Most years, UTEP starts the football season with major question marks, a heavy underdog looking to earn a quick payday against a national powerhouse. Not quite the case on Sept. 3, when the Miners open at OU, as in Oklahoma Unsettled.
Opinion
The boomers have immense talent stockpiled on a deep roster, but the Miners go to Norman at a good time — when OU is playing its first game under Coach Bent Venables, who replaced Lincoln Riley, and hoping to establish a new starting quarterback to replace Caleb Williams, who pulled the transfer portal ripcord. Soon after Riley took the Southern California head coaching job, Williams wound up there, too. Surprised?
2022 UTEP Football Schedule
March 1 – Spring ball begins, 8 a.m.
April 8 – Spring scrimmage. Details TBA.
Sept. 3 – at Oklahoma
Sept. 10 – vs. N.M. State
Sept. 17 – at New Mexico
Sept. 24 – vs. Boise State
(Conference USA games TBA)
On this slow climb to respectability, the Miners have the earmarks of a team on the rise. The coaching staff under Dana Dimel has remained virtually intact. Two QBs return with substantial experience, starter Gavin Hardison on his way to school passing records plus valuable backup Calvin Bucholz. A carnivorous defensive line returns, notably Keenan Stewart in the middle and pass-rusher deluxe Praise Amaewhule.
UTEP, at press time, has enjoyed a rather peaceful off-season. {So far, the entitled, loafer of a starting QB has not been arrested for DUI and threatening local authorities with a pistol.}
To feed momentum from a winning season (7-6), the staff loaded up on 14 junior college prospects. This maturity in the two-deep chart will be needed, pronto. Better the Miners would face Oklahoma Unsettled before Laboring Day, rather than after Halloween.
Miners Are Forever 