Bowl or bust for UTEP football? Miners enter season with high aspirations

[meangreen11]

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — UTEP last played in a bowl game in 2014. The Miners have since gone 21-54 after their appearance in the New Mexico Bowl seven years ago, and they are picked to finish last in the Conference USA West Division this season. But head coach Dana Dimel has high hopes for his team in 2021.

The Miners finished the 2020 pandemic-shortened season 3-5 (0-4) and won their only two home games of the season, albeit against a pair of FCS opponents (Stephen F. Austin and Abilene Christian). Even in just eight games, there was a noticeable difference in last year’s UTEP team than the previous three under Dimel. The biggest difference came on offense where the Miners showed glimpses of an explosive offense with sophomore quarterback Gavin Hardison throwing the football to Jacob Cowing and Justin Garrett. Freshman running back Deion Hankins, the local fan-favorite on the team, ran over, around and through opposing defenses.

“I really love the talent we have [on offense]. It starts with the running back position, and we are very, very deep at the running back position. It goes three-deep,” said Dimel. “We were close to being a .500 team last year and now the guys know what it takes to win.”
 

read more:  https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ktsm.com/sports/college-sports/utep/bowl-or-bust-for-utep-football-miners-enter-season-with-high-aspirations/amp/

[UNTLifer]

Shot of Dimel at the presser.

[untjim1995]

They will be terrible...currently, they are the only CUSA West school ranked worse than us in the CBS Sports FBS 130 rankings.

[UNTexas]

UTEP is a tough place to recruit. I use to live in EP. It’s not for everyone and academically it’s not great. 

[greenminer]

2 hours ago, UNTexas said:

UTEP is a tough place to recruit. I use to live in EP. It’s not for everyone and academically it’s not great. 

Excellent school if you pursue engineering.

[greeneagle1]

My over/under for their wins this year is 1.5. They will beat their FCS opponent, but that might be it. 

[El Paso Eagle]

Not sure as UTEP has a President who could care less about athletics and an AD who is terrible it matters who they have as a coach. They can get some talent - I think they have 5 players in the NFL right now. That being said, for their next coach they need to go after a rising FBS coach (like they did in BB).