NT80

Dodge headed to North Texas after season ends BY RICKY MOORE, Staff Writer DENTON — Just moments after being introduced as the new head football coach at the University of North Texas Tuesday night, Todd Dodge’s thoughts turned back to his players at Carroll. Dodge spotted a group of North Texas football players in the back of the room and spoke to them. “I’ve got a journey with some guys just like you,” he said. “They are a little bit younger than you are now, but in the big picture of things I’m hoping to finish my journey with my team now and then get a chance to meet you.” Dodge added he is looking forward to starting his journey with the players at North Texas. Dodge, 43, will take over as the 16th head football coach at North Texas effective after Dec. 23, North Texas Athletics Director Rick Villarreal announced. Since arriving at Carroll in 2000, Dodge has posted a record of 96-11 and has led the Dragons to three state championships, four consecutive state championship appearances and seven straight playoff appearances. Dodge came to Carroll after head coaching stints at Cameron Yoe, Carrollton Newman Smith and Keller Fossil Ridge. Carroll plays Allen at 1 p.m. Saturday in a Class 5A Division I state semifinal game. The winner of that game will face the winner of the other semifinal between Pearland and Austin Westlake in the state championship game on Dec. 23 at San Antonio’s Alamodome. Tuesday morning, Dodge talked to his players about leaving Carroll for North Texas. He said he wanted current players and coaching staff and the players and coaches that have been at Carroll over the seven years that they should feel ownership in this. “What we have done together has allowed me to have this opportunity,” Dodge told them. “I’m ready to finish the journey that we have started at Carroll.” Dodge said he did a pretty good job of not losing focus during the team meeting and not getting overly emotional. He also said he doesn’t expect the announcement to affect the squad’s play at all on Saturday. In fact according to Dodge, Tuesday’s practice was one of the best and most spirited of the year. “I don’t think this will get in the way one bit,” Dodge said. “We take a lot of pride in saying no excuses. There are not going to be anyone excuses. We are going to be result oriented. We are not going to use any distractions as excuses.” North Texas is familiar territory for Dodge. In 1992-93, he served as offensive coordinator for the Mean Green under Dennis Parker in 1992-93. “My family and I are extremely excited for the opportunity to return to the Mean Green football program, which is very near to our hearts,” Dodge said. “We have fond memories of our time at North Texas, and I truly believe that my two years as the offensive coordinator here really set the groundwork for the successes that I have achieved as a head football coach.” Dodge, who has been honored as the Schutt Sports and USA Today National Coach of the Year, feels like he is representing Texas High School football coaches by taking over the program at North Texas. “It is not very often that a guy like me gets and opportunity like this,” he said. Dodge plans to put together his coaching staff at North Texas as soon as possible and some of those coaches will be culled from the staff at Carroll. “There will be some coming with me,” Dodge said. Speculation is that Haltom head coach Clayton George, who played receiver at North Texas from 1990-93 and former offensive coordinator at Carroll, will likely join the Dodge’s staff possibly at offensive coordinator. Carroll Athletics Director Ronnie Tipps said the search for Dodge’s replacement won’t begin until the football season ends. But he would like the get a new coach in place as soon as possible to get the off-season program going. Dodge said he like a hand in choosing his successor and is looking forward to being a player’s dad next season. Dodge’s son Riley, a junior, is the Dragons starting quarterback.

***BING***BING***BING*** Exciting offense = excited players = excited fans = donor$ = new stadium = CU$A

From Message Boards, to Newspapers, Sports magazines, TV sports, even CNN tickers....could you have imagined more media and fan impact with any of the other coaches we were considering? And I think UNT has already gained more respect from opponent's fans (and potential transfers and recruits) in 2 days with Dodge than in 9 years with Dickey.

I think UNT has already gained more respect from opponent's fans in 2 days with Dodge than in 9 years with Dickey.

Leach....poster child for Miss Gracie's School of Social Misfits.

I had a friend email info about it and he reserved a table for our group of 8. Not sure where he got the info or who he reserved with, probably call the ath.center. Football Banquet Date: Saturday, January 27 Place: Gateway Center Time: Doors open @ 5:30 Dinner served @ 6:00 Table $200 seat $30

North Texas Athletics Invites you to attend: 2006 North Texas Football Banquet Come meet new Head Football Coach Todd Dodge DATE: Saturday, January 27, 2007 PLACE: The Gateway Center University of North Texas TIME: Doors open at 5:30 pm Dinner served at 6:00 pm RSVP’s will be accepted until January 21, 2007 or until all available seats are filled. (Seating is based upon priority and only 200 Seats are available) Dress is casual to business-casual Dinner is provided by Outback Steakhouse And Verde Catering George Dunham from “The Ticket” and the Mean Green Radio network will serve as emcee

I saw SLC play Plano last year in the playoffs. The thing that frustrated me most, as a Plano fan, was not the spread offense, but the no-huddle they ran. They lined up in their offensive sets, then 2-3 times change for a single play, pausing in between to look at their position coaches on the sidelines for the adjustment calls after the defense gets reset. Then they pass or run depending on what the defense shows and gives them. Very difficult to defend the no-huddle when a defense can't substitute players because sometimes they would quick count and snap it. That's what was unbeatable to me.

