Harry

<H3 class=entry-header>http://meangreen.beloblog.com/ McElroy staying at Alabama</H3>Former Southlake Carroll quarterback Greg McElroy put to rest the rumors that he is considering transferring from Alabama to North Texas to play for his former high school coach Todd Dodge on Thursday. McElroy told The Dallas Morning News that he staying put. Dodge said when he was hired at UNT that he would evaluate the quarterbacks he has on the team before considering taking on a transfer or junior college player. As of now, the battle in spring practice appears as if it will be between Woody Wilson, Daniel Meager and Matt Phillips. Posted by Brett Vito at 05:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The staff is finishing up their NCAA certification testing and hitting the road. I am hearing there is a lot of evaluation going on as coaches from around the state are sending coach Dodge film on their most talented players. This is not official, but I am hearing that the following territories may be in place: Dodge (Golden Triangle/Port Arthur/Beaumont), LaCroix (East Texas/his home town and Houston), Lewis (Central Texas), Leftwitch (West Texas/Gainsville), Peterson (Fort Worth - his hometown). Clayton George will handle Dallas and Dallas ISD specifically since he spent time in DISD at Hillcrest. As before there will be a shared responsibility for the entire metroplex among all of the coaching staff. More on this as it comes available...

This is a guy they should look at especially since his former teammate Jonathan Stewart is at North Texas. Kenny Sims, a four-year starting linebacker at Seguin High School in Arlington (Texas), committed to Steve Kragthorpe's University of Tulsa program this past week. But after hearing the news from his high school coaches Tuesday that Kragthorpe was moving on to Louisville, everything changed.

Gandy was an outstanding running back at Southern Miss. In fact I think he played with Brett Farve there. A Mean Green wWelcome to both coaches! Now go forth and recruit!

Football: Leftwich to return to UNT as assistant Dodge fills out remaining two spots on staff 10:20 PM CST on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer Spencer Leftwich is coming back to North Texas. Leftwich spent nine seasons as the Mean Green's offensive line coach before joining the staff at Tulsa after the 2002 season. Former Louisiana Tech assistant Shelton Gandy filled the last open spot on Todd Dodge's first staff at UNT when he agreed to become the Mean Green's running backs coach. UNT officials confirmed both coaches were added to the Mean Green's staff on Wednesday. Dodge took over as the Mean Green's new head coach late last year after leading Southlake Carroll to the Class 5A Division I state title. Gandy spent the last two seasons as the running backs coach at Tech. Patrick Jackson rushed for 854 yards and seven touchdowns while playing for Gandy last season. In his first year at Tech, Gandy rotated Jackson, Mark Dillard and Freddie Franklin, who combined to rush for 1,487 yards and 18 touchdowns. Gandy will have a chance to coach former national rushing champion Jamario Thomas during his senior season at UNT. Thomas rushed for 1,801 yards as a freshman, but has struggled through injury-plagued seasons the last two years. Leftwich will inherit an offensive line that lost two key cogs in All-Sun Belt Conference guard Dylan Lineberry and tackle Joel Foster, but returns several other key players, including center Chad Rose and tackle Jeremy Brown. BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/...1.2a785619.html UNT men looking for lift from return of Stewart <H5 class=vitstorydate>10:34 PM CST on Wednesday, January 10, 2007</H5> By Brett Vito / Staff Writer North Texas will not only be back home today for the first time in more than a week, it will also be back at full strength. Harold Stewart, a key cog in the Mean Green's front line and a former starter, will return to UNT's rotation tonight for the second half of a doubleheader with Louisiana-Lafayette at the Super Pit. The UNT women will look to break a three-game losing streak in the opening game. Stewart missed UNT's last five games while dealing with personal issues. "We definitely missed Harold because he was a huge part of our rotation," UNT head coach Johnny Jones said of the 6-8 sophomore forward. "We are so much deeper in the post with him. He started for us and has played starter's minutes." Stewart started the first seven games of the season before junior Quincy Williams moved into the starting lineup. Stewart still plays an important role off the bench for UNT (11-5, 2-3) and is averaging 4.7 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. "I am ready to play," Stewart said. "It was tough to sit out for that long because I wasn't able to help the team and had to just sit over there and watch." Playing without Stewart wasn't very pleasant for the rest of the Mean Green, either. UNT was forced to juggle its rotation and play 6-5 senior guard Rich Young at the power forward spot at times. Jones said playing Young at power forward takes away from the Mean Green on both ends of the floor. Young is one of the Mean Green's best perimeter defenders and is also shooting a team-high 47.1 percent from 3-point range. The return of Stewart will give Jones a chance to change his lineup tonight in an effort to improve the Mean Green's defense that has floundered the last few weeks. UNT has given up an average of 85 points in its last two games -- losses to Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas State. Young will start at shooting guard, while Williams will play the power forward spot with Stewart as his backup. Calvin Watson, a senior shooting guard, who leads UNT with an average of 15.6 points a game, will come off the bench. UNT is hoping the change will help make the Mean Green a better team defensively. "We have to play better defense," UNT junior point guard Ben Bell said. "When we hold teams under 70 points, we don't lose. Our practices have been all about defense this week." The Mean Green will need to perform well defensively to knock off ULL (4-12, 2-4 Sun Belt). The Ragin' Cajuns have won their last two games after dropping seven straight. ULL guards Ross Mouton and David Dees are averaging 18.8 and 18.1 points a game, respectively, to lead the Ragin' Cajuns. While Stewart has not played a game in weeks, he has been practicing and thinks he is ready to make an immediate impact. "I really believe I will be able to give us some depth," Stewart said. "I have been practicing hard, so hopefully I didn't lose anything. I will come out and work hard. That's what I usually do anyway." The UNT women (4-10, 1-3) will also be looking to bounce back after dropping their last three games, including a heartbreaker against Denver on Tuesday. UNT was up by five late in the second half, but scored just two points in the final 7:54 and lost 51-48. Junior post Erica Howard scored a season-high 19 points, but was the only UNT player to score in double figures. Senior forward Yolanda Jones is averaging 16.0 points a game to lead the Ragin' Cajuns (12-5, 4-2) "We have to keep our heads up," UNT women's coach Tina Slinker said following the Mean Green's loss to Denver. "We have to continue to work hard and prepare for our next game." BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

