I agree with this but I still think that UTEP is a better basketball school than Tulsa. Yes, we have dipped but it was not too long ago that UTEP handed Tulsa plenty of losses. My hopes are still that we will return to our glory days.
Katia's departure is disappointing but I'm at the point of just shaking my head and keeping on moving forward. There are those that believe that the student athlete should have opportunities to improve their situation, just like a coach. While it makes for a good debate, it doesn't do away with the key difference that the coaches are professionals in a career field and the players are student athletes. These student athletes have an amazing opportunity to play collegiate athletics, regardless if the school is a Power 5. How many people on this board can actually state that they played D1 athletics on a full ride scholarship? It may be old fashioned but my opinion is that collegiate athletics is a form of an apprenticeship where the athlete has the opportunity to grow as a person and mature. More importantly, the athlete learns what it is to be committed to something. Just like the military. It has been a long-standing process in our society, for people to start at the bottom and to move up into the journeyman ranks and then into leadership. It builds character.
In today's world, I understand that my argument is moot but it certainly will not take away from what I believe. I still wish these players the best success in whatever they choose to do or where they choose to go but I certainly do not envy any coach who has to deal with the current practices in place.