Charlie NT 73

The #119 ranking is not a suprise from the national sports talking heads, who have based their prediction on the past two years of the "Dodge Experiment". The talking heads just jump on the bandwagon and follow each other's lead. Just another typical national report. Until the football team turns the corner, expect more of the same type of reporting. Can the team turn the corner? Yes they can and yes they will! 2009 will be fun! Since we are talking DT's and DE's, I am very excited about the numbers of very good DT's and DE's that will be available for 2009. I am not the only fan that shares the same opinion. I spoke to several coaches at the Press Conference on Feb 4th, who are very excited about the number of players at DT and DE. There will be 9 DT's and 10 DE's, including the new recruits. These numbers will change during spring ball and the fall 2-a-days. Never the less, the team will have the largest number of quality players competing at DT and DE that ever before. Coach Dodge made a interesting statement last Wed night. "The D-line will start with Ross (Draylon Ross)". The staff is expecting Ross to be a dominate DT. Ross is listed 6-4, 286, 14lbs from 300. Jessie DeSoto, 6-1, 286, Troy Franklin at 6-4,277 and Tevinn Cantly, 6-4, 310. Ross, DeSoto, Franklin will be at 300 if they are not there already. JUCO's Shavod Atkinson, 6-2, 298 and Kelvin Jackson, 6-2, 320 do not arrive until the fall but the coaches want all the JUCO's to participate in summer workouts. The point here is, Atkinson and Jackson are not starters yet, and they will have to beat out Ross,DeSoto,Cantly, and Franklin. Kyle White, 6-2, 318 arrives this fall too, and can be a factor. I would like to see a R/S for White, but if can play and dominate, he could see playing time. I see 7 DT/NG players at 300lbs. (I would like for Jackson to shed 15-20 lbs by fall.). One more note. I spoke to Mike Nelson, our new DT's coach. Nelson is a stud DT/DL coach. He will hit the ground running. Outstanding personality, motivator, demanding, and is a teacher above all. Coach Nelson will make a difference with the DT and NG positions. A big difference! Coach Nelson believes the DT/NG position can develop into a very good interior defensive line. Coach Nelson did say the starting positions are open until someone proves they can be the man at DT and NG. The interior defense will improve and have a real shot at becoming a very good interior defensive line, loaded with quality big DL players! Yes, the interior DL play will be improved with quality D1 players and depth! The 2009 season will be great, then watch how fast the national sports talking heads change their opinions about NT, and jump on the winning NT bandwagon!

Alot of chatter on Troy's board regarding the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, AL, cuting their ties with CDOA (as I call CUSA). Does anyone know about this split? The Troy fans are not to freindly toward Wight/Wrong Waters not jumping on this opportunity, to gain a contract as the SBC's second bowl game.

Hey Green 59, I have not seen you around for awhile. Welcome back! My opinion about the QB race is this. High school teams seem to have their best athlete playing QB. Riley is a great athlete who played QB in HS, 2 time Texas Class 5A POY and Offensive POY. Riley could play several other positions easily. Second, Riley has been learning to play Dodgeball, ever since he could pick up a football. Riley knows the offense, knows how to read defense formations and coverages, with just a glance. Riley is smart, with his management of the offense. Riley has a very quick release of the ball, and is a very accurate passer. Riley is a very gifted runner, very quick acceleration, elusive, and seems to have a 6th sense about his surroundings during any play. From watching Riley in HS and in the few NT games where he played, I see Riley as a very special player, that NT is very fortunate to have. I think Riley will have a huge advantage in the QB race, for my reasons above, and not becasue he is the HFC's son. To be fair to Nathan Tune, I have not seen Nathan play much. I will not rule Nathan out of the race, because Nathan has his athletic abilities too. Plus Nathan has had 2 years of learning the system. The team needs Nathan, and he will play in 2009. For Baine, I have not seen him play. I have read sports write up's about him, and I have read postings from GMG fans that have followed his career. Baine is a good athlete too, and will get chance to prove he is worthy to play QB. I will be very interested to see how he competes. For the walkon JUCO, I have no idea who this player is much less what he can do. The staff must see something in him or he would not walking on at NT. My vote will go to Riley to become the starting NT QB.

