Is it safe to say that we’re basically fcs now?

[USAFminersfan]

Based on our conference additions, and whatever defections are left to be had, I feel like we moved down to fcs status, rather than bringing any of these programs up to fbs

I wonder what happens to our already struggling attendance. Crazy to think that those numbers are about to look like the worst teams we used to talk crap about. Maybe I’m wrong, but I just don’t see El Paso caring, or paying money to watch us battle Jacksonville st, gulf coast community college, or whatever programs we have/will add to this “conference”…

 

[UTEPDefense]

I just hope that we don't become a one bid conference........for a bowl game.

I am not sure what bowls will want to renew to take the 3rd or 4th best team from this new conference?

 

[USAFminersfan]

I just hope that we don't become a one bid conference........for a bowl game.

I am not sure what bowls will want to renew to take the 3rd or 4th best team from this new conference?

There’s certainly no scenario where any of our teams would bring fans or eyeballs to a bowl game. Most would probably ask why they were letting fcs programs qualify

 

[nattybry]

Based on our conference additions, and whatever defections are left to be had, I feel like we moved down to fcs status, rather than bringing any of these programs up to fbs

I wonder what happens to our already struggling attendance. Crazy to think that those numbers are about to look like the worst teams we used to talk crap about. Maybe I’m wrong, but I just don’t see El Paso caring, or paying money to watch us battle Jacksonville st, gulf coast community college, or whatever programs we have/will add to this “conference”…

You do realize that ODU,UNC Charlotte were FCS and UTSA didn't have a football team before they were added. Oh and like 5 of Sun Belts teams were FCS 5 years ago?

 

[kickballpro]

I just hope that we don't become a one bid conference........for a bowl game.

I am not sure what bowls will want to renew to take the 3rd or 4th best team from this new conference?

There's enough bowl games to make everyone happy.

 

[OsoFromELP]

I just hope that we don't become a one bid conference........for a bowl game.

I am not sure what bowls will want to renew to take the 3rd or 4th best team from this new conference?

Unrealistic with the number of bowl games that exist, and continuously growing. Now who C-USA is paired against may change.

 

[JCorona]

In 2016 there was a shortage of bowl eligible teams and 5-7 teams qualified

In 2017 1 team stayed home, a 6 win team.

In 2018 4 teams stayed home even though they were elegible for a bowl, all four of them only had 6 wins.

In 2019 every elegible team played in a bowl.

2020 doesn't count

I think it's safe to say that anyone in the new CUSA that wins 7 games will be in a bowl.

 

[NoNCAAWinsSince1992]

You do realize that ODU,UNC Charlotte were FCS and UTSA didn't have a football team before they were added. Oh and like 5 of Sun Belts teams were FCS 5 years ago?

Coastal Carolina was the only one who was FCS “5 years ago”

 

[USAFminersfan]

You do realize that ODU,UNC Charlotte were FCS and UTSA didn't have a football team before they were added. Oh and like 5 of Sun Belts teams were FCS 5 years ago?

Who cares. They were brought in to a (at the very least) respectable conference at the time. Yeah, we haven’t looked like much for a while, but we’ve never looked like an outright fcs conference. We now look like an outright fcs conference.

 

[nattybry]

Who cares. They were brought in to a (at the very least) respectable conference at the time. Yeah, we haven’t looked like much for a while, but we’ve never looked like an outright fcs conference. We now look like an outright fcs conference.

Is what it is for now, maybe it'll get better or Utep will position itself better. At this point what choice did UTEP have. All we can do is win as has been said before. I will say this Sam Houston is the best team in FCs and is improving facilities. Jacksonville St. was going to be FBS soon anyways and is really upgrading facilities. So as far as that it was two good adds as far as FCS teams go.

 

[shyminer81]

SHSU will probably be better than some of the AAC and Sunbelt teams. I like the additions, I think it’s a good spot for UTEP until they get their act together.

