ADLER

First, it's Sun Belt, not Sunbelt. Unfortunately, though, Sun Belt member institutions are a little gun shy about adding any schools that have yet to move up to the FBS. The Sun Belt is still a fairly new football league and still trying to establish an identity. The eastern Belt schools view you guys the same way that we'd view a Georgia Southern or Appalachian State addition in the east; certainly not bad programs, but how does it benefit everyone.

The same school? You guys are crazy. TSU is in Houston fairly close to the UH campus, UTSA is one of those many, many UT satellite campuses, and I think this one is possibly in San Angelo. All kidding aside, I hope for the best for both these schools in their Division 1 endeavor. The WAC certainly looks unstable, but it should give each of these schools a chance to get started in the bowl subdivision. This is a big step for UTSA but the move is decades overdue at Texas State. Very likely the WAC will wind up folding in a couple of years from circumstances that are out of the control of these two schools. There are currently two openings in the MWC and the looming possibility that the Big 12 could expand creating additional openings. The MWC will almost certainly eventually grab USU and SJSU and the remaining WAC schools simply cannot continue as a division 1 football conference. I would like to see the Sun Belt expand at that time if there are no changes in Sun Belt membership. Add the four eastern WAC schools, La Tech, UTSA, TXSU, and NMSU to create a 14 team - two division Sun Belt. A western division with Arkansas State, North Texas, Louisiana, La Tech, UTSA, TXSU, and NMSU would be a fairly good grouping since they're all close enough for rivalries but distant enough that there would be exposure in multiple markets. It's not ideal, but for us it's better than what we have now and better than any probable alternative for the WAC remnants.

I know all those erector-set tin stadiums look alike, but today's game was played in the one that doesn't have the brick facade.

When will this confusion end? The NCAA does not approve medical hardship waivers. If a player has a documented injury and has participated in less than thee or less games at the start of the year. North Texas simply completes the paperwork and submits the medical hardship waiver to the Sun Belt Conference office and a medical 'redshirt' is extended. The NCAA does get involved and evaluates applications for a sixth year to play a fourth year of eligibility.

I too am very excited about this announcement. Coach Canales has made quite an impression during the past several weeks, and once again, I am extremely proud of him making this decision to forgo other potential opportunities and stay with his team.

A couple of points. First, this is Rick's decision, and he has had a whole lot of time to think about it. How long ago do you think he might have suspected that that the Dodge hire might not be working out? And that's malarkey that Rick's job could possibly be on the line. The man has made North Texas a job that could be attractive to excellent candidates, and that in itself is huge progress for this school. Whoever is hired is not going to be everyone's favorite considering that unlike during the Dodge hire when so many fans were pushing for the same guy. This is Rick's hire, he has had several outstanding candidates from which to choose, plenty of time to work with, and I am sure that he has made an informed decision.

People at LSU are well aware of Johnny and what he has accomplished so far at North Texas. What do you believe they were thinking in Baton Rouge this past week? The same night Johnny Jones smacks Texas Tech in Denton, Trent Johnson led the Tigers to defeat against Nichols State. I believe that it was something like LSU's first loss to an in-state team since something like 1988 and the "Tigertown faithful are somewhat displeased".

He played in two NCAA Tournaments for North Texas. I too would like to see him come back for senior night to be honored.

No. Collin didn't get a lot of minutes at North Texas but I fully expected him to be the best player at S. Methodist the first time he stepped on the court.

North Texas 92-83 final. Another good win against a quality opponent.

89 - 80 UNT 1:00 Left in overtime

74 - 74 OVERTIME ABOUT TO START

TULSA, Okla. - The North Texas women's basketball team couldn't slow down the high powered offense of Oral Roberts as they ran away from the Mean Green for a 120-87 win at the Mabee Center. The Golden Eagles broke a school record for points with 120 as that mark is also the most points allowed by North Texas in a single game. Read the full story at MEANGREENSPORTS.COM

Well then, I guess you'll be heading downtown then. You've got to go downtown, LoveMG. It's all downtown. Just like the song says. There's your answer. Downtown.

