gangrene

While listening to the game, I heard George call out a Texas town almost every time he referenced a La-Mo player's home town. Sort of left me wondering if they have any players on their roster that aren't from Texas.

And why do you think he is suing? Where did you get $375,000 from anyway? He was contracted to earn $850,000 in 2009, $900,000 in 2010. 75% of that is $635,000 and $675,000, respectively. Had he not been fired, he would have earned a minimum of $5.85 million, without incentives, for the term of his contract through 2014. So 75% of that is $4,378,000 - that's, basically, the amount for which he's suing. I don't know who you think is going to offer him $3 million a year...with or without the USF lawsuit. In fact, I don't know that he'd command that much if this whole incident had never occurred. As a proponent of hiring Jim Leavitt for HC at North Texas, I hope he does win his lawsuit because I think we'd be able to afford him and let USF make up the difference between 75% of what they were paying him and what we'd be able to pay him.

Leavitt's contract was good through 2014. If it is determined he was fired without cause, he's entitled to 75% of his contract through 2014, so this lawsuit is about a lot more than $309,000. In addition, I don't believe he's even been paid the $66K nor would have likely accepted that payment for fear it would indicate agreement with the terms of dismissal. Please read the following paragraphs from Leavitt's contract closely as this, in addition to trying to reclaim any semblance of his former reputation, is why Leavitt is suing USF:

Yes, and yes. If not for these factors, we'd wouldn't even be mentioned as a credible possibility for Leavitt.

It hasn't even been one year since he was fired on January 8, 2010. He didn't file the lawsuit until March 15, so it's been two days over eight months. And...how many FBS head coaching positions have become available since January 8, 2010? Aside from the frenzy created when Lane Kiffin left Tennessee on January 15, 2010, I count three, including ours, and all three are still open....not exactly what I'd call "killing his attempts to get another head coaching job."

The fix was on. Stanford was favored to win by 4 1/2....someone lost or made a lot of money on that stunt.

So you're arguing with yourself now? Plumm, you've really got to stop those voices in your head.

Yep, it's amazing how much the perception changes when one shed's the label of "coach's son." The same phenomenom seems to be occurring in Boulder: Iowa State vs. Colorado Cody Hawkins stays at Colorado and shows heart Quarterback whose father was fired throws for three touchdowns in a victory over Iowa State.

No, I don't think many on this board understand those dynamics.

There is some fire to this smoke. It is my understanding that Stoops interviewed for the job back in 2006 and was not thrilled that he didn't get it.

Ok, I tried to leave this thread open but obviously that's not going to work. Time to lock the gate.

OK, I don't know who Dick is but apparently he is disliked by many on this board. I have removed all references within this thread to or about Dick. Unless Dick is candidate for our HC position, please don't mention Dick's name again - I'm tired of getting reports about him.

That's actually in line with some info I got back in October, prior to the FIU game.

Perhaps, but Leach is only 49 and has zero NCAA National Championship rings, zero Super Bowl rings and something to prove. I don't think we've seen the last of Leach's coaching days.

No, you're right, I'm sure there's not much more to the story. I just found it curious, that's all.

Very well put. +1 Let's not sell ourselves short this time.

So you mean USF wanted an interim HC with previous FBS head coaching experience? Hmmmm....

Leach lying low in Key West I thought this was a nice, current article on Mike Leach. It sounds like he's enjoying his time away from football and is in no real hurry to find his next head coaching gig, although he did say this:

Ok, so in order to be classified as a retread one has to be fired from that position....I can buy that. But, by that same definition, Canales is a two-time retread OC. And, just for the record, I am in no way endorsing Larry Coker or suggesting he be considered for this position. The guy's a nut job and I agree with your assessment of his situation at Miami. However, I think UTSA definitely hired the right guy for their job at this period in their program's development. Likewise, I think Schnelly was the right hire for FAU but it's past due for them to begin looking for his replacement.

I don't think anyone is discrediting Canales and certainly not because he worked with Todd Dodge. That's not the issue, at least not for me. The guy has been a Head Coach for TWO games!! TWO games!!! One could make the argument that Todd Dodge had more experience being a HEAD coach than Canales has. And what, exactly, is the definition of a retread?? Someone that's held the same position at another school? Was Nick Saban a retread before he took the Alabama job? Lou Holtz? Steve Spurrier? Canales held the title of OC at three different schools, does that mean we hired a retread for OC when we hired Canales? Is Larry Coker a retread?? Sometimes it seems that UTSA is getting more national pub than UNT is and they haven't even played a single down of football yet.

I'm not trying to knock Canales either. Yes, I raved about him when he was being considered as OC and he was easily my top choice...for OC. Nothing he's done since he's been here has made me think any less of him or his coaching abilities. I think Canales is an exceptional coach and that we're lucky to have him. I'm just not convinced he's our best option for HEAD coach. I'm certainly not ready to proclaim that we've found our guy and need to end the search immediately. Now, if we've interviewed and evaluated other top applicants and they've all turned us down or don't seem to be good fits, I could be convinced to give Canales a chance.

Thanks for the correction. I meant the 2008 season. Canales was indeed OC at USF in 2009. However, it was in 2007 that USF achieved the #2 BCS ranking and Gregory was OC that season.

I don't know. How many other "lower level schools" coming off of six consecutive seasons of three wins or less have hired "big name" coaches prior to the season in which they will be opening a new stadium? My point is our situation is unique and should be treated as such. We shouldn't be looking to pattern our decision based on what other schools may or may not have done. Personally, I believe we should hire a coach that has been a successful FBS HC because, quite frankly, it's more credible for recruits to believe that said head coach can be successful than it is to believe that North Texas football can be successful. In addition to O'Leary, Frank Solich is doing pretty good at Ohio. Not a mid-major but in similar circumstances, Lou Holtz started the South Carolina revival and Steve Spurrier picked up where he left off.

Awesome! Who cares about things like HC experience, recruiting success and winning when you've got enthusiasm and passion? Ask SF 49ers fans how hiring a passionate, enthusiastic interim HC is turning out for them this season.

Right, why buy a Mercedes when you can have a Kia. Both have four wheels and get you where you need to go. Seriously though, Canales was with Leavitt for the first five years of USF's football life. Then he voluntarily left to seek greener pastures at NC State, NYJets and Arizona. During Canales' absence from USF, the Bulls joined Conference USA in football (2003) and then the Big East (2005). When they achieved a #2 BCS ranking, it was Canales' first season back at USF, where he served as Pass Game Coordinator/QB Coach after he was dismissed as OC at Arizona. Now, I'm sure Canales learned a great deal from Leavitt during his time at USF, but he is not Jim Leavitt and he shouldn't be expected to bring everything to UNT that Leavitt would.