eulessismore

I know it may be considered poor netiquette, but hey, this link may provide you with some knowledge of Sul Ross and it's beautifully situated campus. You must have never been to the Trans Pecos region of Texas. Sul Ross State University

Euless Trinity High School; Euless, Texas 76040

Thanks for your kind words on behalf of the efforts of these young men to raise money for rings which may be a real treasure for them now and in years to come. Also (and nothing against athletes from the more prosperous areas who have won championships in this and past years), many of the Euless Trinity athletes have accomplished what they have without the type of financial support that so many take for granted. I also find that other poster's replies to be odd at best; however I'm surprised to see you refer to him as a writer (one, I'm only assuming, who makes his or her living by writing). This surprises me, since I had decided his posts in this thread to show nothing in terms of communication skills, and among the poorest writing examples I've seen on any sports forum. On the bright side, I found none of the misspelled words so common in these forums; maybe that's all it takes to make it as a writer these days.

I voted for 5 wins; that would give us something to build on; looking forward, I see some positives and some negatives: Positives: 1. The offense showed major improvement after Vizza took over at QB, and the progress was steady, except for FIU. 2. Some of the new recruits should improve our defensive secondary, which was a problem from the first. 3. Some very good players were redshirted last year; as a homer, I'll mention Marcus King and Jordan Scoggins. 4. Returning upperclassmen will have actual experience in Dodge's system. Negatives: 1. The offensive and defensive lines both lack depth; hopefully some of the remaining scholarships will go for the big guys. 2. Loss of good defensive players; as above, new secondary recruits look good on paper, but will we really have the cornerbacks, and in sufficient depth, that today's college game requires. 3. Need for infusion of defensive coaching, hammered away at by others, but again, need someone to work with cornerbacks and show results right away, due to LaCroix resignation. 4. Special teams were often a problem, any improvements seemed temporary, at best. The kicking game needs a lot of help. One thought; hire someone who has experience coaching cornerbacks AND special teams.

Today's Dallas Morning News has a front page special on Chase Daniel that provides some interesting background on his coaching influences, of course including Todd Dodge. I think it's a fairly balanced feature. Check out the link. DMN on Chase Daniel

I wonder, like others, why you'd waste time responding if you really didn't care, but then I hit the return line at WalMart today (actually gave up when I saw it), so may top you as a time waster!

I'm sure anything would be appreciated; you might just call the phone number available by clicking on the link from my original post.

Administrators, please feel free to move or delete this thread if there's a problem with it being here. Many of the Euless Trinity football players, as in 2005, don't have the money to pay for the state championship rings they've just earned the right, if not the ring itself to wear. Yes, we're not the most prosperous city in the area, but are rich in football and fine young people. Also as in 2005, they're offering to work doing odd jobs in order to earn money for the rings. If any of you live in or around the Hurst Euless Bedford area, and need some chores done around the house between now and January 3, I encourage you to use the following link to find out how to hire one or more of these young men for some of that work (I don't think anything such as this is against any NCAA rules; I couldn't find anything on the NCAA website about alumni and potential recruits, but I wouldn't recommend hiring someone in this manner and talking to them about signing with UNT). Euless Trinity Trojans need work to pay for state championship rings.

QUOTE(eulessismore @ Dec 22 2007, 11:57 PM) I like the whole team, but I especially like Samir Baker, who will be overlooked as a recruit by many schools because of his size, but who impresses everyone who watches him play; GREAT cutback runner, IMO. I'll try to make short work of posting this reply, as I have to deal with a plumber coming here shortly. I feel that I MUST respond to the vision, height, and other attributes mentioned by NT80 and others; I CANNOT say enough good about this kid right now! The EulessTrinityTrojans website lists him as 5'6", 177 (they had him as 160 something at the start of the season; I don't know how often these stats are updated. I hadn't even thought about HIS vision, but I'm guessing you're right; somehow he makes the great moves on the field. A thing I've seen him do that I have not noticed other RB's do is to score by getting close enough to the goal line to simply extend the ball across the plane of the goal line, so he seems to have a great sense of where he is on the field. One thing a manager where I work has mentioned is the difficulty that defenders may have in seeing HIM, due to his being so much shorter than the offensive linemen blocking for him. Also I've noticed him being able to get through a smaller hole than any other back I've seen. Still, you have to see him, and see him perform to appreciate him; he's small, but is so muscular you have to think defenders wouldn't really like having to bring him down. Here's some coverage of him from the DMN news coverage of the game: All Trinity coach Steve Lineweaver could do, between grins, was marvel at what Baker accomplished on such a grand stage. "We had to go with our money, and Samir has been our money down the stretch and in the playoffs," Lineweaver said. "He is a tremendously conditioned athlete. He can take the hit and he can take all the extra running". Baker didn't score but was selected the game's offensive MVP. Just another case of the 5-6, 177-pound underdog fighting the odds while leading his team to a state championship. "There's not much you can really say," Baker said. "My actions are mainly how I speak. A lot of people say I'm too small and that I can't do it. I just have to prove that my heart is way bigger than my body." By the way, yesterday was his last game as a Trinity Trojan. I haven't heard or read anything about any colleges recruiting him.

