Leaderboard

Maybe, but only a fraction of the asking price for a used clipboard out of Darrell Dickey's pants.

Knott the kicker I was thinking of..

It seems like this (apparent) hire is about continuity. If we were hiring a new OL coach at the end of the season, we could hire a coach who would bring in a whole different set of blocking schemes and terminology. Less than two weeks away from fall camp, it is key that the new coach can simply pick up where Lefty left off. I doubt anyone could do that better than Jeff Bryant.

I wish we could have used this opportunity to bring in someone with years of experience rather than a former graduate assistant.

I wouldn't want him back after this.

Harry, it's almost always about the money. We have talked for years about how underpaid our assistant coaches and position coaches are. I would be willing to bet that if we were paying Lefty $100,000~, then Tulsa is now paying him somewhere around $150K. And how many years has Lefty been coahing at UNT? Read SUMG's post. We expect the student fee to make up for the sins(non-giving) of our alumni base. Thats what the Mean Green Club is for, same as the TAMU Athletic Foundation, the Longwhorn club, etc. Don't let Lefty kid you- it's about the money. Counter the Tulsa offer and he would have been Todd Dodge's best coaching buddy.

Yeah....by all means let's keep waiting on that student fee to bail us out. This is what happens when you have one of the cheapest fanbases in intercollegiate athletics. We have people who won't join the Mean Green Club; we have fans that get in the Mean Green Club and stay at the same level for 25 years; we have fans that have bitched and moaned about wanting a stadium for years, and now that they have the opportunity to donate to a stadium fund, still find an excuse not to give. Guess what? My Wal-Mart credit card....doesn't work at Nieman's. So as long as we want cheap intercollegiate athletics....that's what we'll have.

This is a sad day for North Texas. We didn't lose our O line coach to a BCS conference school, we lost him to another mid-major, not because he wasn't happy here, but because we couldn't match their offer. Until this terrible fact changes we can not consistently compete in FBS football. So we can forget about moving up the food chain. I can't see us finding a replacement of his caliber in time for this season. This is exactly why other schools won't take North Texas seroiusly. Someone at the Athletic Center needs to pull a rabbit out of their hat.

DRC

What about Canales' old line coach from South Florida? I would think the guy knows how to coach blocking for Chico's offense. The guy was a successful O line coach in the Big East. Lets not sell ourselves short. I'm not sold on Bryant being our best option just yet. I hope the people doing the hiring stop, take a deep breath, and make sure they have really covered all their bases before settling on this guy.

Well, how would you like to pick up a paper, look on the internet, or turn on the tv only to hear your child, wife, or significant other called a "bust", especially at a perennial powerhouse of football like we are here at UNT? The one guy that this football program identifies itself with has not stepped on a football field as a player in 30 years. Guess we have had lots of busts since he played here, because no other player since him attracts the same attention as he does when he shows up an event. Yes, he is an NFL Hall of Famer, but hey we have our standards here, right? Man, calling young men who, for the most part, are working for an education to hopefully better themselves, be able to earn a living, and make a positive contribution to society "bust" is really low.

Is there a buyout clause ? I mean shouldn't Tulsa have to pay us his salary ? Seems to me that's way it should be

I look at it is : we will now have a coach who's heart is 100% into it & ready to prove himself vs. one who was good , but also knew that his chances of being here beyond this year were slim thus making his heart not 100% into it. Best of luck & welcome aboard coach Bryant

Agree with all your points. But it doesn't work both ways in this regard: I'm pretty sure if we had fired him.....we'd have had to pay him until the end of the school year or whenever he got another coaching job. He, on the other hand, leaves us high and dry and doesn't suffer any consequences. But anyway...I'm ready to welcome on board, Coach Bryant (if that happens on Monday, as expected). Adios Lefty...

Damon's West bust made some headlines

--- The first four letters of his last name pretty much sums up his history it seems.... and once again. --- He has the right to do as he wishes but seems a bit unethical to leave just before the season opens... His agreement to coach for us this year apparently meant nothing. I wonder what he would have thought if we had found a better coach this week and just fired him to hire the better one with just a couple weeks until the season (practice) starting ..? That works both ways. This is all about timing, not his right to change jobs.

I don't like the subject of this thread, there are lots of players who did not live up to expectations; but the label a player a bust that NT wanted and signed seems very inappropriate to me. Milton is often cited as a big bust,only problem he wasn't : he ended up starting in the defensive line. He also provided more publicity to NT than any signee. Approximately 50% of all players who sign a division 1 ship have little impact on a program whether it is NT or UT. Do you label all of them busts? Even if you do, you could not include Collins because he gave a big boost to Fry's program for just signing and played a lot. He was the most heralded recruit in Texas that year, therefore the fact he did not turn out to be a super star was disappointing to NT fans. However, he did contribute a lot to NT.

I know it's a novel concept, but I was just agreeing with you. For like the third time... ever.

why is it that when a coach or player leaves for a better opportunity he/she is a quitter? have you ever ever made a job/career change that you thought would be for the better for you and your family. to say that everyone who leaves north texas is a quitter is b.s.

