gangrene

I'm afraid I don't share your optimism. What corner are we close to turning? We're 1-6 and that's pretty much been the standard for the last 4 years. OK, so we've had some injuries this year. Maybe we'd be 4-3, without the injuries? Maybe we'd still be 1-6? The point is no one knows and, frankly, no one outside of UNT cares. We're not going to win any recruits by telling them that we're 1-6 but we're close to being 4-3. The NCAA doesn't make exceptions in their bowl eligibility requirements for teams with injured players and we're not going to get any sympathy bowl invites for having have the most starters suffer season-ending injuries. Winning is the only thing that this program is going to be judged on by the world outside of UNT. Does it suck? Yes, but that's reality. Should we keep some of the current staff? I don't know but I'll trust that decision to a legitimate FBS qualified HC. If the new HC chooses to bring in an entire staff of HS, JUCO or even FCS coaches, then he shouldn't be hired. At the same time, I don't believe anyone on the current staff is irreplaceable nor do I believe that we have the top coach in the FBS at any one of our positions. Each position is capable of being "upgraded" in coaching talent but, again, I think those decisions should be left up to whomever the new coach may be, provided that new coach is capable of selecting a qualified and competent staff.

Thank you! I don't know where that rumor came from, but let's please bury it once and for all.

Absolutely ridiculous suggestion. As much fun as was poked at UNT for hiring a HS HC, it'd be multiplied by 100 for hiring Deion Sanders. We'd never get anyone to think we are a serious FBS football program again.

Me too. I would love to see where we'd be right now if we'd had this same staff in place four years ago.

Sources: Tim Brewster informed he will not be back in 2011 Tim Brewster reportedly told he won't return as Gophers football coach next season Brewster is in his fourth season at Minnesota. Also, in just his first season with Kansas, Turner Gill is rumored to be on the "hot seat."

I understand your point and that point is oftentimes validated at programs throughout the country (but don't tell that to Larry Coker). However, I don't, not even for a second, think that Leach would be fielding the same team Dodge did in game one (or one game) of 2010. That's not to say we don't have a talented team, but the talent Leach (or any other coach that has been highly successful at nationally-respected top 25 programs) would bring in would surpass anything Dodge has recruited thus far and/or would be able to recruit within the next 3 years. We received a nice recruiting spike the first couple of years Dodge was here, but that spike flat-lined long ago. I have seen a LOT of improvement in this season vs. the last three, but I'm not sure it's enough to placate me for another season of Dodge ball. While Dodge has obviously learned, adapted and gained invaluable experience during his stint at North Texas, I'm not convinced it's any more valuable than what another experienced FBS coach can bring to the table. I understand injuries have been a MAJOR issue this year and the number and positions that have been impacted would seem to defy all odds. Yet, successful programs have depth and players step up when another goes down - that's when new stars are found. We've seen that on this team, to an extent. But our depth is no where near where it should be and that's been exposed. And then there's the whole 7-win ultimatum that's been mentioned ad nauseum. RV has dug this hole and now he'll have to decide what to do with it. Since there seems to be so much questioning over whether or not he really gave that mandate, I suppose he could always back track and say that he was mis-quoted or misunderstood. I doubt he'd have many believers and he'd risk disenfranchising the alumni/fan base as well as losing all credibility with the coaching staff. And, even then, there's still no guarantee Dodge can or will turn this into a winning program. I know change can be scary but the past and present have been pretty scary too. Without knowing who would be interested in UNT for the salary we have to offer, it's difficult to say a change is the only choice. Still, I have to believe that we can get a qualified coach, whose experience, success and notoriety eclipses what Dodge currently has, even after his four years of on-the-job training.

As will my family and I. Yes, it will definitely be a historic event. With the many, inevitable changes on the horizon, it will be interesting to see what the attendance will be. I truly hope we have a big turn-out for our last game in Fouts, I'm just not sure many of them will stick around for the second half.

...is going to be UGLY. K-State just spanked Kansas, in Lawrence, 59-7. Ouch.

First, I want to be very clear in stating that Dodge's contract is public information because he is employed by a state university. His contract is easily obtainable via the USA Today coaches salary database, along with all the other contracts of coaches (both HC and Assistants) that are employed by state universities. Posting the actual contract or details therein violate no confidentiality clauses. I was looking over this earlier this week and I think you missed the biggest "interesting clause" (at least to me). That being the "Season Completion Payment" on Attachment "A" that pays him $20,000 upon the "completion" of a season. The exact wording reads: Season Completion Payment: Upon the conclusion of each football season, including participation in any NCAA sanctioned bowl game, in which Coach serves the entire season in the capacity of Head Coach, Coach shall be entitled to payment of any specified Season Completion Payment. No payment shall be earned and no payment made for any season in which Coach does not serve in the capacity of Head Coach for the entire season, including any NCAA sanctioned bowl game in which UNT may be invited to participate. $20K may not sound like a lot, but I think it may be enough incentive to provoke a decision prior to the end of the season.

