MeanGreen61

Contrary to popular belief, the USS Arizona is no longer in commission. As a special tribute to the ship and her lost crew, the United States flag flies from the flagpole, which is attached to the severed mainmast of the sunken battleship.

Chattanooga beat a 3-1 Creighton team tonite that is currently #22 in Sagarin rankings. Score was 69-64. Makes our win over the Mocs even sweeter.

The Arkansas State game dropped our attendance average by 2,190 from 18,636 to 16446. Game by game 23,112 Tulsa 17,644 Troy (Tuesday) 14,153 ULL 19,632 ULM (Homecoming) 7,691 Arkansas State

Interesting question.......here's some figures 31,254 TCU (29,413) +1,841 22,826 Tulsa (16,906) +5,920 18.,630 SMU (17,706) +924 16,417 La Tech (17,548) -1,131 15,054 Houston (21,167) -6,113 10,072 Rice (15,785) -5,713

NCAA site season attendance averages for Sun Belt teams. Last year's average are in parenthesis and attendance plus or minus to right. 19,425 Troy (21,228) -1803 17,591 UL-Lafayette (21,401) -3,810 16,446 North Texas (15,184) +1,262 15,477 Florida International (7,366) +8,111 15,476 Arkansas State (15,327) +149 14,617 UL-Monroe (14,717) -100 14,526 Middle Tennessee (13,388) +1,138 11,476 Florida Atlantic (10,784) +1,830

JONESBORO — Dean Lee was out of the office Monday, but Arkansas State University’s athletic director said the phones were busy as fans sought tickets for the New Orleans Bowl. Lee said ASU has sold about 2,100 tickets for the game, a total that included complimentary tickets for the players. Tickets have been on sale for more than a week at the Convocation Center. Sun Belt Conference commissioner Wright Waters is hoping ASU can bring close to 10,000 fans to Lafayette. “It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come around every day,” Waters said. “It’s exciting, and it’s more than just a game. It’s a festival. There’s a lot of excitement there, and I think that number (10,000) would be pretty consistent with what North Texas has done the last few years.” ARTICLE http://www.jonesborosun.com/story.asp?ID=13287

From a post on the CUSA board. Bowl Eligible but not bowling: MAC (5) Miami (OH): 7-4 Bowling Green: 6-5 N. Illinois: 7-5 W. Michigan: 7-4 C. Michigan: 6-5 WAC (1) La Tech: 7-4 MWC (1) New Mexico: 6-5 Sun Belt (1) ULL: 6-5

All the games ARE finalized.

All slots filled. http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2005/Bo...Projections.htm

Navy is bowl bound (Poinsetta) with a 7-4 record and Army did go into the game with a 4 straight wins.

Thread from ASU board. Southern Mississippi has been invited to the NO Bowl. http://www.arkst.com/board/index.php?showtopic=22087 NO Bowl site announcement. http://www.neworleansbowl.org/article_2005_12_4_5616.html

