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coach canales, dunbar, prior, white, ak47, some cheerleaders and scrappy are here at savannah elementary school participating in our awards ceremony. they are giving out stickers, chatting with parents/students, and helping us give awards. very cool and another great community showing by them. they are leaving here to go back to the athletic center then on to the airport. i thinks it's great that they are doing this for the community and on the morning before leaving for a game! the kids are loving it!

You guys are comical. Scenario One: Interim head coach figuratively sits on ass and does not actually DO HIS JOB as the leader of the program, because, well..he's an interim coach, and it might look like campaigning for the job. How dare he want to be here. Scenario Two: Interim head coach takes opportunity to bust his ass and do what should have been happening for the last 50 years at UNT and tries to improve the program in any way he can while he has the job. He ain't just auditioning for this job. I hope everyone keeps that in mind.

Right. By doing what any school would expect their head coach to do, some here are offended. And, yet, some of those same people didn't like the standoffish approach of Darrell Dickey. I like Canales' willingness to play the part, even without the guarantee of the job. I hope he can lead the team to beat MTSU and ULM to make a more solid, tangible case for his candidacy. But, I have no problem with him doing what he would otherwise be expected to do as head coach.

Personally, I don't think he should be campaigning for the job like this.....by visiting Savannah Elementary. These kids have no clue what other candidates are being talked to. Does every one of them get to talk to Savannah Elementary? Only at North Texas......

According to the latest issue of the Denia Area News the neighborhood assoc. doesn't talk to UNT. Apparantly we only deal with the city. I've given up trying to make the point that if you communicate and compromise you might get somewhere other than irritated. Nobody seems to appreciate it when I point out that none of us have been in the neighborhood for 120 years either.

So you'd be fine hiring someone who's only head coaching experience was a 2-3 record with wins over WKU and ULM because he at least fired up our players? I love what Canales has done with this thing so far but let it be said I loved what Dodge did here off the field. There comes a point when you have to win games. This is an important hire that we have to get right. I don't think anyone would approve of hiring Canales without a win this weekend.

If he can lock the gate when the trucks are supposed to bring in the damn windmills I will actually pick a dog in this fight and support him for HC.

I think the must win talk is laughable. Everyone gets their panties in a wad because Chico has the chance to campaign not afforded to other candidates. At the same time, other candidates don't have to prove themselves by beating better teams with Todge's terrible roster. Chico deserves no cake but he has to eat it too?

Maybe Harry and Evan could do a podcast interview with a couple of the Savannah Elementary students and get their take on Coach Canales. Monday podcast?

I don't see how politics had a thing to do with Jim Leavitt's success at USF. Regardless of any monies or conference affiliation afforded him, the guy still had to recruit, build his program from scratch, work within the budget he was handed and coach X's and O's on the field. If there were politics involved it sure didn't help him out with facility disadvantages he was dealing with in the beginning since he spent his first 5/6 years coaching out of a trailer house. South Florida had to spend two seasons scrimmaging themselves. I can't imagine how a coach recruits to that? But Jim Leavitt did. C-USA was starting their third year of existence when USF finally started playing football in '97 as a 1-AA independent, finishing 5-6 of a first year season that included a 3 point loss to The Citadel (10-7) and a one point loss to Georgia Southern(24-23). In their second year they beat The Citadel 45-6. In their third year they beat Western Kentucky, Texas State, New Hampshire and lost to James Madison by 10. In their fourth year they beat Troy(only a year before Troy would beat us), Western Kentucky, James Madison, U Conn and lost to Baylor by 15. In their fifth year they beat Pitt, Houston, Utah State and of course North Texas, all while still coaching out of trailers while we had to listen to the Buick trying to convince the rest of the world that it was he who had it the worst in facilities than anyone else. In season 6, they not only beat the reigning Sun Belt Champions again, but beat Southern Miss, East Carolina, Memphis, Bowling Green, Houston and would lose to Oklahoma by 17 that year. Once they did join C-USA, C-USA was in only their 9th season. By that time, USF had already played 6 seasons as an independent and had only lost more than 4 games a season one time, which was their inaugural season. They would go 5-3 in their first season in C-USA and 4-3 in their first season in the Big East. Two seasons later they were in position to possibly be in the national championship game. I don't know, but to me for someone to go from having to scrimmage them selves without proper facilities to work in, or a stadium to call their own, to possibly playing for a national title in 12 years is an unbelievable climb of success we may never see in college football again? Rick

