NT80

Nice reports and interviews, thanks.

Football: Back on the field North Texas begins practice at new training facility 08:40 AM CDT on Thursday, August 11, 2005 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer A freshman recruiting class that includes multiple athletes with the ability to play more than one position gave North Texas coach Darrell Dickey plenty of options during the opening day of fall practice on Wednesday. DRC/Gary Payne North Texas wide receiver Johnny Quinn attempts to catch a pass during drills while Deavin Cox (11) tries to break up the play at Wednesday’s practice. Due to the Mean Green’s needs, Dickey decided to load up in his defensive backfield. Korey Washington, Dominique Green and Desmond Chatman all worked with the rest of UNT’s defensive backs during the opening day of practice at the Mean Green Athletic Complex. Each played another position at least part time in high school. “They are where they are at for the time being,” Dickey said. “As we progress, if we feel like a guy can play another position better or get on the field quicker we will take a look at that. We have some needs at defensive back and want to take a look at those guys.” Washington was one of the top quarterbacks in the Austin area last season, while Chatman rushed for 1,096 yards at Conroe. Green was a Class 6A all-state wide receiver in Lawton (Okla.) Eisenhower, where he also earned all-state honors as a defensive back. “I will play anywhere I can help the team,” Green said. “They are looking at me as a cornerback.” UNT returns just one starter from its defensive backfield in cornerback T.J. Covington. Ja’Mel Branch, who played wide receiver in his first three years with the Mean Green, is expected to start at the other cornerback spot. UNT lost both of its starting safeties after last season and could look to its incoming freshmen to push sophomores Cliff Higgs and Roderick Cotton, who enter the fall atop the depth chart. Junior college transfer Aaron Weathers is also expected to push for playing time at safety. UNT has a history of playing freshmen in its defensive backfield. Former UNT standout Jonas Buckles was named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference as a freshman before finishing his career last season. Craig Jones was also a four-year starter at safety for the Mean Green before finishing his career in 2003. Dickey impressed with freshmen class North Texas’ newest recruits had their first chance to make an impression on the Mean Green’s coaching staff on Wednesday For the most part, they reached that goal. UNT’s freshmen went through a series of drills in their first practice that gave the team’s coaches a chance to find out which players were in shape for the beginning of fall camp. The drills also gave UNT’s coaches a chance to get a better idea of where each player might fit in this season. “I was very pleased with the attitude and effort,” Dickey said. “I was also very pleased with the athletic ability of the entire group. None of them are in good enough condition to play a four-quarter game, but if they take care of their bodies and continue working, we will bring them along to where they can. If they can handle the physical part of the game and pick up what we do, there are a few who might help us this year.” Green relished the opportunity to get back out on the field after waiting all summer in anticipation of starting his college career. “I enjoyed the first day,” Green said. “I have been real anxious to get out here since I signed. There are a lot of good players here who are working hard and want to get on the field.” Meager takes light reps North Texas’ coaches are easing redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Meager back into the Mean Green’s practice routine. Meager tore a tendon in his shoulder during spring practice and missed most of the Mean Green’s workouts. The injury required surgery. Meager resumed throwing over the summer and participated in UNT’s first workout of fall practice. UNT offensive coordinator Ramon Flanigan said the coaching staff wants to limit the number of passes Meager throws as he works his way back into playing condition. Meager enters fall practice atop UNT’s depth chart at quarterback. Briefly … Former Sanger standout Chris Higgs has joined the UNT football team as a walk-on. Chris Higgs’ older brother, Cliff, entered fall practice listed as the Mean Green’s starter at strong safety.

You would have to get fans to sponsor it by either paying for the retro unis and helmets upfront or agree to after the game. How much would a whole uniform set and helmet cost?

I read in the DMN where UT will be in "throwback" uniforms for their opening game against ULL, much like OU did vs. NT. Would NT ever do this and which former uniforms would they honor....Flying Worm, Joe Greene's, Steve Ramsey's, Scott Davis' ?

We opened a Florida Office instead. (Sidenote: Rocky Mountains are closer to NT than Miami).

It will take more OOC wins like Troy's over Mizzou for this conference to get credibility and more respect. We need to "walk the walk".

The jerseys looked a little lighter on the TV spot I saw, but not much. I do like the Mean Green on the front and the brightness of the numbers; not sure about the number font...a little horse-jockey like to me. Anyone see a new helmet with logo/name yet?

