MeanGreen61

SGA: Football petition hit goal http://www.al.com/press-register/stories/i....xml&coll=3 Thursday, November 01, 2007 By GEORGE R. ALTMAN Staff Reporter Student leaders at the University of South Alabama said they have collected the required signatures on a petition in support of a new football program, but the university's president said Wednesday that he will gauge alumni and community support before making a recommendation to trustees. "It's going to take a strong show of support from all of our constituents to make that happen," said USA President Gordon Moulton, who said he was encouraged by the number of petition signatures. "That will be one -- and I do emphasize one -- of the strong indicators," said Moulton, whose plan would use student fee money to cover much of the program's cost. USA officials required 2,000 signatures on petitions expressing support for football and willingness to pay an additional $100 to $150 each semester in activity fees. Student Government Association President Jennifer Edwards said Wednesday that goal has been met. "It's been going really well," Edwards said. "I think a lot of people are really excited about it." Though 2,000 signatures does not represent a majority of USA's 14,000 students, Edwards and Moulton said they are confident that most students want an intercollegiate football program and are willing to pay for it. Edwards said the signatures are a good measure of student support, as most student elections don't get 2,000 voters. Edwards said students plan to present the signatures to Moulton during the home opener for the men's basketball team on Nov. 10 at the USA Mitchell Center. She said strong attendance at that game would show that students not only want football but also are willing to support other USA sports. "It's really going to be a historical day for University of South Alabama athletics," Edwards said. ---

Today's NT Daily on-line http://www.ntdaily.com/

Second player alleges discrimination Richard C. White and Aaron Bracamontes Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: NEWS One day after NT head coach Todd Dodge denied allegations of racism on his team by a suspended player, a second player has come forward with similar allegations. Sophomore defensive back Desmon Chatman, who was suspended indefinitely earlier this season, notified a Texas chapter of the NAACP on Tuesday that he wants to join junior defensive back Dominique Green in his complaint against the football program. Both Chatman and Green were unavailable for comment. Dodge said that both suspensions were disciplinary actions because the players' actions were "detrimental" to the team and were not racially related. "I don't have anything to hide," Dodge said. "I know that I treat our players and our coaches treat our players the right way. It has absolutely nothing to do with the color of anyone's skin." Dodge was notified Tuesday night that Chatman had contacted the NAACP. "Again, it was a situation where a young man was suspended from our team and that happened quite a while ago," Dodge said. "I'm not surprised by it, I think the two complaints go hand in hand with each other, as far as them visiting with each other about it." NT Athletics Director Rick Villarreal said the department has launched its own investigation into the matter. "I think that in the long run, coach Dodge will be proven out to be correct," Villarreal said. "I have not been contacted by any player with a piece of evidence that said there was racism involved with the football team." Ericka Cain, mediator for Green's case, has not met with Green nor has she received Chatman's statement, but will meet with Green today. She is also attempting to set up a meeting with Villarreal. Administrators also plan to look into the situation, said Deborah Leliaert, vice president for university relations, communication and marketing. "The university administration is looking into allegations made by the student athlete, that he was unfairly suspended for an indefinite period of time from the team," Leliaert said. Dodge said he has not spoken with the team regarding the details, but he understands his players are aware of the situation. Junior defensive lineman Joseph Miller called both complaints "ridiculous." "I don't see a reason for all this," said Miller. "I don't know what they're trying to prove. There's no racial conflict on this team." Miller said the timing of Chatman's complaint surprised him and he did not understand why the issue of race has been brought up. "He was suspended a long time ago but now that Dominique said something, he wants to say something," Miller said. "He's been off the team for a while. We still see him around the study hall and dorms and what not, but he had never said anything or complained about anybody being a racist." Miller said both players should accept the reality of their suspensions. "Everybody gets an equal chance," he said. "If you mess up and do wrong and are insubordinate then that's on you. You have to be held accountable for your mistakes." Green said he felt he was being suspended for using the word "hood" on the sidelines, earlier in the week. Dodge said the suspension was a result of foul language and a continued disrespect for authority. "I'm not naive enough to think that foul language isn't used, but when it is, I'm not going to turn a deaf ear or blind eye," he said. "My coaches won't either. We're going to say, 'hey, that's not appropriate.' " Dodge said he expects his players "to act with class and sportsmanship" while on the sidelines. Both players' scholarships are still intact and are expected to attend mandatory study halls in order to keep their scholarships. "The University of North Texas is still paying for their education right now, so that has not been taken away from them," Dodge said. He also said he would look into the possibility of the players returning to the team this offseason. "As long as they show a sincere act of wanting to correct their attitudes, then they may have a chance to come back," he said. "I didn't want to call some big team meeting and say, this is happening, because our guys are smart, they know what's happening."

Freshmen contribute early to Mean Green football Shawn Edwards Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: SPORTS Instead of upperclassmen leading the Mean Green football team this season, the freshmen have taken over. The 1-7 record may be a result of a lack of experience but the underclassmen have shown that they can play and could be an intricate part of the football team's success in the future. Leading the freshmen this year is starting quarterback Giovanni Vizza. In six games this season, Vizza has passed for 1,295 yards, thrown eight touchdowns, rushed for 118 yards and has two rushing touchdowns. Vizza has already set the school record for most passing yards in a season by a freshman quarterback with four games left to play. "[Vizza] has done everything that I would think a freshman could do," said Assistant Coach Chuck Peterson. "I love his competitiveness; I love his toughness and his leadership." Peterson is an assistant safeties coach and recruiting coordinator for NT, who joined head football coach Todd Dodge at NT after spending 17 years coaching at Air Force and has helped bring in this years group of freshman players. One freshman who has also had a major role in the offense all season is running back Micah Mosley. Mosley has played in all eight games, splitting carries with senior running back Jamario Thomas, who has been hampered with injuries throughout the season. The Nederland native has carried the ball 59 times for 271 yards and two touchdowns, as well as catching a 30-yard touchdown pass in the loss to Troy University. "It's exciting, especially for the future, to see freshmen contributing in the way that we are trying to," Mosley said. With former Mean Green running back Patrick Cobbs and Thomas as his predecessors, Mosley said that he plans to work as hard as they have and said he is shooting to be as successful as they have been as a running back. Dodge has also added kick returns to the list of Mosley's responsibilities as he continues to tinker with the special teams unit. Freshman wide receiver Sam Dibrell has displayed why he deserved to be named a starting wide receiver as of late by getting his first 100-yard receiving game and his first touchdown of his career against Middle Tennessee State University. Catching touchdown passes from Vizza may seem familiar for Dibrell, who played in high school with Vizza at San Antonio-Alamo Heights, but the level of play has been much different. "It's crazy," Dibrell said. "College football is a lot different than high school. The speed of the game is so much faster and everyone is so much stronger. You can't get away with the things you used to be able to. I wasn't really used to people trying to push me off routes, but I think I have adapted pretty well to it and hopefully I can keep on doing everything right." Dibrell made his way into the starting lineup, filling in at outside receiver as junior Casey Fitzgerald moved to the inside slot position. Eight of Dibrell's 10 total receptions came Saturday against MT, along with 121 yards receiving and a score. Freshmen have also seen action on the offensive line throughout the season. Red-shirt freshmen left tackle Matt Menard and right guard Esteban Santiago have started since game one of the season against the University of Oklahoma. "They are doing great," Peterson said. "We aren't disappointed in the least with any of them." Defensively, freshmen have been less involved in games this season. The exception is red-shirt freshman Craig Robertson, a starter at outside linebacker. Robertson has amassed 28 tackles, three for losses and has three interceptions.

