MeanGreen61

Posted by KajunRaider on the Sun Belt board. http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9310118 An elaborate recruiting operation that has steered more than $100,000 to a Los Angeles business founded by a prominent junior college coach has stunned the NCAA, the NABC and athletics directors at some of the Division I schools involved. Some of those schools: Iowa State, Louisiana Tech and 2006 NCAA Tournament team Iona. "I think (any involved) coach would be putting his job in jeopardy," said Jim Haney, president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

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WKU & FIU in. http://www.womensnit.com/06%20PostBracket.pdf

Blue Raiders to begin spring drills Tuesday. MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - For the first time in the young tenure of new Head Coach Rick Stockstill, the Middle Tennessee football team will come together on the field as spring practice gets underway on Tuesday. Due to NCAA guidelines, the team will be in shorts for the first day in a practice that begins at 4 PM on the Blue Raider practice fields http://goblueraiders.com/?go=story&doc=4962

JONESBORO, Ark.—Work officially begins toward repeating as Sun Belt Conference champions on Tuesday for Arkansas State as the Indians kick off spring practice with an excitement surrounding the team unlike any in recent years. http://www.asuindians.com/ViewArticle.dbml...0&ATCLID=248008

5. RB Jamario Thomas, North Texas – Anyone who watched Thomas carve up Sun Belt defenses en route to the 2004 NCAA rushing crown knows that last year’s production was an aberration. An injured hamstring limited him to just 89 carries, 361 yards and no scores a year after exploding on to the scene with 1,800 yards and 17 touchdowns. Thomas’ struggles with his hammy the last two seasons is a concern, but he feels great this spring, and assuming that doesn’t change, he’s more than capable of making a push for 2,000 yards in 2006. http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2006/Co.../RC/Rebound.htm

Paragraph on money needed for stadium & baseball. UNT has offer of land for 18 holes Developer proposes space for golf course, but school would need money to build 08:52 AM CST on Sunday, March 12, 2006 By Matthew Zabel / Staff Writer The developer of 3,400 acres southwest of the Denton Municipal Airport wants to give the University of North Texas some land to build a golf course. The developer, UNT officials and the Denton City Council, which is expected to annex the property this summer, all like the idea, but acknowledge many details need to be worked out before such a thing could become a reality. The Stratford Co., which plans to develop the area known as Cole Ranch, has offered to give UNT about 300 to 350 acres along Hickory Creek to build a championship golf course suitable for NCAA competition and for the public. UNT Athletic Director Rick Villarreal estimated it would cost between $7 million and $10 million to build a good golf course, and that’s just the first hurdle the university would have to overcome. “All the money would have to be privately raised, and the golf course would have to financially sustain itself,” Villarreal said. “It’s still just a discussion. We have a period of time to look at the feasibility of it. If it’s not feasible, we won’t go forward.” He said he also has to keep that project in perspective with other athletics projects UNT is trying to raise money for, like a football stadium, estimated to cost about $40 million. UNT also needs money to start a baseball program. Dave Denison, vice president of the Stratford Co., acknowledged the university’s work will take some time, and said his company will move forward with its request that the city annex that property this summer. “Rick has so much on his plate right now,” Denison said. “This is a little bit of a back-burner deal for them, and that’s OK. We’re going to let them come along at their own pace.” Denton Mayor Euline Brock said a new UNT golf course would certainly be a boon to the city, especially if it were a public course. “Anything that promotes either of our universities is a benefit to the city,” Brock said. “It’s an image problem to think that the UNT golf team has to go outside the Denton city limits to play.” That also takes an economic toll on the city, she said, because UNT’s out-of-town opponents eat, sleep and spend money in cities other than Denton, Brock said. Until 2003, UNT owned the Eagle Point Golf Course adjacent to the Radisson Hotel. The hotel leased it from UNT and operated it. But because of financial problems with the golf course, the hotel and university agreed to cancel the hotel’s lease, and UNT retook control of the golf course. UNT’s golf team had not played on that course for several years before that. Then the university closed the golf course and built athletics facilities and a residence hall on the property. More athletic facilities, including a new football stadium, are planned for that property. That move in 2003 caused a lot of angst among residents in the neighborhood surrounding that golf course because they said their home values would decrease. Some of those residents remain upset by that move and said a new university golf course would not sit well with them. Linnie McAdams, one of the most vocal in the opposition to UNT’s action at the time, said one of UNT’s biggest reasons for closing Eagle Point Golf Course was that it was not feasible to operate. “If they decide now that a new golf course is feasible, I think the neighborhood would feel it was not good planning,” McAdams said. “I would hope that any university would be looking more than four or five years ahead in planning.” Alice Gore, another resident who opposed the closing of Eagle Point Golf Course in 2003, said she would not see a major problem with UNT having a new golf course, but that the city could not afford to lose that land from its tax rolls. But Mayor Brock said there is no comparison between that former golf course and the proposed new one. Eagle Point Golf Course was in bad repair, and at less than 160 acres, it was too small to be worth the expensive repairs it needed, Brock said. “That golf course had few people playing on it,” she said. “The hotel was managing it and was having trouble, so they were turning it back over to the university. It would have needed enormous repairs, and it was not large enough to do the kind of improvement that it needed to be a championship course. There’s no relationship between those two.” Denison said if UNT determines it’s not feasible to build a golf course, the company might consider a private golf course, but it’s likely the area around Hickory Creek would instead become a green belt. Villarreal said a golf course could become a benefit to the whole community. It could be a championship course on which UNT’s golf team could host tournaments. Also, it could be open to the public sometimes and it could host several high school tournaments. “It’s not just about our golf team, it’s about the whole community,” he said, though he emphasized UNT could take up to two years to determine if a golf course is feasible.

