NT80

If only DD had Todd Dodge's and Southlake's win record. Oh that's right, that's why we want Dodge back as NT coach!

"Junior college transfer Woody Wilson, who helped UNT defeat SMU 24-6 last weekend, has been named the starter by coach Darrell Dickey. "You have to keep him in the pocket and try to contain him," TU defensive coordinator Keith Patterson said. "On pass plays, he'll pull it down and run with it. "The key to playing an athletic quarterback like that is you have to swarm to the football." Charles Davis, a TU defensive back, has quarterbacked the scout team this week. "The speed of (the scout team) has been incredible," Patterson said. "(Davis) has done an outstanding job this week." ......................................................... Maybe DD didn't want to initially name Woody starter so SMUt and Tulsa would have to prep for Phillips style of play instead? Nah. Which brings the question, are coaches required to announce a starter in public? I know the fans want to know, but it would be more difficult for the opponent to prepare not knowing. Although from the previous game stat sheet or recap you could probably tell who should play, based on just stats and points.

Good game, but you have three (3) tough ones in a row coming up! Sep 23 Oklahoma Norman, OK 6PM Sep 30 North Texas Denton, TX 6:05PM Oct 6 Louisville (ESPN2) Nashville, TN (LP Field) 7PM

See what a SMUt education gets you?

My very first NT and college game was against Tulsa at Fouts in I believe 1973. I was a freshman in high school and we had just moved to Denton. I think it was also televised locally. I remember thinking it was strange Tulsa's nickname was the "hurricanes" because they were inland so far. They had like 4-wheelers going around the track with hurricane-warning flags on them. I still don't get the nickname!

Happy with 6-6? Are you serious? Dickey's OOC record is now 8-39. Yes, 8-39. That is still horrible, at any level. BTW, the last OOC road win, at the opponent's home stadium, was in ...... .....2000, yes 2000, Six (6) years ago....at ULL... , while we were in the Big West. Keep dreaming.

Meager has 11 games experience as starter, Phillips 2 games as starter and many backup chances last year after Meager injuries. We have a ton more experience at QB this year than last and didn't rotate last year. Leave Woody in until we're up or down by 30 then change if need be, otherwise it doesn't make sense to still be rotating; but since when is that a criteria?

Some of the taunting fouls that UNT was called for was just emotion expressed by players and not directed at the opponent. I agree on flagging taunts towards opponents but this was flagging pure emotion. One NT player near the SMUt sideline made a good play and threw his arms up in the direction of the student section to stir applause; the refs thought he was taunting the SMUt sideline. Another made a monkey-crawl toward the NT sideline after a tackle and got flagged. No fun allowed.

Why would PC opt for the Dolphins practice squad; better chance as a RB there? vs going back to the Pats that wanted him on their practice squad and he said he liked them and was indebted to them?

Finally, the light comes on!!

You read it right...it says "will play", not might play. I'd bet probably Meager, but only the knows.......

It was just an odd comment to make. It sounds like he's not sure himself yet or made promises to others. The timing of the change will be the biggest factor. It's like saying "another kicker, running back, safety, water boy, or etc.........fill in position.....will play against the Golden Hurricane." Just do it "if" and "only if" needed. But now that you already announced you're "going to do it" you pretty much have to do it even if the situation doesn't warrant it. Or not?

LaMo had 423 yards of offense (377 passing) and nearly knocked off Kansas. They could be the real deal this year, better so far than ULL. Bama by only 10.

FIU has played some close games but FAU and ULL have been hopeless so far.

"While Wilson will start against Tulsa, Dickey said another quarterback will play against the Golden Hurricane." And he's doing this why??

Well, SMUt was a nice win, a needed win, but lets see how they and NT finish the season before we go extending coaching contracts (again).

Yes, who cares about points and wins, we want good reads!

Agree. With quotes like "worse loss ever" and "football is over" it implies a less than positive image of the opponent that just WHIPPED them. BTW, while I'm VERY glad we stomped SMUt, they were a BAD team, like 2-10 bad. Tulsa and Akron will be the real tests of how we do against a QUALITY opponent.

Maybe Ben Bell? Info about transfers to UNT during Nov. 2005 signing period.... Ben Bell is a 6-3, 170 pound point guard that is competing for No. 8 San Jacinto College this season as a sophomore. Bell originally signed with Weatherford College after a successful high school career at MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas. He was named the NTJCAC (North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference) Freshman of the Year last season and was a NTJCAC All-Conference selection. As a freshman with the Coyotes, Bell averaged 15 points and seven assists per game for the entire season. In conference games only, he averaged 12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game. His 6.6 assists per game were the fourth most among all players in the league. Bell was also named the NTJCAC Player of the Week after recording 20 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds and three steals in a victory. Through three games with San Jacinto College this season, he is averaging 12 assists per game. Bell completed his high school career by being named first team all-district, district MVP and First Team All-Region V as a senior. "Ben is a player who will run a team and distribute the ball well," said San Jacinto College head coach Scott Gernander. "He is quick and strong enough to get in the lane and does a good job of getting the ball out. He is also a solid defender who can get his hands on the ball. Ben is a true point guard."