Thread from the MWC board. Air Force maybe thinkin' of joining Navy and Army as an Indy ? http://www.mwcboard.com/www/forums/index.php?showtopic=10434

Dodge addresses athlete's accusations Dodge 'offended' by racial charges Richard White Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: NEWS NT football head coach Todd Dodge addressed recent allegations of racism by junior defensive back Dominique Green Tuesday. Green was suspended indefinitely on Monday for "insubordination." Green claims he was suspended for racial reasons after saying, "We are from the hood" on the sidelines of last Saturday's game against Middle Tennessee. Assistant coach Clayton George verbally reprimanded Green before defensive coordinator Ron Mendoza pulled George away, ending the confrontation said a Denton Record-Chronicle article published Tuesday. Green was unavailable for comment. "It's unfortunate that it puts a negative light on myself and my coaching staff," Dodge said. "We don't have any racial problems on our football team at all. That's the one thing that I can lay my head down on my pillow at night knowing that I run a program that takes care of our players." Green filed a complaint with a Texas chapter of the NAACP on Monday, which is currently looking into the matter. Ericka Cain, a Texas youth and college adviser for the NAACP, is handling Green's complaint. Cain, who has been with the organization for six years, was one of the mediators involved in the Kappa Alpha Order racial incident where members of the fraternity waved confederate flags at a group of primarily black football recruits, Jan. 27, 2001. Green is scheduled to meet with Cain on Thursday to discuss his case in full. "He may have said what he did but I don't think a student should be suspended for it," Cain said. "As far as I know anytime a student feels that he has been treated unjustly, it's my role to investigate the situation and bring the two sides together, whether it be through mediation or just bring both sides to an understanding over the matter." Cain said she left a message with the NT athletics department on Monday, but has yet to discuss the case with anyone from NT's administration or athletic department. The university is dealing with the situation internally, conducting its own investigation by meeting with all parties involved before a decision is made. "Any time you have a person make that allegation, it's a disappointment because it means there's a problem," said NT Athletics Director Rick Villarreal. "Staff, coaches, players, all student athletes, they understand that I don't tolerate anything like this. But they also have the right to report a situation that is not proper." Dodge said he was "very offended" upon first hearing the allegations. "It never feels good to wake up in the morning and see your football program on the front page of the newspaper … singling your program out as racist," Dodge said. "It's not a racial issue, it's a disciplinary issue." Dodge said Green was not suspended because of his race; rather it was due to his ongoing disrespect for the authority of Dodge and his coaches. "It's foul language being used on the sideline," Dodge said. "And about being insubordinate when he's being redirected. I can promise you that the word 'hood' was not the only word used. I don't have any problem with that word." While Dodge refused to discuss Green's character, his teammates described him as a good friend. "I could trust him, I could count on him," said senior linebacker and defensive co-captain Maurice Holman. Senior defensive back and co-captain Aaron Weathers said Green had an easy-going attitude. "He's a good guy, I laugh with him a lot and I could call him my friend," Weathers said. Dodge explained that Green's latest incident on the sidelines Saturday was the last straw of what was a second chance given to Green. "It's not the only situation that happened," Dodge said. "I have counseled with the young man before on some incidences that have happened earlier in the season and we had cleaned the slate and started anew, so this is not the first situation." Although Green is no longer able to practice or play for the Mean Green this season, his scholarship is still intact for next season. NT athletics can decide at a later time to revoke his scholarship based on the conclusions reached at the end of their investigation. Dodge has not spoken to Green since he filed his complaint with the NAACP, but welcomed the opportunity to discuss the issue if Green wanted. Dodge has not spoken with the team about why Green is no longer with the football program, saying that the full details of the incident and his subsequent suspension should stay between Green and himself. Staff writers Aaron Bracamontes and Abel Prado contributed to this story.

Kudo's for aceing Excuses 101 ! Last year's defense played in a new system & may not have been stellar, but they did perform well enough to ranked in the mid 60's. They ALSO had to deal with "problems" such as poor field position, turnovers, etc because of the offense. We really didn't have a big impact player last year either. TD even said, probably to his regret, that the D would be the strength of this year's team and it sure AIN'T HAPPENED.

The ONLYconcern I have about TD is that he may hesitate to make coaching changes, if needed, because of individual loyalty. I'm excited about the future with TD, but less than thrilled about the defensive coaching performance and the special teams performance. Basically the same defensive players performed much better last year and special teams have gone to heck. We've gotta have a college level DC and special teams coaching to be successful.

