HarringtonFishSmeller

I don't think anyone is saying re-hire Dickey, unless I've read the thread wrong. I've said I'd like for us to interview the other Memphis Co-Offensive Coordinator, Brad Cornelsen.

If you mean soccer, it's only unheralded in the U.S. Take Jozy Altidore. He signed made his pro debut as the age of 16. Two years later, his rights were sold for $10 million to Villarreal in La Liga, one of the top leagues in the world. Altidore is only 25 years old, but is in his 10th year of playing professionally. No American football prep signs a pro contract at 16. The NFL Players' Union won't allow any kid to apply for the draft until they are out of high school for three years. So, if the injuries are said to be equal, and I've got a kid who could be a superstar at both, it'd be a no brainer for me: I'd tell him soccer. I feel the same about basketball and baseball. A superstar kid can sign overseas in basketball and sign right out of high school in baseball. Whether they ever make it big, sure, is a question. But, they are being paid for their skills; and, possibly building a financial cushion if they have a career-ending injury or don't pan out. American football doesn't afford that opportunity. You sacrifice your body for the small chance of one day playing in the NFL. Your reward may be a degree. Any kid paid to play soccer or basketball overseas, or to play minor league baseball right out of high school, likely had a chuck of cash in a signing bonus to go back to school on.

Kind of a "second verses, same as the first" with coaches who couldn't find replacements. Although, to be fair, the tragic death of Andrew Smith kind of threw a monkey wrench into things. But, Dickey also signed Joey Byerly, Daniel Meager, Matt Phillips, and Woody Wilson. But, none were able to do what Hall had done...even with Johnny Quinn running routes for them. 2007: Casey Fitzgerald - 111 receptions / 1,322 yards / 12 TDs Brandon Jackson - 79 receptions / 784 yards / 1 TD It was Fitzgerald who led us in receptions in 2007, not Jackson. Although, Jackson did pile up some good numbers as well. If only either of them could have played defensive back....

UTSA and UTEP are having QB problems of their own...that's why we could squeak out two wins at home. And, it's the only reason. On the one hand, you feel bad for Canales for playing the hand he's been dealt. On the other hand, you realize that he's been here for six years helping craft the roster. So...let's the hope the "football gods" can step away from Twin Peaks long enough to smile upon lil' old UNT a couple of times this year against those two.

True. But, on this board, anyway, there are those who reduce Dickey down to the Cobb/Galbreath/Thomas...and, black jerseys. Dickey wasn't perfect. But, he wasn't as horrible as some make him out to be. If McCarney thinks it was tough to recruit to UNT from 2011 to 2015, he should try putting himself into Matt Simon and Darrell Dickey's shoes, coming out of I-AA status and trying to build up in an era were super conferences and realignment truly were ramped up.

True. But, also consider that the players are bigger than when Dorsett played as well. The 300 pound defensive linemen were a rarity, now everybody has at least one...even us! And, DEs now weigh what DTs used to weigh back in Dorsett's day. Soccer, for sure, probably gets more concussions than any sport not named football or hockey. Having played all the way through high school, I know that people who have never played don't understand how many times soccer players get hit in the head during a game. The only two concussions I ever suffered were during soccer games - one during a play, and one off the ball. When you go up for a header, you often knock heads. Elbows fly in and around the ball at all times; into your back, chest, arms, shoulder, throat, head. Your only padding, really, are the shin guards...and, your cup. You get your toes and ankles stomped on, your quads and calves routinely kicked. You are bruised from the shoulders down from the elbows. I played middle defender, and you have to play that way to get into the opposing strikers' mind. If you don't "punish" the attacking players for coming into your area, they will attack you with vigor all day long. And, they will try to punish back. You cannot turn your back in soccer if an opposing player is behind you, even if - and, especially if - the ball has been played up field. The average speed of a soccer shot is 60 mph, and they have been recorded as high as 131 mph. Think about free kicks and corner kicks. When you see a defender head away one of those, he's stuck his head into path of a leather object flying 60-100 mph in most cases. With the knees, there is the constant cutting this way and that, year after year after year, season after season, game in and game out. Plus, many of the collisions where two opposing players are going for a free ball, they'll slam into each others knees going at full speed trying to win it. Yes, some players "take a dive" to try to draw a card. But, in reality, soccer players hit each other hard going for the ball. And, the knees tend to take the brunt of it. I've got a bum left knee, for sure, that I've held off on getting fixed. Take a slide tackle from behind or the side, and there go your ankles. It's a dangerous game. Many of the same things happen in basketball. But, in basketball, the courts are smaller, there are only five players, and you have three officials pretty much on top of the action at all times. Soccer fields are huge and sometimes the referee is far enough away to where he doesn't see an elbow to the throat and such. If they action goes the other way quickly, he doesn't sees the toe and ankle stomping. When you have played long enough a kick to the quad or calf can look very much like a legitimate play for the ball if the referee and linesmen are at an angle where they don't see in totality what is happening. It doesn't look that rough on TV. But, you are correct, soccer is a tough sport.

