outoftown

Anyway, what I really would like to know from you guys is whether you think UNT can pull this of financially? And whether you think there are FBS programs that are gonna fold their tents completely because of this?

Ok a bit many points to adress them all, so I will take my pick. One part of my problem is that Football has no minor league system whatsoever, so for the kid who dreams of becoming a pro university is a must, even if he is not bookish and not looking out for an education and you and I know that the probability of him using his education later on to make a living is bigger than the probability of going to the NFL. But not many driven 19year olds understand that. So it WILL feel to them as if they are in a situation where they pay money to play football. I can totally see that it is somewhat unfair (and from a society investment point not a good idea) that the inellectual kid all to often does not get the same kind of advantages. It is just harder get the same kind of 'togetherness' moment you get in big football victory, when someone puts the final point on a great scientific publication. Which is sad. I guess that Football is supposed to bring in more than it costs, so I feel people who are expected to and then do spend an incredibly big amount of their time for it and put their body on the line - should not have to pay for that experience on top of it. But I admit that not gettomg a fair cut could be said about a lot of other people at almost any university also. It would for example lead into the discussion on how TAs, graduate students etc are paid. Now to what a scholarship should cover. you and I are not actually that far from each other there (and I am not even sure that I'd give the option to live off campus). But remember: we are talking just north of 5$ a day, and not striking it rich. the only thing in your list that makes me unhappy is the meal-plan. Now I don't know how good it is these days, but i have a hard time imagining it gives someone looking for the right and healthy nurishment that ought to bee expected from a semiprofessional athlete. That kind of thing does cost money, makes a decent difference on performance and should be covered for all full scholarship athletes in my mind.

I believe that the game will be dominated by defenses making life miserable for quarterbacks... particularly for the ASU quarterback UNT 13 ASU 10

I have to say, that I do think a full scholarship should cover all the cost of a college education. A Kid coming from a really poor background should be able to feel that he made it and paid with his effort for college by himself, and not have to ask for additional assistance

I doubt the sunbelt will allow for the Full max. but maybe part of the increase? Buff is right, it is expensive as with womens sports and all of that, it can easily be 400'000 a year for a University. And that is if you don't have to give the same deal to track and other male nonrevenue sports. And what are the rules on the sunbelt in this: does the simple majority decide (I can see getting a majority of teams to say yes) or do you need an almost unanimous yes (that seems pretty hard, like I said I cant see ULM being thrilled at the notion) I wonder about some things though... would it be possible to do it only for a part of the Football team (so you can promise a 3 star somethin on top) and not for others? Or do all student athletes have to have the same deal?

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7156548/ncaa-panel-approves-major-scholarship-rules-changes Wondering how this will affect College football and UNT. UNT already does not max out I hear, but maybe with the new students sports fee they could go up... I doubt though that the sunbelt will max out. I think this might reverse the trend of more and more schools coming to FBS from FCS and actively makes live harder for some schools to survive (I think ULM from the top of my head, but other examples in nonBCS conferences sure exist) What do you guys think?

I tend to agree, it is probably not primarily the kickers fault. I really do hope they made FG-coverage a priority in this weeks training. It changes the momentum of the game so drastically against you, if you miss field goals, and there is really a LOT of room for improvement in that area