From the DRC posted schedule it appears there is NO morning practice on Saturday the 20th, but a scrimmage at 7pm that night. Aug. 10 — 8 a.m. (freshmen), 4 p.m. (varsity) Aug. 11 — 8 a.m. (freshmen), 4 p.m. (varsity) Aug. 12 — 8 a.m. Aug. 13 — 8 a.m. Aug. 14 — 8 a.m. Aug. 15 — 8 a.m., 4 p.m. Aug. 16 — 8 a.m. Aug. 17 — 8 a.m., 4 p.m. Aug. 18 — 8 a.m. Aug. 19 — 8 a.m., 4 p.m. Aug. 20 — 7 p.m. (scrimmage) Aug. 21 — 4 p.m. Aug. 22 — 8 a.m., 4 p.m. Aug. 23 — 8 a.m. Aug. 24 — 8 a.m., 4 p.m. Aug. 25 — 8 a.m. Aug. 26 — 8 a.m., 4 p.m. Aug. 27 — 7 p.m. (scrimmage)

I don't know who threw those passes, but they look on target and appear to have a correct spiral on them! That's a positive start.

bump

I don't know how, but the field in that link appears to be getting further and further away from the stands. Time for a NEW stadium!

from DRC: UNT players report today 08:43 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 The North Texas football team will begin its pursuit of a fifth straight Sun Belt Conference title today when the Mean Green’s players report for the beginning of fall practice. UNT’s freshmen will practice for the first time at 8 a.m. on Wednesday before upperclassmen go through their initial workout at 4 p.m. The team will practice together for the first time at 8 a.m. on Friday. The Mean Green return 10 starters from a team that finished 7-5 in 2004 after falling to Southern Miss in the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl, including running backs Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas Cobbs won the national rushing title in 2003 with an average of 152.7 yards a game before a knee injury forced him to turn over the running back duties to Thomas. The former Longview Spring Hill standout averaged 180.1 yards a game last season to win UNT’s second consecutive national rushing title. Cobbs has recovered and is expected to split time with Thomas this season. — Staff report

Take photos of any new helmets or uniforms you see....

There was a photo when the new AC opened of RV at his desk (in either the NT Daily or DRC). Behind him on shelves were several helmets with North Texas in the new font in various forms on them. The helmets were gone the next week when fans took tours.

I'm anxious to see the paint and logos go on it.

Any hints? " "

