The Fake Lonnie Finch

Did you punch him in the nuts? I've got three North Texas t-shirts I rotate: -One gray, North Texas UNT Alumni on the front -One white, University of North Texas on the front -One green one, Mean Green Football on the front Oddly enough, I've never had a comment one way or the other about any of them. I also have the strange experience of not knowing many people who support one school but went to another. My neighborhood block is a melting pot of alumni - Kansas, Missouri, Rice, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State - and each supports their alma mater. The only thing I've experienced is people who have some sort of tie back to another school through family, or formerly living in another place, also being fans of a second school. I think that's probably much of what you see with local UT/OU fans. Lots of Arkansas and LSU in DFW as well. LSU and Florida even have alumni license plates in Texas! DFW is an odd mix. You've got alumni and family from many different areas of the country. I don't have a problem with that. Any shortcoming in recognition of UNT is less a reflection of some random person's allegiance and more a manifestation of decades of poor marketing by our own athletic department and school. Just seeing how Texas State is about to crack the Top 50 in licensing is enough to tell us that much. They've accomplished much less than we have on the field across the board, and yet they have found a way to successfully market their brand. The bottom line is, no matter what the athletic department or school is doing now, we've got years of neglect to overcome. Although, I'm sure our 9-3 or 10-2 season in 2010 will turn enough heads to get us some more positive recognition. Bank on it, ballslappers!

Dude, it's a college town. If anyone suggests anything remotely approaching capitalism, the denizens crawl out of their caves and demand a return to the fire and water only era.

He knows it's not parallel. The issue with alcohol isn't the consumption; it's with the way people act when they are drunk from the consumption. Meat doesn't intoxicate, no matter how good it smells. It's good to know the Rangers gives slices of the ballpark to families. However, I've sat in enough "family" sections at various places to know that such designation doesn't free your experience from the drunk sports idiots.

I don't consider attendance at an amateur college athletic event on the same par as a professional sports event. I fully understand alcohol will be available at pro sporting events. I rarely attend them, and their service of alcohol is part of the reason. Drunk rednecks cussing out loud at an umpire is no more charming to me and my kids than the drunk idiots at a college football game. The merely presence of families doesn't make something by default family friendly. Further, a child enjoying an activity doesn't by default make that activity family friendly. I'm sure my boy child would enjoy taking a match and burning a building down. That doesn't make the act of arson family friendly. I disagree with Six Flags' alcohol policy and have not taken my family there since they began serving. The State Fair is attended by families, but I don't consider it family friendly anyway. I've never been the Schlitterbahn; but, if they advertise to families with young kids and serve alcohol, then I won't be going there with my family. Remember, I wrote that it was "refreshing" that UNT was family friendly. I didn't write that all events, organizations, or companies that claim to be family friendly are family friendly. The reason UNT games are refreshing in that regard is that they do seem to me to walk the walk on family friendliness, while most other who make the claim do not - in my opinion. I fully understand the rest simply lie about it, not caring what my kids may see or hear once I pay the full price of admission and enter. Before I had a family, I could care less and would likely have been the one drinking at a game. Things have changed 180 degrees for me since I've had kids and begun to take them to various public events. It has opened my eyes to many things and situations that I used to ignore. Let the drunks drink in the parking lot - and stay there.

Voted "No" because "Hell No!" wasn't an option. There are already too many drunk rednecks at college football games. Let them drink in the parking lot and hope to God they can't find their way in. The refreshing thing about UNT games is that it's family friendly.

Colorado had been making noise about moving to the Pac-10 even back in the Big 8 days. They've recruited California and west coast for the better part of four decades now. Overall, their culture is more west coast than midland anyway. I've always thought CU would be a good fit in the Pac-10. It never surprised me that they were in the mix to head west. They'll do well in the Pac-10, athletically and otherwise.

Tech fans, Welcome. You guys have an excellent AD in Van De Velde, and a great coach for the future in Dykes. Congratulations on you stadium additions. What's the buzz out there on Lennon Creer? Should be exciting if he can live up to his potential. He had some decent games while at Tennessee.

