ArmyOfMom

Thought everyone might enjoy seeing this story about Pat Hicks. As you may or may not know, he still holds the record for the most career assists at UNT as well as the most single-game assists. I was talking to him today and tried to persuade him to come to a game this season. He lives in Houston now. I didn't write the story, but one of my colleagues did. http://www.bisnow.com/commercial-real-estate/houston/2939-close-up-with-pat-hicks/

Rick has already responded to me and I thought ya'll would be interested in his response (there's no promise of relief): Thanks for your e-mail. I know it's hard to understand the last two seasons but you have to be inside to really know what has happened and is going on. I did the same thing with Johnny in his first three years when he had arguably one of the best players ever, Chris Davis and he still didn't win for five years. Look how long it took Kermit Davis at MTSU. As in football, I believed it would take time. A year ago people were complaining that Dan may not be the right guy. Of course three years in it is different. And Dan had to do it getting rid of some good players left by the former staff and adding his own. Tony wasn't left with as much as people think and Chris' s leaving was for selfish reasons not playing reasons. I believed in Johnny and I know I had to give him time to make it work.Once it did it lasted a while. I think we owe Tony the same. I hope you'll support that through this year. GO MEAN GREEN! Rick V

I would gladly start taking up a collection for the "buy out Benford" fund. Army of Dad and I joked about bringing a big pickle jar last season and setting it up during the games to start the collection. We gave the poor season ticket sales guy all kinds of grief about renewing our season tickets last year. Ultimately, we bought them because we like our seats and hate to lose them whenever Benford is gone and the program (hopefully) starts a turnaround to the days of 20-win seasons.

I just took a screen capture of the breaking news Tweet that came across my screen about Chris leaving and sent it to RV with a whole litany of commentary about Benford's stunningly awful performance here and asked RV when he was going to just admit that he made a mistake and cut his losses. This is a travesty for all the dollars the donors give to the UNT athletics program. Benford needs to be fired/bought out/run out on a rail/whatever it takes to get him OUT THE DOOR.

I totally giggled at the names in this bracket pick. I think I need to join. Thanks for setting it up.

I know of many in commercial real estate, including one of the owners of Swearingen Realty Group, who happens to be an AAU coach in South Dallas. If you're interested in knowing more UNT alums in commercial real estate, PM me and I'll give you some great places to start.

It snowed a few inches here on Christmas Day. Still white outside, but will melt away on Thursday.

Can someone tell me where this house is and if the lights are still up? I"d love to drive my daughter by there to show her. Thanks.

They have them at the Albertson's in Denton, too. Additionally, they have individual Mean Green candy bars. My kids are all getting one in this Christmas stocking this year. Oops, just saw them in the picture. Doh! They're on the right hand side. $1 a piece isn't a bad price.

Virtual high fives from across town. I almost spit out my soda. That was pure awesome.

Um, if the game plan could be tweaked more ... ummmm, er, uhhh, COACHING.

Just for the record, the administration is firmly in Benford's camp. I emailed a handful of them tonight with my concerns. RV called me tonight to talk to me about it. *shrug* At least they heard me and acknowledged the concerns I expressed. Thought ya'll may want to know. ***I edited the content after thinking more about it ... may not have been meant for public consumption.

In a year, we may not have the NBA lottery pick any more ... I don't think we can give him a year. He was handed an SBC-championship caliber team and has done sh!t with them, for one. For two, he's too big of a coward to simply walk out of the locker room to talk to the post-game radio show. Could I do a better job? Probably not, but I don't think I could do any worse. For one, if I were the head coach, I may draw up my own plays. Last game, apparently, Chris Jones was drawing up plays. Tonight, we saw one of the assistants drawing up at least some of them. The throw-in with three seconds left and down by two (or maybe three, I can't recall, we were within one score) ... his best playcall is a baseball pass down the court? Here's another, when Patton was getting hot, he pulled him out. When Tony was in foul trouble, he kept him in. When Tony was in foul trouble, instead of putting Keith or Nico in to help down low, he just subbed 'em in and out. Really? I'm a girl and I can call up at least a few things that he man is doing wrong ... not doing ... or doing poorly. Yelling 'shooter, shooter' over and over is not getting it done.

Dude, one or two typos ... we all understand, but you can't string together a coherent thought without multiple errors. It damages any credible thoughts you could communicate. Not that you are ... but if you did.

I'd love to hear what he has to say, too. But, he's too chickensh!t to come out and talk to UNT-paid staffers in the post-game show. Lack of heart, in addition to his lack of leadership. Pitiful.