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Dear EagleGreen, Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the future course of North Texas football. It's been my experience that published "open letters" don't usually have much usable or reliable information and are often written by people who see themselves as smarter than they really are. I must admit that when I first read your open letter to me, my reaction was along the lines of "arrogant ... self-important ... " and so forth, but then I said, "Whoa, Rick, take a breath; this guy might have something to contribute." So I re-read your letter and realized that you had seen some things that I just hadn't seen. I guess I was just too close to the situation to understand the gravity of it, since this one question of what to do about the football team is the only thing that dominates my every waking moment and keeps me awake at night. Because of my preoccupation with it, I just hadn't had time to put it perspective the way you did. I'd like you to know that I haven't been idle since I read your letter and all those postings from others, many of whom are demanding that I hire a particular currently unemployed coach. In fact, I buttonholed President Rawlins after the game and talked it over with him, and we agreed on what to do next. So early this morning I made a few phone calls and got Mike's phone number down there in Key West. I called the house and got Sharon on the phone. "Just a second," she said. "He's out in the back yard spray painting the patio furniture." She was quiet a moment and added softly, as if to herself, "again." I got the feeling she wanted to say more. I heard her call out the back door. "Coach," she said. "It's Rick." He got on the phone. "Hey," he said. "Tough going last night. I saw the game film from Rice last year, and man, you guys stunk on ice. I watched your game online last night, and this year you look lots, lots better. Looks like many of the stats went your way. Too bad about your quarterback. That kid has heart. This is the kind of game that could have gone either way, and sometimes you do it right, and sometimes you make mistakes, but there's no shame in having worked hard even if you come up second by just one point. I hope you let your kids know that." We were both silent a moment before we simultaneously burst into laughter. "Man, what a bunch of losers!" Mike chortled. "That was awful! Lost by one point or a hundred points, it's all the same. Pathetic! Pathetic! Your players and coaches ought to be ashamed. They ought to have people point at them and whisper, 'There go the pansies who don't want to win!'" "I agree," I told him. "That's why I called. I'm checking on your, um, availability. Of course, I gotta ask first about that, uh, incident." "Yeah," he said. "Look, I won't deny that I didn't like that kid and his pansy daddy. But here's what was really going on. I needed to send a message to every other mollycoddled baby on my team that I didn't want them whining to the team doc about concussions. Concussion? What's that? Somebody rang your bell. So? Hell, Red Grange played with a leather helmet. You didn't hear him crying to his mommy, 'Ooh, my head hurts.' Now the NCAA and the NFL and the association of woosified brain surgeons or whatever it is want to outlaw big hits. Helmet-blocking used to be awesome. Clotheslines. You know anybody who ever died from a clothesline? You allow clotheslines again and every freakin' highlight reel will be nothing but clotheslines. 'BOOM! CLOTHESLINE!' Next they'll require us to serve tea and cookies instead of Gatorade. You with me?" "All the way," I said. "I'm a firm believer in denying the extensive and compelling medical proof of the risk of lifelong brain injury -- especially if it happens to a snotty kid with an obnoxious dad! It makes it so much more -- what's the word? -- satisfying!" "A-freakin'-men!" he said. "But there is this one thing," I said. "When the AD and the president and chancellor told you to sign a letter promising not to abuse your players, you refused, right?" "Absolutely," Mike said. "Who the hell did they think they were? They weren't the boss of me!" "Well," I said, a little confused, "actually, I think they were the boss of you. And if we hired you, it would need to be clear that I'd be the boss of you." "YOU!" he yelled. "Who the hell do you think you are? Do you know who I am? I'M CAPTAIN JACK FREAKIN' SPARROW! I'M REDBEARD AND BLACKBEARD AND BLUEBEARD AND EVERY DAMN FREAKIN' COLOR BEARD THERE IS, AND DON'T YOU EVER, EVER FORGET IT!" Well, as you can imagine, that sealed it for me. I resolved to raise millions of dollars for Mike's salary and to put him in the head coach's seat as soon as possible. EagleGreen, I'd like to have a chance to consult with you in person to go over what I've done so far and to ask your advice on how to proceed . Tomorrow's a pretty busy day for me. I've got a 7 a.m. meeting with the coaching staff to fire them all. Then at 8 I'm meeting with the team to tell them that based on the feelings of many of the online fans, we're going to forfeit the rest of the season and just try again next year in the new place. I'll tell them that the stuff they might have heard about persevering through adversity and sticking to your mission and honorably striving on even when the world seems to be against you is just pathetic loser talk. We'll still let them keep their scholarships, so they shouldn't care if we just give up now. Then at 10:30 I'm meeting with President Rawlins again, this time to craft the news release. I'd like to show you the draft before we issue it so I can make sure we've struck the right tone. Perhaps we could meet for lunch in the Victory Hall cafeteria. My treat. Many of the players will probably be eating there, too. I think they'd like to get your perspective on things. Again, thanks for opening my eyes. RV

