Coach Price took time today to discuss the blowout loss to Kansas and talk about this week’s rivalry game against New Mexico State.

Quotes from Mike Price at today’s Media Luncheon:

“We put ourselves in horrible positions because of penalties. We are the most penalized team, so far, I’ve ever had.”

“Lack of discipline is something that just infuriates every coach. It’s the last thing you wanna be referred to is a team that doesn’t have discipline and we’ve shown we’re lacking that.”

“We’ve put our offence in horrible positions. We had very few plays that weren’t second and long or third and long and then you’re trying to throw the ball against a four-man rush that’s beating you and their dropping seven guys.”

“We lost the game in the trenches. We lost the game in field position. Again, made three crucial penalties in the kicking game, which could have been great field position for us. Stupid penalties and lost opportunities.”

“Overall, our defense, I’m encouraged by even though they gave up a lot of yards, I’m still encouraged with the defense. I’m encouraged with the effort of our team, even though we didn’t execute our offense as well as we’re capable of executing and made stupid penalties. We gave really, really good effort. We gave effort all the way to the very last play of the game.”

“There’s no give up in this team right now. We’ve gotta start having some success to continue to have confidence. It’s gonna be tough.”

“You’re either gonna get better or you’re gonna get worse. Nothing stays the same. It’s what you react to in life that’s the difference. It’s not really what happens, but how you react to it.”

“Everybody’s had a bad night, myself included, but how did I react to that and what have I done with my life. It’s the same thing with these kids now. We had a bad game, how are we going to react to it. We have a great opportunity, of course, in the Battle of I-10 coming up.”

“I thought we contained the quarterback well. We just couldn’t get our running game going and our passing game clicking.”

“Don’t be discouraged. Be disappointed. Be disgruntled. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m glad that you care… Just wait. It’s a long race. We haven’t started well, but we’re gonna finish strong so keep the faith. What is faith? Faith is belief without evidence.”

“I told the team you don’t have any time to pout… we’re not talking Kansas in the locker room. We’re talking New Mexico State and we better be because they are going to be ready for us and we’re going to be ready for them.”

“Their players are going to be tough. It’s going to be a real competitive game and one that the fans are really going to enjoy.”

Notes from the Kansas game:

CROMARTIE-SMITH LEADS THE NATION IN TACKLES: Senior DB Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith has been credited with a whopping 34 tackles in the first two games — 19 against Buffalo, 15 versus Kansas — and leads the country in stops. Michigan State’s Greg Jones is second with 29 tackles. The 34 stops in consecutive games are the most by a UTEP Miner since Jeremy Jones had 35 versus Marshall (17) and at Rice (18) in 2005. It also marks the most tackles by a UTEP player in the first two games of a season since Al Barrett had 34 in the first two contests in 1973 (18 at Idaho, 16 versus Pacific).

Notes about this week’s game:

MINERS HIT THE ROAD: UTEP plays the first of six road games in 2009 at NM State this weekend. The Miners are 11-17 on the road under Mike Price, but that number dips to 5-13 over the last three seasons. UTEP was 2-4 away from home in 2008. The good news for the Miners is that after traveling 13,229 miles on their six road trips last season, they will accumulate only 7,507 frequent flier miles in 2009 (UTEP will bus to and from NM State). UTEP is 3-5 in road non-conference games in the Price era with wins over Louisiana-Lafayette, NM State and San Diego State.

SERIES NOTES: UTEP holds a 49-35-2 advantage in the series, but is seeking its first win over the Aggies since 2006. NM State beat the Miners in 2007 (29-24 in Las Cruces) and 2008 (34-33 in El Paso). The last three games between the rivals have been decided by a total of 12 points. Overall the Aggies own a 19-15-1 edge in games played in Las Cruces. The home team has won 10 of the last 12 games in the series.

EARLY GAME TIME THIS WEEK: This week’s game will have an early start… kickoff is scheduled for 6:00… make sure to get to NMSU early!