bigntex

Padron, per Rivals, will be the 2nd QB verbally committed. JJ is signing two QB's. UNT will sign a QB who has a stellar Senior season who will be a unknown (other than to UNT staff) commodity at this time frame.

Man how quickly people forget about an All-American. Have you ever seen Roberson run routes other than a fly route or go route? Watch Casey and Dibrell run routes. Their is a big difference between the routes Linus Sneed runs vs. a player like Jordan Shipley. Casey runs unbelievable routes. Roberson is a speciman and a helluva athlete but please don't forget about one, Casey "walk on" Fitz, the all-american. I was going to pick one of my boys but I think the dude Tobe at LB will be the player of the year for the UNT defense.

Giovanni could have gone to numerous schools with better football tradition and exposure than UNT but his relationship with Dibrell and and Coach Dodge sold him. He could have easily gone back to his full ride opportunities in the WAC or Conference USA or even any of the acadamies, especially after what he did last season after playing under extreme conditions (no OL with any experience, no running game, new system) and a completely unproven college staff except for a few. Not to say, he was only months removed from High school. I disagree he couldn't have gone somewhere else. If you ask our old HS staff, they would beg to differ (our coaches got the Riley card thrown at them all the time, to make Giovanni reconsider). He would only be human to give some thought of leaving to play elsewhere to AVOID the distraction for 3 more seasons. But he doesn't back down from crap. Don't count him out in 2009 and 2010. Riley Dodge has not played one snap of college ball and UNT is on the other side of the field from the types of teams SLC played. Riley took very few big shots in his day, and one that did, took him out of the playoffs. If Riley hadn't played at SLC he would just be another very good QB, with a lot less media hype. I am not saying Riley won't win the job, just don't think he is the chosen one. Put Giovanni under a steady OL with a little experience and watch out. He is the ultimate gamer.

Mr. Franklin, Any idea what is being planned for your son, is he being looked at on offense or defense at this time?

FAU is a scary football team. UT is lacking some experience in the secondary and if FAU can get some ground game going to go with their play action, then watch out. ARK. State gave the Horns all they wanted, in Austin, in the opener, last season.

Chase Daniel was over 205 lbs. and played as a true freshman at Missouri. Daniel's arm vs. Riley's is comparing apples to oranges. If you think that Vizza is going to lay down and take a whipping from Riley you don't know who he is, what he's capable of, or what he stands for. If Riley beats him out then so be it. Riley knowing Dodge's high school system is a lot different than knowing the system and how it works at the collegiate level. TD, himself, had a huge learning curve last season. TD underestimated the Sun Belt, the talent in the Sun Belt and more importantly, the coaching staffs in the Sun Belt last season. Everyone knows Vizza was thrown to the wolves and took a vicious beating with a young OL, a inexperienced Dodgeball staff, etc. Knowing the system is very important, but executing it with the big boys who have every bit the talent, size, and speed is another thing. Dodge's play calling will improve this season. The key to the whole deal will be the OL's progress and whether or not Micah Mosely can run the ball effectively to keep the defenses honest. Tre' Newton and the huge OL at Carroll kept defenses honest. FG kicker will be an important component as well. Riley is going to be an outstanding player. Just don't believe that Vizza is going to hand it to him or that he doesn't have the moxy, talent, and heart to compete with one Riley Dodge. If Vizza would have played in the SLC system and been in the Metro Plex, he wouldn't be at UNT. If you look at Coach Dodge's quote in DCTF "Vizza has the potential to be great." Dodge doesn't throw around comments like that for grins. Will Riley compete, hell yes. He has a ton of talent and is a fantastic player. The back up QB's are every team's favorite topic. Time will tell, just don't sell the "wild italian" short. Great problem to have if your a fan of UNT football. It will be also interesting to see how well the Mississippi JUCO's can catch on and play out of a two point stance and whether or not they can compete with the current OL who have a season and two springs, under their belts, in this system.

Stadiums with a track suck. No football stadium should ever have a track and I believe they don't in today's modern college football era.

