Things I Will Remember About Walden Season 1

[TxRdKiller]

h/t to LTMiner61. I didn't want to be the first to move beyond this season.

1. Gimmicky video game offensive play calling. In particular, the gimmicky offensive line formations shifting prior to the snap.
2. Terrble clock management.
3. Constant reliance on passes to the flat resulting mostly in minimal or lost yardage.
4. Lack of a running game.
5. Crappy defense. Just too many missed assignments, missed tackles, etc.
6. Too many penalties at the worst time. 2-point conversion penalties committed by defense today, for example.
7. Mo Westmoreland looked really good most of the year.
8. Pickles' first few plays looked promising.
9. See #1. Walden needs to hire a capable offensive coordinator/play caller.

I'll leave it at that. And before anyone complains that there are more negatives than positives remember that we finished 3-9.

 

[utep1966]

I am satisfied with Season 1 because Walden won the same number of games as Dimel and Kugler did (combined).

There were a lot of mistakes, but that's what you kind of expect from a first year D1-A coach. I didn't expect a bowl game this year.

3 wins is a good benchmark to improve from next season.

 

[Dmanminer]

He has to double the wins next season. With the recruits coming in and a year experience to learn that is not unreasonable. If he doesn’t pull it off, adios.

 

[PickMyAxe915]

The recruiting is something to hang a hat on. And i thought the defense was good and was the best unit on the team. The DBs allowed way too many big plays (Josiah Allen) though. We can't expect a better defense next season though due to graduations. The offense and special teams will have to improve dramatically to make up for what should be a worse defense next season. Hope Walden can keep Duhon and Odom. And other impact players.

 

[kickballpro]

I don’t see Walden giving up play calling responsibilities. Many fans wanted an up tempo fast paced spread offense. It was underwhelming for sure.

I do like Walden’s energy, I like how his staff recruits and goes after everyone, and I like that he’s lobbied for a new Locker Room and NIL money.

I think when you see things like a Time Out before the first offensive play, when you see missed assignments, penalties as you mentioned, and when you run a ton of Inside Zone and it fails to hit; those things point to a lack of details.

There is nothing wrong with being Fast and Simple, but when you are you have to really teach the details. Lots of college teams have only a handful of plays like we do, but they focus and drill the details to eliminate the errors you’re mentioning.

 

[fwahbevo]

Impressive that you couldn't wait at least 24 hours to break down the season instead of celebrating beating our rival. If the Miners ever having a winning program, we'll lose half our posters here.

 

[utep1966]

Impressive that you couldn't wait at least 24 hours to break down the season instead of celebrating beating our rival. If the Miners ever having a winning program, we'll lose half our posters here.

I did both (celebrate and broke down the season). But you are right that we would lose posters if UTEP was winning because the people that just bitch and complain all the time wouldn't have anything to post.

 

[fwahbevo]

I did both (celebrate and broke down the season). But you are right that we would lose posters if UTEP was winning because the people that just bitch and complain all the time wouldn't have anything to post.

Sorry, I was referring to the OP.

 

[MinerManiac]

Impressive that you couldn't wait at least 24 hours to break down the season instead of celebrating beating our rival. If the Miners ever having a winning program, we'll lose half our posters here.

At the end of Nord's first season Killer traveled all the way up to Boise to attend the Humanitarian Bowl, one of the very few here on Digs to do so. You're right, he's only happy if the Miners are losing. 🙄

 

[Vegas Miner]

Impressive that you couldn't wait at least 24 hours to break down the season instead of celebrating beating our rival. If the Miners ever having a winning program, we'll lose half our posters here.

Truth.

 

[utep2step]

h/t to LTMiner61. I didn't want to be the first to move beyond this season.

1. Gimmicky video game offensive play calling. In particular, the gimmicky offensive line formations shifting prior to the snap.
2. Terrble clock management.
3. Constant reliance on passes to the flat resulting mostly in minimal or lost yardage.
4. Lack of a running game.
5. Crappy defense. Just too many missed assignments, missed tackles, etc.
6. Too many penalties at the worst time. 2-point conversion penalties committed by defense today, for example.
7. Mo Westmoreland looked really good most of the year.
8. Pickles' first few plays looked promising.
9. See #1. Walden needs to hire a capable offensive coordinator/play caller.

I'll leave it at that. And before anyone complains that there are more negatives than positives remember that we finished 3-9.

Don't disagree but I definitely saw improvement after the SU debacle. Westmoreland finished tops in CUSA with others at the top of stats. Scotty was not afraid to the gamble; however, not having a reliable kicker messes up your game plan. But yes, he FUBAR'ed some game management.

2024 Football - Overall Statistics - Conference USA

The official 2024 Football cumulative statistics for Conference USA

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He beat NMSU in year one but let's be honest, Pavia was one of those once every 20 year type players NMSU or UTEP gets and typically by some odd circumstance. UTEP had AJ and it was fun. Aggies looked good in only one game and that versus Liberty.

Let us let him enjoy a breakfast at Carlos & Mickey's and Mrs Walden, get two Mimosa's.

My attention is all on Golding, whom I really do want to succeed but it will be another up and down season.

 

[jdubb66]

I'll remember size. We need it. Also the win against nmsu.

 

[KaneFan29]

Where was @fwahbevo last week when the Miners couldn’t score a single point? Must have been in a coma or something. Crawls out of his cave after a “big” win over 3 win NMSU to celebrate a win 3 season, to call people out.

