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you got to get rid of Benford for the sake of your program...<br /><br />what a disaster... View the full article

We've managed to erase 11 seasons of progress in less than 3 months. Think about that everyone. Last night's loss was the worst Sun Belt conference defeat we've had since JJ's second year, and more akin to the sorts of beatdowns we had under Trilli. All that with one of the most talented rosters in school history. Benford has to go -- or RV does.

I also do not typically have the stomach for calling out specific parties and declaring that so and so should be fired. Furthermore, I tend to remain optimistic about Mean Green athletics even when times are lean. For example, in 2009 I truly believed our 2-6 football team, which had just scored 68 in a win against Western Kentucky and lost a number of close games, had a shot to win four in a row and go to a bowl game. In reality, we were blown out at home by Louisiana-Monroe in the very next game (the other three were also losses). Reflecting back, I feel silly because it’s obvious that we were a horrible team in the midst of a historically bad stretch of seasons. At the time, however, I found false optimism by believing that it mattered that three of our early season losses were by a combined 9 points. “See, we’re a lot better than we were in 2008, and 2007, and 2006, and 2005!” No, we weren’t. And, as we all know, we’re still trying desperately to dig out of that hole. I don’t want the same 8-(or more) year-long curse to engulf our basketball program. We have a team loaded with the type of talent that many coaches NEVER enjoy in their entire careers. The result: we have failed to a degree that defies description. I honestly can’t think of any examples of a team in any sport falling this far below expectations. Sure, we may not really have been a prospective top 25 team, but shouldn’t we perhaps be top 50-100? The reality of the situation is that we are one of the worst teams in the nation. Again, I don’t feel good about calling out individuals, but this head coach has proven himself, for whatever reason, to be completely incapable of leading this team. I genuinely feel that for each additional day he has with our players, our program is being set back further. For that reason, I think an immediate action is required. While it may seem absurdly reactionary to not even afford him the opportunity to finish his first year, his has been an unprecedented failure. At this point, I don’t even think it’s fair to Benford to make him ride this out to its dismal conclusion. I’m about to cancel my Mean Green Premium subscription because it just isn’t fun watching us be humiliated on a regular basis. Even with an NBA-destined phenom, the joy of watching Mean Green basketball has been beaten out of me. Win or lose, I’ll always support my Mean Green teams, and I’ll probably still listen to the games on the radio (at least until we start getting blown out), but I no longer see any purpose in watching this hopeful season go down pathetically in flames. I don’t blame anyone in the Athletic Department for this hire; Benford looked OK on paper. He wasn’t my first choice, but I thought he was a solid candidate, and I can see why the decision was made. I will, however, begin to question the direction of our athletic program as a whole if we either will not or cannot make an immediate change. If, as some have suggested, we are simply too poor to afford a buyout even if we know that our inaction will produce historically bad seasons for years to come (with numerous and perhaps irreparable long-term consequences), then we should probably cease to exist as an NCAA Division I member institution. I tend to think that the revenue can be found, if we want to find it badly enough.

RV, you made a horrible BB hire, that happens. The test of an AD is what do you do about it? Make excuses and hope that a miracle occurs or do you line up the resources and make a change as quickly as possible to limit the damage.

JJ is just not a good coach. At best, he'll win 20 games and then turn it on in the SEC tournament. That's clearly not preferable to where we are right now.

Uh, I think a couple of people on here were very leery of the hire. One that immediately comes to mind is TTG. Several of us mentioned the fact that he had no head coaching experience and that we were told that would not happen again and wonered what changed. Even after he landed a couple of good recruts, it was noted that while the recruits were nice, we sill didn't know if he could coach, and why were we signing a bunch of power forwards. You just remember the constant cheerleading.

I believe he said before the hire, the coach would have head coaching experience. Maybe RV is the one who needs to go.

I'm just copy and pasting bc it's so much easier rather than type out the same things after every game. So here's a classic from earlier in the season: What's amazing is just how this team has regressed so much from last season even though we added JW and CJ. People say that JJ didn't "run an offenfensive system". THEN LET'S GO BACK TO THAT!!!! Because whatever the hell Benford is trying to run is obviously not working. Square peg(players) round hole(system). You know what you have the one peg that can't change this season, the players, but you have the chance to change the hole/system to make it work. Figure it out Benford. Sweet jesus this is just infuriating. I've never been so excited for any UNT athletic team as I was for this one headed into the season. We may not win 8 games this year. You can spout off all you want about the players not playing to the system or not buying in or not being smart enough play a sophisticated system or being to "street" to run sets. Fine then. Let's go with any of those reasons/excuses, whatever you want to call them. But look at what this team did last season with less!!! If all JJ did was roll the ball out there and tell them to go play then lets fucking get back to that!!!! AHHHHHHHHH GRRRRRRR URGHGHGHGGHHG FHFHFBJPODGSKBKJ:DSFBKJ:DFSBKJ:LSDFBKJ:LSDF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 deep breath sigh end of rant

And for any/all athletic employees that read the site (I know they're out there). You should know how I almost always am "even keeled" to use MeanGreenTexan's description. The fact that it has come to this does not give me pleasure - I am sure that I am now being added to the enemy list along with the FFR's, Tasty's, SUMG's, etc of the world that are probably thought of as idiot alums who don't know jack. I am a peacemaker by nature and hate stirring the pot. In fact, I generally detest troublemakers. But these are different times. If it has to be a peacemaker that goes all in on this cause, I'll be the guy.

