TheTastyGreek

You should check again. WKU was not full 1-A until 2009. In 2008, they were still transitional, not eligible for a bowl. Neither ESPN nor Dodge's Wiki page list the 2007 or 2008 WKU wins as conference wins. According to Western Kentucky and the Sun Belt, they did not become full conference members until 2009. I don't care about comparing the two coaches beyond defending the old coach against erroneous accusations or keeping people honest about the current one when they try to compare him to his predecessor.

The first recruiting class was put together on a shorter timetable than what could have been because Dodge chose to ride out his last year and state championship with Southlake. I don't blame him for it, and I don't hold the decision against him. Because I seem to recall that the class was, at the time, regarded as quite formidable. Even without the benefit of extra time (and other coaches in our league like Stockstill had even less time with their first class), Dodge did a commendable job of using his high school observations to bring in what was heralded at the time as a stellar class. Even if we're not satisfied with that class anymore, the man made a conscious choice and his own decision shouldn't be used as an excuse to somehow justify greater latitude. I'll also point out that he had a hell of a lot more time to put together the class that opened his first season as head coach than others in the conference and the region. Not naming names, out of deference to Keith7. Also, if we're making excuses for first classes... At least Dodge had a chance to actually assemble a first class before starting his head coaching tenure. Unlike Dickey, who started in March after Simon was fired, after national signing day and just a week before spring practice started. Not that I recall anyone using it as an argument in defense of his slow start back when the masses were calling for his scalp... Of course, that may be because Dickey somehow managed to post 3 wins in his first year, a winning Big West conference record that consisted of victories over Boise State, Nevada, and NMSU. Again... Despite coming in with NO recruits of his own and barely enough time to find his office (did we have offices for the coaches back in 1998?), Dickey posted as many conference wins THAT YEAR as Todd Dodge has posted in his entire career. Including Saturday's win against FAU. The stuff about inferior talent... Well, that's already been discussed to death.

The FCC is very strict.

I don't think there's anyone who expressed concern in this thread that hasn't also couched it in faith and confidence in the coaches who built this thing into what it is now. For every comment about how this guy seems like a reach or a question mark... There's another one saying that there must be some reason that our guys want him early. If JJ and the guys want this guy, and want him enough to put forth the time and effort (and scholarship) to land him for early signing period, then I hope they get him. But I'm probably going to stay skeptical until I see him play and get convinced in person.

For crying out loud... If this were turned in as a paper for either of the Freshman English composition classes at UNT... It MIGHT get a "C". If the instructor were grading quickly and lazily, and didn't notice the FACTUAL ERRORS. Unreal. Maybe we can hire another firm to do some macaroni artwork so that the administration will have a 3rd voice encouraging more spending on Athletics.

Graph on page 16 also indicates that we are 4th and not 5th in athletics budget. But at least it's in color!

And then, on the very next page: So, how does that make us 5th?

From Page 4 (a highlighted section): If we're the fifth highest, how are we below the median? There are nine football programs. If we're 5th among those nine, we are the exact median (4 higher, 4 lower). If we're counting all 12 programs in the conference, then we're above the median (the arithmetic mean of the 6th and 7th highest budget programs). If we're 5th, then we can't be below the median. How much did we spend on this report again?

http://comedians.jokes.com/john-mcdowell/videos/john-mcdowell---physical/ http://comedians.jokes.com/john-mcdowell/videos/john-mcdowell---education Plumm, you'll want to watch the second one.

People, you HAVE to give the Scrappynator at least five full days before we really hold anyone accountable for results. The Pneumatic Laser Cannons ammunition cabinet was BARE when Neinas submitted his report, and the heat seeking Deathmaster shoulder-mount missile system broke during the first test firing of the weapons systems. Now, the Scrappynator has no deep-range attack mechanism. Of course we haven't conquered any BCS schools! But you can't judge offensive capabilities now! Scrappynator needs more time for a fair evaluation. If anything, I would encourage the powers-that-be to extend the Scrappynator's titanium alloy exoskeleton, maybe by 2 or 3 feet, to really give our murderbot the opportunity to compete.

I don't mean this as a shot at you, so please don't think this is a response directed at you personally. I'm less than thrilled with us pursuing a JUCO 6th man for a roster that will return 5 scholarship players next year. Either this guy is way better than the rest of the world thought and seems to still think, or we're really trying to pad our early signing class to ease the recruiting burden through the season. Because this is the exact sort of player a school with our recent history and available 2011 minutes can usually dig up almost anywhere.

