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Sorry, I didn't wear a North Texas shirt because I didn't plan on being in those seats and I was only there for the fourth quarter. And Skiver is very mistaken as I was in Mobile Alabama on May 17, on the Coaches Caravan in Grand Prarie on May 19th and at Sun Belt Conference meetings on the 25th. Pretty hard to be at a game then!

...but, I'm ready to make my 2011 season prediction anyway. Sue me. Game #1 - @ FIU: Win. 1-0 In 2007, FUI had a new coach and we had a new coach. Now, in 2011, FUI has that same coach and we have a different coach. But, it's not that we just have a new head coach. We have a new defensive coordinator. And, we have a real special teams coach who wears pants for the special teams. FUI has excellent special teams, but our new coach will teach our guys to pants them. Game #2 - HOUSTON: Lose. 1-1 This is the first home game at the new stadium. Houston has a surgically repaired QB and return their leading rusher and receiver. It will be too much. Just too much to ask of us. Game #3 - @ Alabama: Lose. 1-2 Alabama is the same team as the Crimson Tide. Game #4 - INDIANA: Win. 2-2 QB, gone. Top rusher, gone. Two of top three WRs, gone. I'm not really upset and crying about their losses. They are young and on the road for this one, their first game outside of Indiana with their new head coach and new offensive players. The only thing that won't be new to them is losing a game. Game #5 - @ Tulsa: Lose. 2-3 Tulsa made a huge mistake by elevating Bill Blankenship to head coach after Todd Graham left for Pitt. But, there is enough talent returning on both sides of the ball - especially from a young 2010 defense that went on the road and beat Notre Dame - that even having Blankenship on the sideline won't hurt them in some games. However, I do feel there is a strong chance of a UNT "upset" here for head coaching reason alone. Game #6 - FAU: Win. 3-3 Howard Schnellenberger is old, but rich; so, this loss to UNT won't really weigh on him too terribly much personally. His FAU team underachieved last year, and I think he may finally be on his last coaching legs at the age of 77. I really think this is his farewell tour. If not, FAU fans - all 16 of them - are going to have to get used to being upstaged annually by FIU in conference. Game #7 - @ Louiana: Win. 4-3 I'm not really sold on ULL's pick for new head coach. Forgot his name already, didn't you? Mark Hudspeth. Yes, that Mark Hudpseth. The former Mississippi State pass game coordinator. He also coached a Division II team. To say that our hire was light years better than his is an understatement - it's like Obi Wan Kenobi versus the Stormtroopers asking Luke Skywalker questions in Tatooine. Game #8 - ULM: Win. 5-3 I think at this point, being 3-0 and conference and having the new stadium will start to kick in. Our roll continues here. I like Todd Berry. But, look...they fired a coach who was better. Thankfully. Game #9 - @ Arkansas State: Win. 6-3 They have a relatively new head coach who led them to a 4-8 record last year, and return Ryan Aplin, as good QB. But, really...they barely beat us last year (24-19) at a point when we were playing Chase Bain at QB. We were down to our third center and had injuries all around, and they still had to hang on to beat us. Dunbar racked them for 105 yards...Baine for 80! I'm sure our new coaching staff can handle this opposing group of coaches. I think about new DC Clint Bowen in these types of match ups. Game #10 - @ Troy: Lose. 6-4 Troy is who we think they are - a team that recruits like an SEC team. Until someone truly knocks them out, they are the kings of the hill in the Sun Belt. Game #11 - WESTERN KENTUCKY: Win. 7-4 This is a young team. I like their head coach. I just don't think WKU has the horses. We beat them last year with a terribly injury-riddled team on the road. I don't think their coach or coaching staff has the upside ours does. Game #12 - MTSU: Win. 8-4 The Blue Raiders were as loaded as a Sun Belt team could get in 2010 and couldn't seal the deal. Part scandal and part choke, they'll be younger in 2011. We beat them last year on the road, and will do so again in 2011 to clinch the Sun Belt from Troy, who I predict will choke away their final game of 2011 on the road at Arkansas State to finish 6-2 in the Belt...one game behind our 7-1 mark. Game #13 - NEW ORLEANS BOWL Don't know who we play, and don't care if we win. I'll just be glad we're going back again!

