UTEP Football: To Be Hopeful? Or to Be Rageful?

By Sebastian Perez-Navarro 

Way too early in the morning on Sunday September 8th I went on Minertalk and expressed “Good schools don’t lose to FCS teams.” 

And I firmly stand behind that. But I also understand that Scotty Walden needs time to fully develop a rebuilding program. 

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At the end of the day, there’s a myriad of reasons on why UTEP is predicted to struggle this season. As seen in CUSA’s July preseason poll, which had selected media members place the Miners as finishing second to last in the conference. 

First, Scotty Walden— as experienced as he seems— is still NEW to the FBS, and Saturday's game vs Southern Utah marked his second ever coaching job as an FBS head coach. 

Walden at 30 became the youngest person to ever coach Division 1 football when taking the job at FCS school Austin Peay. There, he led the governors to 17 wins over three seasons and a 2023 United Athletic Conference championship. 

Now, at 34, Walden becomes the third youngest head coach currently at the helm of an FBS institution.

And as we’re all familiar with, growing pains aren’t a myth.

Second, multiple pillars, such as Sophomore Quarterback Skylar Locklear, and Senior Wide-Receiver Trey Goodman are also making the jump from an FCS Austin Peay program, to an FBS institution. Meaning that they need time to adjust.

Over his two years with the Governors, Locklear threw for four total passes, 70 yards, and one touchdown.

Meanwhile former First Team All-UAC selection Trey Goodman over three seasons combined for more than 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Locklear is barely starting his collegiate football career in general, and tagging alongside him are teammates and coaches who are also making the large leap into a different game. 

In no way are these excuses. 

Frankly these factors only go so far as to forgive the Miner’s silent third quarter.

The truth is, UTEP had a poor performance. One in which head coach Scotty Walden himself recognizes when speaking to the press.

“Inexcusable. The thing that’s frustrating is we beat ourselves,” commented Walden at the post-game press conference.

It is completely valid to be bothered by UTEP’s 14 penalties which resulted in a loss of 122 yards total. Back in his day, my dad’s football coach made his team run five laps for every penalty committed. I can’t imagine how many miles the Miners would run if coach Walden did the same.

On top of the dirty laundry, UTEP just couldn’t keep up with the Thunderbird’s gritty style of play, being outrun by more than 140 yards. And forgoing 14 of Southern Utah’s 17 unanswered points through runs alone. 

To make the case that losing to an FCS team happens, does not correlate to UTEP’s situation. Because Southern Utah placed third in a UAC ran by Walden’s Austin Peay’s undefeated conference powerhouse. 

Inexperience didn’t cost UTEP the game, it was the lack of discipline shown on the field which caused the miners to break the hearts of thousands. 

Truthfully, UTEP beat themselves. And because of that much of El Paso feels a dangerous sense of Deja-Vu. feeling that, once again, the Miners are their own greatest enemy. 

But here’s where things change from previous years.

In speaking to the press the first thing that Scotty Walden did was thank the city, the donors, and the fans who showed up and packed out the Sun Bowl. 

Walden displayed a genuine heavy heart for letting the city down in the home opener, as he followed up his comments with a public apology to the 915 as a whole. 

To me, Walden’s words and body language demonstrates that there's a real care to bring great football back to the city of El Paso. 

I would argue that we haven’t seen as much care go into the program since the Mike Price era. 

The return of the mineshaft, the introduction of the minerwalk, and bringing back the tradition of singing the UTEP fight song after games, despite ugly losses, all prove that Scotty Walden wants to win back the passion for UTEP football that the 915 once proudly held. 

It’s our right, as fans, as students, and as alumni, to be frustrated. And it's our duty to call out the program when they mess up. 

But our responsibilities as El Pasoens also mean that we have to support the program. After all, to make Miner Football a more attractive location, we as members of the community need to demonstrate pride as a collective. 

Be mad, yet don’t let that anger detract you from supporting the Miners. Because if it does, then you’re only hurting your community. 

Even if it hurts, there’s nothing wrong with packing out the Sun Bow once again. 

We’re not supporting a sloppy product by doing so, instead we’re demonstrating the need to put a good product on the field. 

Do your job, if so, then maybe the Miners can do theirs when they come back home after a 2-week road trip to face Liberty & Colorado State.