UNT: Where do the Green go now? 11:46 AM CST on Sunday, December 4, 2005 UNT: Where do the Green go now? For the North Texas faithful, the holiday season just won’t be the same this year. Christmas and New Year’s Day will come and go as usual. There just won’t be a trip to the New Orleans Bowl for the Mean Green for the first time in five years, a change that has prompted questions about the status of a program that failed to live up to expectations. After a drop from four straight conference titles to 2-9, there should be questions. What there shouldn’t be is a change at the top, at least not when it comes to head coach Darrell Dickey. The former Kansas State quarterback built a winner in Denton, at least in the Sun Belt Conference. Dickey won four straight conference titles, earned four trips to the New Orleans Bowl and posted three straight winning seasons. He deserves all the criticism that has come his way for coaching a team that failed to win a game at home this year. The decision to not recruit a junior college quarterback turned out to be a mistake, judging by UNT’s performance this season. The lack of impact newcomers along the offensive and defensive lines proved to be costly for a team that was dominated up front. Dickey and his staff made those decisions. After four years of receiving nothing but praise for building bowl teams, that same staff deserves to experience the other end of the spectrum. Just don’t make the mistake of calling for the university to run off a coach who brought the Mean Green a pair of national rushing champions in Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas and more success than the school has enjoyed in years. A bad season will put pressure on Dickey to build on that success quickly, and that’s all it should do. Despite a down year, Dickey has performed remarkably well against his peers in the Sun Belt, a league of like-minded programs with designs of moving up in the world of college football. That has to be at least part of the standard by which he is judged. There are not a whole lot of coaches out there who have led their teams to four conference titles, let alone four in five years. That success and improvements in UNT’s facilities have built expectations. And UNT certainly has plenty for its football program that is planted in the middle of a recruiting hotbed in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. UNT wants to win games not just against the Sun Belt and other teams stuck at the bottom of the NCAA totem poll, but also against higher-quality opponents. The Mean Green faithful want to see wins over teams they hope to see UNT count as equals, like Tulsa and Louisiana Tech. That is easier said than done in the Sun Belt, a league that is a tough sell to recruits. The SBC was dominated in non-conference play again this season. UNT certainly didn’t help matters by failing to win out of conference for the second straight year. To move up, UNT will eventually have to start winning out of the league. Dickey knows that better than anyone. UNT has taken on a laundry list of the top teams in the country during Dickey’s tenure, including Texas, LSU and Oklahoma, but has also faced Memphis, Tulsa and Southern Miss the last two years. Those last three teams are the caliber of squads UNT needs to find a way to improve on a 7-39 non-conference record in the Dickey era and move up in the college football world. There is little doubt that will be a test for UNT, which has the challenge of playing in the Sun Belt at Fouts Field, a stadium built in the 1950s. The obstacle is one UNT will have to overcome by pointing to a new athletic center and academic center, not to mention a desirable location. After a down year, some will question if Dickey is the right coach for the job. Those questions are inevitable following a 2-9 season. Just remember the three winning seasons and four bowl games that preceded this season’s slide. Those milestone seasons might seem like they occurred a long time ago now, but they are landmarks in UNT football history. And they show that Dickey deserves a chance to right a ship that drifted off course this season. BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com. HighlighT: Patrick Cobbs breaks school rushing record There wasn’t much to cheer about during North Texas’ 2005 season, with the notable exception of Patrick Cobbs remarkable performance in his senior year with the Mean Green. Cobbs came back after sitting out the 2004 campaign with a sprained knee and seemingly broke a record or set a new milestone every week. By the end of the year, Cobbs had rushed for 1,154 yards to become just the second player in UNT history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in multiple seasons. The former Tecumseh, Okla., star also became the 69th player in college football history to rush for more than 4,000 yards in his career and finished with 4,050. Cobbs managed all of those feats with while displaying class during a frustrating season for the Mean Green. It is that poise that should be remembered almost as much as the way he set the tone for the Mean Green throughout his career. LowlighT: Sun Belt slide When one looks back on it now, North