Bowl eligibility on the line in final game

Despite losing 57-28 against Conference-USA foe Tulsa, the Miners still have a chance at a bowl berth with a win in the season finale against UCF Nov. 25 in Orlando.

A win would give UTEP head coach Mike Price a fourth bowl appearance in eight seasons with the Miners, something no other coach in school history has ever done. It could also mean back-to-back bowl eligible seasons, the second time that could happen in the Price era.

"Unbelievable that we still have an opportunity to go to a bowl game. We win this weekend, we go to a bowl game," Price said. "As badly as we played (against Tulsa) and as bad as we felt after that game, it makes sports what it is to be in this position, this late in the season and still have a chance to go to a bowl game."

This will mark only the third meeting between the Knights and the Miners with each team winning at home in each of those games.

The last time UTEP traveled to Orlando, UCF beat the Miners 36-20 Nov. 24, 2007. The Miners beat the Knights 58-13 in the Sun Bowl Sept. 27, 2008. The Miners have struggled traveling east holding an all-time record of 0-16-1 in the Eastern Time zone.

The Knights are averaging nearly 27 points per game while allowing less than 19 and are outgaining their opponents by over 99 yards per game. Despite the statistics, they hold a 4-7 record and cannot qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2008.

"They're a prideful program. They have won our conference before, they've been to bowl games. They're going to play hard and they're going to give us everything they got and not take us lightly," defensive coordinator Andre Patterson said. "I guarantee you they're not practicing today saying we got nothing to play for. They have a football game and they want to get their fifth win."

UTEP has been outgained by opponents 94 points to 79 in the first quarter and starting off fast against UCF will be a priority for Price's team.

"They pride themselves in starting every game strong and scoring early, that's one of their emphasis. It would be nice to meet them head-to-head on that, for us to start fast," Price said. "They're only giving up 18 points a game. If we can start fast and get 18 points in the first quarter, that would be good. But I think it's going to be a really close game."

This could be the last game played in a UTEP uniform for 22 seniors, but coaches hope emotions are set aside for after the game.

"Just go play, don't get caught up in the emotion that this could be the last time to ever put a football helmet on," Patterson said. "You deal with the emotion of it after the game is over. You can get yourself totally drained before the game because you're so concerned about not being able to play again."

UCF leads the nation in yards per kickoff return averaging just over 27 yards per return and that will be a focus for the Miners.

"We're going to have to be able to cover the kickoff much better than we did (against Tulsa)," Price said. "But we can do that, we can get a plan together and our players can rise to the occasion."

Senior safety Travaun Nixon will miss the rest of the season with a PCL injury that he suffered in the loss against Tulsa, marking the fifth game he will miss this season.

Junior quarterback Nick Lamaison is still nursing a groin injury he suffered against ECU. According to Price, if he can't return, sophomore Carson Meger would make his second consecutive start and third of the season. Lamaison did participate in Monday's practice while Meger rotated with the starters.

"I'm going to prepare like it, I'm expected to play every week so that's the mindset," Meger said. "Every defense in C-USA is a good defense, everybody's solid. They're similar to Tulsa. They're pretty base, but they're good at what they do. We have to go out there and not make mistakes if we want to beat them."

Daniel Ornelas may be reached at prospector@utep.edu