The Fake Lonnie Finch

Yes, they're all 11-1 and Tech beat Texas 39-33. The difference was strength of schedule. On the final weekend, the following happened that helped OU past Texas: (1) Pittsburgh beat West Virginia. This win kept Pitt ranked, which helped Cincinnati SOS. OU played and beat Cincinnati. (2) Cincinnati beat Syracuse and moved up to #13 in the final BCS rankings. (3) TCU, did not play, but moved up to #11 in the final BCS rankings. OU played and beat TCU. (4) East Carolina thrashed UTEP. UT beat UTEP. (5) Nebraska, who OU beat, defeated Colorado, who UT beat. The Huskers, then, helped OU's SOS. (6) Missouri, who Texas beat, lost to Kansas, who both OU and UT beat. But, the Missouri loss weighed against Texas. Rice and Arkansas won, which should have helped Texas. The problem was that some of the computer polls count in conference strength of schedule. There, the Nebraska and Kansas wins bumped OU more than the Owl and Hog wins boosted Texas. In the end, it was scheduling. When everyone was 11-1, and the Big 12 had the BCS tie-breaking rule in place, Texas scheduling UTEP and FAU hurt it. Both TCU and Cincinnati finished in the Top 13 of the final BCS poll, giving OU a 3-1 record over BCS schools in the final Top 15. Meanwhile, Texas had just one win over a Top 15 BCS school. Missouri dropped to #20, behind TCU and Cincinnati, with their loss to Kansas. So, congratulations to the Longhorns for proving to FAU that you were tougher than coach Schnellenberger thought. And, for going on the road to El Paso to beat the Miners. In the end, it all meant nothing...because you couldn't beat Texas Tech. Playoffs, anyone?

This is ridiculous. He's way behind in recruiting this year. And the "inherited" talent almost got him a win yesterday when he finally put them on the field. Recruiting is a huge part of the reason we're 3-21 with Dodge. He didn't know how to recruit and he still doesn't. He's scrambling around trying to get JUCO receivers after two seasons of oversigning at that position. He's got no linemen committed. SMU inked 8 last year and have 7 committed this year. That is where the games are won and lost. The rank ineptitude displayed by Dodge and his staff is showing up big time now in recruiting. If your standard is recruiting, the ship has already sailed. The best we can hope for is to not have too much attrition among the players currently on the roster so that the coach that is hired after Dodge is fired isn't completely starting from scratch - because that's where this thing is going. The whole thing is sickening. It's sickening that we're going to have to go through this whole thing again next season. It's just not right. The only possible upside of the whole thing is that when Dodge is fired, RV will be canned as well. At that point, hopefully, the Board and Administration will hire an athletic director who will get a real college football coach.

Even more odd was Jub-Jub saying he'd never seen a coach that cared more for his players. When he said that, I thought of Miller and others. I fully undertstand that Jub-Jub has to toe to line for the company.

I was at the Hulen Mall last week and every athletic/hat store had some sort of UNT item. In fact, Foot Locker, I think it was, had a window display with many colleges, us included.

Yes, knocking down passes, pressuring kicks. It's crazy what happens when you play the best players...and play them where the belong. I wish Todd Dodge has pretended that 2008 was Senior Year instead of having just one Senior Day.

If Dodge were canned someone would hire him. Look Mendoza landed on his feet. So did Dennis Parker. The best route for Dodge would have been the same route Art Briles took. Assistant at a Big 12 school, then head coach at a mid-major to prove himself. Maybe Briles would hire him. Maybe June Jones would. ...or, maybe Bill Parcells would take him in Miami to coach TEs, right? Wherever he goes, he needs to learn about the offensive and defensive lines and their roles in games played above the high school level.

...Vizza had more time to throw and Cam Montgomery runs fro 120 yards and 2 TDs. Vizza was only sacked once...near the very end of the game. Gee, I wonder if...nah. You can't really question Dodge for sitting Rose all this time. The offense obviously did a better job without him in there this season, right?

