Charlie NT 73

Sounds like the writer of this "editorial" is also generalizing his opinion. Notice, the writer was not able to pin down RV with answers on NT's game plan to improve the APR score, then started critizing RV about his answers, next, more or less implied that RV is just only good at avoiding issues? WTF? What a real knucklehead to make such statements! I would think, being that this is the local Denton newspaper, this guy should have made a different spin on his opinion, where the story would show a more supportive side as to what RV will do and how RV will accomplish the goal of improving the APR. If I were RV, I would call this guy up and tell him to KMA! You will never get another interview with me! The last words, "keep kids awake" geez, I really appreciate how the local paper takes pride in at making snide remarks at a great university!

Any good DT prospect is a preimum recruit, either from the HS ranks or the JUCO system. Last year, all the good DT's were commited very early in the recruiting competition. Looking at the current North Texas prospects, the defensive side seems to be the focus, so I am very glad to see the coaching staff targeting key defensive positions. As far as making early offers, which now looks to be the recruiting avenue to follow, does pay off in the long run for North Texas football. I believe Coach Dodge and his staff have a recruiting game plan in place for the 2009 class, and will be again, very successful!

The 2006 NT team was dead. 2007 saw Coach Dodge take over, changed everything that could be changed, recruited players to fit his offense, and had about 5 weeks to put it all together. You know what, considering all of the challenges, the team was ever so close to 6-6, 7-5 and possible 8-4 season. Here are 6 games that ruined the 2007 season. I put the 2-10 season on how the defensive team was handled. The ponies escape from our grip, FAU gets 2, count'em 2 blocked punts to destroy the NT lead, LaLa's QB runs any where he wants to, the NT pass offense runs all over Navy's defense, while Navy's offense runs all over our defense, Arky St gets a life saving last second TD that breaks our hearts, and FIU does enough to win while NT could not do anything right. That is 6 games, NT was in position to win but let the games get away each time. Now for 2008, Coach Dodge has a team that gained valuable experience last year, Coach DeLoach running the defense, and a ton of new talent available. Coach Dodge and the staff now have options with personell, both offensively and defensively. Coach Dodge will be able to implement offensive schemes that could not be used last year. Add in a quality FG kicker too. Then add the DeLoach factor for defense. I think the 2008 defensive team will be able to actually play defense and manage the games better. For my prediction, 6-6 easy, but I will go with 7-5, and be in the run for the the big prize, the SBC Championship!

Here are my thoughts. 1. For now, the SBC is the best conference for North Texas to be in. As far as the SBC just being a beefed up Div 1 FCS (1-AA) conference, I do not agree. The SBC is getting better in all sports. I can see more "upsets" coming in key games. A few more key wins over Big 6 conference teams will give creditability to the whole image of the SBC. Add in a second bowl game, and NCAA basketball tournament advances, will boost the imagae of the SBC dramaticly. 2. The next alinements will come from the next conference raiding taking place. CDOA will not take NT in unless there are drastic changes taking place. I can see this conference being more at risk of coming apart than any other conference. If CDOA comes apart, the SBC should invite key members to the SBC, not CDOA trying to fill holes and save their own hides, by inviting SBC teams to CDOA. 3. WAC-- no, too much expense to be in this conference for NT and the fans. 4. New SWC would be dream come true! Perfit fit for NT, regional games, all in state rivals = more media coverage and fan support. A reborn SWC would give instant crediability, bowl games, media coverage, and huge fan support. wil a new SWC come about. Well, Exxon supported the old SWC, so with Exxons multi billion dollar quartly profits, Exxon certainly has the money to do it! 5. Big 12, could be a pssiblity, only if there are major drastic changes in the big 6 conferences, and if NT can be a option to the Big 12. For now, just stay in the SBC, get better at everything, and see how things develop. Maybe the SBC will become the 7th big conference on our own. That is the direction the SBC should take, and the direction North Texas should take.

Lets turn this discussion around. What if a Div 1 FCS school approached NT to play a couple of games in Denton? Would you say no to another home game? I sure would like to have another home game to go to even if it was a 1-AA team.

Congraulations to Brock Stickler! Outsanding! I bet his leadership in the weight room inspires the other athletes! I sure hope Stickler can have a great year. I have always thought he was a secret weapon just waiting in the back ground. If a few passes last year were just a little lower, he would have had several TD catches. From being a special teams player to a 3 year letterman, his carrer has really taken off. In 2006, he was just a part time WR, then Dodge Ball comes in and he is reborn to do what he does best. As a senior, this will be his last year. At 6-3, 220, he has NFL writen all over his resume, so the 2008 season will be his year!

In the "old" days, at Texas Stadium, NT played Univ of Houston, Okie State, Tx A & M, Army. At Fout's, remember the FL State game in the snow, San Diego State, Louisville, Oregon State. Just a few I remember.