Heres the link if anyone wants the song Lock the Gate

Interesting

I would put Fulmer on a different level than even Leach. I just don't think we have the funds to get him AT ALL (and I'm not too sure he wants to coach anywhere else). If a rabbit came out of RV's hat and Phil Fulmer was hired, I would be on cloud 9. You wouldn't be able to wipe the smile off of my face.

I was able to catch most of the game in between my shop and office on MGP until the feed crapped out...a couple of things I really liked aside from the obvious TT and DJ nights: Tyler Hall's assertiveness. Walk-on guard getting essentially his first career action and he confidently jacks-up 4 3's and 6 total shots...finishes with 6pts, 2rbs, 2ast and 0TO. If Alzee is out for any extended period of time, I'm confident in Hall for 10 minutes a night. I'd much rather a walk-on be too assertive, than too passive...passive tells me scared...assertive and with the leash JJ gave him tells me he has confidence and he's at least knocking down some of those shots in practice. Kedrick. Welcome back...great energy and toughness...with perhaps a bit more offensive polish with 11pts. Plus, 3-3 and pure from the line...lest we forget he's a career 44% FT shooter. 22pts, 14rbs, 5blks from the Hogans-Holman-Edwards troika tasked with replacing Trammy. I doubt one of those guys steps in and fills Eric's void by himself...but combined game lines like that will make me happy.

I fail to understand how you can compare recruiting for USF to recruiting for UNT. The level of FBS competition in Texas is remarkably superior to that in Florida. States border us too, and those same big conferences recruit here. Selling 7 homes games with an road to another Florida school is easier than a 5 game home schedule in a dump we've had to sell in the recent past to in-state recruits. Would you rather play against C-USA and Big East talent while handing out grass kickings to the SBCs of the world, or play against SBC talent and have your grass kicked by the SECs and the Big 12s? That's a no brainer. They aren't the same situations. Not even close. Conference affiliation counts for a lot. It might be more accurate to compare USF to Texas Tech. Texas Tech is probably #4 in pecking order in Texas. They accomplish the same thing. Average finishes in a BCS conference, with a quick stay at #2 before a fall. They'll continue to get the big boy leftovers, and we'll scrap the bottom of the barrel. Again, our conference will play a huge role in that. So really, what USF has done isn't anything not done before nor since. Leavitt and Leach would boost our recruiting. I don't doubt that. They won't be bringing in a plethora of NFL talent nor stealing any significant recruits from UT, OU, etc.. Not anytime soon at least. No denying they'd be a boost to our coaching also. But they aren't getting us to #2 or have us BCS busting in the near future. A big name isn't needed to succeed where we are at. I think that thought is driven by years of jealousy and the desire to thump one's chest and say "We're big time!". The need to go from one extreme to the other isn't the only way to go. For the record, I'm a Fran-Leavitt-Canales guy. In no particular order. I'd be happy with any. Leach is not the kind of man I want associated with my University. Leavitt is borderline. I'll defer to RV and Neinas to decide if he's a man of character or not. That's above my pay-scale. Accusations don't just pop up without something to fuel them. I'm not as impressed with his .622 record and 3rd place finishes as some either. There is no telling how that would translate to an SBC school behind 8-9 other Texas schools. Fran would give UNT the name splash many want and what I regard as a great football mind. Does he have the heart for it? I don't know. Canales has improved the two of the most frustrating things about the Dodge teams in in just 3 weeks... discipline and turnovers. From his limited time at HC, he has shown to at least be competent at the job.

Lance Dunbar should be ashamed of himself! Shamelessly trying to secure the tailback spot. I bet these elementary school kids dont even know the other candidates! And, everyone knows, these small children (much like the SGA) get to cast a vote on who is in the starting lineup (or is head coach). Only at North Texas.

