NT71

GMG1999 I agree the game against LSU to many dropped balls by our receivers. I do not know why Brown was pulled from the game as he was running effectively on the draw. It seemed to me NT needed to run the ball between the tackles as LSU was defending the corners well on runs. However, passes to the flat we seemed to make some progress. You hit the nail on the head with the comment about run defense. I saw to many missed tackles on the long runs by LSU. However, on a positive note when LSU used the big back (280lbs?) we seemed to control or even stop him. Mac indicated this week they would be working to correct those errors. I hope this gets corrected as they will probably be against a lot of speed. If the team continues to play and use Mac's guidance then they will win this week. GMG

The key to this season is both lines D and O. If they remain healthly and the D line get to the opponents QB and stuff running holes and the O line can protect our QB I see a 7-5 record. If not then this will be a VERY LONG season. GMG

Perception and Money!! Based on what I see in the economy some folks will prioritize where they will spend their entertainment dollars. If we can schedule SMU and TCU in the same year and get a battle of who is the metroplex champs particularly in football why would one want to travel to Ark St or MTSU. Whether we like it or not particularly in football your strength of schedule in out of conference games now that we are in CUSA (2013) will in the minds of fans not of the UNT persuasion provide the perception of NT football--are we deserving a bowl bid. One other major factor is winning the games. The perception is if you are beating your level or higher you are a quality school deserving a bowl bid particularly if the attendence is high at both away and home games. Now for what I think regardless of perception and money is the impact on the student athlete. If they travel to a game that is a few hours away or less,play the game, and return back to Denton they will not miss class time. Also, remember these athletes after expending a lot of energy will still need to study so they can make their grades and graduate. That is one reason that I am glad UNT is now in C-USA. GMG

I went on the C-USA web site and the Commissioner stated the divisions had not yet been worked out but did indicate that currently they designated 8 conference games. So the question becomes with 13 members and maybe a 14th (either ODU or MTSU) how do you see the divisional alignment and what teams would be conference games for 2013. My thoughts would be for the divisional alignment UNT UTEP UTSA Rice Tulsa La Tech Tulane Southern Miss UAB FIU Charlotte Marshall ECU (ODU or MTSU) For 2013 Season everyone in our division plus Southern Miss and dependent upon the last member added either MTSU or UAB. GMG

So all we hear is unnamed sources say .... will be in C-USA. My guess is that C-USA will be announcing at an appropriate time who is in the conference and I would suspect that the new members will be for the 2013 football season. Do I think UNT will be one of the new members? Yes, without a doubt because of all the ties to the conference (President Rawilins one of founding people of C-USA and Rick V. Southern Miss) and NO SMU to veto our membership. GMG

Harry My questions for RV are as follows: 1) Can you address from your perspective where you see North Texas in terms of a conference whether in the Sunbelt or CUSA/MWC/Aliance in 2012 or 2013? 2) Now that we have a stadium what is the status of adding a baseball team? 3) As the AD what are your short term and long term goals for North Texas athletics? 4) What is the health status of coach Mac? Thanks

Harry in revisiting your post that began this thread and providing two quotes my greatest concern with Benson is his track record. If memory serves correctly he was at the head of the conference (WAC) when the split occurred into the Mountain West and WAC. He currently is jumping ship from commissioner of the WAC to Sunbelt and you have the same issues that were in the WAC split. Many of the former football schools in the WAC have been bailing or trying to bail some successfully into CUSA and others wishful thinking. The WAC is sinking and without a commissioner will probably fade into the sunset concerning football. Then the question begins of the remaining schools that play football will the Sunbelt become the new WAC/Sunbelt conference? With the landscape of the Conference Shuffle still on-going my guess is that behind the scene activity between NT and other potential conference mates we maybe moving soon into the alliance. My rationale is the TV market and fertile recruiting ground in TX high school Metroplex. Only time will tell.

Do you think it might have something to do with moving to the Big East?

MeanGreenWithEnvy I agree with almost everything you say except the score. Establish the Run I think UNT runs wild UNT 35 ULM 17 Don't establish the run but gets the passing game going UNT 42 ULM 21 Don't establish the run nor passing game The D gets tired UNT 21 ULM 35

Okay now I will put my 2 cents worth in this discussion. First have you noticed the bias in sports reporting? If SMU and Houston do go to Big East their games will probably be played in mid afternoon in the East. So that means on ESPN, local stations and newspapers their games will make the Sunday print. Also have you ever noticed that many of the awards and discussion about athelets(sp) focus on many teams in the East or South? So guess what happens in the rankings their stock goes up because they are playing in the East and it hits the papers in the East. Second there are no guarantees that North Texas will be offered an invite to either MWC or CUSA but the real question is who will be left in each conference. Also, who will those conferences cherry pick from WAC and Sunbelt and to throughly muddy the waters AF would be in the BE as a football only but go to the WAC. Next in CUSA baseball is a must but do not know about the MWC. From my perspective it could be that due to economics some of the teams in both CUSA and MWC could kill football due to the expense and keep other sports and then how many would be left standing or would there be a merger with some of those universities going to the WAC or even sunbelt-- GMG

I agree this year we win 5. Has anyone heard if Tulsa managed to finish the game with Boise without additional injuries?