I am right there with you EagleMBA. If any coach can shock the world, it will be Coach Dodge! I do expect to see a great upset soon! I remember back in the 70's, the mighty Houston Cougers with Bill Yoeman's veer offense, came to Texas Stadium to play NTSU. Houston was a 28pt favorite. Coach Haden Fry and his team ran up and down the field all night long. Final NTSU 30, Houston 0, as in zip, nada, nothing. One of the greatest NT games that I ever witnessed! I also remember the sports report from a Dallas radio station on the way home. The sports reporter was reading off football scores then came to the NTSU-Houston score. The radio guy said, and I will never forget this, "This must be a mistake, North Texas 30, Houston 0. The correct score is Houston 30, NTSU 0" Then a minute later, the same guy comes back with a correction announcement, "the correct score is NTSU 30 and Houston 0" "How did that happen?" Greatness! I will always believe in the Mean Green!

Does anyone know the status of WR Chris Brainard? Did he sign a LOI, or is Chris going to walk on at North Texas?

I took a look at the 2008 Oil Bowl web site this morning. I could not see all of the web site addres to enable me to post the Oil Bowl address for all of you. The Texas team roster has 3 North Texas class of 2008, recruits listed. One of the 3 players, is a surprise listing- Chris Brainard, WR, 6-0, 175lbs South Lake Carroll. Did Chris sign a LOI, or is he going to walk on? Either way, I hope he does come to North Texas. The other 2 Oil Bowl players are Troy Franklin, OT-DL, 6-5, 295lbs, Celina, and Darien Williams, QB-DB, 5-11, 195lbs, Vernon. Looks like both the Texas and Oklahoma rosters have many "undecided" players, many from 1A-2A and other programs. I noticed on the Oklahoma roster, Andrew Rodgers, OG-DT, 6-2, 290lbs Tulsa East Central HS as a undecided. May be worth checking out? This game will be the last football game for most of these HS athletes, unless the undecided kids are going to walk on to some school. Either way, being invited to the Oil Bowl is a honor, and these kids should be proud of their accomplishments! Now, I hope none of the North Texas recruits get injured. Some other schools like Texas and Tx Tech do not allow their recruits to play in these "All-Star" games.

"The jewel of his dad's first recruiting class" I believe this is Coach Dodge's second recruiting class. Good news anyway that Riley has been cleared to work out and I hope Riley does not get hurt again!

What is the "SbB" site address. I would like to check this out.

Jim Feist runs a sports gambling operation in Vegas, so I could care less what this guy thinks or writes about! Just more of the media hype, vegas gaming, and sports talking heads stuff. Expect alot "reports/analysis" from other sports experts through the off seasaon, all of which will have the same identical type of report, regarding how North Texas football is at the bottom of the barrel. I can hardly wait for the 2008 season! Coach Dodge, his staff, and his team, will have the biggest turnaround in college football this season!

From now until Sepetmber, there will be all types of stories writen about the Mean Green, so let the talking heads and sports writers do their job, even if the reporting is not accurate. The real story will be the turn around that Dodge Ball will produce. Last season, throw in a few breaks here and there, and a defense that was more aggresive, the 2007 team could have finished out the season 7-5, or even 8-4. With a full year of Dodge Ball under their belts, the experience the true freshmen and red shirts gained, add a year of weight training, mix in the new talent coming on board, then stir in some Coach Dodge, Ford, and DeLoach secret ingredients, you will end up with a winning season for 2008. Sounds like a sweet receipe for success ! Prediction, 8-4 season, and in the hunt for New Orleans! That will be the story of the year! What a huge turn around for North Texas football! Then see how the sports writers and talking heads come back to say, "I told you so! I knew North Texas would turn it around! North Texas is back!" Followed up with, "No way Coach Dodge stays at North Texas. Big $$$ coming with a BCS school!" I can see it all now! So, just ride these days out, do not take offense to the writers or talking heads, because they always change the real story some way some how.

S Franklin, Outstanding! I know that you are a proud papa! I have a question or two for you. Big question that is debated on GMG is, will Troy play OT or DT? Which position will it be? What does Troy want to play? I read somewhere on GMG that Troy passed up basketball season to concentrate on weight training, strength and conditioning. Has Troy "bulked up", and what is his current weight? Troy commited early to Coach Dodge and to North Texas, so where there other schools that continued to recruit Troy, even though Troy had made his commitment to NT? Every NT fan is very proud that Troy decided to come to North Texas, and look forward to watching Troy play! See you at the games!

S Franklin, would you be related to one T Franklin from C-town?

How about shifting 6-7, 295lbs Jacob Kaiser to NG? Just tell him all he has to do is maul the unlucky SOB in front of him on the OL.