 

[USAFminersfan]

SHSU will probably be better than some of the AAC and Sunbelt teams. I like the additions, I think it’s a good spot for UTEP until they their act together.

I don’t think we’ll ever get our act together. It would have happened already, and its a moot point now anyway. The major conference shifts have happened. It’s over. Whatever future conference shifts that will happen, will only be to our detriment.

Hell— most of our new additions would probably be considered to have more upside than us, during any future realignment. They would at least have perceived upside. Everyone knows what our ceiling is, at this point… which is probably why we weren’t even mentioned in any of these realignment meetings….

 

[JCorona]

Think back to the only recent time we've ever changed conferences. 2004. 8 wins and 40k+ in attendance. Plus one other thing most forget is we had just opened up the Larry Durham center two years prior.

Thats the formula. Build a "state of the art" athletic building, win games/make bowls and have strong fan support.

If we do that we will be thrown a lifeline in the next wave of realignment.

The clock is ticking Senter/Wilson. Get to work Presidenta and Vice President.

 

[Rot]

I think we are next in line to the MWC if SDSU or Boise St move on to a P5 conference. This is of course contingent on football and basketball winning and we come out with a strategic plan to add new facilities and improve existing ones. We align better with MWC schools and have historical ties with many of them. I think the trend for G5 Conferences is to have 12 to 16 teams to make them stronger. The MWC would not add any other schools because their tv contract has not been negotiated and they didn’t want add additional mouths to feed from the same pot. I hope Wilson and Senter are working on a strategic plan to raise funds for new facilities and learn from mistakes made in the past.

 

[USAFminersfan]

Where does this money for upgrades come from? We’ve been tapping out the same major donors for a while, and it’s only done so much good for facilty upgrade. How are we possibly going to increase donors, or convince any existing one’s to shell out more money at this point? What donor(s) would possibly be more motivated to increase our budget in a conference like this?

 

[JCorona]

I honestly don't know. At this point the only option might be for El Paso to step in. Is it possible to put it up for vote? Would it even pass?

Reach out to the 100,000 alumni and see if they'll commit to $500 a year for five years. That's like $40 a month.

I have no idea but if we don't do something it's going to get worse.

 

[Rot]

Where does this money for upgrades come from? We’ve been tapping out the same major donors for a while, and it’s only done so much good for facilty upgrade. How are we possibly going to increase donors, or convince any existing one’s to shell out more money at this point? What donor(s) would possibly be more motivated to increase our budget in a conference like this?

That’s a valid question. Wilson and Senter need to reach out to current donors and come up with creative ideas on how to generate funding from new donors and local companies. We need alumni and other El Pasoans to get behind our university. It’s do or die time. One of Senter’s strengths was supposedly raising funds for athletics. It’s time for him and his staff to earn their paychecks. Wilson apparently has great contacts and needs to reach out to them as well. I know El Paso doesn’t have large corporations, but we have some local and regional companies that can help out. Let’s get a corporate sponsor to pay for naming rights for the Sun Bowl. When was the last time student fees were increased? Every dollar raised helps.

 

[TxRdKiller]

There's enough bowl games to make everyone happy.

And most of them, sadly, are absolute shit.

 

[Lord Chabelo]

Everyone knows what our ceiling is, at this point… which is probably why we weren’t even mentioned in any of these realignment meetings….

Sad but true. The best indicator of future behavior is past actions and we hardly invest in our football program.

 

[chuwy9]

So what does everyone think will be the breaking point?

Currently UTEP is on that line between FBS and FCS....With more changes on the horizon and the increasing expenses it brings, what will ultimately knock us down to FCS?

Heck, what happens when the power 5 (possibly 4 by that time) break away from the NCAA and go at it alone?

 

[JCorona]

So what does everyone think will be the breaking point?

Currently UTEP is on that line between FBS and FCS....With more changes on the horizon and the increasing expenses it brings, what will ultimately knock us down to FCS?

