UTEP football coach Mike Price won't discuss players' injuries

Published Oct. 19, 2010 10:07 p.m. ET

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Mike Price is one of the most accessible, media-friendly college football coaches in America.

So consider ominous something he said early in Monday's news conference.

The first question he fielded was about the health of Trevor Vittatoe, who played through injuries to his shoulder and ankle in Saturday's loss to UAB.

Price's reply: "I'm not going to discuss any injuries and we're closing practice this week. I'm not being cute, I'm not being coy. I just don't see any advantage to discussing our injuries so the opponent can discover anything about us. I don't want to give any advantage to our opponent; to give out any advantage is not necessary. It's a little overrated that we can't have (the media at practice), we want to put our face out to the community, but the situation the way it is, we'll just leave it at that."

When asked if UTEP would turn to James Thomas II at quarterback or whether they would also look to Carson Meger or Tate Smith if Vittatoe couldn't go, Price stuck to his line of not discussing injuries.

He did make an exception to reveal starting receiver and kickoff returner Donovan Kemp is out for the year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained in a noncontact situation when he was trying to avoid a punted ball on coverage unit.

There is a chance the injuries that are causing practice to be closed could be to players besides Vittatoe. Starters Antwon Blake, Royzell Smith, Nathan McCage and Jermard Reed all left the UAB game after getting hurt, joining Eloy Atkinson, Tanner Cullumber and Brandon Miller on the injury list. That does not include players out for the year (Braxton Amy and Isaac Tauaefa).

Two years ago, Price said that team dealt with more injuries than he had seen in his career. He indicated this season is worse.

"Our head trainer Dawn Hearn looks a lot like (director of football operations and balding) Nate Poss; she's pulled all her hair out," Price said. "Strength and conditioning coach Kirk Davis is very concerned. I had both in my office Sunday asking what went wrong. It's just bad luck. It's been a freak, freak year."

Vittatoe did play through his injuries Saturday and indicated afterward his ankle was a bigger problem than his shoulder. He had three interceptions after the injury but also had several successful scrambles, including one where he dived for a first down.

He said after the game his ankle would be fine for Saturday. Royzell Smith also said he would be fine for this week, though his knee was in an ice pack and he wore sweats in the second half.

The players were philosophical about the injury problems in the post-game locker room.

"You've just got to be the next guy up," receiver Kris Adams said. "You've got to be ready to go. We'll practice with the guys who are going to play."

Before UAB, the Miners had dealt well with injuries and Price praised his team's courage, but he admitted they didn't adapt as well against the Blazers as they did against New Mexico and Rice.

"The team did not react as well to injuries and adversity as we had in the past," Price said. "We got shell-shocked, down in the dumps at the end of the game. They ran it down our throat, especially at the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth quarter.

"We didn't make big plays, we didn't finish. They finished us off, we didn't finish them off."

Fans will have to wait until Saturday night against Tulane to see what players will be available to try to turn the tide.

Bret Bloomquist may be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; 546-6359.