GrandGreen

Actually none of it makes a lot of sense. NT has 5 first team all conference and 4 in the top 30 best players. NT is tied with the Muts for the most, in both categories, yet NT is only predicted to have three conference wins. There is a real disconnect between what the prognosticators see in the talent and the performance. The only explanation for the vast difference is questions about coaching. While poor coaching may have been the case for the last three years, I don't think it is anymore. This is the most veteran team NT has fielded since 2003 and I look for a big turnaround. I believe that NT has all the pieces it needs but a winning attitude and hopefully that will develop.

Gee, NT has three offensive linemen good enough to make the South Florida squad. True or not I don't think that is going to inspire a veteran line. He also has been quoted as saying something similar about Dunbar. I disagree with Vito, I think these comments are anything but positive about the program.

She pitched for 2a Jarrell and the fact that she has been all conference at first base for three years is why I wonder about the decision. Yes I have seen the team play although not often, I do wonder what that has to do with anything being she has never pitched. I hate to inform you but the fact she is a great hitter runs counter to your position not in support of it. If this was Hubbard's plan all along, don't you think he would have given her a few innings last year? Who knows, she may lead the league in hitting and wins; but she could may also have a down year because of the added duties. Either way, it still seems a strange strategy to me.

I don't think finding another first baseball is a problem. Being so thin in pitching that you want to use your best hitter as a pitcher in her senior year does raise some questions. I guess you don't think concentrating on pitching may be just a little distracting and change her focus from playing a solid first and hitting. If she is a great pitcher, it doesn't seem a little odd that she has not throw one pitch until her senior year. I guess you would be fine with putting Josh Hamiltion in the bull pen because the Rangers relief pitching is bad. I really think the coach has done a good job, but it appears to me that he has got himself in at least an uncomfortable pitching position bringing in a late recruit and contemplating using Cantler. I just wonder why another pitcher was not recruited early with your two best pitchers graduating and only two more on the squad including one who was injured and didn't play last year.

Troy was number 1 rated out of the Belt, that tell me everything I want to know about the merits of the Forbes ranking.

I think NT tried to save face by giving an ultimatum. Whether they didn't have the money for a buyout or wanted to give Dodge another year, it was obviously to me RV wasn't ready to make a coaching change at the end of last year. If the AD was serious about changing coaches; he never would have made a big deal about reviewing the coach at the end of the football season. He would have had another coach's commitment or at least had a close to sure thing new head coach ready to take over. That is the main reason I was for giving Dodge another year at that point, the last thing the program needed was a prolonged coach search which would have likely ended with a mediocre or worst result. RV made an enormous gamble on hiring Dodge. I like most thought it was worth the chance until I saw what he assembled for a coaching staff and how badly what should have been a descent defense played. NT did get excellent press for a couple of years until it was obvious that the coaching staff was in way over their heads. It became impossible to defend the hire when the third year team won only two games. The fact was however the team was actually significantly improved despite the record. The compromise was giving a public 7 game ultimatum in lieu of firing. I do think it was a questionable decision, everyone knows that another bad year and Dodge is gone. I doubt it effects recruiting one way or another, but it does create an unnecessary distraction that might prove troublesome. What happens if NT goes 1-7 and is competitive in every game and finishes the season with four crushing wins? The coaching decision would be easy without considering that in effect Dodge should be fired based on a preseason ultimatum. I have no doubt Dodge would be signed up for at least a three year contract extension based on that scenario, but yet the AD has put himself in an unneeded box.

Almost all listed heights in college football are overstated. It is done so much that any school using the actual measurements would be criticized for failure to recruit college size players. If you remember NT supposedly posted the actual heights a couple of years ago and almost all the linemen were an inch or two shorter. For example, Santiago had been listed at 6'5. Most of the players magically gained their height back the next year, although a few like Santiago did not go back up. Several years ago, I looked up the college roster heights of about 15 good players and compared them to the pro combine heights. On average the college rosters listed players at 1 1/2 inches taller than actual. I am a little less than 6'3 and I am taller than most college football players listed at 6'4. Next to 40 times, football players height is the second most fibbed about stat. It is interesting because really tall guys are usually close to accurate, but average size college players are almost always shorter. You can see both the last year and current roster on the official site, so do your own comparison. Santiago was listed as about 285 last year, you must be thinking of Gill. Who is still in the two sixties.

I wonder if Ross weight is correct. The Green Gang may just be relying on a sheet of paper that was not updated. It is strange that he is exactly the same weight as last year. You think they would have checked before using it in a post, but things happen. As far as Abbe, at 6'4; he probably no rounder than Booger and Booger could play a little. Per Greengang face book today, he apparently is not afraid to mix it up a little.