Heck, what happens when the power 5 (possibly 4 by that time) break away from the NCAA and go at it alone?

If we start losing to Jacksonville St, SHSU and whatever other FCS schools are called up. A couple of 3-9 seasons and the fans will complete desert the university. We will be talking about the big crowds we use to have of 10k-15k.

 

[chuwy9]

That’s a valid question. Wilson and Senter need to reach out to current donors and come up with creative ideas on how to generate funding from new donors and local companies. We need alumni and other El Pasoans to get behind our university. It’s do or die time. One of Senter’s strengths was supposedly raising funds for athletics. It’s time for him and his staff to earn their paychecks. Wilson apparently has great contacts and needs to reach out to them as well. I know El Paso doesn’t have large corporations, but we have some local and regional companies that can help out. Let’s get a corporate sponsor to pay for naming rights for the Sun Bowl. When was the last time student fees were increased? Every dollar raised helps.

This reminded me of the fundraising emails I've been receiving lately......

CaringCent

caringcent.org

CaringCent

caringcent.org

I don't remember getting this when Stull was around.

 

[JCorona]

This reminded me of the fundraising emails I've been receiving lately......

CaringCent

caringcent.org

CaringCent

caringcent.org

I don't remember getting this when Stull was around.

Those are OK but what is the money being used for?

Senter needs a plan other than we're bowl eligible in 2021 so give us $202.1.

More people would be willing to donate if the end goal was to build a 40 million dollar athletic facility and we had one those thermometers that tracked contributions.

Just my opinion 🤷🏽

 

[Lord Chabelo]

Have any recent programs have stepped down from FBS to FCS? How are those school doing? Only one I can think of is UAB, but they killed the program and they are doing pretty well. Maybe we need to follow suit. Show El Paso and the alumni how bad it could be. Tear the whole thing down, even the foundation, and rebuild from scratch.

 

[nattybry]

Have any recent programs have stepped down from FBS to FCS? How are those school doing? Only one I can think of is UAB, but they killed the program and they are doing pretty well. Maybe we need to follow suit. Show El Paso and the alumni how bad it could be. Tear the whole thing down, even the foundation, and rebuild from scratch.

Girl Bye...

 

[NoNCAAWinsSince1992]

Have any recent programs have stepped down from FBS to FCS? How are those school doing? Only one I can think of is UAB, but they killed the program and they are doing pretty well. Maybe we need to follow suit. Show El Paso and the alumni how bad it could be. Tear the whole thing down, even the foundation, and rebuild from scratch.

Idaho is the only one to do so. UAB didn’t go to FCS or plan on it.

 

[JCorona]

Have any recent programs have stepped down from FBS to FCS? How are those school doing? Only one I can think of is UAB, but they killed the program and they are doing pretty well. Maybe we need to follow suit. Show El Paso and the alumni how bad it could be. Tear the whole thing down, even the foundation, and rebuild from scratch.

It's not getting built back up

 

[Riburn3]

If we start losing to Jacksonville St, SHSU and whatever other FCS schools are called up. A couple of 3-9 seasons and the fans will complete desert the university. We will be talking about the big crowds we use to have of 10k-15k.

So the 2 and 3 win seasons against better schools kept the fans engaged?

There hasn't been any excitement (until this season) surrounding the team since the Mike Price Era, where he did a good job of generating excitement about the team. Even in losing seasons he kept things interesting and we could win just about any conference game we played (but sadly lose some we shouldn't have also).

El Paso has always been a fair weather city, and sustained success for the program is going to come from wins. The average El Pasoan doesn't care if you beat Jacksonville St or Florida Atlantic. They just like to see wins.

Honestly, I think the new CUSA will immediately position UTEP for sustained success. They will have one of the higher athletic budgets and superior facilities in the conference, and from a competitive standpoint, will likely be top 2 in football from the get go.