Last year my 8-year old son and I attended the Army game and had a great time... A close, disappointing loss, but a great game... After the season I asked him if he would like to get season tickets for the next season and he immedialtely replied, "YES!"... So, we cleared some budget and bought 2 season tickets in section B... As the season approached we were both incredibly excited... We attended the Alumni game-watching party at Fox and Hound for the Clemson game and had a great time... Which brings us to last night's game... We had a previous engagement, so we didn't get to tailgate which he loves to do... We arrived at the stadium about 20 minutes before game time... We saw the sky divers and got to see the band... The student section provided an incredible, big-time atmosphere... The game was so tense and relentless that I kept wondering how a 9-year old was taking it... Well, he was yelling his lungs out, pounding the bleachers and cheering on HIS team... When the game was over I looked at my son and I saw that he was disappointed, but then he looked at me and said, "I am so glad you bought season tickets Dad. This was SO fun and it's going to be a great season!" Isn't that what all this is really about...?? I want UNT to win as much as anyone... And I honestly believe they are so, so close... But more importantly I am looking forward to each and every game this season and in seasons to come to spending time with my son at a football game on fall Saturdays...

He means the start of basketball season. 57 days, people! 8 weeks and a day, to be precise, until early signing period opens and basketball season begins!

And now, in our darkest hour, when brother turns against brother... A sacrificial lamb comes along to unite us in our rage and anger.

Agreed. Nathan got injured in s aport with a lot of injuries. He's not dead...not crippled for life. I guess I missed the "What are we gonna do for JJ Johnson and Benny Jones" threads. Way to overreact.

...given the injury to Tune and 0-2 start, I'm not ready to throw in the towel. I like the upside of Thompson. I like the offense - except for the Wildcat plays with Riley (NOTE: Coaches, look...just keep Riley at receiver or move him to DB. You're not fooling anyone when you bring him in one play at a time...I wrote the same last week, and it was true then as well). I like the fight of the defense. The special teams...I've posted for years to copy other schools and have a TE/Special Teams coach. We still haven't. And, our special teams are still sketchy. Look, in private PMs I've had many conversations. I was asked in one if I was jumping off. I'm not. I want to see how Thompson does in the next two games. Both are road games. Both look to be decent teams in 2010. If he can pull one win out of them, I'm staying on board. If we lose both...sadly, it will be the jumping off point. Shavod blocked a field goal.

Hey, the Rangers swept the Yankees for the first time since the Clinton administration today? That's at least something aint it? Rick

The simple and undeniable truth is if Dodge gets released then RV has to clean house with all the coaches. Bring Canales up for anything more then an interim coach would be booster support suicide.

Worst post ever. I wish I could use all 5 negative posts just on this one. You do not fire a coach after the second game of the season. Do you recall all the BS we had to deal with in firing DD before the end of the season? We haven't even played a conference game yet. How about you step away from your keyboard and let the ones that are paid to make the decisions make them.

Speak for yourself. If RV can't handle a fan's opinion of the sorry-ass product he's put on display at Fouts, he should find another line of work. Bob didn't embarrass me by yelling about poor coaching to the person who thought we needed another high school coach to run a college program. He was telling the truth. Fun fact: Since 1980, only three high school coaches have been hired to run Division I-A (now FBS) schools. Two of them were at North Texas -- Dennis Parker and Dodge. RV bet the bank on a non-traditional hire and he busted.