The Longhorns are national champions. Texas high school football might be the best in the nation. Those schools annually provide some of the best Division I prospects. Then you add Cowboys, Texans and the NFL heritage. Aside from oil, football might be the state's No. 1 export. http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9288839

Actually surprise is not the word. Being in the only 1A conference that has no games or teams listed has better descriptive words that shouldn't be used in mixed company

Per Sagarin #17 CUSA (UCF's current conference) #18 Sun Belt #29 Atlantic Sun

The only 1A conference with no games or teams listed ? You guessed it; the Sun Belt ! http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2006/Fe...5_top_games.htm

Or just leave it like it is and be happy with a much better conference & alignment

From the Sun Belt board. THE TENTH ANNUAL BIRDY AWARDS--TEAMS AND COACHES (Main Board) posted by BirdofParadisio , 03-11-2006, 11:37, from 64.12.117.10 TOM PETTY FREEFALLIN' AWARD--EAST DIVISION--UALR Lost their last five conference games to finish fourth in the East. Won a game in the tournament then reverted by getting hammered by South Alabama. Wouldn't have won in the tournament if it hadn't been for.......... TOM PETTY FREEFALLIN' AWARD--WEST DIVISION--NORTH TEXAS Started 5-2 in the league and then lost six of seven. Finished it off by losing to East Division Petty Winner UALR. Is this team EVER going to start playing defense???? PHOENIX AWARD--LOUISIANA After starting 1-7 in the league and 5-14 overall, Cajuns finished second in the West and got to the tournament semifinals before giving Western Kentucky all they could handle. BIGGEST IDENTITY CRISIS--NORTH TEXAS If they want to be known as the Mean Green, why is it the only song their band seems to know is "Fly like an Eagle?" TAKE A BOW AWARD--FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL Living up to their name, FIU players use the international tradition of joining hands and bowing to the crowd before each game. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR AWARD---ARKANSAS STATE Signed Dickey Nutt to a new contract under reduced salary. Arkansas State promptly reduced their number of wins this season. JEKYLL/HYDE AWARD--TROY Made 23 three pointers in their first round game vs. Arkansas State. Made six (one after halftime) in their overtime loss to Louisiana. THE $168,000 MISTAKE AWARD--MIDDLE TENNESSEE Leading by one with 40 seconds left, MTSU passed up a sure layup to bring the ball back out and run clock, even though Denver was guaranteed another possession. Two passes later they turned it over and Denver scored with a second left to win....let's see....7000 people times twelve bucks times two games....yep 168,000 SOMEBODY JUST SHOT MY DOG AWARD---COMMISSIONER WRIGHT WATERS His expression after Nicholson's shot against MTSU said it all CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU AWARD ULM Women's Basketball, FAU Women's Basketball, baseball and softball. TAKE YOUR TIME GETTING HERE AWARD FAU and ULM men's basketball, ULM Baseball (1-15) and softball (lost 12 of their last 13.) HONK IF YOU'RE HORN(y) AWARD Troy's band. Loud, proud and plenty of brass BEST BAND REPITOIRE--FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL Really good selections. Made me say "Oh wow" multiple times BEST DANCE TEAM--LOUISIANA'S RAGIN JAZZ Because I see them all the time, I take them for granted. But after seeing the others, this one isn't even close BEST LOOKING DANCE TEAM--FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (Men's team dancer division) SECOND BEST LOOKING DANCE TEAM--FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL (Women's team dancer division) They have an A and a B team, I guess. Me gusto mucho las senoritas cubanas. BEST LOOKING CHEERLEADERS--WESTERN KENTUCKY I had to stand up and cheer. SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION AWARD--KERMIT DAVIS--MIDDLE TENNESSEE I swear, sometimes I think the man is just going to explode, sending body parts all over the Murphy Center. IT'S ALL ABOUT MY GUYS AWARD--MULTIPLE WINNERS Darrin Horn nominated five players for all conference, Sergio Rouco four, Dickey Nutt three, UALR three. AND.........TWO PLAYER AWARDS I FORGOT TO PUT IN THE PLAYERS' SECTION SPONGE BOB AWARD--DANIEL EMERSON--WESTERN KENTUCKY Dude has the squarest head I've ever seen FUTURE MONSTER AWARD--THERON HUDSON--MIDDLE TENNESSEE He'll be the next dominant big man in this league.

