EagleMBA

Here are some defensive numbers I pulled together while TV was boring. Sources are TX State Athletics and UNT Athletics websites. No agenda here, I just thought it would be interesting to compare them. TX State - 4 games (FL State, Prairie View, USM, UofH) Record: 1 - 3 UNT - 3 games (SMU, Rice, Iowa) Record: 0 - 3 TX St UNT Avg. PPG Allowed 49.5 43.7 Yds/Play Allowed 7.6 6.4 Ttl Yds PG Allowed 568 498 3d Dn Conv % Allowed 55 63

The Mean Green lost in an un-competitive, embarrassing blowout yesterday, on their way to an 0-fer season. The Rangers lost yesterday and are behind again today late in the game, paving the way for a last-week-of-the season el foldo. The Cowboys played one half today, but the Falcons played two and whipped us; hello loss column! There is a Blood Moon tonight. Coincidence? I think not! Start praying MFers!!

We may test your theory but I really don't think Canales is the real problem. My Dad used to tell me that a fish rots from the head. IMO, Canales is a symptom...the cause is likely a couple of levels higher.

I recorded the game and watched it carefully. If I really didn't give a shit I wouldn't even bother to do that. For what it is worth to the players, I did not see any lack of effort. I did see missed assignments, missed tackles, bad decision making and physical mismatches from time to time...that's the way football go. Those things get corrected by coaching. Again, I did not see lack of effort or physical toughness exhibited by the team. I saw lots of heart in my team, much to their credit in a hostile environment. Losing should feel bad. Process those feelings, suck it up, and get ready for your next opportunity. Just some unsolicited advice from a proud UNT alum who was buying tickets before you were conceived.

USM? What is that? Is that an acronym for Unlimited SadoMasochism?

On a positive note, EVERYONE HEAD TO THOR'S HOUSE. He has plenty of beer left over!

I just emerged from my "safe room", saw the score, and am going back there immediately! There will be nine more weeks of losing.

Am I the only one who reflects back fondly on the deck at Fouts?

In answer to my prayers and with my promise to make a Novena, Pope Francis met with The Little Sisters Of The Poor to line up that 13th game for us. This is the closely guarded answer to the obscure reference in another thread.

I don't want to go all Canales on ya'll, but this post reminded me of a couple of sayings/trueisims that I am wont to say on occasion, edited for football: We will never play another game in the past! If we don't learn from the mistakes we have made in the past, we are f'ing doomed to repeat them!

That's ironic. The weatherman for Iowa City, Robert Cray, has his forecast right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IrdMyQSKr8

Seems like an objective appraisal by the Iowa writer. My antennae pick up unwritten messages that the Hawkeyes want to build a quick lead and coast so as not to embarrass Mac.

Would that require a corn hole?

Agree. The effective thing to do would be to find ways to get the ball into the hands of our playmakers in space and let them make plays. And we DO have several bonafide playmakers on this team.

When I emerge from the "safe room" tomorrow and summon up the courage to check the score (per my plan) I will expect the worst but will hope for the very best for my team. One of these days, hopefully in my lifetime, there will be a phenomenal upset to the credit of the Mean Green. I will always root for that in my heart, even though my head keeps telling me that it ain't gonna' happen! I have seen a lot of football in my life to date, Mean Green and otherwise, and have seen very unlikely shit happen on several occasions. You can hope for a little help from the other side, like Iowa looking forward to Wisconsin and overlooking us, wanting to protect and rest starters, etc. Unfortunately, my prediction of Them 55, Us 16 still stands.

One way to look at it is if you can't recruit players to execute your offense, change your offense to utilize the players you have. That has probably been better said before by others on this Board.

Well, when John Belushi (aka Bluto) asked the Delta Tau Chi brothers "Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?" I assume that they were all thinking WTF. Sorry for the "Animal House" reference, but as a Teke I can relate.

Agree with that for the long term. I'm thinking more along the lines of quickly being able to show an Iowa, a Tennessee, or someone else something they haven't seen on film. You know, like when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor. Sort of a WTF moment!

You know, I recall there was a time when I thought the "Grand Plan" when Mac was hired was to right the ship, dust it off, and in due course hand it off to Coach Chico when he retired. This was because we thought after he demonstrated what he could do, some thought Coach Chico was ready for the job THEN. Am I exhibiting symptoms of Alzheimer's? Am I just full of it?

I hear you. However, it IS Happy Hour and I HAVE had two Shiner Bocks so humor me. What if...the OC took a group of guys and made up three pages of the playbook just for them? And, what if...those guys subbed-in enmasse at a change of possession? And what if...to minimize the learning curve for the O-line the plays were designed to pretty much utilize existing blocking schemes for a sweep or rollout? If so...you are able to spring a few triple-option plays as a surprise at some critical point to your advantage without extensive preparation. Or, this just might be an episode of Ancient Aliens.

A triple-option attack, run properly, is very effective and prolific at point production. We actually have a lot of the pieces in place to implement it. Wouldn't it be wild to see us run a few plays in that offense to shake things up? Is that too radical?

Alas, I fear it is not to be. UNT is currently located in the kingdom of Smatreskistan, and a fair place it is! I am not a pretender to the throne, only an occupier of a porcelain one

Good thoughts, Jim. My scenario (if I was in the drivers seat) would not be full-auto, but sniper-like instead. Perhaps I am out of step with current thinking, but I come from the school that believes the AD runs the department and is accountable for his hires to the Pres. Therefore, the first domino to fall is the AD. A new AD then has the option to evaluate and retain/replace any and/or all coaches (subject to financial considerations). The new AD is evaluated by the Pres based on the effectiveness of his decision-making. That is the way it would work in my kingdom. JMHO.

Cerebus speaks the truth (about the long time MG fan part). I think I first met Cerebus in the parking lot at a UNT road game at TCU. MAYBE earlier, but I remember that one because the player below (mentioned in a QB thread a few days ago) sent us all home feeling better after a close loss: He put up a TD with 42 seconds left to make that game interesting. Truth be told, my more-than-casual fandom goes back 15 or so years before that game. As for the learning part, you'll notice he did not specify exactly WHAT you might learn from me. Caveat Emptor. You may not want to buy what I'm puttin' out!

I have set my DVR to record the game. On Saturday afternoon I am going to follow severe weather protocol by seeking shelter in a small interior space for about four hours, barricade the door, fold myself up in the southwest corner of the space, bend my neck up as far as possible, and kiss my ass goodbye! Iowa 55 UNT 16 Then I will sneak a peek at this board. If the score is much better than that I may have a few Shiners and then watch the game. Otherwise, it is fast forward to our scoring possessions. That is my story and I'm sticking to it!