As the 2017 season draws to an end, the UTEP Miners (0-11) will travel to Birmingham, Alabama, to play the conference-surprising squad of the UAB Blazers (7-4)
This will be the first time these two teams play since 2010, and the Blazers are on a roll this season after taking a two-year hiatus by their program. UAB is also undefeated (5-0) in their home field.
““For many of the players, this next game against UAB will be their last game they’ll ever play in their life.” Interim head coach Mike Price said. “Knowing that, I think they would go out and play as hard as they possibly can. It’s not like any other sport. You don’t go to the ‘Football Country Club’ and go hit the old tackling dummy. When football is over, it’s over. It may remain for some of our kids, obviously. Three or four of our guys will get a chance to play.
“Like it said, this team will be the last time this team will be with this coaching staff. The rest of the players will not be with this coaching staff ever again. And there probably won’t be the same team. We’ll have new guys coming in and new coaches coming in. So, this is really the last time that we’ll get together and that’s something we are going to talk about this week and stress.”
Last week, the Miners could not fend off LA Tech on “Senior Day” as the Bulldogs beat them out 42-21. The Miners tailed 400 yards of total offense in the game and were actually able to score in the second half.
“There was not quit on our team,” Price said. “I’m very happy about that and we looked at that – I looked at, it’s something I look for after the game and I didn’t see anyone quit. We didn’t play great; we had people in position to make tackles in the second half and just didn’t get it done there towards the end. They ran the ball pretty good against us for the first time since I’ve been here anyway.”
For this game against UAB, Price named quarterback Ryan Metz the probable starter after Zack Greenlee went out with an injury.
Also, the Miners will most likely start running back Joshua Fields at running back, who has been playing well the last few games. He chipped in 125 yards on the ground last week.
UTEP freshman running back Josh Fields (20) ran for a career high 137 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s game against Louisiana Tech. (Photo: Tony Venegas/TexasHSFootball)
“Joshua Fields did a great job running,” Price said. “I didn’t realize he was the only running back that played the whole game. He did a really good job. He’s really improved since I got here. He’s a pretty darn good blocker, because he’s not real huge. And I’m pleased with him getting into the secondary and reading the hole and knowing where you’re supposed to go, number one, and secondly, reading where the hole is and changing your path.”
UAB will come in ranking fourth in Conference USA in scoring, averaging 29.7 points per game and holding opponents to just 25.9 points a game.
Freshman running back Spencer Brown ranks third in the conference with 1,194 yards of rushing and has 10 touchdowns. They are also able to keep a strong air game under quarterback A.J. Erdely has thrown for 1,918 yards and 14 touchdowns.
“I can remember playing UAB when I first got here, and I bet you we could’ve counted the people at Legion Field that first night game we played down there,” Price said. “It was so quiet. The first game they had this year, I think it was 25,000 [fans]. And they’re drawing really well down there. So, it’s going to be a completely different environment. A very positive environment for their seniors last game.”
Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. MT.
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