Miners, Rockets ready to tangle
Matthew Aguilar
El Paso Times
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
MOBILE, Ala. -- The UTEP football team conducted its final practice of the 2005 season Tuesday, a walk-through at Ladd-Pebbles Stadium, where the Miners will play Toledo at 6 p.m. today in the GMAC Bowl.
And head coach Mike Price was feeling a little sentimental about it.
"I'm going to miss the seniors," he said. "They were lots of fun to be with. I really appreciate everything they've done for us. So this was the last time this team will be together, ever, for a practice."
UTEP (8-3) still has one more game -- and it's a big one -- against a Toledo (8-3) team that could be the toughest and most fundamentally sound club of an often topsy-turvy '05 campaign.
It will be the Miners' second bowl game in two years, and the first time they have participated in back-to-back bowls since 1954-55. They also will be trying to erase 38 years of bowl game ineptitude.
The last time UTEP won a bowl game was in 1967 against Mississippi, 14-7. And the last time UTEP won a season finale, athletic director Bob Stull was in his first season as head coach in 1986.
But the Miners are more concerned with more immediate, disturbing trends.
At one time an 8-1 club looking to host the Conference USA championship game, the Miners' fortunes took a nosedive in the final two games, as they suffered devastating losses to UAB (35-23) at home and SMU (40-27) on the road.
The culprit? Turnovers. UTEP has committed 32 of them this season (18 interceptions, 14 fumbles) -- a whopping 11 in the final two games.
Toledo, meanwhile, has committed roughly half of that with 17 turnovers.
Miscues will tell tell the tale, Price said.
"(Toledo) doesn't make many mistakes. If we make mistakes, we're not going to win. There's no question about that," he said. "Their team just doesn't make mistakes, and we have. But let's not put everything on (quarterback Jordan Palmer's) shoulders. Let's get the running game going. Let's make some plays on defense and take care of the football. And we'll win."
That will mean more handoffs and passes out of the backfield to Miner sophomore tailback Marcus Thomas, who leads the Miners with 720 rushing yards (5.5 average) and five touchdowns, as well as 30 catches for 442 yards (14.7 average) and five touchdowns.
Still, the performance of Palmer appears to be UTEP's most pressing concern.
The junior from Mission Viejo, Calif., has thrown 18 interceptions this season, second most in the nation. Six of the seven turnovers in the SMU game Nov. 29 were his doing (four interceptions, two fumbles), and he tossed three picks the week before against UAB.
However, Palmer said he is determined to play his game the same way he always has -- aggressively and fearlessly.
Collectively, he said the Miners seemed to emerge from their funk when they arrived in Mobile.
"Practices have been great," he said. "I don't think we made a mistake offensively (Monday), from a missed blocking assignment to a dropped ball. We're doing what we need to do. I think it's experience. Last year (in the EV1.net Houston Bowl), we were maybe a little content with being (in a bowl game). We wanted to win and everything, but it's different (this time). I feel like it's the conference championship."
UTEP junior receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins agreed.
"It was good to get out of town, plus, it's a bowl game," said Higgins, who averaged 129.4 all-purpose yards this season. "Everybody is focused. Last year, we came up short against Colorado, and we don't want that to happen. We want to send the seniors out with a bang. We want our rings to say 'champs' on them."
On the season, Palmer has thrown for 3,340 yards (averaging 303.6 yards a game) and 28 touchdowns.
He became UTEP's all-time single-season passer in 2005, and now owns all of the program's career passing records.
It's obvious that Rocket coach Tom Amstutz respects Palmer's ability.
"We have issued butterfly nets to our defense to try and intercept a couple of passes," Amstutz said at the final press conference Tuesday. "I don't know how else we'll be able to do it. You can see that Jordan is definitely related to (Cincinnatti Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer). The two are really great quarterbacks with great arms."
Then there's the issue of toughness, and wether a fair-weather team can whip a cold-weather team -- perhaps in the cold.