Article from the Muts board. McCalebb sure deserves our respect. Sparks: McCalebb's loyalty unmoved by Katrina By ADAM SPAKS sparks@dnj.com MOBILE, Ala. — Bo McCalebb is the face of Sun Belt basketball. The New Orleans senior guard will likely break the Sun Belt's all-time career scoring record this season, but his high standard was set by a decision made far from the court. McCalebb, named Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year Monday, could be in a lot of different places besides New Orleans this season. He could be in the NBA after ranking fifth nationally in scoring last season. He could be at any number of top-tier basketball schools after Hurricane Katrina nearly washed away the New Orleans program. But McCalebb didn't abandon his school, his hometown or his team. "I guess any other player would've left in my situation, but I never considered going anywhere except my home," said McCalebb, a New Orleans native. "After Katrina, my coach told me we still had a team, so I called everybody to keep them there. I wasn't leaving." When Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005, McCalebb had already put together two phenomenal seasons and was undoubtedly contacted by plenty of prominent programs looking to add an explosive scorer in the hurricane's aftermath. But McCalebb stayed put. "It says great things about his character and his family," Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters said. "He was raised in an environment where a person's commitment means something." Loyalty tested New Orleans' Lakefront Arena was gutted by Katrina, and McCalebb knows he'll never play there again. McCalebb's hometown was damaged almost beyond repair, and he has his third coach in three years this season. Yet he still ignored inquiries to take his game elsewhere despite facing further obstacles. McCalebb suffered a season-ending injury in the 2005-06 campaign following Katrina. His mother's house outside New Orleans suffered hurricane damage, but his family (including a mother with a heart condition and four younger brothers) decided to endure the hard times in the Big Easy. "My mom said they weren't leaving, so I stood by them," McCalebb said. "I never had an intention of leaving New Orleans. This will make me a stronger person." McCalebb briefly considered a leap to the NBA last spring, but he quickly changed his mind. It seems the six-footer's best virtues always come through. "You can label him the most loyal college basketball player in America," MTSU coach Kermit Davis said. "He had every opportunity to bolt and play at a higher level school. The kid must love New Orleans and his family and friends there. And it was not only Katrina, but they lost their arena and he lost the coach (Monte Towe) that recruited him. But he stayed the course and you've got to appreciate that kind of loyalty."

How about a conference without snooty private schools ? Can schedule them for OC games. Some good rivalries in this mix. West North Texas UTEP New Mexico State Houston Louisiana-Lafayette Louisiana Tech East Arkansas State Memphis Southern Miss Troy UAB Middle Tennessee

Sad, but I don't believe that we have a TRUE, hated rival in the Belt. Maybe some day.

At one time ? Me thinks it still IS.

The Sports Network DATE & TIME: Saturday, October 27th, 7:00 p.m. (et) FACTS & STATS: Site: Fouts Field (30,500) -- Denton, Texas. Television: None. Home Record: MTU 2-2, UNT 1-1. Away Record: MTU 1-3, UNT 0-5. Neutral Record: MTU 0-0, UNT 0-0. Conference Record: MTU 2-1, UNT 1-3. Series Record: North Texas leads, 5-1. GAME NOTES: The red-hot Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders will try to remain in the win column when they travel to Denton to battle the North Texas Mean Green in a Sun Belt Conference tussle this Saturday evening at Fouts Field. After opening the season with four consecutive victories the team has won three of its last four contests, including two straight. The latest win came this past weekend, as the Blue Raiders defeated Arkansas State, 24-7. Since the beginning of last season the Blue Raiders have won eight of their last 10 league matchups. As for the Mean Green, they suffered their sixth loss of the season this past weekend, falling to Troy, 45-7. The lone victory for UNT came two weeks ago as the team slipped past UL-Monroe, 31-21. Since the beginning of the 2005-06 season the Mean Green have struggled in league action, posting a pathetic 5-13 mark. Last season the Blue Raiders hammered the Mean Green, posting a solid 35-0 victory over UNT. Although the Mean Green suffered the setback the team still has a commanding 5-1 edge in the all-time series. The success of MTU's offensive unit can be pinned solely on the shoulders of one man, and that is quarterback Dwight Dasher, who is leading the team in passing, as well as rushing yardage. Dasher comes into this matchup with 495 yards and three scores on 5.2 ypc, and while in the pocket, Dasher has been just as dangerous, completing 54.8 percent of his passes. The signal caller has thrown for 960 yards and six TDs against just one interception. In the recent win over Arkansas State, the Blue Raiders recorded a solid 384 yards of total offense, and that includes 205 rushing yards on 49 totes. Once again the Blue Raiders were led by Dasher, as the QB rumbled for an impressive 96 yards on 20 carries. Unfortunately Dasher had some trouble in the pocket, completing just 9-of-20 passes for 118 yards and one score along with one interception. What has crushed this defensive unit week in and week out has been its inability to slow down the opponent's ground game. Heading into this matchup teams are currently pounding MTU for a demoralizing 164.0 ypg via the run. Overall the defense is being abused for 362 total ypg, while yielding 24.0 ppg. In the recent win over ASU, the defense put forth its second consecutive outstanding performance, limiting the Indians to just 138 total yards, which includes a mind-boggling 22 rushing yards on 33 attempts. MTU forced four turnovers in the win and recorded a whopping nine sacks. The Mean Green have been a one-trick pony offensively all year, but unfortunately that trick did not work too well this past weekend against Troy. UNT is currently producing an outstanding 298.1 ypg through the air, but in the 38-point loss to the Trojans, the team finished with just 179 yards via the pass. Quarterback Giovanni Vizza completed 22-of-38 passes in the loss and finished with 172 yards and one touchdown against one interception. Vizza, who has taken the starting job from Daniel Meager, has been inconsistent in the starting QB role, completing just 52.5 percent of his passes. Vizza has thrown for just 999 yards and has only six scores against eight interceptions. As for the ground game it is clearly on of the worst in the nation. In fact the Mean Green currently rank 106th in the country with a pathetic 96.1 ypg on the ground. not one player has rushed for over 300 yards on the year and after seven games the team has just five rushing scores. This past weekend the Mean Green had a very strange performance defensively as the team forced an outstanding seven turnovers, but still managed to lose by a 38-point margin. In the setback the defense allowed a whopping 493 total yards and that includes an embarrassing 356 yards through the air. The team's struggles against the pass should not be surprising, considering the unit is being torched for 300.9 ypg via the pass. Overall this defense has been abysmal as teams are currently abusing North Texas for 521.3 total ypg and that has led to a mind-boggling 46.3 ppg. The Mean Green have forced 17 turnovers on the season, but have had trouble getting to the QB, as the team has collected only nine sacks. Jeremi Chapman has been a beast behind the line of scrimmage and is currently leading the squad with eight TFLs and 3.5 sacks. North Texas has been dismantled defensively throughout the season and now the team must face one of the most athletic players in the Sun Belt. Expect Dasher to have his way with North Texas as he leads the Blue Raiders to another win. Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Middle Tennessee 41, North Texas 23

