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I think this deserved a topic of it's own. While several other unnamed knuckleheads chose to let their teammates down, Tony Mitchell was busy in the classroom earning As and Bs. This from a guy who faced a huge academic hole when he got back to Pinkston HS and faced all kinds of naysayers when he enrolled at UNT. Hearing his name last night brought back a memory of last year's academic announcements and hearing Cam Montgomery's named announced on the A honor roll. Montgomery came to us from a JC, where most guys of his talent go when they can't qualify for a 4 year school. Cam figured it out in a big way. Tony, there is a challenge for you. Let's eliminate that "B" part of your honor this semester and make it all As. To the knucklheads who chose not to follow Tony's example, well, I just hope you learned something.

Time to stop piling on Jones and Williams. Let's win with what we have. Good job Tony.

There is no agenda, majority of all athletic tell you what you want to hear so you will send your child to their college but as a parent you really have to make sure to stay on top of things and not the staff telling you everything is fine. When my son goes to college i am gonna stay on him hard. Thanks for the example north texas,kudos to Jordan and Chris for not being cowards and running away from your mistakes,you guys are on your way to becoming great young men,I'm proud of all the young men and women who are at least trying to better themselves,everyone falls as long as you get back up again and keep trying i can't help but admire that. Look at Tony mitchell people said nationally that he would never play division 1 bball..well?

Here's a little perspective on our often forgotten great player. Anyone remember Charles Haley? Charles Haley In his 12 NFL seasons, Haley recorded 100.5 quarterback sacks, Hardman is the current all-time sack leader for the San Francisco 49ers franchise, recording 120 sacks between 1970 and 1979 and he had 14½ with the Raiders in 1980 and 81 (9½ in 1980) That means that his TOTAL sack count was 134.5 Haley might one day get into the NFL HOF. I guess Hardman's mistake was not getting into numerous altercations with coaches and teammates during this NFL career.

That is crazy, considering we were told this week for some odd reason at a football event, rather than a basketball event, by our athletic director that the athletic department did everything in their power to keep these boys in line? Rick

are we gonna split hairs here?

Bout to watch the ponies play UCF. A couple thoughts. 1)If this game were televised I WOULD be on camera. Either me or one of the other 10 people here. This isn't SMU hate...I'm being totally serious. Diet Coke Boy and I were given two free tickets as we walked up and told "sit anywhere...they won't care." 2)Every single time you step foot in the Super Pit say a little prayer to thank God. We should always acknowledge our blessings. 3)We can't get them on the schedule soon enough. MUTS would beat this squad by 20...and we all know how we would have fared with Jordan and Chris eligible.

Brent Osborn is the high point of the week for Winter Workout Competition. The Tip of the Spear.

To be fair Obama has little to do with the structural deficits that are plaguing Washington right now. There was some massive one off spending that was done at the beginning of his term to put a floor under the nations economy. We were caught up in a negative feedback loop and his (Washingtons) actions did indeed put us back on our feet. That does not mean our revenues miraculously returned back to 2007 levels. So while structural spending has continued its normal ugly trajectory our revenues with 8.3% unemployment are much lower. Not to mention that Obama (and congress) up until this point has only lowered people's taxes further from what were already historically low tax rates. (modern era) Over the last year Obama has publicly supported the largest decrease in structural spending in decades. He just has one caveat which I personally feel is a reasonable one. He wants some added revenue as well. I hate taxes as much or more than the next guy but I also understand our fiscal problems will not be fixed with spending cuts alone. Personally I think they should make the necessary cuts and increase taxes by .005 - 1% across the board on everyone above the poverty line. For the sake of argument. In my lifetime Ronald Reagan ushered in the era of massive deficit spending and Bill Clinton reformed welfare and balanced the budget. (yes congress plays a major roll) So who is a true conservative? Are tax rates alone the only measure of fiscally conservative policy?

I did a Mean Green Tailgating Bike last off season: I'm debating a Mean Green themed lawn tractor restoration next... This post has been promoted to an article

Part of being a team is having each others backs through the good times and bad. I would hate to see the team turn their backs on Jones and Williams, who simply made a mistake - a big mistake but it's still just a mistake. In light of what is going on with the Rangers, do you think they should now ban Hamilton from the ballpark, too?

