UTEP AD: Mike Price will be back next season

It has been a roller coaster of a season for the UTEP Miners. A couple of big wins followed by disappointing losses has caused some to question whether head coach Mike Price will be back next season. UTEP athletic director Bob Stull did not hesitate when ABC-7 asked him that question Tuesday afternoon. He said Price will be back no matter what happens in this season’s final two games. The Miners are currently mired in a three-game losing streak and have fallen to a disappointing 3-7 record with two games remaining, one at Rice next weekend and another against Marshall at the Sun Bowl on Nov. 28. Four of Price’s seven losses this season have been by a touchdown or less. Stull also pointed out that the past two weekends — a 45-38 overtime loss at Tulane and a 35-31 defeat at SMU — the game came down to the final play. Price has 33 wins and 37 losses in his six seasons in El Paso and has never failed to win fewer than four games in a season, but he is assured of posting his fourth straight losing season this year. Still, Stull thinks it is the right thing to do to bring him back for at least one more season in 2010. – KVIA

UTEP coach Mike Price vows team will save the season

UTEP coach Mike Price vowed that the team would rally around quarterback Trevor Vittatoe and each other to save the season. “I’m at my best in these situations,” Price said. “As a coach I’m going to do a great job, the players are going to get back mentally. I told the team to stick together, to stick up for each other. We need to learn from our mistakes, be accountable for our own actions.” “This game will bring us together as a team, it will bring us closer. After the game, I thought the season was over. … It’s not, it’s not. I had to look at the schedule to remind myself there are eight games left. If we play well, 10 games, nine games.” “This is the beginning of the season.” – El Paso Times

Paul Wulff Feeling Heat at Washington State

Paul Wulff, Washington State. Washington State has never competed for national titles, but in 2008, it got downright macabre. Wulff is only in his second season, but is not the losses themselves, but how they’ve lost. In year one, they gave up at least 39 points EIGHT times. Pac-10 contenders outscored them 257-45 . . .at Pullman. The One that could always be counted on is the Cougars being pesky in the Paloose. And try this one on for size. In four seasons under Bill Doba, the Cougars never surrendered 60 points. In 2008, four teams lit them up for that number, and two others scored 50+. The first two games of 2009 don’t give much hope. The Cougars opened with two home games and gave up 39 and 38 points. Should Wulff survive this year, he may be forced to make CO-Defensive Coordinators Chris Ball and Jody Sears walk the plank. Some Wulff advocates say it’s hard to recruit there, but that’s always been the case. Of course, Chris Petersen at Boise State isn’t making it any easier. - AC

Rapid Fire: UNLV, Iowa, Clemson, UTEP Notes

“Rapid Fire” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on multiple coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on no less than four jobs…

UNLV

The case against Sanford: Sanford is constantly talking about turning the corner, but will he be the one to get them across it?Sanford is in the final season of his four-year contract. He signed on to coach the Rebels after leading the Utah Utes to a Fiesta Bowl victory as offensive coordinator in 2004. The Rebels’ head coach that season, John Robinson, resigned halfway through the season and his team finished 2-9 setting the trend for Sanford… In four years as head coach, his record speaks for itself: nine wins and 34 losses. Of those nine wins, only one has come against a team that has finished (or has to this point in the 2008 season) a winning record. – The Rebel Yell

Iowa

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: Off-field problems the last two years haven’t helped Ferentz’s case, but the team has been playing better, and it faces a key stretch of games that will dictate the administration’s course with its $3 million-a-year coach. The five wins this fall aren’t too impressive, though Iowa should get a sixth at home against struggling Purdue. Still, the Hawkeyes might have to win two of these three remaining games — at Illinois and Minnesota, home against Penn State — for Ferentz to keep his job. – Sporting News

Clemson

Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster has been contacted about filling the coaching vacancy at Clemson, sources close to the search said. Foster, 49, is one of several candidates believed to be under consideration to replace Tommy Bowden, who stepped down Oct. 13. Others include Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin, TCU coach Gary Patterson, Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson and Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Clemson likely will talk to coordinators who are candidates before the season ends and wait until after the season to speak with sitting head coaches. – Rivals.com

UTEP

Mike Price, UTEP: The 0-3 start made things very shaky in El Paso. Winning three of four since has helped, and while the Miners won’t win the C-USA West (Tulsa will), Price can strengthen his case in games against state and conference rivals Rice, SMU and Houston. Win two of those three, and he’s safe. – Sporting News