Ok, so I was just looking at a few stats and how UNT ranks nationally. Punting: So i know it is not necessarily a good thing to be 3rd in yards punted overall (UNT has the 5th most punts), but a net punting average that is 13rd best, that should make for some good field positions for the defense to start. What is not so nice is that UNT has the second worst punt return average for a paltry 0.9 yards. Kicking: you don't have to look at the stats to know UNT is dreadful this season in kicking Fieldgoals. The percentage (46.2%) is the 3rd worst in the nation. Preventing kickoff return average of opposing teams is also bad (due to last week) and is 106th with 25 yards avered per return by UNTs opponents, but also we are not returning prolific. Our own kickof returns are 94th. Conclusion: special teams have room for improvement, particularly when it comes to kicking situations. Punting at least is good. Defense: UNT is tied for a more than respectable 14th in Sacks, 15th for yards lost by the opposing offense on sacks, a very nice 13th in Turnovers and on top of that 31st in yards returned on interceptions. Overall defensive pass efficency is 91st.. so not below ground, but not the strength of this defense. Rushing Defense is pretty average (64th), which is decent for a sunbelt team. conclusion: Defense is ok in general, not more. But it is helped a lot by a incredibly respectable number of big plays. Offense: UNT is tied for 39th in sacks allowed (1.5/g), in the middle of the pack (tied 59th) for turnovers, 91st in passing efficiency, and 108th in Yards/rush. Despite this UNT has the 19th most attempts at rushing. conclusion: The offense really has ways to go this year on rushing as well as passing. Although, better passing would probably open things up quite a bit for rushing (more room for Dunbar). At least it is not giving away the football more often than necessary.

I am sick and tired of the culture on this board that is already happy just because there is a little progress. We need to hold the teams of this university to higher standards. I demand that they win 120% of the seasons games!

Looking at Sagarins computer predictions 14 Points is actually somewhat to the nice side. Since both teams progressed nicely lately, but UNT is more inconsistent and has not shown much on the road yet, I guess this is reasonable from a neutral perspective. Still... the way UNTs defense progresses... but I do not think Las Vegas is paying that close attention to our defense.

I don't think there is reason to miss him... not after the new TV contract. Didn't like that one bit. I do think though that in times like these, if he is retiring he needs to step aside asap for someone new, so people will know with whom they will be dealing with in the long term. Otherwise people will be: ...hmmm do i want to be in/join a conference where the word i get from this comish will not mean much to the person who will be comish next year. also I'd like to hear a bit more agressive stance from the belt... they really just seem to sit and wait calmly for someone to come and poach a team.

Then of course they would not be nearly as far off.. although I have no clue how the states recruits are ranked. But then again some of UNTs players have not yet been ranked (some will probably stay that way, while others might still get points in that system)

Thanks everyone, did not know this about the WAC... still If I were a Fresno Fan I would probably not appreciate the uncertainty.

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=14&view=2&yr=2012 so just looking at this - I know there is still quite some time to go - the belt may be behind everyone else - but right now at least way ahead of aWAC that is really strugling in recruiting across the board... members who will leave included. UNT alone has only 2 commits less than all WAC teams combined, Arkensas state has as many as the whole WAC (including the same number of 3star players) and ULL has actually more commits than the whole WAC... I do whink that being at a school with only 1 (Hawaii, SJ state and Utah state) or none (idaho, Fresno) would make me a bit nervous. This does not necessarily mean it will stay that way and it does worry me a bit how far behind the MAC the belt is in 3star commits.

ok, some numbers on how the teams are rated: Presnapread (I like and respect Presnapread): preseaseason: UNT ranked 102nd, Indiana ranked 103rd reranking after week 3: UNT ranked 110th, Indiana ranked 106th Jeff Sagarins computer (suffering from the flaws of early season): UNT, 148th, Indiana 107th. depending on which of his rankings you use he'll have the line at between 4 and 9 points in favour of Indiana (home advantage counted in). the bleacher report (ok, that don't mean anything) had UNT last week as it's worst team in the nation,while Indiana was the 22nd worst team. I strongly expect ESPNs Bottom 10 to make this its pillow fight of the week. Despite the slight favor in these numbers for Indiana, I get the feeling that for a big 10 team to be as similarly rated as Indiana is to UNT, it actually has to be worse. Also I feel this will be a game where the offenses will make the defenses look good: prediction: UNT 13, Indiana 9

well like I said, no guarantees

For those not getting ESPN 3, for whatever reason (like being out of the country): this link is supposed to stream the game.... no guarantees though. hope it works http://www.firstrowsports.eu/watch/81485/1/watch-florida-panthers-vs-north-texas.html