Based on the Alabama game one of the things that gives me hope that these men can win is that Hamilton can cut and go. If they use Dunbar for screens and passes in the flat and DT can hit Outlaw on some passes down the field I expect North Texas will win!! Why, because it will spread the defense and then Dunbar can begin to run up the middle with devistating results. GMG UNT 71

Based on the Alabama game one of the things that gives me hope that these men can win is that Hamilton can cut and go. If they use Dunbar for screens and passes in the flat and DT can hit Outlaw on some passes down the field I expect North Texas will win!! Why, because it will spread the defense and then Dunbar can begin to run up the middle with devistating results. GMG UNT 71

My 2 cents was that the folowing was occurring based on comments by Mac. He wanted to see who can play in the game who will play in the game Each time FIU scored what was the problem missed tackles (execution game plan or need for better coaching) blown coverage (execution game plan or need for better coaching) Now my observations The QB held the ball to long The QB can throw the long ball Some of our receivers should have caught the ball hence the issue (who will play in the game) Did not see a lot of draws, screens, quick slants, curls or short outs to counter the aggressive defense rush. The OL was continued to be shuffled after JJ (center) got injured during the game. They need to get the ball into the hands of our receivers who can catch Outlaw, Chancler(sp)and how about Dunbar out of the backfield and some of our other running backs. The D was able to score to keep us from getting skunked GMG

Expectations for this team is to cut down on mistakes, execute the gameplan and win baby win!!!! I still think under Mac this team finishes 5-7!! GMG

Am watching the game but the series before Houston punted the D for UCLA put pressure on Houston QB. And that my friends is what will allow NT to win next weekend. They must pressure the Houston QB otherwise it will be a long day for NT unless the O can move the chains. GMG

Glick1980 you and I saw the same thing. I do not understand why more screens were not used this would probably have moved the chains. It would have opened up the deep pass and possibly the running game. GMG

Watched when the connection was good but listened to George & Hank. There were several things that became obvious to me. After JJ left due to injury it was scramble time to put an OL together with different combinations. Also time after time the statement came up that (pick who was suppose to block) missed his block. Also, Derek got clobbered on one play NOBODY touched the tackler coming from his blind side and he caused Derek to fumble. But what I did see that was encouraging is that Derek got some great passes off and since the game was out of reach they put Osborne in as QB to get experience in this system. What I do not understand if the screen pass worked so well a few times why it was not used more often. Yes I did see that FIU broke it up once or twice by tipping the ball. But after a few screens it seemed to open up the deep pass. But what I do not understand is why at the end of the game you know FIU will stack the line and you keep running it up the gut. Even though we did not score the D got a safety on the next series of downs. I expect great improvement in our next game as Coach Mac had it correct. The COACHES must do a better job of preparing the guys. Also, our guys must execute and there are NO EXCUSES!!! I still think with the quality coaching staff and players we will WIN 5 games this year. GMG

I think we will have an interesting first 5 games! Now we will see if the coaching staff makes the adjustments so that by the end of the game it will be a respectable score. We had our tails handed to us in the first quarter. Our QB is frustrated so do not know what the issues are other than the coaches are having to shuttle the OL due to injury to JJ at center at the beginning of the game. I hope our D can get more pressure on FIU QB for 2nd half. Will go for now since I am watching on computer ESPN3 and listening to George & Hank on computer. GMG

NT pulls out a win and no injuries in the 4th quarter!!!

My 2 cents is that yes eventually there will be 16 team conferences and one of them will not be named the Big 12-2. IMHO there will be a mixture of MWC, Big 12-2, some WAC, some C-USA & UNT into a large conferences. What that mixture will look like is anybody's guess. Because I do not have a good feel for where the Big 12-2 teams will go. However, I do believe that given the next conference shuffle UNT will benefit. The key for UNT is have a winning FB program, Men (already do) & Women BB program, Baseball and Softball as the other programs have been strengthen with the hires (coaches) in the past 4 . GMG

Brett is providing a great service to those of us who are not within the area to go see what is happening with the team. I especially enjoy when he adds about who is stepping up and is probably going to be the starters in the fall. He also discusses who made a few plays. However my biggest question is Defense since last year the guys were unable to keep the opponents out of the end zone. But in fairness to the D many times either the offense or special teams turned the ball over way to many times in our end of the field and the opponents did not have to drive the length of the field.

I am in the NE and watching the game. I do not think they are going to pull this one out if they continue poor shooting and decision making with the ball. Especially at the charity strip.

Harry Thanks for posting and part of his speech which is pasted below reflects the quality and depth of Coach Mac and truely North Texas is extremely blessed to have him. And I hope everyone here and especially you guys on this football team and especially all of us as we go into grinding away, going to class, teaching you how to win, start learning how to do things the right way, being accountable on and off the field, taking our team GPA and taking it way up from where it was this past year, and being a responsible man, and being a great reflection of the program. I hope you buy into that and understand that. And I hope you believe that because if you do…we got a chance…to really be a real story this year in 2011. GMG

If you folks want to get the attention of the DMN there are two ways to accomplish your goal. First go through the paper and find out who places ads (Commercial not personal). If you do business with one of the firms that places the ads. Then ask them politely since you do business with them to put in a word with the DMN. Folks money talks if you lose the ads you do not make a profit as that is the source of income for a newspaper. I am not telling you to request the vendor you deal with to pull their ads. What you do is ask them to register a complaint with the DMN about lack of coverage of UNT in the sports section of the paper. Since it has been a while since I have lived in the DFW area do not know what other newspaper competes with DMN if any. However, radio and TV do compete. Also, it was raised in another post about National Signing Day Coverage, if you look at the list it is most of the old SWC universities. GMG