Players have 5 years to play 4 years, so a player can redshirt at any time. The coaches had several players they would have liked to redshirt from the 2008 class, like OG Coleman Feeley. Due to injuries, Feeley got his opportunity late in the season to play due to injuries with the OL group. Feeley was ready to go, and proved that he is a D1 lineman! If Coleman had not played in 2008, the staff could have used 2008 as a red shirt year. Coleman still can take a redshirt year at a later date, but with the year he had, I think he is in the OL for the next 3 years.

The RB position is solid. I would not be suprised to see Darius Carey get a shot at RB. High schools usually have their best athlete playing QB, and Carey is a great athlete with break away speed. Carey will be on the field somehow someway in 2009.

Yes, there will be 4 QB's in spring ball,and 5 QB's for the beginning of the fall. Thompson has been grooming for this opportunity since his junior year in HS. Several comments last night were very interesting regarding Derek Thompson. First, Derek actually commited to NT during during his junior year. Derek has completed several of Coach Dodge's football camps, where he rated very high scores considering the number QB's attending these camps. Derek went through two years of evaluations and was the # 1 QB prospect the staff wanted for the 2009 class. Several programs approached Derek all year, but Derek said not interested. Derek only listed NT as his school, so it made him look like a average QB with no suitors. There were some big schools trying to get their foot in the door. Redshirting may be a possiblity later on. Coach Dodge and his staff do not tell a prospect or his family they will redshirt. Coach Dodge and the staff tell the prospect and their family, their son will compete to play from day one. The staff demands the player compete, and be ready to go. Any redshirt options are only considered late into the season. A player can redshirt at any time during their career at NT. Look at OG Coleman Feely. Due to injuries, Coleman was ready to go when the team needed him. If Coleman never had a opportunity to play in 2008, then 2008 could have been a redshirt year. He still has one year of redshirt to use if needed. No matter what happens, Derek will come to NT to compete and to play his first year. Derek is a very very good QB!

I really enjoyed the program last night with the review of the NT recruits. I also had to opportunity to speak to several of the coaches to learn about the NT recruiting process. Recruiting for the 2010 class has already started. The coaches are identifing prospects, already have targeted players, and have had evaluation meetings that will continue through the signing of the 2010 class. Coaches are prepairing to make visits during the NCAA allowed "evaluation visits" that will begin in March and run through May. Every NT prospect will go through the staffs evaluation. Hours and hours of video will be reviewed, and each coach will make their opinions on each player. Talking to coaches, the prospect, his family, in home visits, campus visits must be planed out. The in home visits are very important and are required. Every position prospect must meet certain requirments and qualifications, and each prospect will be graded on these qualifiations. This is how the # 1 player is determined, then the # 2 player and so on. Coach Dodge said the QB pospect must be evaluated completely on every aspect of staffs requirements, and must meet or exceed these requirements, before being considered a NT recruit. This process of evaluations continues through the recruiting season, and takes time. Coach Dodge said he will not recruit any player with out these evaluations, so finding a QB prospect in 4 weeks did not allow the time to make the required evaluations, and that using a scholarship with just a few weeks evaluation was too much of a risk when the scholarship could be used with a qualified player. The staff is very confident with the QB position, and players, for 2009.

Don't forget Derek Thompson, QB from Glen Rose TX! After listening to Coach Dodge's reviews of Derek Thompson, and watching Thompson's highlight video's last nigth at the Pour House, Derek Thompson is a great QB that will compete for playing time this fall. Big proto type QB, 6-4, 200, very strong arm, very accruate, and does not get sacked much because of his strength. Very good runner too. Glen Rose HS runs the spread offense, with Thompson at QB for the past 2 years. Plus, Thompson has attended several of Todd Dodge's QB programs and football camps. The football camps are the connection on Thompson's commitment to North Texas. As other major programs came calling, and there were many suitors, Derek said no, not interested at all. The other programs backed off because they knew they had no chance at all to change his commitment to NT.

Congratulations to all the members of the Mean Green Class of 2009! Welcome to the Mean Green Nation! All of you, are in for a very special time at North Texas! I remember my days at NT just like they were yesterday- Great people, great school! Charlie

I think Washington should have been the # 1 target over Knighton! Washington is a very very good defensive player! Geez, this guy is fast and wraps up ball carriers. Fights off blocks, and breaks through the LOS! Another big time recruit from Cedar Hill!

Prior and Carey have faxed in their LOI's.