http://www.sasports.com/sports/football/pictures/2006AHCove/ Sam Dibrell, (6-2, 200, 4.5) Alamo Heights - Notable: Unanimous All-District 27-4A. ... Led area in receiving yards (1,556), receptions (92) and receiving TDs (20). Key contributor to 2006 4A State Championship team. AP Honorable mention 4A All State WR. Teammate and star QB Giovanni Vizza has verbaled to Nevada but visits Denton 1/12/07. Jr. Stats 40 receptions for 673 yds. 1st team San Antonio Express News All Area Sub-5A Verbal to UNT 1/9/2007 Rivals post 1-11-07 quote "Dibrell says he's a solid commitment. However, he doesn't want to comple shut down all of his options yet. I did give them a solid verbal, but at the same time, I have to keep my options open somewhat open until February". TX State and NMSU are his other ship offers at this time. Harry's Take: Productive. Good size and speed. Dibrell may have been a key to the Vizza signing and that alone makes him a good sign. A winner, who is used to winning at a high level of high school competition. Dibrell made some very clutch catches in Alamo Heights state championship run. Has a chance to help early as a possession receiver. Oldtimer's Take: Todd Dodge uses as many as 5 receivers at a time and they are all very fast. This requires extra receivers to keep each one fresh. Sam Dibrell has the size, speed, experience in a spread offense to be an effective receiver and he should see a lot of playing time his freshman year. If Vizza gets playing time, and I believe he will, their playing time together experience in high school makes each them even better as they know what each can do and how it will be done.

Tulsa has been owning us in recruiting over the last several years. They have been taking a lot of the better players in DFW. With Kraigthorpe gone, it would be nice timing for Coach Dodge to mark his territory. Hey and frankly their verbals are fair game in my book too. My favorite in their current list is ATH Charles Opeseyitan (4.55 speed) who played at Allen and would be very familiar with Dodge since they played them in the playoffs. He would be tailormade for the Dodge spread... http://www.tulsa.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?school=195

Hmmm a 4-star visit in less than 2 weeks on the job? Not bad Coach Dodge, not bad at all! http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/college/stories/DRC_UNT_notes_1-10.251dd08d.html Trio from Lufkin to visit UNT One of the top wide receiver prospects in the country will make a recruiting visit to North Texas. Dez Bryant of Lufkin will be in Denton beginning Jan. 26 along with teammates Ralph Thomas and A.J. Penson. Thomas plays cornerback while Penson is an inside linebacker. Lufkin coach John Outlaw confirmed on Tuesday that all three are being recruited by UNT and are scheduled to visit the school. Rivals.com ranks Bryant as a four-star recruit and the ninth-best receiver prospect in the country. He is being recruited by LSU, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech Oklahoma and Texas A&M, among others. Bryant (6-1, 195) caught 67 passes for 1,270 yards and six touchdowns last season. Thomas and Penson are both listed as two-star recruits by Rivals.com. Penson is being recruited by Texas A&M, UTEP and Houston, among others. Rice is recruiting Thomas.