NOTES AND QUOTES STRENGTHS With Ben Bell returning at point guard and Keith Wooden and Quincy Williams inside, the Mean Green should be solid in some fundamental areas. South Florida transfer Collin Dennis looks like a good bet to take on some of the scoring load. WEAKNESSES Other than Dennis, there are no proven or obvious candidates to replace all the lost perimeter scoring that Kendrick Davis, Calvin Watson and Michael Sturns supplied. Losing Sturns to a transfer may be a good thing in the long term because of his instability but in the short term it subtracts one more proven scorer from the equation. The Mean Green also loses some backcourt depth with the decision to redshirt Collin Mangrum for medical reasons. LAST YEAR 23-11 overall, 10-8 in the Sun Belt; lost in NCAA first round. HEAD COACH Johnny Jones (career 101-105); seventh season at North Texas (86-89). QUOTE TO NOTE "It has been difficult for us to get the quality of kids that we have gotten this year. There are several reasons why we were able to do it. We put in a lot of hard work, have stability and got a lot of exposure from going to the NCAA Tournament." -- North Texas coach Johnny Jones on his newcomers. GETTING INSIDE With a trio of senior starters carrying a roster filled with uncertainty there's no way the North Texas Mean Green come close to matching last season's success without big seasons from all three. "We have to set the tempo for the season," senior point guard Ben Bell said. "We have to prepare hard and get the job done before the season even begins. We plan on doing what we did last year and more." The Mean Green did something that had only been done once before in the history of the program: reach the NCAA Tournament. North Texas finished 23-11 overall, 10-8 in the Sun Belt and third in the West but got hot at the right time and won the Sun Belt Tournament. The Mean Green must now replace the three top scorers from that team; which means Bell, center Keith Wooden and power forward Quincy Williams must all take on bigger roles this season. Those returning seniors will need a lot of help, starting with more support from bench players such as power forward Harold Stewart and center Justin Howerton. Then they'll need help from two Division transfer, shooting guard Collin Dennis from South Florida and combo guard Dez Willingham from SMU. In addition to Dennis and Willingham, the Mean Green will be counting on immediate help from a recruiting class that has been ranked coach Johnny Jones' best class at UNT by recruiting analysts. Freshman small forward Tristan Thompson and Juco swingman Adam McCoy expected to compete for starting jobs this fall; freshman guard Josh White could play at either backcourt spot and freshman forward Kedrick Hogans could see some playing time on the wing. "I am very impressed with our new players," Williams told the Denton Record-Chronicle. "Coach Jones has brought in a lot of talent with great guard play and a couple of good big guys. Practice is going to be competitive and that was what the coaches are looking for." STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS Recruiting analysts are calling this Johnny Jones' best recruiting class. Two of the newcomers, freshman small forward Tristan Thompson and Juco swingman Adam McCoy, are expected to compete for starting jobs this fall, although McCoy might be better off as a sixth man because of his versatility. Guard Josh White could play at either backcourt spot. Freshman Kedrick Hogans, a 6-7, 195-pound forward, may need some time to grow. The player who could be the best of the bunch is 6-8, 240-pound George Odufuwa, but he'll sit out this season after transferring from Arizona State. The most experienced addition is senior Dez Willingham, an SMU transfer who could play either guard spot. With the loss of Juco transfer Ryan McCoy to NCAA eligibility issues in August, either Willingham or White will have to step up as the backup to starting point guard Ben Bell. KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: North Texas plays at New Mexico State (Dec. 1) and Texas (Dec. 5) but the Mean Green's best opportunity for a notable early-season win will come when Oklahoma State plays in The Super Pit at UNT on Nov. 14. PROGRAM DIRECTION At this point last year Jones faced real concerns about his job status after too many sub-par seasons and too many near misses. When the Mean Green finally put something together last season it led to a Sun Belt Tournament title and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. That led to a contract extension for Jones and his best recruiting class. PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP PG Ben Bell, SG Collin Dennis, SG-SF Adam McCoy, F Keith Wooden, F Quincy Williams. ROSTER REPORT Willingham started his career at Kansas State and then transferred to SMU after one season. He sat out one season and played two seasons at SMU and then left over the summer so he could transfer to North Texas. Because Willingham has earned his degree and is enrolled in an UNT graduate program that is not offered at SMU, the NCAA granted him a waiver to play this season without sitting out. "Dez will be an excellent addition to our basketball program," Jones said. "I think the leadership qualities he brings will be extremely helpful for us in our quest to compete for another championship." There's more playing time to be won by the newcomers after Jones decided to redshirt Collin Mangrum this season. Mangrum will sit out the upcoming season as after undergoing a series of offseason surgeries, including surgery to the patella tendon on his left knee, one on his right shoulder and another on his nose to open up breathing passages. Mangrum will then have three years of eligibility remaining when he returns for the 2008-09 season. "Over the last couple of seasons Collin has been battling injuries," Jones said. "He has been very helpful, practiced hard, played hard and had a great deal of success, but he hasn't been 100 percent." More playing time opened up when sixth man Michael Sturns transferred after the season and ended up at Division II Holy Family University in Philadelphia. Sturns was dismissed from the team in the middle of his a sophomore in 2005-06. He earned his way back on to the team and finished as the team's third-leading scorer last season with 12.1 points per game. Jones said Sturns wanted more playing time overall, especially at the point, and Jones could not guarantee that. The Mean Green also lost two other reserves in the offseason when forwards Jonathan Jackson and forward Harold Edwards decided to transfer to pursue more playing time at other programs. Jackson played in only nine games in his one season at UNT and Edwards played in only 15 games last season. The departure of Jackson and Edwards opened up a valuable spot for George Odufuwa, who becomes the second Arizona State player to transfer to North Texas. Current UNT forward Keith Wooden transferred from Arizona State two years and played his first season for the Mean Green last season. Odufuwa played his high school ball at Dallas Kimball and played in 13 games for ASU last season, averaging 4.8 minutes per game. Coming out of high school he was ranked as the fourth-best power forward in the state by TexasHoops.com. Odufuwa will sit out the 2007-08 season due to NCAA transfer rules. "George is a tremendous talent. With his size and ability he can dominate in the lane, and has the finesse to make plays on the perimeter, including knocking down the outside shot with consistency," Jones said. Jones reached back into his past to hire his former boss, George "Tic" Price as a UNT assistant. Price was the head coach at Memphis from 1997-99 and led the Tigers to the second round of the NIT and a 17-12 mark in his first year. After two seasons he was forced to resign a week before the 1999-2000 season because of an affair with a student. Jones, an assistant under Price at Memphis, took over as the interim coach at Memphis for that season. Price returned to coaching as an assistant at McNeese State for the 2000-01 season and became head coach the next season when Ron Everhart left for Northeastern. After leading McNeese 21-8 record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament his first season the program began a downhill slide that led to Price's dismissal in July. Price replaced Chuck Taylor, who left UNT to become an assistant at South Alabama. Taylor worked for new USA coach Ronnie Arrow at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi from 2002-05 and spent only one season at UNT.

