Photo: TSU played in a downpour at JSU last week.By Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times
After three weeks of butting heads against a pair of rivals and a major-conference big boy, the UTEP football team faces the other side of the looking glass this week against Texas Southern.
"It's a big deal, playing a Division 1 team," Tigers quarterback Tino Edgecomb said. "I consider myself a Division 1-type player, and this is a chance to play a school in a different division, to prove ourselves."
"It's a really great football atmosphere up there," said Texas Southern head coach Steve Wilson, whose team last played in El Paso in 2005. "Our kids get a chance to see (UTEP) on TV a lot, so this is exciting for us. This is a game our kids look forward to."
Texas Southern arrives in El Paso this weekend as a team, like the Miners, searching for an identity. They are traditionally a team that plays solid defense and struggles on offense, and tradition has held form this year.
The Tigers managed just 30 yards of offense last week in a downpour at Jackson State, dropping their season rushing average to 23.7 yards per game and their total offense to 250.0 yards per game.
The team has shown some competence moving the ball through the air, and they feel they are getting closer as they seek their first victory of the season.
"We've made progress," said Wilson, who is in his fourth year as head coach and second as offensive coordinator. "We've had mistakes in the red zone that have caused some problems.
"Our defense has played well all three games, the defense has been very consistent. Offensively it's more about getting in sync for things to be able to work."
"We're learning from our mistakes," Edgecomb added. "We're
getting close. ... I think the problems we've had have brought everyone closer together. We're sticking together and we're going to get better. This will make us better."
A team that likes to move the ball in the air seems to have a good matchup this week, as the Miners are coming off of back-to-back games where its pass defense was exposed in the second half. Then again, New Mexico State and Texas Tech will have other big games this year.
"We don't look at their defense as being down," Wilson said. "They've played against some pretty high-powered offenses. You can look at it and see what you want to see. Texas Tech can score on anyone in the country. Hal Mumme, I understand what his teams can do.
Photo: TSU defense scrambles for fumble.
"I think (UTEP's) defense is very formidable. We'll have to do well to have a chance."
"I think they look good," Edgecomb added.
Texas Southern, though, starts with a large defense, as it is holding opponents to just 292.3 yards per game. Wilson lauded the play of 6-foot-6, 275-pound defensive end Derrick Gray, 6-foot-3 defensive end Mike Boyd and transfer defensive back Lamar Herron from Oregon State, who was the SWAC newcomer of the year last season.
Gray "is a long, rangy football player with cat-like reflexes," Wilson said.
Offensively, the Tigers feature a pair of dangerous receivers in Brian Haith and Daniel Davis.
"Obviously they haven't played up to their potential this year either," UTEP coach Mike Price said. "They're 0-3 right now but they're pretty much a senior group of guys. They're a huge team on offense and defense. They have a nose guard on defense who is 6-7, 350 pounds (Joe Malone), their tight end is 6-7 (Marcus Justice).
"They've got receivers who can run. Their running back is very good."
Wilson sees the same thing.
"The talent is there, we just haven't put it together," he said. "We feel like it could be any day. People write about what happens n the weekend, but we're out here every day working on getting better. Every game and every day we work on getting better.
"We know we have a tough foe this week. One reason we want to schedule these game is we look forward to playing teams like this."
They will get their chance Saturday.