Good God. Hey, hey guess what.. In the grand scheme of things, none of this matters. It's a whimsical campaign parodying the current race for the White House which also serves as a means to show Tony how much the school and student body care for him - it's freaking transient kitsch, not the bloody Cuban Missile Crisis. God.

Hope you don't fall off that high horse. They screwed up, I would guess they have figured that out. Those two are very talented on the court and no doubt will be great players if they get their academics in order. I certainly hope that happens at NT.

Lets see Joe Green – not highly recruited – only about 6-1, 195 his freshman year – then grew a little and turned out be a pretty good player I think our coach knows what he is doing and that you all are full of hot air and other such stuff.

"For those of you going to prom tonight I just wanted to address this. I had way more hot girls agree to go with me...way way more...I just chose not to take them. I'm gonna play Call of Duty in my mom's basement for five months and then start dating a cheerleader."

And Denver made it look easy as they run away with it 75-60. Rick

Hopefully the last sun belt game of the year will decide the west.

My only comment here is that it sure isn't hurting to be getting 5,500 fans out for home games with the kind of excitement he's seeing out of the crowds. I've been coming to MG BB games for a LONG time, probably 10 years and I've NEVER seen this kind of energy from the crowds over the last couple of years. It was so loud at times it was electric. I can't imagine the insanity that would have broken out had we won that game vs MT. Keep this up and we may see more recruits like Tony in our future.

Playing 2 matches: currently lead 1-0 after taking doubles over host Arkansas. (via MGS Facebook Post) MGS Article I'll try and post updates tomorrow during the doubles against Kansas State and then after the singles match ends I'll try to post updates again as time permits since Arkansas plays Okie State immediately after UNT/KSU. All in Fayetteville at the Dill Indoor Tennis Center Go Mean Green

Ladies defeated KState 4-3 in a 4:30 hr slugfest taking 3 setters at #5,6, and 3 for the clincher

To call that crowd for a weeknight game against a non name, albeit a great, basketball team disappointing is insane. The student attendance was outstanding and the enthusiasm was even better. If we had that crowd for every game, I'd be thrilled!

What I think would be crazy would be taking the word of someone with 3 posts and an agenda over your school's AD.... but what do I know?

Wow. Just, wow.

How did Brent's dad look?

OK the Hamilton analogy was a bit of a stretch. But seriously, the team shouldn't turn its back on Jones and Williams. This is a learning experience for both of them - hopefully they'll be better in the long run for it.

My link KN (Navy Coach): We don’t have the limit of 25 (scholarships) per year because everyone coming to the academy has a scholarship. Because of our numbers we can project on a lot of guys. We have more numbers so maybe we take an undersized defensive lineman who could be an outside linebacker. Or take a safety and make him a linebacker.

When I started following the team seven years ago, my friends and I would show up five minutes before tipoff and get front row seats in the student section. Attendance is light years ahead of where we were then. We should be proud of what we've built and look forward to where the program is heading.

I think he was starting in their special teams, and played corner in their nickel package(s). As a true frosh at OU! There is no reason for him or any of us to second guess this kid's ability/ceiling.

Yeah, but what's your take on it?

Until someone posts what Max Emfingers says, I'm done with these rankings!!!!!1!

Seems like I read the exact same thing on an entirely different website today. Mean Green internet Déjà vu!!

Is this what "hip-hop" is?

Punny.

If he can hit like Buckles or Jones, people better think Trice before coming over the middle.

I'm actually glad they're on the bench with the team. They still need to be a part of the team. They need to be there to cheer on & encourage their teammates. They need to stew on the bench at how they could be contributing. And they're still getting coached as well. Edit: even though I disagreed, I wouldn't -1 that.

