NT80

DMN/DRC article..... UNT gets commitment 07:20 PM CST on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 Austin Westlake's Bron Hager said Tuesday that he has orally committed to North Texas. Baylor also offered Hager (6-1, 210) a scholarship. Oral commitments are non-binding. The first day recruits can sign national letters of intent is Feb. 7. Hager was a linebacker as a junior at Westlake before moving to running back as a senior, when he rushed for 1,119 yards and was a second-team All-District 25-5A selection. UNT recruited Hager as a safety. Brett Vito

SMUt, Tulsa, and UTEP didn't have baseball to be accepted into CUSA. BTW, UNT does have an excellent club baseball team; beat Texas Tech's club team last November.... http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/ttcb/schedule.htm

Not too surprised about Flanigan; he was after all the OC for one of the statistically worst offenses and passing games in America last year. As far as Lewis, better to lose him now before spring practice than after. He had only GA coaching experience and none on Defense where he was assigned by TD in a strange move.

He looked like a tough player in the state final, had good hands too receiving out of the backfield. I wouldn't be surprised to see him maybe get some FB time too, or LB.

Wow, TD is a little busy these days. I bet he will be there. Besides the SLC party, he is speaking at a Coaching Clinic to 900 HS coaches Friday-Sunday, plus the UNT Football Banquet on Saturday night, plus hosting recruits this weekend.

The kid looked like a good athlete in the state final game against SLC. I remember his dad Britt Hager at UT in the infamous 1988 game that NT WON. I think he was a LB that made big plays that year for UT.

Probably...4 SBC home games + WKU + MAC team = 6 Someone on another post said Dodge mentioned 6 games would be televised: OU (ESPN?), Ark, & 4 SBC games...

