GrayEagle

Not sure that we can blame the defensive recruiting. We had the second rated run defense in the conference prior to today and see what ULM did to them. DeLoache can cast blame for our recruiting but our defensive players were higher rated recruits than ULM. Could it possibly be the coaching?

What if both trophies are taken away and they are given the death penalty by the NCAA? Given the allegations it could happen. I feel for the university when a few of its out-of-control alumni drag them through the sewer.

While I wouldn't mind a 12-team conference I don't think that the SBC should pursue any other schools at this time. A 12-team league would reduce travel expenses but the NCAA funds would have to be split two additional ways. Still, with less total teams in the FBS it's likely that we'd still get as much or more than in the past. No San Jose or Idaho. If La Tech, NMSU or Utah State applied we should only take two unless a current member could somehow be eliminated or if the SBC decided to go to 13, 14, or 16. Just don't go after them; let them come to us.

The Big 14. By the time UTSA and Texas State could become eligible South Alabama will have already moved up. Besides, the MAC already has 13 for football.

Do you know for a fact that those are the only candidates with head coaching experience? However, none of the above may be interviewed and I sure wouldn't pick one without a complete report on the candidate and an interview.

But not as a head coach.

1. Yes to about every statement, except how do we know that another coach with a much longer, more successful resume could not do the same? We should all be pleased at the enthusiasm that Coach Canales has instilled the past three games and I have no problem with him promoting himself. We may assume that he had a part in recruitment but we (or at least I) don't know the extent of his role. 2. A successful (in the past) coach will also put extra effort into the job because he has done that before and not only does he have a record of success but he has a reputation to uphold. We know how much the posters on this board think that the job is worth but I don't know of anyone that knows how much our administration is willing to spend. I would hope that we'll be able to offer a base salary closer to the middle of the pack with salaries competitive with many of the non-AQ universities. It also speaks that North Texas is a serious player when it comes to improving our football program. 3. I'd definitely rather have Canales than Venables so no argument there. 4. Although I'd welcome the problem I totally agree with your assessment of Leach. 5. It's all a "crap shoot" but I think less so when hiring a head coach that's won many times at the FBS level vs. a coordinator, one that has succeeded at a lower level or one that may have had a little success but also a number of failures. 6. Yes, a Top 25 ranking as long as we're in the SBC is out of the question and almost impossible as long as we're in a non-automatic qualifying conference. Scheduling alone will preclude that unless we have several unbeaten years. You are right; I'd like to see us in the Top 50 and maybe that should be our initial goal. I know that you are not a newby whose only posts have lauded the success and qualifications of Coach Canales. I'm sure that the vast majority are extremely pleased with the turnaround that we've seen from our new head coach and are somewhat secure in the fact that if he is chosen by the AD/prez/consultant that we won't totally panic. I like what he's done on the field, in the locker room and in the community to instill life into this program. There is no knock on Coach Canales. What we don't know is who he is being compared against. Some of the candidates could have contacts for coordinators, assistant coaches, recruiting and/or donors (or following) that we've never been exposed to. Then again, maybe none of the "names" are interested and Chico wins over those with lesser resumes. In the three choice binary poll recently on the board, 77% said no to awarding the job to Coach Canales at this time. If he beats ULM there will be a few more on his bandwagon. It seems unfair but if he happens to beat K-State he might even get the majority. Even then, he could still be left at the gate by those whose job it is to select the next head football coach. I just hate to see such a strong rift in the Mean Green Nation over something that we have little control.

Good Lord! Are we going to grind corn at the stadium also? It's bad enough putting turbines next to the stadium but if we are going to use them for mills as well count me out.

Why? Why would we want to air our laundry in public? Coaching searches aren't public forums. Frankly, it would be unfair to those who applied and weren't chosen re future applications. You can speculate all you want. You can even start rumors if you like but there are only three that will really know who applied and how close they were to being chosen and I doubt that any of the three will tell.

Riley Dodge epitomizes what college football is all about. There may be some that are bigger, meaner, or more talented but none have a bigger heart or will to win. Riley will succeed in life because there's no quit in him.

I don't know about Ed Orgeron or the amount of money that the Cajuns are willing to pay but I'd wager that you can color Bustle gone.

This. And a +1 for a little sanity among the euphoria that two wins (over two schools with losing records) has brought.

Denton has one commercial radio station. That station belongs to the University of North Texas...KNTU. It is Denton ISD's only option. In the Dallas area, several schools contract with radio stations to broadcast their high school games; usually on Friday nights. If the game happens to fall on a Thursday or Saturday night that contract is honored. It also includes playoff games. Regular programming may be shortened or eliminated to honor the contract. I don't know whether Denton High (Denton ISD) contracted to broadcast the Broncos' games or not but at the least the playoff game was contracted. KNTU, knowing that the UNT game was covered in Denton via KWRD, accepted the income that the broadcast provided. The station is still in the business to make money. They did that. There were no additional advertisers for the North Texas game as there were for the Denton Broncos game so carrying the UNT game would have been pro bono. Had there been no feed into Denton there would have been a legitimate gripe. But there was. Who missed the broadcast because they could only get KNTU and not KWRD? My guess is none because I often listen to the MGRN station on earphones or the car radio when I'm in Denton without a problem.

