UNT86

Mentioned were previous C-USA championships and NCAA postseason from last year. We need bowls, baseball, and basketball. Just win and the recognition will come.

I think the offense will be improved. It tells you a lot about the WR depth when a true freshman is playing in the five wide. He also was the replacement when BC went down. He should be better and be on the field with BC this year. That puts two playmakers out there instead of one and already the offense is better. Also, I think the playcalling was conservative with Derek at QB because without him, we didn't have ANY chance. We did not have a backup anywhere near ready. After the spring McNulty had, look for the offense to open up for Thompson a little. He should have some of the runs Riley used to get. He isn't any kind of gamebreaker with the ball, but he can keep us out of 3rd and long by being involved in the running game on 1st and 2nd downs. That by itself will improve most of the stats mentioned before.

I hope the go 0-12. I just cannot root for anyone that we might have to compete against for recruits. If they start to win in the Sun Belt, it could get a litle closer to happening.

Last time vs. Rice was in 2010. We were 10-50 over our previous 60 games. We drew 23,743 anyway. Against Tulsa in 2005 and 2008 we drew 23,112 and 22,785 in the middle of the same stretch. I don't think it is out of the question to draw 28,000 against either of them.

Very happy. I would hope that this group could maintain all the current bowl tie-ins. I suspect that we would not, but I don't think we would lose all of them. Three other Texas schools would be about the right number. We could still drive to some out of town conference games. The students would recognize our conference opponents. The only negatives are the number of schools that are moving up and the perception that we are in a little better version of the Sun Belt. At least the former Sun Belt teams that come with us would be in the other half of the conference. I would be all for it.

The problem for any kid at this point is that it is so close to signing day. Most schools already have their commitments lined up and are just trying to hold on to them. So, the kid does everything right and still get the short end of the stick because now there may not be many places left to go. In his case, I doubt we will still take him. I don't think we are taking a running back in this class. I don't have any particular love for Tech. I just think it is a shame the way college head coaches treat people, even at their own schools. They ask for 100% loyalty, but don't come close to providing the same in return.

Got word today the Coach Kingsbury called Jalen Rhodes of Rowlett and pulled his scholarship offer. Jalen was heavily recruited as a junior. He got multiple offers and committed to Tech last June. Even after Tuberville left, the staff at Tech assured Jalen his offer was intact and he had no need to worry.. Then, last night, Kingsbury called and said that Jalen just "didn't fit the offense". He is a tailback that can run, catch, and block... so this is total bull.. This just seems to me like more of the same from Tech and the kind of coaches they continue to hire. No kid should EVER take a Tech coach at his word..

The door closed to SMU coming back to C-USA the day we joined. It will be a "cold day" when they play in any conference we are also in. And if they EVER think we have a chance to win in the upcoming 10 game series, they will find a way out of the game (or entire series). The C-USA commish had to know when we were invited, that would burn the bridge with SMU.

The last two times we have played Baylor in Denton our crowds were 29437 (2003) and 28315 (2010). Those still wouldn't fill Apogee, but they would be VERY close. We also drew 25231 (2006) for SMU in Denton. We have hosted Tech twice, both at Texas Stadium. Those crowds were 21496 (1998) and 20852 (2001). I think they would be much larger now if we played them in Denton. We have hosted TCU once in Denton and drew 22837 in 2001.

Bored in the offseason? Here are some attendance figures for everyone we have played at least twice home and away over the last 10 years. At Arkansas State 13255 At Florida Atlantic 13536 At Florida International 13314 At Lafayette 17931 At Monroe 11120 At Middle 14498 At Troy 19704 At Tulsa 21642 At Western Kentucky 14775 Arkansas State 13193 Florida Atlantic 16509 Florida International 15540 Lafayette 16920 Monroe 15896 Middle 17877 Troy 18025 Tulsa 22948 Western Kentucky 11084 Average for home game #1 is 22759 Average for the last home game is 14078 Average for home game #1 over the last four years is 22687 Average for the last home game over the last four years is 19381 Home opener has only drawn less than 20,000 twice... 2004 vs FIU and 2009 vs Ohio. Last home game has drawn less than 10,000 four times...vs. Ark St (twice), Western Kentucky, and FIU.

I know this young man. I also know that the UNT coaches tried hard to talk him out of walking away. Even his own mother tried to get him to stay. He would not listen to anyone. Trust me, he isn't a great loss. I doubt he wil EVER graduate. I hope he will, but I doubt it. He would only have counted against our academics and would NEVER have been the kind of kid you could count on. HIs maturity level is not completely his fault. He has a rough family situation, but you can see from his comments that he sometimes does not use very good judgement. He also does not often listen to those trying to point him in the right direction. We are better off without him. Don't sweat it.

Amen

Wow. Somebody actually did some homework before speaking about the Sun Belt. Very well done.

1) A possession TE/WR must develop. Someone to move the chains and keep people off the running game. 2) The QB cannot be a statue. He must be some sort of running threat. Maybe he doesn't score, but he puts pressure on you out of the pocket or when he pulls the ball down. 3) Must develop a pass rush without bringing second level people.

Anyone know what our season ticket sales were for 2011?

Same for Baxter of Garland Lakeview. OVER-rated.

Good place for him. I've seen him play since he was a freshman. I hope he is a starter and 4 year letter winner for them. I also hope $MU doesn't cancel any of those games. Go Mean Green.

I hope NMSU lands on their feet, but I don't see how. They have been one of our few rivals (one of my best NT football memories is listening on the radio when Jordan Case extended the ball over the goalline to beat them). They want to be in a conference with UTEP just like we do with $MU, and get treated just about the same. I hope for them, but they have few options.

Good for Coach DeLoach. Good guy and he did a good job for us. The only negative for him is that he might have to talk to the idiot that wrote that article. Wow... North Texas State? still?

Wasn't Art Bryles a "high school coach"? Just sayin'....

I was at the opening of Maveric stadium. I was a the last UTA game too. They had a very good team...Then they had no team at all.

The key for us is getting a "name" opponent early in the season AND getting one late as well. Look at the years we played Army, Navy, and Kansas State late in the year. My hope is that the conference will give us a "name" to play at home late in the season. What would our average attendance have been this year if Marshall or Southern Miss had come instead of WK or MTSU? My guess is over 20,000.

Good for him and I hope he does well, but I wouldn't look for him to be back at UNT. His departure did not sit well with the boss.

So, the teams that were good last year will still be good, and the teams that sucked will still suck. Any questions?

I talked to Brooks the day he left the team. His "issues" happen to college players on occasion and could have been worked around, but he had already made up his mind. I think he was planning on enrolling at "Truck Masters" or something like that. And, from what he related of his converstaion with Coach Mac, he would not be welcomed back.