We've already been over this. SMU already has 19 commitments, 6 three-star players, one a Top 10 kicker out of one of the top California prep programs. Seven are OLs; thee are DLs. The games are won and lost on the lines at this level and in the pros. June Jones understands this; Todd Dodge doesn't. That's why Jones has already racked up a full compliment of linemen in his first two years (8 last year as well), and Dodge and his staff a desperately throwing scholarships at JUCO wide receivers. Yes, SMU and June Jones are beating the crap out of us in recruiting despite their identical 1-11 record. At, the end of Dodge's first year, he didn't have 19 commitments lined up. You either know what to do at this level or you don't June Jones does, our guy doesn't.

Jim, I get what you are saying. However, you've got to remember that part of what people were so excited about with Dodge is that they believed he would put us on par with the SMUs and Baylors of the world with DFW preps because of his influence here. That hasn't turned out to be the case. No even close. Part of my point about Jones is that he's not only beating us in our own backyard - the backyard Dodge and his supporters said he'd carry two years ago - but, because he's been at the game at the highest level for so long, he can get players from all over the country. In a very small way, Darrell Dickey was that way. He got some guys out of Oklahoma (Brown [Charlie and Jeremy], Burruss, Cobbs, Wyatt, Calvin Miller's son), Missouri (Pearl), Kansas (Venegas), Idaho (Pruitt), Florida (Early), and Kentucky (Bailey). It doesn't matter that we are public. We were led to believe that Todd Dodge could be a difference maker in the living rooms of DFW kids. SMU and Baylor were as bad off as we were. Now, well into the third recruiting season, they are taking their fill of preps from DFW and we're scrambling for JUCOs all around. We are getting our butts kicked in the area Todd Dodge was said to have strength and influence - DFW preps. And, don't even mention the Lousiana schools. If Dodge doesn't have the influence they said he'd have in DFW, there's no way he trips across the border and starts "stealing" from the likes of ULM, ULL, and La Tech. Throw in Tulane as well. They tried to sell us his offense. They tried to sell us that he'd own DFW among the little guy schools. Turns out the whole thing was just a big bag of nothing. Every team we play from Florida International across the league westward has our offense figured out. And, everybody and their dog is already filled up with DFW recruits. Meanwhile, our coaches are begging JUCO players to jump aboard. It is sad. It is frustrating. It is pathetic. And, unfortunately, no matter how badly Arkansas State pounds us Saturday, nothing will change. We take our lumps and prepare for another round of embarassing beatings in 2009.

No, it takes good defense to win consistently. Look at TCU. They've had a good offense one season - this season - under Gary Patterson. Every other year, the defense has carried them. If the other team can't score, they can't beat you. You need good offensive and defensive linemen at this level. Todd Dodge was too arrogant or ignorant to admit or understand that. He's now snowed under. And, what's worse, since his bazillion WR recruits aren't panning out, he's still scrambling to find those - despite wasting too many scholarships on them his first two years. It's just a poor situation we're put in with Todd Dodge out there representing the school. We are getting out butts handed to us on and off the field. SMU and Baylor are running circles around us. June Jones may not be getting the best of it on the field yet, but he understands how to build it. He's already got 19 committment to his 1-10 team. Of those 7 are offensive linemen, 3 are defensive linemen. Yes, more than half of his second recruiting class is linemen. It's because he understands football. He's also gotten six 3-star recruits to commit. He's got a Top 10 prep kicker on board from perennial California power Anaheim Servite as well as Ennis' Deonte McDade, track star and son of former Oklahoma Sooner Billy McDade. Last year, Jones singed 8 OLs for the Ponies. Two were Terry Robiskie's son, Andrew, and former UT lineman Kirk McJunkin's son, Blake. He also signed former Oakland Raider Art Whittington's son, Quincey, a WR, last year. Two classes, 15 OLs. Athletes with good, athletic bloodlines. SMU is cashing in on Jones' knowledge of the game and his longtime connections for recruits. Jones also has Tam Hollingshead as his Director of High School relations. Hollingshead was the head coach at Odessa Permian, Temple and Rockwall. He also was on R.C. Slocum's coaching staff for nine seasons. He's helping Jones clean up. We've got nothing like that. SMU may not be showing on the field game after game. Although the Mustangs gave up 56, 43, and 48 in their first three games against FCS schools, they have only allowed more than 40 once since their loss to TCU back on September 20th. In other words, they're not getting blown out as badly as we were last year despite their youth and new coaching staff. They came within 6 points of the Tulsa team that blew us out. Only two of SMU's 28 singees last year were JUCOs. Of the 19 committed this year, only one is a JUCO. In other words, Jones has gotten enough of his prep targets that he doesn't have to patch up with JUCO. I'm not even wasting my time going through how much better Baylor is currently doing with their first year coach on and off the field. It's already been posted elsewhere. Suffice it to say that Briles and Co. are also running circles around us. I wish the madness would end. But, it won't. We're getting whipped at home. We've got virtually no ties to go out of state to make up for it. We're using the shotgun method of offering JUCO recruits - just pull the trigger and see how much we can hit. It's a joke. The punchline is those who still fall for it.