Jim, I can't think of a single presently working head football coach that would look at UNT as a promotion other than one at an FCS or below university. The WAC currently has three very good to excellent coaches but all three are moving to the MWC in the next couple of years. The only "up and coming" possibility is Gary Anderson at Utah State and I'd take Chico over him in a heartbeat.

To be honest, Fran did have a losing record at New Mexico. But he took an awful program with 17 losing seasons in their last 20 and finished his last season with a 9-4 record (good enough to land the TCU job). It took him three seasons to get that program turned around and he ended three games below .500. Having said that, let me echo your last statement..."I certainly hope Fran is not off the board."

The reverse is also true regarding the hiring of Canales. If he is hired with only a minutia of the success enjoyed by some of the other candidates and he fails then the "Only at UNT" moans will be deafening.

I think that they are beautiful and have such a melodic sound. Can't we get more than three around the stadium?

How many washed up "names" have you seen bandied about on this board? I only recall a couple that had losing records at their last coaching hitch and neither name has received a lot of mention. I just want a coach that can (and has proved) that he can win at the FBS level. If he has proven that he can sell tickets, attract donors, and recruit at that level then I look at that as a plus. I don't think that you'll get a finalist that doesn't have the desire, skills and will to win. They've proven that.

I definitely like what Coach Canales has done and will support him as long as he is on this coaching staff. I also don't mind hearing support for any of the other candidates. It could be that some that we are supporting don't want to be here and, if so, certainly won't be a finalist. All of those who agree to be interviewed want to be here. Some may not have the burning desire of Mike Canales. All probably have ulterior motives. I seriously doubt that any want this to be the end destination for their coaching career. Thus, they will do their best to use it as a stepping stone. That includes Coach Canales. In fact, I'd say that Chico wants to be a head coach...period. And, so far, it looks as if he deserves a head coaching position. So, I (nor anyone else) shouldn't have an objection to anyone tooting the horn of their favorite. I do have a problem with the selection of someone who hasn't been a HFC for at least a few games. We have no room for learning curves with this hire.

This! Plus, who says proven head coach won't win? We all want a winner; that's a no-brainer. But...if a coach that has done it before and wants to do it again applies he's not as risky as someone that has won a few games and he'll recruit better, attract more fans and donors and won't have the learning curve to hurdle.

It will take some winning but since we've been there before and with the new stadium, budget, etc. I don't see that we need to destroy all of the opposition in the conference. For example, did Nevada destroy others in the WAC before being selected by the MWC? Ditto for Fresno State, UCF, SMU, Rice, UTEP, etc. One attention-getter is attendance. I believe that if we can have a winning year in 2011 with attendance in the mid-20s, with our size, location and other factors going for us then I believe that we are very attractive to CUSA (and maybe MWC) in the next wave of expansion. A lot depends on who leaves what conference.

We are not going to get into either CUSA or the MWC this time unless we indicate that we are serious about football by selecting a name coach. The choice of Canales or other coordinator/assistant will signal that we are not ready to be a serious player in conference talk. If that's the choice then stay in the Belt. We will still be the only one in the state in that conference unless they decide to take Lamar. It looks as if UTSA and Texas State will be gone to the WAC.

Those two examples hardly apply here. Gary Patterson took over from Dennis Franchione at TCU after the Frogs had gone 25-10 under Franchione. Chris Peterson followed Dan Hawkins who had a record of 53-11 in his five years at Boise. Both had established fan bases. What Plumm is saying is there's more than just having a good coach. Getting a coach with a name known to the alumni, community, potential donors and potential recruits is vital this time. That name results from having done major deeds in the FBS. If it were up to me I would pick Leach, Franchione, Leavitt, either Bowden, and Kragthorpe (maybe another or two that I can't think of right now) before I'd consider Canales. I do not mean to take anything away from Canales. I've enjoyed this last week and the way he's handled the job. Bear in mind that he beat WKU, a team that accounted for half of Dodge's winnings. Even if he did the almost impossible and wins out he still belongs behind the above list. He has made a great start but at this stage it's just a start. His competition has been much further down that road.

If they follow through on that then that would probably eliminate Houston. It looks as if the Big East is leaning toward TCU and UCF at the moment (if they only are considering ten). That could change if Villanova decided to pursue FBS football. They have been virtually guaranteed a slot if they want it. That might give UCF a slight edge over TCU because of location, market and size.

Wins are fun and I'm glad that we were able to get another since they have been so hard to come by over the last six years. But, we need to tap the brakes a little. We beat a Bottom 10 team. Yes, they are improving and have moved up a few notches above being the worst team in the FBS but they haven't turned the corner yet. I'm pleased that Coach Canales won in his first try as an FBS head coach. Let him be happy and savor the moment but not forget that the conference leader comes here in seven short days. They'll have fire in their eyes after losing their first conference game yesterday. If he can beat them then we'll all give a truly deserved shout out to Coach Canales.