medpilot21

As much as it kills me to say it, bdan has a point? Nothing has been announced officially yet? Still, I have to think where there's smoke, there's fire. I dont know that Rick Villareal would allow this much pub to go out and not stop it if it were untrue? He certainly jumped on the board to stop a rumor before? I think it is a done-deal, and we will have a "running-gunning" Mean Green offense next year. welcome Coach Todd Dodge!!!

We got OUR GUY!!! I cant wait for spring football. Rick Villareal is getting a christmas card from me, and it will read "Merry Christmas..you are the FREAKIN MAN!" Oh, and I'm upping my MGC donation level. If RV was willing to do this for us, I'm doing my part to show we appreciate it. GMG!!!

YYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like I could cry...Rick Villareal is like Butter!!! I'm getting verclempt, talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic. Rhode Island is neither a road nor an island, discuss.... GMG!!!

I'm right there with ya Rick! This is HUGE for NT Football. Great things coming in our future, and I cannot wait for Spring football!!! GMG!!!

BS in Criminal Justice -01 Nothing like a CJ degree to get you into computers!!! GMG!!!

Yes it would, my friend... yes it would. GMG!!!

Jim Harbaugh?...that's an interesting possibility. Played for Michigan and has a few pro skins on the wall as a Colt. Could be a recruiting edge? I'm holding out for Todd Dodge, but I feel better about our options. Thanks Harry! GMG!!!

I'm not sure why the sudden panic, but I think valium is still a prescription drug... so I cant help you there? Might check with Zeke on that one. As for the "waiting for a DAMN HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFF GAME"..comment, I hope that is exactly what he is doing. I dont see anything embarrassing about that? There is no better choice for us right now than Todd Dodge. And I promise you RV has at least opened a channel to the offensive guru. I would be shocked if there arent at least three other candidates we dont know about. Be patient. Two things to keep in mind, 1. Fans and Alums have NO control over the hiring process at all?, so why spend so much time freaking out about it? Trust that RV is doing what he said he is. He has always been trustworthy and he has my faith. Try giving him some of yours. 2. No matter who gets hired, you will back him. We all will. Any coach who puts on the Mean Green Colors is going to have a huge task turning this thing around. He will need Alum support, and should get it... that's our job. Yes, I am hoping that TD becomes our HC. There is a gamble with any coach we hire. so why not?. If it is not Dodge, then we back whoever RV hires. He has earned the right to ask for our loyalty here. He did the right thing in letting Coach Dickey go, even at the cost of upsetting a "big-money" donor. I was also a DD supporter who thought the time was right for a change, and I know how hard that must have been for Rick V. I think he has taken our dissapointments to heart. Give the man a chance to get his guy before you call him out. Plain and simple: Rick Villareal cares about winning and he cares about this program. I'll put my trust in a guy like that any day. GMG!!!

Good points, AEF... You seem to look at the positives with all potential coaches. I guess my views are a bit more offensive minded. As for the RV links to SO. Miss? I have only seen a couple of posts where the attack was affiliated with RV and his past aquaintances, and I disagree with them. I trust Rick Villareal to do what is best for us... he always has. I also agree with you that Nix will eventually be a high profile head coach. Lots of defensive minded coordinators (Ray Rhodes, Buddy Ryan. Romeo Cronell, etc..) have been good head coaches. Nix certainly has the background now. I just dont think he is the right guy for the issues we have at North Texas at this moment in time. I didnt attribute that to whether or not he knew RV in the past. Even if we dont get Todd Dodge, we need someone who can run an electrical current through this program and jump start the offense. Granted there are few who can just come in and do that, but we have to look for coaches who have that reputation. Maybe Nix would have done well here, but fixing the defensive schemes while your offense is last in Division-1A seems futile? (Why put really great frosting on an awful cake? Sure, you disguise the problem for now, but eventually someone will discover how bad it is?) RV will pick the right guy. Most on the board know and trust him... no matter who he talks to. GMG!!!

I am still holding out for Dodge. Nix was a defensive guy and that is not necessarily a bad thing, but I still believe that an offensive-minded coach will bring in fans and sell tickets. (Especially one who runs a spread offense and scores points) Exciting football games and highlights on the evening news will generate interest. Todd Dodge would likely bring both to North Texas. That's not a bad starting point for a program looking to rebound from two losing seasons and having the worst ranked offense in Division-1A. Just my two-cents... GMG!!!