Kept thinking the same thing as I listened to the game Saturday with Jub-Jub describing how sick Gill was. If Chad Rose or his parents read the board...please know that the vast majority of us recognize that your son is good enough player to start. We don't know why he isn't. We wish he were. Thanks for sticking with UNT despite having to, inexplicably, sit on the bench your senior year.

Look, if they bedwetting Longhorn fan would be honest, they'd take into account that all team are 1-1...and in those head to head games against OU and Tech, UT only led for a total of less than 14 minutes: Texas-OU 1st Quarter – OU leads for 12:17, Tied 2:43, UT leads for 0:00 2nd Quarter – OU lead for 15:00, UT leads for 0:00 First half – OU leads 27:17, Tied 2:43 UT leads for 0:00 3rd Quarter – OU leads for 13:56. Texas leads for 1:04 4th Quarter – UT leads for 10:55, OU leads for 4:05 Second half – OU leads 18:01, Texas leads for 11:59 Game – OU leads for 45:18, Texas leads for 11:59, Tied 2:43 Texas-Texas Tech 1st Quarter – Tech led for 10:38, Tied for 4:22, Texas led for 0:00 2nd Quarter – Tech led for 15:00, Texas led for 0:00 First half – Tech led for 25:38, Tied for 4:22, Texas led for 0:00 3rd Quarter – Tech led for 15:00, Texas led for 0:00 4th Quarter – Tech led for 13:32, Texas led for 1:28 Second half – Tech led for 28:32, Texas led for 1:28 Game – Tech led for 54:10, Tied for 4:22, Texas led for 1:28 TWO GAME TOTAL OU/Tech led for 99:28 Texas led for 13:27 Tied for 7:05 It should also be noted that all of the Tied minutes came at the very beginning of both games. At no point did Texas either catch or lead OU or Texas Tech in the first half of either game. In neither game did they lead for an entire quarter. Out of eight quarters of football, Texas trailed for five. Of four halves, Texas trailed for three. So, again...why is this argument for Texas over OU? The real question is, given Tech's dominance of UT, why is Texas still ranked ahead of Tech?

I think it's hilarious to hear the "energy independence" phrase thrown around by environmentalists. If we could drill everywhere we have oil and natural gas reserves, we would have long ago been energy independent! And, even moreso if we had been able to build more nuclear plants...like f'n socialist France! So damn stupid that France is beating us at this game. So f'ing damn stupid! Instead, we get ridiculous crap shoved down our throats about turning corn into gas, which we now know (well, some of us knew beforehand) isn't good for engines of almost any type. Or, wind-harvesting. Or, wave-harvesting. Or, a bunch of other crap that costs more than oil and gas. This junk will be continually foisted upon us before its time because we have morons running around as if the earth will be flooded or snowed under...or whatever wacko scenario it is this week...if we don't so something right now. Don't wait for real research. Just barrel ahead in spite of the consequences or costs. Stupid. Just stupid. F'n France. Pathetic.