You bring up the point that I think hurts NT more than any other. The fact for most of it's athletic life, NT has been isolated from their Texas rivals. The only other fb division team that was not part of the good ole boy SWC was UTEP and their location had a lot to do with it. It's not often mentioned but I think NT's early integration certainly played a part in this isolation. However poor leadership and lack of political power were probably bigger lasting problems. I think there are still a lot of older fans that still link Texas football and the SWC. NT wasn't good enough then and it is not now. Even years after the collapse of the SWC, even those schools that didn't get in the Big Twelve still are though of as bigger time programs than they are. With the exception of TCU, who definitely left CUSA to separate themselves, all the other Texas teams are nestled in Texas dominated conferences. Only NT remains alone not by choice, the same status it had in the Big West and a lot of the time in the MVC. After Houston left, NT was along in the MVC until WTSU joined in a failing effort to keep MVC football alive. I don't think it is even a conscious thing with a lot of college football fans. They just associate NT with something lower than the old SWC teams. Not a knock on the Belt, because without it; NT would really be in a jam, but being in the newest conference just adds to the perception that NT is Texas second rate. Winning will cure all, and at last IMO NT is doing the things that should turn the tide. NT first order of business should be to dominate the Belt. I really think that NT can do that relativily quickly. NT should in a very short time even with the lion's share of the new athletic fees going for debt service, have the highest budget in the Belt. That added to the location and academic standing of the university should make many Belt fans wish that NT was in another leauge.

New pitcher has been added. High school lefty Lauren Poole from Oklahoma. I can't see using Cantler, your best hitter as a pitcher in her senior year unless the other pitchers are really questionable. Maybe it is just a contingency plan preparing for the worse.

I hope the players are gettings as tired of this MTSU and Troy stuff as I am.

He would have to be really desperate to use Cantler, an all conference first baseball, as a pitcher. Plus as far as I know she has not pitched an inning of college ball.

www.twincities.com/sports/ci_15700497?source=rss

Does anyone really know if he was in fact a promising player, has fully recovered from his injuries, does not have family obligations that become before football, havs academic issues, etc.? Not everyone is suited for college or college football, It is easy to criticize especially when you are speculating without much information. Maybe he just rather drive trucks, but there could be any number of other reasons; he is not going to play at NT. Whatever, I hope Keenan made the right decision for himself.

acu.sidearmsports.com/staff.aspx?staff=59 Actually looks like a great hire to me, ACU did finish 4th in the nation last year in their Division. You must have high standards. Both Iona and ACU pretty much lived on foreign runners mostly Kenyans. So I would expect that to happen here. I have mixed feelings about that, but if NT wants to break WKU and MTSU stranglehold on the "all sports competition", this is the best way to do it. Create a very strong cross country team that also will dominate the track long distance events. It won't be easy because WKU, MTSU, Arkansas State and others use exactly that strategy, so it will take very good foreign athletes to win.

weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports/college/fau/blog/2010/08/the_annual_swipe_at_troy_for_o.html FAU beat writer's rant on Troy.

Great post untcampbell. It is obvious that this happens every year or they could not continue to offer 30+ ships a season. I also don't believe for a second Troy's contention that they always have scholarships available to those who qualify. It would take Nostradamus to predict how many players would qualify out of their new recruits, and players being gray-shirted or at preps or jucos. Troy is the football power of the Belt, but it is really disappointed how they have got there. They may be doing everything according to the rules, but IMO their tactics give the Belt a black eye. Yes, OU, SMU, USC and countless others have done far worse; but frankly Troy is the one conference team that I wish were in another conference and that has nothing to do with their success on the field.

Leo Taylor was a tough runner who compares with the more modern running backs. He didn't get that many carries with the great passing game of Ramsey to Barry Moore, Ronnie Shanklin, etc. He did not have the speed of Cobbs, Dunbar, and a healty Thomas, but he ran as hard as any of them. Pegram was a much better back than he was given credit for. He played on bad teams with little blocking. I don't remember who the A&M back was when NT with Pegram played there, but he was highly honored. I remember thinking how much better Pegram was than he was. Only problem, most of pegram runs were under 3 yards; but they were maximum effort. I think Pegram was quicker than Cobbs and was a better receiver. IMO the best backs I have seen at NT were Taylor, Mike Jones, Bernard Jackson, Eric Pegrim, Cobbs, Thomas, Galbreath, Malcom Jones and Dunbar. I think Thomas had the best one year of any of them, but if I rated them based on a career contribution; Cobbs would be the best. Rating who was the best back is difficult because of comparing those who benefited from DD run first offense and others that played in a much more balanced offense. Best being defined is who is the best running back not who did the most and had the best stats. Both Taylor who had a great Canadian football career and Pegram who was after Abner Haynes run in the pros had the best NFL career. Mike Jones, Bernard Jackson and Malcolm Jackson led Fry's offenses. It is interesting that all these backs except Dunbar and Pegram played on good teams. Leaving Dunbar out because he isn't finished and those I have not seen play college ball like. Haynes; I would rate the backs on an ability basis: 1. Thomas ( his freshman year) 2. Patrick Cobbs 3. Eric Pegram 4. Leo Taylor 5. Bernard Jackson (his junior year), 6. Mike Jones 7. Galbreath, 8. Malcom Jones. As most know, Jamario was never the same after his freshman year. Bernard who was great under Fry, was relegated to the bench by Jerry Moore (He was murdered during his senior football year but he was not a starter).

