untcampbell

First, that is Mr F....sorry, Jim. Second, Euless: That game will be in New Orleans! GMG

Thanks for the advice, Mr M. Will be just 6 months a year (Fall and Winter)...the rest of the year in Idaho. And I still have 20 years or so to make a decision...not an owner yet. And by the way, have a good Memorial Day, sir.

It takes a backward state like Louisiana (no offense, LA boys...I plan to retire in NOLa) to realize that playing in state teams keeps all the money in state. Imagine that. GMG

Let me preface that I am a horrible ballplayer and a worse organizer, but would anyone be interested in heading up a fundraiser for the stadium where we put together a "Great Game" among us gmg posters? Thoughts: Similar to the GMG.com Bowl, we put together teams, have a couple of practices (players from both teams attend the practices) and schedule the game sometime around the start of fall practices. Players pay $100 to play (including t-shirt), all funds go to the stadium. We ask a vendor to donate the shirts. Pitching is always the dicey part of this...coach pitch/five pitches? Or do you go scorched earth and play real baseball with live pitching? I prefer the latter. It would be great to play on campus but I am not sure NT has a legit baseball field. Maybe we play where the club team plays? NO SOFTBALL...this is baseball. Being a DEFCON 20% guy, I will be highly aware of the "message" pitch coming my way. But I WILL play with my name on my jersey. Scott Campbell GMG

Agree. I thought this post had no relevance to this board and should be moved. Then, I realized it would spur reminders to anyone that felt our current coaching story had not been told enough. Carry on. GMG Scott Campbell

Asked for a reaction to Russo's request for transfer, Dodge said, "I don't see the need to answer that question. He is dead to me. As for my own future, since you didn't ask, we will be fine. It really is all about me, you see, er I mean, I am focused on the school that gave me this great opportunity." Sounds like the proper way to handle that question. Instead, the guy offered coach-speak about a kid with whom he has had a long coach/player relationship, and then went back to recruiting (three more offers posted today) and continuing progress in turning this around. I prefer the latter. Stay focused on the kids that want to be here. Self-evaluate and work to make it the best work environment you can. Do something, make progress, improve, then talk about it if you must, but limit focus on yourself while you are working hard to turn it around. (and yes, I understand this is a simplistic view of the situation) GMG Scott Campbell

Nice to see this getting some play. I stopped in Denton recently, and ran around the facilities that have been built. The tennis facility is first class and I can only imagine that it is a nice place to watch a tournament. The girls look great and have represented the school well this season. I also caught a couple of innings of one of the softball games, and am sold. I have never had so much fun at a non-football NT sporting event. It is clear the girls (from both teams) enjoy their sport. Lots of hustle, but it really looks like they are having a great time. The field is awesome and fun to spectate from. I like the tailgaters in right field (mostly students so they don't cost us by not paying for a ticket). NT hosts the softball tournament in a few weeks. I recommend you go out and see our girls. Lots of fun. GMG

If you go to the meangreensports.com front page, on the left side is a listing of NT sports events and results. When you click on the results today, you see nothing but W's (and a Recap for the TT Track and Field meet and a WGLF 13th place at the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic). Four softball wins and four tennis wins. Oh, and while I am on the MG Athletics page, big props to the Athletic Department for the schedule posters of the Women's Tennis and Golf teams. GMG

Uhm, good point.

We all know recruits never look on these boards for information. And if they do, we are only allowed to tear our University, and anything or anyone associated with it, apart. No props allowed.

I was on the mass email list a couple of days ago regarding the Spring game and season ticket renewals (a great deal if bought by April 4, because you get last year's pricing even though you get a sixth game in 2009...think that is accurate). At the bottom is a revised schedule. I just noticed the MTSU game because I was going to have to miss it the week it was scheduled. In fact, there were three game changes. I called the Ticket office today and this is the home schedule: Two games in each month of the season! Sep 12 Ohio Sep 26 MTSU Oct 17 FAU Oct 31 WKU Nov 7 ULM Nov 21 Army Did not ask about the away game schedule. The new schedule is not the one on the website. gmg

