Should UTEP be forced to forfeit?

ADLER · October 30, 2020

Despite El Paso's current Covid 19 pandemic spike, with overwhelmed county hospitals unable to accept injured players, UTEP refused to consider relocating Saturday's game to an alternate location.

El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego has proclaimed a county wide lockdown and that UTEP would not be able to host the game because athletic and entertainment events are not categorized as essential businesses. Simply put, the Sun Bowl in El Paso would not be able to host the North Texas - UTEP football game.

Not being able to play a game at a specified site is not a new situation for this football series.

UTEP, then called Texas Western, was scheduled to be the first guest team at North Texas' opening of their new Eagle Stadium on September 20, 1952. North Texas couldn't host the game at the new stadium because the new field's natural turf was not ready due to a recent heat wave, and requested the game be moved to the older but smaller stadium on campus, to a different metroplex location, or postponed to a date later that season. UTEP wouldn't consider postponement, insisted that the game be moved to El Paso's Kidd Field, and finally compromised with the game being played at a midway neutral site in Odessa, Texas.

Now, though no fault of their own, UTEP cannot host the current game in this series. Shouldn't UTEP have to play by the same rules that they themselves created, to only play at the opponents stadium or at a neutral site. And if they decide not to, UTEP should be forced to forfeit the game.

https://kvia.com/coronavirus/2020/10/29/el-paso-county-judge-considers-more-restrictions-possible-shutdown-due-to-virus-surge/

NorthTexasSportsNetwork · October 30, 2020

it’s so hypocritical how they blame us for not wanting to go into a hot spot, but then do this.
If we were in the AAC, this wouldn’t be happening because they have leadership!

wardly · October 30, 2020

No, let the schools work it out. It was a no brainer no to go to El Paso. Virus will probably be around thru 2021 so schools who want to play football need to learn to compromise .

drex · October 30, 2020

Well, there need to be an adult in the room and that adult should be the C-USA commissioner. I am not anticipating ole Judy to do squat.

Mean Green Matt · October 30, 2020

We should probably just not get worked up about anything that happens this season.

Monkeypox · October 31, 2020

I don't think anyone needs to forfeit anything in this Covid season.

But, UTEP was given an opportunity to play this game in Denton at OUR cost, and they refused. If this game can't be re-scheduled in December due to the situation in El Paso (because guess what, it's not going to magically get better over the next month or so), then it is UTEP's fault this game didn't get played.

Oh well.

meangreen11 · October 31, 2020

Screw UTEP!!

greenminer · October 31, 2020

The two departments need a 3rd party mediator. Draw up 2-3 alternatives. Play in Denton. Play half-way. etc.

UTEP needs to anticipate that no one else will want to play there and they will not have any more football in El Paso this season.

UNT should also consider that maybe EVERY team left on the Miner home schedule will follow through and play. Will that make us look like the jerks? Maybe, but I don't think this will actually happen, though.

No one should forfeit games this year. This request by the UTEP staff strikes me as a side trying to save face or do damage control (regarding their image).

UNTexas · October 31, 2020

Just wait until FIU doesn't travel to EP next week. UTEP is going to freak out. There might not be enough dates for them to reschedule in December. It's not their fault, nor ours, nor FIU's fault if that occurs. Hell, a couple infections out there and UTSA game could be a no go. No reason to get worked up. The season is just messed up by 2020 karma.

peanuts104 · October 31, 2020

No, we should forfeit for caving.

NorthTexasSportsNetwork · October 31, 2020

3 hours ago, peanuts104 said:

No, we should forfeit for caving.

Bro what’s up with you lol will ferrell chill GIF

GrayEagle · November 2, 2020

NO, neither should forfeit. This should have been worked out through the commissioner and rework a new schedule date. The worst part, if I understand correctly, is that the game was to be on CBS nationally and the conference needs all of the exposure that it can get. We would've been the sixth and seventh teams from CUSA to appear on TV Saturday. Western Kentucky vs. BYU was on ESPN. UAB vs. Louisiana Tech and UTSA vs. Florida Atlantic were on Fox Southwest.

Udomann · November 2, 2020

On 10/31/2020 at 5:16 AM, peanuts104 said:

No, we should forfeit for caving.

image.png.7a5f2223b4584b15f8d38368a5cd644e.png

Mean Green Matt · November 2, 2020

13 hours ago, GrayEagle said:

NO, neither should forfeit. This should have been worked out through the commissioner and rework a new schedule date. The worst part, if I understand correctly, is that the game was to be on CBS nationally and the conference needs all of the exposure that it can get. We would've been the sixth and seventh teams from CUSA to appear on TV Saturday. Western Kentucky vs. BYU was on ESPN. UAB vs. Louisiana Tech and UTSA vs. Florida Atlantic were on Fox Southwest.

Do we really want to be on national TV right now?

wardly · November 2, 2020

Well, Saturday was Halloween, UTEP wears orange, and our team is very frightening, so......

RiseUNT · November 2, 2020

18 minutes ago, wardly said:

Well, Saturday was Halloween, UTEP wears orange, and our team is very frightening, so......

parks and recreation GIF

Big Z · November 2, 2020

9 hours ago, Mean Green Matt said:

Do we really want to be on national TV right now?

Yes I’ll take it but I doubt anyone besides the hardcore MG fans would be watching this game. I mean you can’t even get exposure at the square in Denton to find a place with the game on.

Edited November 2, 2020 by Big Z