Green to the Bone

PhD in quantitative systems. Seats probably quantified somewhere around the 50.

OK, let's play nice. Everybody brings something valuable to the game -- either long and discerning experience, or unmitigated enthusiasm. God bless both of 'em.

Not sure of the number, but it was good. And yep, they were gratifyingly obnoxious. In a tasteful and sportsmanlike way, of course.

JJ coached a good game tonight. He made the right adjustments at halftime. It was obvious from their faces that he brought them out after the break fired up. Attendance was good, the students were involved, and the basketball band was great as always. We're very much in the race, poised to move up in the division with an extended home stand. And it's worth noting that we've still got the best overall in the division. There were posters who wanted JJ's head 48 hours ago, with the most important part of the season still before us. Seems a little premature right now. However, I was really angry that the kid missed three tries at getting the newspaper into the basket. Two of his throws were air papers.

Nice job, guys. We should all thank the organizers and offer whatever help we can.

That's fine. In fact, I think you're making the right choice by not coming to the games. If watching kids lose a basketball game makes you that angry, and if your life is so profoundly affected by the performance of people you don't even know and who don't know you, it's best that you stay away. For me, I think I'll try to keep things in perspective. But that's just me.

All true. But the trend toward quantitative analysis of what is fundamentally a qualitative activity is fraught with dangers, both actual and philosophical. The BCS was supposed to be an improvement because the data and analysis are, in theory, objective. Granted, the numbers prevent someone from voting for or against X based on prejudice. However, the numbers can only predict broad probability, and granted as well that those broad probabilities are fairly reliable; OU probably will win the matchup more often than Boise State. And most times, Tony Romo will successfully place the ball for a successful field goal. It is those little victories and foibles that make the game fun. It's a contest, not a Big Mac. You don't know in advance how it will taste. The main argument against over-quantifying our games relates back to the tension between objectivity and subjectivity. A computer would unhesitatingly give us Rose/McGwire/Bonds/Sosa in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Sometimes it take real people with good judgment to say no to numbers. Besides, I don't think we should be any lower than, say, 110th.

If any one doing this type of ranking is honest, he'll admit that these are subjective and based mostly on hearsay. Is there any way that one person knows the difference between, say, the No. 76 and No. 77 teams? I call this stuff just blog fodder.

If we can just get all 23 million Texans to donate $2.61 each, we've got $60 million. Seems doable ...

A. He hasn't done anything. B. Who cares? It's said that generals lose wars when they re-fight yesterday's battles instead of today's. Turn the page and live in the present.

Good luck to Coach Dickey and his family. Time to move on, folks.

Yes. Closer is always better. That's why the multipurpose pro stadiums (Major League Baseball and NFL) of the 1960s were such failures for both sports. Everybody was always far, far away. It's why the Ball Park in Arlington is good park and why Dr Pepper Park in Frisco is so much fun. Make sure there's no track, and get everybody on the same incline. That said, terrific football is still the main goal. I'd rather fill Fouts than have the sorry attendance that SMU has in their nice brick home.

I'd like to thank everyone for reminding me that I should have been angry when our guys came from behind and tied it up and won, and that I actually should have been furious that I drove up from Dallas to sit in the Pit and yell for our team, only to have them pull out a tough one. I know now that I was wrong to be happy that they didn't wilt at the end. I should have been mad all the way home because of little TV screens and loose shoelaces. I'm beginning to think there's something wrong with me for being able to enjoy a UNT victory. Dr. Phil, can you help a fellow alum?

It was Reagan who once said, "Facts are stupid things." At least I think it was Reagan.

Amen, Rick and others. Let's give a 17- or 18-year-old kid a chance to play before we start complaining that he can't play.

He also gets the use of a car. The car allowance is on top of that. It's a standard deal. DD had the same deal. In fact, DD's terms were the same as TD's except for the base salary.

You bet. In a similar thread a few weeks ago, my view was that regarding Game Day grooming, sharper is better. My own sloppiness notwithstanding, of course.

Spoken like a true Houstonian.

Trounce 'em, Trojans. I'll back a public former "normal" college over a private anytime. State school all the way, baby.

You can always find ten million zillion reasons why something won't work if that's what turns you on, as so many posts here prove. Maybe the outcome of an open-invitation day wouldn't be to find a potential starter who's playing video games in his dorm room instead of bringing glory to the Green. And maybe TD will elevate the recruiting class to the point where you'd need a gun and a crowbar to win even a job swapping game balls for the refs. But maybe instead the outcome would be to get some more talk going, get a story in the paper, get some posters up around campus, and remind students during the spring that we'll have exciting football in the fall. Maybe we'll encourage a group of intramural guys to take a chance and earn a little campus cred. The game here isn't filling roster spots as much as it is promotion, salesmanship, and fan recruiting. And along the way, maybe we'd find an unknown exchange student from Lord knows what unpronounceable place who never thought before about switching from soccer to football placekicker. It's happened before. At any rate, don't go out of your way to stomp the life out of every idea from every interested student. Jeez, people, think before you type.

Excellent post. Students seats are going to prove to be the best bargains in Texas!

Amen, 10. RV pulled off a brilliant move precisely because it bucks conventional wisdom. After all, conventional wisdom is so, well, conventional. There should never, ever be anything safe or boring about football. Except taking a knee on the last possession when we're in the lead.

You're very right. You couldn't buy 1 percent of the publicity for what TD's being paid. And the benefits will extend beyond athletics. I hope he's so successful that other colleges or pros start throwing money at him in a few years. That would make today's UNT money very, very well spent indeed!

a temple, with statue, on the Acropolis.

That's payment for the pre- and postgame interviews and the weekly show. DD had the same deal, same amount.