The defense HAS played well today.

[FeralFelidae]

Southern Miss is possibly the most explosive team in the conference, so they have gotten some big plays. But the Miners have also stopped them. They just stopped them again, then a stupid special teams penalty put them right back on the field with terrible field position. You can only ask so much.

This defense, in my opinion, is definitely improved since the FIU disaster. I'm still not exactly sure what to think of the offense.

 

[PURPLEFIRE]

Something tells me we will never have a strong offense under kugler

 

[utep2step]

It will get better, but let's say it doesn't work here for Kugler. Based on this article by FOX Sports on NFL and FBS level coaches, he fits the typical upper level assistant coaching mold and basically, if you read in between the lines, he will be fine and move on to green pastures. Why? 1) Experience 2) Age 3)level of experience playing upper level American football at UTEP (FBS) and some pro ball. 4)The AD's touch (like I said earlier in the week on a previous thread, hate him or love him, being part of the Stull family coaching tree has it's privileges. His former assistants are sprinkled all over the NFL).

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/fbs-nfl-agent-coaching-hiring-study-082514

 

[80's eagle]

Southern Miss fan here.....I was at the game until the weather delay and I was really surprised by UTEP. UTEP's defense did play better than I was expecting based solely on the stats from previous games.

I am sure that the loss of the starting RB has hurt.Your offense was not horrible but did have some missed opportunities with some drops. The RB's that were in there ran hard.

USM has improved significantly but we (or I, specifically) cheer for all conference mates except when we play each other.

My point is that UTEP can reach your goal of being bowl eligible based on the play of today. I believe Rice, UNT and ODU are winnable games. La Tech is a long shot.

We need (meaning the conference) to have seven bowl eligible teams. Don't give up on your team. They played hard today till the end. Support them, our conference is at a disadvantage with branding so continue to step up and be a fan in-spite of the circumstances. USM just went through the worst dismantling of a program short of the death penalty. It can be done, we are proof.

Good luck the rest of the year!

 

[MistaBinks]

Good to hear from 80's eagle.

 

[mikesarabia]

Thanks for the comments 80's eagle.

 

[80's eagle]

Go! Miner nation! Happy to say I told ya so! Rice goes down and will go down again next week!