College Football Countdown | No. 114: UTEP

[Harry]

For injury upon injury upon injury, you, Sean Kugler, get a pass. But it's a one-year get-out-jail-free card, not a lifetime membership: UTEP would still like to win – at some point, sooner rather than later – so let's get moving.

Kugler's earned a first-year grade of Incomplete for 2013, a year that saw the Miners finish last in Conference USA's West Division, thanks to the slew of injuries that defined the Miners' season more than the two wins, the double-digit losses, the paltry work on defense and the record-setting output on the ground. From quarterback through the secondary and at all points in between, the Miners played patchwork with a two-deep already stretched to the limits of competitiveness.

It's hard to play poker when you start with less than a full deck and lose cards along the way, as Kugler learned last fall. This is a lesson that extended through February, when the Miners reloaded a diminished talent pool with a number of prospects on the offensive and defensive line, two areas of enormous concern. The lesson: It pays to be prepared.

And if you have an idea of how to avoid injuries, all the better. UTEP is clearly a different team with Jameill Showers at quarterback, for example, and can't afford to lose one of its two potential all-conference running backs. A defense still learning the tricks of the trade in coordinator Scott Stoker's defense needs to trot out its best 11 to remain competitive. A year later, the same rule applies: UTEP will be an afterthought if the Miners can't remain healthy.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2014/05/09/utep-sean-kugler-2014-countdown-preview-roster-schedule-football-four/8858007/

[UNTexas]

It's hard to remain healthy when your team is inferior to the teams they play. We here know that lesson all to well.

[MeanGreenTexan]

UTEP must have a deal with UnderArmour?

[GOMG2013]

The usatoday rankings of the 128 d1 football teams is at #105.

So far starting from the bottom, 4 of our oppenents are listed:

113 So Miss

114 UTEP

120 UAB

127 FIU

Im sure La Tech is going to be listed in the next few days. Add in Nichols state and hitting 6 should not be a problem with this schedule.

We could possibly have a worse/rebuilding team and still have a similar or even better record than last season.

[oldguystudent]

UTEP must have a deal with UnderArmour?

What kind of shoes do they wear?