I'm somewhere between option two and three. It's still amazing to me that people want almost a perfect record for the rest of the season before they would put Coach Canales on an equal basis with other candidates. Many still don't get it. The accomplishments of most of the other candidates were achieved in systems with much greater resources, greater traditions, and more supportive athmospheres and/or cultures than here at North Texas. Whatever Coach Canales achieves, he's achieving under very adverse circumstances (numerous injuries and the turmoil of the head coach being fired). The fact that Coach Canales has seen all of our warts and still wants to be the head coach scores a big + in my book.

I went with #2, but I'm somewhere between 2 and 3. I would be very satisfied with him as a hire if he beats MUTS and ULM. But that doesn't mean it would be impossible for a better candidate to seek the job. I don't care who it is, hire the best candidate. Just get us wins, and do it in a way that enhances rather than detracts from UNT's respectability.

It really shouldn't matter if Mike loses the rest of the games on the schedule. The only thing that should matter is if he has the skill sets, mindset and mental toughness to make the transition from coordinator to head coach. They are two completely different jobs requiring two completely sets of skills and qualities. He's either the man for the job or he is not.

I guess that means Fran is off the board since he couldn't cut it at in a bigger program like aTm.

If we're a 15 in this expanded tourney we, and the rest of the Belt, has had a disappointing season

Listening to it, I'm at least 100% sure it's Biggie Smalls, Elvis Presley, Tupac, Patsy Cline, and Michael Hutchence.

We are only 3 weeks out. It is vital to make sure the horse is REALLY dead before we stop beating it.

Sorry to interject in this because my point is way off topic, but I wonder how many of you there are? That is a great question thank you for asking. If you will forgive a bit of digression, I will address your question. To be honest, prior to 2006 I had lost interest in the UNT athletic program (as well as the alumni program) after so many years of having been jerked around by both. I was at UNT during the Hayden Fry years For those of you who were not around to experience them, God those were exciting years. To go to UT and match up with them (and we did match up with them Hayden Fry was once referred to by Frank Broyles as the best one-game coach in America and he was), only to be beaten by the superior skills of Earl Campbell in one game; and Johnny (Lam) Jones in another, was exhilarating. But after so many years of essentially abandoning the athletic program, why did I return to UNT as a season-ticket holder in 2006? Definitely, the hiring of Todd Dodge was the reason………yes, he was well-known in local circles, but it went far beyond that he represented a commitment to the football program by the university administration that I had not felt/seen in many years. Yes, he was a name coach but it was not the name alone. For me it was a new commitment to make the UNT football program relevant and with, what is sometimes sarcastically referred to on this board, a class individual. I felt he had great potential (many of you have indicated with postings on this board that you felt the same way when he was hired). No, it did not work out but the COMMITMENT by the athletic administration (and the university administration) was there, and that was important to me. I have a dog in this hunt for a new head football coach I love this university and I have had more than a few lumps in my throat at emotional times during these four years that I have been back and I dont apologize for it. Let me assure you that I will have another one when that final play is run at Fouts on November 27 (so many memories from when I was a young stud enjoying the college life at NTSU) you just have to have watched this program for the 40 years that I have to understand the hope that Todd Dodge and Dr. B represented to this old alumnus. Now, what if it was four years ago and it were Mike Canales, and his current body of work, being chosen as the new UNT head football coach would I be equally as motivated to again buy season tickets and support the Mean Green? Honestly, I would look at what was being presented in terms of his background. I would pay attention to interviews with him, and other peoples impression of him. I would want to know all I could about this new coach. And more important - Is he representative of a new commitment to have a competitive football program (and not just against Sun Belt Conference teams). But more than anything, I would want RV and the athletic department/university administration to sell Mike Canales to me and even more important, sell the concept of a strong commitment to the football program. And then bring Mike Canales to the East Texas region let me meet him and hear his vision let him get me all fired up! You know, Todd Dodge was head football coach for 4 years to my knowledge neither he nor the athletic administration EVER came to East Texas to meet the alumni and ask for our help in putting fannies in seats. That is now changing with the Mean Green Club Representative program. But seeking our help and rallying the alumni has not existed up to this point. The numbers are here in East Texas. The love of UNT is here. Memories are here now it is up to the next head football coach, RV, and the UNT Athletic Department to show us they are going to deliver. I dont know what the answer is for the next head coach. I am impressed by Canales and what I have heard from him + what I have seen on the football field. He has inherited a helluva tough situation and he is running with it, and I am impressed. I do know that I want to win with class, integrity, and character. For those of you who post on this board that winning is all that matters, I respectfully request that you back up and think about that for a little bit. We can hire a coach that will win and win with those three characteristics. UNT does not need someone elses baggage we have enough of our own. Go Mean Green. Rhey Nolan

