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If last night was progress.... God help us all.

I have heard this a number of times, and am not disputing what you have heard, Cerebus, but I find this hard to believe considering their was a four-sided scoreboard above center court when the SP opened. Currently technology would lead me to believe that something today should be much lighter than the original scoreboard.

I guess it is great to let off steam, something I certainly use this board for, but Benford is not going anywhere. Unless, some of you have several millions dollars to make it happen, it isn't going to occur no matter how bad it gets. Stephens was running off players right and left as well as setting records for losing margins and NT let her have 3 years at a fraction of Benford's salary. I do hope someone with some understanding of basketball is having some firm discussions with Benford to determine at least if he has a plan to right the ship. Personally I would like to see NT play a game with Evans at the helm just to see how much of this is game time coaching. Not going to happen either, but this constant substitution is beyond ridiculous. Several times Saturday, NT had brief spurts of good play only to be interrupted with mass substitutions. Those blaming the players wholly for this mess, obviously are ignoring the fact that a lot of NT players, most notably Mitchell, A. Williams, Franklin, Patton, and Jones have already proved they are legit basketball players. Holmen and Jordan Williams also have had their moments. That is seven sound players and I believe you can add Hardwick to that list. Recognizing despite his recent play, Mitchell is capable of being one of the best in the land and there is no reason that this team other than coaching should be getting beat at home by UTA and ULL and Alabama Huntville anywhere. This coaching staff has two very experienced head coaches, so there has to be someone with an idea of what the issues are and how to address them. It is not the time for RV to set idly by and assume Benford knows what he is doing. I fully expect RV to publicly support Benford, but behind closed doors he should be very active with this team. RV has been bullet proof but that won't last forever unless the two major programs get a lot better. RV may already be in the middle of this, but it doesn't seem his style.

I hope La. Tech sits home. They actually could have made money playing in the Independence Bowl. But because they hate ULM so much they are going to cost the program exposure and their conference money.

Contestant: I'll take "Disastrous Head Coaching Hires" for $2,000, Alex. Trebek: This university... (Buzzes in) Trebek: Wouldn't you like me to finish the answer. Contestant: That won't be necessary. Who is North Texas?

Good ol' University of Next Year.

On multiple occasions you've asked people to give you examples of Benford not doing his job. What examples so far in the season can you give that would lead you or anyone else to believe he IS doing his job. As bad as we've sucked I can almost understand people wanting to lay it at the player's feet... But in trying to take that point of view I can't see one single thing Benford has done that would lead me to believe he's doing his job. Not one single thing.

Total crap since the Independence Bowl has accomdated La Tech in the past. Feel bad for the seniors on that squad

When Money talks, Loyalty walks in college athletics.

Yup , cowardly

Crucify me idc but I want him out.. We suck.. No way this team should be 3 and 5.. Absolute joke .. Embarrassing honestly