Texas’ unbeaten run in Sun Belt Conference play was a remarkable achievement. UNT went from the second conference game of the 2001 season all the way through the first conference game of 2005 without dropping a single contest in league play. By the time the streak finally came to an end this season, UNT had won 26 straight in the league. What followed that streak is without a doubt the most disappointing aspect of UNT’s 2005 campaign. The Mean Green didn’t just lose one Sun Belt game, they lost five and plummeted all the way to the bottom of the league standings. The dropoff was dramatic considering UNT had won four straight Sun Belt titles and was picked to win the league title again in the preseason coaches poll. UNT featured one of the best players the league has ever seen in running back Patrick Cobbs, but never found an effective quarterback or a way to get its defense on track. UNT had several young players show potential, including safeties Aaron Weathers and Steve Warren. Those newcomers helped UNT finish third in the league in scoring defense with an average of 20.3 points allowed per league game. Despite finishing among the league’s leaders in points allowed, the Mean Green couldn’t come up with the key stops they needed. UNT’s struggles offensively and defensively proved costly when the Mean Green lost five games by a total of 21 points in league play. The last of those losses was a 31-24 loss to Arkansas State in UNT’s season finale at Fouts Field. The win sent the Indians to the New Orleans Bowl and left the Mean Green wondering what went wrong in a series of Sun Belt Conference losses in a season when so much more was expected, including another conference title. Offseason dilemmA: Who’s the QB? North Texas came into the 2005 season with several unanswered questions, including one that will linger into the offseason. Just who should be the Mean Green’s starting quarterback? Redshirt freshman Daniel Meager started every game, but struggled at times. Freshman Matt Phillips came on in relief of Meager and rallied the Mean Green on several occasions, but never had a chance to show what he could do as a starter. UNT coach Darrell Dickey said there is a chance former UNT quarterback Joey Byerly could return to the team in time for spring practice, less than a year after he surrendered his chance to become the Mean Green’s starting quarterback when he was declared ineligible over the summer. Dickey also said UNT would consider signing a junior college quarterback if the Mean Green can find one who fits their system and can compete for the starting job right away. No matter what the Mean Green decide to do, they will need to improve their production at the position dramatically. UNT finished last in the Sun Belt Conference with an average of 129.3 passing yards a game. UNT has never been a team that depended on a potent passing attack, but the Mean Green have proven to be efficient in previous campaigns. Former UNT quarterback Scott Hall finished with 1,818 passing yards in 2004, when the Mean Green managed 157.6 yards a game through the air. The Mean Green need to return to that level or exceed it to get back to the level it played at just a few years ago. The challenge UNT faces in the offseason is finding a quarterback the Mean Green can depend on to spark their offense. Roster breakdowN: Who’s back, who’s gone and UNT’s needs for 2006 Quarterbacks Key losses — None Key returnees — Sophomores Daniel Meager, Matt Phillips Waiting in the wings — A possible junior college transfer Recruiting needs — One junior college gem, one high school standout Bottom line — UNT made the decision last offseason to go with what it had on hand at quarterback and it came back to bite the Mean Green. Joey Byerly, the only player with any experience on the college level, became ineligible over the summer. The loss of Byerly thrust redshirt freshman Daniel Meager into the starting lineup. Meager had his moments and finished with 941 yards passing, but didn’t prove to be the answer UNT’s coaches were looking for at quarterback. Matt Phillips came on and played well in limited action while throwing for 448 yards on just 69 attempts. UNT had every reason to start Phillips in the regular season finale, but went with Meager. UNT coach Darrell Dickey says he has confidence in both, but that late-season decision seemed to be a telltale sign. Dickey said UNT would go after a junior college quarterback if the Mean Green find a player who fits their system and could contribute right away. The Mean Green went after a junior college quarterback last year and missed out. UNT can’t afford to come up short again. Meager could prove to be the future, but the Mean Green need an insurance policy. Running backs Key losses — Patrick Cobbs Key returnees — Junior Jamario Thomas, senior James Mitchell Waiting in the wings — Redshirt freshman Evan Robertson Recruiting needs — A high school tailback or two, plus a fullback Bottom line — Cobbs was the Mean Green’s heart and soul for the last three seasons. He won the national rushing title in 2003, served as Thomas’ mentor in 2004 and carried UNT in 2005. Needless to say, UNT’s all-time leading rusher will be missed. While