SilverEagle

Care to list any other professionals?

Well, I watched the ultimate "freelancer" play.....Ken Washington. It wasn't uncommon for him to scramble all over the field and end up with a 5 or 10 yard gain. It also wasn't unusual for him to scramble and give up a lot of ground in the hopes of getting free for a long run.....and then lose 10+ yards because he was caught way behind the line of scrimmage. So instead of 2nd or 3rd and 10, we had 2nd or 3rd and 20. Besides Scott Davis, one of the best QB's we ever had for gaining yards with both his arm and feet was Joe Stevenson. He didn't have the "home run" foot speed of Mr. Wilson, but he was just as quick and elusive. And his arm was almost as strong as Andrew Smith's....but more accurate.

While watching the 88 NT/UT game, I came away with something totally different than the bad officiating. I was reminded that North Texas took a team down to Austin that had about three stars on it, and the rest were somewhat above average over-achievers. What North Texas also took down there was an offense that didn't rely on JUST ONE PLAYER! The ball got distributed around to several players, and the UT defense really didn't know where the ball was going next. Texas did know that Scott Davis was the leader and one of the stars, but they were faced with several other weapons that they had to cover. We have several weapons in our current arsenal and we need to USE THEM ALL. I'm really getting tired of hearing that "If Jamario doesn't have a big season, or "If Jamario gets hurt" then we're screwed. Jamario is a great running back. But unless our OL gels into something better than the line we had during his freshman year, he is not going to ever have another "freshman year". What we need more than Jamario having a "great season" is for our offensive scheme to be more like the 1988 offensive scheme. It was aggressive, flexible, and adjustable. Everyone on offense was having a great time out there playing. And I believe that they were having a great time because everyone was a potential weapon.......actually more than potential. I don't believe in putting all our football fortunes on the back of one player.

Go to the Baylor fan board. Geezzz, talk about un-christian attitudes.

I agree with that. At the time that I attended, most of the faculty was either indifferent or conveying the attitude that sports was a waste of University funds. I too came from a spirited HS. As a result, it never occured to me to not be a devoted fan of North Texas. In my town, even the outcasts of society came to the game and cheered.

Everyone loves to see a QB scramble (myself included). But keep in mind that when a QB is "free-lancing", there is a greater chance of the OL getting a penalty for holding or an illegal block.

I was both. I couldn't afford to live on campus, so I commuted. I went to every North Texas event that time allowed me to attend (I often worked two part-time jobs). I became much more involved after I graduated and secured a full time job. Please don't call this a commuter school.....it is not. Please don't blame the commuters for a lack of attendance. MANY frats don't bother to attend athletic events at North Texas, unless they are required to do so. This University cannot afford to alienate ANY group of students. Your post sounds a bit elitist. Isn't that why we hate SMU? ......

Well, maybe the defense won't be out there as long as it has in the most recent past. And then Mr. Thomas (and the rest of the defense) could be much more effective when they're out there.

Ok, I'll admit, I was up there today. I left after about 2 1/2 hours. They were doing kick-off practice.....I mean showing everyone where to stand kick-off practice. Overall the team is bigger and (with some exceptions) a bit more muscular than in the spring. The defense is ahead of the offense, but that's pretty typical. There were four QB's that got reps while I was watching. Phillips, Meager, Wilson and Tune. Early reports are right, none of them are jumping out at you, but then, it's pretty early. I will say that Wilson's accuracy seemed a little better than in the spring. He still tucks it up and runs through the middle. He made one breathtaking run for a TD. He weaved his way through the middle and made just about everyone on the defense miss. I didn't see Steve Price suited up. Phillips has the strongest arm, but he just wasn't hitting much today. Meager made some good throws over the middle, but I think he and Phillips were both intercepted at least once. Meager is still the second most mobile QB out there. Tune looked OK . He looks like he might be a little more mobile than Phillips, but his throwing is so-so. Jamario looked good, but not spectacular. I only saw Devin Cox on a few running plays and he did fine. I still think he needs to work on his moves a little more, and less on trying to run over LB's. Robertson looked like the hardest working one out there. He made some very good open field moves and had some good gaines. I didn't see Maldonado get any reps, but they were working the freshman from Kaufman at RB and gave him some reps. He seemed pretty fast, but he wasn't as fast (today anyway) as Robertson. All the WR's looked good. JQ was his usual money-in-the-bank self. Casey Fitzgerald made a good grab or so, and Arthur Stubblefield made a spectacular catch (it looked one handed to me) on a bomb while wearing a DB, and then took it all the way in. Zac Muzzy looked a step faster out there. He was working hard too, and made some good catches on some pretty bad throws. Joel Nwigwe looked spectacular. He had a couple of big plays. Brandon Jackson did not practice, nor did Brock Stickler. I also didn't see Guy Fernandez suited up either. The O-line looks pretty good. They've moved Brian Carleson to tackle and gave him #70 to wear. He was running with the second team. Drake #68 was out there. He didn't look like a 300 pounder however. I didn't get to see Nic Foster (from Allen) even though he was out there. Players that seemed to get my attention....for what ever reason. #77 Esteban Santiago. This young man looks like a very impressive player. He looks ever bit 6'5" and 275. Actually he looks closer to 295 or 300. If a dirty uniform is any indication that a player is going to contribute, then he might be in the starting rotation. This young man looks like a football player. Marquis Sykes #43. I didn't get to see him play, but he also looks like a football player. He's every bit of 6'3 X 253. Sky Pruitt #56 was really doing great. He looks lighter, and he seems to be quicker off the line. Bush #35 looks like a veteran out there. This guy is good. Loren #29 also looks good. Questions?

