OldTimer

Football: Wildcat wallop Kansas State racks up tons of offense in win over UNT 09:31 AM CDT on Sunday, September 25, 2005 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer MANHATTAN, Kan. — North Texas is finished with non-conference play for now. The AP Kansas State quarterback Allen Webb (8) passes over North Texas defensive end Eli Hutchinson during the first half Saturday in Manhattan, Kan. Webb had his career-best passing day by halftime. After what UNT experienced the past two weeks, there couldn’t be much better news for the Mean Green. UNT came into its game against Kansas State on Saturday hoping to bounce back from a drubbing at home against Tulsa, but only saw matters get worse in a 54-7 loss to the Wildcats at KSU Stadium. KSU (3-0) set a school record with 658 yards of total offense while limiting UNT to five first downs. UNT’s loss to the Wildcats followed a 54-2 setback against Tulsa and sent the Mean Green (1-2) scampering back to the Sun Belt Conference in hopes of turning their season around. “We still have a lot of growing up to do,” UNT head coach Darrell Dickey said. “Our hats are off to Kansas State. They have an excellent football team. If you make mistakes against them, they are going to make you pay.” Allen Webb threw for 256 yards for KSU, while redshirt freshman Parrish Fisher added 169 yards rushing in place of Thomas Clayton. Clayton came into the weekend leading the nation with an average of 164.5 rushing yards a game, but didn’t play against UNT. Clayton was charged with aggravated battery after driving away from and allegedly grazing a campus parking services employee last week. “Parrish played well,” KSU head coach Bill Snyder said. “Unfortunately he didn’t play in the Marshall game, which is probably on us. In the first ball game he ran well and continues to do so.” KSU’s blowout win spoiled a milestone day for UNT running back Patrick Cobbs and Dickey’s return to his alma mater, where he was the starting quarterback from 1979-82. Cobbs rushed for just 34 yards, but still managed to break UNT’s career rushing record of 3,120 yards set by Ja’Quay Wilburn from 1997-2000. The AP UNT coach Darrell Dickey walks the sidelines during the first half. Dickey led Kansas State to their first bowl game as quarterback of the Wildcats. Despite a glut of talent at running back, UNT has only scored two offensive touchdowns in three games, including junior wide receiver Johnny Quinn’s 25-yard scoring catch from backup quarterback Matt Phillips in the fourth quarter against KSU. Jamario Thomas led UNT with 62 yards rushing — a total he compiled in the fourth quarter after losing three yards on four carries before the final period. UNT’s struggles offensively proved costly when KSU exploded for 28 points in the second quarter to break open a game the Wildcats only led 3-0 after the first period. “They ran a couple of plays that caught us sleeping,” UNT safety Aaron Weathers said. “They made the plays and we didn’t.” Webb hit wide receiver Jordy Nelson for a 40-yard touchdown pass with 8:45 left in the first half. Ayo Saba scored on a 3-yard run less than three minutes later to give the Wildcats a comfortable 24-0 lead after UNT’s offense went three-and-out. UNT left its defense stranded on the field for much of the game, running just 47 offensive plays compared to 75 for KSU. “We know our offense is struggling a little bit right now,” Weathers said. “We know that they will start making plays as the season goes along. We are conditioned to go as many plays as we have to.” UNT is hoping its offense will get back on track in time for its game against Troy on Oct. 4. Even after two lopsided non-conference losses, the Mean Green are still unbeaten in Sun Belt play at 1-0 and control their destiny in the league. “The only encouraging thing I saw today that we still had guys playing hard in the fourth quarter,” Dickey said. “We got a lot of young guys in the game who we think can help us. We are still trying to find out who are best players are and have a long way to go to compete with anybody.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

