island eagle

Early season wins at home usually do not mean as much as later in the season. Most squads aren't really hitting on all cylinders until the 3-4 game. After that its talent, execution, depth (because of injuries) and motivation that determine most game outcomes. As many coaches have said, the first couple of games of the season can be real messes for some teams (with turnovers, mistakes, penalties, etc. carrying a disproportionate share of the blame or credit for the outcome of the game).

"Head Strength Coach" looks good on a resume.

And, if it were a continuing series (every year, like UT/OU and there was guaranteed TV (such as ESPN 2 or Fox SW). Otherwise, lets keep it on campus.

"NT could be one of the surprise teams in the NCAA this year. They are the most improved team in the SBC. After yielding 45.1 and 47.6 ppg in Todd Dodge's first 2 seasons, they should have the most improved D in the country. Special teams are a concern, but this team is capable of winning any or all of their 6 home games. While 2 of my 9 sets of power ratings call for them to go 6-6, the rest call them lower and I'll probably regret picking a vastly improved Mean Green team, who was -17 in TO's (take aways) have have 16 starter back this low." Fairly upbeat for Steele. Actually, whatever you think of him, he does have a nose for teams due for vast improvement.

I'll second that. He probably has the best potential upside of any player we have. The main question is can he make use of it.

Once he transcended his Nebraska background and developed his own offensive style, he became an effective coach. He grew as a coach over time. Too bad it didn't happen while he was here.

No conflict. North Texas needs the win more than Army. Army will still have its reputation whether it wins or loses any one game. Ours rides on every game we play against a "name" opponent.

I'd love to believe that but my green Kool-Aid isn't strong enough.

Also don't forget Jeremy Phillips, who looked VERY GOOD in a possible conversion from DB to LB. At 6-3, he has been billed as a potential Taylor Casey IF he makes the adaptation to the new position.

They predicted three wins for us last year.

I liked this quote: " Cantly. He's a very, very raw work in progress, but he's also extremely big and stunningly unblockable at times. If and when the light goes on, he's the star of the show up front." Sure hope they are right about this!

The potential problem with this flu IF it is or evolves into a potent virus, nobody has an immunity at this point against it. Using the 1918 pandemic as an example, the initial outbreak was mild and killed few people. The virus mutated and came back with a vengeance a few months later with many deaths. Ironically, those who got the first "mild" wave of the flu had developed immunity against the second, more lethal strain. So, maybe it will be good to get it now if it is still relatively mild. Talking to a friend here at UTMB who is an infectious disease researcher, the big worry with this virus seems to be the ease of transmission and the unknowns about how lethal or non-lethal it will tend to be.

Sorry, Shaft, but I don't believe that. They sat on the fence when we were getting reviewed for the Liberty Bowl in 1978. A game in which we rolled over Memphis (St....as it was called then) 41-24 at Fouts Field to cap off a 9-2 season. What the Bowl Committee noticed was not our impressive victory, but the lack of butts in the seats for what was arguably the most important game in post-WW II North Texas football history. After that game, Fry said "I'm out of here". They sat on the after Rod Rust went 7-1-1 in winning the Missouri Valley Conference. They sat on the fence also in 1959 when we won the Valley and went to the Sun Bowl. Fan support may have been a refection of Administration policy over the years, but consistently we have failed to show up in the numbers indicative of our school size even when the product on the field was outstanding. I can remember plenty of empty seats at Fouts when fans could see Mean Joe Greene and FIVE OTHER future pro football players at the same time playing for the Mean Green. We just need to cultivate an attitude of supporting our university and program, regardless of the product on the field. Amazingly, if we had that we might actually see the product we want.

In addition to being a former safety, Phillips is also a former QB, which gives him an edge when reading offenses. He is a former MVP for District 18-4A and was ranked as one of the top-6 Houston area "athletes" by the Houston Chronicle. His dad is a coach by the way. Phillips has all the makings of a SERIOUSLY GOOD LB. Let's hope he fulfills his potential and more.

Western Kentucky beat #5 seed Illinois to advance in their bracket. A good win for the Hilltoppers and the Sun Belt.

Thanks for the information. I'll look forward to your updates.

I agree 100%. Many of our defensive problems this year came from the size mismatch between our guards and your typical 6-3, 6-4 guard that you see in today's game. Maybe if we have 1 "smurf" on the floor at a time, but when we have 2 on, the savvy teams take advantage of us.

Good luck tomorrow night. Your guys had the better team tonight.

I agree. Why are some people so obsessed with Vito. The program has much bigger challenges than worrying about a sports journalist. I would suggest spending a little more time worry whether this current regime is going to get its act together and put a competitive product on the field.

75% opposing fans. That sounds like going to a Baylor, Rice, UH or SMU game when they face a big-name opponent. Texas may be a football state, but it has never supported its "mid-major" programs very well. TCU and UTEP (for some unique reasons) may be the only exceptions.

It is Fred and Corry Pertile. By the way, is anyone old enough to remember the Hachtel twins out of Decatur. They were considered fairly highly rated recruits. But, for some reason only Glynn stuck with the program. lettering three years from 69-71.

Well I'd say the red states had their turn at the helm and have made a pretty big mess of things.

Yes, lets do the past eight years all over again.

Frankly no, though hope springs eternal in the Mean Green breast.

You may not, but I do. Spencer is a defensive demon. Jacob Holman is the best big man we have signed out of high school in years and Knox is not nearly as bad as many think. His upside is very good.