That was a first-class teaser! Aside from the headline, the article barely mentions Mike Leach.

So, you think 7-5 every year is a "good career?" That's only one game above 500. 8-4 is a little better but I'm still not satisfied with that being the expectation. With our future OOC schedules, I don't realistically expect to ever go undefeated but I don't think a 10-2 or 11-1 mark should be out of the realm of expectations either.

I think that was an excellent job of acknowledging the 800 pound gorilla in the room without addressing it directly.

Matt Simon is another former UNT HC that went on to have success in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2000, as the RB coach. I had to look up the details and, according to Wikipedia, Simon is now serving as HC for the Gilmour Academy Lancers (7-12) and teaching 7th grade PE. Another interesting note about Simon; he served as Dennis Francione's OC at New Mexico.

North Texas coach Todd Dodge Wouldn't Have His Son Play For Him Again [url="http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/colleges/2010/10/northtexas-coach-todd-dodge-wouldnt-have-his-son-play-for-him-again.html#ixzz11vuCF8wc"]

I can't tell you how many times I've seen teams run the wildcat on 3rd and short this year.

I didn't get a good look at live either but I heard George talking about it on the post game show and he said it was a low kick.

They also mentioned that La-La "specializes in blocked kicks." Fortunately for us, they failed to mention that we specialize in missing extra points and field goals.

Should've bought that down to 23.5.

Don't forget the 6'5" former Denison HS QB, Jordan Taylor, whom Dodge recruited very heavily last January, We eventually lost Taylor to Rice, where he committed to play WR.

I just don't understand the rationale. Yes, the injuries were devastating and are a contributing factor to our 1-4 start. But every year it's something. They are nothing but excuses and I'm tired of excuses and the acceptance of losing. When I tell my friends, who are big college football fans, about the number of injuries we've had this year, they basically say the same thing. They expect that Dodge will get a reprieve due to all the injuries. But these same friends don't keep up with UNT football (they follow Tech, Auburn, Alabama, Ohio State, Texas, etc, - yes, they are alumni of their respective schools) and, while they are aware Todd Dodge is our HC, they often think he's just been here for 2 years. When I tell them this is his 4th season and remind them that we've won a grand total of 6 games during that time span, there is only a mild element of surprise...almost as if to imply well, it's North Texas...what do you expect? When I ask them if they would accept the same 6-win results over a 3 1/2 year period, I get this are you crazy?? expression and why would you even ask that question response. In each case the answer is always a resounding no. But, when I ask why the expectations should be any less for UNT, it's back to that who really cares, it's UNT, attitude. And, now, the Texas alumni base, only four games removed from a national championship appearance, is calling for OC, Greg Davis, to be fired because their offense is inept. firegregdavis.com To the UT alumnus that told me how upset he was with Greg Davis and agreed that he should be fired, I offered a trade, straight-up, UT's OC for UNT's HC - he wasn't amused. But, hey...we're North Texas....some directional school, so why should we ever expect any success on the football field? I guess I should remove my RV quote after this post? I've been biting my tongue a lot lately, so I'm allowed to vent once or twice a season, right?

And what, exactly, is taking place here that we can build upon? I understand the concerns of the "rebuilding" process and the two-three year window it generally takes to realize success. However, I would much prefer that to the 8-10 year course we seem to be on now.

I'd be on board with that move. Leavitt was actually born in Texas but the thing I like more about him was his loyalty to USF when bigger schools/offers came calling, coupled with his ability to take a start-up program to unprecedented success. The incident that led to his dismissal was serious but we're not going to get someone of his caliber without a few blemishes on the resume. There are a few others that interest me as well, but I'll wait until we actually have a vacancy to have that discussion.

Unfortunately, that appears to be true. Here's a story on cbs11.com: UNT Football Player Injured In Car Crash Update: Family Says Rake Taken Off Life Support My prayers are with the Rake family.

Voices provided by Alvin, Simon and Theodore???

June Jones doesn't sound too thrilled about tonight's game having more purple in the stands for SMU's "home" game. Here's a quote from today's DMN story Sherrington: Getting Mustangs Mania to match Frogs Fever will take a while, but it can be done: