NT80

Very good!

Huggins Agrees to Quit As Cincinnati Coach By JOE KAY, AP Sports Writer CINCINNATI - Bob Huggins agreed Wednesday to step down as Cincinnati's basketball coach, ousted by a school president determined to change the program's image. One day after Huggins was given a choice of resigning or being fired, he agreed to take a $3 million buyout of his contract. The school's offer includes a chance to stay for three more months, giving advice on basketball recruits and related matters. "We are working on the details of the agreement, which may or may not be finalized in the next 24 hours," said Richard Katz, the coach's attorney. Huggins left Katz's office without comment, dressed in his black Cincinnati jacket, when no final deal was reached on Wednesday. The university sent Katz a letter earlier in the day outlining the $3 million buyout. The letter, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, offered Huggins $110,000 per month for the next three months to stay on and ease the coaching transition. "His duties will include providing information about the current team, identifying and commenting upon potential recruits, and documenting his institutional memory of the basketball program during his 16-year coaching tenure," the letter said. An interim coach has not been chosen. The school doesn't anticipate hiring a permanent replacement until after the 2005-06 season, its first in the Big East. The school will have a difficult time attracting recruits in the meantime. The volcanic coach who won more games than anyone else in Cincinnati history was forced out by an academically minded school president who doesn't like Huggins' history or philosophy. President Nancy Zimpher sent Huggins an ultimatum on Tuesday, giving him 24 hours to either take the buyout, stay in a capacity other than basketball coach or get fired from the job. "It could happen to anyone when you get hired by a different president," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said Wednesday. "There's a difference in philosophies. It happens. It's a change in CEOs. They have their own people, their own philosophies, and it's different than what Bob stands for." Zimpher, hired in 2003, wants the program to recruit players with better grades and an aversion to trouble. She also wants her coaches to be better role models. Huggins' arrest and conviction for drunken driving last year dismayed Zimpher, a strong-willed administrator who wound up in a power struggle with the strong-willed coach. She refused to extend his contract last May, setting the stage for his exit. He may have been king of the hilltop campus, but it was Zimpher's hill. During a news conference on Tuesday evening, Zimpher insisted that the basketball program had to live up to her standards. "We expect to recruit very strong students, both on the court and in the classroom," Zimpher said. "We expect our coaches to be role models, and we expect our students to be role models. I will not apologize for setting high standards." During Huggins' 16-year stay at Cincinnati, the Bearcats made the Final Four and were ranked No. 1 nationally for the first time in 34 years. They also developed a history of player arrests and violations that resulted in an NCAA probation in 1998 and a hoodlum image nationally. In the 1990s, the Bearcats had one of the lowest graduation rates in the nation. After last season ended, a player was kicked off the team for having a gun on campus. An assistant coach was charged with drunken driving, but was acquitted at trial. Pitino, who sent Huggins an encouraging message after his heart attack in 2003, was saddened by the ouster. "Bob Huggins, a lot of times, is misunderstood," Pitino said. "He's someone who cares a great deal about his players. He wants to see them do well and he really goes the extra yard for players." Huggins' ouster less than two months before the start of the season shocked fans and the small number of students who were on campus Wednesday. Fall quarter classes begin on Sept. 21. The timing irked some students. "If Zimpher was going to get rid of him, she should have done it after the DUI and not waited until now when it's so close to the start of the season," said junior Alan Gerken. Cincinnati fans have readily forgiven players for suspensions and arrests because the program has been so successful. "We knew what kind of player he recruited, but who cared?" Gerken said. Several students stood in front of the administration building on Wednesday, holding signs supporting Huggins.

I hope we don't go to a platoon system, that never works.

Wreck Tech!!

Most of DFW has Comcast, but Time Warner bought the rights to it here recently and is to take over sometime. I'm not happy with Comcast; AT&T was better service before Comcast took it over. I hear most folks in Houston like Time Warner.

All we can say is you've been warned. Let the games begin!

UL-Baton Rouge

I think the widening of I-35E and perhaps DART-rail in the future will greatly impact game attendance at NT, especially weeknight games.

Jackson was hired for his political know-how and connections to Austin (I just haven't seen it materialize yet). Plus, the job of running UNT was becoming more complex as well as running the other campuses was seen as too much for one person. The UNT System is large enough to have a Chancellor but that doesn't mean he needs to have a piece of every campus decision (logos). I am concerned about who L. J. will try to bring in as President.

Is it going to be painted on instead of sewn in so we can change it to a interlocked "NT" later?

I wish it was L. J. leaving and not Dr. Pohl.

