What Scares Me About UTSA

[HarringtonFishSmeller]

Besides us.

You look at their games this season.  Yes, they are 1-5.  But, they have actually been in some dog fights.

Season opener, they played very well against Arizona.  Okay, Pac-12 team beats them.  No surprise.  Same thing in game two and three, they lose to Kansas State and Oklahoma State.  Understandable.  I mean, we talk of having a "tough schedule" this season.  But, UTSA cold opened the season playing Arizona, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State the first three weeks of the season.

After that, they are 1-3.  But, they were only blown out in one of those three losses, a 32-10 loss at Southern Miss.

They lost to Colorado State, 33-31 after leading that game 17-16 at half.  They then beat UTEP, on the road, 25-6.  Then, they took La. Tech to the wire.  The Bulldogs kicked a field goal with 10 seconds left in the game to escape San Antonio with a 34-31 win.

So, look...UTSA obviously isn't setting the world on fire.  But, they are typically moving the ball throughout the game:

(1) Arizona, trailed 21-20 at half, scored in three of four quarters.
(2) Kansas State, trailed 7-3 at half, scored in one quarter
(3) Oklahoma State, trailed 31-7 at half, scored in two of four quarters
(4) Colorado State, led 17-16 at half, scored in all four quarters
(5) UTEP, led 3-0 at half, scored in three of four quarters
(6) La. Tech, trailed 24-10 at half, scored in all four quarters
(7) Southern Miss, trailed 16-0 at half, scored in one quarter

We have been in one game - one:  the season opener at SMU.  UTSA has come out fighting in most games, and are a ball hair away from being 3-4 instead of 1-7.

So, once you dig into it, you see that, although their QB situation has been turned topsy-turvy by injury (1st teamer Blake Bogenshutz out indefinitely with a concussion) and desertion (2nd and 3rd team QBs Austin Robinson and Russell Bellomy quit the team in September and October, respectively), they have done as well for themselves as can be expected.

Also, their only win this year was a road game at UTEP.  So, there's that.   I'd really, really like to beat UTSA.  But, it's as likely that they beat us - and, beat us good...unfortunately.

Out of Conference Average Scores:
Opponents 44, UTSA 20

C-USA Average Scores:
Opponents 24, UTSA 22

We will get a fight from UTSA.  Yes, even with the guy who began the season fourth on their depth chart playing QB, we will get a fight from them.  Maybe more than we can handle.

It's a sad season.  I began looking at UTSA's games to try to find a silver lining to the game next Saturday.  The opposite happened. 

 

Edited October 25, 2015 by HarringtonFishSmeller

[golfingomez]

when you are the worst team in college football, everyone scares you

 

[Tyler Maryak]

What scares me is that many of their fans are trash and some of their players are trash. And they'll make our stadium trash just by being in it. Must win.

[outoftown]

Psychologically it is not necessarily better to 1) be in a lot of dogfights and keep losing, rather than 2) being blown out.

In case 1) you learn that even when things look good it is all going to end badly anyway, so unless you manage to run the score up on your oponent, your confidence remains shot, almost no matter what the score is. The upside is that you see you can hang and maybe you don't get overexcited in the wrong way once you are there, because it is nothing new.

in case 2) you have to work hard on your believe that you can hang with anyone, but if ever you hang around, your confidence might come back faster. Unless your players get overexcited, that ignorance can be bliss if things go right, because confidence is such an important factor in the game, and particularly for beaten down teams it is probably more beneficial than overexcitment is bad.

Edited October 25, 2015 by outoftown

[outoftown]

So, look...UTSA obviously isn't setting the world on fire.  But, they are typically moving the ball throughout the game:

(1) Arizona, trailed 21-20 at half, scored in three of four quarters.
(2) Kansas State, trailed 7-3 at half, scored in one quarter
(3) Oklahoma State, trailed 31-7 at half, scored in two of four quarters
(4) Colorado State, led 17-16 at half, scored in all four quarters
(5) UTEP, led 3-0 at half, scored in three of four quarters
(6) La. Tech, trailed 24-10 at half, scored in all four quarters
(7) Southern Miss, trailed 16-0 at half, scored in one quarter
 

Also, If I look at this, the trend is kind of going in the wrong direction there for UTSA, while -as low as it was- we have reached the bottom with the PSU game and -yes you have to squint a bit- one can see some progress in the last two games.

[UNTexas]

when you are the worst team in college football, everyone scares you

 

Actually nothing should scare this team. The season is over and we will most likely get stomped by everyone left so there's really nothing to fear. 

I guess we should fear being embarrassed but they gave up and got annihilated by an FCS team so it's too late to avoid embarrassment. 

Hopefully, the season ends quickly with no more injuries. But we still have Tennessee for further humiliation of the university on a bigger stage.

[Mike Jackson]

Well since UTSA technically really doesn't have a home stadium.  (They are squatting in the Alamodome until they can raise enough money to build an on campus stadium).   I think they view Apogee as their home stadium.

[UNTexas]

Well since UTSA technically really doesn't have a home stadium.  (They are squatting in the Alamodome until they can raise enough money to build an on campus stadium).   I think they view Apogee as their home stadium.

That's freaking awesome! Sad but true.

[GrayEagle]

Well, as they say, nothing should scare us because we have nothing to lose.  But, if I had to pick a concern it would be our pass defense.

By giving a 6-8 yard cushion we are allowing the opposition to complete nearly 3/4 of their passes.  They'll just keep marching down the field on us.  They can't beat us with their running game but their passing game will eat us alive.

I hope that we play the nickel the whole game and don't give them any cushion.  Our front six should be able to handle their runners so let's see what DBs have good coverage skills.

Yes, UTSA has played an even tougher schedule and played them closer but I'm hoping that our home field advantage will get us a win with a good effort and a smart game plan.  Remember, Canales only has five more games to impress for a possible head coach position.