 

[Riburn3]

Have any recent programs have stepped down from FBS to FCS? How are those school doing? Only one I can think of is UAB, but they killed the program and they are doing pretty well. Maybe we need to follow suit. Show El Paso and the alumni how bad it could be. Tear the whole thing down, even the foundation, and rebuild from scratch.

UAB dumped football completely.

Idaho is the only school that ever dropped from FBS to FCS, and it isn't going well for them.

 

[MinerInWisconsin]

No we are not basically fcs now. We are in cusa survival mode so that UTEP, FIU and LT are not homeless. UTEP can't afford to be independent.

 

[JCorona]

So the 2 and 3 win seasons against better schools kept the fans engaged?

There hasn't been any excitement (until this season) surrounding the team since the Mike Price Era, where he did a good job of generating excitement about the team. Even in losing seasons he kept things interesting and we could win just about any conference game we played (but sadly lose some we shouldn't have also).

El Paso has always been a fair weather city, and sustained success for the program is going to come from wins. The average El Pasoan doesn't care if you beat Jacksonville St or Florida Atlantic. They just like to see wins.

Honestly, I think the new CUSA will immediately position UTEP for sustained success. They will have one of the higher athletic budgets and superior facilities in the conference, and from a competitive standpoint, will likely be top 2 in football from the get go.

I'm not sure what you mean by engaged? If you're basing it of reported attendance that's not a good metric to use. It has been proven Stull inflated the actual attendance numbers.

Since the start of CUSA 3.0 fans have lost interest. Losing to FIU, MTSU and ODU has taken a toll. Replace those schools with FCS schools hardly anyone has heard of and it will result in even less interest in the program.

If El Paso was truly a fair weather city the UTSA game would be nearing a sell out vs UTSA. Steve said yesterday sales were around 20k.

Maybe we are top two but we won't know until the conference is finalized. Having a higher budget hasn't translated into anything in the past. When CUSA 3.0 started we had major advantages over the schools that joined. We are the school that does less with more while other schools truly do more with less.

If we win we might be ok but I guarantee you that if we don't, the end is very near.

 

[USAFminersfan]

So the 2 and 3 win seasons against better schools kept the fans engaged?

There hasn't been any excitement (until this season) surrounding the team since the Mike Price Era, where he did a good job of generating excitement about the team. Even in losing seasons he kept things interesting and we could win just about any conference game we played (but sadly lose some we shouldn't have also).

El Paso has always been a fair weather city, and sustained success for the program is going to come from wins. The average El Pasoan doesn't care if you beat Jacksonville St or Florida Atlantic. They just like to see wins.

Honestly, I think the new CUSA will immediately position UTEP for sustained success. They will have one of the higher athletic budgets and superior facilities in the conference, and from a competitive standpoint, will likely be top 2 in football from the get go.

Excitement for the program has certainly been waning due to on field results, but who we play is also a factor. I think the indifference toward playing UAB, FIU, Marshall, etc will be much different than playing whatever community colleges we end up grouped with.

I, for example, have always been a pretty rabid fan, who attends and watches every game I can. Sadly, that won’t be the case going forward. I have no interest in watching us compete with these teams… much less paying money to travel and watch in person. Idk. I think at this point, I’ve lost what little faith and pride I had left in this program. UTEP has essentially lost me as a fan and a donor…

 

[MinerInWisconsin]

I'm not sure what you mean by engaged? If you're basing it of reported attendance that's not a good metric to use. It has been proven Stull inflated the actual attendance numbers.

Since the start of CUSA 3.0 fans have lost interest. Losing to FIU, MTSU and ODU has taken a toll. Replace those schools with FCS schools hardly anyone has heard of and it will result in even less interest in the program.

If El Paso was truly a fair weather city the UTSA game would be nearing a sell out vs UTSA. Steve said yesterday sales were around 20k.

Maybe we are top two but we won't know until the conference is finalized. Having a higher budget hasn't translated into anything in the past. When CUSA 3.0 started we had major advantages over the schools that joined. We are the school that does less with more while other schools truly do more with less.

