By Malcolm Butler
Louisiana Tech opens up a seven-week stretch of Conference USA-only games tonight when the Bulldogs travel to the Sun Bowl to face UTEP.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT and the game can be heard on the LA Tech Sports Network on 107.5 FM with Malcolm Butler (PxP) and Teddy Allen (color) providing a call of the action.
Tech (2-3, 1-0) looks to snap a two-game losing streak. But even more so, the Bulldogs are looking for their first road win since December of 2020, a string of 16 straight road setbacks.
The Louisiana Tech football team resumes Conference USA play with a trip to El Paso, Texas, to face the UTEP Miners on Friday at 8 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
Bulldog head coach Sonny Cumbie said he hasn’t been shy when talking to his team about the lack of road success over the past two-plus years.
“We are talking about it everyday with our players in meetings,” said Cumbie. “It is time for us to go on the road and win a football game. I am going to ask the guys today in our team meeting if any of them remember where they were in December of 2020 and how much time has passed.
“It takes an approach with a great week of preparation, great practice each day and really as we travel on the road as being locked in on the intent of what we are doing as traveling to win a football game. All of those things that we really harp on we are going to continue to talk about.”
The Bulldogs are coming off a 28-14 loss at Nebraska last weekend in a game that saw red-shirt sophomore quarterback Jack Turner make his first collegiate start in place of the injured Hank Bachmeier. According to Cumbie earlier in the week, it will be a game-time decision between the two.
However, the Bulldog Boss said he was pleased with what he saw from Turner last weekend when he completed 27 of 42 passes for 293 yards and one score.
“Well, I think he did a good job of handling our game plan,” said Cumbie. “We talked about already how I thought the protection was really good. I thought he was poised and accurate with the football. We talked about being a great communicator and he did that.
“I think our guys were able to make some plays and get some good matches for us. I think they were advantageous in terms of moving guys around receiver-wise. We will look to continue to do things like that. It really goes back to whoever is in there putting those guys in the best position to be successful.”
Historically, the Bulldogs have had success in El Paso, sporting a 7-2-1 record in 10 games played against the Miners. However, Tech fell 19-3 in 2021 and the wins haven’t come easy in the Sun City.
The Bulldogs are 15-3-1 all-time against UTEP, but Cumbie knows it won’t be easy, especially against a stout Miners defense.
“From a defensive line standpoint Maurice Westmoreland does a great job with his effort,” said Cumbie. “He has a really good ball get off in terms of pass rushing. Tyrice Knight is one of the best linebackers in our conference. In the two years that I have been here he is all over the field. He does a great job as their defensive leader. They have another defensive lineman Keenan Stewart and then Praise Amaewhule.”
Offensively, the Miners boast one of the most experienced lines in the country, including four 5th year senior starters. Head coach Dana Dimel believes in physical football and running backs Deion Hankins and Torrance Burgess will be the primary ball carriers for UTEP.
“When you look at their offensive front all you see is a huge volume of career starts,” said Cumbie. “It is really important in any league and any team that you have experience in the trenches. A lot of times that is where the football game is won.
“We are going to have to stop the run. It is going to be very similar to what we saw at Nebraska in terms of what they want to do. (Quarterback) Gavin Hardison has been starting there a long time. He is a competitive quarterback that has played a lot of football and won a lot of football games. They are a really good football team anytime we play them in particular at home.”
UTEP (1-4, 0-1) dropped their CUSA opener 17-14 at Jacksonville State in Week Zero and are coming off a 45-28 home loss to UNLV last weekend.