KSU rolls over North Texas, 54-7 07:01 PM CDT on Saturday, September 24, 2005 Associated Press MANHATTAN, Kan. - Parrish Fisher was quite a sub for Kansas State, running for 169 yards in place of Thomas Clayton and helping the Wildcats roll up a school-record 658 yards in a 54-7 rout of North Texas on Saturday. Clayton, the nation's leading rusher, was benched for the game by coach Bill Snyder. There was speculation all week whether Clayton would play after being charged with aggravated battery after driving away from and allegedly grazing a campus parking services employee. Colleges Kansas State 54, North Texas 7 KSU rolls over North Texas, 54-7 Summary Scoreboard More Colleges Before the game, Snyder said only that Clayton would suffer "consequences" for his action. Fisher more than made up for Clayton's absence, adding another 59 yards on receptions. With 169 yards on 21 carries, Fisher became the first Kansas State freshman to run for 100-plus yards in a game. In the second quarter, Fisher had 109 yards and 46 yards receiving as the Wildcats (3-0) scored four TDs in taking a 31-0 halftime lead. Allen Webb was 10-of-12 for 256 yards and two touchdowns. The Mean Green (1-2), 54-2 losers to Tulsa last week, totaled just 161 yards and scored their first offensive points in eight quarters with 2:03 remaining. The four-time defending Sun Belt champions had only 76 yards of total offense in the decisive first half to 382 for Kansas State. Clayton never got off the bench after running for 329 yards, the most in school history for the first two games of a season. Webb had a 40-yard TD pass to Jordy Nelson and a 47-yard scoring toss to Davin Dennis. He also teamed with Fisher on a 46-yard gain on a screen pass that led to Carlos Alsup's 6-yard TD run. He also hit Yamon Figurs for 50 yards to set up a 3-yard TD run by Ayo Saba that made it 24-0 in the second quarter. A few minutes later, Jermaine Moreira broke free on a 62-yard touchdown punt return. Jeff Snodgrass had field goals of 21 and 57 yards for the Wildcats. After Dennis' touchdown made it 38-0 midway through the third quarter, Kansas State began flooding the field with second- and third-teamers. North Texas, whose coach, Darrell Dickey, was Kansas State's quarterback from 1979-82 while his father, Jim, was head coach, finally scored on Matt Phillips' 25-yard TD pass to Johnny Quinn with 2:03 left. Backup Donnie Anders scored on runs of 3 and 17 yards in the fourth period.

KState have almost 490 yds offense in 3rd quarter. We have now scored a total of 23 pts in 12 quarters.

latest K State 31, NT 0

KSt 17 to 0

KSTate 10 to 0, screen pass for TD Cotton injured on kickoff.

nfm

Football: UNT out to tame Wildcats Mean Green looking to bounce back after Tulsa loss 08:51 AM CDT on Saturday, September 24, 2005 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer Until last week, North Texas was just where it wanted to be early in the 2005 season. UNT pulled off a season-opening win over conference rival Middle Tennessee and had momentum squarely on its side. Of course that was before Tulsa rolled through town. The Mean Green had a chance to move to 2-0, but let the opportunity slip past when the Golden Hurricane blew away UNT, 54-2. That lopsided loss has left UNT scrambling to get back on track heading into what could be its biggest challenge thus far this season, a 1:10 p.m. game today at Kansas State. “We definitely need to get back on track and get ourselves going again,” UNT junior wide receiver Zach Muzzy said. “Our last game was pretty rough for us. We played a good team and didn’t execute the way we should have.” UNT’s game against K-State will be the Mean Green’s only opportunity to turn the tide before the hitting a key stretch of Sun Belt Conference games, beginning with a game against Troy on Oct. 4. Capitalizing on that chance will be a monumental challenge. K-State has long been a power in the Big 12 Conference, one of the nation’s elite leagues, and is in position to return to prominence this season. The Wildcats are 2-0, although their margin of victory in wins over Florida International (35-21) and Marshall (21-19) was not all that impressive. “Kansas State is a very good football team that is rebounding from what was a sub-par year for them,” UNT head coach Darrell Dickey said. “They are unbeaten, have the nation’s leading rusher and are very big and physical up front.” One of the key questions heading into the game is whether K-State will be at full strength. Running back Thomas Clayton enters the weekend leading the nation in rushing with an average of 164.5 yards a game. Clayton has made an impression with his early performance, both on his coach and observers across the country. “He’s running more aggressively than perhaps at earlier stages in his career,” Wildcats head coach Bill Snyder said. “He’s had some help. He’s behind an offensive line that is making some progress and providing him some space to run in. I think those things coupled together have helped him.” His status for the game is in question, however, because of legal problems off the field. Clayton was arrested last Friday by campus police on a complaint of aggravated battery against a university parking employee. He has not been charged. UNT has already allowed a pair of running backs to rush for at least 100 yards. Tulsa’s Brandon Diles rushed for 128 yards last week, while MTSU’s Eugene Gross posted 129 yards. What might be an even bigger concern for the Mean Green is the state of their offense. UNT has scored just one offensive touchdown on the year — a Patrick Cobbs’ 4-yard run against MTSU. Cobbs has rushed for 100 yards twice, but UNT has struggled to complement his play on a consistent basis. Redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Meager had a solid showing in the first start of his career against MTSU, throwing for 122 yards. But he took a step back last week when he threw for just 63 yards and tossed a pair of interceptions against Tulsa. While UNT would like to be more effective in the passing game, the basis of its offense is still running the ball. “With great backs like Patrick and Jamario [Thomas], throwing has always been second for us,” Muzzy said. “With backs like them it should be. We want to put the ball in their hands as much as we can. Hopefully that will set up our passing game.” That formula has helped UNT win four straight Sun Belt Conference titles. A game against K-State might not directly help the Mean Green capture a fifth consecutive title, but playing well against the Wildcats could be critical for the Mean Green. UNT will have just a few days after facing the Wildcats to get ready for a chance to move to 2-0 in the Sun Belt with a win over Troy. The challenge of beginning a turnaround against K-State is one UNT believes it is ready to face. “Kansas State is always good,” Muzzy said. “They are a Big 12 team that will be a tough task for us, but we are up for it.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