If we have to play an FCS program, there is only one logical school to schedule for opening a new UNT football stadium (and they have Sept 3, 2011 available): http://www.fightingsioux.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=58644&SPID=6399&DB_OEM_ID=13500&Q_SEASON=2011

Yes, you are a smart guy. I mentioned Simmonds previously in this thread. Uperusa is now at Nicholls State after not retained by the new head coach at UNLV, probably a good situation there with head coach Stubbs. However, he has SERIOUS qualifications, including coaching O-Line at Utah when they went 12-0 and beat Pittsburgh in the first game and victory in a BCS bowl. Also, he had Chico Canales on his staff at Snow College for 8 years or so, and maybe that could sway him to come here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L-La3oPn4Y

only thing i can think of, this staff is unsure if they will be back after this season, if Tulsa offered him a deal for 2 or 3 years, at least he knows he has a job after this season....not saying its right for him to bail so close to the season or that im happy...because this truly sucks...but if this is why it happened i can at least understand it.

Maybe Chico Canales could talk one of his former coworkers into leaving FCS Indiana State to join him in Denton: Former USF offensive line coach now at Indiana State And he's a hero. Mike Simmonds helped man save drowning son

If we're afraid to play a FCS team, we need to fold our tent and slip out of town at midnight. Geeze

NOW ... you can call me MAC, or you can call me WAC, or you can call me MWC. But you doesn't have to call me FCS!! REALLY! We must open with a team we could beat that would give us some props from the public. The headlines would read "UNT Blows First Game In New Stadium To Spunky Little (insert FCS team here)" if we schedule an FCS team and lose. Conversely, the headlines would read "UNT Inflicts Loss On (insert FCS team here) As Expected; REAL Test To Come Next Week" if we win. WAY TOO MUCH DOWNSIDE. Until our program is reestablished and recognized as such around the country, we should be playing 100% FBS teams. There are beatable FBS teams out there that people have heard of...find one. JMO.

That makes sense. I should have clicked the linked story. That is my biggest fear in playing a FCS team right now. I don't think we are in that position to take that risk. Plus, especially for the 1st game in the new stadium, I want a team that we can get excited about playing and beating.

Montana will be playing @ Tenn , not UNT. I don't mind playing a FCS team , but they better be sure we win that game. Give me Texas Southern or a PV a&M. We could get off on the right foot and all be treated to a great half time show. Just don't bring Montana to Denton , that game might get ugly

I would also think that a Todd-Dodge-worn playcalling armband would also fetch a decent amount.

Maybe this is something that could be offered in the fan shop which we'll have at the new stadium. One has to think that a #5 jersey for example....might fetch a pretty decent amount.

Quoner would pay triple if his game worn 81 was also sold unwashed.

C'mon...there are shows that are completely devoted to "busts". Every sport, and team, has their share of busts. It is part of the game.

This is probably hands down our best coach we have had over the past few years. I can't blame him. All the coaches will probably be looking for a job next year anyways. He has job security , more $ & is in a place he is familiar with. He did a great job here & I wish him the best. No need to bash a coach for leaving.Coaches come and go , it's the nature of the business. I guarantee Tulsa could offer every current UNT coach the exact same position over there along w/ more $$ and everyone would take it. Believe it or not the world doesn't rotate around just little ol UNT. Some need to realize that just because we are getting a new stadium & fees that it doesn't automatically mean we are going to start winning games , getting better recruits & have coaches stick around.

If you guys are looking for a FCS team that will bring a good crowd then you should invite TXST. We typicaly bring 5k or more fans to our FBS games.

He says it is Montana in the title, but doesn't talk about that game in the main article? I don't like playing a FCS team, especially in the opening game of the new stadium. Don't like it at all.

I think it is because of all the TSSM talk of football dominance. NT just wants to be associated with such a rising program. Based on football boosts, I would imagine at least 1,000 fans traveling to Denton and a capacity crowd in San Marcos.

Luckily... we don't need quitters.

If this were after the season, I probably wouldn't agree with you since given Brewster's age, he could probably use some more experience elsewhere before coming back home. Plus, I would want him back when we had more certainty and stability in the future of our program. (i.e. coaching staff). But imagine the energy he would bring that would help lift the shroud of disappointment the linemen have with their coach now running out on them. He has some skins from his days here, and he would work extra hard to "rescue" this program because I know he loves it. And as for Leftwich worrying about his own skin, what about the freshmen, sophmores, and juniors who have to play here next year regardless of what happens this upcoming season? It is just not right, Leftwich is young enough in his career to have rolled the dice and not quit. Tulsa is not that big of a jump in the college football landscape right now. Yes, I know they kicked our butts, but it is not the up and coming program like it was a few years ago. The 6 months of extra money, if any, can't be that much. I think this is a very self centered, short sighted decision on Leftwich's part.

Markeith Knowlton had an int in their last game and you can vote for his play for play of the game at Myhttp://www.ticats.ca/

I noticed this on the thread which Harry has titled "Where Are They Now?" It's at the bottom of the profiles of Coach Bliel and Coach Bugar (who are both at Texas State). If you click on these...it takes you to prices. They have game jerseys from all their sports. I wish we had the opportunity to purchase actual UNT game jerseys: http://www.txstatebobcats.com/store/jerseys/?partner_id=12058

The increase in money would have to be very substantial to justify his quitting on the other coaches and most importantly his players at this stage. I think it would almost have to double. He is saying, without speaking any words, that he does not believe that this team is going to turn around this year, thus securing his job as a coach at UNT for next season. He is getting out while the getting is good for his own neck, imho. To heck with the team concept. I think it is a very self centered and selfish decision.