GrayEagle

Whatever happened to midnight madness?

Dodson didn't play. The #10 that did play was Ivan Delgado, WR, who scored a touchdown on a pass from Osborn.

Please note that he is among the league leaders in walks, steals, and runs scored. Would Andrus be better at leadoff and Kinsler hit second? I don't know but the lineup is pretty effective the way it is.

Texas Hoops has him with a High interest in North Texas but it no longer shows him committed. He is showing None for other interest. He is ranked #68.

I suppose that I can understand the reluctance to anoint any team, regardless of how talented the recruits, to a high place with only one returning starter. The talent speaks for itself but other positives that may not be considered are that seven have played Division I basketball and that four more have played high-level AAU basketball. Add to that Mitchell, who has played on two national teams and the extra experience should enable this team to jell much faster than the normal high school recruits. I'll be cautious with my expectations early but by the time conference play rolls around I expect that this team will be playing well together.

If I understand the system there is only one spot available. I believe that you may have a squad of 15 with 13 on scholarship. We have 13 scholarship players now and Tyler Hall has the 14th slot. Seems like a lot of fluff for the chance to practice and sit on the bench. Does that include getting to eat with the players? Do you travel with the squad or are you only available for home games?

He beat Colorado State by 2 and Wyoming by 3.

Checked with Texas Hoops and they no longer are showing Pye as a NT commit. Maybe we just have Overlander.

Probably right but I wonder why. It's not as if we have a lot of depth at DT. Come next year he's at the end of the line again because he has no experience.

Isn't that pretty much what they are now? If students/fans only supported a winner there would be half as many fans as there are now. Every player wants to win and they want to win in front of large crowds. The bigger the crowd, the more adrenalin, the better the performance. The more that the crowd is into the game, the bigger advantage to the home team. Tailgaters that come for the partying and the drinking are not true fans and will likely never come inside. They lend nothing.

I'm sure that we will be considered by the MWC because of the DFW market as will SMU. Ditto for Houston in their market. Of course I'd prefer Houston and North Texas as additions but that may be wishful thinking. Houston has slim to moderate chances for the Big 12 or the Big East and they have a comfortable place in CUSA with nearer rivals. Even if the Mountain West thinks we're a good fit I don't think that they'll want an eleven team conference if Houston says no. They have to find a 12th team and we might want to know who before we would formally apply. Besides, we might want to know our options for any other conference. The MWC is not composed of a bunch of morons. If we have enough going for us we'll be considered.

I wish that I had confidence about this one but I don't. Tulsa had expectations for a great season but for the reasons that TFLF listed above it won't happen. As demoralizing as that has been for them I still see them as a wounded bear. Don't think you've got them where you want them because that's incentive for them to be fierce. Kinne may be gimpy and can't throw the long ball but he can eat us alive with short passes. They also have a couple of good running backs in spite of losing Johnson. Don't sell their offense short. We're going to have to play with the intensity shown against Indiana but without the home field advantage. We can't allow big plays. Tulsa has been historically tough for us and this year should be no exception. It will take our best effort of the season.

To the best of my knowledge Greg Brown has only played special teams. He's been a good special teams player the last three years but hasn't played TE or WR, his previous listed positions. Greg will give up his body to take out lead blockers and allow others to make the tackle or sometimes do both. Since he's a senior and won't be a position player it makes little difference but if he were going to get playing time I agree that linebacker would probably be his best position.

Their first game attendance was 15,800 in the 16K stadium. Not bad but I don't know if they can sustain it since they know that they will have to find another conference for football or play as an independent. The stadium expands to 30,000 next fall. They have invested big bucks in stadium expansion and coaching staff and desperately need a conference. UTSA has no FBS opponents this year. They were roundly beaten by McMurry. They will lose big-time to FBS programs before they can begin winning. Let's see how the support holds up while they are losing. If they can still draw 15-20,000 in another four years then I'd say yes they can make it and would be an asset for a conference.

