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Did Leavitt ever get accused of any wrongdoing other than the locker room incident? Even if this drags out in the courts for years, did USF ever come up with anything other than the locker room incident as cause for firing him? Because if that's all that would be discussed in court, I don't care if the lawsuit drags on during his tenure at North Texas. For crying out loud, the guy who built Troy was busted ON TAPE bribing an Auburn football player and telling him to keep quiet about it. Somehow, he's managed to move past it and turn their program into a success. I don't know if Leavitt did what USF says/thinks he did or not. If I had to guess, he probably did. Either way, I don't care. As far as "scandal" goes, this is about the most minor knock on a viable coach I can think of. We're not talking about Dave Bliss here. We're not even talking about Bobby Knight. The guy may have gotten physical with a kid in the middle of a game. In the heat of the moment, he may have let his judgment fly out the window and done something stupid. We've got a shot at a guy who had a BCS conference team ranked LAST YEAR. And the year before that. And the year before that. And it's not a guy who is used to having all the BCS resources and tools at his disposal. He built the place from nothing. From literally nothing. I've been heavy for Franchione, and I'd still love to have him. But if Leavitt is after us, then LOCK THAT GUY DOWN.

He has the right person in place in every other sport, so you would have to think he will find a worth candidate. I still think Dodge was a good hire, the man just had some terrible luck. He gave this program character and class and the wins will arrive soon. I really hope we are bowl bound by 2013, that would be great.

Sorry if this is old news, but the Rivals page shows that we now have 5 verbals; with Robinson being an addition today.

Dodge was a good hire in that 1) we have a fine new stadium under construction, 2) we have the full complement of scholarships in football, 3) we no longer have a drug problem and 4) he had love and respect for the University of North Texas. Had he not pushed for the stadium I don't think that we would have it today. We lost 15 scholarships during the first three years of his tenure and now academics is a plus. He was able to get the drug problem corrected (allegedly more than 20 users) without having to identify any abusers. I believe that his love and respect for North Texas helped keep attendance up in spite of perhaps the worst won/loss record in FBS history.

It's been a really crazy week and I've not had a chance to post my thoughts until now. First and foremost, I want to thank Coach Dodge and his family for their dedication to our program. Our prospects for the year looked exciting after the Clemson game, and I really think he could have turned it around if our starters hadn't begun dropping like flies. There is no coach anywhere who could have turned us into a winning football program with the personnel we had left after losing 15 players. At UT or OU, possibly, because of their depth, but not at UNT. I admire Riley for the way he finished our third game, playing with a broken wrist until the buzzer sounded, and I sincerely hope he finishes his career with us, even though I wouldn't blame him if he left. Finally, I want to chastise the posters on this board who have been calling for Coach Dodge's head since last spring. He is a class act, and the program is better off (in terms of character building) than before he came. (Remember?) And in the final analysis, that is what really matters...building young men of character.

Leavitt needs to be given another chance. If North Texas wants to win and fill the new stadium, then they need to hire someone with credibility and a proven record of success. Leavitt built USF from the ground and into a BCS conference. Hire that man right now. What happened in the past should stay in the past and be forgotten just like the past 4 years of NT football

Leavitt is a high profile coach that is available. Leach is out of our range. Unless we can generate about 3 million a year on the coaching staff he won't even consider us. Any decent coach that comes here should be able to produce in year 1. It doesn't mean we win the conference or even go to a bowl game but we should be win more than 2 or 3 games with a very decent coach and planner.

If Leavitt does get hired here, and word ever gets back about how the Canales clan repeatedly tried to tarnish him in some misguided attempt at getting Mike hired as HC... I wonder if Mike Canales gets a 3rd chance to work with him. If the worst you can say about Leavitt is that he went roughly .500 against BCS teams... Sign me up.

Texass Lost Va Tech won big, making Boise look better Kansas St lost SMUt lost Oklahoma lost TCU won NT didn't lose And the Rangers are going to the freaking WORLD SERIES!!! Good couple of days.

