The theme is familiar.
For the third time in four games, the UTEP football team faces a struggling team, one that has shown flashes of competence but one that is fighting to turn a corner.
The previous two times this happened (Memphis and UAB), the opponent got well against the Miners.
Next up is Tulane, limping into the Louisiana Superdome on Saturday at 2-6 and winless in Conference USA.
"We're a very young football team and we're trying to build a program," said coach Bob Toledo, who is 8-24 in his third season with the Green Wave. "We've had flashes, we've just made so many mistakes that make it look worse than it is. We do a bunch of good things, we do a bunch of bad things.
"At times we run the ball well, at times we throw the ball well, at times we play pass defense well. We don't do it on a consistent basis."
As Toledo said, Tulane is young. Freshman Ryan Griffin took over quarterback duties in the fourth quarter of the Houston game three weeks ago and has put up decent numbers. But since putting up 10 points in garbage time against the Cougars, the Green Wave scored just six points against Southern Miss and was shutout at No. 9 LSU.
"He's a young guy and he's doing well," Toledo said of Griffin. "We drove the ball down the field (against LSU), got to the red zone and fumbled, we missed a field goal, threw an interception. It's been frustrating."
As a result, Tulane is hitting on some of the same themes that UTEP is touching on. The Green
Wave is trying to focus on the good things they do and move forward.
"What I told the kids yesterday in our meeting is we're putting everything we've had up to this point behind us," Toledo said. "We can't do anything about it, obviously. But what I told them was people will remember November. And I think that is important, that we finish strong and we show people that we are improving and that we are getting better."
To that end, he hopes his fans give his young players the same chances that he's giving them.
"I think that the message would be to be a little more patient, just be patient," Toledo said. "I know it's hard, it's very frustrating. It wears on you.
"I know a lot of people who have given up on us, who have given up on me, who have quit on the program. And I can't do anything about that -- hopefully, they will come back when we show them our improvement. ..."
Either Tulane or UTEP will have a different message at this time next week.
For the third time in four games, the UTEP football team faces a struggling team, one that has shown flashes of competence but one that is fighting to turn a corner.
The previous two times this happened (Memphis and UAB), the opponent got well against the Miners.
Next up is Tulane, limping into the Louisiana Superdome on Saturday at 2-6 and winless in Conference USA.
"We're a very young football team and we're trying to build a program," said coach Bob Toledo, who is 8-24 in his third season with the Green Wave. "We've had flashes, we've just made so many mistakes that make it look worse than it is. We do a bunch of good things, we do a bunch of bad things.
"At times we run the ball well, at times we throw the ball well, at times we play pass defense well. We don't do it on a consistent basis."
As Toledo said, Tulane is young. Freshman Ryan Griffin took over quarterback duties in the fourth quarter of the Houston game three weeks ago and has put up decent numbers. But since putting up 10 points in garbage time against the Cougars, the Green Wave scored just six points against Southern Miss and was shutout at No. 9 LSU.
"He's a young guy and he's doing well," Toledo said of Griffin. "We drove the ball down the field (against LSU), got to the red zone and fumbled, we missed a field goal, threw an interception. It's been frustrating."
As a result, Tulane is hitting on some of the same themes that UTEP is touching on. The Green
Wave is trying to focus on the good things they do and move forward.
"What I told the kids yesterday in our meeting is we're putting everything we've had up to this point behind us," Toledo said. "We can't do anything about it, obviously. But what I told them was people will remember November. And I think that is important, that we finish strong and we show people that we are improving and that we are getting better."
To that end, he hopes his fans give his young players the same chances that he's giving them.
"I think that the message would be to be a little more patient, just be patient," Toledo said. "I know it's hard, it's very frustrating. It wears on you.
"I know a lot of people who have given up on us, who have given up on me, who have quit on the program. And I can't do anything about that -- hopefully, they will come back when we show them our improvement. ..."
Either Tulane or UTEP will have a different message at this time next week.