Thomsen, for sure, in my book. Then, the Cornelsen from Memphis, Heupel fro Utah State, or Norvell from Texas. All good coaches who will probably not be in the running for the Southern Cal-type openings this season.

Everyone asks my son if he plays football. He's nine years old and already weighs 120 pounds. We've held him out because of the concussion issue...and, the hyper-competitive dad coaches in this area. We've stuck to baseball, where he catches, plays first, and pitches a little. My secret hope is that he keeps doing well in baseball and has enough success there that he forgets about football. But...being where we are, it is tough. He asks us every fall to sign him up for tackle football. We tell him no. He cries. It's just a thing. We've offered to sign him up for flag, but he says it's for girls because they let girls play in the flag leagues with the boys at this age. He doesn't understand the long term danger to his brain. I've promise him he can try it in the 7th or 8th grade, if he does well in school with his grades, stays out of trouble there and at home, and keeps up with his chores around the house...without having a bad attitude about all of it. It's certainly a worry, these brain injuries. Hard to fight a kid's desire to play, though. Especially here in North Texas. Everyone seems to be playing at his school. One of those things where you just have to step in, be a parent, and deal with the melt down for the sake of your kid's long term health. Baseball could rise from the ashes as well. Especially since kids can get paid for their talent right out of high school, if they are good enough. The top football preps can't do that. They have to risk injury - and, getting beat out by other players to start - for three years before they can declare for the pro draft. With the changing demographics, keep your eye on soccer as well. Kids, like in baseball, routinely get signed before they turn 18 all over the world. Clubs sign them and assign them to other lower division clubs to get them experience. Kind of a faux minor-league thing. But, they get paid while developing...again, something football kids can't do.

Two weeks before McCarney was fired, I floated Brad Cornelsen as his replacement. After the Tigers' upset of Ole Miss, still hoping we'll take a look at him. He and Dickey got plenty of TV time Saturday. http://gotigersgo.com/mobile/staff.aspx?staff=47 Coached with Justin Fuente for a total of eight seasons between Illinois State, where they were assistants together (Cornelsen coached WRs, Fuente QBs), and now three together at Memphis. Also coached at Oklahoma State, Northeastern Oklahoma (with head coach Kenny Evans), NEO A&M (JUCO we have recruited in the past). I don't think Applewhite survives to the point where we get to him. Ditto some of the other bigger names. I think its likely that both the Georgia Tech and Georgia jobs may open up at season's end. Josh Heupel (former OU, not Utah State QB/OC...Snow JC as a player before OU) is probably in the mix for us. He was OU's scapegoat along with Jay Norvell after last season. I'd interview Norvell as well, by the way. I'd also be happy if we got a shot with Tommy Bowden. Yes, Bowden has been out of it longer than Houston Nutt. However, if we are going to give Nutt a look, I'd just as soon give Bowden one as well. Thought Bowden did as much at Clemson as Nutt did at Arkansas and Ole Miss. Plus. Bowden did a miracle job at Tulane, having them undefeated in just his second season as head coach in 1998. Tulane has only had three winning seasons since he left in 1999. They have not posted back-to-back winning seasons since he left. Amazing that he won in both his seasons there. Tulane hadn't had a winning season in 16 years when Bowden was hired. He coached two there, winning both seasons, 7-4 and 12-0. The year after he left, they were back to 3-9. If we are going to call Nutt, please call Bowden as well. If we go old ball coach route, I'd rather him him.