Looks like Jordan Williams, Chris Jones and Trey Norris started Summer 1 today; or within the next day or two. Jarion Henry did not graduate from Dallas Kimball. Highly unlikely he will ever set foot on New Mexico's campus. Still hoping to become eligible this fall is LeBryan Nash of Dallas Lincoln (OSU) Took the SAT last Saturday but left for Stillwater yesterday anyway. Trey Davis (early UNT interest) signed/committed to George Washington but will not attend. Will announce tonight his destination. Per TRB Basketball

I'm right there with you. I need the exact coordinates for these heathen machines to ensure that I never come in contact with the same air they use to power the grid. Otherwise my game day experience may be ruined.

Thank goodness we're no longer the "Eagles."

I know we have some soccer fans on here, so I figured I'd get a thread started. The USA plays their first group C game tonight against Canada. It is at 7:00pm on Fox Soccer Channel. The other two group C teams, Panama and Guadaloupe, play right after. Canada claims to have its strongest team ever, so the game should be interesting. Here are the other results so far: Group A: Mexico 5-0 El Salvador Costa Rica 5-0 Cuba Group B: Jamaica 4-0 Grenada Honduras 0-0 Guatemala The top two teams from each group, and the two highest rated third place teams move on to the quarterfinals. From there it is single elimimination. Go USA!!!!!

What's worse? $2M grant for a new technology that may be beneficial and will provide valuable research for the future, or a $2M tax break to industries recording record profits? If one is a waste of taxpayer monies, so is the other. And let's not act like coal mining and drilling don't have any negative impacts on the enironment, aren't loud and don't take away valuable wilderness.

Skiver: 1.) I have never seen a person get more self-pwned on this website than you have in this thread. 2.) Learn when to just say, "Oops, I was wrong." 3.) Are you related to unt_playmaker? That is all.

No excuses! Notice the fan in the center of the pic below from the last game of the World Series with the Mean Green cap on. (Though I did have on a Ranger sweatshirt at least.)

Feldt is confirmed, don't know about Calendar? What about Marcus Trice from Oklahoma? Did he show up here?

There is an Arkansas Lineman Transfer, not sure which side of the ball, that showed up for summer workouts yesterday. Working on a name and position, Good sized guy.

Each and every time I heard Coach Mac speak, from the day he arrived, he has talked about the "undersized squad" UNT has at the moment. He knew from the start that UNT, as a rule, was a tad "undersized". Looks like he just now took the time to figure out on average just how undersized. I am sure this has something to do with player goals set for the summer conditioning program. Coach McCarney had most definitely already made this assessment. Maybe now he just put some actual numbers "on average" to the matter. Nice to have some goals for his players in the summer, right?

Our LB's average 200 pounds? So for every 210 pounder we have a 190 pounder. Geez...someone must have neglected to inform Dodge that he was no longer at SLC.

As stated before, my problem with Todd Dodge was never from the standpoint of him as a person. It was from the standpoint of him as a decision maker. But, that changed later in his tenure, even if the wins weren't coming. I predicted a winning season for Dodge in 2010 because I felt he'd seen the light on what it takes to win at this level. He gave up the reigns - a huge sign that he wanted to win more than be considered an offensive genius. By the end, I predicted he'd have another college coaching job when the dust settled. And, he does. Shockingly, with the head coach of one of my other alma maters - Tulsa - at a BCS school, Pitt! It's the weirdest turn of events I could have ever imagined for either of them. Both BCS guys, former Texas high school success stories from a coaching standpoint, leading BCS teams that were nowhere near "busting" the BCS the way Utah and TCU had...and Pitt kicks out Dave Wannstedt for them? Stranger, Tulsa elevates a coach with no college head coaching experience and only a couple of years of college assisting experience. Meanwhile, UNT hires a guy with bowls skins on the wall from several BCS-school stops. It's like TU and UNT are trading places in 2007! As written last fall, I fully expect Dodge will be a head coach again, and perhaps at the pro level. It will do him some good to just work with the QBs. His genius will shine through. I just don't know if the gimmicky stuff Graham throws out there will stick in the Big East. As much as I like Tulsa, it's not like they were taking down giants. I think TU only played 5 games against BCS schools when Graham was there, and they were 1-4, losing to OU twice, Arkansas and Oklahoma State once...and beating Notre Dame. Pitt gambled. I'm happy for Dodge, but am probably as confused as the die hard Pitt fans who cheered for Dorsett, Hugh Green, and Dan Marino to see the hires. I think time will show that our hire of Dan McCarney was better than any our Sun Belt foes made in 2010 or 2011. And, on his coaching staff are two guys I consider to be currently ready to be head coaches in Canales and Bowen. If we win the Belt in 2011, I'd bet Bowen is the first to be hired away. He's the guy who will have done the most with the least amount of returning talent.