Toledo practices in snow and freezing temperatures and could be better equipped not only for the possible unpleasant weather today, but for a back-alley brawl.
"It felt great (arriving in comparatively mild Mobile)," Amstutz said. "We practice right in the snow and shuttle it off to the side. We had six feet of melted snow, and players throw it at each other after practice."
But Rocket senior running back Trinity Dawson (106.4 average yards per game, five touchdowns) said people may be making too much of the cold-weather issue.
"I guess it could (make a difference), possibly; I don't know," Dawson said. "I have about six or seven layers (of clothes) on. I'm from Tulsa, Okla. I don't like the cold too much. But I guess it could possibly make you tougher. But me personally, I'd rather stay down here (in Mobile)."
Finally, there's the issue of what kind of game will it be.
Will it be the expected offensive fireworks display (UTEP averages 438 yards and 33.5 points per game; Toledo 445.2 yards and 34.9 points per game), or a low-scoring game between a pair of underrated defenses (UTEP's opponents have averaged 24.2 points per game; Toledo's, 22.5 points per game)?
"I think everyone is hyping this game for the offenses, but you have to look at the two good defenses," said Toledo quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who is the leader of the Rockets offensive attack, throwing for 2,171 yards and 24 touchdowns in earning the MAC Co-MVP award. "UTEP's defense, they fly around to the football. It's a fast defense. They have some good linebackers and defensive linemen. They get after it, as does our defense. Who knows? It could be 6-0 one way or the other, or 41-40."
Price said: "Don't ask me, because if I predict, it will be the opposite. If I say it's going to be high-scoring, it'll probably be 3-2. I think it's going to be competitive. I think we have good speed, and I think they have strength and discipline."
So that's what the 2005 GMAC Bowl will feature: UTEP's speed vs. Toledo's strength.
It could make for a pretty decent battle.
"When I see them, I see a very good football team," Amstutz said. "They are well-coached, they have a great offensive scheme, and it's going to be a great football game."
Matthew Aguilar
El Paso Times
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
MOBILE, Ala. -- The UTEP football team conducted its final practice of the 2005 season Tuesday, a walk-through at Ladd-Pebbles Stadium, where the Miners will play Toledo at 6 p.m. today in the GMAC Bowl.
And head coach Mike Price was feeling a little sentimental about it.
"I'm going to miss the seniors," he said. "They were lots of fun to be with. I really appreciate everything they've done for us. So this was the last time this team will be together, ever, for a practice."
UTEP (8-3) still has one more game -- and it's a big one -- against a Toledo (8-3) team that could be the toughest and most fundamentally sound club of an often topsy-turvy '05 campaign.
It will be the Miners' second bowl game in two years, and the first time they have participated in back-to-back bowls since 1954-55. They also will be trying to erase 38 years of bowl game ineptitude.
The last time UTEP won a bowl game was in 1967 against Mississippi, 14-7. And the last time UTEP won a season finale, athletic director Bob Stull was in his first season as head coach in 1986.
But the Miners are more concerned with more immediate, disturbing trends.
At one time an 8-1 club looking to host the Conference USA championship game, the Miners' fortunes took a nosedive in the final two games, as they suffered devastating losses to UAB (35-23) at home and SMU (40-27) on the road.
The culprit? Turnovers. UTEP has committed 32 of them this season (18 interceptions, 14 fumbles) -- a whopping 11 in the final two games.
Toledo, meanwhile, has committed roughly half of that with 17 turnovers.
Miscues will tell tell the tale, Price said.
"(Toledo) doesn't make many mistakes. If we make mistakes, we're not going to win. There's no question about that," he said. "Their team just doesn't make mistakes, and we have. But let's not put everything on (quarterback Jordan Palmer's) shoulders. Let's get the running game going. Let's make some plays on defense and take care of the football. And we'll win."