Seriously? Bobby Hauck coached all over the west. Positional duties at UCLA, Colorado, Washington... Then he was the head coach at Montana for 7 years, and every single year they made the D-1AA playoffs. Three times in the national championship game, all losses in the final. Average final record for Montana during his tenure: 11-2. And Hauck was willing to take a 3 year contract, and he settled for a base salary of $350k. So UNLV got a guy who has been all over their region, building recruiting ties, with an amazing track record at the 1-AA level, who was willing to take a contract that, even if he maxes out his incentives, will only pay $500k (the lowest in all of the MWC). Meanwhile, the last time Franchione coached anywhere west of Fort Worth was 13 years ago. I don't blame them for making the decision they did, and I don't think it reflects poorly on Franchione. As for Hoke, he took over a Ball State team that doesn't even have an Athletics Center or dedicated offices for assistant coaches. Hoke took them to 2 of the 5 bowl appearances in school history. SDSU hired him over Fran at a time when he had just led Ball State to a 12-0 record and a #12 ranking. I don't know if there was a hotter prospect in the college coaching universe at the time when SDSU threw money at Hoke and lured him away from Ball State before the team even finished the season. I don't think that losing out on a job to Hoke in early December of 2008 reflects poorly on Franchione at all.

Also playing for Casper is a 6'7" or 6'8" SF named Michael Dietz. Wyoming's Mr Basketball coming out of high school, committed to Wyoming but left for personal reasons 3 days into the semester. Averaged 17 ppg and 7 rebounds with 2 blocks per game as a senior on a one-loss state championship team. ESPN gave him a grade of 82. I just can't figure out why we're going after what seems to be the 4th or 5th most appealing prospect from last year's roster at a Wyoming JUCO consisting of a bunch of 2 stars and unevaluated prospects. Volume shooting 2 guards who aren't much over 6' tall aren't exactly a scarcity in the JUCO ranks. There has to be some reason we're on top of this one so early in the season, right?

The 2 scorers who led the team left after last season. Top scorer at Casper went to Utah, 2nd leading scorer inked with Montana.

2007: 11 commits by September 10th. 2009: 5 commits before the end of June. Not sure what happened to the old Commit threads from each year that showed dates, but can't really find the running tally from 2008.

I don't believe that's accurate. If I recall correctly, this is the fewest commitments we've had at this point in the year since hiring Dodge.

Let's just say that if you're excited about the prospect of potentially landing a kid who was a 6' shooting guard and didn't even get a full evaluation by ESPN (no 2009 Rivals listing at all) out of his L.A./Compton high school, and who has since gone on to be the 3rd leading scorer at his Wyoming JUCO... This new target will thrill you. At least he's grown to 6'2", according to his listing. Perhaps he's a diamond in the rough, and we're finding someone that's under the radar. And maybe he'll look better this year when he's not playing so much point guard. If JJ and the guys want him, then I'll try to stay optimistic.

I don't want to be a jerk, but are you here asking or selling? If you're asking, I think the answer came out pretty clearly and nearly unanimously. If you're selling, I don't think anyone is interested in the pitch.

I'll repeat the "not trying to sound rude or unpleasant" sentiment. But, to make the answer as obvious as it ought to be, I'll respond in the form of a question: North Texas declined the WAC 6 years ago, when it had Boise State, Nevada, and Fresno State as stable members. North Texas ignored a standing invite from Karl Benson for all the years in-between. North Texas made it so clear that there was no interest in moving to the WAC when Boise State announced a move to the MWC that Karl Benson didn't even bother making another formal pitch to try and lure us in. Now, with the WAC on the verge of complete collapse and fishing for unprepared 1-AA schools and/or teams that have never even played a down of NCAA football at ANY level... With Boise, Nevada, and Fresno State gone... Why would North Texas decide to make a move to the WAC now?

What to do about Cerebus's Birthday? (For FUN!)

Well, we know he can scramble. And he's VERY elusive.

Yup. I love Deloach, but this is the way it has to be.

I'll take a double dose of that sort of attitude and passion from our head coach. And, super extra bonus - He managed to keep himself from cursing! It's the best of all worlds.

Good list for reference. Important to note: O'Leary started off below 700k per year and bumped up over a million after earning a 10 year extension. West is gone, Larry Porter took over and makes more than 200k less than West did according to that listing. Larry Fedora's initial base salary was $650k. If we can get up in the $400-500k range, we'll be in the ballpark with what a lot of CUSA schools spend on their new hires. Considering that we're (we, as in, this message board) looking to shop on the discount pile for name coaches, we could conceivably get someone for roughly what UTEP pays Mike Price.

And, not to pile on... But as I recall, Miller was also short of the credits he needed to graduate. The guy wanted to stick around here not only to continue to contribute to our football team, but also to finish his education. And Miller never took a traditional redshirt. He used 4 years of eligibility in 4 years on the roster. We wouldn't have been asking for the more difficult 6th year exemption. Also, it bears mentioning that the year we decided not to bother filing for a medical redshirt that Joe Miller specifically asked for and wanted very badly... We had Riley Dodge suffer a concussion that kept him from playing the last 3/4ths of the year. But it didn't keep him from practicing. Riley got a medical hardship waiver that year, so it isn't like we couldn't find the forms or didn't know how to fill them out properly.