Article: (and for the record NT was only 1-AA for 12 years, not 25-30 as DD thinks, and we played tough teams then too...and beat more than he did as 1-A program!)....... At times last fall, the Utah State football team’s offense was downright, well offensive in the literal sense. The Aggies have taken a step to try and change that for the 2007 season. Last week USU head coach Brent Guy named Darrell Dickey as his new offensive coordinator. The former North Texas head coach is happy to be an Aggie after spending nine seasons in Denton, Texas. Dickey guided the Mean Green to four Sun Belt Conference championships and four trips to the New Orleans Bowl, and proudly wears a ring from the fourth trip to the post-season. He said USU is further along than North Texas was when he arrived. Dickey also believes in the way Guy has been building a team through mostly freshmen, which is how he did it at North Texas. The past 10 months have been interesting from a health standpoint, but Dickey has gotten through three big developments and currently feels as good as he has since his playing days at Kansas State in the early 80s. Dickey, his wife Tory and daughter Meredith are excited to be living in the mountains. The Galveston, Texas, native took some time the day after being announced as the offensive coordinator to sit down with The Herald Journal. HJ: What sold you on coming to Utah State? Dickey: Having played five times, been to Logan and been in the Big West Conference with Utah State and for a short period of time in the Sun Belt, I know the potential of the program here; what it has accomplished in the past and what it is capable of doing. That, plus the fact everybody I know who has ever coached here has just loved living here. From (TCU head coach) Gary Patterson, who I went to college with and played with, to (former Aggie) coach (Charlie) Weatherbie. People talk about how great the people are, how wonderful it is to live in this area. It’s a great place for family, which is important to me because I have a seven-year-old. ... I know the last year or two is not what you would want, but coach Guy and I have known each other for a long time. We have discussed in length what he is doing, and I totally believe he is doing things the correct way to build a program here that can be good, be competitive and compete for conference championships on a consistent basis. HJ: Will it be hard not being in charge after nine seasons as a head coach at North Texas? Dickey: I think it will be different, but I’m looking forward to doing it. I was very hands on at North Texas for seven years. There is a lot of things that come up that are head coaching duties, really don’t get to spend the time game planning, doing things with your players. You have to count on your assistants. ... I am very excited about the opportunity to get back in and be one of the contributors and deal with players. I’m looking forward to coaching again. HJ: Was it tough leaving North Texas after being there almost a decade? Dickey: It was. We have some very good friends there. We had a great time there, some great memories. We went in and accomplished something. My third year, a man named Gene Stallings (former Alabama head coach, who won national championship) came in and evaluated the program for the president and board of regents. He evaluated us and said it is impossible to win under the circumstances your football program is under, playing three, four, five money games every year. Fortunately for us, we had four years that we did what in his mind was almost impossible. We were able to overcome the money games, get to conference play, went on nice run, won 26 consecutive conference games, the second-longest streak at the time next to Boise (State). ... That was great, that was a lot of fun. Then, a year and a half later the school made a decision to go in another direction. It was tough to leave because we built something. ... I have no bitterness toward North Texas. I’m looking forward to the future. HJ: What made your teams from 2001-04 so dominant in the Sun Belt Conference? Dickey: What we did is one of the things coach Guy is doing here. We brought young players in, redshirted them, developed them, played them when they were young. They suffered some tough losses, then all of the sudden we had a nucleus of very good players at every position. We had pretty solid back-ups at every position. During our non-conference schedule, we were fortunate not get anybody really hurt. ... Luck factors in a little bit too. HJ: North Texas always seemed to have good running backs. That is one area Utah State has struggled in. Will you be emphasizing the run here? Dickey: When my tenure was over, you look back and the four top rushers in the history of the school all played while I was there. They all played against Division I opponents, but the 25-30 years before we got there, they were a I-AA program; a lot of their historical numbers were against I-AA opponents. Ours was against Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas, Kansas State — the cream of the crop — and then good Big West or good Sun Belt teams. ... There is a misconception all we did was run. We also left there with the all-time passing efficiency leader in the history of the school in quarterback Scott Hall, and the leading receiver in number of catches and receiving yards just graduated. We were more known for our running game. I think that’s where everything starts. I don’t think you can play offensive football and be one dimensional. At some point, if we are going to be successful, we are going to have to have solid running game. HJ: What is your offensive philosophy? Dickey: Balanced. When we got over the hump at North Texas, we played pretty good on defense, pretty good on special teams and we could run the ball, but we weren’t very good throwing the ball, and we lost some close games. When we went to winning games is when we developed a very good play-action passing game, started using more gadget plays, trick plays. ... My philosophy now is more what is the defense doing to keep us from running the ball, giving us something else. If they give us things in the passing game, let’s start doing it. Kids are more excited about playing when they know there is some excitement in the offense. We got to where we would run five, six trick plays a game. All offenses are boring when they are not productive. HJ: Have you had a chance to evaluate the players here yet? Dickey: Not really. The last time we played two years ago up here the game could have gone either way. They had a guy, No. 6, ran punts, thought every time we punted he was going to run it back for a touchdown. He got kicked out of game for excessive celebration. It was pretty ... I don’t know about the call, but I know it didn’t go in ya’ll’s favor. HJ: That was Kevin Robinson, and he is still here. That has to make you happy? Dickey: Oh, he is. Wow, great. I remember a pass down the middle and he (Robinson) had split our two safeties and it was just barley overthrown. ... It was an exciting football game with a lot of big plays. That was the last time I saw Utah State. I have talked with coach Guy and he feels there is some talent here. ... We just need to build some confidence. That is all I have ever done since going to Kansas State as a player. ... You got to get kids in a position in the fourth quarter on a consistent basis where the game is still being decided. HJ: Tough competition is something you’re used to. What do you think of the WAC? Dickey: I think the WAC is the fastest developing conference as far as people gaining respect for it. ... People in Texas think only the old Southwest Conference are the only people that can play any football. We beat Boise a couple of times while I was at North Texas and people were, ‘who are they?’ Well they are pretty good. Coach Weatherbie won some games here, John L. Smith won some games here and coach Guy is going to win some games here. You can build a good program here. ... This is a great conference. I’m excited to be a part of Utah State and a part of the WAC. HJ: How are you adjusting to the cold? Dickey: It’s not that bad. I was born on the beach, but I went to school at Kansas State. It was not only cold, but the wind would blow and ripe you apart. HJ: I remember some good one-liners when Utah State was in the Sun Belt. Have you always been a witty person? Dickey: I think sometimes when you say something stupid, somebody says that was pretty funny. I’ll be honest. I try to enjoy everything. We work hard, but we made it fun too. HJ: You have been through some scary times. How is your health? Dickey: I’ve always been an early morning person. In college, I would get up at 3:30 in the morning. When I started working, I would get up at 3:30 in the morning. The main reason was to get things done, so I could spend time with my daughter. ... Two years ago after our last bowl game, my energy level got bad. I was tired all the time. I had never been a sick person. I had that football mentality, tough it out. ... Last February I doubled over in my office, thought I was having a heart attack. I went to hospital and my gal bladder had gone goofy on me. That was not that big of a deal. ... After that I was eating like a horse and losing weight. My vision got a little blurry, and I gradually lost 40 pounds. I went to see the doctor and was diagnosed diabetic. It’s in my family. I got that under control, gained 25 pounds back and was cruising along. Then, in the middle of (the 2006) season during our open week, I had a heart attack at 3 o’clock in the morning. ... I lived a hard life for a long time. I smoked cigarettes, which I will never do again. I never exercised after I got done playing in 1982. The only exercise, if you want to call it exercise for 25 years, was go sit in a steam bath. I have made an adjustment in my lifestyle and exercise every day. I’m very lucky. Two weeks later I got fired, so I had to make that adjustment also. They tried to kill me, when that didn’t work, they just decided to go ahead and fire me. When they want to get rid of you, they are going to get rid of you somehow. ... I have been given a total clean bill of health. I just need some place to channel it and thank goodness coach Guy offered me an opportunity to channel it somewhere