Guys...it wasn't just three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust with Dickey. We had one of the leading receivers in the history of the program with Johnny Quinn. You folks man-worship Johnny Quinn, but conveniently forget that everything he did was under Dickey's watch. Scott Hall and Johnny Quinn top or are in the Top 5/10 of every passing receiving category in UNT history. You guys are nuts.

Dickey is the Co-OC at Memphis, not the OC. Other Co-OC is Brad Cornelsen.

The thing that would scare me about Nutt is, he's been off the sidelines for four years. Now, I know he hasn't forgotten all he knew about football in four years. But...look, many guys, after they get fired as a head coach, swallow their pride and jump back in as an assistant somewhere. In my eyes, with the four year layoff, you'd have to wonder whether Nutt has lost the fire in the belly for it. Maybe he hasn't. It's just that, you'd have to dig a little further into his psyche, I think, to figure that out than you would with a coordinator in his 30s or 40s. That may be wrongheaded and borderline age discriminatory type of thinking, but.... The other thing is, again with the four year lay off, how does Nutt really view us? I don't want the UNT football program to be some retired coach's "hell, I'll give it another shot here; if I fail, who will notice"-type of thing.

I agree with this...which is why, as with McCarney, I would rather he resign or "retire" instead of being fired. I just disagree with the people who are so angry that they acknowledge nothing to his credit. It's silly. He'd done a ton for the athletic department, the coaches, and the athletes during his time here. People who get their sports egos tripped up a bad football or basketball season...I'm just not there with them. Those thing happen even to the biggest of programs. It's happening now at Southern Cal. It happens. Hell's bells...I can look at my other alma mater, Tulsa, as see the clusterf*ck AD hires they made after Bubba Cunningham left. There are schools who have it worse all around than we think we do with Rick.

I'd be happy if we took a crack at Nutt.

I agree. I just don't see as much of it as you do. The series last night that did me in with Smith was the three straight incompletions where he: -On first down, throws the ball into the ground on a wide open slant -On second down, overthrows the receiver and almost has the ball intercepted, on what looked like the exact same slant call -On third down, threw to the receiver whose corner had safety help over the top and had the pass broke up The balls he throws for distance hang in the air way too long. Most are wobbly. The shorter throws, he has no touch on - all throw very hard. He's not all that accurate, and has no touch. And, doesn't seem to be able to read where the safeties are. He fumbles the ball a ton. None of this is to say anyone else on the roster is better. It's just to say that, if this is improvement, we need a couple of new QBs as well as with the new coach next year. Somebody else already posted what he did against WKU's ones. I know that before WKU went up 35-7, he was something like 4 for 16. I mean, I'm happy he did better against their twos and threes. But...it's a long leap of faith for me to say he's an FBS. Many colleges need quarterbacks...and, we didn't have much competition for him when he came out of JUCO. That's all I'm saying. Coaches watch a lot more film than just youtube highlight clips. Many of the others you named had more FCS offers than FBS offers. Like with our quarterbacks, I'm certain they would all be All-Conference-type players at FCS schools...perhaps even the current version of the Sun Belt. Like with Combs, it lists us and Texas State. Okay...we all agree that we didn't believe than with Dan MCarney, we'd still be fighting with Texas State for recruits after five years. But, that's what it came down to. And, that's why we are in the position we are in now at every position except kicker and punter. And, by golly, we've got TWO punters! The only game we have a chance at winning is the UTEP game. They are the only school remaining whose QB situation is as screwed up as ours...but, we get them at home. So...advantage us.