I have to admit that this is the worst season I have ever experienced as a UNT fan. To have so much promise to start the season, it's almost unthinkable to believe we could be this bad with Mitchell healthy. And to know that the new coach cannot even come close to identifying the issue is beyond pathetic. What's even more awful, though, is the clear reality that Benford will be here as our head coach for the next two years beyond this abortion of a season. I've said it before and I'll say it again--we may be stuck with him, but we shouldn't be stuck with the guy who hired him, Todd Dodge, and Shanice Stephens. Almost every other university of our size would fire their AD for making two poor hires in one of the money sports, much less the absolute worst hires in the school's history for each sport. I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but I really thought out university had finally decided to care enough about athletics to fund them at a level that a decent non-AQ should expect, thru facilities and coaching. But if we keep Benford for anything beyond next year with similar Trilli-esque results as this year has shown, as well as a subpar year in football (under 4 wins) that still doesn't cause a change there, either, I'm really going to just give up as a UNT fan. We aren't getting anything close to what we should expect from the leadership of this university at any level in regards to athletics. Just because you finally build a stadium twenty years later than you should have doesn't mean that you've done your job in adequately upgrading athletics. You have to make the commitment to pay coaches a competitive salary, but you also have to recognize when the commitment to those coaches are hurting your program beyond the costs of a buyout. If your AD can actually pick a coach, you shouldn't have to deal with a buyout, anyway (see Jones, Johnny).

You need to learn to differentiate your persona's a little better.

Nice. Read and comprehend the posts if you are able. Though I'm almost equal in stature, I'm not sure what being a MGC member or a football season ticket holder at any level has to do with being qualified to make uninformed statements. So c'mon, I'm ready. I can take it. Looking forward to the abuse by all the "experts". Just remember, communicating directly and factually to decision makers is far more powerful than making uniformed ignorant statements on a message board. Giving more, time or financially, buys you more access. More access allows more direct communication, which results in less frustration and bitching. Soooo, give more & bitch less.

I here he just recently received a call from one of the recruiters. Word is they are suppose to call him today with and offer or some news. Hope this kid gets a chance to play the game and a paid for education. He will work his butt off for it. Whoever gets the kid is going to have a great player both on the field and off the field. Wishing him the best

I love crazy people

Actually, NT is back 10 years to 02-03 when NT went 2-13 in the Belt. Next worse is 6-9, a .400 record, something NT won't come close to this year. Not to even factor in this was supposed to be the most talented teams in school history. I am not sure every one was raving about this hire, there was a reason that Benford had never been hired as a HC. I think many were applauding that Benford got the job after serving as a long time assistant and his prior relationship with some of the players was a plus. He said all the right things but now those statements just make him look that more incompetent. Coleman is a Big East type center, Mitchell should lead the nation in rebounding, going to emphasize defense, mentioned NT as a possible top 25 type program, etc. Not everyone is head coach material, Benford made his bones being primarily a recruiter and judging from the result thus far, that is were he should have stayed.

So yeah, sorry for spamming the board. But sometimes you gotta laugh through the tears.

Don't know how much I can blame RV on the hire. Every fan, pundent, and publication was raving about the hire when it occurred. I don't think anyone saw this coming. This program was on the verge of big things, we have been set back at least 5years on that now.

Is there a Texas Lemon Law we can invoke?

Andrew in 3...2...1..

ULL 105 NT 74 Final

Bulsh. You don't let shooters shot the ball from their spots. Well, college basketball defenses don't. We do. Constantly.

We would not object if you guys just called us "Daddy"

I admire your optimism. Although your friends from the Rec probably are not the best sources for info. Don't let the pessimists rain on your parade.

One would think/hope if it came to it that it would be Lundy....

So does anyone see Mike Petersen getting reassigned...to coaching mbb?

He kicked me off for harry lol...its cool it was a good pod.

I don't know what you're talking about...I'm gonna put 10K on us in Vegas. Dolla, dolla bill yall!

#1 or #2?

I was talking to my wife in the bathroom and she told me that we should be good by Hot Springs. We will have guys back from injuries and Chris Jones has been sitting behind Coach Benford and learning all the tricks of the trade. Plus I played with some ex boys club basketball players at the Rec and they said the Benford offense is working and I believe those guys over CMJ and Tasty and etc.....

Unfortunately our chances of winning the Sun Belt tournament are greater than someone being held accountable for this. Including Benford.

The only stat, NT won in was technical fouls

No one can defend this loss.

Just think, only 2 more years after this one.

ULL 81 NT 61 6:51 to go Blown out by a 7-15 team. If we haven't hit rock bottom yet, please don't let me see it.

This team is nowhere near 18-4.

Enjoyed the show. Thanks guys!

Maybeeeeeee he can flip some DT guys for us

Oh, I haven't forgotten. But I also know these kids have family members MUCH older than 18 or 19 that would have been involved. Like I said when everyone was freaking out after Johnny left, after we hired a new guy and that new guy talked to the players, all would stay. The argument could be made that if the current head coach could manage that, any coach worth his salt would have. That is such a bogus reason for this hire, it's not even funny.

Maybe you should just give, eh?

I try to call them Middle as well. I know it annoys me when people use an incorrect name when referring to North Texas.