From the Sun Belt board. THE TENTH ANNUAL BIRDY AWARDS--PLAYERS (Main Board) posted by BirdofParadisio , 03-11-2006, 11:12, from 64.12.117.10 For you newcomers, I do this every year. It's all done in fun. If you get offended, grow up. PLAYER OF THE YEAR--ANTHONY WINCHESTER--WESTERN KENTUCKY We've had good shooters in this league (Eric Channing, Erik Benzel), but Winchester is as good at getting his own shot off the dribble as this league has seen in many years. Handles it well, good rebounder, underrated defensively. The total package for this league. NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR--KENDRICK DAVIS--NORTH TEXAS Some good newcomers this year, including Denver's Walker and UALR's Jones-Jennings, but it's easy to see why Davis started at a bigger school Very good athlete, solid shooter and like Winchester, can create his own shot. FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR--VACATED Someone won this award only because someone had to. Malone won't be confused with previous Frosh winners Winchester, Michael Southall or Courtney Lee. COACH OF THE YEAR---MONTE TOWE--NEW ORLEANS I have no problem with the guy who won it, but let's take a look at Monte Towe. Lost his house. Lost his University. Had to convince his players to relocate 300 miles away. Lost his center (Elias). Lost his point guard (Mcalebb). Lost his leading scorer midway through the season. Yet finished fourth in the West, and had a win in the tournament. We only THINK we know what this guy went through. Amazing job. Just amazing. COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR--MICHAEL SOUTHALL--LOUISIANA After two years of inactivity, Cajun center came back with a vengeance, dominating most opponents. Finished his career #2 all time shot blocker in Conference history. And, he did it the right way this time, both on the court and in the classroom. Went from being a total waste to a potential NBA player. Robert Lee might have saved this kid's life. BIGGEST JOKE ON THE ALL CONFERENCE TEAM--YEMI NICHOLSON-- DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR. Blocked plenty of shots, but when he didn't, he either got in foul trouble or just stood there and let you score. Southall dunked in his face eight times in one game and Yemi just stood there and took it. Terry Carroll should be reprimanded for nominating him for this award.....which gets Nicholoson the dreaded annual MOST OVERRATED award. Good offensive player. Horrible defender. MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER---RICHARD LAW---SOUTH ALABAMA This kid has never gotten enough credit. Think of him as a poor man's Anthony Winchester. Silent assassin from the outside who also takes it to the basket and rebounds well. Doesn't take a lot of shots, but seems to always make the big ones. BEST ATHLETE--DWAYNE MITCHELL--LOUISIANA I have to go all the way back to Darnell Mee to think of an athlete anywhere close to Mitchell. Also gets the BEST DUNKER award. MOST IMPROVED PLAYER---MARIO JOINTER--SOUTH ALABAMA Went from being just a shooter to a good all around player. Also did it more in the team concept this time around. Pelphrey got his attention and turned him into a total player. BIGGEST SURPRISE---RASHAD JONES-JENNINGS--UALR Come on. Do you really think Steve Shields believed he was signing the nation's 3rd leading rebounder? BIGGEST DISAPPOINMENT--ED TURNER--LOUISIANA Cajuns thought they were getting the league's newcomer. Didn't shoot it, turned it over too much and got suspended twice. Will be interesting to see if Lee brings him back.

