Where is JOE GOLDING?

[JCorona]

When the transfer market first started, I envisioned UTEP landing bench players from P 5 programs who were hungry for more minutes and eager to step into a starting role. Players with high level experience looking for an opportunity to show their talents.

Yet here we are still deep in the JUCO market. Nothing against JUCO talent some great players have come through that route but it feels like we’re missing a chance to elevate the program by not capitalizing on the depth of the D1 portal. The gap between expectation and reality is hard to ignore.

 

[nattybry]

When the transfer market first started, I envisioned UTEP landing bench players from P 5 programs who were hungry for more minutes and eager to step into a starting role. Players with high level experience looking for an opportunity to show their talents.

Yet here we are still deep in the JUCO market. Nothing against JUCO talent some great players have come through that route but it feels like we’re missing a chance to elevate the program by not capitalizing on the depth of the D1 portal. The gap between expectation and reality is hard to ignore.

I don’t think most are expecting much form him anymore. While it’s nice to get a decent Juco player most have lost faith in Golding to do anything here at Utep until he proves otherwise.

 

[axingfools1]

When the transfer market first started, I envisioned UTEP landing bench players from P 5 programs who were hungry for more minutes and eager to step into a starting role. Players with high level experience looking for an opportunity to show their talents.

Yet here we are still deep in the JUCO market. Nothing against JUCO talent some great players have come through that route but it feels like we’re missing a chance to elevate the program by not capitalizing on the depth of the D1 portal. The gap between expectation and reality is hard to ignore.

We dont have the money. It's all NIL

 

[KaneFan29]

We dont have the money. It's all NIL

Right. Nevada is paying Corey f-ing Camper $300k, while UTEP’s entire bball NIL is $600k.

UTEP is only going to be good if they luck out. It will only get worse when we join the MWC.

 

[JCorona]

We dont have the money. It's all NIL

Even before the NIL era, it always felt like “we don’t have the money” was the go to excuse for our lack of competitiveness. That narrative hasn’t changed it’s just evolved. Now it’s NIL deals being blamed for why we can’t land top tier talent.

But if that’s truly the issue, then how is a school like Louisiana Tech based in Ruston a small town and a university with lower budget than us still managing to land transfers from P5 programs?

And then there’s Scotty bringing in P5 transfers to a program that forever has been known as a bottom dweller. A program with no real tradition of winning, no flashy facilities, and not much to offer.

So how is he doing it? What’s he selling that Golding isn’t? It’s not like he’s sitting on a massive budget or some NIL war chest. Yet somehow he’s convincing players with experience to buy in and believe in what he’s building.

It makes you wonder is it really just about money, or is it about how you sell your vision, build relationships, and create a culture players want to be part of?

 

[nattybry]

We dont have the money. It's all NIL

I mean after the last recruit before this JC kid, which for the record I do like, but it was said UTEP still had half. Also this can’t even be used as an excuse. We have more than Jacksonville St. and Kennesaw St combined and we did worse than them last year with everyone returning!

 

[Lil_Train]

Correct me I am wrong, but I think Blackwell is Golding's highest rated JC recruit at UTEP to date at 21. I think Bynum was ranked at 23 last year. I take the JC rankings with a grain of salt, but Blackwell does sound like a decent pickup at a position of need, especially this late in the recruiting cycle. He looks like he can actually make an outside shot, which would be a big improvement over the last couple of years from that position. Hopefully, he can defend at this level.

 

[BillyFlava08]

Even before the NIL era, it always felt like “we don’t have the money” was the go to excuse for our lack of competitiveness. That narrative hasn’t changed it’s just evolved. Now it’s NIL deals being blamed for why we can’t land top tier talent.

But if that’s truly the issue, then how is a school like Louisiana Tech based in Ruston a small town and a university with lower budget than us still managing to land transfers from P5 programs?

And then there’s Scotty bringing in P5 transfers to a program that forever has been known as a bottom dweller. A program with no real tradition of winning, no flashy facilities, and not much to offer.

So how is he doing it? What’s he selling that Golding isn’t? It’s not like he’s sitting on a massive budget or some NIL war chest. Yet somehow he’s convincing players with experience to buy in and believe in what he’s building.

It makes you wonder is it really just about money, or is it about how you sell your vision, build relationships, and create a culture players want to be part of?

