The Fake Lonnie Finch

I'd like to see that as well. Unfortunately, the Cyclones don't have an open out of conference date until 2018; http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/future_...tate_future.htm They have some decent home and homes against non-BCS schools: Utah in 2010 (home) and 2011 (away) Tulsa in 2012 (home) and 2013 (away) Air Force in 2013 (away) and 2014 (home) San Jose State, 2 for 1, 2015 & 2016 (home) and 2017 (away) Navy in 2018 (home) and 2019 (away) They also play an annual game with Iowa. They then generally work in Northern Iowa, Northern Illinois and other regional non-BCS schools and FCS schools for single season home games (Western Illinois, Western Kentucky, North Dakota State).

I don't necessarily think that's true in TCU's case. Oklahoma is scheduled to play BYU, another Mountian West Conference school, in September at Jerry World. I think as competitive as TCU is, they could have one of their games against OU or Texas moved there. They play OU either in 2010 or 2011, I forget. It's supposed to be in Fort Worth. But, I bet they'd move it for more money. They have a pretty shrewd athletic director. One thing will always transcend conferences and leagues in any sport at any level - people pay to see winners. TCU has proven its winning isn't a fluke. You can't, then, lump them into the same category as us and SMU.

Oddly enough, I believe Pelosi because I sincerely believe she's too stupid to have understood what was being said in the briefings anyway. No much botox simmering in her head for her to hear and think clearly.

Sadly, all desegregation has done is re-segregate - white flight. You can't make people do what they don't want to do in a representative democracy. That's why social legislation rarely works as intended. People just opt out. I could care less. I'm married to a full blood Mexican. However, when we looked for houses, we looked in the far north suburbs of Allen, McKinney, Lucas and Frisco. Neither one of us wanted anything to do with Dallas County or any city in it. Everything is black versus white and hispanic versus white. So small minded. Dallas County taxpayers have their money basically wasted and stolen in every form imaginable down there. Anyway, regarding Shivers, he was very generous to one of the children's hospitals in Dallas. Whatever faults he may have had to some, he wasn't stingy to those in need.

Alrighty then, the guantlet is thrown down...find another school with as much inexperience with their QBs going into the seasons as we do. Here's the problem for us as UNT fans in 2009, we had a very good quarterback leave. When he left, essentially nothing was there. But, our crack head coach didn't go out and do what many schools do - get a JUCO QB for insurance. Therefore, if the probable occurs (Riley being unable to do the job), we are stuck with a couple of walk-ons and a true freshman to try to hit those inexperienced receivers. It's really, really dicey on the offensive side of the ball in this offense for 2009. It would be different if we had an offense (coach and coordinator) that played to its roster's strengths - the offensive line and running backs. We don't have that luxury. Instead, we will be treated to an aerial attack the equivalent of World War I biplanes. Meanwhile, a 21st century ground attack (two 900+ yard rushers in 2008) with be gathering mothballs on the sideline. In short, we're going to find out what this whole experiment is all about: truly trying to make UNT better or trying to prove that Riley can be a college quarterback. We'll know by mid-October.

In the 2001 game, we were up 3-0 in the first quarter. In the second quarter, we trailed only 14-10 until about the five minute mark. Then, OU scord for a haltime lead of 21-10. Leading 30-10 with more than 14 minutes left in the game, OU threw at touchdown pass. So, what's the rule, if a team is leading by 20 points with a whole quarter left, they can't throw the ball anymore? Also, a 27 point loss to OU when we were very competitive is not bad. I'd take that kind of loss over any other we've suffered through the past two seasons. In the 2003 game, OU led 23-0. With about five minutes left, they led 30-3 and their backup QB threw a TD to a backup receiver. Wow, big deal. Such a pock mark. One thing is for sure, 37-10 and 37-10 are quite different than 79-10. In 1998, Darrell Dickey's first year, OU beat us 37-9. We led 6-0 after one quarter. At half, OU led 10-6. After three, OU only led 16-9. This was Darrell Dickey's first game as UNT head coach. They scored three TDs in the fourth quarter. Up 30-9 with about two minutes left, their fourth team QB threw a touchdown pass. Oooo. Such treachery. In fact, this is how Darrell Dickey's first squad fared in their out of conference schedule: OU 37, UNT 9 - Away Texas Tech 30, UNT 0 - Irving Arizona 34, UNT 15 - Away Texas A&M 28, UNT 9 - Away Houston 31, UNT 9 - Home Kansas 23, UNT 14 -Away

Right. So, move him to one of the positions that nearly every other college coach would move him to - receiver or defensive back. Get him on the field. Of course, if we tank again and Dodge is fired...well, then the story changes immensely. As far as Baine or Tune, neither give me a warm, fuzzy feeling. We may have the weakest array of QBs on any FBS roster. And, the irony is, QB development was supposed to be Dodge's calling card.

This is so true. I've said all along it would be the southern and midwestern Democrats that would have to save us from much of the bilge he wants to push on the country. He's finding that you can't just do what you want simply because you sit in the Oval Office and your party "has the numbers."

