(08-22-2020 09:28 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  What does “bowl-eligible” mean in this day of shortened schedules, anyway? For a team with an 8 game schedule is it 4-4 (.500) or 6-2 (6 wins)?
I doubt there will be many bowl games, if any, but I think they will invite as many or as few as needed.

Bowl eligible is 50%, whether that is 6-6, 5-5, 4-4. Yes, it depends on need/demand. If the games are without fans, sterile, and disinteresting (like NBA and MLB games now) there will be far fewer bowls due to minimal interest.

(08-22-2020 09:59 AM)DogsWin1 Wrote:  

(08-22-2020 09:28 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  What does “bowl-eligible” mean in this day of shortened schedules, anyway? For a team with an 8 game schedule is it 4-4 (.500) or 6-2 (6 wins)?
I doubt there will be many bowl games, if any, but I think they will invite as many or as few as needed.

Bowl eligible is 50%, whether that is 6-6, 5-5, 4-4. Yes, it depends on need/demand. If the games are without fans, sterile, and disinteresting (like NBA and MLB games now) there will be far fewer bowls due to minimal interest.

I think it will depend of the TV interest and money, if any.

Gonna go out on a limb here. Don't recall UTEP ever having a winning season since MT has been in this conference: but they really could have a winning sesaon(surely they win both FCS contests). I'm predicting the "Texas Western Miners" play host in the 2020 Sun Bowl. Their opponent will be SMU, Houston, or Tulsa. Good Luck UTEP.

(08-22-2020 12:38 PM)BlueRaiderBoy Wrote:  Gonna go out on a limb here. Don't recall UTEP ever having a winning season since MT has been in this conference: but they really could have a winning sesaon(surely they win both FCS contests). I'm predicting the "Texas Western Miners" play host in the 2020 Sun Bowl. Their opponent will be SMU, Houston, or Tulsa. Good Luck UTEP.

Thanks, UTEP could use the good luck.

The last winning season was 2014 at 7-5 for the regular season. The last game was at home vs MTSU and UTEP managed to squeak out a win. Lost to Utah St in the NM Bowl. Seems like forever ago.

(08-22-2020 12:38 PM)BlueRaiderBoy Wrote:  Gonna go out on a limb here. Don't recall UTEP ever having a winning season since MT has been in this conference: but they really could have a winning sesaon(surely they win both FCS contests). I'm predicting the "Texas Western Miners" play host in the 2020 Sun Bowl. Their opponent will be SMU, Houston, or Tulsa. Good Luck UTEP.

I have no trouble rooting for UTEP in any of those match ups.

(08-22-2020 09:59 AM)DogsWin1 Wrote:  

(08-22-2020 09:28 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  What does “bowl-eligible” mean in this day of shortened schedules, anyway? For a team with an 8 game schedule is it 4-4 (.500) or 6-2 (6 wins)?
I doubt there will be many bowl games, if any, but I think they will invite as many or as few as needed.

Bowl eligible is 50%, whether that is 6-6, 5-5, 4-4. Yes, it depends on need/demand. If the games are without fans, sterile, and disinteresting (like NBA and MLB games now) there will be far fewer bowls due to minimal interest.

I believe there are about 64 teams still attempting to play a fall season. In a typical year about half the BCS teams make the .500 mark. If that holds true there will be 32 teams eligible for bowls so there would be 14 bowls max, if there is a 4 team playoff.

(08-21-2020 02:25 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  Two of the three rumored ooc opponents confirmed. UTEP will host FCS teams Stephen F Austin and Abilene Christian. One more road game yet to be confirmed.

And now the final game has been added. UTEP @ ULM on 9/26 with ULM coming to El Paso at a future date to be named. That is 12 games for UTEP and at least a fighting chance to win a few games.

(08-25-2020 02:05 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(08-21-2020 02:25 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  Two of the three rumored ooc opponents confirmed. UTEP will host FCS teams Stephen F Austin and Abilene Christian. One more road game yet to be confirmed.

And now the final game has been added. UTEP @ ULM on 9/26 with ULM coming to El Paso at a future date to be named. That is 12 games for UTEP and at least a fighting chance to win a few games.

All rumored ooc opponents confirmed. Now with the news of TJ I’m not so sure if Dimel will be able to take advantage of the schedule.

(08-25-2020 02:05 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(08-21-2020 02:25 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  Two of the three rumored ooc opponents confirmed. UTEP will host FCS teams Stephen F Austin and Abilene Christian. One more road game yet to be confirmed.

And now the final game has been added. UTEP @ ULM on 9/26 with ULM coming to El Paso at a future date to be named. That is 12 games for UTEP and at least a fighting chance to win a few games.

Be rooting for y'all in that one.

Good luck overall (except against Tech).

(08-25-2020 02:30 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  

(08-25-2020 02:05 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(08-21-2020 02:25 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  Two of the three rumored ooc opponents confirmed. UTEP will host FCS teams Stephen F Austin and Abilene Christian. One more road game yet to be confirmed.

And now the final game has been added. UTEP @ ULM on 9/26 with ULM coming to El Paso at a future date to be named. That is 12 games for UTEP and at least a fighting chance to win a few games.

All rumored ooc opponents confirmed. Now with the news of TJ I’m not so sure if Dimel will be able to take advantage of the schedule.

One down and five to go. Better defense this year and a qb that looks under control. Next week might be quite ugly though.

We’ll see what happens. But I think the only criteria to determine “bowl eligibility” this year will be having a team with enough players ready/willing/able to dress out for the game, and the means to travel to the destination. W’s and L’s will have nothing to do with it.

Abilene Christian is better than SFA. UTEP probably won't win that one.

(08-20-2020 12:46 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  If a full season is played the Miners will finish 2020 bowl eligible.

Do you still feel that way after you struggled to beat SFA at home?

I’m not writing anyone off just yet. Week one proved that Spring Practice and Full contact are important. I sure hope UTEP and others can get it together and win some OOC games this season for CUSA sake.

(09-06-2020 11:56 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  

(08-20-2020 12:46 PM)JCMiner Wrote:  If a full season is played the Miners will finish 2020 bowl eligible.

Do you still feel that way after you struggled to beat SFA at home?

Too early to tell if UTEP is improved enough to win a few more. Also, too early to tell if SFA is better than last season. But I'll say this, better to struggle and win than struggle and lose. Glad to have a better D and improved QB play so far. Better than our opener last season, a nail bighting win vs HBU.

UTEP style of play is hard to watch and while it might keep a score closer and UTEP in the game....

its hard watching a team get up to the line with 30 seconds on the clock and stand there till 1 to 5 seconds if left before snapping the ball.

(09-06-2020 01:39 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  But I'll say this, better to struggle and win than struggle and lose.

Truth ^^^^

UTEP is young. It may not be this year, but they will progress. Keep your heads up and enjoy the win.

Boom!

https://twitter.com/brett_mcmurphy/statu...75042?s=21

Many thought I was crazy but prediction fulfilled.

I expected a tight game today. But looks like the Miners are up big on ULM early. Strange seeing outdoor tables with fans so close to the field.