100%. People can stop using the NIL excuse. It’s coaching and an incompetent athletic director. There are schools doing more with less and having more success than we have the last 3 years with Golding and that’s with more support from the city and financially from the university. The NIL now is just a cop out for those accepting our mediocrity.

 

[nattybry]

Correct me I am wrong, but I think Blackwell is Golding's highest rated JC recruit at UTEP to date at 21. I think Bynum was ranked at 23 last year. I take the JC rankings with a grain of salt, but Blackwell does sound like a decent pickup at a position of need, especially this late in the recruiting cycle. He looks like he can actually make an outside shot, which would be a big improvement over the last couple of years from that position. Hopefully, he can defend at this level.

LA Hayes is not far below at 28

 

[SisyphusMiner]

Even before the NIL era, it always felt like “we don’t have the money” was the go to excuse for our lack of competitiveness. That narrative hasn’t changed it’s just evolved. Now it’s NIL deals being blamed for why we can’t land top tier talent.

But if that’s truly the issue, then how is a school like Louisiana Tech based in Ruston a small town and a university with lower budget than us still managing to land transfers from P5 programs?

And then there’s Scotty bringing in P5 transfers to a program that forever has been known as a bottom dweller. A program with no real tradition of winning, no flashy facilities, and not much to offer.

So how is he doing it? What’s he selling that Golding isn’t? It’s not like he’s sitting on a massive budget or some NIL war chest. Yet somehow he’s convincing players with experience to buy in and believe in what he’s building.

It makes you wonder is it really just about money, or is it about how you sell your vision, build relationships, and create a culture players want to be part of?

This point is the sole glimmer of hope for UTEP moving forward. CSW has a couple recruiting classes now at or near the top of MWC. If he can continue to do that, I think he'll get to at least one bowl and then move on. That season would put butts in seats and bowl money for the program. Yes, it's not the same as NIL but it's money for the athletic department. Football is what keeps the lights on everywhere not named Gonzaga.

It's what happens after his departure that frightens me if the dynamic duo of Wilson/Senter is hiring the next guy.

 

[nattybry]

This point is the sole glimmer of hope for UTEP moving forward. CSW has a couple recruiting classes now at or near the top of MWC. If he can continue to do that, I think he'll get to at least one bowl and then move on. That season would put butts in seats and bowl money for the program. Yes, it's not the same as NIL but it's money for the athletic department. Football is what keeps the lights on everywhere not named Gonzaga.

It's what happens after his departure that frightens me if the dynamic duo of Wilson/Senter is hiring the next guy.

True, but the sucky part is that I think if Walden fakes Utep Bowling in year two and especially wins, he gets plucked by a Bigger school and we’re right back to where we were unless we hire a Walden clone or another young upstart. As for the money for NIL it’s been increasing, so most likely it’ll be at a million going into MWC for Basketball, but Golding will still be the coach so who cares.

 

[JCorona]

True, but the sucky part is that I think if Walden fakes Utep Bowling in year two and especially wins, he gets plucked by a Bigger school and we’re right back to where we were unless we hire a Walden clone or another young upstart. As for the money for NIL it’s been increasing, so most likely it’ll be at a million going into MWC for Basketball, but Golding will still be the coach so who cares.

If UTEP goes 7-6 with a bowl win you really think a P4 school is gonna hire a coach that’s 10-15 overall?

 

[nattybry]

If UTEP goes 7-6 with a bowl win you really think a P4 school is gonna hire a coach that’s 10-15 overall?

Yes Corona, you want me to explain why in simple terms?
It’s not the record that matters, because the 1st year is usually a pass. The fact that Walden will have recruited higher than any other coach at a place believed to most impossible to recruit at. The fact that he’s proven to be a fierce recruiter, motivator and salesman at a difficult place. The fact that in that scenario he’s turned the program around in 2 years and won a bowl game for the 1st time in 50+ years, so yes Corona I do! Whether he stays one more year after that is up to him, because if he repeated it he’d get even better offers. Again all of this is hypothetical and based on him having a good year and winning a bowl game I said.

