Harry

LOL!

http://florida.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp...199&sport=2

Saw pink Mean Green coozies at Academy. Not my color but nice to see and I bought a couple for some lady friends.

Benny Cherry?

LOL!!!!

Brad Kassell - The Greatest Ever.

The biggest problem is we have never called. My cousin was an all district starting guard there a couple of years ago and would have made a great tight end (when we coveted that). Never got a phone call even though I had given them his name. I think much like DISD we had just settled for the fact we couldn't land kids from there (much like Dallas ISD). Hope that changes as they have some great players.

http://www.gomeangreen.com/mgr/audio/gmgpod070307-06.mp3

We have lots of people like Craig that we need to open our arms to and welcome back like the Prodigal Son.

http://www.latechbbb.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42544 I liked this quote: "...His numbers are pretty amazing. He's clearly the biggest commitment for UNT thus far. I'm telling you. WE better hope that the Dooley years progress quickly and we capitalize. UNT could totally explode the way that Dodge is recruiting and drawing attention to the program..."

http://www.theoldcoach.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=51986 from swtmudcat "...He may run some QB in a no back package but with Vizza at UNT they'll be set at QB also...Riley will battle with Lance Dunbar and Evan Walker for the starting slot job when he hits the campus...Lance knows the offense from the slot as well as the RB so he could be at either position...Either way with those three they should be pretty salty when Lance and Riley come out... And by the way Riley is a 4.4 kid..."

http://cowboys.beloblog.com/archives/2007/...e.html#comments

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=423&p=8&a...amp;nid=2421789

http://meangreen.beloblog.com/ July 01, 2007 UNT appears to have landed another for 2007 It appears as if North Texas has landed another player for its 2007 recruiting class, even though the signing period is over. Jacob Kaiser, a 6-7, 280-pound tackle from Greensburg (Pa.) Central Catholic, was being recruiting by several programs on the East Coast, but was still on the market long after signing day. UNT appears to have stepped in and landed Kaiser, who could provide depth at tackle and maybe push for playing time this fall. The status of UNT's offensive line is one of the Mean Green's biggest question marks heading into the season. UNT came out of spring practice with redshirt freshman Matthew Menard at one tackle spot and sophomore Robert Peachey on the opposite side. Both Menard and Peachey are backed up by seniors. UNT is hoping Josh Alexander will be able to return after sitting out last season with a knee injury, but his status is questionable heading into fall practice. UNT only signed two offensive linemen in its 2007 recruiting class and one -- J.J. Johnson -- is a center. Kaiser appears to be the player UNT will pair with fellow 2007 recruit Matt Tomlinson and develop at tackle. The following is a link to Kaiser's page on Rivals.com: http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=50960

http://www.killerfrogs.com/msgb/index.php?showtopic=442

<H2 class=vitstoryheadline>Gut feeling led Riley Dodge to UNT</H2> Quarterback says playing for father felt right <H5 class=vitstorydate>07:41 PM CDT on Saturday, June 30, 2007</H5> By Brett Vito and TIm MacMahon/DRC-TDMN A few days of discussions and second thoughts culminated in a dramatic turn of events for North Texas and the family of head coach Todd Dodge this weekend. Southlake Carroll quarterback Riley Dodge is going to follow his father to UNT after all. The reigning Associated Press Class 5A offensive player of the year said Saturday that he has changed his oral commitment from Texas to UNT. Riley , who is entering his senior season, said he broke the news to Texas head coach Mack Brown and also talked to offensive coordinator Greg Davis this week. Oral commitments are non-binding. The first day recruits can sign national letters of intent is Feb. 6. "It was probably the hardest phone call I ever made in my life," Riley said. "But they were very cool about it and very nice. I really appreciated that. "Coach Brown told me, 'You have the opportunity to play for your dad again. You need to hop all over it.'" Riley (6-0, 183) said he made the decision for the good of his family and because he believes his father will turn around UNT's program. The Mean Green finished 5-18 the last two seasons combined under former head coach Darrell Dickey, who was fired Nov. 8. Dodge finished on a 79-1 run at Carroll that included three straight Class 5A state titles before taking over as UNT's head coach in December. He went 98-11 with four state titles in his time with the Dragons. Riley and Todd Dodge finished last season with a 43-29 win over Austin Westlake in the state title game in December, in what appeared at the time to be their final game together as player and coach. Riley's maternal grandfather, Ebbie Neptune, the legendary former Westlake coach and athletic director, suffered a stroke soon after the game. Neptune is recovering in a McKinney facility only a few miles from Denton, which was a factor in Riley's decision. "I am very, very close to him and I wanted him to get a chance to see me play college football," Riley said. Playing for UNT would give the entire family a chance to see Riley and Todd Dodge on the same field on Saturdays. Todd Dodge cannot comment on his son's decision to attend UNT because of NCAA rules. Riley was recruited by Texas as an athlete and committed to the Longhorns after their junior day in late February. Riley will play quarterback at UNT, where his father is installing the same spread offense he used at Carroll. "I believe I am a quarterback," Riley said. "I think I can do it on the next level. I just went with my gut." Rivals.com ranks Riley No. 58 on its list of the state's top 100 recruits. UNT has not landed a player rated in Rivals.com's state top 100 since running back Jamario Thomas signed with the Mean Green in 2004. UNT now has eight players committed for its 2008 recruiting class. Riley threw for 4,184 yards and 54 touchdowns in addition to rushing for 1,119 and 13 touchdowns as a junior last season. He will enter what could be a crowded quarterback competition when he arrives at UNT. Daniel Meager, who came out of spring practice as the Mean Green's starter, will be a senior in 2008. UNT also signed Giovanni Vizza, a highly regarded quarterback from San Antonio Alamo Heights who changed his commitment from Nevada, in its 2007 recruiting class. Riley said he only began thinking about changing his commitment to UNT the last few days, when he told his father that his heart was leading him to UNT. The family had several discussions before Riley changed his mind. Todd Dodge did not try to convince his son to attend UNT after he committed to Texas and played devil's advocate in discussions about playing for the Mean Green, Riley said. "It's a great decision for the family," said Elizabeth Dodge, Riley's mother. "But Riley made the decision." Word spread quickly among Dodge's current and former Carroll teammates late this week that Riley had decided to play for UNT, which has signed two former Dragons in its 2007 class and now has commitments from two others for 2008. Linebacker Justin Padron and defensive end Kyle Russo are members of UNT's 2007 recruiting class. UNT has also received a commitment from senior linebacker Derek Tomlin. Having three former Carroll teammates will only add to the familiar atmosphere for Riley at UNT. "I saw Riley [Thursday] and he was wearing a Mean Green shirt," Russo said. "He told me to be ready for a surprise in the next few days." Russo later found out that Riley was headed to UNT and talked to him about his decision. "He said it was kind of sudden," Russo said. "His girlfriend is coming here and he feels like we are getting some good commitments. He thought it was time for him to get in on it." BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com. North Texas 2008 commitments The following is a list of players who have orally committed to play for UNT beginning in the 2008 season: OL Eloy Atkinson Los Fresnos WR Kenny Barrett Mart QB Riley Dodge Southlake Carroll RB Lance Dunbar Haltom OL Troy Franklin Celina WR Willie Taylor Dallas Hillcrest LB Derek Tomlin Southlake Carroll S Darien Williams Vernon

