GrandGreen

If Cole is 100%, I have no doubt you are right. He was one of the most exciting offensive players I have ever seen in high school. As far as Stradford, he would have been a starter if he had been ruled eligible last year, so you may be correct. However, based on the spring game and a few pre-season practices; I question his hands. I though he missed too many balls that he should have caught. Over the years, NT has not got a lot of big name transfers, however there were a few of the bluest of blue chips comming out of high school that utimately ended up at NT. Anothey Bridges, Reggie Finch and J.C. Hollins were all highly lauded and none really turned into stars for the Green. I hope Stratford, Cole and the others really excel but it is far from a sure thing.

Good selections, I think some positions that maybe different are: WR: I don't see anyone beating Carey or Jackson out of the starting lineup. I think the competition will be between Stradford, Cole, Outlaw and Lewis for the other two positions. Cole is an extraordinary talent if he is healthy. Stradford is a great physical specimen but didn't display great hands in the spring. Lewis, I thought was not thrown to enough last year. Outlaw was inconsistent but has a good year of experience. For starting day lineup I project Carey, Jackson, Outlaw and Lewis; the same as last year, but Cole and Stradford could move up quickly. OL: The four returning last year starters Gill, Santiago, Johnson and Drake will all start. I think the other guard position will be a battle between Tomlinson and Feeley with the edge to Tomlinson. Tomlinson started several games at tackle last year and I think he could easily move inside. Although Freeley started his freshman year, he did not get much if any playing time last year. DE: Obi and Akpunka could start just because there does not seem to be any alternates. However, I am going to go with Weber over Akpunka; hoping he is quick enough to play de in this defense. I really don't like two small defensive ends against most offenses. DT: Defensive tackles could be any of Atkisson, Jackson, Cantly, Desoto, Ross or White and perhaps even Weber or Anyiam. My projected is Cantly and Atkisson. Atkisson played ok last year and hopefully can up his game this year, Cantly has the most upside of any of the tackles. LB: I completely agree only Robertson is a near sure thing. There will be dogfight between Johnson, Graham, Penson, and Phillips for the other positions. Currently only Penson of the four has middle linebacker experience but I look for either Graham or Johnson to be moved to that position and the starting lineup to be Johnson, Graham, and Robertson. S: I look for Hughes to start with Smith.

I read and check on Vito's blog often, he is the best source of a lot of news about UNT sports. I feel like he may very well be the last newspaper guy primarily assigned to NT and I do appreciate his efforts. Having say that I think that there definitely are issues that have developed between the athletic department particularly the football staff and him. I think it is beyond stupid for him to have to stand behind a fence to cover the football program and the endless references to the lack of success of Dodge's tenure in seemingly every column and blog border on fanaticism. It will be interesting to see who lasts the longest at their present position.

NT is building a new football stadium and with that has upgraded about every athletic venue and has passed a new student fee that should put them at the top of the Belt in athletic funding. Not exactly standing still while everyone else passes by as some posts would lead you to believe. As for as head football coaches' salary, surely you are not advocating a raise for Dodge. I bet when a new head coach is hired or if a miracle happens and Dodge turns the program around, you will see a significant uptick in coaches' salaries.

I have the same feel for this class at this point as I did last years. I think it was a very good job based on the state of the program but lacks when compared to the other Texas fb division schools. I do think the jucos signed this year are better than the juco class of last year. I think the linebackers could be outstanding here and Hughes is certainly an interesting prospect. Hughes in addition to playing juco ball has been signed by both Mississippi and Southern Mississippi. Both Orr and Bellazin appear to be good high school recruits. I don't think height is that important for linebackers, and I think NT really improved the position. Overall I think that NT has did about as well as could be expected and has addressed all their needs but QB and defensive ends. Defensive tackle is a position of concern but everyone is returning plus Weber and Anyiam which may have eaten themselves out the defensive end position. I don't think Deloach is a three/four defense advocate but it would seem to make a lot of sense with the team's makeup. Some must love the transfers got from other four year institutions because they count them in both last year's class and the current one.

For those star watchers, both Orr and Bellazin have been rated 3 star recruits by Rivals.

No you did not say that, I did. Neither did I say downplay the victory. It was a home game that NT should have won and they did although they had their usual slow start. Too often NT has not won the games they should have this year, so in that sense it was a good solid win over a team that has traditionally owned NT. I do agree there were definitely positive signs that the team is improving. NT was able to exploit USA's rebounding weakness, never quit, and won a game without shooting particularly well from outside. I guess I can't get the ASU losses off my mind.

I hope whoever NT signs at QB this year is a dual threat type. I don't see Dodge's logic of having designed his offense around his son's capabilities and having back ups with very limited running ability. A change of pace quarterback is good in some situations; but to have to give up a large portion of the offense because the starter is not in, does not make a lot of sense.

You may want to consider that ASU had no height, with the only guy over 6'5 in the starting lineup a 6'7 true freshman. I don't want to take anything away from the NT victory, but NT was a 7 point favorite and NT should have dominated the inside. Having say that I thought USA played pretty tough ball and was very good at driving to the basket. It was a good win for the team but I am not convinced NT has turned the corner yet.

I left it open for that, I know you appreciate a set-up to express your views.