RV do you have GUT’s to FIRE Benford, or cost UNT Millions and TM Millions? RV, Here the reality. Our old coach Johnny Jones who many continue to say couldn’t coach his way out of a paper bag just beat Seaton Hall at his new home LSU. The Tiger’s are 5-0. Many will say why continue to refer to JJ on the MGB about UNT, he’s gone. The reason, I need a point of reference to compare our team’s potential in 2012-13 with the right coach to what we’ve been given by hiring coach Benford and the system he’s trying to install, if any, what it is, and if it even remotely fits the talent, or lack of talent UNT posses at certain positions on the floor. JJ for all of his flaws from an X’s or O’s standpoint always installed a system that fit the strengths of the players he had available offensively or defensively. JJ’s system also masked or negated his player’s weakness as much as possible so his team’s strengths were enough to secure W’s for UNT. I wrote this post after UTA lose, but work 2 jobs and didn’t see our last game. I did ready a few posts around 10th page and some posters saying "TM and Coleman are cry babies". Was TM a cry baby when JJ was here? Maybe there is a reason someone shows emotions that aren’t Ra, Ra, and happy go lucky when TM is seeing literally Millions fly out of his back pocket!!! Here’s the point! The clock is ticking. Tony Mitchell will only be here one season!! He’s NBA bound. TM is probably the most talented player in UNT history only equaled by Mean “Joe Green” and others from the 60’s, or early 70’s. Pro Salaries we’re what they were in those days. Once Mr. Mitchell’s a pro he can donate more money to UNT athletics than almost anyone who’s ever attended UNT. I guess Nora Jones could, Norm Miller Interstate Battery (his company only funds Joe Gibbs (former Washington Redskin’s coach) racing to the tune of 15 to 20 Million a year), and others, but don’t see them stepping up to the plate, I digress!! Point is Tony Mitchell will have the financial resources to do wonderful things for UNT, from a monetary standpoint, recruiting, and millions in PR now and for years to come. UNT can’t buy enough ad time, get to enough bowls games to equal Mr. Mitchell’s PR power. The problem is Coach Benford “system” change and subsequent 3 – 5 record have and I fear will continue to damage UNT basketball for years to come. A brilliant AD in UNT’s past fired Bill Blakely. Coach Blakely had recruited Spud Webb to UNT, you may remember him. Mr. Webb was a part of the NC State team that beat U of H with “Phi Slama Jama” (Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler) for the NCAA national championship in 1983. Later Mr. Webb would go on to a productive career in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks for years. That brilliant AD hired Tommy Newman to replace Bill Blakely and Coach Newman told Spud Webb “the up tempo game you play” doesn’t fit the half court offense I’m installing here at UNT and pulled Mr. Webb’s scholarship. Bill Blakely called Jim Valvano coach of NC State and the rest is history. This and other bonehead AD moves have kept UNT athletics in the seller for decades. It’s taken our men’s basketball program over 30 years that that point in time to become relevant. RV you to have the opportunity to be remembered in much the same light as that former UNT AD!! I’m not happy about history repeating itself some 30 years later or at least having some similarities, but here we are like it or not!! I assure you none of us in the Mean Green Nation like what we’re facing; however, the reality is our team should be performing much better than it is. How much better, I don’t know, but with an All American that went to Amare Stoudemire and Lebron James camp and was touted as having the best camp of any of the invitees, you be the judge. Oh, you might say well what about the other players on our team? Seems to me right before Chris Jones and Jordan Williams were academically ineligible they were playing pretty good basketball without Mr. Mitchell’s talent on our team. The point is you can blame the players on our team if you wish, but the coach you hired told you he would have this team with all its talent or lack there of playing at a far different level than the mean green nation is watching now. John Odo must be the smartest college student I’ve ever heard of, or the luckiest. Take your pick. Again, I digress. Are you really going to give Coach Benford the benefit of the doubt and shipwreck our team with the most talented player UNT has ever seen grace it’s doorstep in the last 40 years, or maybe ever? Option B, you take bold action like Western Kentucky did last year and not accept where their coach had their team no matter the circumstances!! WKU pull the rip cord, fired coach and by the end of the year beat, guess who, UNT in the SBC Championship game. To UNT’s credit we were riddled with injuries and the ref’s all but handed WKU the game on a silver platter. If you keep Coach Benford how many future recruiting battles do you expect him to win against Scott Cross, Johnny Jones and other coaches that come to mind? How difficult will it be for you and your promotion department to fill the Super Pit with UNT faithful as they watch our team continue to struggle? How bad will our team look this year and how will this affect Tony Mitchell. If our team hurts TM’s efforts at top lottery pick in the NBA how likely will it be that Mr. Mitchell donates his hard earned NBA dollars to UNT? UNT’s current record and on court play is sure to be much more devastating to Tony Mitchell than his trial’s and tribulations trying to attend UofM. This situation is truly costing Mr. Mitchell, or potentially costing him Million’s of dollars. If I were in this situation I’d probably miss basketball practice after my team was steam rolled by UTA. As far as Mr. Mitchell’s character is concerned when his grades were in question, what did TM do, hit the books and get the grades necessary to be a part of our basketball team. What has TM, the other players, and UNT fans been blessed with 3-5 and a loss to a D2 school and a spanking Past that you maybe worried about Coach Benford’s buy out clause in this contract. I understand your concern. I just have one question? If you hire the right coach ASAP, and get our team playing like we know they can and make the SBC and NCAA tournaments. Then Mr. Mitchell might be in a better position to donate to UNT and one day over Coach Benford’s buy clause. I know this situation is a hard one to reconcile, but I pray you take the correct and appropriate action needed soon. Fire coach Benford!! If he didn’t know or foresee the hot seat and microscope he’d be under by taking this job, he should have!!! The clock is ticking…what’s it going to be? No guts no glory. You to can be remember is the same light as our AD who never let Spud Webb grace the doorstep of UNT. RV you’ve accomplished to much at UNT for your reputation to be stained like Coach Benford is accomplishing in the here and now!!!

