As UTEP football heads into its season opener at No. 10 Oklahoma, one thing has not changed from the start of fall camp, since the start of spring really.
Success for the Miners, however that's defined against the Sooners, will come down to how their rebuilt, turned over offensive line measures up against Oklahoma, and the first test could not be any tougher, maybe literally.
"If they aren't the best d-line in the country, I'd like to see who is," UTEP coach Scotty Walden said at his weekly news conference to kick off Oklahoma week. "If they aren't No. 1, they are top three. They are an unbelievable defensive line so it's going to be a great challenge.
"How awesome is it for
our offensive line to have that type of competition out of the gate, to be able to gauge where we're at? The continuity, the trust and the belief has to be there because they are so intricate up front. You're going to have to believe in your buddy to come help you in the A gap or B gap and work together to negate those elite pass rushers.
"It will be a challenge."
That's actually true everywhere across the board for UTEP, which will have to be close to perfect to give itself a chance in a game where it is a six-touchdown underdog (41 1/2 points, actually).
Scotty Walden: OU a 'great barometer'
"These guys are going to expose whenever you have a critical missed assignment or a critical error. It's a phenomenal challenge for us to have our guys be focused on each and every snap. When you play a team like this you've got to be on point and it's got to be precision.
"There are so many details that will get exposed in this game because of how good and how well coached this team is. It's going to be a great barometer for our team.
"We have to execute and stay on schedule on offense. Open-field tackling in Game 1 is paramount. We've live tackled (in practice) but this is the first time we'll have tackled someone else in over a year."
This game is part of one of the toughest, if not the toughest, non-conference schedule in the nation, as UTEP will be off to Michigan Week 3. Walden actually embraces this.
"You choose hard, man," Walden said. "I'd rather choose the hard path because there's going to be something from these four (non-conference) games that we learn about our team that we use in our Mountain West games."
Then there is this: "What pressure do we have?" Walden said. "There isn't anybody in the country who picks us to win this game. Why would we play tight? Why would we practice tight? We need to cut it loose. It's opportunities like this you relish, that you dreamed of as a kid."
Solo Barnes status
As of Monday, Walden said the status of safety Solo Barnes is still up in the air. UTEP and Barnes thought he exhausted his eligibility last year and he had a tryout with the New Orleans Saints, but the NCAA since gave a fifth year of eligibility to student-athletes in Barnes' class. Last week Barnes (and a number of other athletes in a similar situation) won a temporary restraining order to be allowed to return to college.
In fact, Barnes is now enrolled at UTEP and in the football building, though he has not been cleared — "We're not out of the woods yet," Walden said — and his status with the Miners is day-to-day. "We could have a three-hour press conference talking about the logistics of this deal."
While Barnes has not practiced with the team since last year, Walden said the players would welcome him back.
"I think if we were bringing someone in from the outside, there could be a little, 'What's going on with this?' ... But Solo Barnes, this guy is a pro in every sense of the word. Maybe I shouldn't say that because of his eligibility. Maybe rephrase that. He's professional in his habits."
UTEP made asking questions about Barnes to players off limits.
Royal Capell awarded No. 2 jersey
UTEP is giving the honorary No. 2 Luke Laufenberg jersey to receiver Royal Cappell. That honors the late tight end Laufenberg, who died of leukemia in 2019.
"Since Royal has come into this program, he has been a winner and he's exemplified Code Blue, being a man of commitment, relentlessness, selflessness, toughness and integrity," Walden said. "It was unanimous as a coaching staff.
"He played at Oklahoma State as a true freshman (last year before transferring to UTEP) and you see why. He's tough, he will block you, he will strike you, he'll play on wefense (special teams) and he's a heck of a receiver. He's the total package."
EJ Colson locked in
One area that has Walden encouraged heading to OU is the play in practice of quarterback EJ Colson, who he said looks ready for something special.
"This is the best I've seen him," Walden said. "His mental focus is elite as it always is, but the thing I'll tell you, I feel like it's different with him and our team because he's driving it, is the level of intensity in the building this week.
"It's game week, it's time to take it up a notch, which is exactly what you want from your quarterback. ... He's literally taking off like a plane. He's at his highest peak right now as we head into game week, which I think is a great sign."
UTEP will have to have many great signs to compete with Oklahoma, but they seem to be heading in with the right frame of mind.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP's rebuilt offense faces nation's elite in Oklahoma season opener
