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Leavitt is the perfect candidate for this job. Only UNT could screw this up.

Whatever the choice - one thing is certain (for me) - whomever is hired must have the characteristics of Todd Dodge as a man. He has set the bar for what we should expect - class act, ability to change, ability to put ego aside, fan of North Texas, ability to concede defeat. A lot of our alumni point to Hayden Fry as a class act and I can see that. The landscape of college football was drastically different back then. Corporate sponsorships really did not exist. There were only a handful of bowl games. The college football world was a much more "clean" business back then. I keep reading all these requirements for a new coach - winning record, FBS Head Coaching experience, name recognition - etc... And I agree with a lot of those traits. But the one thing that I have not seen is that our new coach must have the personality of Todd Dodge. What I mean - our new coach should understand and love North Texas (like we all do). Our new coach must run a clean ship. Our new coach must not badmouth our school, our players, or our fans. Our new coach must demand excellence in the classroom. Basically - we need a Todd Dodge that can win games. In my opinion - Todd Dodge has set the bar for the type of "man" we should want and expect. His exit has been a breath of fresh air compared to the Simon and Dickey exits. I remember a football player telling me a story about how Simon was driving through the desert on his way out of town (headed to El Paso or something) and he called this player in a frenzy - just bad mouthing the school like a jilted teenager would. We all know what happened when Dickey was let go and RV probably went into the Dodge hire looking for a guy that was a "yes" man and would not challenge authority. I am sure that RV wanted someone that would never pull those stunts again. It was a shame because both coaches could have left here with legacies intact. Simon guided us through the ranks from IAA to IA and Dickey showed the fans how good we could be. They could have been legends that had statues eventually erected in their honor. But the manner in which they both left the program fractured the fan base and the alumni. I hope that whomever is chosen - wherever he is from - has the traits of Dodge, the man. As we are throwing around names - like Leavitt and Leach and Bower - please do your research and see how they left their positions (despite the circumstances). How you carry yourself during and after the job is very important. I am fairly ignorant to the college football world (outside of North Texas) - so maybe you can all fill me in on how these coaches handled themselves during their dismissals.

Who cares about who is supposed to contact who. RV should have already gauged Leach"s interest. Not doing so is. In my opinion, failing to do your job as an AD. RV, if you are reading the board, get on the damn phone with leach. Maybe he doesn't want to come here, isn't the right fit, or we can't afford him, BUT YOU WILL NEVER KNOW UNLESS YOU TALK TO HIM!!! I realize we r early in the process, but a get familiar call should have already been made

Leavitt docs Includes: -letter from USF to Leavitt giving him notice of firing and the reason -official investigation report -contract signed in 2008 -copies of school policies that Leavitt's action ran afoul Guys, I think Jim Leavitt is a good football coach. However, this lawsuit is not going to be settled soon. I've also looked into his attorney, some of his past work, and I believe he is driving this thing further than it should be driven. Mediation was held on February 22, but the two sides could not agree on a settlement. That a mediation occurred tells me the school was willing to settle and put the matter behind them. In subsequent interviews I've read and watched, Leavitt's attorney appears to be dead set against it. Leavitt defers to his attorney; he doesn't know any better. The bottom line is this - we've got enough problems as it is. There are enough witnesses against Leavitt that, I believe, if his attorney keeps pushing, it will not turn out well for him. The last thing we need is to hire a guy in a lawsuit and have the whole thing publicized while he's our coach. We should not consider a coach that we might have to let go within a span of two years because of actions at a prior school. The whole incident is dirty. I'm wholly uninterested in what MizzouTigers' opinion or connection is. He has obvious bias. My bias is toward finding the right coach for my alma mater. To me, that means bringing someone in with a clean slate. Contrary to what MizzouTigers says, this isn't a slam dunk issue in favor of Leavitt. This will drag out because there are enough witnesses to drag it out; and, he has an attorney apparently hell bent on dragging it out. Overall, I believe you've got to compare Leavitt's situation with that of his former co-worker Mark Mangino. The terms of that settlement are here: KU-Mangino Settlement As you can read, the settlement between KU and Mangino specifically state that neither side admits liability. The University agreed to withdraw the internal investigation, the letter of firing, and talking points. Mangino also agreed to waive any future claims under certain Federal laws. For this, Mangino received a lump sum cash payment of $3 million, health insurance premiums on a current policy, and life insurance premiums on a current policy. Both sides agreed not "to disparage" the other publicly. The records are under seal, and the agreement is between Mangino and "Kansas Athletics, Inc." Kansas Athletics, Inc. is a non-profit that helps fund the KU athletic department. USF also has one, and it is clearly a part of Leavitt's contract. Part of the struggle between USF and Leavitt's lawyer is which documents are public and which are private. The USF foundation is private and wouldn't have to release certain documents to Leavitt's attorney. Those deemed public would. As you can see, this will drag on...and on and on. Mangino's attorney, in my eyes, did the right thing by getting him a good settlement and out of further negative publicity as quickly as possible. It is my opinion that Leavitt's attorney has unwisely chosen the other course; one that will prevent his client from gaining another coaching position until he is done posturing. What's the old saying? Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. I would suggest that Leavitt's attorney lacks discretion by pushing this thing.

