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Has UTEP set the course for a turnaround?

Can one memorable and surprising upset turn UTEP’s season around?


After a thrilling five-overtime win over UTSA, the Miners (2-5) were able to stop a five-game losing streak and bring a little happiness and hope to all those in Miner Nation (haters excluded of course).


Conference USA has seen its share of weird and unexpected results this year, but very few believed UTEP would get off the schneid -- certainly not with all the high drama of the longest football game in C-USA history.


Could this win just be a blip on the radar, or is there a chance UTEP can somehow salvage their season and (gulp) get to .500 or (double gulp) run the table?


Most -- including myself -- would go with the blip on the radar and say UTSA was one of the bright spots of a pretty dismal season, but stranger things have happened in C-USA. Exhibit A: one of my twitter followers (@LouTEPMiner) mentioned that Marshall was ranked below UTEP in Miner Rush’s C-USA Power Rankings.


Who could have predicted that at any point this season? *crickets*


While the UTSA win wasn’t a perfect game by any means, there are a couple things trending up for UTEP at this juncture of the season.


Ryan Metz -- with the help of the offensive line -- is finally showing the type of offense we have been expecting all season.


While the defense has struggled, they held strong numerous times against UTSA when it looked like the Roadrunners were ready to run away with a blowout win.


Last but not least is the schedule: Old Dominion will be a handful for UTEP, but they are playing in the Sun Bowl -- and if things have been turned around in hurry, the resurgent Mean Green (also in the Sun Bowl) could be the only other team with a winning record standing in the Miners' way down the stretch.


A long shot to say the least, but like they say -- the next game is the most important, and a win against Old Dominion could turn the tide in a huge way.


Plenty of pressure on coach Sean Kugler, but safe to say most of the pressure is squarely on ODU as they look primed to inch closer to bowl eligibility. If the Miners can pull off another win … maybe the Sun Bowl can get a few more butts in the seats, and we can bring up the b-word.


Just win, baby!

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