Since UNT joined the Belt in 2001 Bowl game appearances.(4 teams, 8 appearances) 4- North Texas 2- Troy 1- Arkansas State 1- Middle Tennessee Men's NCAA appearances.(4 teams, 6 appearances) 2- Western Kentucky 2- UL-Lafayette 1- North Texas 1- South Alabama Bowl Game & Men's NCAA appearances. (1 Team with both) North Texas (4 bowl games, 1 NCAA appearance)

Check this Arkstfan post. It's possible CUSA won't provide the opponent for the NO Bowl this year ! Bowl Look Week 8 Posted by Administrator on October 23rd 2007 to General Looking right now (really need another week or two of games) -ACC is going to be close on whether they have a team for Boise. Two in BCS probably shorts Boise. -Big East will fill their slots unless they place two in the BCS. If they place two Louisville has to finish at least 6-6 or Birmingham is short. -Big 10 fill their slots and might have one or two that can go elsewhere at 7-5. -Big 12 fills theirs unless they put a second team into the BCS, in which case Texas is short unless Colorado or Nebraska makes it to 6-6 or better. -CUSA will likely short one or two games. Who knows who they will short between New Orleans, Texas, Hawaii, and Birmingham (my guess is Hawaii except that its run by ESPN). I think you see a dog fight between New Orleans, Texas, and Birmingham to be shorted if they feel sure they can get a Big 10 team. -MAC will fill their slots and you may see CUSA short Birmingham which send the MAC there to play the Big East because they have a contract to fill any open slots there. May not have 7-5 to go anywhere else. -MWC will fill their four. Question is can they get a fifth or sixth team at 7-5 or better to ship out. -Pac-10 fills their slots as long as they don’t get two in the BCS, in which case Fort Worth will be short unless Stanford can get to 6-6. -WAC could be short if Hawaii makes it to 12 or better in the BCS standings probably leaving Hawaii open. Remember this about the BCS. There are 10 slots. Six are guaranteed to the six conference champs and unless Hawaii cracks the to 12 there will be four at-large spots. BCS rules provide that only 2 teams from any conference can go to the BCS so based on the current standings, four of these five will send two teams: ACC, Big East, Big 12, Pac-10, and SEC. Bowls in danger of being short: Boise, Birmingham, Texas, Fort Worth, New Orleans, Hawaii. Just an early guess but I suspect the Big 10 will end up sending a team either to Houston to fill in for CUSA against the Big 12 or to New Orleans for CUSA.

Thread from Tech board. http://www.latechbbb.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46000

Conference leader Troy is tough test for NT Richard White Issue date: 10/19/07 Section: SPORTS At 2:30 p.m. this Saturday, the NT football team will attempt to accomplish something it hasn't achieved in three years, consecutive wins. This feat was last achieved Oct. 9, 2004, when NT defeated Utah State University on the road. Coming off a 31-21 victory against the University of Louisiana at Monroe, NT (1-5, 1-2) knows that beating Troy (4-2, 3-0) won't be easy. The Trojans have won four games in a row and are undefeated in conference play. "This Troy team is definitely the cream of the crop in the Sun Belt," said head coach Todd Dodge. "If we can go on the road in a tough, hostile environment and get a win, it'd be a great shot in the arm for us to get back into the hunt." Troy leads the series 3-1, even though NT has outscored Troy 53-45 in the four games combined. The Trojans have managed to squeak out victories by the slimmest margins. NT last beat Troy in 2003. The players believe a win against a team of Troy's caliber would send a loud message to the rest of the conference. "It's a good test for us to see where we're at," said freshman starting quarterback Giovanni Vizza. "A win would be a big statement to the rest of the Sun Belt." Troy's potent offense leads the conference with an average 34 points a game. NT's defense, coming off its best performance of the season against the Warhawks, looks to keep momentum going on Saturday. "We let our defense turn loose and play," Dodge said. "A lot of it has to do with confidence and playing with emotion and wreckless abandon." NT's defense has given up 30 or more points in each of its first five games. NT was ranked last out of 119 teams in the nation in both scoring defense and total defense. Last Saturday's victory raised NT to second to last in both categories as the defense tries to rebuild in its final six games. Senior defensive end and conference defensive player of the week Montey Stevenson admits NT has struggled to meet the lofty expectations placed on the program before the start of the season. "You got your doubters when you're not up to some people's expectations," Stevenson said. "We're a good team even though our record says we're not. We know the type of team that we are even though we had mistakes at the beginning." The real battle will be Troy's defense versus NT's offense. The Trojans have the best passing defense in the conference, allowing an average 184.2 passing yards a game. The Mean Green has the best passing offense in the conference, averaging 318 yards per game. Vizza's growing mobility could be the deciding factor. His ability to either scramble and find open receivers or run the ball himself when he finds the holes in the defense is crucial for a team that has had problems establishing a consistent passing attack. Vizza, who rushed for 66 yards last game, said he's up to the challenge. "I am feeling more comfortable if the receivers don't get open or if there's pressure, for me to be able to run," he said. The Mean Green will play at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium in Troy, Ala., against Sun Belt Conference leader Troy University.