Dude...

Guys, the internet is full of pearls of wisdom... often held together by a long string.

Was he wearing green ?

..and please, CBL - be descriptive... and type slooowwwllyy.

If I knew RV was going, I would have paid him to eliminate Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson.

Epic Fail

Scores of protected golden eagles dying after colliding with wind turbines Rick

This is what we were told at a recent visit. They aren't right by the stadium and should affect tailgates lots. But they are big and will seem close to the stadium anyway. It will look cool and be very different, and another unique thing about this great stadium.

Our new starting left tackle? http://rivals.yahoo.com/northtexas/football/recruiting/player-Cam-Feldt-84716 http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/high-schools/all-area/20091230-All-Area-Football-Offense-6843.ece (Other sources say he was a right tackle at Pilot Point).

I don't think the fact we're undersized is the revelation, but by exactly how much. Yes, half the people on the board realized we were undersized but until you have an exact number, you can't develop a successful plan to fix it. The numbers are part of that process. It provides more transparency to the players and gives them specific targets. In any business environment this would be due diligence. I think the real question is why didn't previous coaches do this?

Guess I should have clicked the link before asking. I think it adds a unique look.

I was on the sideline for 3 seasons worth of UNT games (06-08) and being down on the field I definitely noticed the size difference, even compared to our fellow SBC teams. There were two positions that really stood out to me. First was the defensive line. But second and the one that got my attention the most was receiver. Our receivers looked like high school athletes compared to other schools, and not just when it came to their heigth. Our receivers, with the exception of a few, were all skinny without any definition. Occasionally we'd get a Sam Roberson (6'4") or a Forrest Rucker (6'6"), but they didn't have that thickness and definition that I noticed other schools had. Maybe they didn't stick around long enough for the effects of the weight room to pay off?? But even our studs like Casey Fitzgerald and Johnny Quinn didn't have size. Both did happen to be two of the hardest workers I've ever seen though.

Nice to see the futbol talk here on GMG.Com. I am in 100% agreement that the US needs to field it's strongest team possible and come out to make a statement in this game tonight after that complete and total disaster against Spain! What an embarrassment even with an undermanned team against Spain. The US squad was chasing the ball all day and leaving gaps in its defense wide enough for a Mack truck to drive through. Much like the Mavs Sunday leaving the lane open for LeBron to drive and dunk! I was stunned, stunned mind you, watching that disaster of a game against Spain. If you are a "soccer person", we can all try to understand the "whys" and the situation that led Bradley to play the way his squad did and to start the line up he did, but this was such a bad showing that I think any US fan in attendance should be given their money back for the price of their tickets. A good HS team could have played as well...OK, well a good Dallas-area Club U-19 team certainly could have played as well. Yes, Spain is the world champ, but they didn't even play their best squad. All I can say is, US squad was really poor and it was not all because Donovan and Dempsey were not in the lineup. Those that were certainly did not show "well" at all...in stretches the US looked OK, especially in the second half, but by then I ma Spain was simply playing to not embarrass the US squad any more than it already had. Very disappointed in this effort. The squad needs to come out "on fire" and mad as heck this evening against Canada...no, Canada is no Spain on the pitch, but the US needs a convincing win none the less. USA! USA! USA! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!!! Score early, score often...USA!

For those of you who think we just play in the Sun Belt, not the SEC, listen to what Coach Mac is saying. The depth and strength is going to take awhile to build up here. He is getting the academic stuff back where it needs to be and now he is going to get after the strength and conditioning program for this team. That stuff will pay great dividends in 2012 and beyond, esepcially as the guys get more used to Coach Mac and his staff and their expectations. 2011 may not be a great year, but the foundation is being poured for the future, which is brighter than it has been here in Denton in the last 35 years.

Canada having it's strongest team ever is like saying Shasta has a new and improved flavor. If the US does not win this group going away then Bob Bradley has some 'splainin to do.