God bless America! GMG

cheerleaders/drumline/scrappy has come out to our school for numerous pep rally's in the past 4 years, but a coach and the players have NEVER come out before. the kids absolutely loved it!

Option #2 for me. You can't compare games against WKy, Troy and MTSU with some elses staff and players verses the likes of all the accomplishments that the other candidates achieved. For instancw, a win over WKY doesn't stack up against an overtime win at Auburn. Rick

Its about RPI and quality wins. Our RPI last season slated us exactly where we ended up...a 15...thats due in large part to some really down years from our conference mates. Add to that the lack of any really marquee wins and we didn't do much to give the selection committee cause to move us up. WKU was a 12 both in 08 (USA was an at-large 10, BTW) and 09...I know in one of those years they beat then #3 Louisville, and had some other quality wins. To the eye, yes...we were better than our 15 seed. Just need to prove it out on paper a bit more this year.

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Good post. I am definitely impressed that Leavitt had USF competitive as early as he did---basically every season outside of the first (which would have been extremely difficult since he likely had a team full of underclassmen). There is no question that the guy is a good coach---and I'd probably go as far as saying better than anything we've seen at UNT for the past 20+ years. That said, I think recruiting to that situation could not have been as difficult as recruiting to UNT (in the past 15 years. It's hard to say what the stadium will do for us---esp. if we're able to jump conferences). UConn is another example--though to a lesser extent than USF---of a program with lots of money deciding that they wanted to be successful and then going out and doing it. If that is the plan at UNT...then Leavitt is absolutely a guy to consider. He's proven he can land top level recruits when the university is behind him. However, do we know that that will still be the case after the player altercation? Is his name forever tarnished as a result? Why should UNT be the school that finds out? All indications are pointing to us getting serious looks from high profile candidates around the country due to the new stadium and appearance that we're finally getting behind athletics. If those rumors are all false and we have to resort to taking a big risk, as usual....then, and only then, should UNT seriously consider hiring Leavitt.

OK, any candidate who doesn't will two football games between now and Nov. 28 is eliminated.

Good stuff - the ball players should be more active in the community -

Hate to see the two Texas schools go west. Sure would have been nice to add another one or two Texas schools to the Sunbelt.Missed opportunites to create natural rivals for UNT.

wait....when did anyone start talking about SMU....

New reports of Hawaii to form the new HAC, play 12 games against itself, plus automatic bid to Hawaii Bowl, against an opponent from the HAC.

I think that they are beautiful and have such a melodic sound. Can't we get more than three around the stadium?

