The 2008 UTEP Miners break into the collegiate season hoping to build on four years of Mike Price. There's no doubt Price has helped UTEP make significant strides over the years, namely two bowl appearances and big recruit signings. UTEP has nowhere to go but up this year after being ranked No. 82 in Rivals.com's preseason rankings.
Although UTEP suffered through a 4-8 season last year, the emergence of Braxton May and Jeff Moutori, along with the breaking in of Trevor Vittatoe and 12 other returning starters, has the Miners better equipped than last year to make a run at .500, and even the C-USA West title.
UTEP will travel to Buffalo in Week One in what will be an offensive showcase. Week Two features a visit by the Texas Longhorns in which you can be assured UTEP will try its best not to look outmatched or outclassed. Rivals NMSU will visit the Sun Bowl in what looks like a battle between eerily similar teams, as Vittatoe and Moutori take on Chase Holbrook and Chris Williams.
The following week, the defending C-USA champion UCF Knights visit El Paso. UTEP will try to put together four solid quarters, building on the decent half they put up last year. A trip to Southern Miss., followed by a home game versus Tulane and a trip to Tulsa, will round up a streak of games that proved tough for the Miners last year. They only managed a one-point win versus Tulsa last year and dropped the other three.
The Miners will close up their home slate against the now June Jones-led SMU Mustangs in what could prove to be an offensive fest, followed by road trips to main conference rival Houston Cougars and the regular season finale versus C-USA favorite East Carolina.
UTEP will have to learn on the job this season with the new defense and tough road schedule if they are going to make a run at the C-USA West title and avoid a second straight sub-.500 season.
Last year, sophomore QB Trevor Vittatoe threw for 25 touchdowns and over 3,000 yards versus seven interceptions on 400-plus attempts—a nice stat rundown for a freshman QB. Marcus Thomas is gone now, and Terrell Jackson will lead the running back by committee approach to replace the 1,000-yard rusher lost in Thomas.
Moutori will take it upon himself to make sure the rest of the receivers will come along well. The offensive line returns two of the top Miners in Robby Felix and Mike Aguayo, who will vie for league honors.
Braxton Amy and Adam Vincent will have to lead the Miners' revamped 3-3-5 defense in order for them to get past the .500 barrier this season. The one thing the Miners have not lacked since the arrival of Price is offensive firepower, but new defensive coordinator Osia Lewis will have to improve upon the measly five sacks they managed to accumulate all of last year.
Special teams will not be under the scope as much as the defensive unit, as they're led by Lou Groza finalist Jose Martinez. With the defense's 117th in the nation ranking last season, there is nowhere to go but up.
Just improving the defense by 15 to 25 spots could help the offense that averaged 33.6 points per game last year get over that hump.
Can you say Bowl? The Miners hope so.
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