Reb UT'70

PS I also can't say enough good things about UNT academically. I don't how how many folks know about the Foreign Service exam, but only 10% of the applicants pass, and most have advanced degrees from Ivy level schools. My daughter was able to pass with an undergrad degree from UNT. I was impressed! Now, my daughter, who was voted "most gullible" in her high school class, works in D.C. for the Defense Intelligence Agency as a Russian expert... I'm not sure what that says about the DIA, but it does speak well of UNT!

First, I couldn't believe how tense I got when Ball tied the score. This was the first UNT game I've watched in quite a while and I was surprised at how hard I was pulling for UNT. Second, It's been a tough two years. I'm not sure if Cotton Doge is Riley's uncle or cousin but the relationship is close. Cotton and his wife are members of my Sunday School class and we've been talking UNT football since Todd took the job. Cotton has been certain that Todd would pull the program back to what it was undert that other guy in the '60s and '70s. Third, I've been concerned about the recruiting. I think one of the hardest tasks for a HS coach moving into college is to appreciate talent. Given Todd's record, I frankly didn't think he'd be able to recruit as well as he has. Cotton keeps telling me that Todd is getting some good kids who will be able to play under his system. I think we saw both sides of that last night. He does have talent out there, and he's still has some real holes. Seeing a bit more pressure on their QB tops my list. I'm reading that our D looks so much better than last year... how could it not? However, who is going to be the Dodge of the Defense? Where is the player that can pull the defense to level I saw the offense playing last night? Last, but certainly far from least, I loved watching the coaching battle last night. Ball made some great adjustments at the half. UNT made theirs in the 4th, which is much harder to do, and that's good coaching at the lower levels. I can't speak to the attitude of the team, but I did see confidence in the coaching staff to adjust to Ball's changes and that's great! I watched the Oregon vs Boise State (I've been so ready for football to get started) game to the end (and that player should be thrown out of football and his scholarship pulled! In fact, since I saw him hit a cop, I'd like to see him in jail) and I was struck by what the Boise State coach said. "This was a typical first game with lots of mistakes" The same is true of UNT. We don't know how good Ball is and we don't know how good we are. I don't know enough about Ohio to know if we'll learn anything one way or the other from that game. Our real lessons will come of Alabama. How will we stand up against a real D1 contender? Based on what I saw last night, we've still got a lot of work, but also based on last night, it looks like we might have some of the pieces to make a run in a year or two.

Just dropped in to see how the class recuited looks to those that can evaluate them. As the parent of a recuited player (soccer) I have to say I think Doge was wrong. I just read the transcript of Brown's press conference and he was making the point that decisions are being made way too early. I agree, but that's where the process is today. I don't know how many 'ships TD had available, and I don't think he was "required" to give one to this kid, but it would have been the right thing to do, and the smart thing to do. Texas was willing to give up a spot for a kid who will never play because of a heart condition. As it turns out that 'ship didn't count against their total, but that wasn't a consideration. Texas will get a a ton of positive milage out of that 'ship, and TD will be hurt. TD is being hurt just by having the one article written. Is it fatal... of course not, but in the minds of some parents it will be a question that TD will have to answer instead of beng able to point to what he did as "proof" that he'll stick with kids even if they don't help on the field. That is so important to parents. For all the hype, the education is more important to the parent than the playing time. TD is new to the college scene, and he can make it up to the coaches. However, the last thing you want is a group of Texas HS coaches thinking you're not fair.