Wow. Someone should tell Brad Kassell, Scott Hall, Brandon Kennedy, Jonas Buckles, Patrick Cobbs and company that their wins were hollow and irrelevant, their discipline was deplorable, that they won in spite of themselves, and that my God, we would NEVER want to go through a horrible sub-.500 era like theirs again. Just make sure I get to be there when you all do it, ok?

There have been approx 5,700 1A college football coaches since 1881, and only 11 had a worse 4 year start than Todd Dodge (6-37)

Yes. I'm a cynical bastard by nature, but I think Rick's gonna' get this one right. We can debate candidates all we want, but Rick's hungry (for the wins. Stop it!). UNT bowl bound by 2013. Mark it.

If you could pay him...and he would sign up...he would win and would bring a HUGE spotlight on UNT....even at a national level. When you look at what he did for Tech...I can't help but feel he would move this program up fast...he would bring a huge following and UNT might very well have to start thinking stadium expansion in just a few short years! He could bring money and excitement to UNT just like he did at Tech.

Interesting story about Jorge Cantu in the SAEN...

+ 20 It's a parent's responsibility to be a parent, not a college football coach's responsibility. We don't need to hire a Billy Gillespie, but we don't need to make spotless character the number one priority, either. Hire an F'n football coach, not a freaking father figure.

Good post, although winning is what keeps coaches around. For various reasons, some TD had control over and some he didn't, he just couldn't get us on the winning track, and in the end that is what led to his firing. You could learn a thing or two about character from Dodge.

I'm probably in the minority, but I don't care what kind of man the next coach is as long as he wins lots of games without cheating.

As a fanbase we should all be really really giddy that he is interested in this job. I know we talk about potential but all that is is a word until it is actually achieved. But having a coach of his caliber legitimately be interested in this gig means we have a chance at doing something really special this year and the start of things to turn for the good.

I never understood why NT was not better able to take advantage of their history as it relates to the integration of its athletic teams. However, I believe the time for that has long passed. I do think with the right leadership decisions that NT could ultimately become a force in Texas athletics. It is the only football playing public school in the biggest and most prosperous part of the state. The major problem is that athletics has a very poor infrastructure, and I am not talking about mortar. NT just has never developed the fan base and support it needs to be successful. Frankly though it is slowly improving, NT has never enjoyed the financial support it takes to excel. NT can rapidly process even with the historical perception of athletic ineptness but it is going to take great leadership. I believe NT has taken the first steps by getting good base facilities for a non-AQ program and the next step in the process is hiring a recognized coach that illustrates that NT is at long last serious about its athletic program.

Well Hot Springs does have that law about goats..

How could he say anything bad? His kid's the size of an FCS player and Dodge gave him a scholarship. He'll never say anything bad about Dodge because he got his kid's college paid for.

Says the guy whose team never have to come out west to play us in Denton...

