'That's a lot of controversy': UTEP's football victory causes chaos at Boise State
Losing to UTEP was close to the end of the world at Boise State, at least judging by the fallout.
First, second-year offensive coordinator Tim Plough was fired and replaced by former UTEP offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter on Saturday, the day after the game. Koetter was also formerly head coach at Boise and with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL. He was hired to be an offensive analyst at Boise this year, essentially on call as it turns out if something went wrong.
He was at UTEP under coach Bob Stull from 1986-88.
Then senior quarterback Hank Bachmeier entered the transfer portal, still able to claim a redshirt this year because he only played in four games.
That's what a loss to UTEP meant to Boise.
"I don't know if it was our win as much as just the pressure cooker of that program," Dimel said. "I saw an interview with the OC a week before the game, he said his wife couldn't go to the grocery story because of people saying stuff to her. That's before our game, they were 2-1. That's a weird place."
As for the quarterback leaving at the same time, "That's a lot of controversy," Dimel acknowledged.
UTEP football team preparing for Hurricane Ian
The UTEP football team is preparing for the worst when it plays in Charlotte on Saturday evening and in this case the worst is ominous.
Projections have the remnants of Hurricane Ian reaching Charlotte by Saturday morning, and while absent lightning it is not projected to remain powerful enough to wipe out the UTEP-Charlotte game, it could present problems for offenses.
There is essentially a 100 percent chance of rain during the game and UTEP is getting ready for that.
"We practiced with wet balls out here, we had the bucket, dipping the balls in the bucket and trying to throw, catch and handoff wet footballs on the offensive side of the ball," Dimel said. "We'll have to react to what happens, we're expecting rain.
"It's going to be important to get out Friday, if it's started raining we can test the turf a little bit, though it might not start until Saturday. We have to make sure we have good footing and we work on playing with wet balls through the week."
An adjustment to another kickoff time is not projected at the moment and Dimel said the day of the game is set. UTEP arrives in Charlotte on Friday.
"We're not going to get there until Friday for a lot of reasons, the logistics of the plane is a major issue," Dimel said. "But it's not supposed to be any different Friday to Saturday right now, other than it might rain less in the night than the morning. Right now we're locked in at the 4 p.m. start, 6 p.m. out there."
Quarterback Gavin Hardison, the player most likely to be affected by rain, isn't concerned.
"That's not something that's new," he said. "I've played in the rain before, it comes down to executing our job and not worrying about what the weather is doing. Worry about what our job is.
"We're going up with one goal and that's to win a football game. We're not focused on anything else."
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at 915-546-6359; bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP's victory last week causes chaos at Boise State
