UTEP football is 5-1; call for fans to get behind resurgent Miners

EL PASO, Texas - UTEP football's 5-1 start, their best since 2010, has taken both local and national college football fans by surprise. But if you've paid close attention to the culture that has been slowly building within the Miners' program, the 2021 success could be considered overdue.

"We're better,'" says 4th-year head coach Dana Dimel. "But we weren't very far off last year."

In last year's eight-game shortened season, UTEP finished with a record of 3-5.

But Covid-19 complications deprived the Miners of all three of their Conference-USA home games in 2020. Dimel is quick to point out that one of the canceled home games was against Southern Mississippi, the same team that UTEP just smothered to a 26-13 victory on the road last weekend.

"That team that we just beat was supposed to come to our place last year. We win that game and we probably don't even play North Texas because we had to go there," says Dimel, whose 2020 season ended with a 45-43 loss at North Texas in game that was originally scheduled to be played in El Paso. "It hit me today that if we would have had home games last year, we probably would have had a darn good season as well."

Now in 2021, UTEP has raced out to a 5-1 start, including three victories at home.

Just halfway through the season, the Miners' are one win away from bowl eligibility. The hot start means that UTEP could finish 1-5 the rest of the season, and still qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2014.

A win over Louisiana Tech this Saturday at home would all lock up a bowl berth for UTEP, but should the Miners' knock off the Bulldogs, it would open the possibility for bigger things beyond just a bowl game.

With UTEP sitting at 2-0 in the Conference USA West Division, the team's best conference start in 13 years, the Miners' essentially control their own destiny the rest of the season in the C-USA race.

Saturday's game against Louisiana Tech is all the more important because it would force people to take UTEP seriously in the C-USA Championship race.

"This is a game that puts ourselves in a position to do that," says Dimel of the Louisiana Tech game. "If we can be blessed enough to win this game, it puts us in the upper echelon of the conference and gives us a great chance to make a run at that."

UTEP is currently a seven-point underdog against the Bulldogs, who boast a high powered offense led by Oklahoma and West Virginia transfer QB Austin Kendall.

Don't be fooled by Louisiana Tech's 2-3 record. The Bulldogs were in a position to beat Power Five opponents Mississippi State and NC State on the road, and lost at #23 SMU on a last-play Hail Mary earlier in the season.

Given UTEP hasn't defeated Louisiana Tech since 2004, the Miners are right to be underdogs. But make no mistake, these Miners are no longer an easy out in Conference USA.

Under new defensive coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto the Miners' defense has wreaked havoc on opposing offenses, totaling more sacks (16) and more interceptions (4) through six games this year than in last year's eight game season combined.

Offensively, UTEP is top ten in the nation in yards per pass. WR Jacob Cowing currently ranks 7th in all of college football with 609 yards receiving.

UTEP will be looking for any edge they can get this Saturday at the Sun Bowl, and with the long-term implications of Saturday's result, fans should want to try and make things difficult on Louisiana Tech.

The capacity at Sun Bowl sits at 46,670 and following UTEP's 2016 season in which they finished 4-8, average attendance dipped below 20,000 and it has not come back above since.

Granted the Miners' totaled only two wins over the next three seasons combined, as Dana Dimel assumed the role of Head Coach beginning in 2018.

Understandably fans want to see a winner, but that excuse can now be put to the test.

Between 2005-2010 UTEP's average attendance ranged from 30-40,000. Only in 2005 (8-4) and in 2010 (6-7) did UTEP surpass the five win total at which they currently stand.

A crowded Sun Bowl could be a factor this coming Saturday.

"On third downs when that crowd is loud, I promise you the offense is really scared," says UTEP defensive end Praise Amaewhule, the team leader in sacks. "The quarterback is shaking in his boots, the offensive line they're quivering because they know the fire is about to unleash on them."

"You all are literally the start of our success, having the noise, having them jump off the ball with a false start...it's a great feeling."

Should UTEP pull off the upset on Saturday, the next home game would be on November 6th against a UTSA team pegged by many to finish as the C-USA West winners. That game could decide the West division crown.

UTEP's team on the field has done their part to get in position for a bowl game, and now maybe more.

It's time for college football fans to start paying attention.