What's a good hip go for on the black market ?

Didn't you just feel that yesterday? The pressure of that entire afternoon might have been disguised as oppressive heat but there was soooooooo much underlying pressure for the Mean Green to win that game and at the end they revealed exactly who they are. The guys work hard play hard the coaches yell loud and develop the fans show up to support and underneath it all is a big judge and jury waiting for the 000. UNT had to win this game for: 1. Coach Dodge's future 2. Fanbase support for the rest of 2010 3. CUSA readiness and worthiness 4. RV's decision to hire and bring back TD 5. A fan lowpoint called 77 - 20 around 700 days ago 6. Beautiful pillars and cranes across the stree that must have looked like daggers all game long It was unbelievable how much pressure there was for so many on 9.11.10. Livelihood and lifelong memories were on the line last night and that is why the end of that game was like driving away from a day of revelation. We supported and witnessed what was the Dodge Era yesterday. We supported this University like never before and will always wish this cast the best. Last year Ohio mentally ended the 2009 season in the players minds. Rice was not another MAC team rolling into Denton to play a part in this judgement day saga. There was so much more intensity added to the day because it was Rice, and they may have killed the mentality of the 2010 squad. Either way I will be there watching us fight whatever fight we bring to Westpoint and I will always bleed green. Thank goodness 9.11.10 is over. It was mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting. GMG

The same Mike Canales that called the same play to Riley Dodge 3 times in a row? You know the wildcat only works if there is a threat to pass, otherwise you might as well be playing Dickeyball from the shotgun.

our players were most of the reason that we lost the game. besides 3-5 questionable calls on offense, it was all lack of focus from the players. dropped passes, dropped interceptions, bad tackling, bad special team coverage (which could be because of coaching) and a couple of really stupid penalties all coaches can do is put an emphasis on wrapping up and stayin in your lane, they can't do it for them. i'm not saying the past 3 years have been the players fault, but last night it wasn't the coaching that lost the game. i wish people would think about what possible recruits are thinking that are in attendance, when they start their verbal assaults on players/coaches. i would think it plays a part in their decision of choosing our school over another.

We've played two games. Seems a little harsh to do a big list when Army is 4 days away.

Wonder if Tobe would have liked a banner last year?

And with no track separating the playing surface from the stands, mgbob is going to have to speak quickly because RV will have easy access to him in the Pit.

DRC

Any game where Riley Dodge has more rushing attempts than James Hamilton is a problem game. I'm not going to dance around this. I've turned around and believed in this thing, but Riley is not the playmaker he was in high school. He's just not. Stop running him. Just stop. Put the ball, in short distance situations, into the hands of the players who can make the play - namely, Lance Dunbar. If you think the defense will key on Dunbar, play action fake to him and hit a tight end. But, whatever you do, quit the Riley Dodge charade now. It's maddening. If Mike Canales can't see this, it's not a far leap to put down the green kool aid I've sipped since his hiring and jump back aboard the reality train. I've had this fantasy that Mike Canales knows what the hell he's doing. I'm now questioning that based on his use of Riley. It's not getting us anywhere. And, this isn't a program that has the time to go nowhere. We've been nowhere for five straight seasons. I'm also still not seeing the tight ends in the pass game mix. I'm thrilled that they are good blockers in the run game. But...I'm still waiting for this team to show it will use every weapon available in the pass game. If teams know we don't have a serious tight end threat, they will simply free up a linebacker or safety (depending on their defensive scheme) to blitz more or double another receiver. If Mike Canales can't see these things, we're done. RV...fire up that call list as soon as we hit 0-4.

This season isn't over and all isn't lost. Just don't quit! You're a good team. You can win. Believe it! Today is a new day and the beginning of a new week.

So you're telling me there's a chance?

you are flat wrong here. also, you are a paid student too....so let's not act like you are a professor. Audio or no you should ALWAYS lead with NT or a big local story. I have been in your position and understand how stuff rolls up there, not having audio is no excuse to not have NT football leading Late Edition Sports.