Loss has to rank among SMU's worst 11:42 PM CDT on Saturday, September 9, 2006 DENTON – Identifying the worst loss in SMU football history is a difficult task. The alumni wanted coach Ray Morrison's head after the Mustangs lost the first game in school history – at TCU in 1915. That 146-3 loss to Rice a year later went over badly. If a 24-6 loss to North Texas wasn't the lowest on-the-field moment in SMU football history, it ranks among the darkest of days. Dark enough to put coach Phil Bennett's job in jeopardy. A team that seemed to be on the verge of progressing took a huge step backward and is 0-2 by a score of 59-9 while making mistakes by the score. Time to table the bowl talk. "With the way we finished last year and the way our two-a-days went ...," said wide receiver Reynaldo Pellerin, still in shock well after the game. "I can't imagine any loss." SMU had no imagination on offense and made mistakes on special teams. The defense hung together until UNT quarterback Woody Wilson scored in the third quarter on a 33-yard run when flushed from the pocket. These are the type of losses that snowball. "We've got to get it back on track," said Bennett, undaunted in the face of a numbing defeat. "Do I think our season is over? Absolutely not." It cannot be, if Bennett wants to return. His new boss, Steve Orsini, wants to see success in a hurry. Orsini did not hire Bennett and would have little difficulty dispatching him if the bottom falls out. Orsini showed no emotion as he walked away from the wreck. This was the first must-win game for Bennett at SMU. UNT was the most reasonable nonconference opponent for SMU since Bennett debuted against Navy in 2002. There was a realistic chance of SMU getting through the first month in good shape. In Bennett's four previous seasons, SMU went 2-15 against a mostly brutal nonconference schedule in the opening month. Bennett, a likable man of high integrity and energy, has brought in better players. They are bigger, faster and stronger. None has been picked up in a careening car with a gun on his lap. This was an opportunity game in that it gave SMU a stage to demonstrate its progress. The Mustangs responded so poorly that Sam Houston State is no sure-thing in next Saturday's home opener. "Absolutely, it's a step backward," Bennett said. "It has to be." His team was wanting in every area. SMU showed no poise. As UNT took control of the game in the second half, the Mustangs went to pieces. SMU took four major penalties, including two personal fouls, in the second half. The Mustangs had eight penalties in each of the first two games. That speaks to a lack of discipline. The coaching must share the blame. Bennett does not have a special-teams coach. He prefers to spread the kicking-game responsibilities around the staff. The Towel of Babel way is never a good idea. UNT scored 90 seconds into the game on a blocked punt by Evan Robertson. SMU also had two penalties on returns and a bad snap on its missed conversion. SMU has allowed five blocked punts in its last 13 games. That is not good. The offense is a bigger problem. The Mustangs have scored nine points in 23 possessions this season. At this pace, SMU would finish with 54 points. In the last eight years, the lowest points total in Division I is 87, by South Carolina in 1999. SMU lost a big piece of its attack when running back DeMyron Martin went out in the first half because of a foot injury. The passing game designed by offensive coordinator Rusty Burns is a mishmash of slowly developing plays and high-risk, low-reward throws. Redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Willis completed 15 of 19 throws for 112 yards. It's hardly worth throwing when a completion has an average gain of fewer than eight yards. Bennett said he believes this team can be fixed. He also said, "I might be crazy." In this situation, that can only help.

UNT shuts down SMU, 24-6 Mustangs frustrated as Safeway Bowl goes to Mean Green 11:44 PM CDT on Saturday, September 9, 2006 By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News DENTON – SMU coach Phil Bennett said the offense was going to open up this week against North Texas. It opened up a world of problems for Bennett and offensive coordinator Rusty Burns. North Texas ended a seven-game losing streak with a 24-6 victory over SMU in front of 25,231 – the third-largest crowd in Fouts Field history – on Saturday night. North Texas' (1-1) offense made all the plays, while SMU's (0-2) did not. It was the first meeting between the schools since 1992 and after they meet again next year, the Safeway Bowl might never happen again. "We're frustrated in there," SMU quarterback Justin Willis said. "And people will see and know that we care." It was a long night for Bennett, who lost his starting running back DeMyron Martin (sprained right foot) in the first half, benched Willis, who later returned, and saw his team commit numerous mental mistakes. For the game, SMU had three unsportsmanlike penalties, one roughing the passer, a blocked punt, and a missed point-after attempt. "Obviously we have to be more consistent [on offense]," Bennett said. "The penalties were inexcusable. It's all of us. We lost our composure. We let a situation affect us." SMU is 0-2 to start the season for the fifth time in the last six seasons. This year's schedule was designed to give the Mustangs an opportunity to reach a bowl for the first time since 1984. SMU's coaches were hopeful the offense would provide them with some success. But after gaining only 189 yards of total offense in the season-opening loss at Texas Tech, there was some concern. Against UNT, SMU gained 270 yards and turned the ball over three times, twice on interceptions and once on a fumble by receiver Bobby Chase. There was also a dropped pass from receiver Emmanuel Sanders at the UNT 5. After his benching, Willis threw his first career touchdown pass, a 12-yarder to Columbus Givens with 9:04 to play. Thomas Morstead's point-after attempt to tie was wide right. The offense got inside the UNT 20 only once. There were also special teams problems. Morstead had a punt blocked in the first quarter that led to the first UNT touchdown. "It's just disappointment," said linebacker Wilton McCray, who had eight tackles. "We should have just played better, but they made the plays they needed to make and we didn't."

I would say 21-22K also.

Mizzou's new stud QB Chase Daniels is from Southlake Carroll near DFW airport here. He will win a lot of games for them. Ole Miss will come back again.

He took a pretty good shot on the play and flipped, could have been a helmet on the ball?

Thanks, you're a class fan S.M. Before you turn Ford into a baseball field can we have it?