From what I hear, it is already game on between the two young QB's and it's very clear who has the experience, strength, arm and who works his ass off. The players know and obviously the staff knows. End of story.

AP Photo/Matt Slocum QUOTE "Todd Dodge will have his son back under center when North Texas takes the field next year." Not too fast ESPN. ESPN and especially Phil Steele do no research on Sun Belt schools. Good article and good exposure for North Texas. Don't pencil in Riley as the number one guy, just yet Phil or ESPN. Their just might be a player or two who might have a say in this deal. I bet the "crumbs" might have a little bit in the tank for Riley, come August.

7 on 7 in the afternoon today. Maybe Green59 can tell us how things are going on from his perspective. More players showed up this week and things are getting competitive. Juices starting to flow as the new guys on the block (freshman) hitting the field. Several walk-ons were in attendance and competing as well.

I have caught balls at Nike camps from GJ Kinne, Ryan Mallett, Riley Dodge, Jarrett Lee, and Giovanni Vizza just to name a few, who are going or went to D-1 programs. Those orange bloods who think GJ Kinne is all world are ignorant. If Texas is looking for a dual threat and GJ is as good a runner and passer as MG thinks, then he wouldn't have come out of spring in 4th on the depth chart. Because Chiles nor Sherrod can throw worth a crap. So if GJ is so great at both throwing and running, why didn't he move up the depth chart????? Chiles and Harris are one dimensional and that's why Colt is the #1 QB. I saw Giovanni tie for first in the entire Nike passing camp at A&M passing contest against all these players and more. That is a fact. Ryan Mallett had the biggest arm possibly ever from what the camp directors told us (for a high school kid). But his feet were slow and his accuracy did not match Vizza at that camp. Now is Kinne a good QB? Definitely, but he will not start for any big caliber team. He has no offers shown on Scout or Rivals from OU or USC. Get real!

Love the quote that Riley and Daniels are sitting there putting pressure on my boy. He thrives on that crap. I love Phillips comments that Gio was just hitting receiver after receiver with the SLC boys watching. You got to love that he steps up when, the so called big boys, are watching.

I think around 195. He just recently turned 19.

Talked to my boy, after we texted awhile, he said he was 210 pounds heading into spring practice. He put on significant muscle from off-season which is no surprise, he is animal in the weight room for a QB and having a Qb's body.

Clement (the current starter from Rice) is a good friend of Gio's. They worked out together in high school. Rice and Clement wanted Gio to go to Rice last season and red shirt while Clement finishes his career and have Gio back him up. Pure speculation, if Gio goes anywhere, I bet Clement and Coach Bailiff might have something to do with that.

I don't know this for sure but I would think my boy from Heights, will have his eyes on how the NCAA handles the deal with that dude from Michigan who transferred. All those UNT QB's have to be in a very uncomfortable deal when the coaches son plays the position. Those dudes have to mind their p's and q's around Riley, they have to be careful what they say around Riley, etc. etc. It's not his talent that makes it challenging, its competing with that very same person who is the head coaches son. Competing with a coach's son has to be a very difficult to do so mentally. I don't play ball any more but if I did, that would be a situation I would not want to have hanging all over my mind. Can you imagine the political correctness that all those QB's have to take regarding the so call Super Man ? I know Gio will do and say everything that is politically correct but you have to wonder. But if he decides to leave, UNT is in a good situation and so will Gio, so it could be a winning situation for both players in the long run.

Good luck to a good dude in Kevin Ealey. I hope to see you playing somewhere else. i met this dude at a party and he was a good guy.

No doubt from the interview that TD is proud and rightfully so. But TD sure toots and promotes the hype that is Riley D. UNT's SLC connection Head Coach - SLC, Offensive Coordinator - SLC, Graduate assistant on Offense - SLC QB recruit and son of HC - SLC QB waiting to kick ass - my Alamo Heights champ, Freshman All-American, and homeboy. GV will watch this hype and video and eat it for breakfast. GV will have flames coming out his mouth the first time he runs the ball in spring. I see a collision coming on and then some fist pump asking for more.