Thanks for your support, everyone. It was a truly special and uplifting event for fans of the Euless Trinity Trojans football program. It was great seeing the well deserved media coverage of the Trinity program, and especially of Coach Lineweaver in the Friday DMN (I also heard he and the team were featured on Channel 8 news and the Fort Worth Star Telegram). It's really great to see such a wonderful person as Lineweaver achieve this success. Special mention should be made of: Samir Baker, who carried 40 times for 229 yards, helping eat up the clock in a scoreless second half. Justin Runningdeer, a senior wide receiver who hasn't started, and hasn't played all that much, who caught the go ahead td pass just before the end of the first half. Lineweaver has been so good at bringing in guys who haven't played much, and getting key contributions from them; this was the second key reception for Runningdeer in the playoffs. The entire defensive unit, which was giving up big plays early on, but figured out ways to make the big plays when it counted, especially on a big stop when Judson went for it on 4th down late in the game, sealing the victory. I like the whole team, but I especially like Samir Baker, who will be overlooked as a recruit by many schools because of his size, but who impresses everyone who watches him play; GREAT cutback runner, IMO.

With all the North Carolina connections in my family by marriage, I am frankly embarressed by this incident, and (I almost hate to say this in the context of a report on crimes against persons), have been somewhat embarrassed by the state of football at UNC Chapel Hill and NC State. And, since I am putting this in a geographical context to some extent, I do agree that Wake Forest has the football program that the other well known church related (although WFU is no longer church affiliated, don't know about Duke) college should strive to emulate. I think the words were to the effect that Wake Forest is the football program that the other NC college with the demonically named mascot should look to as a model. Blue Devils, be like ye Demon Deacons! Oh well, I guess UNC, NC State, and Duke have had the good basketball programs. Short version, GO APPALACHIAN STATE!

Well, I went over to Trinity tonight and paid my $35 to ride on one of two game buses with Trojan fans to San Antonio for the State Championship game (Class 5A Division I) against Converse Judson Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2:00 p.m. This is a rematch of the 2005 State Championship win against Converse Judson, which was the first ever state football championship for Trinity. Just based on some of the posts I've seen here, I was thinking of making a sign to the effect of "Mean Green fans love Robert Griffin and Samir Baker". Anyway, I'm looking forward to a great experience.

I was a pacifist paratrooper; never fired a shot except in practice...actually, I spared quite a few bullseyes at the range.

And who could have imagined those darn tele-phones taking over the world the way they did!

Yes, THERE IS such a thing! Actually fat is required for nice skin; what do you think the botox injections are about, other than to "fill out" things? Just today, there's something on Yahoo about stem cells from liposuctioned fat being found useful for breast reconstruction. And, by the way, a skinny woman will bruise you up!

I wish I had been able to see the FCS championship game last night, but just don't have cable (hey, don't feel sorry for me; I get to see plenty of good football by actually going to Euless Trinity and UNT games). That said, I think that some posting on this board (the success of ASU and Moore isn't relevant), and the Pony board (hey let's hire this guy from ASU) are missing or dismissing some points I think have SOME relevance for these times in college football AND to those in the Mean Green Nation. 1. Moore has a sense of loyalty to ASU, coming from being recruited as a coach there when he was not only fired from Texas Tech, but scorned by many in this area for his lack of coaching success there. In an interview after the win against Michigan, when mentioning his desire to finish his coaching career at ASU, he also mentioned ASU plans for building a 7 story, multimillion dollar sports complex, and his ties to that area in North Carolina. I think many of the coaches who have been most successful in college football have been those who spent many years, if not an entire career at one school. If Todd Dodge begins winning consistently more with each year at UNT, we should consider doing what it takes to persuade him to stay and achieve success at the highest level. National championship? Let me get to that later. 2. Moore has won the National Championship for 3 years in a row in FCS/1-AA, but it took until his 16th year at ASU to do it. To reinforce my first point, what if ASU hadn't hired someone with that kind of stick-to-it-iveness (sp) (is that still a word). As far as Appalachian, Division 1-AA (now FCS) began their playoff system in 1978 and ASU did not make it to post season play until 1986. I'm not sure that ASU WAS a member of 1-AA for all those years, but their 4-7 record in 1993 (only losing season under Moore) doesn't indicate that a reasonable person would believe they would achieve the pinnacle of success in their division 12 years later, stay there for 2 more years AND beat the 5th ranked team in all college football. In short, I believe the ultimate goal of UNT football might as well be winning at the highest level, including a national championship (even if it took 12 years from now, or even 30, when was how long ago ASU only won 2 games. What does this "past" teach us? That "WE AREN'T BOUND BY THE PAST". 3. Moore and ASU went into playing Michigan not only thinking they could win, but having plans to exploit weaknesses they saw in the Michigan defensive middle and thinking they COULD block field goals (very prescient). Is this the first season in a long time when noone thinks of short field goal attempts, or even extra point attempts as automatic. If not, it's certainly been a big year for the kicking game, one way or another. I, for one, would not oppose offering MORE than one scholarship to kicker(s), and bringing in a consultant, having one coach just for special teams, whatever, to MAKE THE KICKING GAME WORK in our favor. 4. ASU could have been written off as a one game wonder following their great success at Michigan, then losing 2 games in conference, rendering their goal (if only one I saw in a t-shirt shop in Blowing Rock, N.C., where I was spending vacation last October, of "Three in a row") unsuccessful. I guess I was thinking they wouldn't make it based on their early season record, but didn't know a couple of things; (1.) There are teams in the FCS playoffs who didn't win their conference (2.) Appalachian is just a team that fails to know they should lose, even if others already think they have. 5. Jerry Moore is the only well known coach I've heard talking about how antiquated the FBS system is (and, I think that ASU has shown some weaknesses of it by its play this this year; getting into the playoffs, and playing its best football once there. I hope that UNT athletics can have its leaders voicing the need for a playoff system as vociferously as Moore (who admittedly has nothing to lose by doing so. 6. There's nothing wrong with playing as an underdog, but you have to take on the big programs to win from that position. WINNING AS A BIG UNDERDOG HAS GREAT REWARDS (AS SHOWN BY BOISE STATE AND APPALACHIAN STATE), AMERICA LOVES AN UNDERDOG. However those rewards requires the risk that come from playing in big games, sometimes as a big underdog.