Let's also be honest - in this offense the quarterback will run the ball. At the D-I level you take some big hits. Having depth at the quarterback position in this type of prolific offense is important. Dodge wants this program where you have more than one guy capable of running the show.

What an amazing time for the program! All Dodge hire doubters please come clean and we will all forgive your sins... how anyone can question this hire now given the unprecedented publicity and recruiting is beyond me. How can you not be excited about the future of this program!

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?S=110#S=110&a...40&T=673578

http://www.theoldcoach.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=51986

http://www.texas.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fi...902&style=2

There was a time, seems like a long time ago when even a team like OU or UT could not force run the ball down our throats... that was when you saw guys like Booger, Craig Jones, Darrell Daniels, Chris McIver, Cody Spencer, Jonas Buckles, Chris Hurd, Taylor Casey roaming the field... the games against OU and UT came down to depth and speed. Our secondary was a step slow and could not handle their speed in the passing game. We didn't win those games because a) the talent level discrepancy and our offense was absolutely pedestrian and one dimensional. That said I believe because of our run defense we earned their respect. To paraquote Jake LaMotta, "you never ran the ball against me Ray, you never ran the ball.." I can remember one game against TCU when Craig Jones hit their running back so hard the guys shoulder pads shattered! I am dead serious. All of the pleasure that came from those remarkable defensive performances was washed away by the fact we were so poor on offense. Oh you wonder to what level our program would have been in had we been in a Dodge type of offensive system...then again, Dickey was always trying to run out the clock on offense to limit the time his defense had to play. He was always playing the conservative field position game. He relied so heavily on the defense to win games. That hasn't been the case for several years now. While we have improved our defensive athleticism/speed our front line size is marginal and we don't have linebackers or safeties we had in the day. Therefore, I expect OU to run the ball right down our throats and set up the play action to put this game away early. They will have a new quarterback that they are trying to build confidence with so they will not put him in situations where he can fail. I read in the paper that OU is now paying their women's basketball coach 800K. It's truly a different world. The odds are heavily stacked in their favor.

<H2 class=vitstoryheadline>Track and Field: Javelin thrower honored for excellence on, off track</H2> <H5 class=vitstorydate>08:49 AM CDT on Thursday, June 28, 2007</H5> By Brett Vito / Staff Writer Heath Smith’s perfect run in his time as a student at North Texas paid off one last time this week, when ESPN The Magazine honored him for his all-around excellence. Heath Smith Smith was named to the publication’s Academic All-America team for the second straight year, this time as a first-team selection. The former Lake Dallas standout became the first member of the UNT track program to land a spot on the first team a year after earning a spot on the second team. Smith recently graduated from UNT with a 4.0 grade-point average in criminal justice before finishing the best season of his track career with the Mean Green. Smith broke the UNT record in the javelin with a throw of 65.26 meters at the NCAA Midwest Regional meet, a performance that qualified him for the national meet. Smith, the first UNT athlete to qualify for nationals in the event since 1970, went on to finish 22nd. Smith’s performance in the classroom was equally impressive. “It’s one thing to be a 4.0 student for two years, but when you get to be a junior and senior and the classes get harder, those 4.0 kids have more pressure on them than someone who has a 2.5 because they don’t have any room to screw up because they want to graduate with that 4.0,” UNT head coach Rick Watkins said just before Smith competed in the national meet. “That’s a lot of pressure to be under. To finish with a 4.0 is huge. It shows the discipline and dedication he has no matter what he is doing. The discipline has helped him in track.” Smith credited his natural ability to take tests and a decision to buckle down late in his senior year for being able to finish with a perfect GPA. “I had one class last semester that looked like it would be tough, but when the time came for the next to last test and the final I dedicated the whole day to reading the chapters to make sure I knew the material,” Smith said. Smith’s performance with the Mean Green as a senior was just as successful. He finished with the top five throws in the “new” javelin category in school history and was the first UNT male athlete to qualify for the national meet since Kory Williams competed in the 400 hurdles in 2005.

All of us need to be prepared for the disappointment of losing verbals to bigger schools. It is a reality of our improved pro-active approach. It takes courage to do what this staff is doing but the long term payoff for the program is huge.