He’s had the entire season to prove himself, and honestly, the numbers speak for themselves. It’s time to give the freshman quarterbacks a shot, our best chance to win might be sitting on the bench.
UTEP could win 3 or 4 this year, I wouldn’t say should.
Same. If it’s apparent to me/us what his limitations are, those same limitations are glaring to d coordinators. We’ve seen what we’re gonna get from SL. He’s got no tricks up his sleeve.
I liked what I saw from Pickles. Walden needs to trust him more to air it out, his high school stats were better than Shay’s.
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