Hal Wasson punted for ACU during their last national title run in 1977. Wasson replaced Todd Dodge at Southlake. If Chris Thomsen replaces Dodge here, does Wasson bolt from Southlake to lead his alma mater? And, Colt McCoy's dad played at ACU. And, Jordan Shipley's dad, too. And, Clay Mansker's brother. And, Jeff Pyburn's dad was the defensive coordinator there after he left Vince Dooley's staff at Georgia. And, John Layfield played there before he became Johnny Hawk, then Justin "Hawk" Bradshaw, then one of The New Blackjacks, then one of the Acolytes Protection Agency, then Bradshaw, then JBL...then...financial analyst with FOXNEWS and conservative talk show radio host. And, Randall "Tex" Cobb played there before Larry Holmes played pat-a-cake on his face back in the days of real boxing where you had to go 15 rounds...and do so on regular, genuine television stations. And, Granbury's Greatest, Johnny Perkins played there. And, the Montgomery Boys - Wilbert and Cleotha - played there. What a wacky school. Something's in the water in Abilene...probably the runoff of cattle poop...but, something besides the cattle poop runoff from all the ranching. Something. We need some of it here.

Tasty, why are you in this thread. I've given you TY Gold in the latest "new coach" thread: ACU women and Wildcat Jesus Thugs. That combo was the catalyst for 93 points last weekend...93!

All I can say is, thank God. Someone with a brain in their head apparently got to him and told him that you can't punish the people with capital and means to rebuild the economy when we're in a recession. It also proves that even Democrats can understand that you need people with money to get the economy rolling along again. I shudder to thinnk what would have happened if "the rich" started hiding their money and/or investing elsewhere while the economy went further and further into the tank. Kudos to Obama for listening...and, most of all, for showing some shred of understanding about economics.

Where did Todd Dodge ever "assemble a winning football program"? He's had a losing record everywhere except Southlake, which already had a winning tradition when he got there. He's never come close to "assembling" anything. That's the problem. He doesn't know how to do it. Please, Rick Villareal, Gretchen Bataille, and Board of Regents...get us someone who knows how to build a program! Please. And, make sure you tell the new coach, "Some Assembly Required"...which means (1) they have to know how to assemble, and (2) they have to bring their own tools.

Link with all 22 TDs scored between ACU and West Texas A&M http://reporternews.com/news/2008/nov/22/scoreboard-breaker/ Also, does ACU's Johnny Knox look "Christian" or "Abilene"...I don't think so...but, whatevah...he get the job done: Their tailback, who is about to go back-to-back 2,000 yard seasons, also goes the ghetto tatoo route...and mixes in the dreadlocks flowing form the helmet...this is Abilene Christian folks: How did this coach sell the city of Abilene and ACU to those two guys, Knox and Scott? It wasn't the women. We need Chris Thomsen here. Note: The young lady on the far left needs to shave her chin. Question: Also, how is it that Under Armour has Abilene Christian purple spiderman shirts, but we can't get real UNT jerseys? Truly baffling. Oops. Spoke to soon...cross on the wristband...and on the bicep...he's got Jesus with him. We need a coach who can get players who throw down a love of Jesus and a ghetto look. These aren't your father's Abilene Christian University Wildcats, folks:

I don't know. The last time OU graduated that many seniors on offense was following the 2004 season. In 2005, the went 8-4. I think 2009 will be about the same for them. Three for four losses. Even if Bradford does return, you're looking at an uber competitive Big 12 South. Texas has been young for two years and split with OU in 2007 and 2008. They will be stronger in 2009. Tech will be as strong. And, Oklahoma State and Baylor are both on the uptick. In fact, Oklahoma State could still wipe out the Sooners this weekend. The Baylor thing kills us. They're within six - ten points from being bowl eligible in Briles first year: three point losses on the road to U Conn (7-4) and at home against Missouri (9-2) This is where we're getting killed. They have been competitive in many games they've lost. Briles is cashing in on the recruiting end. They've already gotten 14 commitments, one being a four-star OL. It's bad enough that we chose a coach out of high school. Add to that, he runs a spread offense. From day one, he was up against Texas Tech and Houston in state for the same type of prep. This year, with Kevin Sumlin at Houston, Briles now at Baylor, and June Jones at SMU, his competition from Texas school alone with spread offenses doubled. Throw on top of that that we've regressed, and we're just not as attractive to that type of recruit.

Funny. However, I wouldn't bet against Dickey showing up at Kansas State as part of Bill Snyder's new coaching staff.