Originally scheduled for 10.3.09, the game may have been moved. Today's email from AD points out a schedule revision. I believe that is the only date that moves. Both MTSU and NT websites do not reflect the schedule change. Anyone else verify? gmg Scott Campbell

The guy in the Expos hat is, I believe, our beloved SUMG. I recognized Dino Malave, Bret Adams, Keith Lehman and a couple of other guys whose names I can't remember. All old Talons. I think I am the guy on the left in the picture with the UT cheer vehicle and the Model A, in Austin, along with John Reeder, Don Parker and John Reese. All of these guys were part of the crew that drove the Model A to the away games (often on trailer, but a few times we drove that thing). I think it is Reese by himself with the cannon. Thanks for sharing. GMG

I want to thank Brett Vito for the last night's blog entry, "Remembering Germaine Dawson." Sometimes I get so caught up in performance and what the coach or kid did or did not do on the field that I don't take time to get to know what they did off the field. Thanks Brett for bringing his story to my attention. From this story, I learned Germaine wanted to coach kids after graduation, that he spent a great deal of time and effort attempting to positively influence young folks on life issues, through football camps and as a big brother in the BB/BS program. I learned he came to NT without a scholarship (based on a promise that he would get an offer if NT had a scholarship to give), but quickly earned one. I learned he worked hard and wanted to do his best for NT, regardless of his position on the field or whether he started or not. I learned he was motivated to HELP the team however he could. He did. And his story positively influenced me in a lot of ways. And I couldn't help but wonder if yesterday's practice was cancelled based on the news of Germaine's death. To those that love him and know him, that are hurting today and will hurt for a long time to come, prayers for peace, prayers for closure, prayers for a timely and thorough mourning.

Irony = Bob Hoffman quote at the bottom of PHS Coach posts. Perhaps Lonnie will add the quote: "What the world needs now is love, sweet love."

Refreshing to see someone admitting a bias....one way or the other. I have been asking one guy to tell me what he has against Coach. Anyone as focused on the negative as this guy is has to have SOMETHING personal (son kicked off the team, etc) that steers them that way, IMHO. I am biased also...towards a focus on the forward. But then again, my kid never competed and came in 2nd, 3rd or 9th place under the tutelage of this coach. Thus it is incumbent on me not to judge those that are vitriolic against my Coach, because I cannot pretend to understand the personal pain that has been inflicted that causes such a personal bias against, one that demands a retort to every bit of positive news that spews from the emotion-based (i.e. actual fact accounts for about 20%, non-scientific validated number) source of news, the gmg.com community. GMG Scott Campbell 20% warned from the Town of Flower Mound

Saw NT play Alabama awhile back. The fact that we went up 7-0 on them allowed for respect...honestly, with Nebraska, the nicest fans of any "major" school opponent. This was not evidenced in their reaction to Sasha Baron Cohen's Bruno character. If you are not gay...let me restate...not flamboyant, you will be fine at Bama, and have a great time. We got beat something like 33-7, but I felt great about the game. One other thing sticks out: When Bama plays someone like NT (what they perceive to be an automatic win), longtime season ticket holders give their tickets to "first time attendees." They greatly appreciate the experience and taunting is limited. LSU=Not interested. Scott Campbell 20% warned

Sorry LoveMG. I assumed Mr Finch authorized you to answer the question I asked of him....so I answered him. Scott Campbell DEFCON 20%

Most of the kickers are on scholarship....they should probably be required to attend. Those that don't want to be there, should probably not be there. Scott Campbell DEFCON 20%

Thanks Mr Finch. Now I understand. The article was about a positive move, and you choose to belittle it by turning it into some sort of self-inferred validation of your never-wrong observations. Yeah, he did 3-21 to me also. The difference is that I don't feel the need to point out every fault the coach may or may not have to make me feel better. Scott Campbell Warned to 20%

Mr Finch, I am glad to hear that this is all about your vindication. I can't imagine how great it feels to never be wrong. A while back, I asked if there was something personal between you and Coach. I ask again because, like most of the threads you post on, this thread started out as a relatively positive thread: an NT football player saying he is happy, expressing his appreciation to his coach for being given the opportunity. Reading this board, one would think there is not a happy player on the team but this story somewhat refutes that. You seem to post only to point out what you find wrong with the program, and more accurately with the coach (and since your are always right...). Any desire on your part to share what the guy did to you? Scott Campbell

And Baylor, and Oklahoma State and South Florida all had kids sign with them that ended up at Navarro. Guess we should have opted out of such behavior, even though those other schools did too. My guess is that if you looked at JC signing classes across the country, most D-1 schools have someone that ended up on a JC roster. Many of those kids will end up signing with the D-1 school they first signed with, though they don't have to. Nice to see when a kid overcomes, then chooses to go with the school that took a chance on him. Next subject, Mr Finch.