None of the other three candidates built a program from nothing like Leavitt did. Hell, Franchione and even Mike Leach couldn't claim that. Rick

Dear RV: After spending countless time sifting through fan suggestions for our new head coach, I have summarized the last week of speculation down to the following: 1) Some fans want Mike Leach, some fans don't 2) Some fans want Dennis Franchione, some fans don't 3) Some fans want Jim Leavitt, some fans don't 4) Some fans want Jeff Bower, some fans don't 5) Some fans want Steve Kragthorpe, some fans don't 6) Some fans want Major Applewhite, some fans don't 7) Some fans want an up-and-coming BCS assistant coach, some fans don't 8) NOBODY wants Deion Sanders So there you have it... We as fans have once again come together, united and shown you how we feel... Don't hire Deion Sanders... Anything else is open to debate... **P.S. - There is no charge for my report... Consider it my gift to you in these trying times...

could be worse , he could end up in Murfreesboro

Please, not Phil Bennett.

I still like Fran, because he has won everywhere he has coached, has the Texas recruiting ties, and name recognition we need to turn this thing around, but if we end up with Leavitt I'd be very happy. Leavitt has already done everything we would be asking him to do. He has proved he can build a program with limited resources, and develop a strong fan base. This is great news.

Boom, roasted. You know who's a nice person? My grandmother. Classy lady, too. Probably wouldn't have even effed over Miller or Insall. She's as friendly a person as you'd ever want to meet, too.... and I bet she could even pull off being a miserable pathetic failure as a college football coach.... but... CLASSY.

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.

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.

I'm outta here to sail away into the Western Caribbean so it is my hope that RV will pick up the phone, call Leavitt and bring him in for an interview while I'm gone. I'll check in when I get to an internet connection Belize or perhaps that guy in Honduras will meet me at the dock with good news in Roatan. Go Mean Green!

Jim Leavitt had a winning season in his SECOND season. Wait, in USF's SECOND season. I don't care what level he was playing, he had a winning season in the program's second year. It took him YEARS to get to the number 2 ranking in ALL of college football. After the first team meeting was held under a TREE. Dude did not have a 100 acre former golf course with state of the art facilities on it. He had a couple of single wides and a TREE. There may be some issues around the guy, but he has shown at least once that he can build a winner in a hurry. Has had two losing seasons in thirteen. If he can catch the magic again, it won't take long.

Special needs giant.

Meh. I'm more disappointed I typed the word "sharp" twice in a sentence.

Good find. My test/rebuttal for your point is to take the guys who were on the worst list and asked if their programs turned around without them three years later. All five of those schools still suck. That said, I'm plenty onboard with Jim.

even based on his last decision about a HC?

20!? HA! Amateur!

Todd Dodge and his wife are going.

Both Leavitt and Leach were terminated last season for accusations of player mistreatment. They lost high profile jobs and their reputations suffered greatly but I am one to say that everyone deserves a 2nd chance. We can debate which coach perpetrated a more egregious offense. We can debate how accurate the reports are regarding the incidents. But one thing I hope we can come to an agreement on is that 2nd chances are an important part of life. I know I have made mistakes in the past much like most of the people reading this post. I know that some people take a 2nd chance, make the most of it and move on with heir lives for the better. I also know that there are some that take a 2nd chance and never learn a thing only to make the same mistakes. We will never know until that person is given anothr chance. I know I am glad that Ron Washington was given a 2nd chance. I don't condone what Leavitt is accused of but I think he would be a tremendous hire and one that can take us to the levels that so many on this board have only dreamed of in their wildest of dreams. Leavitt built that program at USF with a double wide and a borrowed stadium. Just imagine what he could do here with the temple being built across the street. I think he sees the potential and he wants in.

If someone mentions Major Applewhite as a possibility again, I'm going to go insane. The guy has TWO YEARS of experience as a coordinator, not a coach, but a coordinator(and neither of those times did he have a top 50 unit). How could you possibly want him here? There's a better chance that Wade Phillips is our next coach than Major Applewhite. In all seriousness, the only guys I could see Rick hiring right now are Tyrone Nix, Jeff Bower, and Jim Leavitt. I would be perfectly okay with Nix or Leavitt, and Bower would probably grow on me. My personal favorites are Nix, Trooper Taylor, and then Leavitt, but I trust that RV will make the right decision and this program will be turned around in no time. GMG

Me. Since no one else started it, I will.

Please explain, in at least 500 words, why this is your choice.

Maybe, but we would need to write one first.