Preview: North Texas (1-1) at Kansas State (2-0) 09:27 PM CDT on Friday, September 23, 2005 By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle Line: Kansas State by 24 ½ WHAT'S ON THE LINE NORTH TEXAS – UNT is looking to get back on track after a 54-2 loss to Tulsa last week. A solid showing would help UNT build momentum heading into its Sun Belt opener against Troy. KANSAS STATE – The Wildcats can move to 3-0 heading into their Big 12 opener against Oklahoma. WHO'S HOT NORTH TEXAS – Senior RB Patrick Cobbs has rushed for 203 yards on and has cleared the 100-yard mark in each of the Mean Green's first two games. KANSAS STATE – Junior RB Thomas Clayton is leading the nation in rushing (164.5 yards a game) and could build on that total, if he plays. Clayton was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery in an incident involving a parking services employee. Kansas State coach Bill Snyder indicated Clayton would face disciplinary action but declined to say whether he would play. WHO'S NOT NORTH TEXAS – Redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Meager took a step back after a solid first start when he completed just 9 of 21 passes for 63 yards and threw a pair of interceptions against Tulsa. KANSAS STATE – Punter Tim Reyer is averaging 40.5 yards a punt but had one blocked and returned for a touchdown against Florida International. THE STAT THAT TELLS THE STORY NORTH TEXAS – Cobbs has accounted for 232 of UNT's 403 offensive yards this season. The senior has also caught eight passes for 29 yards. KANSAS STATE – The Wildcats' third game of the year is normally their last nonconference contest. K-State is 13-1 in their third game since the 1991 season, including an 11-0 mark at home. KEY MATCHUP: UNT RB PATRICK COBBS VS. K-STATE LB MAURICE MACK Cobbs has been one of UNT's lone offensive threats early this season, rushing for 100 yards in both the Mean Green's games. UNT will need another big night from the senior to stay with K-State, which ranks 14th nationally in rushing defense. Mack leads the team with 14 tackles, including three for losses. NORTH TEXAS WINS IF: Cobbs and sophomore RB Jamario Thomas can get UNT's running game going and keep Kansas State's offense off the field. KANSAS STATE WINS IF: The Wildcats can keep their running game rolling with or without Thomas Clayton. Preview: North Texas (1-1) at Kansas State (2-0)