The WAC is in more trouble than Karl Benson wants people to believe. If you saw the announcement by Montana to remain in the Big Sky, the reasons Montana president, Royce Engstrom, gave for not joining the WAC eludes to the fact that Montana saw the WAC to be incredibly unattractive (like an ugly girlfriend) and gave reasons for not getting into the relationship without hurting the WAC's feelings. Engstrom said there were three reasons Montana stayed in the Big Sky: 1. It wanted to retain it's rivalry with Montana State every year. The WAC was willing to bend over backwards to assure Montana had that right. This is not a good reason not to join the WAC. 2. It wanted to compete against schools with similar academic missions. Montana's academic standards are no better or worse than many other WAC schools. Montana is a public school like many other WAC members. The academic missions are virtually the same. This is not a good reason not to join the WAC. 3. It wanted to retain the integrity and prestige the program had demonstrated. Montana would've dominated the WAC from Day 1, and everyone knows it. No one would've doubted Montana's integrity or prestige as a good athletics program especially in football. The only issue that could be seen is that people might question Montana's integrity for joining a conference that is far worse in perception than any other conference in the Football Bowl Subdivision. This would support the belief that beginning in 2012, the WAC truly will be THE worst conference in Division 1 FBS. It would also support the belief that the future of the WAC is the most uncertain of any conference in Division 1 FBS. Boise, Fresno, and Nevada leaving the WAC was the first clue that the WAC was reaching a monumental low. BYU's consequential decision to not join the WAC after this took place was the second clue. The third clue was when the WAC decided to add Texas State and UTSA for football. This showed that beggar's can't be choosers and the desperation of the WAC became apparent. The fourth clue came literally within hours after the announcement of UTSA and Texas State's acceptance to the WAC when the New Mexico Bowl announced that they were dropping the WAC as an affiliate in order to pick up the 7th-place PAC-12 team to face a Mountain West affiliate. The fifth clue came today when Montana rejected the WAC invitation to remain in the Big Sky under the reasons cited by Montana. This is not the end. Within the next year or so, Hawaii is going to announce their decision to leave the WAC. Hawaii was already seriously contemplating leaving the WAC. With the loss of Boise, Fresno, and Nevada, Hawaii's already previous senior membership looks even more daunting when the next in line is San Jose State followed by Louisiana Tech. These recent developments are only going to hasten their decision to get out. The WAC as we know it is no longer the conference Hawaii joined in 1979--not even close. Also, as we all may have presumed, once Hawaii leaves, the WAC also will lose the Hawaii Bowl. I have to hand your AD credit, friends of North Texas. He may not have seen this level of destruction coming when UNT turned down the WAC a few years back when Utah State and New Mexico State joined, but he has to be feeling a degree of confidence seeing that UNT could be in the middle of this mess today rather than enjoying stability and better perception in the Sun Belt.

If UCF would give resume' doctor O'Leary a 2'nd chance for doing that, I think other similar schools might over-look other coaches with far less blemishes. IMO, the key with such a coach with a blemish is the sit down or "come to Jesus" talk that his potential new employers would have where they would make it very plainl that there would be a "zero tolerance" clause in his contract to not repeat any offense again. Most coaches who love their trade would probably stumble all over themselves to make sure they didn't.

I so envy your antagonizing pulpit, Brett.

I would say in these kind of slogans are pretty common. Usually to help sell some new merchandise...

Happy Veterans Day. Thanks to all who have served.

...he would quit to become Iowa's AD. I know people love Hayden Fry, and I can understand why, because he is one of the high points of North Texas football. But why do we obssess over him? The world of college football is totally different than it was then. Yes some of his ideas, especially engaging the community are a good idea, especially from the role of AD, which is what he also was. The football coach more than anything needs to recruit, teach, adjust, win. Alexander the Great's army steamrolled most of the world, but if the US Army tried to copy him now, we would find horse calvary and the sarissa spear a little lacking. College football isn't the same, Denton isn't the same, hell, people aren't the same anymore. A new coach should be looking forward, not backwards.

Cheesy teams like the 2003-2004 Red Sox or 2010 Rangers It was done as team building. Kind of a break from Pappa Todd and the coach speak

I guess for the same reason the NT joined the Big West and the Sun Belt. Some D-1 conference is better than nothing.....Personally, I am glad NT turned down the World Athletic Conference. Must be a financial drain to send all your sport's teams to Hawaii, California and Idaho.

I'm with VideoEagle. I'm not upset about Denver leaving. I wish Texas State the best...actually I wish they were joining the Sun Belt to replace Denver...UTSA? Don't care.

More reason for UNT to get it's act together. I mean, the WAC isn't much better than the SBC, but I'd hate to be left behind by any of these colleges.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4856706 Mark Stoops is only in his 1st year at FSU making $400K Bonuses. Jimbo Fisher is in his 1st year turning FSU into the FSU of old, and I doubt Stoops will leave an ACC school to come to Denton after only being there one year. It would be nice if he did, but he just started. And I doubt the Stoops Ego will let him be a Head Coach at a Sun Belt Conference Team when his big brothers got their first shot at at HC job at a Big 12 and Pac 10 School.