. And, here's where I think the key is - McCarney knows it's okay to win tough and dirty games. That is, it doesn't have to be pretty, just as long as it's a W. An ugly, "ground it out", defensive battle win is still a win. Many of our wins are going to be like that again. Many of North Texas' caucasian fans believed that the Dodge Era would bring this slick, pretty passing game that would be unstoppable. The same crackers talked about how pity poor Darrell Dickey was for running, playing tough defense, and having good, reliable special teams. McCarney's Iowa State teams were always smaller than their Big 12 foes with few exceptions. They in no way out-recruited Iowa in state. But, they were coached to win with a strong run game, a tough defense, and a good special teams. Basically, what we are going to see in 2011 is UNT football 2001-2004, but with a more experienced group of coaches. Also, I've got to be true to what I've said all along so as not to be hypocritical - climbing out of the Sun Belt hole ain't like crawling out of the Big 12 hole. Look, we took down Middle Tennessee State last year in their imitation football stadium. They were one win away from sharing the Sun Belt title. One game. And, yet, our gimped up team with an interim head coach went in there and beat then. That, my friends, is the Sun Belt Conference. I look at the other coaching hires in the Belt from 2010 and 2011, and there's really no comparison. We've got guys with all sorts of bowl and BCS-bowl experience - McCarney, Bowen, Canales, Riddle, Grant, Nelson, Quartaro, Simmonds, Wintrich. All of these guys helped BCS schools to bowl games. McCarney, Bowen, Riddle, and Grant helped schools to BCS bowl games. The experience we have on this staff is nuts compare to what we've had in the past. Bowen, Riddle, and Grant alone are ridiculously experienced. Quartaro at the heart of K-State's rise with Bill Snyder? Nuts. When you look at what we had with Dickey and Dodge, you can see that we now have an embarrassment of riches in experience. We said we wanted experience, and to his credit, Rick Villareal went out and got us experience. There won't be a Sun Belt coaching staff these guys face that will compare to what they've already seen in the SEC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, and Pac-10. The only BCS AQ conference any of these guy haven't coached in is the ACC. They've spent their careers working with, for, and against guys like Hayden Fry, Bob Stoops, Bill Snyder, Mack Brown, Les Miles, Urban Meyers, Gary Barnett, R.C. Slocum, Mike Stoops, Mike Bellotti, Tom Osborne, Tommy Tuberville, Nick Saban, Bo Pelini...it's crazy! Cray-zee that we have this much experience and talent assembled at humble, little UNT. Mark Hudspeth, Hugh Greeze, and Todd Berry aren't going to pull anything out of their hats that these guys haven't already seen - or done themselves! So, when I make my prediction, I don't make it in a vacuum. You all know from history that I don't drink the kool-aid. We've been given what we wanted - real coaches working in a real stadium with real facilities all around. If there was ever a group to truly move us upward and onward, it's this group. If there ever was a time to do it, it's now. There's no time like now, there's no place like our new home to do it in. It's time to go out and be that rags-to-riches story we've seen South Florida, TCU, and Connecticut become.

Not that I ever predict close, but next year is a real challenge. First year coach and new stadium and hopefully a new winning attitude. I don't think NT talent wise matches up with most of the fb division. However, I don't think that is true in the Belt; I think NT has at least average Belt talent. Add to that NT should have the best coaching staff in the Belt and the intangibles involved in a fresh start on a new field; and NT should challenge in the Belt. They were not that far off last year contending with the worst injury situation I have witnessed. I have a lot of confidence in Canales and his ability to make Thompson into a first rate QB. My best prognostication now, is that NT will go 1-4 including an opening Belt lost to FIU in the first five games. NT will then go 6-1 and end up tied for the title at 6-2 with a season record of 7-5. A repeat of the DD hay days, with little oc success but the beginning of dominance of the Belt.

"FIU is coming off a bowl win and we are playing at their house. That program is where we hope to be soon." Sad that our aspirations are to be like a seven(?) year old FBS program.

You don't get it. It doesn't matter whether it works or not, it only matters whether it helps us feel good about ourselves. You know, look what WE are doing to save the earth from OURSELVES. WE are so much more enlightened than those who don't believe as we do.