www.grahamleader.com/index.asp?Story=19768 Do walk ons actually sign or is just for show?

Repeated post

From Sport Illustrated Vault (Nov 5, 1973) LANDSLIDE VICTOR Football coaches place a lot of faith, or at least interest, in polls (We're No. 1, and so forth), and head Coach T. W. Alley of the University of Louisville was therefore a bit miffed earlier this season when his star senior defensive back, Lonnie Schuler, was beaten out for Defensive Player of the Week in the Missouri Valley Conference by an unknown from North Texas State named Walter Chapman. "Who's Chapman?" Alley asked. "A freshman. Defensive tackle. Five feet, 10 inches. Weighs 244." "A freshman?" Alley said with some irritation. "What did he do?" "Well, he had 22 tackles and knocked down a pass." There was a moment of silence. Then Alley said, "Where can I go vote for him I will continue a little more rant. To me it is totally ridiculous that Chapman is not in the HOF. Saw a recent post on the official site talking about people left out of HOF and it mentions Camper and Lott. Both very good football players but neither were close to Chapman who was a starter and leader of the defense for four years. As for as comparison between defensive linemen for the Green. Yes, Joe Greene was obviously the best. After that it would be between Kennedy and Chapman. There are others that may have one on two great years: Cedic Hardman for example, but for a career no one matches Greene, Kennedy and Chapman. By the way, per article above has any other defensive lineman for NT ever come close to 22 tackles in a game, and that was for a freshman. Chapman like Kennedy played nose guard and was the focus of every opponents offense for four years. He regularly had double digit tackle games despite being double teamed. Kennedy was great and was a lot more flamboyant, but Chapman had a never stop motor. Chapman suffers some because there are fewer and fewer fans left to remember him. He played in a time before the Internet and only played one year in a conference so he does not a bunch of readily available accolades. By the way he was all conference and freshman of the year in that one year. Most of the HOF recipients are deserving but few more so than Chapman. I would hope that the committee, who ever they maybe, would take time out to do a little research and reward, although it would be way too late, one of the all time NT greats. Talk to Hayden or Chapman's teammates which include Jordan Case about his qualifications.

Surprise, surprise; once again no Walter Chapman. Now that my annual rant is over, it looks like a good deserving group.

I just wonder why they think the series record is 2-0 when Corky Nelson 1aa team clobbered them.

The good thing is that there should be real competition for playing time. NT returns all four starters: Lewis, Jackson, Outlaw and Carey. Add to that Lott who has started in the past, Stradford who may be the best of the bunch, Dodge with I think excellent potential at receiver, and Bynes who the coaching staff wanted despite having a loaded squad at the wr position. There are also two more lettermen in Taylor and Johnson. With a lot more tight end and H back sets, there will not be as many minutes available at wr., It is very difficult to name a starting three, my guess would be Stradford, Jackson and Carey. The battle for the fourth spot in 4 receiver sets should be close between Lewis, Outlaw, Dodge and Bynes. This group has scary potential with a lot better speed than the NT norm. There may be better receivers in the Belt, but I doubt anyone can match NT' s depth. Jackson was an all conference receiver last year and he could have plenty of NT company this year. Dunbar should certainly keep defenses honest. The biggest question is can Tune or Thompson turn into the kind of QB that can elevate this receiver group.

It is ironic that NT strongest position is running back. Dunbar could and should be one of the best in the nation. Many may have forgotten that Mosely actually started in his freshman year and Mathis actually looked very good based on only a few carries and both are reported in be in the 225 lb range. . Hamilton looked excellent in the spring and has the speed and moves to start at a lot of schools. I would redshirt Byrd, I don't see him getting enough carries to warrant losing a year. However, I doubt there will be many redshirts; Dodge is going full out to win this year as he cannot afford to build for a future that he may not be part of.