Cobbs is a key loss, UNT appears to be in position to replace his production with the return of Thomas. The junior won the national rushing title as a true freshman in 2004, but suffered through a hamstring injury in 2005 and never got on track. UNT must find a way to get Thomas healthy for the 2006 season. Robertson, a 160-pound speedster, could provide an interesting option as a third-down back. Offensive line Key losses — OG Jason May Key returnees — LT Josh Alexander, LG Adam Venegas, C Chad Rose, RG Dylan Lineberry, RT Joel Foster, RT Jeremy Brown Waiting in the wings — Ajani Banks Recruiting needs — A couple of junior college linemen and a handful of high school recruits with a shot at playing at the 290-300 pound range Bottom line — Patrick Cobbs finished with 1,154 yards rushing, but there was no doubt that UNT’s offensive line was disappointing at times. The Mean Green struggled to open holes for Cobbs and fellow former national rushing champion Jamario Thomas and lacked the chemistry it had with senior center Andy Brewster in 2004. The Mean Green were also small for a Division I-A line, even by Sun Belt Conference standards. UNT’s scheduled starters for its regular season finale averaged 288 pounds a player, bringing to mind the line an old lady made famous in a burger commercial back in the 1980s: Where’s the beef? UNT needs to get bigger and stronger to compete at the level it wants to attain. Banks, a 325-pound lineman, is an intriguging prospect because of his size and will have a chance to show what he can do in spring practice. receivers/tight ends Key losses — None Key returnees — WRs Johnny Quinn, Brandon Jackson, Zach Muzzy and Joel Nwigwe, TEs Robert Harmon, Jimmy Chaney and Charles Brown Waiting in the wings — TE Brock Stickler Recruiting needs — A high school wide receiver or two to redshirt Bottom line — UNT was loaded at wide receiver last season, although it was tough to notice with the way the Mean Green struggled at quarterback. Johnny Quinn is simply one of the best wide receivers in the Sun Belt and Brandon Jackson is a potential star. UNT’s receivers have the ability to make plays, but didn’t get enough chances. Defensive line Key losses — DE Eli Hutchinson, DL Chris Miller Key returnees — DEs Jeremiah Chapman and Willie Ransom, DL Montey Stevenson, Sky Pruitt and Joseph Miller Waiting in the wings — DT Robert Peachey, David Collins and Jonathan Stewart Recruiting needs — Linemen with size from both the high school and junior college ranks Bottom line — UNT didn’t have the size or strength to deal with offenses in the Sun Belt or out of conference. The Mean Green finished last in the Sun Belt in rushing defense with an average of 220.9 yards allowed a game and wasn’t much better in conference play. UNT gave up a whopping 214.6 yards a game on the ground in league play, nearly 25 yards a game more than Florida Atlantic’s average of 189.9 yards a game. The total can be attributed in large part to UNT’s play up front. The Mean Green desperately need to find a few big and talented interior defensive linemen. The outlook is a little brighter at defensive end, where a healthy Ransom and a more experienced Chapman could help the team improve. Linebackers Key losses — None Key returnees — Maurice Holman, Brandon Monroe, Phillip Graves, Derek Mendoza, Shawn Early Waiting in the wings — Tobe Nwigwe Recruiting needs — High school players to redshirt Bottom line — UNT lacked the physical presence at linebacker it had in previous seasons, but still had some effective players. Graves had 16 tackles against Louisiana-Monroe, while Holman had 15 against Troy. The return of Early could make UNT stronger. The senior missed the season with a knee injury and used the year off to get bigger and stronger. UNT will also add Nwigwe to the mix. He drew interest from Colorado coming out of high school and could add a physical presence. All the returning talent could make UNT better next year. Defensive backs Key losses — CB T.J. Covington and Ja’Mel Branch Key returnees — SS Aaron Weathers, FSs Steve Warren and Roderick Cotton Waiting in the wings — S Kartay Agbottah, CB Antoine Bush, Dominique Green, Korey Washington Recruiting needs — A junior college cornerback Bottom line — UNT has a pair of solid safeties in Weathers and Warren, but needs help at cornerback. Weathers and Warren were pleasant surprises last season in their first seasons with the Mean Green. Weathers finished among the Sun Belt Conference’s leaders in tackles with an average of 10.3 a game while Warren showed potential after making the switch from playing quarterback in high school. UNT lost both of its starting cornerbacks in Covington and Branch and will look to a freshman class loaded with defensive backs to fill the void. Bush and Green could be the future for UNT, but a junior college player to provide experience wouldn’t hurt. Specialists Key loses — K Nick Bazaldua Key returnees — P Truman Spencer Recruiting needs — UNT needs to find a replacement for Bazaldua Bottom line — UNT featured one of the most consistent kickers in Bazaldua the last few years and needs to find a replacement for the former All-Sun Belt Conference selection — Brett Vito