Another Man vs. Environment Liberal Man vs. Environment wants to save all the little animals to endure higher energy costs by stating there are other ways to provide energy while stating they are against coal, nuclear, gas, oil, and wind. There is always something that environmental groups, use as talking points, use to persuade the people to negate these power sources. Conservative Man vs. Environment says screw the little animals that live in these areas because, in reality, these locations are just a geographic pin prick on the face of the earth. Who really cares if a few birds fly and suffer pain as they fall to the ground after flying into windmills? Who really cares if a few fish die in some unknown bay because of some accidental oil spill? Proponents, before the Alaskan Pipeline began, stated that this would be an economic disaster with scores upon scores of wildlife suffering death. Just the opposite. These critters like to gather around these pipes for a little heat every now and then and the heards are increasing. Some "friggin'" toad in West Texas is delaying drilling. Conservatives say...screw the toad I want cheaper gas. Some Northwest owl held up lumber production in Washington and Oregon and took years of court battles and millions of dollars to resolve. Lumber companies finally won.....what happened to the owls that lived in these areas. They migrated to a different section of the Northwest where the trees were not being cut. That is what animals do.......man endangers their area....they just move. Kinda like man.... IMHO, I would rather have cheaper fuel than saving some little critter that I have never seen and would not go see in the forest or desert.

The area where the turbines will be installed is too low to generate any substantial electricity anyway. I will not be surprised if power is actually given to the turbines to make them appear to be working. It's too low and not enough wind. Do the calculations for turbines. Do it.

An excellent speech by a great leader commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. Rick

Looks like it was just a 2 team race b/w us and the Minutemen.

UMass

Confession: In the past, I have disagreed with the Fake. No news there. But I have to admit the guy was right more often, way more often, than not. Didn't always appreciate the presentation, but even I can now see much of his "don't shoot the messenger" diatribes regarding Dodge were spot on. Fake, if you call this one right, I will deem you "Mean Green Genius" and more importantly, buy you many beers in New Orleans. I look forward to meeting you at GMG.com 8. GMG

Disappointed to hear about the 3 players who have left, best of luck to them. I really thought Franklin was going to shine here when he was signed

I can see RV waiving off any BCS attempt to interview D-Mac: These are not the coaches you're looking for. We can beat Houston; Clint Bowen will line up Balrogs at DT.

I heard Johnny Quinn was spotted at New York Sub.

Maybe I'm easily amused, but I like the chicken toss. Cracks me up every time.

Please, anything but that! I really can't think of a bigger beating than being at an NBA or NFL game. Thankfully, the Rangers have not made their presentation too over the top yet... but i fear a disco ball dropping onto center field during the 7th inning stretch is probably on the way. If all NBA and NHL games had an organ playing instead of Kraftwerk, I would probably be more inclined to get season tickets. I hate pretty much everything about New York but Madison Square Garden still does most things correctly. Taking notes at a variety of Big 12, SEC, or Big 10 games would be a much better idea. Would anyone else like to hear a band playing at kickoff instead of the same worn-out Rolling Stones song? sorry to hijack the thread and i know this has been posted a hundred times, i'm just passionate about this topic

My thoughts exactly when I read through this thread. I keep thinking...you just have to be kidding me. This is what the off-season brings. So, let;s get back to some good Mean green nation fun...come out this Saturday for the 8th annual GMG.Com flag football game...tailgating allowed, and silent auction with some great stuff including Joe Greene autographed items. Lots of ex-players attending and playing this year as well. Oh, and I hope RV enjoyed the game. GO MEAN GREEN!

Not true. First game all year.

I'm going to start interpreting all of your posts as satire. You're brilliant...really...Jonathan Swift has nothing on you.

Great post SilverEagle!!! If Coach Mac's phone ring's and he doesn't take the OSU job if offered (pure speculation). I'd think Hadyen Fry might meet with Coach Mac soon after his decision and kick him in the shin. I love UNT and drink lot's of Green Kool aid, but UNT is no OSU!!! If UNT plays OSU I root for UNT, but I'm realistic about UNT's odds of winning the game. In the past I've made the mistake of drinking too much Green Kool aid.

I too have no clue why the SOW or some other non type logo will not be used on the helmets. Having "North Texas" puts us in a sub par category in the NCAA as far as branding. Makes no sense. I confirmed this past weekend with a UNT athletic official the SOW will not be on the helmet. RV needs to reconsider or leave it up to people who know about branding. Listen to the people who potentially will be buying tickets RV. -A Frustrated MGE1

Project Runway GMG?