the real grad88

My point is that Nebraska would still be winning had they stayed with what brought 'em to the dance. The national championship Nebraska teams would make hay out of the Texas Tech and Boise States of the world...teams that run the Spread at the highest level.

Not sure of your point. Ohio State didn't figure anything out. Florida's defense dominated Ohio State all night. A stupid coaching decision to go for it on their own 30 yard line contributed to the dominoes falling.

Here's a controversial statement for the board. A running game played at its top level beats a spread attack played at its top level every time. Am I glad Dodge is here? You bet. We need it for the fans...that's just the way college football has evolved. I am still an old schooler that believes that a running game that is fine-tuned will beat an all-out passing team (even if it is fine-tuned) every time. I even liked the Wish Bone! Now, that is not to say that La-La is that kind of a running team. I don't think they will beat us. Just making a philosophical point. Does anyone not think that Nebraska made a mistake by trying to jump on the Spread Offense band-wagon. They used to be able to recruit the best running backs and offensive line in the nation. Now they compete against 100 schools for receivers and QBs that are capable of running a spread attack. You tell me...when were they more dominant? Arkansas, with the WishBone was the same way. Now look at them. They are average, at least among the majors. I am telling you that defenses have figured out the Spread Offense. It ain't fooling nobody no more (bad grammar intended). I am still very hopeful and high on Dodge not necessarily because of his offense but because of the quality of coach he is and recruiting ability. Great athletes win games no matter what the system. I am counting on Dodge bringing in great athletes and knowing how to coach them. His relationship with the fans is also a great plus.

I think an annual SMU game could eventually do that for us in the metroplex. We have just got to keep it going. Now, if we could get annual games among SMU, TCU and UNT, we could really build this thing up big!

I used to think the problem was Ramone. I now think not. When QBs have nothing but time back there to pick a defense apart, no CB can match up with a good receiver. Our defensive woes lie on the backs of a weak defensive line and our scheme. Ain't nothing going to change until we get better DL play and get some blitzing in the defensive packages. Now, if we had a really strong DL, we could get by without blitz packages, but that is obviously not the case. No QB pressure = no wins! I don't understand the mentality that says that blitzing equals opening yourself up to getting burned. What the heck do we have right now? We are getting torched! Let's try some blitzing and create some QB pressure and we will see this defense get some confidence!

Uh, I think college loans ARE paying your own way...but no doubt there are a lot of different kinds of students at UNT, but UNT does have a larger percentage of first generation students (most of whom pay their own way without parental support) than any of the UTs and A&Ms of this world. We are a make-something-of-yourself university.

I hope that no one takes what I am about to say in the wrong way. I am a UNT fan for the same reason that I went to UNT. Though there are some people who come to UNT because their parents and grandparents went to UNT, and thus UNT was their destination school all along, that is not the reason most people come to UNT. Most people choose UNT (undergrads at least) because it is a place that first-generation college students come...people who were like myself...doing it completely on their own. I got a pat on the back and a word of encouragement from my family, but not one dime of support. UNT is a place for the underdog to make something out of his/her life...to turn the tide of their future, for oneself and for the family that comes after us. I am a UNT fan because I like being a part of a pick-yourself-up kind of school. My kids won't have to look at their parents (my wife is a first-gen UNT grad too) and wonder what it would be like to have college educated parents...and how different life could be. Hopefully for my kids, UNT will be their destination school. That's why.

It has become apparent to me that while we have an awesome head coach, we simply do not have the hosses up front to make anything happen on offense or defense. Let's face it, schemes mean nothing without the beef in the middle to make it happen. You just can't coach size/speed and power on the line, you have got to recruit it. We are like men against boys when we play teams like Ark and OU. If we don't get some real studs on the defensive line, I fear we are never going to win, I don't care if we do get 600 yards of offense. My question is: Do those kind of D-Lineman want to play for UNT and Dodge? He is known as an offensive players dream, but what about defense? Will they come? I certainly hope so, because this ship ain't gonna leave the dock without it. Dodge, get us some beef!

I thought we sold out the Baylor game several years ago. It surely felt pretty packed. We also declawed the bears, which made it nice.

The one thing you can say about Dickey is that he knew how to run a defense AND he was successful in recruiting defensive players. Dickey built his whole game plan around defense. It's the only way the pound away / down-your-throat, run offense works. Maybe we should have kept Dickey's defensive coordinator? I have never seen a UNT defense get shredded like this, going all the way back to our IAA days and playing the big programs with much fewer scholarships. If the defensive woes do not stop, I say that RV needs to get heavy handed in this area to force a change.

I know it will never happen, but just think if all three were in the same conference! Those games would build into something huge. With building rivalries, it would eventually rival the TX-OU game in Dallas for local media attention. I agree that the presidents should make it happen.

Again, it all starts with the Defensive Tackles. If you get no penetration, the entire defense is in jeapordy. We haven't had dominating DT play since 2002-2003. Boy do I miss Booger! If the DTs are average it makes the linebackers and DBs average or subpar. If the DTs are in the QB's face or getting penetration on almost every down, then everyone plays mopup and the entire defense looks like studs. During the OU game, I blamed Ramon. I now think that is a mistake. I blame it on our DT play, which is very average at best. Dodge, get us some DTs!