Thanks for the correction, NT80; my post now edited for correct time!

Well, there's this little town, Euless, where Trinity high school defensive players have been praised by all who have played (and lost to) them lately, including Odessa Permian, the only team to beat them this year, and who lost to them in the playoffs. If any of you have some spare time this coming Saturday, Dec. 15 at 7:00 p.m., you can see them and the Plano Wildcats go at it for about $10 at Texas Stadium. Mao Leota seems to leaning towards Hawaii and another out of state school, but Robert Griffin and some other standout linemen on either side of the ball for Trinity are as yet uncommitted, from what I understand. Coach Steve Lineweaver praised Dodge last year for opening up opportunities for players from this area. I hope that Todd Dodge remembers his friend Steve Lineweaver and the Euless Trinity Trojans this February!

I'm not sure if "jonesing" is the proper term for wanting something which the"joneser" has never had! However, I'm glad others here have noticed that talk on the SMU board. And it won't just be a new stadium we'll need in the not-so-distant future; it's the ability to pay our head a competitive salary in today's market. How many others are starting to think that UNT fans need to start an independent group to support UNT football, similar to the "Razorbacks Foundation" for Arkansas or the "Football Project" for Wake Forest University. In other words, a boosters club for North Texas athletics towards which any of us GMG members would feel proud to contribute time, effort, and yes, money, towards. Such financial support would, as I see it, be available to fill unfunded needs which may arise in the next 2-5 years for stadium construction or head coach's compensation.

It's 6,739 for 2006-2007. Here's a link: Wake Forest Quick Facts

You have made some good points, SUMG. The Arkansas and Michigan actions should raise questions about the wisdom of running off existing coaches with good records, at least until those schools have hired new coaches with even better records. This reinforces a thought that I'd been having concerning fans calling for the firing of coaches or assistants; who do you propose to replace them. By the way, I have mentioned here before that Wake Forest has done well in football under Jim Grobe. They might provide a model for UNT in other undertakings, such as: 1. Designing their stadium in such a way as to be "intimidating" to visiting teams. 2. Encouraging attendance at WFU football games by Salem College, a private women's college across town. 3. Allowing Salem College students to participate in marching band at Wake Forest. 4. Allowing cross registration by Salem College in degree programs at WFU which are not available at that smaller school. I do not know the extent to which UNT and TWU engage in cross-registration for academic programs (I know there is some), but I've never heard much about intercampus exchanges for athletic and other nonacademic purposes. What I would really like to see is UNT and TWU combining to create joint graduate and professional programs, so as to create some combined legislative clout (something which we seem to be lacking in Austin these days).

A recruit should come to UNT if they find the programs that can fulfill their (1.) academic and (2.) athletic goals. Many who have succeeded at the highest level in their chosen careers have been educated at North Texas. There are many people here in Euless who believe that Todd Dodge will recruit many of the outstanding players at Euless Trinity and SLC. Of course, I like many posters on this board are disappointed we didn't do better this year, but I didn't really expect we would win more than 3. As to the character development mentioned by Mr Mosley, I think what is even more important (and yes, I do think this will contribute to our long term success on the field) is that Dodge has lived up to his reputation for instilling character in young men, and holding them accountable for their actions.

One thing I've been wondering about is how much longer will UNT be making payments to Dickey? Once those cease, those funds would seem to be one source of increasing our coaches' salaries.

Did you (or anyone reading here on the board) attend the Trinity-Permian game?

Ronnie Jones Currently defensive coordinator at Arlington (TX) Martin HS, but he IS experienced. He served in coaching staffs at all levels, notably as DC for the Arizona Cardinals in 1994 and '95. However, had some inglorious departure at West Texas A&M, after he was fired in April 2005 for moonlighting. Euless Trinity had no trouble scoring, and won 31-0 against Arlington Martin 2 weeks ago. Maybe Jones is still moonlighting.