Too bad Riley and Gio can't get it on now in spring ball. It will be a battle of hype and talent vs. an Italian meatball with balls of steel and talent to boot. Either way, it will be fun. Don't forget about the Stallion, he'll come out swinging like a mother.

All this press for Dodge makes my home boy #15 work his ass off. Riley is a competitor but Gio is a mean SOB that will kill you with his work ethic and talent. Gio will never, and I mean never, back off on this deal. This kind of stuff fuels the fire.

NT Trio Earns Honorable Mention All-America Honors Courtesy: University of North Texas Release: 12/13/2007 Courtesy: University of North Texas http://www.meangreensports.com/ DENTON, Texas (12/13/07) – From walk-on to All-American. It’s a fairy tale story that could only come true in a movie, but University of North Texas wide receiver Casey Fitzgerald has made it reality. Fitzgerald, a junior walk-on from Red Oak, Texas, was recently named an honorable mention All-America selection by SI.com. Fitzgerald came into the 2007 season with just 92 career receiving yards. He tallied more than his previous career total in half of the Mean Green’s 12 games this season. He finished sixth in the NCAA in receiving yards per game with 110.2 and third in the NCAA with 9.25 receptions per game. Fitzgerald was one of only two receivers in America this season with at least 100 catches, 1,200 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns. He broke Sun Belt single-season records in receiving yards (1,322), receptions (104), receiving touchdowns (12) and receiving yards per game (114.9). His 104 receptions and 1,322 yards also set North Texas records. Fitzgerald becomes the first Mean Green receiver to earn All-America honors from any publication since 1982 when Marvin Walker was a second-team selection by the Associated Press. North Texas freshmen Giovanni Vizza and Craig Robertson were also both honored for their efforts during the 2007 season. Vizza and Robertson received honorable mention honors on the Scout.com Freshman All-America Team. Vizza also earned freshman honorable mention honors by SportingNews.com. Vizza, who last week earned SBC Freshman of the Year honors, led the nation among true freshmen in pass attempts (383), pass completions (223), passing yards (2,388) and passing touchdowns (16). He set the NCAA record for most passing touchdowns by a freshman with eight TD tosses against Navy. In eight starts, Vizza became all-time leader in passing yards by a freshman at North Texas, besting Andrew Smith’s mark of 1,206 set in 2002. At the linebacker position, Robertson, a freshman from Stafford, Texas, recorded 48 tackles and led North Texas with five interceptions in the eight games that he started for the Mean Green. Robertson helped force seven turnovers against the Sun Belt’s top offensive team in Troy, including his two interceptions.

Riley went to the best. I wonder how long his recovery period is and whether or not he'll attend unt in the spring? Best of luck to him. Many were and are anticipating the showdown between Meager, Vizza and Riley. It now has been delayed some (the competitive challenge).

Giovanni, everyone at the highschool is pumped for you and Sam. Congratulations on representing your school and your community at Alamo Heights. If we only had Gio back one more season, we would be back in the finals against Copperas Cove. All the best to you and Dib. Your work ethic in the weight room this spring is going to surprise those folks up in Denton.

Giovanni, You have made your the Alamo Heights community proud. Both you and Sam have done a great job under some difficult conditions. Congratulations Sam and Giovanni, you guys both probably should have red shirted, yet you both when out there and did your best. The 78209 backs you guys all the way.

I am betting that Dodge redshirts. Gio has proved to his team that he has the will, leadership, and ability to get the job done and more. He was thrown to the wolves with a very young o-line and got his assed kicked and took so much body abuse against Troy. But it was in that game, that Gio showed to his team his heart and never once lost his composure or pointed fingers. That sold his team. But what nobody sees behind the closed doors is his work ethic in the weight and film room. No way Gio will ever get out worked. Riley will need to get stronger, he needs to add about 20 lbs. and then will be good to go. Two state champions (and players of the year) on the same team is a tribute to Coach Dodge.