Holman making impact on field for Mean Green UNT linebacker starting to fulfill expectations 09:18 AM CDT on Friday, September 23, 2005 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer When asked about making the biggest play thus far this season for North Texas late on a Saturday night two weeks ago, Maurice Holman said it was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. UNT defensive coordinator Kenny Evans is pretty sure there was a little more to it than just luck, even if it appeared as if Middle Tennessee quarterback Clint Marks went temporarily color blind in the Mean Green’s 14-7 win over the Blue Raiders. MTSU had a seven-point lead in the second half and appeared to be on its way to putting UNT away when Marks threw the ball right to Holman, who took it 99 yards to the opposite end of the field for the game-tying touchdown. The interception was just the latest in a series of big plays and solid performances by Holman, who has gone from afterthought to backup to starter in just over a year. “Maurice is such a hard worker and student of the game,” Evans said. “He utilized his time last year when he was not starting in practice. When he got his opportunity he was ready for it. That is the difference between him and some people. Sometimes people want a chance and then don’t take advantage when they get one. Maurice did.” The former Mt. Vernon standout will look to add to his list of big plays in UNT’s last three games when the Mean Green face perhaps their toughest task to date on Saturday, a 1:10 p.m. game at Kansas State. Holman will enter that game with added confidence after leading the Mean Green with 10 tackles in last season’s New Orleans Bowl and essentially saving UNT in its game against MTSU. Holman attributes his recent surge to his desire to make an impact this season. “This offseason I decided that I wanted to play,” Holman said. “I am roommates with Patrick [Cobbs] and Chris [Miller]. They are seniors and I want them to go out with a bang.” UNT’s coaches knew Holman had a chance to be an impact player when they signed him in the winter of 2003. It just took a little longer than expected for Holman to capitalize on his potential because of a knee injury he suffered before the beginning of his redshirt freshman season. Holman was in the middle of a battle with fellow freshman Brandon Monroe for playing time and lost out when he had to miss several practices. A second chance came when Monroe was injured in the New Orleans Bowl, forcing Holman into the game. “I got my chance to play in the New Orleans Bowl and didn’t want to let it go,” Holman said. “It was great to play under the lights on national TV with people at home watching. It was a great feeling.” The way Holman played during that game was one of the first indications he had turned the corner. UNT coach Darrell Dickey said it appeared as if Holman broke through late last year when started reacting instead of thinking about what he needed to do on the field. “Last year I second-guessed myself,” Holman said. “This year I know what to do and can follow my instincts.” Those instincts are what helped Holman end up in the right spot to post his interception against MTSU. “It was a great, great time against Middle Tennessee,” Holman said. “It was a good come-from-behind win for us in conference play.” While Holman has progressed, Evans says he is just like the rest of the Mean Green’s young defensive players who still have a long way to go to reach their potential. Holman finished with three tackles last week and only played well in the first half against Tulsa before the Mean Green’s defense collapsed along the with the rest of the team in a 54-2 loss. “Maurice is a brand new starter and every game is different,” Evans said. “He still needs to learn how to play with focus and intensity every game for four quarters.” Taking that next step could help make Holman the complete player UNT’s coaches believe he can be. “Maurice has the size, speed and strength,” Evans said. “Plus he is a very intelligent football player.” Chapman to play against K-State Defensive end Jeremiah Chapman will play against Kansas State on Saturday, UNT coach Darrell Dickey said Thursday. Chapman’s status was in question because of an ankle injury until doctors cleared him on Wednesday. The sophomore ranks third on the team with 13 tackles and has also recovered a fumble. BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