Good win 78-66 Super game by Godbolt, James and Turro. James unofficially with 20 points, Godbolt with 19 points and 13 rebounds, Turro with 15 points shooting 4 of 4 threes. Also best game I have seen out of Hughes. SS's best victory?

Hope I didn't jink them. Up 67-57 with less than five minutes to go.

With a little over seven minutes to go, UNT leads conference undefeated USA 59-55.

This is getting old even for someone who is not a Todd Dodge fan. How in the world do you know what Riley Dodge is going to accomplish over the next three years. I believe that most rationale fans would conclude that that it is way too early to write him off as a QB as he had a decent, not great first year. There seems to be a lot more than the on the field play that is fueling your fanaticism with this topic. My biggest concern with Riley is can he play a season mostly injury free. As far as heart and quarterback leadership, I think he as very positively answered those questions.

Male coaches for female sports are very common, but I am somewhat surprised that NT chose a man given their gender equity bend. If I am correct, Stephens is the only female hc at NT. Females having been replaced by men in tennis, swimming, softball and now volleyball.

I appreciate the work, but unless you have an in with the coaching staff; I don't know how anyone could figure out the numbers. For example, where does Herron and Braziel fit into this? How many former walkons like Brown and Lott have been given scholarships. How many players have left the program such as Owusu-Hemeng and Seidle? Stradford, I would guess already was on scholarship as he was ready to play last year if the NCAA decision had been positive. It is also possible that the early signing jucos could be counted as last years ships if any scholarships were available. Likewise the others that were already on campus such as Herron, Braziel, and Cole could also be part of last years class. Based on the current roster, I can identify about sixty one that I think are on ships. Cole, Braziel and Boutwell are not on that list. That would leave 21 new recruits assuming that NT gets a full 85. Per Harrys list there are 15 known commitments not including Stradford, Boutwell, or Cole which would leave six more to be filled. This is just another guess based on partial information as I stated no one but the coaching staff really knows the player situations.

Where would Hall go and get no competition? I suspect it would be a little tougher at LSU, completing against coaches' son or not. Does anyone know if LSU is even recruiting him as a QB?

This was the most discouraging loss of the season. Not because NT didn't try hard, they did despite some comments in this thread. The problem is that they were totally outplayed by a much younger, better coached and apparently more talented ball club. NT with a veteran ball club was really never in a game against a team that started a junior, sophomore and three freshmen. On top of their starters, they had two come off the bench with double points; Bryant a sophomore with 13 and Thomas a junior with 16 plus 5 rebounds. Based on their performance against NT, ASU looked at least as good as A & M and OSU. Obviously, based on ASU record they are not unbeatable but based on NT's two games with them, odds are that NT is not going to seriously challenge this club. In what looked like a down year in the conference, I had hope NT could jell late and make a run in the tournament. It could still happen, but NT is going to have to get much better. NT was beat at almost every position last night. Tremial is still not near 100% and that gives some upside hope. Teams are playing to stop White and Thompson and it is obviously working. Odufuwa was the only NT player to have a good game. I thought it was a rare game that White was just not a positive factor. Holman played 20 minutes and only got one rebound, Shorter played very hard but seemed to miss almost every layup. Thomas had a poor game, hopefully he can be more help later in the season. NT has somewhat mortgaged their future for this year and the next and it may prove to be a very bad strategy. Unless North Texas can really have an amazing turnaround, ASU looks like the team to beat not only this year but years to come.

Got beat by a much better and younger team. Only hope is that Brady gets a better offer soon.

My guess is that he definitely has problems, to be a starter and booted from UT. Having said that, he would have to set out a year and NT and that would allow time to evaluate his character; so he may be worth the risk.

Big win, but sloppy play in the end game by the Green. Thompson saved the day.

Promising first half.

Would not put Johnson, a player that played one semester, on an all decade team. Likewise I have a problem putting Erkin or Jason Miller on any all star team when they both left for greener pastures. Chris Davis is undoubtedly the best player of the decade, but not the best ever at NT. Wooden when he was not injured and was in somewhere near playing shape was very good but that did not happen enough. Chris Davis - One of the all time bests Isaac Hines - Consistent point who was great re-bounder from guard position Quincy Williams - Four year contributor, good re-bounder Josh White - Based on past decade performance, very smart unselfish ballplayer Leonard Hopkins - Great offensive ballplayer, who played through a lot of injuries H.M. Bryan Lucas - Walk on from football program, was bright spot on horrible Trilli team Rich Young - Great Leader Ben Bell - No one played harder Keith Wooden - When he was on, great offensive center Jerome Green - Good all around player on Jones' early teams Calvin Watson - Player that got better every year Kendrick Davis - Down senior year kept him off my AD team Eric Tramiel - Based on last year performance, close to AD pick because of NT lack of front court standouts

Do you really think this is in way funny or appropriate? Yes, I know it is a carry-on from previous failed attempts at juvenile humor, but this kind of junk gets old.

Frankly, I would expect a lot more than what we have got so far. Have you checked out the records of the teams that are beating UNT. Also many of the teams that NT is losing to, like ASU, had more people out than NT. I am far from giving up on this team, but I also think the performance of the team has been very disappointing. Those 21 turnovers last night through about 2/3 of the game were mostly a result of just bad decisions not talent,. NT handled the ball much better down the stretch and played better defense and made a game of it, but it was a little late.