NT Monday practice

Passing the torch: UNT's next quarterback 10:13 PM CDT on Monday, August 22, 2005 By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle DENTON – An extra set of eyes tracked North Texas senior quarterback Scott Hall wherever he turned last fall. It didn't matter if Hall was leading the Mean Green down the field on Saturday or joking around with his teammates after practice. Daniel Meager was watching. "I tried to learn what it takes to be a college quarterback, besides what you do on the field, from Scott, and then I watched when he played on Saturday," Meager said. "He was a great example." (PHOTO) GARY PAYNE/DMN Redshirt freshman Daniel Meager (left) says he gained valuable experience watching senior Scott Hall last season. UNT's season could hinge on Meager's ability to put those lessons into practice. The Mean Green lost Hall to graduation and sophomore Joey Byerly to academic troubles, leaving the Mean Green without a quarterback who has taken a snap in a college game heading into its season opener at LSU on Sept. 3. Meager, a redshirt freshman from Richardson Pearce, was scheduled to compete with Byerly for the starting job this season. The plan started to unravel when Meager tore a muscle in his shoulder just days into spring practice. With Meager out, Byerly took the majority of the snaps with the first-team offense and solidified his spot atop the depth chart. UNT was forced to change course after Byerly was declared academically ineligible over the summer. Finding a way to get Meager, or another player, up to speed quickly is the biggest challenge facing UNT this fall, when the Mean Green will look to win its fifth straight Sun Belt Conference title. "Having a veteran quarterback or solid quarterback play has been the key to winning more games than we used to," UNT coach Darrell Dickey said. "We have always been able to run the ball effectively. "Being able to make plays in the passing game and having a quarterback who can give us consistent play has been a big factor in us getting over the hump." Hall threw for more than 1,400 yards in each of his last three years and finished his career as UNT's passing efficiency leader. Meager and freshman Matt Phillips have the edge in the race to replace Hall. Phillips has been the surprise of fall practice. UNT signed the former San Angelo Lake View standout more than two weeks after national signing day. The last player UNT added to its signing class has quickly made his case to be the first quarterback on the field for the Mean Green. Phillips has impressed coaches in practice with how quickly he has picked up the Mean Green's offense and moved to second on the depth chart. "I've been learning everything I can, listening to Coach [Ramon] Flanigan and talking to the rest of the quarterbacks," Phillips said. "I am not trying to do anything special. I just want to get the job done." One advantage UNT's quarterbacks will have is working with a coaching staff that has tutored inexperienced quarterbacks in the past. Hall started as a freshman in 2000, and Andrew Smith led the Mean Green to the 2002 New Orleans Bowl as a redshirt freshman. "Coach Dickey is an excellent coach when it comes to protecting quarterbacks," Hall said. "They will give Daniel what he can handle. That is what helped me succeed and get better every year." The player who wins the starting job will have several experienced players around him, including the last two NCAA rushing champions in Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas. Flanigan, UNT's offensive coordinator, said those players will help ease the Mean Green's next quarterback into the starting role. Meager is aiming to be the next young quarterback to start for the Mean Green and put what he learned from Hall into practice. "I want to take advantage of the situation," Meager said. "I feel pretty comfortable out there. I just have to do my part." E-mail bvito@dentonrc.com GENERATION NEXT UNT is looking for a quarterback to replace four-year starter Scott Hall. The candidates, with comments by Denton Record-Chronicle Staff Writer Brett Vito: Player Ht. Wt. Cl. Daniel Meager 6-1 180 Fr. Former SportsDay area top-100 pick is the odds-on favorite to start. Matt Phillips 6-2 220 Fr. One of the big surprises of fall practice has moved into contention for No. 1 spot. Steve Warren 6-1 190 Fr. Athletic player comes from a run-first system at Burleson. Kellen Haynes 6-0 200 Fr. Threw for more than 4,000 yards during his senior season at Crosby. Jonathan Ieans 6-5 218 So. Has also played receiver, where he might be a better fit. Cullen Mills 6-3 227 Jr. Killeen native and Harker Heights-ex will face a long road to the starting role. UNT PASSING LEADERS THE LAST FOUR SEASONS 2001: Scott Hall, 1,453 yds., 17 TDs 2002: Andrew Smith, 1,206 yds., 7 TDs 2003: Scott Hall, 1,732 yds., 13 TDs 2004: Scott Hall, 1,818 yds., 14 TDs

They were wearing the new jerseys at Media Day and the pants should be the same (new color green next season). I think the solid green helmets they wear in practice will be the game helmets with just a logo sticker added. Look for a stacked North Texas logo like Deep Green's signature avatar.

I heard/read our uniforms will be the same color this year as last and that they will order the new color for next season. Sidenotes: the track will be repainted to freshen it up, the stands power washed and new endzone banners added.

I missed most of the game being at work, but as I was walking thru the room the announcers were talking that Johnson had just been injured. They flashed his bio on TV and I saw he was from MT so he got some National exposure.

The scrimmage last Saturday also was orginally scheduled for 7pm but was moved. We should know closer to the weekend, and if it will be at Fouts.

Yes, it's mostly about image; who you beat and who beat you. I'm not saying NT is on a level yet with ut and a$m but we are on a level with more programs than some give us credit for. A few OOC wins would go a long ways towards helping our image!

None that I can find. I think the pre-season Classics have been replaced by the 12-game season.

Not live. Someone posted that Cox may show at replay in La. around 2am.

WRONG. A Major Football Program is NOT determined by conference or by $$. Most think it is just because of who they associate within their conference. Don't believe the media hype. Is Boise Major? Louisville? Akron? Baylor?

Nice site shows week by week all games scheduled and if on TV; how about Tulsa hosting Minn @ 9:15pm CST on the first Thurs night ... College Football TV and time (EST) schedules (by week)

NT over Alumni 6-1

For those going be sure to stop by: NT Tailgate party at LSU