Good.

I've never seen this much early info on UNT recruits in what, 8 or 9 years?

I believe it is Jason Martinson of Birdville. He is listed here as all-district 6-4A as receiver AND punter..... http://texasprepxtra.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=616033 I count about 10 wide receivers as committed now....maybe the whole offense will be just receivers out there??

Not a bad crowd: January 20, 2007 The Super Pit • Attendance: 3,264

The second half would have been more fun for them to watch (as a UNT fan)....

Transfer Question: Does this scholarship apply against our 2007 allotment, even though he is sitting out and not eligible, or 2008 numbers? If he is on ship during a sit-out year then 3 years of eligibility, plus one or two past ship years, that could be 6 scholarship years in college, or more if he was to transfer again. Is scholarship years unlimited; I know playing years are not?

No, I don't think it was one of those that was talked about. I can't remember the name, one I hadn't heard before...just looking thru the Denton listings: maybe Central Grill, Sunset Grill, Green House, or Pecan House? Anyone mention one of those in a thread this week????

Q.> There was discussion recently on another thread about some posters eating at a GOOD restaurant in Denton. Seems it was off the square and had a lot of variety? Or anywhere in Denton for that matter....names? Yes, NT football related, sorta....you can't have football without food.....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Extended Box NCAAF 1 2 3 4 F - - - - -- New Mexico St 0 10 6 7 23 North Texas 0 21 3 6 30 FINAL New Mexico St-FG Aguiniga 29 North Texas-J Wilburn 7 run (Ball kick) North Texas-Ryan 42 fumble return (Ball kick) North Texas-S Hall 8 run (Ball kick) New Mexico St-Branstetter 3 run (Aguiniga kick) New Mexico St-Gifford 88 punt return (two-point conversion failed) North Texas-FG Ball 32 North Texas-J Wilburn 2 run (two-point conversion failed) New Mexico St-Enzminger 1 run (Aguiniga kick) New Mexico St North Texas First downs 13 17 Rushed-yards 39-180 53-208 Passing yards 139 63 Sacked-yards lost 2-7 2-5 Return yards 93 61 Passes 12-25-2 6-12-0 Punts 5-42.0 8-33.9 Fumbles-lost 5-3 1-1 Penalties-yards 14-118 7-45 Time of possession 25:03 34:57 Individual Statistics RUSHING: New Mexico St-C Barnes 11-98, Enzminger 14-57, Branstetter 7-19, Keith 7-6. North Texas-J Wilburn 41-172, S Hall 12-36. PASSING: New Mexico St-Enzminger 12-25-2-139. North Texas-S Hall 6-12-0-63. RECEIVING: New Mexico St-P Winston 4-42, A Davis 2-39, Talbert 2-24, Branstetter 2-6, Mccray 1-22, C Barnes 1-6. North Texas-Curtis 3-46, Mclane 2-16, Holly 1-1. Att: 8,635

Then they spent a lot of money building that football locker room in the AC just for a hoax. Revisit this at the end of 2007 and let's see where we are then.

In the movie some prisoners come on a bus to Fouts to play a practice game. Coach Parker is the guard first getting off the bus when they arrive.

