MeanGreen61

Hope this isn't a double post. Lufkin trio intrigued by UNT 01/10/2007 By Matt Malatesta/rivals100.com An interesting twist of fate is going on at the University of North Texas. New coach Todd Dodge has left a lasting impression on three east Texas teammates during his time at Southlake Carroll. Lufkin High School stars A.J. Penson, Jeremy Claybon and Ralph Thomas are taking an official visit to North Texas in two weeks. "I know our guys have a lot of respect for coach Dodge after years of playing Southlake," Lufkin coach John Outlaw said. "Penson has a tremendous motor at linebacker, Claybon wants to go somewhere to play quarterback and Ralph wants to go somewhere to play football and baseball." Penson (6-1, 220-pounds) is an all-district selection LB/DE, while Claybon threw for more yards than former Panther Reggie McNeal. Thomas has an opportunity to pursue two sports, but would play defensive back or the slot receiver in football. While the trio is looking at North Texas, Lufkin wideout Dez Bryant has narrowed his choices to LSU, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. "Dez is getting close with his grades A.J. Penson - Rivals 2-star http://www.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=43693 Ralph Thomas - Rivals 2-star (No photo http://www.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=55467 Jeremy Claybon - Rivals 2-star http://www.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=42329

Article says coaching staff hires are completed.

Rivals 3-star - Greg McElroy http://www.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=36268

Leftwich thread from the Tulsa board. Gets some good props there. http://tulsa.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=17...115&style=2

Rivals on Giovanni Vizza http://www.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=55402

There IS a difference in playing at the ultimate level and being around high quality coaches and actually COACHING. Now tell us about his COACHING experience. Just playing the advocate for the Devil's advocate here.

???. Some on this board will find something to b#t$h about & if they can't find it, they'll imagine it

College Football: Johnson will play for UNT By Brett Vito/Staff Writer Breece Johnson had been considering playing for North Texas for some time before the team's coaching staff changed over in mid-December. Once Todd Dodge arrived in Denton, the recruiting process was essentially over for the Colleyville Heritage wide receiver. "I really liked UNT when the old coaching staff was recruiting me," Johnson said. "Once coach Dodge got the job there, it made me want to go there even more." Johnson, 6-1, 175, got his wish late Sunday when he made an oral commitment to play for the Mean Green. Oral commitments are nonbinding. The first day recruits can sign national letters of intent in Feb. 7. Dodge added to his staff in addition to his first recruiting class over the weekend by hiring former Texas graduate assistant coach Derek Lewis to be his defensive ends coach. While Dodge has yet to coach a game at UNT, Johnson has a good idea of what to expect from his new head coach after playing in the same district as Carroll the last few seasons. "I was impressed with what coach Dodge did at Carroll," Johnson said of the Dragons, who won four Class 5A state titles under their former coach. "I played against Carroll twice this year. I thought it would be better to play for him than against him in college." Johnson had yet to receive scholarship offers from schools other than UNT, but was being recruited by Colorado State, Texas State and Utah State. The offense UNT will run under Dodge was one of the factors that helped sell Johnson on playing for the Mean Green. Dodge runs a spread offense and had one of the most productive passing attacks in high school football in the area the last several years. Dodge will employ the same offense at UNT. "I like the fact that coach Dodge throws the ball a lot," Johnson said. "It will be similar to what I am used to playing in at Heritage." Johnson was one of the most productive receivers in the area last season when he caught 88 passes for 1,343 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was a first-team selection on The Dallas Morning News' All-Area team and was also named to the Associated Press all-state team. Johnson said a chance to play right away in college was a factor in his decision. UNT lost its all-time leading receiver Johnny Quinn to graduation after last season along with fellow senior wide receiver Joel Nwigwe. Johnson might not be the last receiver from Heritage to commit to UNT. Johnson said his teammate Evan Walker will be among the players taking official visits to UNT this weekend. Walker led Heritage with 99 catches for 1,476 yards and 15 touchdowns and was a second-team selection on the Morning News’ all-area team. Lewis will be on hand to welcome Johnson to UNT when he arrives in the fall. School officials confirmed on Monday the former Texas standout has joined the Mean Green's coaching staff. Lewis spent the last two seasons as a graduate assistant coach with the Longhorns. Lewis was a four-year letterman and two-year starter at Texas. He was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 1998 and went on to play three seasons for the St. Louis Rams. The addition of Lewis leaves just two spots left for Dodge to fill on his staff. UNT officials said Dodge plans on completing his staff in the next few days.