North Texas (1-5) at Troy (4-2) 3:30 EST Why to watch: Has North Texas started to turn things around? With its first win of the year, beating UL Monroe 31-21, the defense showed up for the first time, while the offense had a strong, balanced game with few mistakes. Now the competition takes an upturn with Troy coming in off dominant wins over UL Monroe and FIU. With three road games ahead, including a showdown with Arkansas State and an interesting non-conference game against Georgia, the defending Sun Belt champs need to get in, get out, and get on with its season, while North Texas can make a name for itself with a huge upset win. Why North Texas might win: If that North Texas passing attack ever wanted to gear it up and get rolling, this should be the time. Troy hasn't faced anyone over the last month that can throw with any efficiency, and while North Texas is hardly consistent, if it wants to, it can throw and throw and throw some more. Florida International was able to crank out 248 passing yards last week, and if UNT QB Giovanni Vizza can get hot, the Mean Green should be able to bomb away for 300 yards. Why Troy might win: North Texas was able to beat ULM because the Warhawks gave up three big interceptions it couldn't overcome. While Trojan QB Omar Haugabook has had problems in the past with interceptions, Troy has been great in turnover margin this year, with a solid +1, good for 17th in the nation. North Texas needs Troy to self-destruct, and it isn't going to happen, while the Mean Green defense will have a nightmare of a time with the balanced Trojan attack that can put up points in bunches early. Who to watch: As if North Texas didn't have enough to freak out about, it can play great on both sides of the ball, and then have its heart ripped out by a big punt return. Troy's Leodis McKelvin has been incredible over the first six games, averaging 25.6 yards per punt return with two touchdowns, including one last week, and 21 yards per kickoff return. The UNT special teams have been average at best. What will happen: North Texas is playing better, but Troy is too strong in all phases to not with in a walk. The Mean Green defense won't be able to handle the Troy balance. CFN Prediction: Troy 38 ... North Texas 17 ... Line: Troy -18 PREDICTIONS / COMMENTS http://cfn.scout.com/2/651734.html

Football: Robertson earns starting position 11:22 PM CDT on Thursday, October 18, 2007 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer North Texas linebacker Craig Robertson knew his time to start would come at some point in his tenure with the Mean Green. He just didn't expect it to be now or under the circumstances that have unfolded the last few weeks. The redshirt freshman spent his first season and a half at UNT paying close attention to everything the Mean Green's veteran cast of linebackers told him while adapting to the college game. Robertson replaced one of those veterans in the starting lineup last week in the Mean Green's win over Louisiana-Monroe that broke a five-game losing streak to open the season. Senior Brandon Monroe moved into a backup role to make room for Robertson. The move paid off for UNT and Robertson, who will be in the starting lineup again Saturday when the Mean Green takes on defending Sun Belt Conference champion Troy on the road. "Craig handled the situation well," UNT senior linebacker Maurice Holman said. "He shows respect to the upperclassmen and listens to what we have to say. He is going to be a good one." That was evident in Robertson's first game as a starter when he intercepted a pass to set up a field goal and finished with five tackles, including two for loss. Robertson's performance was critical in the Mean Green's best defensive performance of the season in a 31-21 win. UNT held ULM to just seven points before the Warhawks scored two quick touchdowns in the final two minutes to make the game appear closer than it was. "I was surprised that I got a chance to start because we have a good batch of senior linebackers," Robertson said. "I just tried to play with emotion and let that take over." Seeing Robertson made an impact in the Mean Green's win over ULM wasn't a surprise for UNT's coaches, who have been impressed with the former Stafford standout ever since they arrived in December. "We noticed him the first couple of days of spring practice," UNT head coach Todd Dodge said. "As an offensive play-caller, when we go against our defense, I have to account for him. He makes me think if I want to work a particular scheme in his area." Dodge described Robertson as an ideal linebacker in a new era of college football, where most teams depend on a passing attack in a spread offense. At 6-0, 210, Robertson is fast enough to play in pass coverage but is also physical enough to play the run at the line of scrimmage. UNT took advantage of those assets by putting Robertson in position to make plays in the open field against ULM, which depends on a running attack powered by Calvin Dawson, one of the fastest running backs in the Sun Belt. Robertson helped UNT limit Dawson to 65 yards, breaking the ULM standout's streak of 10 consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Robertson's unusual combination of speed and size was what convinced UNT's former coaching staff to recruit the former multi-sport standout. Robertson played quarterback, linebacker, receiver, kicker, punter and safety at different times during his high school football career and was also an all-district selection in basketball and baseball. Robertson attributed some of the instincts he has displayed as a linebacker to the time he spent playing offense in high school. What has sped up his development even more is concentrating on the defensive side of the ball and learning the college game from players like Holman, Monroe and fellow senior Derek Mendoza, not to mention Phillip Graves and Shawn Early, a pair of former UNT linebackers who served as mentors last season. "I have learned more from the veteran guys on this team than I did my whole high school career," Robertson said. "Those guys are my role models, the guys who are here now and the guys who were here my freshman year like Phillip and Shawn." UNT will need Robertson to be at his best for what shapes up to be one of the biggest challenges of the season for the Mean Green. Troy is off to a 3-0 start in Sun Belt play and features quarterback Omar Haugabook, the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in the Sun Belt. Haugabook is averaging 320 yards of total offense a game for the Trojans, who lead the Sun Belt with an average of 34.0 points a game. Robertson will be a big part of UNT's plan to keep Troy in check because of the confidence Dodge has in one of his best young players. "He is a very focused kid and was an outstanding athlete in high school," Dodge said. "It's nice to see one where the original evaluation was wow and for that evaluation to pan out. He is really playing well right now." BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