Mr Finch, Can you go ahead and tell us what is about to happen to the rest of the class? Why did you not tell us about Chevy Bennett when we signed him? I plead ignorance...I know nothing about the recruiting process, so please don't withhold your vast knowledge on this subject. Go ahead and let us know now about all the other problems that this recruiting class will pose the new coach that has to clean up this mess. And to all of those who belong in this category, per Mr Finch: "Anyone else with a smidgen of knowledge about recruiting already knew why." Why do you insist on holding back your more than smidgen of knowledge about recruiting and tell us in advance? Why does NT03 have to discover this on a search for something else. Save all of us without the smidgen of knowledge about recruiting the long, drawn out wastes of time and tell us everything there is to know about what the next coach is facing. Oh, and uhm, GMG. Scott Campbell Warned to the 20% level and ignorant about the toxic asset we inherited in Mr Bennett Class of 1982 Flower Mound, TX

This is the Grand Prairie 3rd grader whose picture is on page 1 of the DMN metro section as she attends her school's TAKS test pep rally. What caught my eye? The Casey Fitzgerald jersey she is wearing. GMG

TFLF, so let's say that your view(s?) is completely correct (and I would certainly offer that it is hard to argue with some of the stuff you put out there....I just tend to disagree with your method/forum for delivery). I have worked in several companies where someone was hired, who would assume a job that was superior to mine, that was ill-equipped for the job. Whose fault is that? Do you fault a guy for over-selling himself in the interview? What did he over-sell? His previous role here and familiarity with the 'challenges' faced by anyone who takes a HC job at NT? His numerous 5A Championships and leadership of an elite football program? Or do you fault the guy who hired someone not ready for the job (if in fact that is what we are assuming here)? Why not spend most of your time going after the guy who hired him? Maybe not you, but many will acknowledge that Dodge's hire was accompanied by a "splash" of publicity that NT rarely enjoys. One could further argue that, even in the troubled times in which our football program finds itself, we are ahead of where we would be with a mediocre, no-name uninspired college-experienced coach, the type of hire that we can typically afford, i.e. Dickey, Simon, Tyler, etc. Had that been the case, there would have been considerably less publicity at hire, less than 5000 at the first Spring game, less attendance than we saw during season one, even season two, and a couple of 2-10, 3-9 seasons (my guess). I think that Dodge may admit he was a bit over his head for the job when he got here. He would probably ask for some do-overs on his coaching hires (he realizes he would have benefitted from the added expertise that seasoned college coaches would have provided). He would be more likely to mold his system to his talent. Those who don't like Dodge will probably disagree with most of my assumptions, but I will tell you that Dodge has grown in this position. I admire a guy that has gone through much adversity and still believes he can get the job done, doing his job with relentless passion and no-quit. He will be better. And maybe on-the-job training is the best some "companies" can afford, especially when that hire comes with the publicity this hire did. Frankly, other than those who post on this board, my guess is that most of the vaunted 100,000 metroplex alumni of our beloved alma mater haven't noticed how NT has done the last two years vs. say the previous 25-30 years (other than the 4 years of Bowl gatherings in NOLa). We have been in a very mediocre place for a LONG time. The fact that Dodge didn't turn it around in his first two seasons wasn't noticed by most. I believe that Dodge will be remembered more for what happens in the next few years than what has happened in the first two. I will keep my list of excuses for him to a minimum. Just as those who don't like him rehash their arguments over and over again, those of us that pull for the guy have made our case endlessly. We can only move forward, and I think we are positioned to do so. GMG Scott Campbell Warned to 20% Flower Mound, TX Class of 1982