Green to the Bone

I think preachery sounds like an excellent word. There's no speculation or personal opinion in what I posted. All of it has been reported by multiple sources. I knew nothing of this situation until I read up on it. I do admit I'm not neutral on concussions. I'm against them. I've never been to Lubbock, have been to a grand total of one Tech game (the one against UNT at Texas Stadium some years back) and care absolutely nothing about Leach or Tech. I may have been through Celina once, but I wouldn't know Craig or Adam James if I saw them at the mall. I couldn't tell you what Craig James looks or sounds like on TV if I had to. He's a nonentity to me. I don't doubt that the Jameses and Leach don't get along. Many people and Leach don't get along. However, the strongest evidence that this is more than a personality dispute and is not within the norms of team discipline is that the university and the TT system were willing to risk millions of dollars, the wrath of alumni, and very bad national publicity on the certainty and justification of their position -- not something to be done lightly. They are the ones with more of the story than most and did not conclude that this was an overblown dustup between a couple of knuckleheads. More like an example of unacceptable and unprofessional conduct by their employee that they could not tolerate. So rather than do the expected and wimpy thing and close ranks around their star coach on the eve of a bowl game, postponing any unpleasantness until off-season when people aren't paying attention, they hitched up their trousers. Not claiming that's proof of the facts of the case. Just saying it's a telltale sign that at least in the view of the Tech/TT System leadership, who had a week to let this sit in their stomachs before they did the deed, Leach's actions were not trivial.

Kid suffers a concussion on Dec. 16. Shows up at practice Dec. 17 in sunglasses after being cleared for some activity but not strenuous exercise by the company doctor. Leach thinks the kid is faking and asks what he's able to do. He's told the kid is on light duty only. Leach is ticked off by the kid's sunglasses, which he takes as a sign of disrespect, and orders him shut in a dark room, along the lines of, you don't like light? OK, how will you like the dark? Kid is told if he leaves the room he's off the team. Leach repeats it the next day. Leach's attorney confirms that Leach thinks the kid's a faker. Attorney says the kid is just a malcontent unhappy with his playing time. Says nothing suggesting that this dark confinement was done on the doctor's recommendation to help him avoid light. The action comes across as a disciplinary move, not a medical one. Effect of said action, whether intended or not, is clearly to intimidate other players who might report concussions. Tech president and TT System chancellor, regents chairman and regents vice chairman approve the suspension in full knowledge that Leach is the winningest FB coach in Tech history and that getting rid of him would cost the school millions. I think I've pretty much read up on what happened.

Thanks for the expert diagnosis, Doc. Please pass your observations on to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons so they can update their guidelines (one week on the sidelines after the mildest (Grade 1) concussion). These brain surgeon know-it-alls have been pressuring coaches to baby these so-called head injuries for far too long. It's about time they realized it's a tough game and only whiners report concussions. Hopefully, Leach's mature and professional treatment of the James kid has encouraged all the other players to suck it up and not tell any coach or trainer that they saw stars or couldn't remember what day it was after a big hit. Only slackers would even contemplate accepting any bench time just because some quack recommends it. I just hope that North Texas' coaches are wise to this concussion ruse and take a page from Leach's playbook. Remember, twenty years from now, it won't matter that a player suffered a permanent and totally preventable brain injury by getting a much riskier second or third concussion. It will only matter that he was dressed out and hitting for one additional week when he was 19 or 20.

Do you ever get tired of slandering people you've never met or even heard of?

And that realtimerpi guy got our name right! GO NORTH TEXAS EAGLES!

He kicks with the devil's foot. We'll need a placekick holder who's also sinister.

Not so long ago, this board was chock full o' people jeering JJ: He's a loser, typical JJ choke, we'll never win with this guy, he's just another UNT disappointment, RV should fire him and himself, he can't recruit, he can't play the two-minute, he's an bumbler at clock management, he's made us an embarassment, he doesn't like puppies. I say if we aren't leading Lame-O by at least 12 in the first three seconds of the first half, those people were right.

You've just described what I suspect is a significant majority of assistant coaches nationwide. They don't get publicly blamed, but they get fired all the time. And they all need a paycheck. Except for those at the top BCS contenders, assistants in general don't make ginormous money.

I think it only applies to board posts, but I'm about to test that theory in my head.

Suggest need for a software thing that flashes "Do you need to talk to someone?" each time somebody types "only at UNT." Indicates fourth stage of frustration and loss of moorings.

Tease.

Unfortunately, so are those who remember it.

Doesn't seem like the kind of option that qould require the presiden's involvement. I can't see her caring about the nuts and bolts of sideline management.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest, as a friend, that those who are posting such hateful comments should seek a healthier and more enjoyable hobby. Just a thought.

You know nothing. I too would have used every available weapon to win today.

I consider it an honor just to be on the same court with them. Oh, and to beat them on it, too.

Hey, kid, didn't you hear about UNT? What a joke that school must be! Not only that gay homecoming thing, but they've got an unofficial mascot that's an albino squirrel! Heck, kid, they couldn't even get a gray squirrel! It's an albino, just like that creepy killer with the chains and stuff in The DaVinci Code! Did you see that movie? I don't know if any of that stuff in that movie was true, but there's one thing that you can take to the bank: You don't want to meet some hot girl at a party and tell her you play football for a gay colorless self-flagellating squirrel school, do you? I mean, I know I wouldn't. So what say, kid? Can we count on you? In the long and stupid history of stupid, this thread qualifies as really stupid.

The band will indeed be there.

This was the women's team, right?

You can bet your house on it: We suffer a disappointing loss, and somebody will start dissing the band. Tired, boring subject. Wake me when it's over.

I gotta say, Dasher and Dodge sounds like a great QB matchup. Suggests speed versus agility. Great branding potential.

A few more A-Train details relevant to basketball: No exact schedule yet, but they expect it to run from 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m., hourly in off periods and every 25 minutes during peak times. I don't know from that when the last southbound train would leave, but it sounds like it would be difficult for people to take the train back to Carrollton/Dallas after a game. 7 p.m. games usually end around 9, and the train station will be a few blocks east of the square, way too far to walk. A shuttle bus would be necessary. There almost certainly would be one, but people would risk being stuck overnight in little D if they stayed for overtime. The DCTA would surely have to have convincing evidence of sufficient demand to schedule a basketball train. But it would be pretty nifty. Advancing to Round II of the NCAA this year might help.

The Denton County Transportation Authority says it will have its new A-Train linked to the new DART line at Carrollton in December 2010. They've met their construction schedule so far. If it's like the current commuter bus, students will ride free with their UNT IDs. So no ticket stubs.

Those darned archives!

Ever so slightly off-topic, since it deals with human resources and not specifically with Pit infrastructure, but ... I'd like to see the men's team wait until after the Alma Mater to leave the court postgame. The women always wait. And I'd like to have the boring boilerplate postgame announcements made after the Alma Mater, and to have the announcer ask everyone to stay and stand and take part in the song. A little more ritual would enhance the atmosphere.