I think pointing out that Rivals Top 100 lists from various years contain as many or more busts than big time stars is a pretty valid point in discussing how inexact their rating system is set up. My point was about how the ratings are subjective and the real measure of the player is how they develop. Look at some of TCU's classes from the early to mid 2000's, not rated highly by the expert sites, but ended up getting them to a Rose Bowl in 2010. Jerry Hughes, one of their top defensive players was a two-star undersized DL coming out of high school and ended up an All-American. What about our classes/players? I provided a list of "unheralded" recruits that ended up being pretty good players for us including Cobbs, Quinn, Hurd, Fitzgerald, etc... The "crap" I refer to are the negative comments about these young men that have just committed to play for us. I'm sure they were excited, found this site like one parent of a signee did, and then read where "we got it handed to us" in recruiting this year, etc... Seems ridiculous to me to criticize a class that hasn't set foot on campus yet. Since you asked about our 2008 class, I noticed the following as three stars that were pursued and offered by some pretty big programs prior to ending up at North Texas. Here they are: Dawaylon Cook: offers from Utah, West Virginia and TCU. Decommitted from TCU to sign with us. Contributed, but not a star, left the program early. Riley Dodge: offers from Missouri, SMU, Texas, Rice and Tulsa. Signed with us due to TD. Injured most of his career and left once TD was fired. Justin Edwards: offers from Mississippi and NMSU. I don't think he was ever eligible to play. Troy Franklin: offers from Colorado State and Tulsa. Never contributed. James Hamilton: offers from Kentucky, ULaLa, Rice, SMU, Tulsa, UTEP and Washington State. Solid contributer but never a starter. Kylee Hill, Alonzo Horton and Nate Jenkins were all 3-star JUCO and either didn't get on campus or never contributed. Dunbar, AK, Hill, Phillips and Shorter, for instance were all 2-star recruits that I would say exceeded the ratings, especially Dunbar, and have also shown what a good coaching staff can do for their development. I would say the 08' class is a perfect example as to why it is ridiculous to respond with such negativety towards a class or respond positively without letting them develop.

Pretty sure they would already be there by now if they were going to do that. No use in wasting time sitting at UNT if they plan on going JUCO/transfer.

Is your hundo not crisp enough?

Even Tony gets in on the act at the end saying he approved this message. He is having fun with it and so should everyone here. I love seeing something done to help promote the team and Tony. He is a huge draw and we may never have someone like him here again (I certainly hope not, but Tasty once said something about Tony being the highest rated recruit ever for Mizzou so that tells you how rare this is). If he stays for next year we will be a force to be reckoned with, and not just in the Belt. He is getting good grades, having fun and enjoying himself here. Let's hope that a combination of projected draft position, things he wants to work on in his game and a great, fun college experience are enough for him to stay one more year. Then he leaves as a top 10 pick and we get to see Tony Mitchell-North Texas flash up on the screen as they get ready to call his name before we welcome the next highly rated recruit since they now know for sure they can get to the NBA from here.

It doesn't matter if we would have won out or lose out. All that matters is what happens in hot springs and we all know that.

It's not cut and dry, since I think we've had some guys really improve with more playing time that probably wouldn't have. Nonetheless, it's a big "what if", no question.

We signed 5 guys 6'4" to 6'6'. Regardless, I thought yesterday was signing day for FB not BB.

Part of that has always happened. I think alumni have been complaining about students the day after the first person graduated. Alumni/students are always complaining about each other. However, I think we are seeing a shift in young people attending games. I've read stories about SEC schools having issues with getting kids go to football games. A lot of times, kids would rather be drinking with friends and watching game on TV or internet. Personally, I'd rather be at the game (esp. for college). My guess is attendance for sporting events will start to decline. Even the NFL had multiple markets where attendance was an issue this year. The in home experience is just too good. At Duke, this problem is actually a good thing (at least short term). They can turn around and sell the tickets as general admin and make more money.

I think it is safe to say the staff wanted to hang on to a few of the guys we lost at the end of the process. That said, compared to the Dodge classes, these guys have better frames and appear to be pretty athletic. None of it really matters until they buckle it up. Try and trust the guys we are paying. Lets enjoy the some publicity that is fairly positive, before you go back to self loathing.

Hey recruits, welcome to UNT.

Get something to eat or go to the range..that's the plan.

Since you're calling someone out. Are you in the Mean Green Club? How about football season tickets? Club seats? Just curious since you're a super fan that we should all emulate.

We haven't had enough digs at the Talons lately. I vote we bring that back.

Reference to one line in a treaty that only lasted 4 years seems even more of a stretch than Black's assumption, no? Rick

Playing time, thats what it came down to.. He was on the bottom of the list, they had bigger recruits coming in and was told he wouldnt get the playing time.