Huff

I sent an e-mail to Eric Capper - the Sports Information Director. He replied that there were practices scheduled for each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at the practice field starting at 3:00 PM. He said that there would be a scrimmage at Fouts Field starting at 9:00 each Saturday morning. The final week of practice there will be a practice on Tuesday, March 7th with the Spring game on Thursday, March 9th.

Harry - Thanks for posting that information. I am glad to see an actual time set this year. Last year it was scheduled to be "after the scrimmage" so the time was not set in stone. The scrimmage took a lot longer than anyone had anticipated. This is much better.

Rick, I think the picture shows four seperate North Texas media guides. They were smaller in those days. They were called "pocket" guides because they would fit into the inside pocket of a sport coat. The guide with the "flying worm" helmet is from 1977, the guide with the picture of Jerry Moore is from 1982. There is one in the back from 1975. I am not sure about the year of the guide with the pretty girl, but the helmet on there is from the Joe Greene era. She sure looks better than Jerry Moore, doesn't she? By the way, if you have not yet been to the Wolverine.com web site to check out their newest line of boots, you are missing a real blessing.

If I remember right (and that is a big if) you get x number of practices over a period of x number of days. I don't think missing a couple of practices will present any problems as far as making them up. Some of you with more knowledge may want to correct my old and failing memory.

if you have no trouble getting two additional season tickets....and they are on the fifty yard line.

This would be the equivalent of Hayden Fry returning to North Texas.

Jim - Please check your e-mail. The picture you wanted should be there. DH

It is not unusual for a new head coach to keep one or two assistants from a previous coaching staff for a year before letting them go. The holdover coaches know the players and bring a little bit of continuity to a situation. It happens to good coaches as well as those who aren't so great.

Jim - I found the picture you were looking for. It is a color picture in the front of the Yucca. Please give me a call at school today and let's talk about how I can get it to you. Don

Silver, I have that edition of the Yucca at home. I will try to find someone smart enough to scan it to a disc. We will go from there.

Thanks, Silver.....You are correct that there is a difference. I have talked to high school band directors in recent years. I must admit they were all from larger schools. What they tell me is that with UIL now having marching band competitions and with the starting of several other marching competitions in the region they just do not have any interest in participating in a college band day. That might not be true of the smaller schools, but I think it is. I know UIL now has marching band competitions for almost all classes. There may be a real interest in a band day at North Texas, but I don't think so. If I know our old buddy, Jim, he will check it out and be more than happy to eat supper at my expense.

I really hope they got "Tortillagate" as part of the DVD. That might be the most exciting part.

The change from a 4-3 to a 3-4 may be a good one for us. I suspect we have more depth at LB then in the defensive line. It will be fun to watch.

Jim, my friend, I have a challenge for you. Please pick up the telephone and call ten band directors of AAAA and AAAAA high schools. Ask them if they would be interested in participating in a Band Day at North Texas during football season. If more than half of them say "Yes" I will buy a steak dinner for you and a companion of your choice at any restaurant in Parker County. Let me know what you find out.

Thanks for the link, Greenbat. I agree that you have to take the bitter with the sweet. While the 2005 season was not a good one there were some outstanding performances from some individual players. That is what we will have to remember. I ordered my DVD to go with the others in my collection.

Most of the Huff herd bleed green. It started when my mother went to school there in the late 1920's. She met some guy from Texas Tech and did not graduate but told me lots of stories about her time there. My wife and I are both North Texas graduates. We met on a blind date there. Both our kids and their spouses went to North Texas. My wife's sister, brother, and sister-in-law are all North Texans. Our new little grandson made all five North Texas home games last fall. It is a very green family.

I talked to Rick V in Denton last week. He indicated that they were very close to announcing our 12th game for next year. I got the impression that it would be another "money game". That will make it tougher for our football team to be bowl eligible but it will help the athletic department budget.

The most recent thing with this year's redistricting is that UIL violated its own rules by placing 11 Ft. Worth ISD schools in the same district. Their rules call for schools to be split into two or more districts under that situation. They are working with Ft. Worth administrators to work it out. The district with Azle, Boswell, Saginaw, etc only has seven schools so it would be a logical thing to move one or two FWISD schools into that district. Stay tuned.....

I visited with Coach Dickey for a few minutes in his office just before the start of the press confernce today. He said that on Sunday after the final recruits had left the office area he started to sweat a lot. He said that he felt a real tightness and hurting in his chest. Once they got him to the hospital all the "big stuff" was ruled out. He said he does not have a heart problem of any kind and that all the major problems that he could have had have been eliminated. He said that they were still waiting on the results from some tests that were run while he was in the hospital. He said that he had never been poked and prodded so much in all his life. He said it was the only time in his life that he had been flat on his back for three straight days. He looked very tired. At the press confernce he started by thanking all the North Texas fans who had contacted him and/or offered their prayers or other means of support. Eric Capper mentioned that Coach Dickey had been in the hospital so his remarks would be very brief. Coach Dickey went over the recruits from the podium in a very general way. Eric then suggested that he sit down to answer any questions. Coach Dickey did sit down but then realized that the press confernce was being televised so returned to the podium to answer questions. When all the questions ended, Eric Capper then thanked everyone for coming and ended the confernce. Coach Dickey sat down and several reporters (and a few others) came to where he was sitting to ask a few more follow up questions. Rick Villerreal indicated to me that Coach Dickey's gall bladdar might have to be removed. He did not mention where he got that information or when the surgery might be done. That surgery is not nearly as serious as it once was. My wife had it done on an outpatient basis a few years ago. Rick seemed to feel like the problems were as a result of Coach Dickey going very hard during recruiting while not being home to try to eat right or get enough rest. I think we are all delighted that Coach Dickey's condition is not related to his heart or any of the "big stuff" (as he put it). A little time, some rest, and some of his wife's great cooking should put him on the road back to good health before too long.

I was surprised to learn that Ray Loren was not on campus. I asked Coach Barella about it at today's news conference. He said that the young man had taken 18 or 21 hours (he was not sure which) at Coffeyville this fall while playing football there but discovered that he was one course short of being able to graduate and come to Denton for the Spring semester. They expect him here after graduation this Spring. Coach Dickey indicated that they were still looking at ways to use their remaining scholarships. They would still like to find a running back and a good JC defensive lineman was not out of the question. He said that they had not found a kicker that they wanted to offer a scholarship. Bobby Ray's children were not mentioned, but hey, there is always that possibility isn't there? You've got to keep the big dogs happy......

If I understood Coach Dickey's answer to the question about a greyshirt for Victor Gill there has been no such offer. As I understood his answer he said that such an offer was premature. I understood him to say that it could be as late as two-a-day practice before a decision was final. Others who were present can correct me if I misunderstood.

I don't think Godbolt was offered a scholarship. Based on what I heard today in Denton I think the only two that they were hoping to get signed lettes from that did not materialize were Avery Curry from Galveston Ball (went to McNeese) and Phillip Tanner (no information as of noon today). The word in Denton today was that Curry tried to get his girl friend to agree to come to Denton. When she would not do so, he decided to go where she was going to be. Ah, young love....ain't it wonderful????? Someone posted elsewhere that Tanner had decided to go to Middle Tennessee. There is just no explaining the decision making process of seventeen year old children.

Today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram lists him as having commited to North Texas. If true, it is a good pick up for us.

I would like to see us sign one quarterback. They are usually good athletes who can be moved to another position if they get stuck behind somebody like Scott Hall.

FIU Fanatic I hope you are right. The fans we met in Miami were very nice folks and deserve something much better than you have right now. Good luck with the project. We hope to see something good when we return in 2007.