Now this would be a conference ! From a post by TopCoog on the La Tech board. If CUSA teams left for Big East expansion. 1. TCU 2. UTEP 3. North Texas 4. SMU 5. Houston 6. Rice 1. Tulane 2. La tech 3. Memphis 4. USM 5. UAB 6. Tulsa that would be the ultimate line up if we could get it.

NCAA investigating UL Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com The University of Louisiana received notification Wednesday that the NCAA has begun an investigation into both the football and men's basketball programs. The investigation involves eligibility of a student-athlete and prohibited out-of-season practice activities, according to a university statement released late Wednesday night. The statement specifically mentions football and men's basketball, but did not detail which sport was involved in which area of the investigation. Athletic department spokesman Daryl Cetnar said the university received official word of the notice of inquiry Wednesday in the form of a letter to UL President Ray Authement. "The NCAA has asked us not to comment further on this," Cetnar said. Interim athletic director David Walker said in the university statement that he expects the NCAA to conduct and complete the investigation this month. Walker, reached by phone Wednesday night, confirmed that the university had received a notice of inquiry but said he did not know the time frame of the investigation or what the next step in the process will be. Walker declined further comment. Football coach Rickey Bustle and men's basketball coach Robert Lee did not return phone calls for comment Wednesday night. The NCAA sends an institution a "notice of inquiry" when it has reasonable cause to believe the institution has violated NCAA rules. That determination is made after either correspondence with the institution or through in-person inquiries. NCAA Assistant Director of Enforcement Dan Matheson conducted a series of interviews in April on the UL campus. Matheson did a second set of interviews in November with Authement, Lee and Bustle, along with other UL staff members. The NCAA sends a notice of inquiry to an institution's chief executive officer if the enforcement staff finds evidence of violations in such interviews. Normally, the notice indicates the nature of the potential violations including the involved sport, the approximate time period in which the alleged violations occurred, the identities of the involved individuals, the approximate time frame for the investigation and an indication that other facts may be uncovered during the course of the investigation that may relate to additional violations. The NCAA does not publicly release the notice of inquiry and gives member institutions the discretion to release it themselves. The investigation that follows the notice of inquiry, if it determines that major violations of NCAA legislation have occurred, could be followed by a notice of allegations that contain specific charges against the institution. The NCAA must either give the institution the notice of allegations or an update on the status of the investigation within six months after the date of the notice of inquiry. The UL basketball program has been under scrutiny since last summer, when recruit Berry Jordan alleged that he received money and other benefits from the program, including campus housing when he was not a registered student. Originally published March 9, 2006

Why ?

