rcade

I have heard from sources close to the team that Coach Dickey told his players that the uniform change was intended to "piss off Villareal." Brett Vito writes today in the Denton Record-Chronicle that before the game Athletic Director Rick Villareal "hadn’t even had a chance to look at the uniforms," which suggests the change wasn't cleared with him. Dickey's told the press it was the players' idea. If anyone can corroborate that he's not telling the truth (or that the rumors aren't true), please reply here or contact me on my weblog. This is either a bush-league stunt that ought to be exposed or an innocent gesture that's being misinterpreted, and I'd like to get to the bottom of it if possible.

Actual quote from Howard Schnellenberger to a Florida reporter about last night's game.

It's called caring about the program. Maybe when you've been following this team for 18 years, as I have since enrolling in 1988, you'll know why it matters. The uniform stunt was bush league. Any school that values its football program wouldn't let a departing coach get away with it.

No kidding. There's a difference between working by the hour at Grandy's and working as a salaried employee with a high six-figure settlement who agreed to finish out the season after his firing.

It's not unheard of for a coach to be fired before season's end. Ron Zook was fired Oct. 25, 2004, in Florida and he also coached out the remainder of the year.

My bet is that we've already seen Dickey's last trip on the sideline as UNT coach.

Sing it, Brother Jay.

In 10 years, the way Darrell Dickey left the program will pale in comparison to four conference championships and the first bowl trip for UNT in 40 years. He'll be remembered as the best coach since Hayden Fry, unless his replacement takes that honor. He'll be a UNT Hall of Fame member on the first try. I don't know what's going on with the guy right now. We have a good source for the report that he responded to his firing by telling his players it was because he "couldn't recruit" and asking how that made them feel. His conduct since the firing has been bush league and should come up every time he's considered for another head coaching job in the future. But none of that changes his amazing four-year run through the Belt and the early defenses he put together here.

He couldn't change them at the half without telling the entire world it was a spiteful act by Dickey (if it was).

Why should that matter? The "nice person well-liked by everyone" field is over there.

Like what? I'm almost afraid to ask.

One of the reasons Darrell Dickey's firing got so much press was because it led off the college football off-season changes. It would've been overlooked after the final game when Miami's Larry Coker and other bigger moves are being made in I-A. It couldn't have been a surprise that Mattress Mac came unglued after his buddy got the hook. He's our best-hyped booster with a history of throwing public snit fits, so AD Rick Villareal and the new president had to be bracing for his reaction. Villareal's mention of a new seven-figure donation appears to have been timed to cool off people who might think we've lost too much by pissing off Mac. RV knew he had it in hand when he fired Dickey. Does he also have a new head coach in hand? The lack of a search committee, his quick denial that the USM coach was a contender, and some hints dropped about pleasing UNT fans make me think we've already got Dickey's replacement but it can't be announced yet. I don't think RV would be taking the big-risk move of firing Dickey and losing Mac without knowing with certainty there's a big reward.

Wow. I knew he'd been there a while, but I didn't know he was also their offensive coordinator for five seasons before being hired head coach and was a former UNH player. No wonder he's not getting mentioned in coach wish lists.

Anyone like Sean McDonnell at New Hampshire? He's won the Eddie Robinson award and has built a successful I-AA program on an exciting offense. They've been to the playoffs the last two years and are in this year.

I live in North Florida. At Disney World last weekend I saw somebody wearing FAU gear for the first time ever. I was so shocked I didn't have a chance to express some Sun Belt solidarity, since I was wearing a Mean Green shirt. Here, aside from the big three (Florida, FSU and Miami) I see UCF, USF and Florida A&M gear all the time. I wish the Sun Belt would go after FAMU. They have a fan base much more loyal and large than their I-AA program would indicate.

If this turns out to be true -- I still have trouble believing it -- it's potential career suicide for Dickey. What kind of program would trust someone who pulled a stunt like that?

I don't think money's the problem where the coach is concerned, but UNT needs world-class facilities. One of the smartest things Mark Cuban did when he took over the Mavs was give them the best player amenities in the NBA. Even visiting teams got lobster dinners after a game. Free agents started coming to Dallas when they wouldn't even consider the team before.

Here's an update from a Florida paper: "Defensive lineman Josh Jenkins was injured midway through the second quarter and was taken off the field on a stretcher. Jenkins was discharged from Presbyterian Hospital and returned home with the team." That's a relief.

Did anyone see Clemson come out in their all-purple jerseys one time at Death Valley a few weeks ago? That was as bizarre as the sight of the Mean Green in black, but at least they planned ahead and the uniforms didn't look thrown together.

People on the outside didn't have the misfortune of watching Dickeyball, so they're not in a good position to judge on how fast the program's been sinking.

I was looking for wire photos of the black uniforms when I found a spot-on prediction of tonight's score from the Palm Beach Post Palm Beach Post By Marcus Nelson | Saturday, November 18, 2006, 02:33 PM The Owls face the first of two lame-duck coaches today when they face North Texas and their coach Darrell Dickey who was fired earlier this month, before facing Don Strock, who resigned this week, and FIU in the Shula Bowl on Nov. 25. Just two seasons ago, people around the Sun Belt were lamenting the fact their league was losing credibility because North Texas was so dominant. After all, the Mean Green made four consecutive New Orleans Bowl appearances and won 26-consecutive Sun Belt games. The last two seasons, North Texas has come down to earth and apparently the administration at North Texas forgot they are North Texas and fired a respected and admired coach. Perhaps there is a plan in the works to lure Mack Brown away from Texas to coach the Mean Green. For getting rid of Dickey ADS Rick Villarreal and President Gretchen Bataille should consult with UNT alum Dr. Phil. “What Were You Thinking?” indeed! One of FAU’s biggest victories came against North Texas in 2004. With the Mean Green in the midst of that 26-game Sun belt winning streak, the Owls, who were then transitioning to I-A and just a Sun Belt “Scheduling Partner” came to Denton and served notice it could compete with teams in its new league be beating UNT 20-13 Last year’s game was also a doozy, featuring a mistake by the officials which cost North Texas a down and a kick that clanged off the upright in a 26-23 Owls victory at Dolphin Stadium. Here’s a capsule look at today’s game Florida Atlantic at North Texas When: 7 p.m. Where: Fouts Field, Denton, Texas TV: CSS Radio: 640-AM Records: FAU 3-7, 2-3 Sun Belt; UNT 3-7, 2-3 Sun Belt Key matchup: North Texas linebackers vs. FAU running back Charles Pierre The Owls couldn’t establish a running game last week as Pierre struggled for 29 yards on 18 carries vs. Troy. However, the UNT defense has struggled trying to stop the run. Key question: Will FAU be able to defend North Texas’ two offensive units – the starters and “The Green Team” North Texas has used a second-unit of offense effectively and having to prepare for two totally different units could create problems. Prediction: FAU 17, North Texas 16

What evidence do you have that Dickey was giving it everything he had?

Surely the decision had to get RV's OK, even if it originated (and was funded) by Dickey.

I don't know, but this stuff with the all-black uniforms for himself and his team -- as if they are in mourning -- is such a bush-league thing to do I'm glad he's gone.

My guess is that the novelty of the story -- football booster threatens to take his money elsewhere -- made it a popular item in a slow sports week. Who around Dickey has the juice to get this thing covered nationally?