Who suggested that we whine? I have never (nor will I ever) suggested such a thing. We've done more than enough things, football wise, to deserve to be treated with more respect.

I'm kind of tired of our University being "Mr. Nice Guy"?

Folks, we need to get some OCC wins. Plan and simple. We've got to beat some people that Joe (and Mary Lou) six -pack have heard of. Can you imagine the attention we would get today if we were beating teams like we were in 1988?...when we were 1-AA......in the Southland conf. More than ever, our mantra at every game needs to be. I DIDN'T COME HERE TO LOSE! We cannot move forward otherwise.

Well, if we're going to live with it for another 5 to 7 years, then I'd like to suggest that we try and make the end-zone seats, and if possible , the east stands more heat tolerant by looking at some sort of shading system. Similar to this. http://shadeconcepts.net/recreational.php I really feel sorry for those people sitting in the end-zone seats. Especially early in the season.

Well, here's the question. Are we ever going to get invited to any bowl game other than the NO bowl, on our own merits and/or potential? If not, then we are going to have to be invited to join CUSA or the Mountain West, or the B-12. How is that going to happen? Obviously having a 25 conference game winning streak, plus four straight bowl trips hasn't gotten it done. Also, two straight national rushing champs didn't get those other conference officials all tingly either. So what will? My first vote would be a better OCC record, AND a consistent 25K+ attendance at games. And finally, trips back to the NO bowl with consistent wins over our opponents. BTW, has anyone gotten any credible feedback from one of the aforementioned conference officials that a lack of a new stadium is what kept us from getting invited to CUSA? My guess is that Fouts wasn't the real reason.

I certainly hope they are all retired by now. However, just like any family tradition (negative or positive) attitudes like this get passed down to the next generation. Hopefully not.

"New Rule: If you turn to a sportswriter for guidance on how to be a college football fan, ......as Red Forman (from That 70's show) might say "you're a DUMBASS". 60's Scrappy would say the same thing.

Tulsa just charges $16?

Not if we had an entertaining product on the field. Keep in mind that there was some discussion a few years ago about how requiring students to actually have their ID's scanned as they go thru the gate, might adversely effect the attendance. I say scan their ID's AND have them pay a buck or two to get in the game.

As Rocky Balboa would say...Absolutely!

I'm assuming by your comment, that you never use the work "like" or the phrase "you know" excessively in your sentences. I agree with the guy in the VW commercial who tells his friend (right before the crash, and I'm sorry he didn't get to hammer him more about it) " you might want to use the word "like" less in your sentences, something either happened or it didn't".

That's what Rick and I will be doing with my brother-in-laws' trailer.

Hmmmm, I wonder how many other people with a prison record have ever worked at that car dealership. Sometimes I just hate having such a suspicious mind.

Hayden Fry basically said the same thing when he first arrived on the North Texas campus. He couldn't understand why North Texas had such a big inferiority complex......and then he set about changing all that. After he openly said that North Texas was as good as any other school in Texas, I remember saying "well, it's about damn time someone said that!" Sadly, when Fry left, all the "old nesters" who helped perpetuate that negative athletic image re-gained control, closed ranks, and made sure that we never had another person like Fry again. That's why they sniffed and said " he can apply like every one else" when Hayden recommended Bill Brasher as his replacement. Bill Brasher was insulted (and why not? he had been an outstanding player and coach at North Texas since the 50's) and then joined Fry at Iowa, where his defenses helped get Iowa into a couple of Rose Bowls.

Issac Thomas, #91 on your program. And he did play some toward the end of last season.

My brother-in-law will be bringing his trailer to games this fall. We are planning to set it up beside John Denver's trailer (well, actually his in-laws' trailer) this fall. Maybe the greenbacker's tent could be set up between the trailers.