I was a UTA student in 95-96. I hope things are different there now, but if they are not... Spaniolo is right. The student demographics are at a point now where the majority of students at UTA are foreigners. As the national sports of most of their countries is soccer, football would be a hard sell. For the first few games, there may be decent support and attendance? However, very quickly the fan-base will decline and then the cost of running a football program becomes a waste of money. The good side is there is already a stadium, and it is actually nice for it's size. I played several flag football games at Maverick Stadium, and I love those glass press boxes. The field is good too. The bad side... simple. UTA still has the reputation as a commuter school, and the foreign students are more interested in academics than sports. Case and point: UTA has a fantastic baseball program, with several of their players drafted into pro-ball each year. The last few games I went to (including one this past year) had a crowd smaller than fifty people? Most of the crowd were adults and family members of the players. Students could get in free to watch very good baseball and they simply do not go. The same would be the case with football. It would be popular for about four games, then the support would go through the floor. Players families and the Greeks would be there, and very few else. For the record, I would love for UTA to have football again. I just dont see how it's possible? Unfortunately, it will take far more than 3000 signatures to get Spaniolo to even consider it. The cost-analysis was accurate; we know that based on what NT pays each year. The University would also have to comply with title-IX? Again, a tough sell. Good luck to the Maverick Fans... It is certainly worth the fight, even if you lose. GMG!!!

This one is better... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10bxlEjD5ok Star Wars humor... We are all way too board right now. GMG!!!

I'm still waiting for the headline that reads "Todd Dodge to coach North Texas". As for the Star Wars humor????.... check this out. HEHEHEHEHE GMG!!!

No thanks on Mike Shula. I'll take his Dad though. Don may be 150 years old, but he has skins on the wall and commands respect. Any coach that tells Dan Marino "throw the ball where you want it to go, then Duper or Clayton better get there"... is okay in my book. That's coaching! GMG!!!

Uh?, See Todd Dodge's accomplishments as the OC here in 94. That QB is now one of our NT HOF'ers. GMG!!!

Okay, so the Pony faithful are not genuises... That actually helps us here. The only reliable point made on that thread was that the new AD is the only one who hires the coach, so all that talk about Todd Dodge is worthless. The same could be said for what is being said here. We have to trust that RV will hire the right man for the job. I personally think that Todd Dodge is that guy, but I will trust RV if another coach is chosen. Let's just be patient, and hope we get our guy. GMG!!!

BULLSEYE Rick!!!!....we have a winner! J-Mo will be fine in a better scheme. That scheme will be here for Spring ball. I cant wait to see what we have. If it is the spread offense, J-Mo could catch and carry. Sounds like a good deal to me! By the way, I havent seen any posts that talk bad about J-Mo? Did I miss something? GMG!!!

Not true at all... I am a huge Darrell Dickey fan. Over the course of his 9 years here, DD made himself and his players available for everything from charity events to Flag Football games. I walked into his office from time to time and he always had time to talk to me..as he would any of you. When I needed players or a practice field for an event, DD gave with no hesitation. When I heard something that sounded like an insult to the Fans or Alums, I would ask DD straight out, and got truthful and honest answers every time. Darrell Dickey is a class act who simply had two terrible seasons. Dont make the mistake of thinking he didnt think highly of the fans and Alums here...he did. DD's mistake was talking out loud about the fans and alums who would be there when we win, then abandon this team when they lose. He warned the players to not be so affected by those people and it came across badly to to those dedicated alums who were down on the field. He explained all of that to help the Alums understand what he meant. He didnt have to, but he took the time to do it. The only flaw I could pin on DD was the retention of Ramon Flannigan as the OC here. He may have had little control over that, but there is really no one else to blame for an assistant coach's behavior. As for the rest, the guys will support the fact that I have always been loyal to Coach Dickey. Now, do I think it was time for a coaching change?, yes I do. However, that is not based on what kind of guy DD was. Sometimes even the best coaches in the world get fired...they know that is going to happen everntually. Very rarely does a coach stay in one place for 20 years. I think DD got his money's worth out of his 9 years here. I know I got FOUR conference titles, Four trips to New Orleans, a chance to shout "We beat you in your house!!!" at Spike Dykes, and my son has been in DD's office and was treated like a VIP. Say what you want about Darrell Dickey, but where else do you get this kind of access to the team, interaction with the coaches and players, and an open-door policy with the HC? UT, Tech, SMU, A&M...those fans and alums dont get this kind of access wihtout giving major money. We will have a new head coach in the spring, and I will back him. (If it will get Todd Dodge to come here, I'll have Chris wash his car once a week) But Darrell Dickey gave us something we never had. Two national rushing champions for the School, and four really great trips to New Orleans for me. Good memories, I think. GMG!!!

