When you are the lone winless team in the nation, playing in the Conference USA West Division, no less, things obviously went wrong in every way. Sean Kugler, who was largely thought to be on the hot seat entering the season, never made it past the midway point of the year, and resigned. Here's a look at what went wrong, a look at anything that can be derived as right, and what the future seems to hold for UTEP football...
What Went Wrong
Everything. Sean Kugler, who two years ago had UTEP heading in an upward trajectory with Aaron Jones at RB, never could find the key to the formula to keep things moving up after Jones left early for the Green Bay Packers. The run game was a point of negative emphasis, as the Miners averaged just over 95 yards rushing per game this season, and freshman Joshua Fields led the team with just 362 yards on the season. As a team, the Miners rushed for just 3.32 yards per carry, and scored just eight rushing TDs on the year. If you were expecting anything better from the passing game, well, that was a disappointment for you as well, as the MIners averaged just 134 yards passing per gameand as a team, threw just seven TD passes to 14 INTs. Miners QBs completed just 45.5% of their passes, and the offense scored over 20 points just twice all season, and averaged just 11.8 points per game.
Defensively, the Miners allowed 36.8 points per game. It could have been much worse, but it wasn't a stellar year there either. Teams rushed for 234 yards per game against UTEP, and only Alvin Jones seemed to be able to get into backfields to make plays, as he finished with 10.5 TFLs. Nobody else finished with more than 4.5. The UTEP defense generated just 0.92 sacks per game, while they allowed 2.08. UTEP also only generated six INTs all season, while allowing 14.
ooking for help from your field goal unit? Yeah, same story, as the Miners connected on just 3/7 FG attempts all season long.
Attendance also tanked, as the Miners drew over 20,000 for a home game just twice all season long, against Arizona and against Western Kentucky. Only 16,597 fans showed up for the home finale against Louisiana Tech, but that beats the 11,411 people that caught them on the road against Middle Tennessee.
What Went Right
Very few things were areas of brightness. Punter Alan Luna was a busy guy, punting 6.6 times per game, and averaged over 44 yards per attempts. You have to start somewhere, but he is a senior, and will need replacing next fall. Fields and Quardez Wadley showed some promise in small doses, and could use a bump from a new coaching staff and scheme to make the most of their talents in the run game. Kalon Beverly and Nik Needham, both of which should be seniors next fall, were both decent in pass defense, combining for 16 PBUs.
What Does the Future Hold?
Finding a coach is the top priority at this moment for the Miners. Mike Price came in as the interim, but had little effect on the program, and will not stick around for the full time gig. As of this moment, Sam Houston State coach KC Keeler is the front runner, but no deal has been done yet.
The schedule should not be terrible out of conference next fall, as UTEP has non con games against UNLV, Northern Arizona, and New Mexico State, which all represent opportunities for wins, but this program has to start building from rock bottom, as that is where they have currently reached.
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