If we win we might be ok but I guarantee you that if we don't, the end is very near.

If 20k sold as of yesterday, add 5 or 6k season ticket holders and 2k students. Getting close to 30k with time to get to 35k by game time.

 

[MinerInWisconsin]

Excitement for the program has certainly been waning due to on field results, but who we play is also a factor. I think the indifference toward playing UAB, FIU, Marshall, etc will be much different than playing whatever community colleges we end up grouped with.

I, for example, have always been a pretty rabid fan, who attends and watches every game I can. Sadly, that won’t be the case going forward. I have no interest in watching us compete with these teams… much less paying money to travel and watch in person. Idk. I think at this point, I’ve lost what little faith and pride I had left in this program. UTEP has essentially lost me as a fan and a donor…

Then it's adios I guess. I don't know what else you expect UTEP or CUSA to do at this point.

 

[USAFminersfan]

I’d be surprised if they got 35k. Maybe if they had beat FAU. I’d guess more like 25k max now, especially now that people have more of a reason to stay home and watch the Canelo fight. If we were 8-1 and playing a ranked utsa, I could definitely see 35k easy

 

[JCorona]

If 20k sold as of yesterday, add 5 or 6k season ticket holders and 2k students. Getting close to 30k with time to get to 35k by game time.

I'm pretty sure that includes season tickets. I'm still tracking attendance through ticketmaster and using the formula from the LT game.

We had 12k tickets remaining and had an attendance of 18k.

Right now there's around 8k remaining so I estimate we've sold 22k tickets.

We have been averaging almost 1500 sales a day since the FAU game. If we continue at that pace we should hit 30k.

 

[USAFminersfan]

Then it's adios I guess. I don't know what else you expect UTEP or CUSA to do at this

Then it's adios I guess. I don't know what else you expect UTEP or CUSA to do at this point.

I don’t expect us to do anything at this point, because “nothing” is what we’ve been doing for the last decade +.

That’s why we’ve trended down to what is essentially fcs status, while damn near every other program we’ve shared a conference with has trended in the exact opposite direction…

 

[JCorona]

Excitement for the program has certainly been waning due to on field results, but who we play is also a factor. I think the indifference toward playing UAB, FIU, Marshall, etc will be much different than playing whatever community colleges we end up grouped with.

I, for example, have always been a pretty rabid fan, who attends and watches every game I can. Sadly, that won’t be the case going forward. I have no interest in watching us compete with these teams… much less paying money to travel and watch in person. Idk. I think at this point, I’ve lost what little faith and pride I had left in this program. UTEP has essentially lost me as a fan and a donor…

I kind of get it and feel a bit similar. I like traveling to UTSA and RICE or when we played UH regardless of what our record was. But I'm not sure I'll make the same trip to SHSU or Tarleton St. Unless it's a big game.

Those days of getting of work and heading to Houston to watch 5-12 UTEP vs 4-13 RICE for a Wednesday night game are done in my mind. Easier to just stream the game vs SHSU or listen to it on the radio if we don't have a TV deal.

 

[nattybry]

If I'm speaking truthfully, good bye Rice they are only good in baseball and other sports that don't make money. They're in Houston that's the only reason they got taken by AAC. N. Texas is whatever, Charlotte is whatever, ODU is whatever, Fla Atlantic is whatever. Losing Marshall and S. MISS hurts national perspiration I guess, cause they've been decent in football over a number of years. UTSA hurts, because it was the closest school and helped recruiting maybe. The other schools don't really mean much to Utep either. So whatever this CUSA 3.0 becomes, we'll deal with it the same we dealt with the teams that left us behind before and started over with new ones. This is what Utep is until we get our act together and get on the invite list next time. We're the roommate who stays on the lease year after year as roommates move out and go be successful on their own.

 

[OsoFromELP]

Losing Marshall and S. MISS hurts national perspiration I guess