Because you had national guard running around Iraq doing many things instead of professional soldiers. Don't get me wrong, the weekend warriors play a significant role in our military. But, when all is said and done, it's not their livelihood the way it is for the career soldier. Therefore, they are more likely to do things a professional soldier would know better than to do. They are more likely to have stress get to them and let their emotions, good or bad, take over in an instant. The professional soldier or Marine has been broken of that those emotional stress barriers, by and large. It was national guard troops that took the original photos that came out in 2004. It was too much for them. I've said this many times, and I'll say it again, it's a pity that some people view the military as a social program. The fact of the matter is, it's a tough job to be soldier. To think that you can be one part-time and be nearly as effective is simply wishful thinking. And, those with one foot in the military and one foot in the civilian world are going to make more judgement errors than their career counterparts. By the way, I should qualify all comments by revealing that I have a cousin who is in the national guard and spent a year in Baghdad. I've also got friends who are career Marine and solider who served in Iraq. So, I have a tiny bit of insight based on their tales.

Take that up with their beer-drinking, pot and cigarette smoking parent (or, in rare cases parents) who stand around in 7-11 buying scratch off ticket after scratch off ticket. State and federal programs already exist to fill these gaps. If you really want to go down the road here, let's discuss what the real need is - and, that is, the need to take kids away from parents who refuse to be parents. Take the kids away and give them to families who want kids who are out there battling to adopt. There are people out there who would take care of a child properly; and, who would do so with great joy. But, what really happens to those poor kids you talk about? They're stuck in a bureaucratic system that subsidizes their parent's rent, food, and health care. In exchange for all of our hard earned tax dollars, they show their thanks by ignoring their children's needs for their own pathetic addictions - which the government will also use our tax dollars to try to cure. Screw it. Give the kids a chance. Take them away and put them with the responsible families out there who would joyfully take them on. But, to sit around and pretend that corporate or health care greed drives this thing is insanely dangerous. Universal health care is simply the final punchline to the joke begun way back in the 60s with the "War On Poverty." Those kids in poverty won't be any better off with universal health care than they are under the current plethora of government programs that already exist for them. It's just another layer of crap for their filching parents' to feed off of - and we pay for it.

Hey, man, look...the bar is low. We ain't Baylor trying to claw our way into the Big 12 South Division race. We're in the Sun Belt. I've already posted that four Sun Belt wins is progress even if we lose all of our out of conference games. So, when I say "this thing may fly" I don't mean we'll be in contention for the Sun Belt title, or even bowl contention. What I mean is, with a little luck, me and Paul McCartney think the offense can keep the ball long enough and often enough to keep the defense from getting worn out. And, that should add up to less blowout losses, especially in conference. Remember, I'm not one of those who set the bar way up there when Todd Dodge was hired. I still don't set the bar high for him because I know he's not capable of getting over it given the current state of our opponents and the current state of our offensive coaching staff.

Yes, really: The bad news is that he was average this spring and wasn't consistent. At 6-0 and 182 pounds he's not all that big/ Tune to see action. It's Dodge's job and he's not going to lose it after a bad outing or two, but he hasn't been good enough to be simply handed the full-time job for the entire season based on family ties. He wasn't all that great in practices against the mediocre Mean Green defense, what's he going to do once the bullets start flying? Major Applewhite, Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Robert Griffin, etc...there's a long list of QBs who have been ready as freshmen or redshirt freshmen. Granted, they come from programs that don't hire high school coaches to lead the team.

I've seen government run health care in my wife's home country of Mexico. Trust me, it will suck. The rich will still be able to pay to get the care they need. What will happen is the middle class will be folded into the same pathway as the lazy and irresponsible. The level of care will not be brought up, but dragged down. It's really, really sad. Those of us who have responsibly shopped and chosen our own health care plan for years are the ones who will screwed the worst. It's a big sacrifice in our budget, but we do it because it's the right thing to do. I thought I'd never say this, but if this is what America comes to - hard work and responsible living rewarded with outright government thievery on behalf of the lazy and drug-addled - I will never say the Pledge of Allegiance again. I will not pledge allegiance to the flag of a socialist or communist country, not even my own.

Well, one thing's for sure - you don't have to sell me on the downside of Todd Dodge. However, I am more encouraged this week than last week on the recruiting front. I saw what Steve Kragthorpe did with Keith Burns' ragtag roster in one season at Tulsa. Even if Dodge tanks again this year, I'm convinced that the right hire after him would be able to turn this thing around posthaste.

It's the new secret weapon.

Drake will be the icing on the cake for this group this season. Throw in a tight end...and a hell of a lot of luck...and this thing may fly.