The Zoomies always have undersized, but disclipined linemen that know how to block.

A lot of excitement about the offensive style that TD is bringing to UNT, but his teams seem to play pretty good defense also. An interesting defensive stat. In 2006 the SLC defense held 9 opponents to 7 points or less ! Very impressive !

Arrow is very happy in Corpus Christi. Doubt if he'd be a candidate.

Sun Belt Conference Tournament- Since 2001, NT has made it to the 2nd round ONE TIME (2002) Since 1981 NT has won ONE conference tournament (SLC in 1988). 1988 is the ONLY time that NT made it to the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately it seems that NT basketball is the MOUSE THAT ROARED The road loss to Arkansas State wasn't just a loss, it was a MASSACRE

Pony board thread. http://www.ponyfans.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=22612

"The former Fort Worth Eastern Hills standout recruited North Texas during more than 20 years as an assistant coach at the Air Force Academy."

We may not understand and have questions, but apparently TD doesn't. Gotta beleive he's got good reasons for this staff addition.

College football: Three Carroll coaches bound for UNT Dodge hires Mendoza, Ford, Drake 11:35 PM CST on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 By Brett Vito/Staff Writer The new coaching staff at North Texas will have a decidedly familiar feel for head coach Todd Dodge after he dipped into the high school ranks to hire three of his former assistants at Southlake Carroll. Defensive coordinator Ron Mendoza, offensive coordinator Todd Ford and defensive line coach Robert Drake have all notified the Southlake school district of their intention to leave the school and join Dodge at UNT, Carroll ISD athletic director Ronnie Tipps said Wednesday. Former Air Force offensive coordinator Chuck Petersen is also joining the staff, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation said. Dodge was introduced as UNT's new head coach on Dec. 12. "All of them are outstanding coaches and all have great rapport with their players," Tipps said of the Carroll coaches. "Coach Drake is one of the better teachers we have in our school district. They will do a great job at North Texas." Petersen worked his way up on the Air Force staff under Fisher DeBerry, who retired after 23 years as the Falcons' head coach in December. Petersen began his tenure at Air Force as a graduate assistant coach in 1985 and eventually served stints as receivers coach (1991-96) and quarterbacks/fullbacks coach (1997-99) before becoming the Falcons’ offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2000. Petersen served as Air Force's offensive coordinator through last season. The American Football Coaches Association named him its Division I Assistant Coach of the Year in 2003. Petersen was a multi-sport athlete at Fort Worth Eastern Hills and went on to letter four years as a defensive back at Air Force. Dodge previously hired former Haltom head coach and UNT letterman Clayton George as the Mean Green's wide receivers coach. Dodge said shortly after he was hired that he wanted to put his staff in place quickly to catch up in recruiting. The former UNT offensive coordinator began that task after leading Carroll to the last of four Class 5A state titles during his tenure at the school on Dec. 23. Dodge took over for former head coach Darrell Dickey, who was fired in the middle of his ninth season last year. UNT finished with a 3-9 record in 2006. "We have to hit the Dallas-Fort Worth area hard in recruiting," Dodge said shortly after he was hired. "We are a little behind, but we can get our game plan together and let kids know that we are here and excited about being at North Texas."

Correct. A donation in '07 is part of '07 deductions.

I beleive that TD has thought long and hard about his choice of assistants. TD knows that with his HS rep and the publicity already received, he'll be scrutinized by many. UNT can be his launch pad or his sinking ship. You can bet he's well aware of what's at stake with his personnel decisions.

Looks like TD is bringing HIS team with him. Can't argue their success on the HS level and they're use to WINNING. If they can just accomplish the same on the 1A level.......SHAZAM

For those who may not know & a reminder to others. Donations to the Mean Green are DEDUCTABLE FROM YOUR INCOME TAXES Feed Unkie or help move UNT forward !

Bingo ! We need to move forward & not be lookin' thru the rear view mirror !

No, but Idaho wanted him as a walk-on.

Something you can bet on. We can get a state-of-the-art stadium that is the envy of most and some on this board will still find something to moan and groan about.

It's time to move on and let this thread to R.I.P.

If it's not trashing him, why did you bring it up ? You seem to overlook the accomplishments the young man had and elect to dwell on a youthful mistake that he paid dearly for. Some people can take a positive thread that was started because of a positive idea and try to turn it into muck. Save us from holier-than-thou attitudes.