GrandGreen

NT beat Rice (17-8,11-4) 3-2 sets on Nov. 10 Congrats to the team

I differ a little, on playing big NIL schools like for example SEC programs. Yes, you have no significant chance to win but it can be a great experience for NT athletes, be a big payday, and provide a lot of exposure for the school. Playing SMU does not accomplish anything IMO.

Some of you seemed to think NT had a real chance against one of the best teams that can be bought. I don't like NT losing to anyone, but SMU probably bothers me the less. The average starting SMU player probably is paid more than NT's average coach. I don't care if NT ever plays SMU again in anything. The Mustangs can enjoy their home crowds that will probably be less than 5,000 fans and their away following that will number less than 500. In fact if I was an AD of a Texas school, I would boycott any games with the ponies. Why help a school/team that has enough money to buy anything including most of the players that are being recruited.

If you study NT soccer which has all been under Hedlund, you can discern a concerning trend. NT has almost entirely until the last few years been able to recruit the best players out of the metroplex. The last few years NT has signed a number of out of area and state players. Despite, this being on the surface, a promising trend; I think it is just the opposite. Hedlund (NT) is no longer getting the cream of the area players that didn't get ACC level offers. Much of this is due to women's soccer getting more popular and competition getting substantially better. I watched most of the games last year, and it seemed obvious to me that NT no longer has an advantage over most conference teams in the skill level of players. For those who don't know, Hedlund was hired to be the first men's soccer coach at NT. Than title 9 happened and the men's soccer and several other men sports were sacrificed. He than became the women's coach, which gave him and NT a great advantage over other teams. How many other women's program had an ex pro player directing their program. I do hope I am way off on my analysis and NT returns to dominated the AAC.

I think Burton is going to be a sustainable upgrade in coaching. Mitchell was a very good recruiter, but I think she lacked in game time coaching.

Not really an uniform guy, but prefer NT stick to their actual colors, green and white. No gray under any circumstances.

It is the time of the year, SMU usually fades. However, they have spent a great amount of money on this team. NT is playing better, I expect a much closer game than most are predicting. I will go with SMU 45 NT 38.

I guess any decent player NT has is going to have posts about the likelihood of transferring. With NIL, tampering, staff changes, academics, competition; there are all types of factors involved in possible transfers. Posting about every player that could be involved is a futile exercise. Just assume at NT like at every other school that players are going to be lost or gained. IMO, until a transfer is announced; it is not worth fan's concern.

Shooting lights out, or NT would be behind double digits. No conclusions after one half, but pace is much faster and defense not close to as good. NI shooting mostly under the basket, and NT shooting threes; not usually a winning combo.

Comments based on responses to my post about lack of sportsmanship. Did you watch the game, I only watched 3 quarters; but I did not see the end of NT's bench.; but I saw a lot of feeding the ball to Lambert which could not be stopped by this team. Disagree, I don't see anything positive about scheduling and running up the score on a totally outclassed school. Do you know that NAIA teams are limited to ten players on ship and the average ship only covers 20% of a full of school cost? I can't imagine a D! school of any type not being able to have a name the score game against this opponent. I give a lot more credit to UNT-Dallas for playing this game than UNT. How do you know NT WBB looks infinitely better based on this game. My bet is that last year's team could have run this team off the court in the same matter. This game does absoluting nothing for a AAC team, other than provide fodder for questioning the HC's motives. I knew my post would draw some negative reactions, but I strongly differ from those that think that this is the way they want NT's program ran. Burton is an inexperienced coach at this level, and I certainly hope he is greatly successful at NT; but imo this was a terrible start.

What a lack of sportsmanship on the part of NT. Set a scoring record against a totally outclassed lower division opponent. I was totally aboard with the hiring of Burton, but in my opinion this showed a definite lack of class. Those that did not watch, Burton's brother was on the broadcast; so he definitely knows the situation and he stated Burton went into the game with the goal of sitting a meaningless scoring record. NT played starters most of the game and keep a pressing defense. If he keeps this up, NT is going to have a tough time finding weak ooc opponents. The only justification for this strategy is to build interest in the program. This may work until they quickly run into a better team. This reminds me of Insell at MTSU, who used to and probably still does play his starters till the end of the game no matter what the score is.

Not sure how you conclude that. Obviously, more experienced players are going to be better contributors in the short run. However, I am not sure that is the right long term strategy. There is a lot of high school talent being ignored now that could become stars at NT.

You don't think the defense is better now than it was at the first of the year? If you do, it is obvious that it is possible to be worse on defense than NT currently is. Those that conclude the defensive coaching staff is bad because the defense is suspect, may be very wrong. A HC's career depends on the ability of his staff. Therefore, he is going to maintain the best coaches he can. I don't know anymore than you about Caponi's ability. However, I do think Morris is going to be a very good coach; thus I will trust his staffing decisions.

Why do you think the Australian logo was before NT? Also the eagle has to be the most used animal logo in the world, it is going to be very hard to find anything really that different. I would guess there are others as close to the "Flying Worm" as the Australian Air Force mark is to the NT Diving Eagle.

This team is making progress and if you can't see that than no one can help you. Just played and should have beat two of the predicted best teams in the league in Memphis and Tulane. Even the defense is showing some life. The biggest issue is the slow starts. Morris looks like a great hire, despite what many of you think. Morris is not going anywhere and many of you seem to have forgot that he barely had any time to recruit. How about let him have at least one recruiting class behind him before your evaluation?

Sports are about winning not providing security for a head coach. Hedlund, Morris, Hodge, etc. are employed to win games and championships; the likelihood of doing that in the future is basis of them being retained.

NT did not have a first team all conference soccer player, I wonder if that has ever happened: I doubt it. One second team and one freshman Speaking of Hedlund, where was he in the final game. Hope it is was not an illness or family emergency, but it was funny there was no reason given.

Always hope, but this soccer team looks like the weakest in decades. Maybe just better competition, but ether way: I would not be surprised if the Hedlund magic is over.

Not true, he gave NT a million. Not a big donation in his world; but certainly not nothing.

Yes, a prior high school director is a great resume for the NT band director.

I wish I could hear any plausible exclamation of the hiring of the band director. I hope it turns out, but why did what someone; just called a music school, hire such a non-qualified marching band leader.

This didn't start out as a rebuilding year. Rebuilding year equals team not very good.

Thanks

Your point? Texas has what 11 D! programs, plus supplies hundreds of players to out of state teams. Yes, there are way too many D1 teams in Texas. However, if you are commenting on the lack of quality of Texas players, than you are way off base.

Problem with that analysis is that NT would not have been close without Rogers. NT lost this game because NT's 300+ line could not block the much smaller midshipmen.