“I don’t think this conference will last long because there is too much disparity between all the teams,” Tuberville told host Bill King. “In the SEC, for instance, Vanderbilt makes as much money in the television contract as Florida. Everybody is good with it. Everybody is on the same page. Everyone gets the same votes. “That doesn’t happen here in the Big 12. We have some teams that get a little bit more money and have a little it more stroke than some of the other teams. And when that happens, you’re gonna have teams looking for better avenues to leave and reasons to leave. I like Tuberville. He's already coached in a tougher conference. He's already figured out the pettiness of UT, OU, and A&M and sees that they will eat the conference for the sake of money. Funny, the SEC gives everyone the same money - and, the competition is better. OU and Texas snare most of the Big 12 money - and, they can't beat SEC teams in big games. I don't think it's a stretch to say that Tuberville may have Tech winning the Big 12 South in his first season. The two defensive coordinators he sent over to Texas completely shut down OU's five year win streak and started delivering titles to Texas for a change. One is in line to replace Mack. Tuberville is a good coach. Stoops and Mack will hate the competition. Look for both to have lame excuses (officiating, wind, etc.) when Tech beats them.

I'd like to buy a vowel, please...Q

Almost as if on cue to our "Character" discussion, Cedric Benson again takes the lead: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5339757 Why is this douche still hanging around college bars anyway? With a multimillion dollar contract and a little bit of notoriety you figure he'd try to break into a more mature crowd scene. But...maybe I'm just drinking the kool-aid on Longhorn "Character."

Seawolves. http://wcha.sportdesigns.com/Store_Gear_Product_Merchandise/Alaska-Anchorage-Seawolves-Hockey-Double-Arch-Step-Ahead-T-Shirt/P_ID-40168/index.mhtml I like it. Maybe I'll order one in ash or gray.

I was thinking the same thing...character? Yeah, teaming up with OU and A&M to strong arm Colorado and Nebraska's lunch money off of the likes of Iowa State, Mizzou, the Kansas twins, and Baylor. I guess an OUStorm and A&MStorm site would also claim character. F'ing cowards. All of them. Hijack the game for the sake of money then pretend to have some sort of high moral character and goal. Baloney. OU, A&M, Texas...everytime they try to pick on someone their own size in the SEC, they get their sh*t kicked in. And, so then, the lemmings in their fanbases come out with these masterbatory websites. Give me a break. I feel sorry for people who live 110% of their lives based on whether a group of 18-22 year old men win a game. No, I don't. I take that back. People who do this kind of thing are douchebags - especially if they're doing it for OU, Texas, or A&M.

I agree with this. I think it's unfortunate that it all comes down to dollars now, but.... If it's going to be that way, you may as well have someone in there who knows how to: (1) find it and get it, and (2) manage it properly. It's kind of a high wire act now, as the recent Big 12 falderal proved.

Van De Velde is a good adminstrator. He cut his teeth at Kansas State during their stunning turnaround in the 90s. He then worked for Joe Castiglione at Missouri and Oklahoma. He's a money guy, not a former athlete or coach. That's more of a trend these days with schools that recognize college athletics is a business. Hiring Sonny Dykes from Arizona was a good move on his part a well. I expect La Tech to do well this year and for the next few years as well. Dykes has recruited coast to coast, and Van De Velde will deliver money for better facilities. With those two leading the way, it wouldn't shock me if La Tech advances the way TCU has over the past decade.

Many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, some, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, people form the DFW metroplex area attend Stephen F. Austin for college, including many girls I knew from high school and church who had really good, solid, shapely legs and drank beer and all that combination entails in a late night encounter at Taco Bell.

Hmmm. Seven of the 10 are against regional opponents. I wonder what that says about scheduling regional opponents. Does it say anything? Or, does it say nothing at all? And, if it says something, what exactly does it say? And, if it says nothing, what further information is needed to draw a conclusion? I like a scheduled game against Oklahoma State. I also like a scheduled game against Texas State. I also like a scheduled game against SMU. I also like a scheduled game against Tulsa. I also like a scheduled game against TCU. I also like a scheduled game against Louisiana Tech. I also like a scheduled game against UTEP. I also like a scheduled game against Rice. I also like a scheduled game against Houston. I also like a schedule game against Kansas State. I also like a scheduled game against Kansas. I also like a scheduled game against Sam Houston State. I also like a scheduled game against Stephen F. Austin even though he's dead. I also like a scheduled game against Southern Mississippi. I also like a scheduled game against Missouri State. I like all of those schedule games if they are scheduled to be played at our home field to give us a home field advantage in attendance and crowd noise favor.

