Mean Green 93-98

I believe that's Kansas State.

He is unranked. Yes we did, and yes we do.

This one seems to be somewhat more of an unknown quantity--but we needed beef on the line, and it looks like that's what we're getting!

This article made me think of the advantages of having such a well-connected coach in Texas as Todd Dodge. Recruiting relationships pay off on signing day By Heather Dinich ESPN.com Most people enter Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., through the front door. Not Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley. He saves about 20 minutes, skips a few steps (including the metal detectors) and goes in through the lower entrance closer to the football coach's office. "He knows when I'm coming," Locksley said of Dunbar coach Craig Jefferies. The principal, guidance counselors, security guards, athletic director -- they all know Locksley. Illinois' Mike Locksley has walked away with a few D.C. recruits. "When Illinois goes in there," he said, "it's kind of a household name now." Once inside, Locksley doesn't hesitate to make himself comfortable. "He comes in, sits back and he is almost falling asleep, he's relieved, like he's at home there," Jefferies said. "It's not a disrespectful thing, but he'll put his feet up and flop down, look around. If I'm eating lunch, he'll ask for some of my lunch. He's sincere about me being a friend to him, and he's being a friend to me. Some coaches come in, they want to try to get to know you so they can use what they know about you to recruit, but he lets you in on him, so you feel a little more connected to him. "He's played in our league, he's from D.C. He knows what these kids go through. We don't have a state school. Maryland claims us when they want to, Virginia claims us when they want to. By us not having a state university, you have to connect to individuals from different programs." Those connections are the foundation of recruiting, and coaches like Locksley who have been going to the same area for years naturally have an edge over an unfamiliar face. Some even consider their high school counterparts close friends. The most successful recruiting pipelines seem to develop because of a coach's prior ties there, or simply the length of time he has been coming back to the same schools. Regardless of how the relationships were forged, it's on signing day when they pay off. Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley has been recruiting at Gateway High School just east of Pittsburgh for about 20 years (so long that he knows the secret code to get into the securely locked building). "He's a hometown regular here," coach Terry Smith said. "He walks into a comfortable environment when he walks into here." Unlike first-year Maryland assistant Kasey Dunn, who was hired last week from Baylor and met Smith for the first time on Wednesday. "He walks into my office yesterday and you've got to go through that whole new process of relationship building -- I don't really know him, he doesn't really know me," Smith said. "He doesn't know anything about our school and our traditions. You've got to start from Square 1 to get to Square 22. And he's a West Coast guy, so he really knows nothing about us. "And it makes a difference because when a coach walks in the door and they ask me, 'Do I have a player for them?' the ones you have a relationship with, they trust when you recommend a player that he is a player. This coach from Maryland, he's got to go through that trust factor to make sure I'm not just giving him an average player." It's an initiation process almost every college coach must go through at some point in his career, but it's paying dividends now to be a veteran. "Recruiting is all about relationships and all about trust," said West Virginia associate head coach and director of recruiting Doc Holliday, who has embedded himself in many of the 130-140 high schools in the Dade, Broward and Palm Beach areas of South Florida since the early 1980s. "They know that when you come in and recruit a kid, you're going to take care of them and do the right thing. "When you've been in an area as long as I have, it helps you because of the contacts you've made and just getting to know the coaches. They trust you and know what you're going to say is going to happen." Giff Smith has had success bringing Hawkinsville High players to Georgia Tech. In talent-drenched Florida, where it's not uncommon for one coach to be walking out of a recruit's home as another is walking in, the longtime relationships are particularly beneficial. Miami coaches are plugged in with Miami Northwestern and Booker T. Washington high schools -- neither of which is more than 18 miles away from campus. "The high school coaches at those programs, they're not just people we follow up with, but they're actually very close friends of people on our staff," said Miami recruiting coordinator Clint Hurtt. It also helps that Miami coach Randy Shannon was born and raised in Dade County, and played two seasons at Miami with Roland Smith, the former coach at Miami Northwestern who is still involved with the program. "Their relationship has gone on for years, for quite a long time," Hurtt said, "so obviously you don't have the issues of trust, or not knowing the person, and obviously that coach can vouch to his kids that he knows who the young man is playing for." At Cobblestone Golf Club in Kennesaw, Ga., it's not unusual to see Georgia Tech recruiting coordinator Giff Smith and Hawkinsville High coach Lee Campbell on the back nine together. The two of them have developed a friendship beyond their recruiting relationship, and it's paid off for both schools. (And it doesn't hurt that the wife of Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Dave Wommack is a school counselor at Hawkinsville). "Giff has been so good to us," Campbell said. "He's not one of these guys that comes in and says hi and bye. We've really gotten to be good friends the last several years." Georgia Tech has nudged Georgia out of the Hawkinsville High hallways. After this signing class, the Yellow Jackets will have four players from there. "It's been very much a University of Georgia town," Smith said. "We've kind of converted that area down there to be more Yellow Jackets. It's a combination of the success they've had here and also spending a lot of time down there with the high school coach, principal and people of the community. "It takes a while. … It's not something that happens overnight. Your track record needs to be proven. Once they know they can trust you and that you really do have the best interest out for these young men, they're a lot more open to their kids going to your school. That doesn't mean they're going to push them to your school, but they're going to give you a fair shake." The high school athletes aren't the only ones Giff has started to convert. Campbell's son Witt, who is in the fifth grade, "was a big Georgia fan," according to his dad. "He likes Georgia, but he loves Tech," Campbell said. "He's been up there in the locker rooms and all that stuff. It was pretty neat, too, the relationship not only with Giff but other coaches, they remember your kids' names, and Giff, shoot, he knows my wife's name, and my kid's name. When we talk he'll ask how they're doing." Similar conversations occur at Dunbar. When his visit is over, Locksley leaves the same way he came in. Eventually, a player or two will follow. Heather Dinich is a college football writer for ESPN.com. Send your questions and comments to Heather at espn.hd@hotmail.com.