I am GMG positive. I do enjoy the postings and views of MG fans. For the non fan, trolls, and remaining invaders, that try to ruin pro GMG postings everyday, please follow what you should already know. If you cannot say anything good about someone, then keep your mouth shut. Hayden Fry-- YES Bill Blakeley-- YES Corkey Nelson-- YES Todd Dodge-- YES

Aaron Ausmus- Very good question and answer story from a Scout.com interview. http://idaho.scout.com/2/310408.html

Would this be one of lifes most embarresing moments? How about the famous "no punter" scene on 4th down, and the deep snaper sends the ball through the end zone. I believe this happened under Simon's watch.

John Noble is a great commitment for North Texas! Wow! I really like this new addition to the Mean Green OL! 1st team district 4A! THSCA 4A Academic All State! Big guy, 6-5, 300! Played guard in HS! Quote "They have some guys that they are going to move to guard." Interesting statement. Is Lefty tinkering with the OL, now that he has alot of prime beef returning?

The "open contact" period runs Jan 18 through the 31st, which means many prospects are visiting North Texas. All the campus is open, the spring semester has started, so the prospects will be able to see just how great it is to be part of the Mean Green nation. This is a very powerful recruiting avenue, for the coaches and for the prospects. As far as coming in second to Troy's recruiting class, or any of the SBC schools, I would not throw in the towel just yet. I do believe the Mean Green nation will receive more good news regarding the 2009 class very soon.

I saw my cousin Jeff Darwin yesterday. Jeff asked me if North Texas was going to have college baseball any time soon. I told Jeff the plans are in the works, but I did not know when baseball at NT was to start up. I asked Jeff,"Are ya'll (meaning Danny, Kevin and Jeff) interested in coaching at North Texas?". Jeff said," Heck yeah, all of us would be interested!" Danny is a pitching coach in the Los Angeles Dodger's oraganization, and a minor leauge team manager. Danny is in charge of several key pitching prospects. Danny will be leaving soon for the Dodger's minor leauge team in East Lansing, MI. All of the Dodger's pitching prospects start here, under Danny's tutoring.

Two more weeks to go before national LOI signing day. With 15 commitments, the 2009 class is shaping up to be a pretty good class. I do like the LB's, the DE, the WR's, big OT Jeremy Bean. I sure hope DT Atkinson stays loyal to NT. I think, this class will have some more OL and DL prospects, and I would not be surprised that a top RB commits to NT as well. The next two weeks are going to be fun!

Recruits looking at North Texas- I see the Phd of Recruting, Old Timer, knows alot more right now about the 2009 class. OT has secrets that he cannot report, regarding players that are commited to North Texas! I can not wait to see the final results for the class! Can you give us a hint? Just alittle something? Pretty please! For the NT recruits, going to school at NT is very special. The people, the campus, the life style, the bonding of students, the friends that you will make, the whole Mean Green experience will make you proud to be part of a great family! The North Texas family is a commitment to you! The number one word that comes to my mind is opportunity! Opportunity to make NT football history. Opportunity to contribute right away. Opportunity to be the future. Opportunity to earn the degree that you want. Opportunity that will open doors for you, for your entire life! I could have gone to other schools, but I chose North Texas! I am so ever thankful for for making the right choice! Charlie

I am right there with you, UNTLifer! I also give my vote of confidence to Coach Dodge, to the staff, and to the players. I am looking forward to the 2009 recruiting class, spring ball, and the fall 2 a days practice. I have a hundred reasons as to why I support this team and oragnization, so I will highlight my top 5 reasons to see progress with this team. #1. Coach Dodge and his Staff, are dedicated to rebuilding this program. Period. This staff knows this team is close to becoming a real good team. These talented kids are growing up, and are bonding together as a team. #2. DC Gary DeLoach just completed his first year, teaching his defense, while having to use alot of talented freshmen, red shirts, and sophmores. There are at least 7 defensive players I can name, that will be the difference makers. I am excited about the DeLoach defense for 2009. #3. Riley Dodge. Riley is a true athlete first, then a QB second. Riley knows the offense inside and out, knows how to read defenses, and makes correct decisions. Quick as a cat, acceleration, vision. Exceptional leadship skills. The team will rally around this winner! Watch how the team develops during spring ball! #4.Returning players like, Dunbar, Montgomery, Feeley, Johnson, Drake, Santiago, Gill, Kokjohn, Desoto, Franklin, Robertson, Tobe, Hill, Cook, Shorter, Hamilton, and the list goes on. All D1 players that will make the difference. #5. What a year- for bad stuff. Investegations, grades, injuries, drug tests, defections, ARP, loss of ships, having to play walk on's, 4 true freshmen handling the secondary, playing very good teams, special teams play, losing games, etc. This team and staff went through a ton of hardships in 2008. Well, all that crap is GONE! History! Learn from it. A new year, and a new beginning is about to start. This team will win. 2009 will be a exciting year for NT football! Keep the faith MG nation!