I'm saving vacation days so I can make it this year

Jim Leavitt isn't an interesting name? The guy who took a football program from non-existence to a #2 ranking in 10 years?

Sorry for the typo, gangrene. It was very early in the morning and I had been reading all of the documents I could find on Leavitt, Mangino, and their situations.

Sorry Fake, but you still haven't produced one solid reason we should overlook Leavitt, not one. There isn't a coach on earth that hasn't been fired for one reason or another, and everyone I spoke with about this at work yesterday simply knew he had been let go at USF, not for the reason he was let go. I had to tell them why. No one here in Texas would give a rats ass why either if he were brought here. And.......... As an ACTUAL donor, season ticket holder and Mean Green Club member who attends the games and supports this program, and who thinks North Texas is WORTHY of the great expectations those like me and myself have for this program, I can honestly say I don't have a problem with Leavitt one bit. Like Leach, it sounds like Leavitt was railroaded at USF and until I hear his side of the story either from him or the others who were present I won't pass judgement on him. The fact he refuses to settle with USF tells me one thing for sure, that he must strongly feels he was wronged and won't give up. I want a guy like that on our sidelines, who will fight like hell for North Texas. Rick

Joe Greene played for Rust not Fry and if you think football was cleaner in the "ole days", it is because you just were not around. As mentioned above, coaches could never get away with the stuff they used to pull. Illegal recruiting, abuse of players and little regard to academics were all issues that were much worse in the past. There were no cameras at every event and very few investigative reporters. Coaches could just about get by with anything and many did. Coaches such as Royal, Wilkerson, Bryant, etc. were legends because they won not because of great character. The powers routinely gave out 60 and 70 freshmen ships and then proceeded to run off the majority to make way for next years crop. Rules limiting number of scholarships, stating minimum academic standards, and requiring academic progress are not always effective, but it is a much better environment for players than existed decades ago.

Josh's interview was so genuine. I almost shed a tear for him.

Honestly, I have been shedding tears...after Elvis caught the out in Tampa and now after Feliz K's the devil. I pull for the underdog...it is in my blood. I tell you that I have caught at least a piece of every game this year. And for the last 39 years, through internet, radio, tv and newspaper, I have followed this team through bad times and bad, good times occasionally...Mark Holtz was my hero as much as the players, then Eric. My son took his first pitching lesson from Wettlend (sp?) and I have played poker with Pavlik. O It is the one professional sport I can afford to take my entire family. And now, my team is in the World Series. If this loser can do it, then why not the Mean Green?

Has footballscoop announced who will replace ASU coach Steve Roberts after they confirmed his firing last December? Also, did they ever clarify when we fired soon to be hired HC Randy Butler?

I'm now a Bald Eagle!

Friday October 22, 2010 North Texas: Our sources tell us former South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt is interested in the North Texas job. North Texas: We are hearing that AD Rick Villareal is aiming to hire a coach with previous head coaching experience. This is very good news and good media for us. It tells other potential applicants and recruits what we expect to hire and that we are attracting some quality interest.

Does he know he's already been crucified, tarred and feathered on this forum? I'm old fashioned about giving folks 2'nd chances because many have done that for me (and I'd bet some of you, too). GMG!

I am sure he was probably disappointed because that was probably his top choice....hopefully there are enough that don't want him.

No offense, but "character" may not matter if we do not win games! WINNING has become the most important thing for us at NT...WINNING is PARAMOUNT!!!

Wasn't Mean Joe before Fry?

This! Where is Woody Hayes when you need him?

The college football world was anything but clean back then. If Coach Fry would have grabbed a player by the neck, or put a player in an air conditioned, 400 square foot room for the duration of practice to make a point, NO ONE would have had one thought about it!! I would be interested to hear stories from Mean Joe Green about Coach Fry (the stories he will only tell to his most trusted friends). It's great to romanticize the good old days, but let us please recognize that Bear Bryant probably would have been put in jail today for what he did to those fine young men in Junction, Texas. That was far more abusive than anything Leach or Leavitt did to one, ONE, ONE, of their players. But no, the Bear is romanticized for being a "tough old coach." Maybe we are just raising a generation of Jackwagons!!