http://meangreen.beloblog.com/ Former North Texas running back Erric Pegram said late Tuesday that he has been informed that he will not be asked to join the Mean Green's coaching staff. Pegram interviewed with new head coach Todd Dodge for a job coaching UNT's running backs. Pegram played for UNT in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He led the Mean Green in rushing in both the 1989 and 1990 seasons and went on to play in the NFL. Pegram was attending the policy academy when he interviewed for the UNT job and will continue with the program now that he knows that he will not join the Mean Green's staff.

Interesting post from a reliable poster named Pecos 45 on the Baylor board in regards to Clayton George: I am late to this thread, but here's what I think I know: 1) All coaches want to move up the ladder. Dodge had done all he could at the high school level. College is the next rung up the ladder. Doesn't matter if it is North Texas, it's a college job. 2) Clayton George coached my son for two years up at Hillcrest High School (4A) before he jumped to Haltom (5A) last year. During those two years he performed a pretty amazing turnaround. Clayton was OC under Dodge at SLC before coming to Hillcrest. He cut no slack, won games, and had the players doing better in school, too. 3) Judging from what I saw watching a Dodge disciple (Clayton George) up close, I have to believe that things will get cranking at North Texas. His system produces championships and he'll have high school kids flocking to the Mean Green to play for a winner. 4) It doesn't hurt that UNT is NOT in the Big 12 and won't face OU, A&M, TTech, and UT every year. We are still in a brutal conference.

WR - Breece Johnson, Colleyville Heritage 6-2, 175, 4.4, AP 5A 1st Team All State, Jr. Stats: 50 catches for 657 yds and 8 TD's. Sr. Stats: 63 catches for 993 yards with 14 TD's, led district 5A in receiving. District 5A 1st Team Offense DMN All Area 1st Team Offense WR FW*Telegram Super Team (Jan 8) 2nd team offense WR Receiving attention from Colorada State, Iowa, Utah. Verbal to North Texas 1.3.07 Johnson (6-2, 175) is Colleyville Heritage's tallest target. He said his hands can be attributed to a summer routine where he tried to catch at least 500 footballs a day from a Jugs machine, a device that zips passes. "I concentrated a lot more on football. Everything I did was based around football," Johnson said. Video: http://insidehighschoolfootball.com/video....emID=1001212839 Harry's Take: I like this kid because he - like Johnny Quinn before him - is so dedicated to football that you know he will only get better in time. An outstanding senior year, Johnson has good speed and incredible hands. I like his height but he needs to continue developing his upper body and gain some weight or he's going to get hurt. I think Johnson's work ethic will push the other WR's to work harder and improve. Being a 1st team 5A All State Selection is a major accomplishment in the State of Texas. Oldtimer's Take: I commented first on Sam Dibrell and many of those comments are applicable to each of the 5 new wide receivers including Breece. He played on the same team as Evan Walker in high school and they had the same experience running a spread formation in high school and same experience playing against SLC which gives each of a head start in learning the offense TD will run at NT. Breece is a little taller than Evan but both are very fast. He has good height, but is a little light and might need to gain a little muscle to break away from college defenders. I expect all of the WR to get playing time their freshman year.