Here's some background information and a lot of opinion on Mike Canales from Tobi Writes blog in The Bleacher Report when North Texas first hired Canales: North Texas: Which Mike Canales Will Coach Obviously there is quite a bit of debatable opinion being expressed, as is the case with almost any blog, but the writer does try to provide evidence to support his views.

It was interesting to see Nathan Tune listed on the Participation Report. I saw him dressed for the game on the sideline but I didn't notice him enter the game. I'm happy to see he's well enough to participate in a limited role, but disappointed to know that using a medical redshirt for this season is no longer an option.

I agree. I think the term is 'Assistant Head Coach'. I believe that's the position that Slocum at A&M promoted Steve Kragthorpe to when North Texas was looking for a coach to replace Matt Simon. Steve Kragthorpe was A&M's Quarterbacks Coach the preceding season, and was then promoted to Offensive Coordinator. When North Texas made it public that they were interested in Kragthorpe, he was again promoted with a large pay increase to that 'Assistant Head Coach' position and basically told North Texas that was was no longer interested. Some people still hold that against Kragthorpe. North Texas eventually settled for Darrel Dickey. Kragthorpe clearly believed that he was positioned to either inherit the A&M Head Coach position or would receive an offer to lead another BCS program. That didn't happen as Slocum was fired the following season and Kragthorpe wound up taking his services to rebuild a downtrodden Tulsa program. Anyway, back on topic, yes, I too am interested to see Canales retained on staff if he continues the passionate leadership that he has exhibited this season, and being Assistant Head Coach may be the way to do that.

Medical Redshirts are applied for and approved by your individual conference office. It's essentially a rubberstamp approval if you meet the criteria. The NCAA only has to get involved if the player is seeking a sixth year. These are reviewed, and rarely granted.

It looks like George Foreman with a red wig.

Angelique can probably get you a copy for a Double Cheeseburger.

As odd as it sounds, I agree with the Plumm on this one, sans his polychromatic script. I appreciate what Coach Canales is doing to resurrect what has been another dismal season in Mean Green Country. Canales may be an outstanding guy, and eventually a very promising potential head coach, but now is not the right time at North Texas. North Texas needs to be able to sell potential ticket buyers that there will be real change from the embarrassing results they have witnessed and followed in the newspapers for the last six years. "We fired Todd Dodge but promoted his assistant because he beat a horrible Western Kentucky team and had the team playing well against a couple of other Sun Belt schools" just doesn't cut it. The change needs to be much more evident, and hopefully noteworthy in that it's somebody who will generate interest outside gomeangreen.com, and nobody from the current staff fits the criteria. I will say that Coach Canales has seemed to inspire the team during that Western Kentucky game, and seems to be quite popular with many of the players and fans. Hopefully he will keep performing well and will have strong consideration to remain as Offensive Coordinator on the next coaching staff. Coach Canales is one of the main reasons that I find head coach candidate Jim Leavitt so intriguing. Those two have proven that together they can build a winning program. And who knows what the future holds.....Canales could eventually be hired as the head coach at another school, or he could eventually inherit the head coaching position at North Texas. Anyway, whoever it is, I want the new North Texas head football coach signed, on site, evaluating talent, building his staff, and starting the recruiting process before this football season ends. Waiting until after the season to evaluate and offer candidates is not an acceptable option.

It's twoo, it's twoo.

Make the conference 14 teams. Minimum twelve teams are required for a conference championship game, but six teams per division is awkward for scheduling. Seven teams per division gives everyone three home division games and three road division games. Schedule two cross-divisional games each year, and that leaves four games for regional non-conference opponents. These are games that fans could travel to watch. WEST Arkansas State Louisiana Louisiana Tech NMSU North Texas Texas State UTSA EAST Florida Atlantic Florida International Louisiana Monroe Middle Tennessee South Alabama Troy Western Kentucky