 

[JCorona]

Yes Corona, you want me to explain why in simple terms?
It’s not the record that matters, because the 1st year is usually a pass. The fact that Walden will have recruited higher than any other coach at a place believed to most impossible to recruit at. The fact that he’s proven to be a fierce recruiter, motivator and salesman at a difficult place. The fact that in that scenario he’s turned the program around in 2 years and won a bowl game for the 1st time in 50+ years, so yes Corona I do! Whether he stays one more year after that is up to him, because if he repeated it he’d get even better offers. Again all of this is hypothetical and based on him having a good year and winning a bowl game I said.

I don’t think it’s nearly as simple as you’re making it out to be. You’re way too easily impressed by a soft schedule padded with games against former FCS programs and bottom tier teams. That kind of resume doesn’t hold much weight for the real football programs.

Take UNT for example, they weren’t exactly a powerhouse before Seth Littrell arrived. They were consistently pulling in 3 win seasons or worse. Then Littrell takes over and bowl games in each of his first three years and six out of seven seasons overall. And which big school came for him?

 

[nattybry]

I don’t think it’s nearly as simple as you’re making it out to be. You’re way too easily impressed by a soft schedule padded with games against former FCS programs and bottom tier teams. That kind of resume doesn’t hold much weight for the real football programs.

Take UNT for example, they weren’t exactly a powerhouse before Seth Littrell arrived. They were consistently pulling in 3 win seasons or worse. Then Littrell takes over and bowl games in each of his first three years and six out of seven seasons overall. And which big school came for him?

Again I think a turn around in both recruiting and a Bowl win at a place like Utep would get him looks at better school paying at least north of a million. Doesn’t have to be a Power 4 to be better than UTEP and pay a lot more. I stick with what I said and think in that scenario he would get interviews for a higher paying job and hopefully he’d wait for a Bigger opportunity and keep building in El Paso.

 

[MineroFanatico]

100%. People can stop using the NIL excuse. It’s coaching and an incompetent athletic director. There are schools doing more with less and having more success than we have the last 3 years with Golding and that’s with more support from the city and financially from the university. The NIL now is just a cop out for those accepting our mediocrity.

I agree with both of those reasons, however let’s not pretend that NIL money doesn’t factor in. To exclude that from the equation is as off base as saying it’s all about NIL $.

 

[KaneFan29]

I agree with both of those reasons, however let’s not pretend that NIL money doesn’t factor in. To exclude that from the equation is as off base as saying it’s all about NIL $.

It’s definitely not a black or white answer. However, when Nevada is paying $300k for a non-impact UTEP player, there’s really no hope to compete in the MWC. Having Senter and Pewter only hampers those slim hopes.

 

[JCorona]

Again I think a turn around in both recruiting and a Bowl win at a place like Utep would get him looks at better school paying at least north of a million. Doesn’t have to be a Power 4 to be better than UTEP and pay a lot more. I stick with what I said and think in that scenario he would get interviews for a higher paying job and hopefully he’d wait for a Bigger opportunity and keep building in El Paso.

Everyone’s entitled to their opinion no matter how delusional it might be. I just prefer to base mine on facts and actual results.

I could list example after example of coaches who achieved far more than Walden ever would at 10–15 and still didn’t get a shot at the next level. But for the sake of time I’ll just leave it there.

 

[nattybry]

It’s definitely not a black or white answer. However, when Nevada is paying $300k for a non-impact UTEP player, there’s really no hope to compete in the MWC. Having Senter and Pewter only hampers those slim hopes.

Kane out of curiosity is there a reason why you don’t believe the NIL will increase once we’re in the MWC? I mean it’s been stated already by the President and AD that they are aware that more money will be needed to compete in a better conference and they’re raising money to do so. I don’t particularly like Senter, but I think he knows this and has said as much, so assuming it won’t increase which it obviously will doesn’t make sense to me. We don’t know what to extent, but yes it will not be 600K once we start MWC play!

 

[nattybry]

Everyone’s entitled to their opinion no matter how delusional it might be. I just prefer to base mine on facts and actual results.

I could list example after example of coaches who achieved far more than Walden ever would at 10–15 and still didn’t get a shot at the next level. But for the sake of time I’ll just leave it there.

It’s not delusional at all lol it’s a very realistic assumption based on a hypothetical if. The If part is what’s more delusional, because it hasn’t happened at Utep in over 50 years. So chances are this is a pipe dream anyways!

 

[JCorona]

It’s not delusional at all lol it’s a very realistic assumption based on a hypothetical if. The If part is what’s more delusional, because it hasn’t happened at Utep in over 50 years. So chances are this is a pipe dream anyways!