UNT moving forward Lessons learned in realignment helped spark recent changes 09:14 AM CDT on Sunday, July 11, 2004 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer North Texas athletic director Rick Villarreal was convinced the UNT athletic department was headed toward a turning point in its history earlier this year. When Villarreal looks back at UNT’s brief time as a candidate for Conference USA, he still believes he was right. UNT didn’t end up getting the bid to the league that he hoped for, but the school gained a better understanding of what the it needs to do to reach its goals in the next few years. Villarreal and the other members of UNT’s athletic department have used that knowledge to set out and quickly advance on a path they believe will put the school in a better position in years to come. Villarreal said replacing an aging Fouts Field will be a priority in an across-the-board effort that includes other improvements in facilities, an emphasis on increasing attendance at home games and an effort to reach out to the Denton community. "After it was over, it became more evident that it’s more about politics than what you bring to the table sometimes," Villarreal said. "What I know now is that I don’t ever want to have a weakness that someone can point to and say that we don’t deserve to be here." UNT began to address those weaknesses when it broke ground on a new $7.4 million athletic center and struck a deal to acquire Liberty Christian School’s campus before its flirtation with C-USA. Since it was left out of the Texas-based league, UNT has also committed to build a new tennis center and entered into negotiations with local investors that could lead to construction of a baseball facility on campus. UNT would share the cost of the stadium with a Texas Collegiate League team that would play at the venue during the summer. Villarreal said building a stadium could be the first step in UNT reviving its baseball program that last played in 1988. UNT officials believe those moves could help the school field better teams and reach the destination they repeatedly named as the school’s goal for its athletic department. "Our long-term goal has not changed in that we would like to be in a regional conference," UNT president Dr. Norval Pohl said. "We want to play as many Texas teams as we can." C-USA offered that opportunity. The league will include SMU, Rice and Houston in addition to UTEP in 2005. UNT is the lone Texas team in the Sun Belt Conference. UNT officials believe that there will be additional changes in conference alignment in the future that will lead to leagues having tighter regional alignments. Those moves could present another opportunity for UNT to join a Texas-based league. The question UNT faces is whether it can quickly catch up to its regional rivals that are also looking to move up in the ranks of college athletic programs in Texas. Despite the progress the program has made in the past few years, UNT still lags behind in terms of facilities and some amenities when compared to other Texas schools. SMU opened the $57 million Gerald J. Ford Stadium and the Paul B. Loyd All-Sports Center in 2000. UTEP unveiled the $11 million Larry K. Durham Sports Center in 2002. UNT’s new athletic center will open well after SMU’s and UTEP’s facilities. UNT has faced other problems while trying to catch up to its neighbors, including struggling to find some of its football players jobs to help them cover their living costs during summer school. "Everyone who is trying to move up in Division I is building," UNT football coach Darrell Dickey said. "The progress we have made in three years is outstanding for this school, but when you look at not being able to pay for summer school, it shows how far we have to go." Building at home One of the reasons UNT hired Villarreal as its athletic director in 2000 was his reputation as a tireless fund-raiser who could help the school upgrade its facilities. After a slow start, UNT has started to make progress toward that goal. The athletic center will open in a few months and the tennis center will be on the way soon. The Liberty Christian project will begin when the private school moves to its new campus. UNT plans to move its soccer and softball teams into new facilities in the coming months. Villarreal appears to be closer to reaching his goal of bringing baseball back to UNT with a field on the drawing board. The addition of a baseball program could make UNT a better fit for major conferences that sponsor the sport. UNT’s C-USA efforts were hurt by the fact the Mean Green does not have a baseball team. The construction projects UNT has slated could be the precursor to the school tackling a fund-raising campaign to replace Fouts Field, the aging home of the Mean Green football team. "Even with the athletic center going up and Liberty Christian coming on line, we have to start now on Fouts Field," Villarreal said. "We have to push hard to make the stadium a priority as soon as we can." Moving to the top School officials hope improved facilities will help the team build a solid all-around athletic program. UNT has several successful teams, including a football program that has been the standard bearer for the department while winning the Sun Belt title and playing in the New Orleans Bowl for three straight seasons. The women’s soccer program and track teams have also ranked among the Sun Belt’s elite programs. Other teams in the department have yet to reach the championship level, including its men’s basketball program. Johnny Jones took over a men’s team that won just 20 games in the four seasons before he arrived before the 2001-02 season and has yet to complete the rebuilding process. Jones won 15 games in his first season and posted 13 wins in 2003-04, when the team finished third in the Sun Belt’s West Division, its highest finish since 1996. The UNT women’s basketball team advanced to the Women’s NIT in the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons, but has fallen into a decline since. UNT went 12-16 and 11-17 the last two years. The lack of a strong basketball program was viewed as a drawback for UNT in its bid to join C-USA. UNT’s men’s team was ranked 237th in the College Basketball News’ RPI rankings last year. Despite his team’s struggle to reach a level of sustained success, Jones believes UNT has what it takes to help the school improve its standing in college athletics. "We have the necessary ingredients to continue to compete for championships," Jones said. "I don’t want to just finish in the top portion of the conference, I want to compete for championships. In doing that if you don’t win championships you will come pretty close." Tennis coach Dawna Prevette also said UNT has the necessary ingredients to help her team be successful, but believes the school most continue to move forward. "Building your reputation as a program is important," Prevette said. "It’s not going to be just facilities that help us. If kids here tell other kids that they are happy, that is also important." Drawing fans An improved performance on the field could help UNT increase attendance at home games, which school officials view as the final key ingredient to its plans for a better future. UNT has improved its attendance for home football games in each of the last five seasons, including last year when the team drew an average of 18,694 fans a game. Despite a history of increases, UNT still lags behind other Texas teams, including TCU (36,155), Baylor (29,851), UTEP (20,009), Rice (20,512) and Houston (21,807) in home attendance. "We have to continue to draw this community into this athletic program," Villarreal said. "We have to do the same things that they have done in College Station, Manhattan, Kan., and Hattiesburg, Miss., where people take part and are interested in what is going on athletically at the university." The moves UNT has made since being left out by C-USA have been aimed at reaching that goal, and making sure the school is not left behind in a future round of conference realignment. "We are moving quickly," Pohl said. "I think we are on the right track to where we want to be in the future."

I agree with what you're saying for the teams and Bowl, but for the fan there's no comparison between New Orleans and Ft. Worth as a destination in December.

I believe all teams are allowed, by NCAA rule, the same amount of pre-season practice, it just depends on how you want to use it and break it down. There is a mandatory few days without pads and limited contact then 2-a-days, plus off days, plus school start time determines how many calander days you need before your first game. The big advantage comes when you make a Bowl game and you get all those extra practices late in the season....it's a good time to get reserves extra reps that other non-bowl schools don't get.

I'm surprised we're ranked 104 at QB. I like our players potential but we have zero (0) college experience. Has any other team in the history of college football ever had NO college qb experience? How bad are the teams at qb 105-119?

****Bing, Bing, Bing****

I would think so since it's media/photo day. It's also at the new AC and practice fields so maybe they will get some media notice too.

Great, maybe this will inspire some donors. ............................................................................................... Denton Wins TCL Championship! by Jared Sherman August 07, 2005 - In just their first season in existence, the Denton Outlaws won the Texas Collegiate League Championship by defeating the McKinney Marshals at home in Game 3 on Sunday night. Corey Kluber pitched 8 innings, allowing just 3 hits and 1 run to get the win. Kyle Jones led the Outlaws offensively with a huge 2 RBI double in the third inning. More to come soon. DENTON 3, MCKINNEY 1

Denton hosts McKinney in game 2 of the Championship series (best of 3) at the Ballpark on Bonnie Brae tonight. Perhaps a League Championship their first season would help to raise funds for the proposed new Baseball Stadium with UNT. Denton beats McKinney in Series opener Friday

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