Matt Simms, son of NY Giants great Phill Simms, will not be annointed the starting QB for Louisville as per HFC Steve Kragthorp, so he will transfer. I wonder if daddy was --- never mind. http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/category/louisville/ and NMSU will lose heir apparent to Chase Holbrook, J.J. McDermitt, was not going to start, so McDermitt wants to transfer to $mu. ( I bet Justin Willis likes this move). http://kob.com/article/stories/S141879.shtml?cat=520 and Miami Hurricanes QB Robert Marve, was not going to start, now wants to transfer http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3806816

Take another look at mgsteve's posting of the San Antonio sports story. Vizza's dad clearly states that Giovanni has been in contact with 2 Big 12 schools, and 4 sub division schools. Did these 6 schools contact Vizza first, or did Vizza contact these schools to advise the 6 schools of his intentions to transfer/quit North Texas ? I wonder how many more schools Vizza has contacted or schools that have contacted him? The story also states there will be a decision made this week, Wed or Thur, on which school Vizza will transfer to. Anyone want to guess who the lucky winner will be?

Real life, out the work place, is a different matter. Making a living and providing for your family is your priority. Do you think I tell my employer about every head hunter or company interested in me? No way. I will explore the options with a new opportunity, the job, and the pay scale. This does not mean I will take the opportunity. Now the other side of this. If I do accept another position, I will give my employer, the proper notice of my decision to leave my current position. Give my employer the time to replace my position, to train the new person, and time for the transition of personell. I am saying, why did Vizza wait until the the final few weeks of recruiting, to announce he was quiting/transfering the NT program? Why not meet with Coach Dodge to discuss his future at NT? Was Vizza afraid he would be fired, lose his scholarship? Why would that matter? Vizza had already made up his mind about quiting/transfering. I have stated before, Vizza is a very good QB, and played with more toughness and determination than I have seen in a long time. Vizza is a hell of a QB! Excelled at Dodgeball! I will never forget the Navy game! 5200 yds and 32 TD's in 2 years, FOY in the SBC! Now, suddenly Vizza will throw all these accomplishments away! Geez! The QB positon is open now, with Riley the favorite. I am not counting out Nathan Tune either. I want the best QB runing the team. If Riley wins, then NT football is his show, and the team will follow. Maybe with Vizza gone, this action will be a greater benefit to the players, by knowing who is the # 1 QB! And a very good one at that!

Vizza has been shopping around and talking to other programs, behind the backs of the coaching staff and his teammates, to hedge his options, before he announced he was quiting/transfering. A couple of Big 12 programs and a several 1AA programs are of high interest, or maybe which school has the best deal available. I am sure there will be no competition at which ever school Vizza chooses. Maybe Vizza will be the only rooster in the barn yard the next time around. Why wait until the middle of January to announce your intentions that you have been working on behind closed doors? Thanks for the 2 years here at NT. Good luck to you! "Quiters never win and winners never quit" "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence!" "Too much heat in the kitchen, then get out!"

I am sorry to see Vizza has decided to transfer. I was looking forward to his junior year, and maybe some offensive fromations that would use both Vizza and Riley at the same time. Ah, what coulda been! Well, that concept is gone. I wish the very best for Giovanni, and his continued success. Thanks for playing at NT! The Navy game will always be a favorite game to remember! Now, the door is open for Riley Dodge to make his own history. I think Riley will trive in the program, and certainly be a leader. The question is, will the OL be able to protect the QB better? Opponents DE's just ate our lunch almost every play last year. I do think Riley will be able to escape the DE rush more because Riley's assets are his quickness and his speed. If the OL can give alittle more protection, Riley will make the offense go. Now that the QB battle is over, spring ball will certainly seal the deal for Riley. It is his team now.