NT will gain several times more value from media, ticket sales, and donations than what they will pay in TD's salary. A great investment by RV already paying off. BTW, the new UNT Prez experienced a similar media frenzy while at Washington State. They went to I believe the Rose Bowl and donations greatly increased as well as applications to the school! She knows what Athletics can do for a Universities' image, now even at a non-PAC10 University. Start the NEW STADIUM Campaign!

Post of the Day!

He is a friendly guy, I just wish his articles asked tougher questions or strayed from the company line sometimes.

How scared? They've had over 4,000 views on 3 threads about UNT hiring Dodge compared to 400 for a thread about their conference foe Tulane hiring Bob Toledo. Ponyfans thread on scared of Dodge A couple posters suggest that when Bennett gets fired next year that the SMUt AD will just fly to Denton in his helo and hire Dodge away from UNT for more $$.

Agree, I liked him as the NT beat writer. TMac would give you info (and opinions) you couldn't find other places, which may be in part why he's gone?

?? I can tell this writer has not been to a NT game since 2002.

UNT got a great deal for the price. Basically it's the same or a little less than what we were paying DD. All the hype and new ticket sales may have already paid for the first year itself.

My bad...MG61 corrected me on the other board. I knew we played Bel-someone; never thought there may be two of them.

Subject: Surprising SBC basketball scores Belmont - 72, UALR - 57. We play Belmont later; what's wrong with UALR this season? New Orleans - 80, ULL - 76. ULL also seems weak this year, lost to SFA. We play UNO Saturday afternoon.

I like New Stadium talk!!

Not sure if this was already posted......Note the "Harry" portion of the text and the GMG.com plug.... ................................................................................... Brett Vito: New head coach enjoys early backing of Mean Green faithful North Texas traded in the Buick for a bright, shiny new Dodge on Tuesday. Todd Dodge, with his wide-open spread offense, his state championship pedigree and a monster reputation in Texas high school football, will leave Southlake Carroll to return to the school where he was the offensive coordinator a little more than a decade ago. The move certainly wasn't the most conservative UNT has ever made. The Mean Green could have hired a coordinator from another college program or a head coach from a smaller school. In the end, UNT made the best choice for the program for numerous reasons, none of which are more important than the excitement the hire has created. By mid-morning, the Mean Green nation was buzzing for the first time in years. "It's a great day for North Texas," UNT booster Curtis Clinesmith said. "I can't think of a more exciting day in North Texas history. Coach Dodge will bring excitement to the program and has a proven track record. The main thing that excites me is that he is a positive individual. There was a negative atmosphere for the last four or five years." Former UNT head coach Darrell Dickey led the Mean Green to an unprecedented run of success from 2001-04 when his teams won the Sun Belt Conference title and played in the New Orleans Bowl each of those years. By the end of Dickey's tenure, the excitement from those bowl years had all but disappeared and some had tired of a run-based offense nicknamed the Buick because it was effective at times, but rarely flashy. If anyone can bring a buzz to Fouts Field again it's Dodge and his high-octane offense. Carroll has more or less blazed the trail for wide-open offenses in Texas high school football. The Dragons run wide receivers all over the field and still have a running game. Dodge's son Riley has thrown for 3,695 yards and 48 touchdowns this season. When Riley was struggling with a series of minor injuries last week in the state quarterfinals, the Dragons turned to running back Tre' Newton, who rushed for 296 yards and brought Carroll one step closer to its fourth state title since 2002 with a win over Colleyville Heritage. There are plenty of indications that Dodge's offense will thrive at UNT just like it did at Carroll. Dodge served as UNT's offensive coordinator from 1992-93. UNT Hall of Famer Mitch Maher threw for 2,090 yards in 1992 and came back the next year to throw for 2,595 yards while playing for Dodge. Maher still ranks third and sixth in school history for passing yards in a single season for the campaigns he played under Dodge. A year after Dodge left, Maher set the school record for passing with 3,103 yards in the 1994 season. That history and Dodge's reputation should open the recruiting pipeline from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. UNT has struggled to land the top prospects from the area the last several years. Ryan head coach Joey Florence has had his share of top recruits the last few seasons and anticipates a few more of the area's elite players heading to UNT because of the buzz Dodge has created. "They have hired the best guy they could," Florence said. "Todd will bring instant credibility with the kids, the parents and the high school coaches across the state. The connections college coaches have with the high school staffs are vital. … It will be a great hire for recruiting." UNT landed one of its highest-rated recruiting classes after its third straight appearance in the New Orleans Bowl in 2003 when the Mean Green signed four players ranked in The Dallas Morning News Area Top 100 rankings, plus running back Jamario Thomas, a consensus state top 100 player who went on to win a national rushing title at UNT. The Mean Green's success in luring the area's top-ranked players dwindled the last few seasons. That should change under Dodge. "As far as recognition around the state I don't think there is anyone we could have hired who would have brought more attention to the program," said Harry Miers, the founder of gomeangreen.com, a UNT fan message board. "He brings an exciting brand of football that fans will enjoy and will boost our recruiting efforts in Dallas-Fort Worth." UNT has designs on building a new stadium in the next few years and moving up in the world of college football. UNT will need all the help it can get to make that goal a reality. Hiring Dodge was a step in the right direction, judging by what UNT's fans had to say Tuesday. "I don't think there is any question this will help us get a new stadium," said Clinesmith, who stopped giving money to UNT four years ago because he was not happy with the program. "People will come back that would not have contributed with Dickey there. I think the hiring will resonate through the donor community."