Other than Jeremiah Chapman, Kelvin Drake, Casey Fitzgerald, Victor Gill, Eddie Gilmore, Maurice Holman, Brandon Jackson, Derek Mendoza, Brandon Monroe, Joe Miller, Tobe Nwigwe, Craig Robertson, Draylen Ross (a career of criminal underutilization), Esteban Santiago, Truman Spencer, Montey Stevenson, Brock Stickler, Aaron Weathers, Nathan Tune, and JAMARIO FREAKING THOMAS... I can't think of another Dickey recruit who was worth a damn for Dodge. Unless you count Meager, Burruss, Ike Thomas, Steve Warren, Chad Rose, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Good thing we ran off guys like Peachey and Banks, who only showed FLASHES of potentially exceptional talent. Can we PLEASE put this thing to bed yet? Hell, there were SIX DICKEY RECRUITS IN THE STARTING LINEUP at the start of this year! Dodge has had four years of recruits come into the program, and out of 24 starting positions (11 on each side plus a kicker and punter), a quarter of the damn starting lineup that everyone was fawning over our potential was Dickey recruits. Take out the specialists, and it's 6 out of 22. And FIVE OF THEM ARE ON OFFENSE! If the damn cupboard was sooooooo bare, why was half the starting offense still Dickey guys if our offensive specialist coach with all the great HS connections and the exceptional recruiting skills has had FOUR RECRUITING CLASSES to bring in his own guys? If you don't count Draylen Ross as a starter at TE, then it's down to four out of eleven. Four out of eleven. If you don't count Ross as a starter, he's the ONLY Dickey recruit left on the offensive side of the ball that WASN'T a starter. ENOUGH ABOUT THE BARE CUPBOARD.

I don't see how people believe they can go 6-4 in the last 10 games when they have won just 10 games in the last 5 years.

I'd gladly take $250,000 to do my job where EVERY person I come in contact with has an opinion...and they all know how to do it better. And yes, when I go to work one guy wins and one guy loses by definition. Only sometimes our losses are permanent. Oh yeah, and any misstep at my job is met by as much if not more media coverage. Nobody ever did my job for four years and got coddled when they didn't produce. So yeah, where do I sign up for that job exchange program?

I admit, I cheer for laundry... The red (and blue) of the Texas Rangers The blue and silver of the Dallas Cowboys The orange of the UTEP Miners and... The green of the UNT Mean Green... Every season I cheer on old hands and new faces, but in the end it is about the laundry... Win or lose I am a die hard fan for the teams I support... And that is exactly what I am teaching my son... I try not to get too wound up about the things I have no control over, like who the coach is, who the athletic director is and even who the players are... Once they are employed by or play for my team they get 100% support (and even criticism) until they are no longer with us... I know some people say that my money and my attendance is my "voice" with the team... I have never thought that way... The team is put together by individuals who don't answer directly to me and I offer my support one way or the other... If that makes me a blind, naive fan then that is what I am... That being said, see you at the next game...

leach did not destroy the Tech football program, but he divided the fan base and was only ever concerned with himself and his ego and his "quirky" reputation and he had reached a level he was never going to get past in the 2008 season and 2009 was right back to typical leach and leach being unhappy so yes Texas Tech needed to clean house and they would have been better off not giving him the new contract in 2008 and letting him prove something in the remaining two years and even with a single bad season and an administration that had tried to undermine him in the past Tuberville still did more at AUBURN (he never was at Clemson as a head coach) than what Leach did at Texas Tech including winning a Cotton Bowl, winning the SEC, going undefeated, playing in, and winning a BCS bowl and having a team ranked in the top 10 twice leach never did any of that and he never would have which is why his act grew old the rest you pretty much have down and no

To be fair, you DID say everyone could "Say what (they) want". Don't backslide when you've already given permission.