We have no invites at this time and we are not going independent. CUSA is the next opening we want. You don't like it?...Take it up with the AD. Nobody on this board can make that decision or an opening in another conference happen, deal with it; and your ranting won't change conferences. I don't care much for the SBC either, but the WAC costs too much with no closer rivals, got alot of $$ do ya? BTW, the Big12 is full also at the moment.

Maybe Denton car dealerships won't pay players unless they actually work?

Yes, Bailiff probably made the worst coaching gaff I have ever seen on TV. As I recall, National 1-AA semifinals in 2005, Texas State hosting Northern Iowa. TSU had all the momentum going their way, got the ball back on about the 50 with a minute and a half left in a tied game, 3 timeouts remaining, and coach just runs out the clock to get to OT; where they lose. TV showed TSU players shaking their heads during the game time running down, he just killed their confidence.

Updated article: ........................................................................ SL Carroll opening draws lots of interest 10:38 PM CST on Thursday, January 18, 2007 By BRANDON GEORGE / The Dallas Morning News SOUTHLAKE – Three area Class 4A/5A football head coaches are among 28 applicants for Southlake Carroll's head coaching job, a Carroll ISD spokesman said Thursday. Plano East's Johnny Ringo was the only area 5A head coach to apply, said Derek Citty, Carroll ISD chief personnel officer. Two area 4A head coaches also applied: Keller Fossil Ridge's Hal Wasson and Frisco's Vance Gibson. A six-person committee met Thursday afternoon and selected five finalists, who will be brought in for interviews next week, said Carroll ISD superintendent David Faltys. Faltys, who is on the committee, refused to release the names of the finalists Thursday night because not all of them had been contacted. Citty said Carroll hopes to name a coach by the end of next week. "We have some great folks in there with some good credentials from some well-known programs," Faltys said. "Some of those guys have coached a lot of games the last couple of years. We have some very good candidates coming in for interviews." The new coach will take over one of the nation's premier high school programs and have to fill the shoes of Todd Dodge, who announced in December that he was leaving to become North Texas' head coach. Dodge was 98-11 in seven seasons at Carroll, including 79-1 with four 5A state titles the last five seasons. One Carroll employee, longtime coach/teacher Eli Melton, applied for the job. Melton, 52, grew up in Southlake. Three Carroll assistants previously followed Dodge to North Texas. Wasson, 50, has strong ties to Carroll. He was the running backs coach there in 2001 and 2002. Wasson's son, Chase (now at Texas State), was a record-setting quarterback at Carroll and led it to the 2002 5A Division II state title. Wasson is 122-83-2 in 19 seasons as a head coach, 28-15 in four seasons at Fossil Ridge. He's reached the playoffs 11 times, including last season's 10-2 Fossil Ridge team. Ringo, 46, is 68-41-2 in 10 seasons as a head coach at Irving MacArthur, Coppell and Plano East, where he's 21-15 in three seasons. Gibson, 53, is 15-7 in two seasons at Frisco, his first high school head coaching job since he was at Sherman in 1984. Gibson was 89-41-1 in 13 seasons at Howard Payne University, where he won three conference titles. Two applicants played for the Cowboys: Eugene Lockhart (1984-1990) and Tyrone Hughes (1998). Phil Pettey, a 6-4, 274-pound offensive guard for the Washington Redskins in 1987, also applied. He has been an NFL assistant for the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints and a college assistant at LSU, USC and Pittsburgh. Successful head coaches from Kansas (Overland Park St. Thomas Aquinas' Kevin Kopecky) and Illinois (Addison Driscoll Catholic's Mike Burzawa) are among the seven out-of-state applicants. Kopecky has a 131-93 career record in 23 seasons and is 72-37 in 10 seasons at St. Thomas Aquinas. Driscoll Catholic has won six consecutive state titles, including the last two with Burzawa as the head coach. Two in-state applicants are coming off deep playoff runs last season. Bryan Erwin led La Marque to the 4A Division II state title, and Tony Heath led Pearland to the 5A Division I state semifinals. Erwin is 65-8 in five seasons at La Marque, including state titles in 2003 and 2006. Heath is 87-32 in 10 seasons at Pearland, where he reached the playoffs eight times. Former McKinney coach Todd McVey and former Weatherford coach Mike Sneed also applied.

Good video of him meeting with the team on Tuesday, and some very nice comments from him. Story said more season football tickets could be sold in January than all of last year.