 

[MinerFan79]

Impressive that you couldn't wait at least 24 hours to break down the season instead of celebrating beating our rival. If the Miners ever having a winning program, we'll lose half our posters here.

This exactly

 

[fwahbevo]

Where was @fwahbevo last week when the Miners couldn’t score a single point? Must have been in a coma or something. Crawls out of his cave after a “big” win over 3 win NMSU to celebrate a win 3 season, to call people out.

Don't lecture me about UTEP football suckage chief. They had a total of 6 wins during my four years on campus, so I've earned the right to celebrate any "big" win. BTW, and let me clearly break this down for you, I wasn't questioning the content of the original post since I agree with most of it, however, I was questioning the timing of it. I'm sorry my post hit home with you, but I'm not surprised.

 

[KaneFan29]

Don't lecture me about UTEP football suckage chief. They had a total of 6 wins during my four years on campus, so I've earned the right to celebrate any "big" win. BTW, and let me clearly break this down for you, I wasn't questioning the content of the original post since I agree with most of it, however, I was questioning the timing of it. I'm sorry my post hit home with you, but I'm not surprised.

I was questioning your timing. Since you only appeared to complain about people talking about the “big win”. You were in a coma this whole time? You can only talk when the Miners win?

 

[fwahbevo]

I was questioning your timing. Since you only appeared to complain about people talking about the “big win”. You were in a coma this whole time? You can only talk when the Miners win?

 

[MinerManiac]

Impressive that you couldn't wait at least 24 hours to break down the season instead of celebrating beating our rival. If the Miners ever having a winning program, we'll lose half our posters here.

Truth.

This exactly

Let me try this again. I know that this may be way out in left field, but maybe, just possibly, the reason that Killer posted a review of the season might just be because the season is now over. Crazy theory, I know.

Again, Killer traveled all the way from Texas to Idaho in the middle of winter to support the Miners in the Humanitarian Bowl. I don't know anyone else on this board who did that. I've read his posts during those all too rare seasons where our teams were actually successful, and he was as big of a cheerleader as anyone.

Here's the deal, though. In the last 19 years we've only had two winning seasons in football, and in those two seasons we were barely above .500. We haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2010, and that was one of only three trips since 1992. Some of you ask us not to just settle for mediocrity, as mediocrity is several levels better than what we have experienced with UTEP Athletics for decades, but to accept losing. No thank you

Everyone on this board is happy that we won a game and beat our rivals. But at the same time, many of us are unhappy that we only won three games, and that after putting up with Dimel's lousy offense for so many years we ended up with one that was even worse. Not wanting to settle for lousy football and basketball does not mean that our fandom should be questioned.

One final note. I've been on this board for 25 years. I've seen this board during Nord's first year and Price's first two years. I've seen it when Gillispie, Sadler, and Barbee brought us to the Tournament. Rather than being a ghost town because no one could complain, this board was never more alive. This included posts from all the "trolls" cheering on the team. But when we struggle with losing season after losing season, there are many of us that don't feel the urge to take the players and coaches out for ice cream after each loss because they tried really, really hard. We want wins, and are tired of putting up with the ridiculous losses every damn year.

 

[MinerFan79]

Let me try this again. I know that this may be way out in left field, but maybe, just possibly, the reason that Killer posted a review of the season might just be because the season is now over. Crazy theory, I know.

Again, Killer traveled all the way from Texas to Idaho in the middle of winter to support the Miners in the Humanitarian Bowl. I don't know anyone else on this board who did that. I've read his posts during those all too rare seasons where our teams were actually successful, and he was as big of a cheerleader as anyone.

Here's the deal, though. In the last 19 years we've only had two winning seasons in football, and in those two seasons we were barely above .500. We haven't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2010, and that was one of only three trips since 1992. Some of you ask us not to just settle for mediocrity, as mediocrity is several levels better than what we have experienced with UTEP Athletics for decades, but to accept losing. No thank you

Everyone on this board is happy that we won a game and beat our rivals. But at the same time, many of us are unhappy that we only won three games, and that after putting up with Dimel's lousy offense for so many years we ended up with one that was even worse. Not wanting to settle for lousy football and basketball does not mean that our fandom should be questioned.

One final note. I've been on this board for 25 years. I've seen this board during Nord's first year and Price's first two years. I've seen it when Gillispie, Sadler, and Barbee brought us to the Tournament. Rather than being a ghost town because no one could complain, this board was never more alive. This included posts from all the "trolls" cheering on the team. But when we struggle with losing season after losing season, there are many of us that don't feel the urge to take the players and coaches out for ice cream after each loss because they tried really, really hard. We want wins, and are tired of putting up with the ridiculous losses every damn year.

I stand behind my comment that if ;

-Locklear was not brutally KOd (illegally) against La Tech, we win that game
-If we’d had Locklear and Kam Thomas avail we would’ve beaten MTSU a week later
-if Bum Flaviano had a decent kicking game we would’ve beaten Southern Utah

Would’ve could’ve shoulda but with those wins we would’ve gone bowling. Love the way Coach Walden rallies the city and supporters. Love his enthusiasm. He spent a season where a lot of things went wrong (& had a lot of newbies and returnees no one wanted, save Westmoreland)and he never let the team quit. A great recruiting class is on the way. Things are going to be fine and in two years we will be sad that we’ve lost this coach to a big D1 power