I think that if we've learned anything from the Dodge era, it's that no matter how simple, obvious, or undeniable the truth may be, a lot of people here can convince themselves it isn't the truth.

when we hired TD we knew he would bring some flare to our offense and that naturally we would put up a lot of points... Canales, however, brings fluidity to our offense.... after TDs first two or three seasons i felt like our Offense started to become stagnant and predictable... MC has brought back the Mystique.... Even if its not Canales, the next HC of UNT will be hired from within... after this stadium is finally up... are we not going to be dirt poor?

You don't know embarrassment, EagleGreen, you shoulda' been around here in 1981 with a 1 year coach who had 1 win and almost got us on NCAA probation to boot! That was (as Popeye would say) "embarraskin." Prediction: Rick V will not fire Todd Dodge on Monday or the next Monday or the next. If Todd Dodge goes 0 & 5, Rick V will probably still not fire him but rather (silently) start his private search for Coach Dodge's successor knowing how important that hire would be as we are on the eve of having a grand opening for a new football palace being built by the same people who built the Dallas Cowboy's jewel over in Arlington. Rick V has taken the worst AD job in NCAA D1 and made it a good job. He will probably move on to a more high profile job one day in the future. Yet.......for UNT to be building a new stadium during this national economy (near depression) is short of a miracle. I look for Rick V & Company to find a corporate sponsor in due time that will divvy up UNT's $30 million minimum amount requirement (which is what I saw as the minimum amount in some UNT publication). IMO, our stadium location makes that amount do-able. Someone already posted it but UNT has been a coaches graveyard except for Fry and Moore (who was only here 2 years). So, if Dodge is terminated, we really need to do the most extensive search for a HFC in our history so we have someone who somebody else wants to hire and FWIW..........that's when you know you've got something. NOTE: Boise State had 5 HFC's in the space of 10 years and did not miss a lick with their football success--that alone is one of the great success stories in NCAA history. Let Rick V do his thing...he's shown that he can. GMG!

ummm...the team wasn't embarrassed tonight! they fought hard and had a chance to win. they did just fine, just not enough to win. if you're embarrassed, leave the team/school.

Amazing, if the score had been NT 33 Rice 32: the sky would be sunny and most would be lauding the turnaround. Now very predictably, many want the instant firing of Dodge, although that would almost surely destroy any chance for a descent season. NT made far too many mistakes to even be close last night, yet they continued to play very hard and actually should have won. Too familiar a story for most, however the season is for from over. Many posters on here seem to think that RV is a great AD. If you have that much confidence: why not let him handle the coaching situation. I don't know if all are aware that NT was playing with 3 of 5 originally starting offensive linemen on the side line last night, J. Jackson playing with a just separated shoulder, and Casey still suffering from his hand injury. Tune had also been knocked out of the game earlier. That is a lot to overcome for a team that started out with good depth but that has changed quickly. Even with the awful special team play and the many injuries; the team never gave up to the their credit. I know any semi-positive response is going to be met with this is the type o,f low expectations that is holding the team back, mantra. However, I like the desire and effort I've seen in the first two games and NT does have some talent. Is this team good enough to challenge for the Belt title, a for more meaningful goal than 7 wins? The mounting injuries are reducing the odds, but there is still time to improve enough to win the Belt. NT did not play well enough to beat Rice, however it is way to early to give up on this team.

I had RV. It wasn't his best day, but the hustle and activity late in the game did not go unnoticed.

It's funny how the players at FAU, MTSU and Troy seem to make less mistakes than we do? Those guys are amazing in how they have been able to keep THEMSELVES in check like they have these past 5 or 6 years? I wonder what their secret is? Must be something in the water out their way? Rick

Trip...le op..tion? Your radical offense you felt the need to define sounds ground-breaking. How does it work against a 4-3 or 3-4 defense? What makes the QB decide to keep or pitch? Do other teams know about it?

I agree with most of this BUT I do not agree with the part I bolded. IMO the problem was giving Riley the same damned play to run last week and last night. They were waiting on it! I believe he can still throw the ball 10 - 15 yards with authority and I hope he gets the chance to do something out of the Wildcat beside run off guard or tackle. So far this season his talent has been underutilized/wasted.

