FirefightnRick

Huff, I couldn't believe that when I read it. Someone had to be asleep at the wheel with that one. Glad to hear they are trying to work it out. Rick

It's DM's job to lose and it will be tough to unseat him now. Regardless of how WW did, that was JUCO. One of DM's best games was at Death Valley, which I have to think is a much more difficult world to succeed in than any JUCO experience could offer. We shall see soon enough. Rick

I'll take the Seahags and the points. Rick

Exactly, and the vested interest here is North Texas, not some other random team or random event I care nothing of. By the way, my guess was TCU, which is wrong. However, it's a close guess since TCU beat Colorado State that year in the 2002 Liberty bowl, which has sort of an Independance type "Ring" to it, right? Regardless, Nebraska defeated Ol' Miss in the 2002 Independance Bowl. I'm willing to bet that the following 2003 summer people in Lincoln were talking more about that than the stellar 13-15 season their men's basketball team had just completed, and it's an even safer bet that folks in Oxford were more excited about how far Eli Manning could take them over the chances of their men's bb team improving upon their 14-15 season that same year. Rick

I thought a lot of coach Malone and wish him and his family all the best. This hurts the Mean Green as he brought a lot to the table in experience and it was obvious with the immediate impact he had in recruiting. I was looking forward to seeing how well he could do after having a crop or two of his own recruits here. Rick

Sure, there has been brushes with the local law. But I don't recall hearing anyone getting paid at North Texas or recall us EVER being on probation for inapropriate actions. Gee I wonder much someone would have paid for TJ "Leon don't tackle" Covington, a nickel? A wooden nickel? Rick

I was thinking as recently as Baylor, Colorado, or Alabama who is towards the end of it's probation now. I'm sure there are others? Rick

I'll take that answer to my question as a NO. We went to our only trip to the big dance after winning that power basketball conference, the Southland Basketball Conference, and played against North Carolina in 1988. The game was played on a friday morning and PARTIALLY televised on ESPN which very few people in Texas even saw. Even fewer remembered the following season. There is no comparison to the '89 bb season and any exposure gained from the '88 tournament appearance played before a work-day veiwership, to that of the '01 Bowl game played before an uninterrupted, 3 hour national primetime audience and the exposure it gained for us going into the '02 football season. No comparison at all. Now, I'm not saying that NT can't make it back to the dance, get a first round win and make some huge headlines around here. In fact many here on this board feel that would be the EASIEST way for NT to make a name for itself, to build a successful basketball program before building a successful football program. But we haven't even come close to it since the '90 or '91 season that I recall, with one of the states top bb facilities to recruit to. Yet football, even as a 1st-year-conference champion at 5-6, with one of the worst facilities to recruit to, in the weakest conference nationally, has won NT the most positive sports coverage that I've seen the past 25 years by winning in football and playing in a bowl game. As for that great '88 bb season I can't even go to a basketball game now at the Super Pit and find more than a small handfull of people who still remembers that season, or that basketball team or anything very memorable about it. But I can find as many as I want who still remembers facts about the '88 football game against tU in Austin that took place 6 month later. I'm curious. Is there anyone else on this board that attended the NT vs UNC game in Salt Lake in '88? Rick

ULL made a switch to a zone-read this past season. All it got them was a share of the conference championship and their first win over the Mean Green since the peanut butter sandwich was invented? Rick

Doesn't surprise me at all. The NCAA is hopefully preparing an investigation for this right now. Fran will have the aggies in the probation toilet soon enough. The BCS power schools are plain sickening. No telling what all they get away with? Rick

Coach Seroka is a good one. But what I would like to see NT obtain an interest in is speed training for our skill positions. Rick

Thanks for the update Don. Rick

OT, not to change the subject a bit, but did the RB from Mineral Wells that ran over everyone this past year get any offers at all from a D-1 school? I saw that note in the Star about him on Monday about him not recieving any offers. I just don't understand that at all? Must be a grade problem there? Rick

Sorry, I thought I told you this yesterday. We are trying to meet on every first Wednesday of each month if possible. Rick

Hope everyone can make it. We have a lot to discuss after a day like today, and doing it along with a cool-one in hand is all that much better. The Mean Green Nation ascends on downtown Cowtown. See you there! Rick

The power of the () can be too much to resist at 18, or 25, or 39? Rick

I'm curious as to what the limitations will be set at, once the university takes posession of the land? Must it be used for a golf course or can it be sold for $? Rick

Before I respond I have to ask, that since you know it's a fact that going to the dance would give the university more exposure than playing in a bowl game, then my question is were you attending or following North Texas in 1989? Rick

Good grief! Hope all is well, prayers from here. Rick

Wow, that's tough. Glad NT is at the top of the APR in Texas. Curious, does anyone remember MTSU losing a key player to grades? Seems they did but I can't remember who it was? Rick

Are you sure about that? It's only Monday. Rick

It was never a concern of mine that FIU, FAU or anyone else would decide to sit back and play in crappy facilities for 54 years. Rick

I had class with Major as well. He is a great guy and it was no surprise that he was voted Homecoming King in 1989? Delon played from 89 to '91? seems like but did not start. I saw Major at Homecoming two years ago but not since then. Niether Major nor Delon got Joe's size. Rick

Can't wait to see him "KAIL" the Blue Raiders next year. Rick

While reading this article I was wondering if it would ever mention that Ray went to NT, and it finally did towards the end. I spoke with Clint and Mike last month and Clint told me it was a toss up between Tech, Stanford and TCU, in that order. He was leaning towards Tech becuase of their system but said that he was at a crossroads and would have to decide soon? I notice that they list him at 6 foot tall and 160 lbs. If he's 6 foot tall, I'm 6'2''. He's a very little fella with tiny wrists and ankles. First thing I thought of when I met him was how frail he will look when he steps on a college field. If it were my guess I would list his size at 5'8'', maybe 5'9'' and about 150lbs or less. Very nice kid and I hope all the best for him. Rick