Yes. Although, I'm not really a conspiracy theorist. Nor am I an adult who need my ego personally strokes by the college athletic teams composed of 18-23 year old young men. I'm sure that this "17" everyone is obsessed with looks at the whole picture as well, sees what throwing money into "names" does for places like SMU, and proceeds accordingly. I guess I'm just surprised, somewhat, by the derision shown to the people who have helped our alma mater's athletic department. In that regard, I view the fervent complainers the same as I do my children when they tell me what (they think) other kids have while ignoring the toys and games in their own closets. I'm certain that the "17" had other philanthropic opportunities for their money than college athletics. And, yet. we will chide them for spending it with us? Not me. And, I'm perfectly happy that Rick cultivated the relationships between them and the school that he did. Okay, have a nice day.

I like you. But, we just disagree about Rick; and, that's fine by me. I can't pretend he does nothing when I can see, tangibly, otherwise. I'm happy for your passion for our alma mater, though.

No. As stated before, I'm looking at the athletic department as a whole, and it's healthy. You have some tunnel-vision with basketball program; I understand. Others have a tunnel-vision with football. Most colleges don't make money with either. The mega schools do. Some believe that there will be a magic hiring for football or basketball that will automatically heal all of the mental wounds/sports egos. I understand that one fails, you go ut and hire another. Dickey tanked for two years after four bowl appearances, he was fired. Dodge tanked with no bowl appearances, he was fired. McCarney tanked two years after a bowl appearance, he was fired. The next guy will come along and do the best he can. He'll have better facilities and stable, supportive leadership from the university. Johnny Jones did a great job here and was hired away. Same thing happens at mid-majors like Tulsa. But, occasionally, a hire doesn't work out. Benford hasn't been as good as Johnny. Through his first three seasons, Benford is 42-53/.422 winning percentage. In Johnny's first three seasons here, he was 35-50/.412 winning percentage. I'm sure there were basketball folks wanting Johnny's head after his first three season's here as well. I was no more for cutting Rick loose because of it then than I am now. Not happy with football's season. Hoping basketball does better. But, I can see good in almost every other program, on and off the field. The NCAA isn't at our door. Plus, at the end of the day, I'm an adult. I can somehow live with Rick keeping his job, given the improvements made while keeping it all within the NCAA rules. For many years, I wasn't happy with him. Especially during the Dodge years. But, for me, when I'm on campus again at sporting events like last night, it's hard not to appreciate the new facilities. Ya'll go ahead an keep popping off. I'm happy with the guy. Some of you night need to become SMU fans. They have bought higher dollar coaches in football and basketball. The result: they are the same as we are in football...and the NCAA just knee-capped their basketball program and coach. Patience is a virtue, not a product. Remember that, grasshoppers.

Almost all football programs lose money, even at big schools. Basketball as well. DART loses money by the tens of millions. But, do you see them ending their bus and train services? Sorry, all. I can't sit by and act as though there have been no improvements with the athletic department over the past 15 or so years. There have been vast improvements.

About the same as many other mid-majors who have won 30 or less over the past two seasons: DePaul, Marquette, Duquesne, Houston, Bradley, Southern Illinois, Loyola...schools that occasionally do well in basketball, just like us.

No. After watching the game last night, no. Do the kids have more energy? Yes. But, they are are same players - that he helped recruit and coach. We have nothing at quarterback, receiver, on the line, on offense. We've got nothing, anywhere, on defense. Our safeties lead the conference in tackles...but, that's indicative of nothing but how bad the front seven is. And, they are torched in pass defense. I like Chico. But, sitting out there last night...I like Mike, but it's the same team. We are woefully bereft of talent. The truth is, WKU could have named their score against us last night. They showed great restraint in not hanging 70+ on us. They packed it up in the third quarter, and had third teamers in by the end of the game. Amazing how far the drop has been over the past two seasons. And, outside of kicker and punter, at every position on the team. It's a mess.

That never happens! It's always a coach's fault.

And, what did having a good basketball program get us? You guys act as though we were the mid-major answer to Kansas. Not even close. We went to the NCAAs twice in 11 year. We had one first place finish in 11 years. We were good...but, we weren't some mid-major act like Gonzaga. .

Someone posted about UTA's new basketball area. Well...they are one game better than us over the past two seasons. I doubt they are clamouring for their AD's head over it. We have a ridiculous sense of entitlement.

You would rather have what SMU has...NCAA up in your grill again...this time over basketball because you were so desperate for basketball success?