Troy defense prepared for North Texas attack Thursday, Oct 18, 2007 - 12:20 AM TROY — Troy cornerback Elbert Mack doesn’t expect to see anything he’s not used to when North Texas plays the Trojans at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. “It’s going to be the same offense we’ve been seeing for a year and a half now,” Mack said. “They run a lot of tunnel screens and bubble screens like coach (Tony) Franklin has installed in our offense.” Two of the top offenses in the Sun Belt will be on display, and it’s a far cry from what was shown just two years ago, when Troy held off North Texas 13-10 in Denton. Since then, both offense have undergone a major overhaul. Troy brought in Franklin prior to last year and the new, pass-happy, spread-the-field Trojans won a conference title. North Texas fired head coach Darrell Dickey and brought in Todd Dodge, a successful high school coach at nearby Southlake-Carroll High School. Dodge is well-known for a spread offense, and North Texas leads the conference in passing at 318 yards per game. But it was a change in quarterback that helped UNT to its first win, a 31-21 win over UL-Monroe last week. The Mean Green will trot out true freshman Giovanni Vizza again this weekend. Vizza threw for 202 yards and ran for 66. Earlier this year, Daniel Meager threw for 601 yards against SMU, but was winless in four starts. “We would all be naive to say that there hasn’t been some renewed energy with Giovanni in the lineup,” Dodge told the Denton Record-Chronicle. “When we made the change, it wasn’t because of what (Daniel) Meager hasn’t done, it’s an indication of what Giovanni brings in terms of his running ability and the spark he brings.” Meager has been the starter the last two years, and he’s good enough as well, Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. “They’re both good enough to beat us if we don’t play our fannies off,” Blakeney said. “If we play our fannies off, we’re good enough to beat both of them.” Linebacker Marcus Richardson and the Troy defense would love to knock Vizza around early in the game, but that may not be the key to disrupting his game. “The biggest thing you can do to young quarterbacks is confuse them,” Richardson said. “You have to put them on their heels and force them to make checks they shouldn’t make. “You confuse young guys and hit older guys. You can’t confuse an older guy because an older guy’s seen it before.” North Texas wide receiver Casey Fitzgerald leads the Sun Belt and is third in the country in receiving with 140.8 yards per game. Vizza has thrown for 827 yards, and Meager has thrown for 1081, but the two have thrown 15 interceptions to just nine touchdowns. “They can play football,” Mack said. “Their stats show it. Their offense is a good team and they can throw it all over the field. They’ve got the numbers, so we’ve got to go out and play a good game.”

UNT faces more injury issues Just when I thought it would be safe to say that North Texas' injury situation appeared to be of no concern this week, another player missed practice today. Yesterday, it was starting cornerback Antoine Bush, who sat out with a bad hamstring. Today it was Dominique Green, who has a problem with his shin. UNT head coach Todd Dodge said that Green's status is in question for Saturday's game against Troy, but he is confident Bush will be ready to go. That was a slight change from yesterday when Bush's status was questionable. Both injuries are probably not that big of a deal. I expect both players to play and Dodge said he just wants to make sure both of his starting cornerbacks are ready to go this week. It has to be a concern that both Bush and Green are missing some practice time, though. Troy quarterback Omar Haugabook is the best player in the Sun Belt and leads the league in passing yards. Dodge credited his team's breakthrough win against Louisiana-Monroe last week largely to three great days of practice leading into the game. Bush and Green are missing time this week, which could prove to be trouble against the Trojans.

The Sports Network DATE & TIME: Saturday, October 20th, 3:30 p.m. (et) FACTS & STATS: Site: Movie Gallery Veteran's Stadium (30,000) -- Troy, Alabama. Television: None. Home Record: North Texas 1-1, Troy 2-0. Away Record: North Texas 0-4, Troy 2-2. Neutral Record: North Texas 0-0, Troy 0-0. Conference Record: North Texas 1-2, Troy 3-0. Series Record: Troy leads, 3-1. GAME NOTES: The red hot Troy Trojans will look to remain perfect in Sun Belt Conference action when they host the North Texas Mean Green this Saturday afternoon at Movie Gallery Veteran's Stadium. After starting the season with five straight losses, the Mean Green finally posted their first win of the year, defeating UL-Monroe, 31-21 this past weekend. Since joining the Sun Belt the Mean Green have been atrocious on the road, posting a terrible 16-32 ledger. Fortunately for UNT the team will be home for three of its next four contests. As for the Trojans, they have won four consecutive matchups, including a convincing, 34-16 win over Florida International back on October 6th. Last season the Trojans went 6-1 in league action and the team is on course to post an even mark this year, winning its first three SBC matchups. It does not get any easier for the Trojans, as the team will be on the road for its next three contests. The Trojans have won three out of the four meetings against UNT, and that includes a hard-fought, 14-6 win over the Mean Green a year ago. This past weekend the Mean Green put forth one of their best offensive performances of the season, scoring 31 points against UL-Monroe, while racking up 373 total yards. The ground game was especially impressive, as UNT rumbled for 171 yards on 39 carries. It was a surprising output on the ground, especially considering the team is netting only 107.8 ypg on a meager 3.4 ypc. Micah Mosley led the way with 73 yards and one touchdown, while quarterback Giovanni Vizza added 66 yards on 21 totes. Vizza, who has replaced Daniel Meager under center, has been inconsistent for the most part. The signal-caller has completed just 50.8 percent of his passes on the season and has just 827 passing yards and five touchdowns against seven interceptions. Regardless of who is taking the snaps, wideout Casey Fitzgerald is the main target downfield, as the receiver has grabbed 58 passes for 845 yards and six scores, all of which are team-highs. Against ULM, Fitzgerald was the main option through the air, as the wideout finished with six receptions for 118 yards and one score. Unfortunately North Texas had some issues against the Warhawks defensively, as the team surrendered 421 yards and three scores. The Mean Green were torched through the air, allowing ULM to collect 291 passing yards, but that should not be surprising considering opponents are averaging a whopping 291.7 ypg via the pass. Overall on the season, the North Texas defense has been one of the worst in the nation and heads into this game allowing 526.0 total ypg and 46.5 ppg. North Texas was able to force three turnovers in the contest, while also collecting four sacks. However, both areas have been troublesome for UNT, as the team has forced just 11 turnovers, while grabbing eight sacks on the year. Jeremi Chapman has been a beast on the front line for UNT, as the lineman has grabbed six TFLs and three sacks, both of which are team-highs. The Trojans possess one of the most dangerous offensive attacks in the Sun Belt Conference and head into this weekend posting 454.2 total ypg, which has led to a solid 34.0 ppg. The ground game is churning out 176.7 ypg, while the passing attack has also flourished, as the team is producing 277.5 ypg via the pass. In the recent 18-point win over FIU, it was the ground game for Troy that did most of the damage, as the team rumbled for an eye-popping 299 yards on 39 carries (7.7 ypc). Kenny Cattouse was the main threat for Troy as the tailback rushed for 205 yards and one touchdown on 14 attempts. Quarterback Omar Haugabook also contributed with 64 yards and a score of his own. The two players have combined for 768 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. At the same time, however, Haugabook has done a solid job under center, completing 59.5 percent of his passes for 1,638 yards. The quarterback has also thrown nine touchdowns against just six INTs. In the win over FIU, Haugabook threw for 195 yards and one touchdown on 24-of-34 passing. The big concern for the Trojans' defense is its inability to stop the run, as opponents are gashing Troy for 245.0 ypg on the ground. Overall the unit has been abused for 429.2 total ypg, which has led to 30.3 ppg. Surprisingly however, the Trojans did a tremendous job in their recent win over FIU, holding the Golden Panthers to just 329 total yards, including an outstanding 81 rushing yards on 24 carries (2.4 ypc). The defense yielded only 15 first downs and held FIU to just 3-of-15 on third down attempts. The Trojans also forced two turnovers in the win, and collected two sacks. This defense has forced an impressive 16 miscues on the year, but the team has had trouble getting to the quarterback and enter this game with only eight sacks. Offensively the Trojans are far too high-powered for North Texas to stop. Expect Troy to abuse UNT both through the air, as well as on the ground, en route to an easy victory. Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Troy 42, North Texas 21

