FirefightnRick

I think Silver's comparison is just as accurate for those past years as today's BCS vs Non BCS is. People get too worked up in the hype and forget to go out and play hard, and coach to win. In the 70's there were only a few teams that got on TV during the season, and tU was one of them, and North Texas wasn't. That is the same as the difference between the BCS and non BCS of today to me. Texas got every freakin recruit money back then could buy, AND got to keep an extra 80 on scholarship just in case. In '88 we didn't think we even would score a point, much less lead most of the way. Texas was hyped to the hilt that year, as they have been every year. Look how well Texas State played A&M this year, look how well Troy played LSU last year? So many of us have forgotten what North Texas is capable of. I won't accept it. It's coaching and playing to win, not to get the game over with. That is the difference. Rick

Exactly. I got it emailed to me, but only because I registered for Dr. Pohl's email. Other than that I would have only heard about it here on this board. Hell, I got a card in the mail last saturday telling me about the final home game of the year. I got a card the day of homecoming telling me about homecoming? If they wanted a true feeling of what the people who are most concerned in supporting North Texas felt they would have had tables set up oustide the stadium during homecoming to find out what the real NT family feels is of most importance for our next president. I have been warning y'all since the summer of '04 about some of the agenda's that some individuals have been trying to push on this school. RV, Dr. Pohl and the BOR have made some major strides in a short time. But right now we are at a crossroads with our athletic future mostly at stake. I hope my greatest fears do not fully come true. Hopefully this survey doesn't hold a lot of water when the hard, final decisions are made. Rick

The '02 season we ranked 9th overall and were in the top 3 in scoring defense. We only gave up 27 to Texas in the first half and held them scoreless the second half. That NT team played like it enjoyed giving you the ball at mid field just for the challenge. They were incredible. Still, they played and beat two good offensive teams that year in MTSU and NMSU, both games coming down to the wire at the end of the season. The NMSU game ended up 38-27. In '03 I believe we finished 22nd overall or in scoring defense. Idaho and NMSU both had good offenses. One season Idaho was in the top 10 in offense. With that said, I agree that it must be a loss of depth, and possibly some sort of change in philosophy by maybe a position coach or two that has been the difference. But mostly the loss of Kennedy and Cardwell is where I lay most of our problems. When two individuals can dominate like they did, forcing an offense to have to worry about them, that gives you an edge. We didn't have that this year. I had thought maybe we still had something special on defense when we came out and stopped MTSU their first series of their game and then forced them to punt much of the night when they weren't turning it over or missing field goals. Then when we held Tulsa on their first series I thought this team was going to gel early and move forward. But they were never able to stiffen when we needed them to like in years past. What I have looked at mostly to get me looking forward to next season is that the final 2 1/2 quarters of the ASU game we had one senior, a sophomore and two true freshmen playing in our secondary. We will be solid there next season as will our linebacking corp. Our D line had two juniors on the two deep. The rest were sophomores, redshirt freshmen and a true freshman. What we need desparately, desparately!, is that one Booger/Cardwell/Awasome type that can create some problems. We need a recruit, either from HS or Juco that has that motor running it's RPM's in the red all the damn time. We find that one guy to go along with the youthfull talent that will be coming back and this defense will be rock solid again. Rick

BY the way, our BOR will keep in mind that this so called "UNT COMMUNITY" that filled out this survey, only consisted of about 4,000 respondents. Rick

How many here filled out the survey? I doubt many did. This is why our board administrators kept reminding people here to fill it out, and now you know why. Rick

Man, those girls were smoking hot on stage that night. Great times for sure. Now send me the photos you DIDN'T post! Rick

YES! We are on our way! Rick

I didn't see this mentioned yesterday. That's terrible for Solich. Hopefully there is more to it than this. Also read that South Carolina TE's and recruiting coordinator coach Rick Stockstill seems to be the front runner at MTSU. Stockstill played QB for Bobby Bowden at Florida St in the late 70's. As far as I can tell, AD's such as MTSU's Chris Massaro are going after people who have an entertaining football background. Rick