LB - Justin Padron (6-0, 225, 4.65) - Southlake, TX. (Carroll HS) - (Pictured as #44 above) Wants to play close to home and is considering TCU and NT. AP 5A 1st Team All State defensive selection at LB (2006). Had 16-tackles in the state finals against Westlake. Star Telegram area top 100 and top state 100 selection. Not the fastest or the biggest but great passion and a leader. DMN 1st team all area team. FW*Telegram Super Team (Jan 8) 1st Team LB 2nd amoung class 5A players with 142 tackles. Per DMN article (1-3-07) he had 240 tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles. (this may be career stats as I have seen several different stats listed) PADRON BECOME NT'S FIRST COMMIT UNDER TD. Per the FW*Telegram today Jan 7 Padron said Dodge told him he wanted Padron to be his first committment Saturday in a phone conversation. Video: http://64.237.99.126/clips/2007122.wmv Vid 2: http://insidehighschoolfootball.com/video....CookieSupport=1 COMMITTED TO NORTH TEXAS! Harry's Take: Justin was Dodge's first commitment as a college head coach which speaks to the fact that Dodge holds him in very high regard. On film he is not the biggest or fastest but he is always around the ball. I love the angles he takes and his technique is so solid he rarely ever gets blocked. The biggest question is how will his game translate to I-A against bigger, faster athletes. I see Padron as a Dodge disciple that will help implement a new philosophy among the players recruited by Dickey. He reminds me a little of UNT LB Derek Mendoza but with better technique. Oldtimer's Take: Justin has impressive HS recognition and game statistics. He is a little shorter, a little light, and a little slow for a LB in college. He makes up for this with his knowledge of what Dodge expects of him. His play against a much heavier Euless Trinity O. Line shows his ability to read the offense his opponents run and be at the right place at the right time, fend off the OL and make the play. He tackles are solid and they hit the runner hard. Another thing has going for him is his heart for the game. NT has some experienced LB's returning so his playing time may be limited or he might redshirt his freshman year.

http://www.dallasblog.com/david-mcnabbs-hi...te-to-bama.html <H2 class=title>NorthTexas gets first 2 commits/Near hiring UT-ex Lewis North Texas has picked up its first two commitments for newly named coach Todd Dodge, who's highoy familiar with both. Southlake Carroll LB and emotional leader Justin Padron (6-0, 230) and Colleyville Heritage WR Breece Johnson (6-2, 175) said they'll will sign with North Texas on Feb. 7. Both have had excllent high school careers but have been marginal recruits by Big 12 schools. The players' off-field leadership in practice and conditioning were keys in helping both schools establish themselves among the state's best programs.</H2>UNT staff nearly complete Former UT standout Derek Lewis is expected to be named a North Texas assistant, according to reports. He's been a GA at Texas the last years. A first-team All-Big 12 selection as a tight end in 1998, he's known to Longhorns for catching the "roll left" pass from QB James Brown on fourth and inches that went 61 yards to secure the win in the 1996 Big 12 Championship Game.Lewis, from New Orleans, returned to UT after spending three seasons (1999-2001) with the St. Louis Rams where he was part of their 1999 Super Bowl XXXIV championship team. UNT staff so far OC Ron Mendoza DL Robert Drake S Chuck Peterson CB Butch LaCroix WR Clayton George QB Todd Ford

gmg!

One last note, if you are supposed to be in the premium area and still aren't please send me a PM with your info if you haven't already - it will speed up the process..

I'mmmm baaacckkk...Anyway, if you are a longtime supporter and poster I will try to get you up and running as soon as I can. For those who do not have as much posts on the record please PM me with your vitals, ie name, year graduated, season tickets or donation level to Mean Green club...parents are also welcome to join in as we have quite a few who are in...thanks for your patience as I work through this process. We already have some good conversations going on in there!

you guys that don't post much are going to need to send me a PM with your vitals, ie who you are and your affiliation before I can give you access...sorry but I need to know who you are and whether you can be trusted as a Mean Green fan before I can give you access to the info in there. GMG!

Sounds like a good guess to me.

I address that question here: http://www.gomeangreen.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=31745

To me it is really simple, can he recruit? If he can, and that means working very hard and being told no a lot then I like this hire. Recruiting is a numbers game - it takes hard work and lots of follow-up on a consistent basis.

Plumm if a poster has a good number of posts I have a fairly good idea of who they are and where they stand since I have access to their history. I am also asking those who have not posted much (there's a good number of them as you can imagine) to provide me some background data. Plumm, the reality with sites like Rivals and others there really isn't much to be gained from stealth recruiting anymore. There are very few uncovered gems in this internet era of information.

Look for Coach Dodge to hold off announcing the staff for a couple of days likely not until Monday or Tuesday of next week. The American College Football Coaching Convention is this weekend in San Antonio and Dodge will likely be interviewing some college candidates there as it is one of the best place to find college coaches looking for work or to make a change. Here is a link to the ACFA Site: http://www.afca.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID...p;ATCLID=696417

Guys I will need to take a break from entering for a day so if you still don't have access please let me know in this forum and I will get you in as soon as I get back. GMG

NTPhi I believe you man but please send me a PM and give me some detail. I have to get that before I can let you in to this. Let me know who you are and when you graduated and some detail via PM.