Excellent point. I discussed this with someone in the athletic department last week. It was a point I brought up specifically. After being told again about what other UNT teams were doing, I made the point that it didn't matter because the biggest thing any FBS school has to sell is football - with very, very few exceptions (i.e., Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse). I'm to the point now where I think the athletic department understands the importance of the 2009 season to the selling of the program to kids (and donors) in 2010 and beyond. We really have come to a crossroads here. The failure of Dodge may not be the final nail in a coffin that keeps us down (or send us back down to SFA and SHSU-level). But, if he does fail miserably this year again, the next hire must be pure gold. And, what I discussed was a complete Tulsa 2003-type gamble where they called an NFL QB coach named Steve Kragthorpe and asked him to guide their crappy, little program with a rotting high school stadium and about dozen consecutive losing seasons to sell recruits. (Guys, seriously...Tulsa hadn't had a winning season since Gus Frerotte was fighting off teradactyles to and from class there at 11th and Yale. They were playing in the same stadium were my mom led cheers for her high school...back in the late 50s and early 60s!) These two verbals are a good example, though, of what we need. Due to what's happening at SMU, Houston, Rice, Tulsa, and Baylor, we've got to have this kind of news around our program as well. I don't even care that the offensive lineman only weighs 240. Texas has a OL commit that lists at 265 right now. OU had a center who played in the 280s that started for four years and signed a free agent NFL contract last week. Look at OU's linebacker recruits last year and Texas' this year - they're look more like TCU's, light and fast. The point is, we need positives any and everywhere. If other regional schools had continued to built up early recruits and we were silent, what would that say to other recruits about us? I could care less if the Hall kid stays or QB or ends up somewhere else. The point is, kids out there are interested despite the losing...and, that's what we need! Go Mean Green!

I'd be happy if the four wins were in the Sun Belt. Another losing record in the Sun Belt shows we aren't improving even within our own little peer group.

My wife and I are both currently alive and haven't received a stimulus check yet. I guess we are waiting in line behind all of the dead people ACORN signed up.

Maybe. But, they list commitments as they are made. Adam Shead of Cedar Hill committed to OU today and ESPN has it updated: http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/...cruitId%3d66634

Scout still has him uncommitted. Someone else posted that he's listed as a "soft verbal" somewhere else. I guess that's like someone saying they'll go to the prom with you if someone else doesn't ask them. Oh well, as coach Schnellenberger would say, "The only variable now is time."

They wrote up that Truman Spencer would be the punter. Hmmm. Anyway, it says what most have us have already said - four wins would be nice. Inexperience in many places. Results need to be shown. Same thing we kick around here. They also seem unimpressed with Riley Dodge as a QB so far, rightly suggesting that if he hasn't been able to light up our average defense in practices, things might not work out so good for us when the real bullets are flying during the season.

Nothing on a commitment yet from ESPN either, and their update on him was from 5/11/2009 - yesterday: http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/...cruitId%3d69489 To me, he looks better on film than Riley Dodge did. But, then again, I never considered Riley FBS QB material either. Both are great athletes who would be moved to another position by any other FBS coach in the nation. Scouts, Inc. mentions that as well about Hall. Seriously, I look at the three QBs we have on the roster and wonder how we'll make it through 2009.

Because, there are guys out there that you don't have to wait for, who are already big enough and strong enough coming out of high school. I think you can get this kid on the field quicker at safety or in the slot, if he's a good enough athlete. Look at the size of our players. No defensive back is listed at over 6'0". And, we know from the NFL combine and scouting reports how much size is exaggerated by colleges. We had Casey Fitzgerald listed a 5'11". NFL scout measured him at just a hair over 5'9". Imagine having a big hitting safety roaming our secondary for a change. If this kid's a true 6'2" (even if he's a true 6'1") and can put on 20 pounds and keep a 4.6 forty, I'd love to see him in the secondary. Also, for all the recievers we've recruited the past three seasons, few are listed over 6'1" and none have contributed much at all. If this guy's a true athlete, get him on the field and let him put that size to use catching ball across the middle on the slants and short passes that are the bread and butter of this offense. Besides, I thought the assumptions was Riley Dodge at QB for four years. If that's the case, why have a guy with this talent sitting on the bench gathering dust?

The reason I believe it is they've got the guy who helped build up the Iowa State program with Dan McCarney. McCarney is a DL guy and Mike Nelson was with him for his entire tenure, I think, at Iowa State. Those two took some pretty unknown guys and turned them into All-Big 12 linemen. No matter who plays LB, they will be in their second year with DeLoach, whose record for making LBs productive is well-documented here. I can't stress enough that the front seven may take some beatings out of conference, but I truly believe they will be battle ready by the time the team heads into its conference schedule. I just think about what McCarney's current DL at Florida did to Oklahoma in the national title game and realize his right hand man for 11 years in now with us! This isn't some high school track coach leading the DTs anymore. Mike Nelson is a proven entity. This is the type of coaching hire I and many of us in here call for. I wish the whole coaching staff was full of guys who have the experience and success he's had. As it stands, he and DeLoach are the best coaches we have; and, I'm glad they're in charge of the front seven. They will do more with whatever we have in talent now than Mendoza and Drake were able to do with our experienced LBs and DLs in 2007. Give me Nelson and DeLoach with inexperience over Mendoza and Drake with anyone.