Post by SpaceRaider on the Muts board. http://middletennessee.rivals.com/showmsg....90&sid=&style=2 in the Sun Belt (revenues, expenses, "profits"): (Plus income/profit in bold) Florida International....$14,805,418........$13,549,929......$1,255,489 North Texas................$14,214,129......$12,871,833......$1,342,296 Middle Tennessee........$13,577,458......$13,577,458......0 Florida Atlantic...........$13,193,871......$12,938,652......$255,219 Troy..........................$10,440,036......$10,028,850......$411,186 Louisiana..................$8,035,657.......$8,035,657......0 Arkansas State............$7,214,040.......$9,424,316......-$2,210,276 Louisiana-Monroe.........$5,535,782.......$5,531,489......$4,293

" It felt great to get out there with the guys and control the game the way I wanted to.” Football: Phillips shines at QB in UNT’s spring game 08:56 AM CST on Friday, March 10, 2006 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer Matt Phillips has waited a long time to start a game for North Texas. If UNT’s Green-White spring game on Thursday is any indication, that wait could come to an end in the fall. Phillips was on the field from the opening play at quarterback for the Green in UNT’s annual scrimmage and led his squad to a 38-14 win over the White at Fouts Field. UNT head coach Darrell Dickey divided his coaching staff and roster into two teams that faced off in the finale to spring workouts. Phillips completed 11 of 18 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns on a night when he made his case to start in a regular-season game for the first time in 2006. “It was fun coming into the game knowing that I was going to get to start,” Phillips said. “I was able to get mentally prepared and I didn’t have to wait around on the sideline for my time. It felt great to get out there with the guys and control the game the way I wanted to.” Phillips spent his freshman year rotating with Daniel Meager, who started every game during a disappointing 2-9 season. Spring practice gave Phillips another opportunity to show what he could accomplish in what has become a crowded quarterback battle. Former Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College standout Woody Wilson and junior Jonathan Ieans joined Meager and Phillips in the race for the starting job during spring practice. Wilson showed flashes of the athleticism that made him an honorable mention All-Jayhawk Conference selection last season while throwing for 165 yards and a touchdown for the White team. Meager didn’t play due to a shoulder injury. Dickey declined to name a starter after the game, but said he was pleased with all of his quarterbacks who helped make the spring game a high-scoring affair. “Matt was really composed and ran his team well,” Dickey said. “In the past we have had guys open and overthrown them. When he throws the ball, he is on the money. … Woody is getting more and more comfortable in our offense. “I feel much better about our quarterback position than I did standing out here last year.” Senior wide receiver Johnny Quinn took advantage of a solid game from Phillips by catching seven passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Joel Nwigwe added 123 receiving yards and two touchdowns for the Green, while Brandon Jackson had 120 receiving yards for the White. The Green scored on each of its first six possessions.

From the official Sun Belt board. http://sunbeltsportstv.nmnathletics.com/Vi...CRIBER_CONTENT=