If you weren't talking smack, then I apologize. Your comments came across as insulting and condescending, but I'll take you at face value that you did not mean it that way.

Listen, I understand if you want to come over to our board and talk smack. I understand that we are not yet to the level of Southern Miss--you happy? But seriously, no one who has followed UNT recruiting at all would say that this does not look to be the best recruiting class in several years. That goes for people who have no personal ties to UNT as well. Does this mean I am satisfied that we've "arrived" to where we want to be. No. But I am happy that we are making strides in the direction that we want to go--and we are.

If you're going to reply, reply to the point of what I said. Again: True or false? If false, why?

Driving while intoxicated is illegal and wrong. If Adrian Awasom drove while intoxicated, he deserves what punishment he gets, even if that means wearing striped jumpsuits and pink underwear. But folks, he hasn't even been charged yet.

You answered by implying that I was trying to claim, "Our 2-stars are better than their 4-stars." Not what I said. You also implied that I was throwing Rivals ratings out the window. Not what I did. Let me restate this: Our recruits have a higher average Rivals rating than any team ranked over 71 (except Marshall and TCU), and more than a few in the 60's. We have more and better recruits than another school = our recruiting class is better.

Learn to read. You replied to something other than what you claimed to be replying to.

I must disagree with you again. The Rivals team point ratings are whacked. We have 24 commits, with an average star rating of 2.29. Only one team ranked below us has a higher average (TCU), but they only have 13 commits. You'll find that our Rivals star average is right there with teams ranked in the 60's, and they do not have as many commits. There are most certainly not 79 teams doing a better job than UNT in recruiting.

That 2004 class (ranked #72) does not hold a candle to the current class on paper. That class had 2 3-star recruits, as did the 2003 class. The 2008 class has 7.

Say what? We may not be outrecruiting UT, but if our commits hold we will have perhaps the best recruiting class on paper this school has ever had.

I've gotta admit, I did not feel good going into this game. An impressive win, gentlemen!

He's going to do just fine. He was a little out of his element last year, but he has had ferocious high school defenses. Sorry it didn't work out for you here, but wish you well.