I didn't get to go to the game, just listened on the radio. It's amazing how much larger the crowd sounds in a stadium in which the seating is close to the field. With Fouts, the sound goes straight up and never has a chance to "gather" on the field...makes me not even want to yell. Just thank your lucky stars that you had some alums with deep pockets to make it happen so effortlessly. We have some alums with deep pockets, just not enough who are interested in the football program. Still waiting on our TBoone Pickens.

I firmly believe that the difference is in the defensive line. The 02 line was a wrecking crew, it helped the entire defense shine. Always remember that the entire defense begins with the DT position. If you don't have real hosses there, it will show in the whole defense. Trouble is, when the big dog schools get finished recruiting those DT playmakers, what's left are fairly average. If Dodge can find us some DTs we will be a team to take on anyone!

Don't be so quick to put CUSA in the same boat as the Belt. CUSA ain't no Big XII, that's for sure, but I can't help but believe that regional opponents wouldn't be an improvement over Florida teams. Attendance last night was not bad considering the first outings of both teams. It's a rivarly that should be continued, and would develop even more if we were in the same conference and fighting for the championship. If SMU goes to a bowl game and does well, you will see a lot of your former SWC fanbase come back. They have simply lost faith in the future. If we get back to our winning ways and if we get into CUSA some day with a new stadium, we will have fans coming out of the woodwork. Being in the same conference with SMU, Rice and Houston would help all ships to rise.

I had to listen to the game...makes me so mad...let's start having some day games! In listening to the game, I kept thinking, is this a North Texas offense? Good grief, I thought I was listening to one of the old BYU teams or something. That offense rocked and Meager did a heck of a job. I don't care who is playing QB, Dodge will have them ready. I am not worried about that in the least. If Dodge thinks DM is the one right now, then just let him make the decision and back it. It is our defense that needs to return to its previous form. Boy, do we miss some of those playmakers. I know this defense can do it, they are just going to have to jell and make it happen. When was the last time that we had an offense that was going to have to carry the defense?! As long as I have been a UNT follower, it has always been the other way around. I have to say that it is refreshing to think that everytime the offense steps on the field, the defense had better look out! I like it.

Like I said, maybe the coaches see something I don't, but I know one thing, he is going to be tested every game from here on out, so he had better grow up back there in a hurry. The reason OU kept going to his side was because he was so vulnerable. Other teams are going to see the film and will follow suit. I hope he can make some adjustments to his play real quick. The main thing is that he has got to keep his feet under him and quit going for jukes. Help will come if he does so and he will be okay.

Agree about the Roman kid. Maybe the coaches know something I don't, but he honestly looked like a young high schooler out there trying to keep up with college players. He is pretty quick, but man did the kid get torched. I say let him be used on special teams where he can hide behing the wedge and then bounce it outside and such, but not CB. It's too critical of a position.

Exactly. There is a place for being disappointed but no place for hopelessness. It truly is a game. In the end, these are young men playing for the school we love. No one feels as bad as they do, and their families and the coaches. They truly are going to need our support after this loss. Things are going to turn around for this program, we've just got to take our bumps and bruises.

You tell them this was nothing more than a scrimmage, and to forget about the loss, but to focus on correcting mistakes...and I would work on those mistakes t'il the cows come home. I would stay positive. There's a lot of season left. OU had no weaknesses to be exploited, except their QB...and with perhaps the greatest OL in college football, we weren't about to get any pressure on him. Heck, that OL could go against most pro teams! They are all going to be playing on Sunday! The next thing I would do would be to make Ramon get a hair cut. You only wear hair like that if you can back it up. I would tell him that he can let his hair grow out when he can back it up.

Hey, Roman was taken to school all night long, not just in coverage but in tackling. My gosh did they exploit him. They saw our weakness there from the get-go and took advantage all night. I know the kid must feel really bad and I hope he doesn't read this, but dang...they took him to school. I hope he gets over it and sucks it up and plays some ball! The kid has got to learn some basic technique. I think he got overwelmed at the speed and forgot everything coaches taught him.

What college do you work for? I work for Paris Junior College and am in the same boat...I literally got the news of my new job/raise the very week that the Gov made his stupid decision. I could not believe it! I am told that it's not a done deal however...lots of people working to change the situation.

Can't go, but would love to see it on TV down at the local sports bar!

One more thing. The intangible factor in this is Jamario. Is he over his hamstring problem? If he is, I look for him to run buck-wild in this game, with lots of holes with linebackers dropping back into coverage. If that happens, then I think we take it down to the wire but still lose: 28-24.

Folks, this game is going to be closer than the media and many on this board give it credit for. We are going to have a very strong defensive team. Our quickness on defense is going to match up very well against the Sooners. We hold them close in the first half: 14-7. Then their depth will wear us down in the 4th quarter and they pull away 28-14. A very respectable showing by the Mean Green. Remember where you heard it.