Phil Bennett? Really? What exactly is the nutty thought process behind that suggestion? Can we please stay away from people that got fired for bad performance, and stick to people that are either great head coaches at a lower level, or coaches that got fired for either locking Craig James' son in a closet, or ONE TIME hitting a player.

Unbelievable, Dodge good hire!!! Are you serious?!!! Clean up Dickey's mess? Maybe there was a mess in areas, but what was Dodge's record compared to DD's? How many SunBelt Championships did Dodge have at UNT? How many NCAA National Rushing leaders did Dodge produce? For all of Darrel Dickey's shortcomings if he didn't care about winning I'm sure he wouldn't have felt the stress associated with job to have contracted severe health issues and ultimately a hart attack!!! At least Dodge didn't have a hart attack!! Point is all of this Dodge great hire white knight stuff, and DD worthless evil troll who didn't do anything here except kill our beloved program his laughable. Coaching at UNT is difficult endeavor and wish Dodge would have done better, but to kick the ghost of Dickey around is like President Obama continuing to blame President Bush for all that wrong in the world. Truth is Dickey probably had an ultimatum from RV too, but produced and we went to bowl game with a losing record. Further DD had the good sense not to hire a bunch of HS coach which is the real reason UNT football is having to come from light years down in recruiting and so many other areas. OH, much is made about DD and the fans and I can't defend his actions so he could have done better. Dodge had his issues with the media when he came here and the media is how most fans get information about the program, so I question the continual bashing of the ghost of DD.

happy birthday to you who must obviously be of fine breeding and possessing of massive intellect. not only do you share your birthday with wierd al yankovich (which should really explain a lot (about me)) you share one with me. and i got a pretty damn good birthday present by the hilltoppers today. they chose to end the losing streak on 'our' birthday.

This is fantastic news in two different ways. One, we know he is interested. And two, the University of North Texas and those who will be making this decision knows that we know he is interested. Rick

Don't worry they have a 1st year coach , he doesn't even have his players.He got a very bare cupboard , we should be fine

I think he is saying that while the team did accomplish something in those 4 seasons, the coaching staff, athletic department, and the university failed to capitalize on it.

Gays usually have better skin.

You said the run was hollow and irrelevant. I guess I..... misunderstood English?? I kinda thought it was undisputed fact it was one of the two most significant and successful runs in the history or NT football.

You need to go learn a few things about character, maturity and class. Grow up.

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

Filling our stadium 6 games a year would go a long way to getting in range wouldn't it? Keith

Character always...ALWAYS...matters. It is 100% possible to win with character. If yoiu can't do that, please do not darken the doorstep at UNT. It is very sad to me to even have something like this in anyone's thought process. If it has come to this, well, it is a sad day indeed. I am 100% behind the fact that UNT must start winning some football games or the idea of moving this program forward will, indeed, be lost. Folks, there are plenty...plenty of HC candidates with the ability to build a winning program at UNT WITH character. I know NCMeanGreen is not ayoudvocating that UNT ignore "character" in its next HC hire, but rather stressing the need to start winning. Without positives in the "character" department, any "winning" program is being built on a foundation of quicksand and will be fleeting at best.

Is it really your birthday or are you just happy the Longhorns got b!tch$lapped today ?

I laughed...not as hard as the courtesan from your last bath house visit, but a chuckle

I couldn't agree more with the above statement. We can win and run a good program at the same time. I have no interest in becoming the second coming of Miami. I don't know who that coach is, but I will trust RV to make the right decision.

I don't know who we should hire. I have seen a few interesting names but he ain't one of them.

When he started asking Diet Coke Boy is there was anything he needed, that was my limit.

It was the same way with DD. They had pool parties together for pete's sake. Jub do what he do. He befriends coaches.

Man, there goes one set of tickets I paid for. Too bad for me, but really not a bad idea if you can get DISD students and UNT students to attend. If the UNT students did actually come to this game they might be inclined to come back during the season, so I am OK "donating" the costs of my tickets to this game even though there is no way we can make it to a noon game. It sucks that one has to actually work for a living sometimes! GO MEAN GREEN. Anyone know if there will any sort of push from the PR/promotions folks centered around student turnout? Sure hope so and think there will be, but haven't seen or heard of anything as yet.