UTEP beating a 6-6 team from the Sun Belt in a bowl game while scrapping by a bunch of 3-9 recent FCS call ups isn’t as impressive as you think it is to bigger football programs.

 

[PickMyAxe915]

I don’t think most are expecting much form him anymore. While it’s nice to get a decent Juco player most have lost faith in Golding to do anything here at Utep until he proves otherwise.

Golding could nabthe Fab5 in their prime and I still would have no hope. He's not a good coach.

 

[SisyphusMiner]

I really regret mentioning the possibilty of CSW's eventual departure because it sent us down a rabbit trail that accomplishes nothing.

My only point was that we are no longer relevant in basketball. We are not a basketball school anymore. If we are ever going to be relevant in basketball, it will be as a result of $$ raised by football. We must become a football school, and we are seeing some signs to hope that it may be happening.

 

[PickMyAxe915]

Kane out of curiosity is there a reason why you don’t believe the NIL will increase once we’re in the MWC? I mean it’s been stated already by the President and AD that they are aware that more money will be needed to compete in a better conference and they’re raising money to do so. I don’t particularly like Senter, but I think he knows this and has said as much, so assuming it won’t increase which it obviously will doesn’t make sense to me. We don’t know what to extent, but yes it will not be 600K once we start MWC play!

I thought getting into the MWC would be enough to reignite the fan base. But UTEP has effectively killed that momentum, atleast for basketball. I still am hanging my hat on Coach Walden.

 

[SisyphusMiner]

Golding could nabthe Fab5 in their prime and I still would have no hope. He's not a good coach.

He's not, but that's an exaggeration. I think Tarkanian was only vaguely aware of what a basketball even was, but if you have the best players in the country they will win a lot of games

 

[PickMyAxe915]

He's not, but that's an exaggeration. I think Tarkanian was only vaguely aware of what a basketball even was, but if you have the best players in the country they will win a lot of games

True, but I just don't have faith in Golding, even if he miraculously brings in the most talented team he's had while at UTEP.

 

[KaneFan29]

Kane out of curiosity is there a reason why you don’t believe the NIL will increase once we’re in the MWC? I mean it’s been stated already by the President and AD that they are aware that more money will be needed to compete in a better conference and they’re raising money to do so. I don’t particularly like Senter, but I think he knows this and has said as much, so assuming it won’t increase which it obviously will doesn’t make sense to me. We don’t know what to extent, but yes it will not be 600K once we start MWC play!

Hey, it might. I know for sure that keeping Pewter and Senter around isn’t ideal for getting more funds. Maybe there are more clueless fans out there than I think, but I can’t see more money pouring in with these results.

I think there’s a lot of fans out there with similar thoughts of mine on NIL. I am fine with them getting some pocket money and have the ability to profit off of their name. Like Souley had those crappy tshirts and if Taco Tote wants them in a commercial, I am totally cool with that.

I am not cool with them making $100,000 to play basketball though. Most people, especially in El Paso, don’t make $100,000 a year, but they expect fans to pay money towards that? Give some guy that’s not even going to stick around past 1 year or give back to the community, all that money? For what in return, an eighth place CUSA finish?

That doesn’t make sense to me. I can’t get behind that and I won’t get behind that.

 

[Rocketsr]

True, but I just don't have faith in Golding, even if he miraculously brings in the most talented team he's had while at UTEP.

Exactly. There are 2 total people on here that are jumping up and down that he signed a decent JUCO recruit and acting like it is the next Jordan.

The thing is that we still have Bronzing as the coach. Even if he was given the whole second string of Kentucky, he still couldn't win. Bronzing is a terrible coach, and has not proven that he can win in a weak CUSA. He will have 3 years to weaken the fan base even further. The average number of fans going to the games is 25% of what it was years ago when the school seemed to actually care about basketball.

The mirage will be the year after next when we play MWC teams there will be a rise in fans to see those teams come here and play, and later after Bronzing gets blown out and the team driven into the ground with a bottom dwelling season, that will wear off and the fan base will deplete even further.

All one has to do is look at the average number of fans at the games and it is a shell of what it once was. Keeping Bronzing tells you that the university does not care about the fans.

 

[JCorona]

Fun Fact. Joe has never won a regular season conference title or 3 games in a conference tournament. Great reasoning from our AD for the extension though.

