Went back to Dallas over the weekend to be in the wedding of a childhood friend. It was a blast to see everyone. Met some great folks, and saw some that I hadn't seen in eeons... What a great time.
Let's talk UTEP Homecoming. They're hosting Tulane. Tulane had their Homecoming Saturday against Army, and lost sizeably, 44 to 13. To make matters worse, they played the game at a high school stadium in New Orleans, that is also a track facility. THIS, is Tad Gormley Stadium:
In his weekly media conference, Tulane Coach Bob Toledo didn't earn a spot on the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce.
He said that his players told him that the game felt like a road game. This is what Tulane considers a road-game:
Nothing like playing on the road. Toledo also said that the grass was too high, press box was too hot and cramped, and there were divots all over the field. Toledo failed to mention that Army also played, and played well, on the same field.
In talking about his team's loss, he explained the "here we go again feeling" that we're all familiar with from the Miners end of season collapses in '05, '06, and '07. Here's the quote:
"We have a tendency, when bad things happen to us, there's a look in our eye and a feeling of `here we go again.' I see it in our fans. I see it in people who report here. It's that look of `here we go again,' instead of `hey, let's step it up, lets go.' We've got to teach the mentality and we haven't done that yet. We've got to change the mentality and learn how to compete. Just because bad things happen doesn't mean you stop competing."
Here's how UTEP wins the game, and it's twofold:
1. They do what Army did. No, they don't have a fullback to rush for 187 yards at 9.8 yards per carry. But, after 2 Tulane possessions, Army was already up 14-0, and both scores came on special teams. Army blocked a punt after the 1st possession, and then returned a fumble 81 yards for another touchdown. Get on the scoreboard quick and first. Give Tulane that "here we go again" feeling.
2. The Miner defense needs to get to quarterback Kevin Moore. The Humanities major was having a good game against Army until he took a inhumane hit. Toledo said in his press conference that Moore was never the same after that.
Toledo is familiar with the Miners 3-3-5 defense. Of course, Rocky Long taught it to Osia Lewis, and Long used to coach for Toledo at Oregon St. Lewis was also a player at Oregon when Toledo coached there. He's more than familiar with it. Can he teach it to an offense that has 4 days to learn it???
Jeremy Williams also is out. He's the offensive playmaker for Tulane. He had an operation Monday for 2 broken bones in his hand. Also, according to his player page, he's Majoring in "Media Arts". Back in the day, we called that major "Journalism."
I looked up the syllabus for the intro class, and, man. Is it just good timing or what? Now that Williams is out, he can concentrate on Friday's "Film, and Home Video" topic.... *WHEW*... Just in the nick of time...
And this is a private school??? Kids pay private school-like tuition to walk around and make home movies??? Well, before last weekend's home/road Homecoming, I hope that Williams absorbed the topic of "Recorded Music/Radio."... I'm in the wrong business. Time to start a private college, and offer classes in "Paper Airplane-Constructing Arts."
Enjoy the Win, Miners...
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