My mission today is to make as many on-topic jokes that don't actually stake out a position as I possibly can. I will avoid taking a side publicly so as to use the medicine that is laughter to heal all factions of our little online community. Also, I'd never run game on a guy who could probably castrate me with a snapped football.

Remember, if you don't get help at Chater...please get help somewhere.

Yes, what would we do without all the 4 and 5 star recruits Coach Dodge has brought to this program...

I'm not sure how I missed this incident since I sit in Sec.C, but if it indeed went down like some of you have described, then there is no way I could blame RV for his reaction. He's probably one of the biggest UNT FANS out there right now. I believe he cares deeply for UNT, the coaches, and the players (on all teams). First, the game situation was extremely frustrating. Then, you have a loudmouth fan who has every right to say the things he did, but not enough brains to shut up after saying them after the first time. If I were RV, I would get fired up as well. I love RV! His passion rivals only those of us on this board. Lay off of him.

We weren't going to win this game. We rely to much on players we want to be play makers but are not. Dodge needs to stay a receiver. The line needs to protect more. Special teams needs to realize that "Special" does not mean they need to make dumb plays. And if everyone is saying that our team is beat up with injuries. ITS THE SECOND GAME OF THE SEASON FIRE the strength and condition coach. Nothing positive came from this game.

After last week, we were all suffering from delusions of adequacy. Canales is Luke Wilson, we're the future of America. Brought to you by Carl's Jr.

Sounds good to me. I prefer an AD that: 1) Actually raises some money and doesn't require a semi-shady UNT loan to complete the AC. 2) Raises money for the stadium, instead of solely depending on a student fee before proceeding. 3) Doesn't hire a low budget high school coach AND ALLOWED him to bring his entire HS staff with him. 4) When said HS coach and staff are failing, doesn't stomp up and down the field showing the displeasure of his hire. 5) Sits up in the box where he belongs 6) Follows up with his promises (quarterly meetings, "blogs", and the such) I was looking at the donor list and noticed some missing names this year. In fact, looking around section E, I didn't see these "high profile" people either. Struck me odd.

Tune was my freshman orientation roommate and one of my first college friends at UNT. He's a really good guy and it's a shame to see that happen to him. Through everything, he has just kept his mouth shut and kept working. I wish the best for him in the future.

Go Mean Green! Beat ARMY!!!!!!

I really thought after attending the Clemson game that we had the chance for a three game sweep going into last night. My heart goes out to Nathan Tune and his family. Even going to sleep last night I could not get the picture of him being carted off out of my mind. This team has made mistakes the last two games (maybe more last night than against Clemson), but their heart and desire are unquestioned. We can not let this game be like the Ohio of last year that I believe set the tone for the season. I watched all the Army game yesterday, and they are very beatable and play to the strength of our defense. I'll be at West Point and at FAU. As long as this team keeps trying I'll keep giving them all the support I can. I am thankful we have Derrick Thompson. I just hate the circumstances under which we must use him. I hope last night was a learning experience for Coach Canales in that you can not put the ball in Riley Dodge's hands in a critical situation. Past history will repeatedly show this to be true. SMU got by far the best SL Carroll playmaker, hands down.

the definition of a coaching staff about to be fired is to keep allowing the same players to make the same mistakes and expecting different results.

This team doesn't need to be coddled. They lost this game. The coaching staff didn't get a punt blocked, lose two fumbled, miss a FG, drop passes in the endzone, throw and INT, shank two or three punts, place kick the ball out of bounds twice, drop two interceptions, allow the kick returner 40 yard when he did actually touch the ball, not be able to push a lumbering TE out of bounds to save a TD, etc, etc, etc. With the long list of player mistakes, it is insane to think that we had the lead in the 4th. Even more amazing is that Rice only put up 31 points when they started 8 drives within OUR 40 yard line. Maybe the 25 pt loss went to these team's collective head and this wakes them up. TEAM! Please don't give up.

I agree we are all very frustrated, but I would at least wait a few more games till we start the fire dodge chants. He has to get to 7-5 to keep his job. Were 0-2, he has a challenge, but I wouldn't say fire him now.