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October 2, 2009

Coogs: To Tortoise or To Hare?
By: Dirty3rd

Before the season began this UTEP squad was picked by some as a dark horse candidate to win the C-USA West division. Many thought that the Cougars were probably too young, too inexperienced and historically too undisciplined enough to sustain success throughout out a full season. In essence some felt that the UH would play the part of the hare in the folk fable “The Tortoise and the Hare”. They whispered that UH will loss focus on its No. 1 goal for the season which is to win C-USA and be the conference representative in the Liberty Bowl. Some think this loss of focus would happen sometime within the season, if not this very game Saturday. Well I am here to reassure all that think that way, that there is a chance that their thoughts may come to fruition but they’re unlikely to happen versus UTEP. However this game really does scare me.

The main reason to be anxious about this game is that a lot of people are labeling this game a “trap game”. Seeing that UH has come away beating two Big 12 opponents and has a SEC opponent in Mississippi State looming next. UH attention may not be fully on UTEP. The Coogs could be looking forward and by looking forward they discount the Miners. This poses a very dangerous situation for the young Coogs. If they come out full of themselves they will get smacked in the mouth and the season’s No. 1 goal just got a lot harder. We’ll see how well they handle their recent success.

UTEP will be a tougher opponent than the record presents. UTEP has had a brutal schedule, so far facing No. 2 Texas longhorns, No. 18 Kansas Jayhawks and also a very solid Buffalo team. After a tough loss to the Longhorn, the Coogs should expect UTEP to very determined and give everything they got to win this game. The Miners offensive stats definitely are not eye-popping but that should not even matter to UH anyway. History has shown the Coogs will play to the level of it competition; last year’s Marshall loss comes to mind. The Coogs have too much to lose to not be focus on UTEP only this Saturday.

The Cougar faithful on the other hand have been all over the map with BCS busting talk to stadium expansion or new stadium debates to respect seeking chest thumping. You name it, I’ve heard it. The fans are “IN THE MOMENT” and they are living It up, sort of like that old hare. Within the game, the team will need a little jack rabbit in them as well; score early, often and everything should be OK. The Miners do not possess the fire power to stay with the Coogs. This will force UTEP to be one dimensional and the defensive line should have a field day. However, in the context of the season, the Coogs as well as their fans should take the tortoise approach to the season, one game at a time.