At this point in time of DodgeBall, I will vote for the OL. The same 4 starters, (2 soph's, and 2 R/S fresh) come back for 2008. The 2007 season saw the total offense jump from #117 in 2006 to # 47. The scoring offense jump from #115 to #77 First downs, 153 in 2006 to 258 in 2007. I know DodgeBall and many talented freshmen, played big rolls in the offensive production. The offense begins with the OL no matter what. The 4 most experienced starters will be the leaders. Here is my 2 cents worth of crystal ball gazing. Menard at LT, Bailey at LG, Drake at center, Santiago at RG, RT-?? who will it be? OL's begin with experienced players, so you want the experience on the field. With the incoming 2007 class are JUCO's Hollivay, 6-3, 320 and Jenkins, 6-4, 335. If both of these JUCO's show up and can learn DodgeBall in 3 weeks, be in shape and ready to hit the ground runing, the OL will have several options/possiblities. Assuming Hollivay and Jenkins prove they can start, I would say move Santiago to RT, which would fill the void at RT with a experienced player, put Jenkins in at RG, Drake at center, LG, Hollivay, then Bailey at LT. (yes-ahead of Menard). Place Menard @ #2 LT. Depth-JJ Johnson, Chad Rose at OC/G;Menard, Tomlinson, Gill, Kaiser, Franklin at OT's. Yes, Troy Franklin will earn playing time as a true freshman, 6-5, 300lbs, stong as a bull! The true fresh, OT Coleman Freely could be a suprise, as well as walk on Ethan McMillian 6-4, 295 from Aledo. Certainly would help the depth if these 2 guys can play. Again, my vote is for the OL as most improved for 2008, due to 4 players with one year of starting experience, the new talent coming in the fall, development of depth, and options the coaches now have on the OL players.

New name on this list- Aaron Fortenberry, OL, 6-5, 260, Era TX I do not remember this prospect during recruiting or signing day. Late signing by North Texas, or walk on? Any information on this guy?

Did he play for Matt Simon as a DE then changed to NG? Simon stated he had muscles in his ear lobes!

Thanks to "LongJim" for the advice on how to handle a possible recruit encounter at the spring game. At last year's spring game during half time, a man I did not know struck up a converstation about the game. This guy and I were talking when his son walked up after buying a hot dog at a concession stand. Turned out his son was a recruit. I did not talk to the kid, just ended the conversation and left. This is the whole point of my question about just talking to anyone. How did I know who the man was or who his son was? Now, to "Shaft". "What kind of freak am I?" Pal- let me tell you something. I can walk into a roon full of strangers, like at business meeting, at a party, or even in a store, and I will say "Hi, how are you?. Yes I am a very out going person, and as many of my friends say, "I have never met a stanger!" So according to your criteria, I am a freak. Are you trying to be some sort of sit com comedy writer regarding your make believe converstation between me and another person? I sure hope you had fun writing this. I sure would like to have a converstion with you, only my conversation sure as hell would not be made up! Charlie

I have no idea on how many recruits will be at the Spring Game, so I will keep a watchful eye any kid who looks like a recruit. I wanted to know this. If a kid looks like a recruit, and asks me a question, can I ask the kid if he is a prospect on a visit before I answer his question? If the kid states he is a prospect on a visit, how should I answer his question? Any idea on the estimated number of prospects that may be at the game? One more question. I remember in the "old days" the spring game was called the "Green-White Game" So, what is the offical name of the game on April 12th?

Does DE Blake Burrus have a shot as a FA?

I remember over 5000 fans at the game. Wow! Driving up to Denton, I was thinking, why are all these cars here? I ran into FireFightenRick in the stands, and we both had the same thought, "Can you believe this crowd?" Amazing! I sure hope the crowd packs the whole stadium this time! Do you believe in the Mean Green? Hell yes I believe in the Mean Green!

I am in the freight transportation business, so I deal with trucking companies everyday. Currently, diesel fuel is at or over $4.00 per gallon. The big trucks average about 5 miles per gallon, so the fuel cost runs 80 cents or more per mile. Each tank on a big rig holds 250 gallons of diesel, so 250 x 2 tanks = 500 gallons x $4.00 per gallon = $2000.00 to fill up. In many states, the truck is required to buy fuel regardless if the truck is just passing through the state. Trucking companies are required to pay fuel taxes to a state, even if the trucking company does not run through the state. These state fuel taxes are increasing also. What all this boils down to, is many independent truckers, as well as full trucking companies are parking their trucks, or droping service to certain market areas, because these companies cannot afford fuel. All carriers, are demanding a "fuel surcharge" for every shipment. The fuel surcharge runs 35 to 45% of the shipment or as much as 50 cents or more per mile. The high cost of diesel will be passed on to the consumer. Look for retail pricing on goods to increase weekly. Have you bought groceries lately? Geez! The retail price on groceries increases every week! Side note- I have friends in El Paso, Brownsville, McAllen- they go across into Mexico for regular gasoline. About $2.20 per gallon.