That will mean more handoffs and passes out of the backfield to Miner sophomore tailback Marcus Thomas, who leads the Miners with 720 rushing yards (5.5 average) and five touchdowns, as well as 30 catches for 442 yards (14.7 average) and five touchdowns.
Still, the performance of Palmer appears to be UTEP's most pressing concern.
The junior from Mission Viejo, Calif., has thrown 18 interceptions this season, second most in the nation. Six of the seven turnovers in the SMU game Nov. 29 were his doing (four interceptions, two fumbles), and he tossed three picks the week before against UAB.
However, Palmer said he is determined to play his game the same way he always has -- aggressively and fearlessly.
Collectively, he said the Miners seemed to emerge from their funk when they arrived in Mobile.
"Practices have been great," he said. "I don't think we made a mistake offensively (Monday), from a missed blocking assignment to a dropped ball. We're doing what we need to do. I think it's experience. Last year (in the EV1.net Houston Bowl), we were maybe a little content with being (in a bowl game). We wanted to win and everything, but it's different (this time). I feel like it's the conference championship."
UTEP junior receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins agreed.
"It was good to get out of town, plus, it's a bowl game," said Higgins, who averaged 129.4 all-purpose yards this season. "Everybody is focused. Last year, we came up short against Colorado, and we don't want that to happen. We want to send the seniors out with a bang. We want our rings to say 'champs' on them."
On the season, Palmer has thrown for 3,340 yards (averaging 303.6 yards a game) and 28 touchdowns.
He became UTEP's all-time single-season passer in 2005, and now owns all of the program's career passing records.
It's obvious that Rocket coach Tom Amstutz respects Palmer's ability.
"We have issued butterfly nets to our defense to try and intercept a couple of passes," Amstutz said at the final press conference Tuesday. "I don't know how else we'll be able to do it. You can see that Jordan is definitely related to (Cincinnatti Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer). The two are really great quarterbacks with great arms."
Then there's the issue of toughness, and wether a fair-weather team can whip a cold-weather team -- perhaps in the cold.
Toledo practices in snow and freezing temperatures and could be better equipped not only for the possible unpleasant weather today, but for a back-alley brawl.
"It felt great (arriving in comparatively mild Mobile)," Amstutz said. "We practice right in the snow and shuttle it off to the side. We had six feet of melted snow, and players throw it at each other after practice."
But Rocket senior running back Trinity Dawson (106.4 average yards per game, five touchdowns) said people may be making too much of the cold-weather issue.
"I guess it could (make a difference), possibly; I don't know," Dawson said. "I have about six or seven layers (of clothes) on. I'm from Tulsa, Okla. I don't like the cold too much. But I guess it could possibly make you tougher. But me personally, I'd rather stay down here (in Mobile)."
Finally, there's the issue of what kind of game will it be.
Will it be the expected offensive fireworks display (UTEP averages 438 yards and 33.5 points per game; Toledo 445.2 yards and 34.9 points per game), or a low-scoring game between a pair of underrated defenses (UTEP's opponents have averaged 24.2 points per game; Toledo's, 22.5 points per game)?
"I think everyone is hyping this game for the offenses, but you have to look at the two good defenses," said Toledo quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who is the leader of the Rockets offensive attack, throwing for 2,171 yards and 24 touchdowns in earning the MAC Co-MVP award. "UTEP's defense, they fly around to the football. It's a fast defense. They have some good linebackers and defensive linemen. They get after it, as does our defense. Who knows? It could be 6-0 one way or the other, or 41-40."
Price said: "Don't ask me, because if I predict, it will be the opposite. If I say it's going to be high-scoring, it'll probably be 3-2. I think it's going to be competitive. I think we have good speed, and I think they have strength and discipline."
So that's what the 2005 GMAC Bowl will feature: UTEP's speed vs. Toledo's strength.
It could make for a pretty decent battle.
"When I see them, I see a very good football team," Amstutz said. "They are well-coached, they have a great offensive scheme, and it's going to be a great football game."