 

[KaneFan29]

View embedded media

Fun Fact. Joe has never won a regular season conference title or 3 games in a conference tournament. Great reasoning from our AD for the extension though.

Good to know that success at a previous school and making a championship game once in 4 years are great accomplishments!

 

[KaneFan29]

 

[JCorona]

Good to know that success at a previous school and making a championship game once in 4 years are great accomplishments!

If Scotty isn’t successful here expect him to get an extension cuz he made the FCS playoffs and Senter is confident if given more time he can make the CFP at UTEP.

 

[PickMyAxe915]

Good to know that success at a previous school and making a championship game once in 4 years are great accomplishments!

Making the title game is in a bad league at that. It was arguably decent this past season but the season previous it was not good.

And how have we been close? Close to what? A .500 record in conference play?

 

[SisyphusMiner]

Making the title game is in a bad league at that. It was arguably decent this past season but the season previous it was not good.

And how have we been close? Close to what? A .500 record in conference play?

isn't 50/50 the stated goal?

 

[PickMyAxe915]

isn't 50/50 the stated goal?

Oh god you're right

 

[KaneFan29]

Making the title game is in a bad league at that. It was arguably decent this past season but the season previous it was not good.

And how have we been close? Close to what? A .500 record in conference play?

Preaching to the choir man. Yeah CUSA was better, but still result remained the same, 1 bid. Nobody worthy of at-large consideration on a really weak bubble.

 

[JCorona]

Preaching to the choir man. Yeah CUSA was better, but still result remained the same, 1 bid. Nobody worthy of at-large consideration on a really weak bubble.

And no mention of how when Golding won the Southland conference tournament it was rated in the bottom four of all conferences. Such a big accomplishment and worthy of a raise and extension.

 

[TenaciousD]

So is this how things work in the real world?

Boss: I want to go over your annual review. in Q4, which is our most important sales quarter, you haven't had much success landing new contracts.
Employee: I'm just going to have to do better.
Boss: When I hired you, you said landing big contracts was possible
Employee: I'm going to work as hard as possible to get that done
Boss: Yeah, that's why we pay you, to work hard
Employee: Right
Boss: You basically have landed 50% of the proposals you submit to clients, not great
Employee: Yes, I fired my sales coordinator and jr sales team, it was time for a change
Boss: But you are the sales director
Employee: Right
Boss: I'm going to have to raise prices on all our customers because you didn't hit your quota and we are missing our profit estimates
Employee: sounds good
Boss: I like your energy. And you almost landed that huge contract 2 years ago, you haven't left for our competitor like your predecessor so I applaud you for that
Employee: Um no one else offered me a job, I mean, yes I love it here. And if you need me to let our VP's son work on my team, I can do that.
Boss: Well, I'm going to ask our President to give you a raise, you landed a big contract at a smaller firm 6 years ago, and even though you're pretty average, you earned it. Congrats.
Employee: ok

 

[KaneFan29]

So is this how things work in the real world?

Boss: I want to go over your annual review. in Q4, which is our most important sales quarter, you haven't had much success landing new contracts.
Employee: I'm just going to have to do better.
Boss: When I hired you, you said landing big contracts was possible
Employee: I'm going to work as hard as possible to get that done
Boss: Yeah, that's why we pay you, to work hard
Employee: Right
Boss: You basically have landed 50% of the proposals you submit to clients, not great
Employee: Yes, I fired my sales coordinator and jr sales team, it was time for a change
Boss: But you are the sales director
Employee: Right
Boss: I'm going to have to raise prices on all our customers because you didn't hit your quota and we are missing our profit estimates
Employee: sounds good
Boss: I like your energy. And you almost landed that huge contract 2 years ago, you haven't left for our competitor like your predecessor so I applaud you for that
Employee: Um no one else offered me a job, I mean, yes I love it here. And if you need me to let our VP's son work on my team, I can do that.
Boss: Well, I'm going to ask our President to give you a raise, you landed a big contract at a smaller firm 6 years ago, and even though you're pretty average, you earned it. Congrats.
Employee: ok

I think you left out the part about “owning the trolls” in this conversation. Maybe you can add that in there next time.

 

[BillyFlava08]

You forgot to mention the boss is incompetent, delusional, and needs to be drug tested