4-3 last year counting the NO Bowl.

10-16-2007 - Stellar defense notches Dodge's first victory REPORT CARD FOR ULM GAME Quarterback (Vizza): B Receiving Corps: C+ Rushing Game (Jamario and Mosley): C+ Offensive Line: B Defense: A- Special Teams: D Game Balls: the entire starting defense. On Saturday night an emerald beacon shattered the darkness of the early autumn sky. Moments earlier, NT students and fans had made the long overdue spirit march across campus with the victory bell from Fouts Field to light the clock tower green in honor of the football team's first victory of the season. "This first win is the start of something new," Fitzgerald said. NT, backed by some incredible defensive plays and a record-setting offensive one, notched Todd Dodge's first career head coaching victory at the college level. The Mean Green dismantled conference rival Louisiana-Monroe 31-21 in front of a home crowd of over 18,000. The game was not nearly as close as the score indicated. It was the first NT victory since its 16-7 win on the road against Louisiana-Lafayette on Nov. 11, 2006. The story of the game was NT's defense, which headed into Saturday's matchup ranked last in the nation in scoring defense and total defense and second to last in rushing defense. It was statistically, and quite convincingly, the worst defense in all of college football the first half of the season. But that changed Saturday night. Gone was the defensive unit of the first five games. Present was the type of defense that could carry a team all night long, which it did as the offense struggled to get off the ground for most of the first half. "We've had bad things happen to us," said defensive end Montey Stevenson. "We just kept telling ourselves that good things have to happen to us and tonight they happened all night long." For the first time all season, NT's defense held its opponent to a first half shutout. Stevenson started off the fireworks by intercepting the Warhawks for a 20-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter. Defensive back Dominique Green joined in the fun by intercepting the Warhawks for a touchdown of his own, taking this one 75 yards to the house at the end of the second quarter. Not to be outdone, the always incredible Fitzgerald made the first impact for the offense by catching a shallow dump pass from Vizza. He then eluded several ULM defenders for a school record 99-yard touchdown reception, which also counted as only the 16th such play in NCAA history. However, ULM gave NT and its fans something to worry about as the Warhawks attempted a gutsy last minute comeback. The Warhawks scored 14 points in less than a minute with under a minute to play. The two scoring drives cut NT's strong 31-7 lead to 31-21, where it would stand as a botched onside kick allowed NT to recover the ball and let the final 34 seconds expire. Vizza finished a below average 16-of-30 with a respectable 202 yards. The passing game never really got off the ground. The rushing game didn't earn its stripe either, as Mosley led the team with 73 yards while Thomas pitched in with a meager 32 yards. The NT rush is allowed to have an average to below-average night as long as the pass is excelling as well as it has, except that wasn't the case this time. Neither stood out as the defense stepped up and saved the day. Fitzgerald led the receivers with 118 yards, 99 of which came off his touchdown reception. Next was Stickler with 68 yards, then Jackson for 16 yards. Vizza, however, earned his grade for two major reasons: 1) He's learning to control his turnovers. His only interception of the game could have come back to haunt him, forcing him out of his comfort zone if ULM had scored on the turnover, causing him to throw additional picks. But all was well as Stevenson made things right by picking off the Warhawks quarterback Lancaster seconds later on the first play of their possession. 2) He's maturing in his mobility. Vizza rushed for 66 yards, good for second on the team, just seven yards behind Mosley. His ability to scramble has always separated him from the other NT quarterback's, giving him the edge. If he continues to develop it, he'll become the dangerous dual threat Dodge always envisioned him to be. "When we recruited Giovanni, that's what we wanted to have in our offense: a quarterback that is an accurate distributor but also can produce in the ground game," Dodge said. "He's a warrior and he's a kid that will definitely throw his body around a little bit." Credit should also be rationed out to the offensive line. This was one of their best games this season. They gave solid protection to Vizza, but did slip at times, resulting in four sacks. In the end, they were able to allow him the space he needed to make his mad dashes. Last, but not least, is the downright shutout showing the NT defense put on conference leading rusher Calvin Dawson. To be kind, NT's defense has been utterly porous and sloppy against not just talented but even average rushers and rushing quarterbacks all season. Opponents have racked up ugly rushing totals against NT in its previous five games, which only serves to make its showing against Dawson that much more impressive. Dawson was averaging 134 rushing yards a game. The Mean Green suffocated and stuffed him all night, holding him to only 65 yards. This forced ULM to rely on their passing attack, which even on a good day is nothing spectacular. "When our defense caused the two early turnovers and returned them for touchdowns, it really took them out of their game. They're a team that wants to pound the ball out of the spread," Dodge said. "They ended up throwing the ball more than they're comfortable with and our defense put them in that position." This was precisely the type of defensive performance NT needed heading into this week's road game. Conference leader Troy will put up a fight, but Dodge believes his players will roll into the game with the momentum generated from Saturday's uplifting victory. "There's always going to be extra pep in your step when you get a win under your belt," Dodge said. Talking to the players after the game, the change in their faces, words and attitudes was profound. After weeks of searching, they had found themselves and are now ready to see what they can do with six games left to play. It won't be easy the rest of the way with some solid opponents still to come, but they're more prepared now than they ever were before. http://media.www.ntdaily.com/media/storage...y-2960510.shtml