Fall from top to bottom caps NT men’s rocky season Hot start, early home stretch left team scrambling By Michael Neglia Staff Writer March 08, 2006 The NT men’s basketball team had a lot of promise coming into the season, finishing with a 14-14 record the previous year, returning three starters, and bringing in a new core of bench players. Despite losing its leading scorer, guard Leonard Hopkins, it was expected that newcomers such as junior guard Kendrick Davis, junior guard Lionel Brown and others would be able to pick up the slack and compliment returning starters senior guard Isaac Hines, junior guard Calvin Watson, and senior center Jeffrey Simpson. For the first 18 games of the season, it worked well. Davis was scoring, Brown was scoring, Simpson was scoring, and even Hines – known more as a ball-handler – was scoring. The bench would occasionally start runs, and, at the very least, sustain a lead. The Mean Green was sitting in first place in the Sun Belt Conference after starting 5-2 in league play and 12-6 overall. The only concern at that point was that only six of its games at this point were on the road, setting up a season-ending stretch that included six of its final seven conference games on the road. NT had a chance to take a half-game lead over South Alabama at home in its eighth conference game of the season. Instead, the Jaguars trounced the Mean Green 89-67, sending NT on its road trip scrambling. The Mean Green was never able to recover, losing its next five conference games in a row, including three heartbreakers to New Orleans, Middle Tennessee, and Denver. This skid causes one to wonder if the team actually fell apart, or if it played too many home games in the beginning of the season, overachieved and was unprepared for the long road stretch. By the end of the regular season, NT was 14-13 and 6-9 in the Sun Belt, just like last year, and finished the season with another first-round loss in the conference tournament. It was a disappointing year, as an improvement could have been the next step towards possibly establishing itself as one of the conference’s best teams. The team returns Davis, Watson, Brown, emerging freshmen forwards Harold Stewart and Harold Edwards and others. But until next season, all the Mean Green can do is think about what if. http://www.ntdaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART...8/440e824951816

North Texas Realistic best case record with this schedule: 7-4 Barring total disaster worst case record: 3-8 Realistic record: 5-6 There's still one date to be filled. If the Mean Green is back to being the Mean Green, there's a chance for a good season. However, the Sun Belt road schedule is rough going on the road to UL Monroe, Troy, UL Lafayette and Arkansas State. On the plus side, those road trips are spaced out well with must wins against teams like FIU and Florida Atlantic. Sept. 2 at Texas Sept. 9 SMU Sept. 16 at Tulsa Sept. 23 at UL Monroe Sept. 30 MTSU Oct. 7 at Troy Oct. 14 OPEN Oct. 21 FIU Oct. 28 OPEN Nov. 4 Louisiana Tech Nov. 11 at UL Lafayette Nov. 18 Florida Atlantic Nov. 25 at Arkansas State - Almost certain win | Likely loss | Could go either way Texas & Tech listed as likely losses, all others could go either way http://www.collegefootballnews.com/sun_bel...am_Schedule.htm

That's swell. But look at the list of Division I schools that will be penalized and see if you notice a trend: Football: Temple, Toledo, Middle Tennessee State, Western Michigan, Buffalo, New Mexico State, Northern Illinois, Hawaii. See any Rose Bowl contenders in that group? Basketball: Cal Poly, Centenary, East Carolina, Hampton, Jacksonville, Kent State, New Mexico State, South Carolina State, Texas State, Maryland Eastern Shore, DePaul, Florida A&M, Prairie View, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Sacramento State. See any programs that will find this report a distraction on the way to the Final Four? This is a little like the old 1980s compliance joke, "The NCAA is so mad at Kentucky, it's going to give Cleveland State three more years' probation." Here, we see that the NCAA is so serious about academic reform, it's going to take scholarships away from the dregs of Division I. Take that, Sac State! I'd love to have someone show me the payoff for moving up to Division I-A football at Louisiana-Lafayette ($3.1 million in the red in 2003-04) and Louisiana-Monroe ($2 million in the red). They haven't even made it to the Sun Belt's sole postseason tie-in, the New Orleans Bowl. If more of these schools knew their true place in the college sports hierarchy, the budget problem might not be so pronounced. And there might be more in the coffers to pay for academic support. ARTICLE http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/sto..._pat&id=2350199

Wonder how many on this board actually donate $ to athletics. Not just buy tickets, but also contribute ?