What will happen to Kugler? (How will it all go down?)

[Prospero915]

With the current state of UTEP football, it seems Kugler's days at UTEP are very limited. I wanted to see what everyone's thoughts are in regards to how Kuglers departure will happen, if it does happen soon?

Will Kugler resign before the season ends?
Will Kugler be fired before the season ends?
Will he be fired or will he resign at the end of the season?

Also, will Stull leave this action to the new AD? and how much cash $$ would it cost UTEP athletics to give Kugler the ax before his contract is up? would they be willing to shell out the mula? or does he stay until his contract expires??

 

[MinerInWisconsin]

UTEP will owe Kugler (per his contract) about $500,000 total for the 2018 and 2019. He only gets his base pay which is about half of his total compensation. The other half is funded privately for his radio show, camps, etc.

After what he said when hired about quitting if he did not turn the program around in about 3 years, I would think he would resign at the end of the season. But now the reality has to be setting in and he will want that money so he will, I'm guessing here, be fired by the new AD. I would expect the new AD to be on board prior to the end of FB season. I can't see any possible way that the new AD would even take the UTEP job without the assurance that the money is available (boosters) to buy out Kugler and start over with the FB program.

 

[develman]

UTEP will owe Kugler (per his contract) about $500,000 total for the 2018 and 2019. He only gets his base pay which is about half of his total compensation. The other half is funded privately for his radio show, camps, etc.

After what he said when hired about quitting if he did not turn the program around in about 3 years, I would think he would resign at the end of the season. But now the reality has to be setting in and he will want that money so he will, I'm guessing here, be fired by the new AD. I would expect the new AD to be on board prior to the end of FB season. I can't see any possible way that the new AD would even take the UTEP job without the assurance that the money is available (boosters) to buy out Kugler and start over with the FB program.

Not if the new AD is an ex-Stull lackey.

 

[unihorn]

I'm less concerned about Kugler than I am about the team. I hope they hold their heads up and fight to win a game or two out of pride, for each other.

 

[utep2step]

Sometimes us far west Texas dweller natives forget one thing about Kugler....he's a New Yorker through and through. They and Texans have one thing in common and that's we both say things that have to come off bigger than life.

It is not too late for Kug. For the next two games, air the shit out of the ball. F the power running game. UTEP does not have a power running game. Unless you have Will pulling every running play to plow the Will or Sam linebacker but just forget it because you can't do that every play. Putting Dove in to move the pile two to three yards isn't quiet working. Just chuck and duck the thing Kugler. Right now the opposing coaches know they will just play their text book defense against you. Think outside the box. Unleash Sinegal, Reddix and Batson and rely less on Lucero. It's obvious you love Lucero for the quick check down like Trump loves groping but he has been unreliable the last three games. You create the matchup problems instead of UTEP having to adjust. You talk about it but you don't do it. Sinegal and Batson are 6-1 and 6-2. Most FBS db's are 5-11 at best. This game is about inches and not just on the grass. Use those guys for Christ sake!!

Otherwise, it's goose egg season and as politicians tell each other, "you own it". Natalicio isn't going to fire anyone this current season. It's a risky move on her part and this is UTEP, not Austin or Lincoln where they will do wholesale changes quickly. Kug is not going to step down. What would it solve? Some assistants and players will bail if Kug walks. I really do think Natkin will walk if Kug is fired in season. Those two are tied at the hip. UTEP sucks rocks but a lot of those players also love Sean Kugler and as a fan I'm ok with that. Recruiting is about relationships, not institutions.

 

[UTEPMiners8106]

I'm less concerned about Kugler than I am about the team. I hope they hold their heads up and fight to win a game or two out of pride, for each other.

I remember one of the players saying that everyone was arguing on the sidelines during the game vs Rice. That is so telling about this situation. If there was that much internal strife two games ago I would think it's probably worse now.

 

[utep2step]

UTEP will owe Kugler (per his contract) about $500,000 total for the 2018 and 2019. He only gets his base pay which is about half of his total compensation. The other half is funded privately for his radio show, camps, etc.

After what he said when hired about quitting if he did not turn the program around in about 3 years, I would think he would resign at the end of the season. But now the reality has to be setting in and he will want that money so he will, I'm guessing here, be fired by the new AD. I would expect the new AD to be on board prior to the end of FB season. I can't see any possible way that the new AD would even take the UTEP job without the assurance that the money is available (boosters) to buy out Kugler and start over with the FB program.

According to sources close to the program, the money is there. I don't trust much what Kap on ESPN 600 has been saying the last few weeks or months because it's "I love UTEP" or "Stull made his decision" is making him unreliable. Make a decision. Hold UTEP accountable like you have in years past or leave the kid gloves on as to not piss off Stull and his country club boosters during their round of golf. These people have UTEP and Big XII liaison's and financial interest they need to tend to and last thing they need is a local pesky talk show host agreeing with the proletariat of far west Texas like you did last year during the Floyd debacle. You all don't want scooped by the UTEP websites? Then ask the tough questions and if Stull and Kug blow a vein, so be it. $250,000 a year is not much for a FBS coach but it's a boat load to most in this country. Let him get plum faced and don't let him intimidate you all like he did during the Saturday night post game questions. I'll do it. Hell, for that free lunch, I'll ask the Pope if he is a leg or butt man?

 

[utep2step]

And local sports directors and their associates are a joke.

 

[Haskins Fan]

I honestly thought that Coach Kug would turn things around.
I don't think Coach Kug will quit. He is going to ride the train
till the end of the season. Will he be back next year I seriously
doubt it. I think that BN might be the next line if they want to
keep the job in the family.