From what I have witnessed every saturday in Denton the past several years I don't see what the problem is? Good kick! Rick

If your friend was alive probably wasn't spewing that crap in the fall of '88. And people wonder why I will NEVER support tU? Rick

Define large? Rick

A pro athletic president with continued vision for the future, hands down. Rick

Hmm, good question. Best question by Calvin, yet. Most of the points, all are good and true by the way, about JJ have already been mentioned. I had a long winded response to this, but to do so would be airing out some laundry that doesn't belong here. Besides, the last time I did, it was addressed to me personally by individuals from the university so I know they know how I feel about it, and I understand where they are coming from too. It wouldn't make much difference in the matter anyways what I type here so I won't. Know this that I have been just as frustrated with the football program as anyone relating to more than just the wins and losses over the course of several years now. Trust me when I type that the coaches fully understand our frustrations and I have given it enough time now to cool down to say that I feel comfortable that they will do everything in their power to right this ship. This season may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. If I am to believe the reports in the DMN and from talking to sources on campus I get the feeling that everyone inside the AD dept seems to be putting on their thinking caps and working towards a solution............together. At least that is what I'm asking Santa for Christmas this season. Rick

Pretty close to how I felt about the state of things since speaking to BR in Murfreesboro. Still, thanks for sharing this with us Huff. We are lucky to have had BR in charge and I expect he will make the right decisions for us all. Rick

Good post Emmitt. Rick

That was when he got benched. He came over and started cutting off his tape. You should have heard what he had to say to her afterwards. I had to cover little ears up as we walked by. I wish TJ all the best after school is over. Rick

I believe he was told he was getting "Out Engineered". Rick

A question for Cooley, I believe it was either Charlie Browns little brother, or the high rated QB who we have shown interest in Oklahoma that someone has been posting a link here on his progress, but whoever it was, the recruit stated that DD offered him upfront but told him that he would get other offers. I have heard of other recruits in the past mention this has happened to them as well. Can you think of the mind set as to why our coach would tell a kid this? Could it be that DD hopes to build a respectfull bond by trying to offer a kid early, so that if the kid doesn't hear back from the other competing schools, he at least knows that NT was "there for them from the beginning"? I know Patrick Cobbs mentioned this as well as Brandon Kennedy and Jamario. That one reason they chose NT was because "North Texas wanted me from the beginning". Although, over the years I have made it a point to ask our players and their families why they chose NT. Nearly every one of them stated playing time and the chance to win was the deciding factor. I too agree that our recruiting in the DFWDenton area has been pitiful. If you go watch enough of the HS playoffs it is obvious to see how plentifull the talent pool here is. Rick

You've ALWAY'S wondered? I'm taking that, "ALWAY'S" doesn't go back that far for you? For those who just tuned in that would be 4 years ago, and the previous 6 before that. Rick

We currently show 28 players from the DFWDenton area on our roster, and I'm including Quinn from McKinney in that as well. Texas St has had success recruiting the DFW regions, including the Southland Concference 2005 offensive player of the year Barrick Nealy(Dallas, Adamson by way of transferring from U of H) who is their QB. TxTs currently shows 20 players from the immediate DFW/Denton(Luke Bomar, 6-1, 250 lb fullback from Denton High) region. By the way, Texas State won the SLC this season, knocked off nationally known powerhouse Georgia Southern 50-35 last week and is currently ranked 4th in the nation. Rick

Marketing? You ARE talking about North Texas, right? The same group who sent me a notice about our last few up coming games the day before? As for the original question: Absolutely Not! Rick

I certainly do. Congrats on your comeback for the season CN. You guys will be tough next year for sure. Rick

Here are the two ad's Silver was posting about on Thursday. Unbelievable! Rick

No, that wasn't the case for TJ Covington's replacement the rest of the game. At least I don't think he gave up another TD on an elementary stop n go? Rick

Ah, 2001, I was wondering when that was going to be thrown in there. Two decent teams, MTSU and NT. Each with only 1 conference loss for the title. Rick