" Head coach's 2006 salary $262,000 " I believe this is Dickey's salary for this year (2006).

There will be a lot of pressure and expectations on Dodge to continue to win. However....It will take a little while for Dodge to find the right players for his system and learn how to defense other college teams. I'll give him a bye his first season, whatever happens. We should also continue to "strike while the iron is hot"! Push season football tickets and start up that New Stadium Campaign in the spring ASAP!!

Another favorite part.

Kevin Sherrington Dodge ball will be a hit at UNT Proven track record justifies hiring a high school coach 11:50 PM CST on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 DENTON – The University of North Texas introduced a high school coach Tuesday in its never-ending quest for Hayden Fry's heir apparent. In many places, maybe most, the preceding paragraph might be construed as an indictment. But not if you know Todd Dodge. Not if you've seen his Southlake Carroll teams play. Not if you witnessed Rice's revival this year. Or Missouri's. Not if you ask Bill Parcells or Sean Payton or Mack Brown or Gary Pinkel. The Mean Green didn't just hire a high school coach. Rick Villarreal found answers to the direction of his athletic program. Need an entertaining offense that'll draw fans as well as recruits? Check. Need a coach with a lot of high school contacts, especially in the area? Check. Need a coach to sell the push for a $60 million stadium? Check. Need a coach who can turn it around fast? Check. Maybe you're still not so sure. Maybe you recall the last high school coach UNT hired. Dennis Parker came straight out of Marshall in the early '90s and won an average of four games in three seasons. His offensive coordinator? Todd Dodge. Hardly seems comforting, does it? Only if you know how far UNT and Dodge have come in the years since. Dodge took over Bob Ledbetter's excellent Carroll program in 2000 and did the impossible: He made it better, guiding it through the difficult transition from 4A to 5A. Guided it? The Dragons have dominated the state's top class like no team since Chuck Moser's Abilene teams of the 1950s. Get this: The Dragons have gone 77-1 since moving up to 5A. The only loss was by one point to Katy in the 2003 state title game. Of course, those were high school games. He's stepping up in class now, and some UNT boosters and alumni have already asked Villarreal: "How do you know he can do it at this level?" All you need to do, Villarreal tells the doubters, is talk X's and O's with the man. Or you could talk to the quarterbacks and receivers who come to his camp every summer, the most prestigious in North Texas, a likely base for North Texas recruiting the next several years. You could talk to Rice officials. They tried to interview Dodge for the job that eventually went to Todd Graham, who qualified Rice for its first bowl in 42 seasons. Graham wanted to hire Dodge, too. When he couldn't, he got Major Applewhite, who calls Dodge a mentor, and all Applewhite did was effectively run Rice's spread offense with Wishbone personnel. Moral: With the right coaches, you can get it done at this level, and fast. Ask Missouri coaches what they think. Dodge supplied the quarterback, Chase Daniel, and offense for the Tigers' turnaround season. Pinkel says Dodge's offensive knowledge and development of young quarterbacks is "as good as anyone I've ever seen." Talk to Bill Parcells. Called up Dodge out of the blue last year and asked if he wanted to talk about coaching tight ends for him. Even after he got an audience with the Cowboys' coach, Dodge still couldn't believe it. "What," he asked, "am I doing here?" Parcells told him he'd been watching his games. Had his eye on him as a potential assistant. Called him a "football guy," and a "good teacher of the game." Coaching is coaching at any level, Mack Brown says, high school or college or pros. "It will be a great fit for him," Brown says, "and North Texas is lucky to have him." Lucky that Dodge got to coach his son, Riley, this season, and can check it off his list. Lucky that Riley's only a junior, or Dodge might have left for a coordinator's job someplace else. Lucky that Dodge coached here once, and he can see how far the facilities have come since then. Darrell Dickey built a base here. He qualified UNT four times for the New Orleans Bowl, and Dodge hasn't forgotten. But he also knows it can be better. "The Metroplex's Team," is how he sees it. Frankly, Villarreal probably would settle for a program Denton and UNT's alumni base can finally embrace. If anyone can fulfill the Mean Green's long-lost promise, it's the man who plans on coaching a high school team until Dec. 23. After that, he's all UNT's. Christmas comes early. E-mail ksherrington@dallasnews.com

Well written, I like the quotes from Dodge.