What scares me is that there appeared to be no more than 5 or 6 thousand students at this game. If that is to be the norm then we can forget about another conference. I enjoyed the enthusiasm of those that made it inside but that's not enough to advance this program. Tailgaters staying outside seems to be an even bigger problem at Apogee than it was at Fouts. A couple of shelters can be seen between the east stands and the Wing Zone from the alumni side. I would estimate that thirty at that setting never set foot inside Apogee. I'm afraid that's the rule and not the exception. I know that winning will help but the encouragement of ALL helps inspire this team to play better. You are part of the problem rather than the solution if you're not in the stadium.

Uhh, the TSU game is in Denton and its our only OOC home game that year.

If you'll click at the top of page 1 you can hear the podcast in its entirety

Yes, it's a better conference and except for the team to be added you know what you are getting. Actually, two teams. Air Force is rumored to be a Big East invite. Even if Air Force stays I'd like to know who they're inviting for the 12th member. There's not a lot available. If they were going to invite Utah State and San Jose State they would have already done so. At least one of those is unattractive and probably both. The only other acceptable choice in my opinion is Louisiana Tech, who seems hell-bent on CUSA. UTEP might leave if teams are added in the east or a Texas team is lost. Conference USA has teams more familiar to us but when the Big 12 and Big East are done will all still be there? Obviously at least one would have to leave to create a spot. And it wouldn't be a cellar dweller. Furthermore, if you believe this board we will never be accepted as a member as long as SMU is a member. (Never is a long time and I don't believe it). So, CUSA could be attractive or it may not be. As to time zones, four or five of those teams are in the Mountain Time Zone. If those in the Pacific Zone started games at 6PM they would be over here at 11-11:30. That works for me. We would also have the results of an afternoon game in Hawaii. I could live with not knowing the results of an evening once every four years. Remember, they're not included in any sport other than football. Finally, didn't someone say that Boise coming here wouldn't be light years ahead of Big West days? Are you kidding me? Where has he been the last eight years? Top 10 finishes don't count for anything? How many have there been that were members of CUSA or the Sun Belt?

First of all ntexeagle said in a season. But, if you want back to back just go to the 2009 season when we drew 22,000 for Middle Tennessee and 23,000 for FAU. Later that season we also drew 23,000 for Army.

I am fed up hearing how great things were during the Dickey years and how horrible they have been during the Dodge regime. He keeps overstating the obvious. How about writing about current conditions and our aspirations? We don't need to be reminded daily about how bad things have been for the last six years. We've lived through it and we're trying to get past it, not relive it. One more of these trips through memory lane and I'm done with reading about us in either the Denton Record-Chronicle or the Dallas Morning News. I'll eventually get my information from the athletic website or this board. It may not be as timely but I'll enjoy it more.

I know that it's hard to envision and I believe that it only happens if the Big Ten goes to 16 teams. I base that primarily on three things: geography, University of Iowa already a member and Tier 1 research (good academics). It needs to be enhanced by several winning seasons in a row. That would break a few barriers.

Commissioners don't vote on new members so I don't see him having to recuse himself. Chuck Neinas is a fair and honorable man. That's how he built his reputation. The only advantage that I see is that he would make sure that our case were fairly presented. If we had an advocate he might give them opinion or insight but I don't believe in his presiding that he would try to influence the presidents who are voting on expansion. Frankly, I'd rather have him presenting our case than acting as adjudicator.

I like all of the choices except Air Force. If they were independents then having all three service academies in the same conference would be a plus. However, I do like Army and Navy as FB only members. East Carolina has earned their spurs and UCF is earning theirs and would be a good get to match South Florida. I hope that they will choose Temple as the fifth member but I think that Memphis would be the better choice. I think that Houston has better opportunities elsewhere as I don't believe that the Big East retains its AQ status.

The WAC will be dead as a football conference after next year. They will live on as a basketball conference.

With A&M leaving I doubt that will be true. There are over 100,000 UNT graduates in the DFW market. Add in students, families of those alumni and a similar number that attended but did not graduate and the figure becomes larger than any other university. There are more than if we were the only college in most medium markets. Most will be less than lukewarm if we stay in the Sun Belt but the Big 12 would be another story. I could see interest increase fivefold. You don't "deliver" a market this large when there are no teams in the area and only one game played here. Put us in the SEC and see who dominates this market. If you have a competitive team it's all about the conference/who you play plus the market where you are located. We need to sell that; not give in.