It looks really, really damn good. My wife and kids are out of town, so I may go over there and sit in it with a four pack of Grolsch. And, just, you know, breathe in the the newness of it all. I may even drink the Grolsch.

Grolsch

Hear me now, believe me later - The Sun Belt will be a cake walk for us in 2010. The only mystery is how close we stay to Clemson and whether or not we can upend a Big 12 weary Kansas State in the finale. And, folks...if we don't sell out the finale.... Just be there. Kansas State said their victory over us in there 1-10 1989 season was a turning point. Let's get them back in our Fouts Finale. Our athletic department needs to buy the DVD K-State still sells of that game and make our players watch it every week!

Seems many of our best end up in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, or Chicago.

1. Joe Greene, DT Pittsburgh Steelers (1969-1981) NFL Hall of Fame Pro Bowl – 10/All-Pro – 5 Super Bowls – 4 16 fumble recoveries, 1 int 2. Abner Haynes, HB Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs (1960-1964), Denver Broncos (1965-1966), New York Jets (1967), Miami Dolphins (1967) All-Pro – 2/Pro Bowl – 3 Championship Games – 1 12,065 All-Purpose Yards (4,630 rushing, 3,535 receiving, 875 punt returns, 3,025 kick return yards) 46 rushing TDs, 20 receiving TDs, 1 punt return TD, 1 kick return TD, 1 fumble return TD 3. J.T. Smith, WR Washington Redskins (1978), Kansas City Chiefs (1978-1984), St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals (1985-1990) Pro Bowls – 2 / All Pro - 1 Super Bowls - 0 35 receiving TDs, 4 punts return TDs 10,287 All-Purpose Yards (6,974 receiving yards, 76 rushing yards, 2,764 punt return yards, 473 kick return yards) #12 All-Time in career punt returns with 267 #13 All-Time in career punt return yards with 2,764 #18 All-Time in career punts returned for touchdown with 4 When he retired in 1990, he was #11 All-Time in career receptions with 544. He is still #83 All-Time in career receptions. 4. Ray Renfro, HB-FL Cleveland Browns (1952-1963) Pro Bowl – 3 Championship Games – 5 50 receiving TDs, 4 rushing TDs, 1 TD pass Still #16 All-Time for career yards per catch average at 19.6 5. Brian Waters, G Kansas City Chiefs (2000-Present) Pro Bowl – 4/All Pro– 2 Super Bowls – 0 6. Spider Lockhart, CB-S New York Giants (1965-1975) Pro Bowl – 2 Championship Games - 0 41 interceptions, 16 fumbles recoveries, 3 defensive touchdowns 7. Bill Bishop, DT Chicago Bears (1952-1960), Minnesota Vikings (1961) All-Pro - 1 Championship Games – 1 14 fumbles recovered, 2 ints, 1 defensive touchdown 8. Cedric Hardman, DE San Francisco 49ers (1970-1979), Oakland Raiders (1980-1981) Pro Bowl – 2 Super Bowls -1 9 fumble recoveries, 1 defensive touchdown, 1 safety 9. Ron Shanklin, WR Pittsburgh Steelers (1970-1974), Chicago Bears (1976) Pro Bowl – 1 Super Bowls – 1 24 career receiving TDs #33 All-Time in yards per reception with 18.3 10. Larry Strickland, C Chicago Bears (1954-1959) Pro Bowl – 1/All-Pro – 1 Championship Games – 1

Having turned the gameplanning and playcalling over to Chico Canales, it will be really easy being Mean Green for Dodge this year. Combine that with the fact that Canales will play quarterbacks who can see over the line of scrimmage and throw the ball further than 15 yards down the field, and it's a lead pipe cinch that Dodge will have an easy time being Mean Green in 2010...and, thus 2011.

1. Maybe 2. Yes

Yes. It would be nice to renew our old rivalries with both Texas State and New Mexico State. All-time, we've played no other schools as many times as we've played Texas State, 39 (29-7-3 record) The next closest, both with 33 games: New Mexico State (22-9-2) SMU (4-28-1) We've already got some SMU games scheduled in the future. It would nice to play former rivals NMSU and Texas State again.