I think people would have to be blind, naive, stupid, or have an agenda not to be able to see what has happened to the program under Canales' leadership since he took over. He has done everything asked and so much more to this point. I think it's great that he wants this job in particular and is actively out there doing what Rick said is expected of the next head coach. The posters on GMG who want Leach or Franchione would be in for a rude awakening in that it's more about the coach than the team. Fran's ego could not fit through the doors of the football offices. In the mean time, there's a guy who's auditioning daily directly in front of the Athletic Director, and has done everything he addressed in the press conference regarding criterias for the new head coach. Just because the name is not as recognizable, I don't see that as a problem. You may not get the ground swell of ticket sales and perk people who support other programs up initially. But the bottom line, at the end of the day what matters is that the new coach wins. Winning will cure everything, including public perception, and ticket sales, etc. Canales is a perfect 2 for 2 if you ask me. Convincing win against an inferior opponent. Toe to Toe with the Big dogs of the Sun Belt despite having a depleted roster. He's got 3 more chances. Let's all keep an open mind and see how he does.

Let me throw a few things out there. They won't stick with many of you, but I'll throw them out there just the same. There are a couple myths floating around about coach Canales. The biggest one is this one "He's beaten WKU and had a close loss...just like Dodge." WRONG!!! Dodge beat WKU, true enough. And the games were always close and always in doubt. A fortuitous fumble here, an INT there...that's what it took for him to beat WKU. Canales coached our team (our greatly depleted team) to a beating of WKU. You can argue that it wasn't a blowout until late, but it was never in question. No back and forth lead changes, no nail-biter fourth downs, no doubt. And his close win this season? Yeah, only against the reigning champion who had better athletes virtually across the board. Dodge kept us close to equal or inferior competition. Canales had a stadium (not full) of fans seriously believing that it we got the ball back (which we did) that we could win on the last drive of the game. Anyone, and I mean ANYONE, who can't see that he had a team which was otherwise left for dead playing with fire and passion is either blind, wasn't there (hi Plummy), or has an agenda. You don't have to put him at the top of your coach wish list. But please don't try to write off his accomplishments as equal to his predecessor. As to the "splash hire" movement. That might just be a great idea. Let's say we bring in a Mike Leach (or a Fran, etc). Thousands would show up to see him coach. Our stadium would be filled with the ticket buying masses. T-shirt alumni would come out of the woodwork. We'd probably get to be on national TV a time or two. And yes, he'd probably win. Then, as soon as the next big offer came along, he'd be gone. And, whoops, the fans who came to see the circus would realize the circus is no longer in Denton and they'd be gone too. Why? Do you think he'd feel the need to go to Denton Chamber of Commerce meetings, high school pep rallies, Alumni meet and greets and the like? I sure don't. Why should he? His name alone sells tickets. And do you think he'd insure that all of our newfound fans form a connection to North Texas and who we are...or do you think those people would form a connection with the hoopla surrounding Mike Leach? How would that differ from winning with an infectious, driven, coach who's trying to make his name at North Texas and might just want to make North Texas his home? When the wins came with a guy like Canales (again, it doesn't have to be Canales) don't you think that the momentum of the ship would be the shining light and not the captain himself? We talk about wanting to be like Boise. Folks that's exactly how they did it. And let me address one more thing about this splash hire idea. The more I read this board and talk to our fans the more I hear "it would make people take us seriously as a program" and "it would make the local and national media take notice." Kinda reeks of insecurity to me. Sure, if you're a nerdy high-schooler and your daddy buys you a Bentley people will "take notice" and women will probably "take seriously" the prospect of dating you. I don't want people to take my school seriously because we do the "sexy" thing. I want them to say "Wow, North Texas really committed to a culture of winning and not taking a back seat to anyone. They win with determination and preparation and that can't be taken away." If that's with a "sexy" name so be it but let's not fall so much in lust with the idea of having our name on the front of the sports page.

Simple enough. Dodge finished 9th and Canales finishes 8th.