SUMG

Rayford Cooks?????

Holy Cow! I googled Mr. Apunku....and came across this....2 pages worth of guys who are considering us. And, maybe every one of these is listed over on the recruiting board...I don't know. Anyway...make sure to check out both pages: http://northtexas.scout.com/a.z?s=353&...c=4&yr=2008

BTW...here's a disclaimer: First practice reports are notorious for being glowing. They were mostly doing drills....in which you can see athleticism....but until they practice and scrimmage...it's hard to pick out flaws. That being said....we do look very athletic. I didn't see anyone woefully out of shape.....they all look in good shape, as a matter of fact. Speaking of athleticism...Justin Howerton is very athletic. He's mobile and agile.....runs the court really well. Don't know if he'll ever put it all together on the court.....but he has the tools to be a good player.

Here's the story: http://www.star-telegram.com/college_sport...ory/266820.html

According to today's FW paper....Giovanni Vizza's grandad founded a car wash chain...there in San Antonio. It's called The Wash Tub, and there are 20 San Antonio locations (if you SA area fans want to give them some business). It says in the story that all of the family (included Gio) have washed cars at one time or another (at one of the businesses). It's a neat story on him and his family. If it's on the FW-ST website...I'll try to link it over here. Good luck today...Giovanni!

I only stayed an hour or so.....so others who were there may want to add stuff that I missed. 1) We are once again going to be very athletic. We've added a lot of other athletic players to the mix. (our new guys). 2) Quincy and Harold Stewart both looked like they had hit the weights...both have really toned arms. 3) Even though he's redshirting....Mangrum was suited up. He didn't participate in many drills (if any). But, the fact that he wasn't in street clothes....makes me think that he'll be able to start practicing in the near future. 4) Freshman Josh White....has great ball handling skills. 5) Some great hops out of Adam McCoy---an unbelievable dunk. 6) Kedrick Hogans----when we signed him late (in June or so)....some thought he was a "reach." I think you'll change your mind, once you see him. Good player, lots of potential. 7) First fight of the practice...occurred about 10 minutes into...as Odufuwa and Wooden tangled up. Some other guys piled on top of them...and then JJ jumped in to separate everyone. No harm done. Later on, drex and I started fighting in the stands and JJ had to separate us, as well. 8) There were probably 30-40 fans watching the practice...I'd say. 9) With the addition of Tic Price....we really have a seasoned coaching staff. A lot of expertise and experience for JJ to go to... Anyway....that's just some of the stuff...that I noticed. I think every kid out there has the potential to contribute...and I think you're really going to like what the newcomers bring to the table. Others may add their thoughts.........

I made the mistake of buying two of the college b-ball preview mags...without checking them out before purchasing. Both CBS Sportsline and The Sporting News...did horrible reporting on our team. Both mags mention three players....Bell, Quincy and Wooden. That's it. Not a single mention of any of our new players. Whoever wrote the write-up on the SBC teams .....didn't do 10 minutes worth of research.

Kudos to the Athletic Department for moving the start of the Cameron game...back 30 minutes to 7:30. This will allow folks plenty of time (provided there's no OT)....to get from the Navy football game to the Cameron basketball game. And they should be in their seats in time, for the Banner raising. Good move, Athletic Department.

CMJ and UNT 92......sorry if I misinterpreted your responses. I know that you both are great fans.....and that we all tend to get frustrated by the way UNT hoops is treated like the ugly stepchild. Anyway, I'll be at the practice tonight---am glad that it is now at least open. I'll report back on how the guys look.

Oh you guys are right....I'm sorry. We couldn't possibly have had an event tonight to arouse interest and kick things off AND have a banner ceremony on November 10....as well. My bad...sometimes I forget and think that I'm following a Division I sports program.

I've been told that the carrier pigeon which the Athletic Department uses to dispense information....has the bird flu.

The fan event would be so that you might generate more interest....and thus have more fans on GAME DAYS. Other schools do this kind of thing. Having distraction at one practice...isn't going to ruin the team...trust me.

I'll be there.... GMG B-Ball!

Maybe now it's open again......the line about it being closed has been taken off of the article at meangreensports.com Note to the Ath. Dept.: If the FW paper screwed up, and that stuff that I mentioned in the first post---is not planned....THAT'S OKAY. Most of us just want to see practice. No one will hold the FW paper's mistake against you.

One more thing: I'm 50....so I no longer come to pep rallies....now that they're concerts and food fests. But, if say someone had planned the b-ball event from say 7-8:30 or 8:45...my old ass would have walked from The Super Pit to the pep rally...since I was already in the area. Done right.....and this b-ball event could have increased the size of the pep rally crowd.

I get the feeling, Buford that this wasn't JJ's call (closing the practice tomorrow). Like I said in the first post....there was a blurb about the event in today's FW paper. So, somebody had some stuff planned for tomorrow. And I'd bet the reason that it was cancelled was because of the pep rally. Note to NT: Pep rallies don't have to be 3 hour events....with free food and concert. If the students have to be bribed to come to a pep rally---we should stop having them.

Not really, Jeffrey. The practice starts at 7. The freaking pep rally starts at 9 or 9:15. All that crap from 7:30 on at Clark Park, is a food give away and concert for STUDENTS. So yeah, the practice could have still been open to the public....and not have affected the pep rally one bit. BTW, I personally could give a shit if the crowd is light for the performance by Space Monkey. I guess we'd rather promote them, than our b-ball teams.

Are you KIDDING ME? Now, the official site says that Friday night's practice is closed to the public. Never mind.

According to the front page, Fire Fightin' Rick turns 41 today. Have a great one, buddy!

As of 8:53 on Thursday morning....there is no mention of this on the official site. So, I hope the FW paper is correct. I'll be there, if it's happening.

According to a blurb in today's FW paper....we have our first practices (men and women) Friday night at 7. It's open to the public. There will be some skills competitions, some interactive contests for fans, and posters will be available for autographs. After 60-90 minutes....both teams will participate in their first official practices of the season.

I wouldn't mind if it was a bit cooler, but I'll take it: http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/spor...r_topnav_sports

I don't care if you don't have a license to practice........you are now my doctor. Thanks for the prescription. On another medical note...over in the non-UNT sports section, I posted an interesting medical tidbit about Cowboys' kicker Nick Folk. Supposedly, his grandad invented bypass surgery.

Who the hell is Rich Tellshow? Never heard of him or his gasbag projections. All I know is, that Madame Sophie, the palm reader that I frequent.....says that we're going 4-8. And, she's damn good. It's uncanny how good she is. Just a few weeks ago, while reading my palm, she told me that I "play with myself" too much. It was freaky how accurate she was. So, screw Rich Tellshow. Madame Sophie knows her s##t.

(from the DMN blog:) The remarkable calmness rookie kicker Nick Folk displayed on Monday night runs in his family. Folk comes from a long line of doctors. He said his grandfather, Dr. Quentin R. Stiles, invented heart bypass surgery. His grandmother, mother, two uncles and an aunt are also doctors. "They have to be perfect in everything they do all the time or someone can die," said Folk, who was swarmed by reporters today. "In my situation, if you miss one, you live. Someone might be hurtin', but you'll live." Folk planned to join the medical profession, but he switched his major from pre-med to marketing as a sophomore at Arizona. "I'm not going to lie," Folk said. "I failed Calc II, so that kind of steered me away from it." Folk can laugh about his academic failures, because the kid has aced all his NFL tests so far.