I counter with this.....and it's just my opinion of course. I saw DB's out of position all season. And I also saw when they were in position to make a play they often would never look back for the ball when the receiver looked up. So I don't think it's a talent issue with our DB's. If the QB doesn't have time due to the rush to set his feet and make the throw he won't be as accurate. How many times have you heard a team's losing QB for a game described as..."He was running for his life all day"....TCU has made a living off of this, and they did it again this year with freshmen recruited to the MWC no less. So which of the two positions would a coach rather have first to defend the pass? A great DB or a great D lineman? I say D Lineman and it appears that is the consideration with recruit talent scouts in College and the NFL and there's solid reasons for it....mainly to disrupt an offense. The past 4 years there have been more DL's taken in the first round than DB's. According to the Sporting News for the past incoming freshman class out of HS, of the top 75 recruits there were more DL's ranked than DB's. (I didn't check the other recruit ranking services so it may show something different with them?). If you stop the run better than the pass, your more than likely to have a good pass rush and a more successful defense overall. According to the NCAA stat sheets for this season, there are more teams with losing records in the top 50 pass defense leaders than there are in the top 50 run defense leaders. Before I get jumped on for this let me just say, yes, I know it's important to have run stopping DB's, and yes, I know depending on coverages(Cover 4 split and quarters, or cover 2) you'll always have LB's having to cover WR's as well. But it all starts up front and the coaches know this. DB's are a dime a dozen, and there's no such thing as a "Shut Down Corner" either. We see teams making DB's out of several different types of athletes that are more readily available out of HS. There are a ton of kids with speed and we see RB's, QB's WR's and "Athletes" getting converted every year to play DB and they get coached up to do so if it hasn't been a natural position for them before. But Run Stopping/Pass Rushing/Offense Disrupting DL's are rare. So when one comes along this is the guy the schools fight over the most between the two. And this is the position we have not addressed as well at North Texas in past years. It's either that or our coaches don't know what they are doing. And considering DMac has made a living successfully coaching DLine, and Nelson as well, I don't think this is the issue....at least I hope it isn't? Disagree with me all you want. But the bottom line is, if we don't find a pass rush and soon for next year we will continue to see our DB's forced to cover for too long and they will continue to get eaten alive. Rick

Opinion...Mac will be the Mean Green's HC next season...the Mean Green will see better results in 2013.

What I find interesting is the fact that LA Tech's offensive coordinator had just come back from recruiting "all over California" - http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--louisiana-tech-won-t-play-in-bowl-despite-9-3-record--karl-malone-rips-school-033353941.html I wonder if we recruit California? If they can recruit a quality quarterback to go to Rustin, Surely we could do the same and get one to come to Denton. . . . . .

Most coaches want a bowl game for a number of reasons, a main one being the extra 2 to 4 weeks of practice. The A.D should be shot. I realize that La. Tech. despises ULM, but talking about cutting off your nose to spite your face.Plus it would have been a sell out and could of been a hell of a game.

Benford literally subs off the top of his head. I honestly think he has no concept of how long a player has been in a game when he pulls him out. Completely lost.

ESPN guys are bashing niu....damn....I hope niu destroys fsu... I really hate the pompous, bcs chicken vaccuums that are the ESPN experts!

This was a AD & HC decision. Dykes probably wanted the time to interview for other opportunities & their AD has been vocal about his dislike of ULM Players Are upset

A post from the La.Tech board. This guy is not happy.

Are these guys the biggest docuhers in the NCAA? They have to be in the running.

Coach Dan McCarney won 2 more games his 2'nd season than the immortal Hayden Fry did his 2'nd year at North Texas---lets hope history will repeat and my bet is on Coach Mac--I just cannot bet beyond much more than him (and our HBB coach is still unpacking his bags to judge him this soon for what that's worth). And let me tell you which local school would never schedule North Texas during the 50's, 60's and 70's because they know we would have kicked their froggie a$$e$ however small a froggie's a$$ would be. GMG!

Todd Dodge 2006-2010 (fired October 20, 2010) Overall record: 6-37 .139 Conference record: 3-23 .115 As with any coach I am willing to give him one full recruiting cycle (4 years) to turn things around. You also have to look at the way the team is playing year to year. It just didn't look like there were many positives year to year with Dodge. With McCarney, I am seeing improved play from last year. I expect (as I am sure he does as well) to see improved play next year. Does that translate to a winning season? One can hope.

So true.

THEY'RE HIS F*{^|€NG PLAYERS. HE WAS BROUGHT IN TO COACH THESE PLAYERS. THESE PLAYERS WERE BETTER LAST YEAR UNDER A COACH THAT COACHED THEM. WE CAN EITHER BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THESE PLAYERS HAVE TURNED INTO BASKETBALL MORONS IN A SINGLE OFFSEASON OR THAT THE COACHING SUCKS BALLS. HOW UNLUCKY FOR BENFORD TO GET HIS BIG COACHING BREAK THE SAME SEASON THAT AN ENTIRE ROSTER OF PLAYERS MIRACULOUSLY LOST THEIR BASKETBALL ABILITY OVER SUMMER BREAK!!!!! WHAT ARE THE ODDS??????

And you wonder why more of our students pay attention to Johnny Football and the UT QB competition than what plays out at Apogee on Saturdays.

They turned down and Independence Bowl invite to play ULM.

After watching yesterdays games and seeing the bowl games align; I firmly believe that this NEXT YEAR, the third year of MAC, the complaining on this board will be not about loosing this game or that game but the travel issues to the bowl game we will be going too. Call it being a homer, being overly optimistic or a prayerful vision...next year will be NEXT YEAR!!!

In all honsety, I think if Kaspar would have been hired, we would have seen a mass-exodus of players almost immediately. He would have been a nice hire if we were in a 'bare cupboard' scenario with no expectations, but we weren't.

Isn't this the guy that made his team watch him poop in a bucket?

To look on the bright side, expectations will be even lower than normal for UNT football, so a 6-6 record will be an over-achievement in many eyes. He'll, 5-7 would be an overachievement.

We won't make it to next August.... December 21, 2012. The best thing to happen to NT athletics since Hayden Fry? Question. No info.

the AD should probably be given his pink slip, however I can see his line of thinking that Liberty Bowl vs a 10-win Tulsa would be a whole lot nicer than playing in Shreveport for the 3rd time this season against LA-Mo. I mean, c'mon, it's Louisiana - they already HAVE to live there, they know it sucks. I for one sure didn't see Northern Illinois jumping all the way to top-16 in the BCS after being #21 last week. I imagine the soon-to-be released AD didn't think it would happen either. feel bad for the players...

Sort of like how SMU wants nothing to do with us. Oops, sorry I mention That school to the south. It's been too long since someone brought them up.

My father served as a Minister of Music when I was growing up, so I've got quite a lot of experience with Sacred Harp Hymns, new hymns, and contemporary music. I think they all have their place. Those songs you call old hymns, some were originally drinking songs. Fanny Crosby (Blessed Assurance, I Am Thine oh Lord, etc) often used secular tunes. The Salvation Army did it as well. The whole point is remaining relevant in the evolving culture. Good churches are constantly trying new ways to reach the lost. I'm not saying it's all effective or completely pure in motive, but the best part is that God can use anything, regardless of how much we humans mess it up. Contemporary and traditional services both have their place because they allow people to worship in the way that best speaks to them. Some of the additional buildings that churches build seem unconventional but are designed to meet people where they are. For instance, the church we attend built a new sports complex a few years ago. It was built to serve a community need for more safe places for children to get involved in sports because all the church leagues in the area had waiting lists. The complex is free and open to the public, and while there is a small coffee bar in the main house, we added it so moms could sit and talk while watching their kids play. Church members of all ages are encouraged to go to the complex and build friendships with people who use the facilities. So it's truly an outreach ministry. All that to say that some of those buildings really do have a higher purpose and while they may not be for you, they can reach others.

Excuse me for not sending meaningless internet condolences to a family that will never see it, and never care to see it. Jeez.

10 + 10 = 20 2+4+2+2+3+5+2 also = 20 Minutes played does not indicate sub patterns or lineups.

Sadly, 3-9 teams don't go to bowl games.

My main man was Herman Cain (even over Rick Perry) but he didn't make it to the finish line. GMG! PS: La Tech will now have more pure recruiting time and probably with all the players they are losing wanted the extra time that a bowl game "might" have taken away? Hell, I think I would have still taken the bowl game if I were the Dawgs.

I think you may be wrong. If all things break right our offense could be mighty potent. Who is with me? GMG

No disrespect cdizzle86, but why do we have to copy what other people are doing with their helmets and uniforms? And to our thickheaded Athletics Director, RV, why the obsession with North Texas being spelled out across both sides of the helmet? Has it really raised awareness of our "brand", from a marketing standpoint? Rick, why not make 99% of your remaining fans happy and have the "son of worm" designed into the helmet? Have four or five designs posted on this message board and among the UNT students, let everyone vote on it, and may the best design win. Rick, give the fans, students and Alumni, what they want rather than what you want. The North Texas helmets look bushleague and haven't done a thing to raise our marketing awareness. Quit trying to be the "little Jerry Jones" of North Texas athletics.

Next year....we will be seeing a string of posts claiming we will break through in year 4.

If you go with North Texas on one side and Mean Green on the other, then you might want to put 'see other side' disclaimers on the helmet.

I think OU just scored again.

It has happened before...

Benford not talking after these losses is a chickenshit move. People who want to complain about the players needing to take responsibility for these losses need only to look at the actions of the crappy coach setting the example for them.

got the program out from under gender equity issues raised more money for athletics than robably all of the previuos ADs combined helped convince the admins to build the athletics village got the stadium built got the golf team some nice facilities facilities for tennis helped convince the admins to buy the Liberty Christian campus no sports have been cut from a school that is mostly bad in every program and that has a very small athletics budget, poor fan and financial support in their entire history, and that has a lot of debt from building/aquiring new facilities ADs are hired to me administrators and while they are responsible for coaching hires all they can do is hire the best candidates that are realistically available for the actual money available to pay them the wins and losses are on the coaches as long as the program is within budget, maintaining/building new facilities as possible, and there are no major issues with grades and the like across all programs an AD is usually safe the reality is RV helped north Texas move conferences as well......there was not a chance in hell that it was realistic to expect north Texas to move into the CUSA the first time around.......sure the sunshine pumpers and the BSers can claim that the "sleeping giant factor" was there for them to want, but that is a joke in the eyes of anyone, but idiots.....there was ZERO committment to athletics at north Texas the first time the CUSA expanded and that had changed by the time things changed conference wise again......sure conferences had blown up completely by then and north Texas was pretty much the only option for CUSA, but the truth of the matter is UTSA got in as well and TxState was considered and if things had been going along as they had before with fouts, and not much else some other program would have gotten the call the reality is north Texas has BARELY caught up to the schools that many consider they have been "competiting with" or "equal to" for the last 2 decades and those programs are NOT sitting still so just because you finally caught up does not mean they are not looking to leave you behind again it is a simple FACT that RV had interferance in "his job" dealing with DD and it is a fact RV had interferance in "his job" dealing with Dr B and the 26.4 meters of heat shanice stephens hire RV has been here through 4 president changes and again the truth is north Texas is probably going to be changing presidents again sooner than later because the current one was "hired" as a temp and then took over with NO SEARCH for a replacement and is going into his late 70s also the reality is that VLR is not "athletics friendly" he is more "athletics tolerant" here is a thread from the WSU forum talking about Mike Price and WSU and VLR http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=137&f=1995&t=10508335 half way down it starts talking about how VLR is not comfortable spending huge money on coaches salaries and having them make more than the university admins that I am sure has not changed now at north Texas.....the VAST majority if not all of the student fee is going towards the stadium fee....that was not new found fun money......most of it is spent and is spent for the next 20+ years there was not even a hwimper of talking about the "automatic fee increase" that everyone on this forum was so sure was just going to automatically get a rubber stamp......and next year..I would say it is 99.99% sure to NOT be increased again if you change ADs now there is no guarantee you will get what you want.....RV is paid VERY LOW compared to most ADs out there so you are not going to get some heavy hitter that is proven to come in and make that kind of money.....VLR is NOT going to pay for a heavy hitter period......and no matter who you get there is no proof that their grand new plans will make it with whoever replaces VLR while you might not like the RV plan or the results it would be much harder for a new president to go against the plans that have been in place and moved forward through the previous 4 administrations and it would e very easy for them to go against the new plans of an AD that had been in place for only a few years before they took over as president you are not going to make up for 4+ decades of totally ignoring athletics, having a total university rep as apathetic to athletics, and decades of poor budgets over night period.....you can wish it is so, but it is not.....so if you are willing to take the risk of getting an on the cheap young unproven AD with litte sway and proven history, having him in place for yet another president change over.....and possibly looking at "well we are in CUSA with a stadium that is that" well then go for it......but when it results in more of what went on for 3 decades before RV arrived well you can complain about that 30 years from now when you maybe start to invest in athletics again at ANY level RV hires who is available with the MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE and there is not a hge money tree out there and if there was RV would be shaking it....and if it was a north Texas money tree it would drop plug nickles and Canadian pennies

Even if he knows what he's doing philosophy wise...a big part of coaching is getting your players to buy in. If he hasn't, then he's not a good coach.

Sorry, that would require him to actually participate in a post game interview after a loss. No accountability.

If you think Dodge left the cupboard bare, just wait until his players are gone. Y'Barbo, Fortenberry, A. Johnson, Feeley, Anyiam, Byrd, Chancellor, Teegarden, Miller, Prior, McCoy, Abbe, Cantly, Obi, Bellazin, Orr, Phillips, Wright, Jackson...