 

[unihorn]

I honestly thought that Coach Kug would turn things around.
I don't think Coach Kug will quit. He is going to ride the train
till the end of the season. Will he be back next year I seriously
doubt it. I think that BN might be the next line if they want to
keep the job in the family.

You mean in the Adams family.

 

[Riburn3]

It is not too late for Kug. For the next two games, air the shit out of the ball. F the power running game. UTEP does not have a power running game. Unless you have Will pulling every running play to plow the Will or Sam linebacker but just forget it because you can't do that every play. Putting Dove in to move the pile two to three yards isn't quiet working. Just chuck and duck the thing Kugler. Right now the opposing coaches know they will just play their text book defense against you. Think outside the box. Unleash Sinegal, Reddix and Batson and rely less on Lucero. It's obvious you love Lucero for the quick check down like Trump loves groping but he has been unreliable the last three games. You create the matchup problems instead of UTEP having to adjust. You talk about it but you don't do it. Sinegal and Batson are 6-1 and 6-2. Most FBS db's are 5-11 at best. This game is about inches and not just on the grass. Use those guys for Christ sake!!

Just can't see this being a viable plan for the offense. Against NMSU, airing it out resulted in going 10-34 between two different QB's and a total of 5 picks. The NMSU defense also sacked them 3 times (and it would have been more save for Torrez just hurling it away blindly a few times). Not to take away from NMSU because they're improved, but all of UTEPs upcoming games are against bowl teams save for UAB, so it's not going to get any easier. Again, the best drive UTEP (and only good drive) had against NMSU, was when they rushed the ball. After that drive, Kugler focused on airing it out and it resulted in an NMSU defender being UTEP's leading receiver with 3 catches (picks) and a TD.

I guess it also depends on who he decides to start at QB. Torrez just isn't the guy for your plan if you really want to chuck it around. It's such a difficult situation because the offense is just stunningly terrible. UTEP plays well for 1 quarter every game, and then it all just falls apart. I feel like teams that struggle to recruit do better when they pound the ball on the ground because they eat up a lot of clock and keep it away from a superior offense. UNM is using a 3rd string QB that transferred there as a linebacker, and they just grinded out a win on the ground in Tulsa and dominated the time of possession. It is the most unattractive brand of football there is, but it gets the job done.

 

[unihorn]

Just can't see this being a viable plan for the offense. Against NMSU, airing it out resulted in going 10-34 between two different QB's and a total of 5 picks. The NMSU defense also sacked them 3 times (and it would have been more save for Torrez just hurling it away blindly a few times). Not to take away from NMSU because they're improved, but all of UTEPs upcoming games are against bowl teams save for UAB, so it's not going to get any easier. Again, the best drive UTEP (and only good drive) had against NMSU, was when they rushed the ball. After that drive, Kugler focused on airing it out and it resulted in an NMSU defender being UTEP's leading receiver with 3 catches (picks) and a TD.

I guess it also depends on who he decides to start at QB. Torrez just isn't the guy for your plan if you really want to chuck it around. It's such a difficult situation because the offense is just stunningly terrible. UTEP plays well for 1 quarter every game, and then it all just falls apart. I feel like teams that struggle to recruit do better when they pound the ball on the ground because they eat up a lot of clock and keep it away from a superior offense. UNM is using a 3rd string QB that transferred there as a linebacker, and they just grinded out a win on the ground in Tulsa and dominated the time of possession. It is the most unattractive brand of football there is, but it gets the job done.

Stunningly terrible haha.

 

[MinerInWisconsin]

Just can't see this being a viable plan for the offense. Against NMSU, airing it out resulted in going 10-34 between two different QB's and a total of 5 picks. The NMSU defense also sacked them 3 times (and it would have been more save for Torrez just hurling it away blindly a few times). Not to take away from NMSU because they're improved, but all of UTEPs upcoming games are against bowl teams save for UAB, so it's not going to get any easier. Again, the best drive UTEP (and only good drive) had against NMSU, was when they rushed the ball. After that drive, Kugler focused on airing it out and it resulted in an NMSU defender being UTEP's leading receiver with 3 catches (picks) and a TD.

I guess it also depends on who he decides to start at QB. Torrez just isn't the guy for your plan if you really want to chuck it around. It's such a difficult situation because the offense is just stunningly terrible. UTEP plays well for 1 quarter every game, and then it all just falls apart. I feel like teams that struggle to recruit do better when they pound the ball on the ground because they eat up a lot of clock and keep it away from a superior offense. UNM is using a 3rd string QB that transferred there as a linebacker, and they just grinded out a win on the ground in Tulsa and dominated the time of possession. It is the most unattractive brand of football there is, but it gets the job done.

UNM's option is pretty darn good. Keeps them in most games.

 

[Riburn3]

UNM's option is pretty darn good. Keeps them in most games.

No doubt, and they've done it well for so long. But their first few games it wasn't there, and they've had similar issues at QB like UTEP has. It's not too often to get a graduate transfer that came to play defense managing your offense, and are able to get a win on the road.

 

[axingfools1]

Might as well put Metz in the shotgun and spread the ball around, open up some runs and utilize Wadley, Dawn and Sinegal. Use Redix too. I have NEVER seen him drop a pass and thats since the 8th grade...Metz will throw some ints but let him work through it.

Also, letting the QB stand under center, run backwards 8 yards and hand the ball off to a stagnant RB is just fcking dumb. Burn that play forever please.

Kuglers offense only works sometimes for teams like the cowboys who have beasts up front and freaks at RB and TE. AJ and Plinke are gone and our O-line hasn't been all that (sans 1).