Ebell still the starter at tailback

[IE]

Though UTEP sophomore Marcus Thomas enjoyed a breakout game last week in a 45-21 victory against Tulane, senior Tyler Ebell will get the start at tailback Saturday when the Miners (4-1, 2-1 in Conference USA) host Marshall (3-3, 2-1) in the Sun Bowl.

Thomas, who started Saturday for the first time in his career, rushed 12 times for 93 yards and caught five passes for 110 yards. Ebell, the prized transfer from UCLA who had started the previous four games, has been suffering from an abdominal strain since Oct. 1 -- which resulted in a big opportunity for Thomas.

"Marcus Thomas was hot," UTEP head coach Mike Price said Monday at his weekly press conference at the Larry K. Durham Sports Center. "Ebell was cooled off physically and his muscles probably tightened up. So we (sat) him on the bench and got him through the game healthy (to) save him for next week. Thomas was going like crazy, breaking runs. And we finally wore (the Tulane defense) down a little bit, to where he could break some seams. Then he ran the ball really, really well. So (we thought), 'Let's go with him.' "

"(But) Tyler Ebell is our starting running back."

Ebell finished the night with 25 yards on 12 carries and a score. But he and Thomas, both former Parade All-Americans, weren't the only running backs to make an impression Friday.
Senior El Pasoan Matt Austin, whose playing time this season has come mostly on special teams, finally got some good tailback yards. He finished with 34 yards on six carries, including a 26-yarder that put him over the 1,000-yard mark for his career -- despite never being a starter.





Meanwhile, UTEP's injury woes continue. Two more starters were hurt Friday. Senior receiver Jayson Boyd reinjured a groin that has been bothering him since high school, and sophomore Jake Sears suffered a knee injury that could put him out for a while.

Also, junior receiver Chris Marrow still is hobbling with a knee injury.

The good news is that senior receiver Chris Francies, who bruised his ribs Oct. 1 against Memphis, could return Saturday.

"He has a chance to play," Price said. "If Boyd can't play, then we need to have Francies."

 

[IE]

Fast-starting UTEP big test for Herd
By Anthony Hanshew
The Herald-Dispatch


HUNTINGTON -- Mike Price doesn't reflect fondly on his brief history with Marshall.

The veteran football head coach led Weber State into Fairfield Stadium to face a largely unknown Thundering Herd program in the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinals. What Price discovered in Huntington was a distracting crowd, cramped facilities and an explosive football team.


Price exited the Tri-State on the wrong end of 51-23 score, ending his lone playoff run in eight years at Weber State. On Saturday, Price will serve as the host, welcoming Marshall into the Sun Bowl to face his talented University of Texas-El Paso team.

Kickoff between the Herd (3-3, 2-1 Conference USA) and Miners (4-1, 2-1) is 9:15 p.m. and the game will be televised on the i network.

"No good memories about that place," Price said, laughing. "We played in that old stadium and man, those fans got after us as soon as we got off the bus.

"The locker room was just horrible."

Marshall head coach Mark Snyder, a Thundering Herd safety in that '87 meeting, refers to the Sun Bowl as "beautiful" but he realizes Saturday's surroundings will be hostile. UTEP has averaged more than 47,000 fans through two home games and Homecoming weekend likely will top 50,000 in attendance.

The Miners score in bunches and should be buoyed by fans who haven't enjoyed a home game in nearly a month. UTEP is potent from the blocks, outscoring opponents by a combined 29-10 margin in the first quarter.

Marshall, meanwhile, hasn't scored a first quarter point in four consecutive games and has been outscored 72-50 in the opening half. Snyder notes the importance of avoiding a first half knockdown Saturday in the Sun Bowl.

"That's one of the reasons we're working on the running game and working on the clock," Snyder said. "We'll have to come out with a real good game plan and maybe show some things we haven't shown."

Snyder has established "road focus" as a catch phrase early in his tenure, and that intangible will be challenged about 1,650 miles from Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Marshall admittedly was a step off early at Central Florida, falling in a 17-0 halftime hole en route to a 23-13 loss.

"It is a long trip and we continue to talk road focus and try to stay on task," Snyder said. "We didn't get it done at UCF and allowed them to jump on us. We've grown from that and we're learning as we go.

"This is going to be a big test for us."

UTEP is coming off its most complete performance of the season, a 45-21 victory over Tulane in Ruston, La. Price said Marshall reminds him of the Green Wave in terms of showing no obvious weak links.

"I didn't think Tulane had any weaknesses and I still don't," Price said. "With Marshall, I don't see any break in the chain.

"They're young offensively and defensively and their secondary is probably the best one we've played so far. They have experienced veterans.

"Their quarterback is young and (wide receiver Marcus) Fitzgerald and (running back Ahmad) Bradshaw are good and they're all sophomores. This looks like a team of the future."

Taking care of the present and maintaining at least a share of the C-USA East Division lead will require a complete effort. UTEP is a 13-point favorite, has won six straight at home and boasts a 7-1 Sun Bowl mark under Price.

Considering his forgettable visit to Huntington 18 years ago and his team's ability to hold home serve, Price looks forward to his first home game since Sept. 24.

"I'm glad that the first time we're playing them, we're playing them here," Price said. "We have to play them there next year, but next year will take care of itself."

 

[jimmyCa]

thanks for the info... As i posted earlier UTEP should roll