Thats fine. As long as RV knows that if Bower fails, we will be replacing both a head coach and an athletic director.

Right. My concern stems from what will happen when RV hires Jeff Bower.

If history means anything, NT is not going to be scared away by a little fisticuffs between a player and hc. If there is any mutual interest between Leavitt and NT then this alleged event should be investigated and NT satisfied that it is not a pertinent issue. The contract could specify immediate dismissal without compensation if something similar ever occurs. I don't see a major risk if NT does necessary due diligence.

Yup. And I wouldn't have a problem with it being us, either. Leavitt, Mangino, Leach... They'll all get second chances somewhere. And I don't think any school that offers it to them is going to regret the decision.

I tend to believe Leavitt hit the kid. But...it still think some college out there will give him another shot.

Did they ask him if his kid is going to transfer to Texas State?

Does having a negative article in the "Bleacher Report" actually hurt anyone's reputation?

But it's the pancake breakfast. We do it every month.

Every year, on every forum other than UALR and Arkansas State, people who don't attend complain about the Hot Springs location. Any fan from any school who complains because they can't drive there and back the same night so they can occasionally go watch games if their team happens to be good is not who we ought to be tailoring this event towards. People who really give a crap and can make it, make it. People who would find some damn excuse not to go anyway, don't go. I haven't heard many complaints from people who bother to make the trip, no matter what school they represent. If WKU fans (or USA fans, or anyone else) want to complain because they can't get a web stream because their team was on the secondary court... Too bad. Show up and you don't need to depend on the internet. If you only want to go when it's within a 60 minute drive, or if you only want to go when it's the semis or the finals (and only if those games are on a weekend)... Keep goddamn whining. I, for one, don't care what anyone who puts out terms and conditions like that has to say about venue. In a perfect world, every game would be played on a court set up in my back yard so I could watch from my porch or out the window if the weather was bad. And they'd play them all in the daytime, so as to avoid running up my electric bill. Blah, blah, blah, whine, whine, whine. Hot Springs still isn't tapped out for our group as a vacation destination city. Two years, never missed a day, but I still haven't been to the casino, or the horse track, or the lake, or gone hiking, or actually gone bathing on bathhouse row, or done a lot of the prominent stuff they advertise as tourist activities. I know there's a theme park there, but we've never even looked into going to that. I've meant to do most of those things, but I keep skipping those activities because I'm generally going to WATCH BASKETBALL. Two years, no chain restaurants. Two years, still have a lot of tourist bases to cover. There's no shortage of options for anyone who isn't using the city as an excuse not to go. Quite the opposite. If Memphis or New Orleans or any of those other cities people like to bring up as alternate sites gave a damn about bringing us in, they'd make a competitive bid for the tournament. Hot Springs offers the best terms and the greatest flexibility around varying formats. Three years, three notably different tournament structures, but the people at the Summit Arena and the city of Hot Springs keep bending over backwards to do what the conference needs and wants. Hot Springs treats this tournament like a major event, even if the fans of our member schools don't. Not a knock on any fan base in particular, because the bitching and moaning on Hilltopper Haven right now pops up everywhere (other than Denver fans, because there aren't even enough of them to maintain a messageboard). I sure as hell never had any desire to take a vacation in Arkansas (or Mobile, or Lafayette) but I went because I wanted to watch the tournament. And damned if I didn't have a really good time, two years in a row, with all the stuff there was to see and do in Hot Springs. Anyway... Start planning now. Make the weekend day trip for an early round game, put in for vacation to get the whole 4 days off and see it all... Do whatever you can and will and want to do. I hope this year we can make another huge jump in North Texas attendance like we did last year, and I hope that by the time the 2012 tournament rolls around, we can bring the biggest traveling fan contingent of all the non-Arkansas schools. If you go, I think you'll enjoy it. I don't know anyone that's gone, either for a game or the whole thing, that didn't love it and either go back again or plan on going this year.

The Todd Dodge Era at UNT:

Did anyone get hurt? Keith