OT: Did he decommit from UAB? Rivals no longer shows him as being a verbal there. Sounds like a great prospect, and we definitely needed help in the defensive backfield. But I think we've pretty well shored that up. Our biggest need right now for recruiting is a monster on the o-line.

North Texas must address issues to keep title By TROY PHILLIPS Star-Telegram Staff Writer Link to story DENTON -- Ten regular-season Sun Belt Conference games remain for North Texas, and the Mean Green will need all 10 to salvage what was once a promising season. Injuries, a flu bug, poor road play and the search for a consistent rotation have all contributed to a 3-5 conference record and the end of a 10-game home winning streak. Tonight, Sun Belt leader South Alabama (17-3, 9-0) visits the Super Pit, and UNT (12-7 overall) needs a miracle. UNT, the defending conference champion, has lost three straight. "We're not stopping anybody right now," guard Collin Dennis said. "We're just not finishing games, and it's frustrating." Defensive and scoring lapses have come simultaneously, often with UNT holding a lead. What could be at play this season is a deeper but younger UNT team that's still learning to play together. Despite a 9-2 start in nonconference play, UNT is a game worse in league play than at the same time a year ago (4-4). Like last season, UNT has the players to make a late championship run. Five things it either must do or seriously consider: 1. If possible, establish a starting lineup: Given UNT's depth, coach Johnny Jones disagrees that this matters. UNT has used three different sixth men (Tristan Thompson, Collin Dennis, Dez Willingham). Inside, UNT has started 6-foot-7, 195-pound freshman Kedrick Hogans, as well as career backup center Justin Howerton. Injuries or illness have prompted shuffling, but it's becoming less necessary. 2. Stop playing like road kill: Jones and players contend the Sun Belt's balance plays to home teams. But Denver, Troy, Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee, all home winners against UNT, were a combined 14-22 in the league entering Wednesday. FAU was 5-13 when UNT visited. 3. Defend like you mean it: Numbers don't lie. UNT lost three games (Middle Tennessee, FAU, Troy) despite leading by double digits. Denver shot 60 percent, and New Orleans led by as many as 29 points. Field-goal percentage defense is way off since in Sun Belt play. Opponents are shooting 46.2 percent in conference; UNT held them to 40.2 percent in nonconference. 4. Restore the Wooden/White combo: Injuries and illness have hampered what was UNT's best inside-out combination. Center Keith Wooden said Tuesday he's determined to reach full strength after two sprained ankles and arthroscopic knee surgery, but Jones is cautiously optimistic. When Wooden and freshman point guard Josh White are on, the scoring possibilities for UNT seem endless. 5. Solve those matchups: The opposing primary or secondary scorer in UNT's past three losses have shot a combined 38-for-64, or 59.3 percent. UNT held Troy's O'Darien Bassett to 9-for-22, but he still scored 30 points. ONLINE: meangreensports.com South Alabama at North Texas men 7 tonight, Super Pit, Denton Records: USA 17-3, 9-0 Sun Belt; UNT 12-7, 3-5 Radio: KWRD/100.7 FM; KNTU/88.1 FM Tickets: $12/$7; call (800) 868-2366 or visit www.meangreensports.com Troy Phillips, 817-390-7760 tphillips@star-telegram.com

Just because a Todd Dodge backer wants Vito fired does not necessarily mean that Todd Dodge feels that way. I personally believe that Todd Dodge is the greatest thing to happen to this football program in a long time (I guess that makes me a "bootlicker"). But I personally don't have any problem with Vito. I enjoy his coverage of the team overall. While the two may have gotten irritated at one another over various matters, I don't believe for one minute that it's the all-out war that some posters are trying to make this out to be.

Weak.

Fake Lonnie, would you please provide some Todd Dodge quotes that make you believe he can't hack it? Or some evidence? Otherwise, quit making stuff up.

At least they have the ability.

What?

One week from tomorrow--Wednesday the 6th.

That is a shock. I imagine his parents will have little trouble bankrolling his education without a football scholarship, but I would have figured Tomlin had more passion for the game than that. I wish him well.

We definitely want to hold onto those other OOC games. How much would LSU have to pay us to back out?