The only area where you could say Dodge has had recruiting success is at running back. Imagine what a new coach, with a more balanced offense, could do with this stable of running backs - Cam Montgomery, Lance Dunbar, Micah Mosely, and James Hamilton. With the graduation of Casey Fitzgerald, Brock Stickler, and Broderick Johnson, we'll basically be starting from scratch in the passing game next year. What better way to try to create some success than to get a coach and coaching staff in here that can use the talent we already have for a more traditional ball control-type offense. Let's face it guys, even if Vizza stays, he's looking at trying to get timing down a whole new set of starters at WR. No one returning will have really "grown up" with him. If Dodge returns and doesn't change, we will again be watching Vizza face an uphill battle on offense. Given Vizza's toughness, he'd be great in an offense like they run at West Virginia, Texas or any other school where to QB gets to run some option as well as throw the ball around. To me, bringing in a coach to recognize and capitalize on the one area of offensive strength we'll have returning next season would be a dream. But, alas, it's now just a dream.

Bradford better cash in this year because four of the five starting o-linemen graduate and a fifth who rotates in regularly also graduates. If he screws up against Oklahoma State, he'll have a hard time repeating what he did this year and last year. He also loses receivers Juaquin Iglesias and Manny Johnson. OU also traditionally loses guys who are eligible for the draft as underclassmen. Look for the TE Gresham to bolt to the NFL. Both running backs could be draft eligible. DT Gerald McCoy will be draft eligible and both safeties graduate. So, if OU doesn't take care of business this weekend, the win over Tech will be much ado about nothing. Either way, when you look at the talent Bradford had around him from the time he took his first snap, it's easy to see why he's beena success. No knock on him. He also has to execute. All I'm saying is that next year, there will be so many new starters around him, that he'll be tested like never before. He'll be one of the few with experience in a huge rebuilding year for them.

The flip side, of course, is that players and parents and potential recruits may look at us in a more positive light if our AD does the right thing and gets a real football coach in here: (1) To the players, it would signal that he cares about their overall career and their choice to spend it at UNT. You only get five years to play four. Getting these guys a real coach while their eligibility clock is ticking would be a show of respect to them and their committment to come here. (2) To the parents, it would demonstrate that the well being of their kids' psyche is more important than the ego of a grown man who "coaches" football. (3) To potential recruits, it would prove that the program is serious about getting better; and, thus, no one man is above it. It would show that the University of North Texas athletic department is about winning, not waiting. There are two sides to every coin. Right now, the clock is ticking on recruiting. We've lost our best OL committment. And, we're getting beaten so badly on the in-state and local preps front that we're desperately throwing scholie offers to every living, breathing, walking, talking, or crawling JUCO player in the country. It's pathetic. Nothing has been established on the field, playing-wise. Nothing has been established off the field, recruiting-wise. It's done. It's a failure. End it. End it now while we still have time to offer a good, solid, reputable, college coach. Too many jobs are opening up and more are sure to follow. Get this thing moving. Please, Please, Please Rick Villareal. PLEASE! How many more beating by pedestrian Sun Belt teams does it take? Pull the plug now and get us a coach. Look, do anything. Offer to name the new stadium after anyone that will step forward and buy out Todd Dodge. Make it a marketing and development venture. Do something other than sit there and watch us get whipped to the point where Sun Belt schools are pulling starters in the third quarter to keep from embarrassing us further. I know RV reads this thing. It's like week after week of mercy, Rick. They get up on us quick, then do everything they can to quit whipping us. They're doing it for the players' sake, not Todd Dodge's, believe me. Do something for these kids, Rick. Do something for their parents, Rick. Do something for the good of the program's long term health, Rick. Admit the Dodge hiring was wrong, bailout of it, and get serious candidates in to replace him.

Mickey Matthews linky linky: http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?...p;Q_SEASON=2008

Rumor around Monroe that Weatherbie will get the ax. One of the rumored targets to replace him - former Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower. Although I think Bower would opt for the Memphis job if it opens up, if this all ends up being true and ULM lands a coach the stature of Bower.... I don't even want to think about it.