Who cares about the score now? It's the last game before the start of the TODD DODGE era of NT Football!!! I know, I know.... but that's who I want. I figure if I say it enough, it will happen. Help us RV, HELP US!!!!!! GMG!!!

Thanks Rick???... Now maybe you'd like to give us a paper-cut and pour some lemon juice on it!!! Hehehe... GMG!!!

We have lots of good guys on this team, but Blake Burruss has been fantastic with my son, and is a fantastic example of a college athlete for any 12 year old. Blake is the son of a football coach, which is likely the key to him being so down to earth and good with fans. There are lots of nice players on this team, but only one of them picked my son up at the bonfire and hugged him. Chris talked about that for three weeks. I dont know how Blakes numbers looked this year, but my son caught every QB pressure he caused. NT Football is one of the special things I share with Chris, and to hear him yell "Blakes out there!!" means he is actually watching the game with me. Johnny Quinn is an outstanding young man, no doubt... and is also a great role model for these kids. I am still very happy with the role model my son picked over the last two years. I think Blake will make a fine football coach himself one day. I honestly hope he teaches his players to show as much class and humility as he does. Kids know when someone is sincere, and those are lasting impressions... GMG!!!

Did mine and sent it. I also put in an extra plug or two for Todd Dodge. I realize that may not be the best place for a head coach suggestion, but someone has to read the surveys. right? Maybe it makes a difference, maybe not. At least it's going to the right people. GMG!!!

Indeed he has.. Todd Dodge has not only polished the spread offense, but he has also improved on the QB "quick-release". THAT is why Southlake Carroll QB's dont get sacked very often... the ball is already gone when the defensive player gets back there. Both of those aspects of play are huge improvments over what NT does now. Maybe it takes Dodge two recruiting years to get the peices he wants, but I'm patient enough to wait that out. Some talent we already have... offensive "know-how"?, that's where we are lacking. Our current play-calling "Genuis" will be gone, so we have that to look forward to. I think NT football will be just fine. The odds are still a long-shot that we could ever get Todd Dodge to come here, but he has expressed interest. RV would have to up the money and say all the right things. I trust Rick V. to do whatever it takes to make this team better. I cant think of anyone who would bring more excitement and interest to NT football than Todd Dodge. I'm sure RV has considerred every possible option. The waiting game is on... SLC is hunting ANOTHER State Title, so it may be a week or two before RV can really go after TD. GMG!!!

I see too many benefits to having Todd Dodge here to ignore... 1. RECRUITING: I know, we have good athletes. But imagine what a Chase Daniels caliber recruit could do for this offense. 2. The OFFENSE: call me crazy, but the spread offense is taking Divison-I programs into the next century. My nephew Drew Carnahan plays Freshman football at Southlake now. He is a 6-1/200lb, 15year old baseball player who plays TACKLE at SLC. Todd Dodge's offense has no TE's, so he plays for the downfield pass and scores a motherload of points. ALL the best athletes are on his offense. Imagine what that would do for the offensive scheme at NT? I cant think of a more exciting offense to watch? It would bring football fans to Fouts... it has to Southlake Carroll. 3. OOC opponents: Todd Dodge was a Longhorn QB, and still carries that "when the gun sounds and time expires...we WILL be ahead" mentality. He honestly believes that his teams can compete with ANYONE. 4. Ticket sales: Most of the people in this state know Todd Dodge. More than the normal amount of fans will come out to watch a team he coaches. Could be a huge fan base increase. There are lots of other reasons he would work out here...history as our OC, close proximity so his family can stay in SL, etc... I just think we need a big name and proven winner to turn this thing around. My OPINION is that Todd Dodge gives us the edge we need to improve this program. I would love to read the Dallas Morning News this year on signing day, and see some committments of "North Texas" among all of those "Texas Tech's", "Texas A&M's" ..and "UT's" from the States top 100 athletes. I really believe we have that if Dodge comes to Denton. My two cents, and probably not worth that much. Fire away... GMG!!!

Rick Villareal has always been true to his word, people. I'll take that over any news media. So scrap the Butler talk and let's focus on the REAL story brewing. TODD DODGE INTERESTED IN NORTH TEXAS FOOTBALL COACHING VACANCY. Count me in as interested in THAT!!! GMG!!!