Notice it's even equipped with a track!

Has the board got some type of "who can be the most negative" contest going on? 1. The season sucked 2. Someone wasn't nice to me 3. We couldn't beat a high school team 4. I yelled but I'm offended that someone yelled back 5. Let's lynch everyone associated with UNT athletics 6. Nobody listens to me and I know I'm right. etc,etc,etc,etc,etc,.................... Step back and try to enjoy the Holiday Season Have a Merry Christmas, a happy Holiday Season and a great New Year The world IS NOT coming to an end !

So far Fresno is a classic example of self destruction

Hope that you "exceed" in whatever you "endiver" to "actcomplish"

Have we entered the Twilight Zone?

December Q&A http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.d...CRIBER_CONTENT=

UNT board may alter process for hiring Regents considering proposal to allow signing of coaches without approval 09:34 AM CST on Friday, December 2, 2005 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer The process for hiring most North Texas head coaches could become much shorter under a proposal the board of regents will consider today. The provision would allow UNT president Dr. Norval Pohl or a university employee he designates to enter into contracts with new head coaches and extend the contracts of current head coaches as long as the total base salary for the coach does not exceed $500,000 for the term of the contract. UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said the provision would allow the athletic department to hire coaches in every sport except football. UNT head football coach Darrell Dickey currently earns a base salary of $178,500 and has a contract that runs through 2008. UNT head men’s basketball coach Johnny Jones a base salary of $153,154 this season while women’s coach Tina Slinker is earning a base salary of $117,418 All three coaches’ current contracts are for multiple years and include stipends and incentives boosting their salary. Dickey earns an extra $55,000 from a radio stipend and for maintaining NCAA Division I-A status in the Sun Belt Conference to push his salary to $233,500. “We work in a situation that is completely different than most other university entities,” Villarreal said. “When we have to hire a coach, usually we have to get somebody in place pretty quickly and it may come between board meetings. An athletic director has to have the ability to hire a coach pretty much on the spot. The dollar limit is there because the board still wants to have some control over how much money you are obligating the university to.” The current policy requires that the board of regents approve all contracts with coaches. Under the current policy, if UNT needed to hire a coach on short notice, it would have to call a meeting of the school’s regents. The delay could cost the athletic department valuable time. “When you are in negotiations with a coach, a lot of times it’s with someone who already has a job or has other offers at the same time,” Villarreal said. “So when you go in and negotiate, you need to be able to go in and tell them that this is what I can do for you.” While the proposal would give Pohl and the athletic department the ability to hire coaches without approval from the board, Villarreal said he would keep regents informed. “We would continue as an athletic department to make sure the board knows who we are hiring anyway,” Villarreal said. “Regardless of the fact that we would have the ability to sign those contracts, I would take them to the board so that they would know who our new tennis, golf or any of our coaches might be.” If approved, the new provision would last until Aug. 31, 2006, when a review of the policy will be completed. Any changes necessary to the policy would be presented at that time.

A blurb on College Football News indicates Leavitt is getting a 7 year extension at $7 million.

There's really no comparison of an effect on Rice vs UTA/Midwestern. The only decrease you might see at Rice would in the number of scholarship athletes at the university.

Domino effect possible But even as a deal was reached, it also is clear that Rice's football issues only reflect bigger, deeper problems within the athletic program and between athletic department administrators and ivory-tower academic leadership. ARTICLE - A Crossroads For Athletics At South Main http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports...ez/3492450.html

Hatfield stepping down After denying he would do so, Rice coach resigns By MOISEKAPENDA BOWER Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Less than 12 hours after defiantly saying he and his staff would return for a 13th season on South Main, Ken Hatfield resigned as Rice football coach Tuesday night. FULL ARTICLE http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports...bc/3492453.html