Fri, Sep. 23, 2005 UNT rushes to judgment By JEFF WILSON Star-Telegram Staff Writer The numbers for North Texas' offense through two games are alarming: 222 rushing yards; Jamario Thomas has 20 carries for 71 yards; and the Mean Green's defense and special teams have scored more points (nine) than the offense (seven). It could be more of the same at 1 p.m. Saturday in Manhattan, Kan. UNT will be outmanned when it plays at Kansas State, but the four quarters at Wagner Field will give the Mean Green its first chance at rediscovering the one thing that has put it on the national landscape the past two seasons. A dominant ground game, coaches and players believe, will help UNT (1-1) jump-start its season and run to a fifth consecutive Sun Belt Conference crown. "We are the epitome right now of an offense that is a work in progress," Mean Green coach Darrell Dickey said. "I'm very disappointed we haven't been able to run the ball better. That's what we pride ourselves in, and that's been the key to us having success." Two things are different on offense this season -- the quarterback and the offensive line. UNT spent the past two seasons with an efficient veteran, Scott Hall, under center. Hall helped soften defenses against the run with accurate play-action passes. Hall's gone, and Daniel Meager is in. The redshirt freshman has struggled in the first two games as he learns how to handle the offense. Defenses are keying on the run and daring Meager, who has only 185 yards in two games, to pass. The offensive line, though not as young as Meager, lacks experience in three of five positions. Dickey said the unit lacks the chemistry required for a successful zone-blocking team. UNT averaged only 1.9 yards per carry in a 54-2 loss to Tulsa last weekend, but all-conference guard Dylan Lineberry said the line improves each day. "When you've got Patrick [Cobbs] and Jamario out there, it's frustrating when we can't move the ball," he said. "It's not one person's fault, but it falls on the offensive line. We're close, and I think we'll get there." Lineberry said the line needs more consistency, five players doing the right thing at the same time. That ranges from reading whom to block to holding a block longer. Doing those things will spring Cobbs, the 2003 national rushing champ, who has 203 yards this season, and Thomas, the NCAA's defending leading rusher, who is hampered by a hamstring injury. Then, things could return to normal when North Texas resumes Sun Belt play Oct. 4 against defensive-minded Troy, an expected title contender. "For what we do offensively, you've got to have 11 people all on the same page performing as one," Dickey said. "I think if we can get our running game where it's supposed to be, it will solve a lot of problems. But there are a lot of things that have to happen for it to get where we want it to be." meangreensports.com IN THE KNOW NORTH TEXAS AT KANSAS STATE 1 p.m. Saturday, Wagner Field, Manhattan, Kan. TV: None Radio: KWRD/100.7 FM, KNTU/88.1 FM Records: North Texas 1-1, Kansas State 2-0 UNT KEYS TO THE GAME Find running game: Don't expect much vs. Kansas State, but North Texas' offense can take the first step to a dominant ground game by finding chemistry and consistency. Get O-line on line: Reducing penalties and staying on blocks longer will help spring the running game and keep QB Daniel Meager upright in the pocket. Turnovers: The defense went from five in the opener to zero last week. A few against the Wildcats might build confidence and jump-start the offense. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Football: Grouned UNT running game struggling after just two games 08:43 AM CDT on Thursday, September 22, 2005 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer Just a few weeks ago, North Texas appeared poised to have one of the best running attacks in the country. DRC/Barron Ludlum North Texas running back Patrick Cobbs (43) is brought down by Tulsa cornerback Nick Graham (22) as linebackers Chris Chamberlain and Nelson Coleman give chase during UNT’s 54-2 loss on Saturday at Fouts Field. UNT returned the last two national rushing champions in Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas, not to mention a pair of starters on its offensive line. So far that experience has not paid off as expected. Cobbs has rushed for 100 yards in each of UNT’s first two games, but the Mean Green are averaging just 111 yards rushing an outing heading into a game at Kansas State on Saturday. The total represents a significant drop from the 186.4 yards UNT averaged on the ground last year. “I am very disappointed that we have not been able to run the ball better,” UNT coach Darrell Dickey said. “That is what we pride ourselves in and that has been the key to our success.” In the past, UNT’s running game has been powered by a series of standout running backs, an experienced offensive line and an efficient passing attack that has made enough big plays to prevent defenses from stacking the line of scrimmage. UNT has struggled to make that equation work this season, sending the Mean Green’s offense into an extended funk. Cobbs scored on a 4-yard run in UNT’s season-opening win over Middle Tennessee for the Mean Green’s only offensive touchdown of the season. Tulsa’s defense, which had allowed 200 yards rushing to both Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma and Laurence Maroney of Minnesota, shut down the Mean Green last week in a 54-2 shellacking. “We have a lot of young guys who are playing,” Thomas said. “Once we get a few games under our belt, we will be better.” Line struggles early on Part of UNT’s struggles can be traced to its offensive line, which has struggled to develop the chemistry that has been a key to its success in previous seasons. The Mean Green’s base running plays employ zone blocking schemes instead of man-on-man strategies. The zone scheme assigns linemen a section of the field and allows the Mean Green’s running backs to pick out the openings in opposing defenses. UNT thrived with that scheme during the tenure of center Andy Brewster, a four-year starter who graduated last season. The Mean Green retuned senior guard Dylan Lineberry and junior tackle Joel Foster, but have struggled to return to form. UNT’s opponents have posted 22 tackles for losses of 95 yards this season. “A lot of our problem is that we have veterans and younger guys who are getting used to playing together,” Foster said. “It seems like it is always one guy here or there who is breaking down, but it is something we can fix.” Gaining experience could be the key for the Mean Green. Redshirt freshman Chad Rose is in his first year as a starter at center, while sophomore tackle Jeremy Brown started four games of the 2004 season before mononucleosis limited him the rest of the year. Senior guard Jason May started nine games in 2003, but sat out all of last season. “We think that they are all talented young players, but for what we do offensively, they have to come together as a unit and know how to play with each other,” Dickey said. “It’s very important in our offense that there is a chemistry in that offensive line. It is coming together, but we are not anywhere close to where we need to be.” Quarterback conundrum During the last two seasons, UNT has complemented its running game with an effective passing attack. Scott Hall threw for 1,732 yard and 1,818 yards in his final two seasons before graduating last year. Redshirt freshman Daniel Meager was efficient while throwing for 122 yards against MTSU, but tossed a pair of interceptions and struggled against Tulsa. UNT ranks last in the Sun Belt Conference with an average of 90.5 passing yards a game and has seen its opponents bring eight or nine defenders into the box to stop Cobbs and Thomas. The Mean Green have yet to consistently make defenses pay for concentrating on stopping their running game. “Daniel will be the first to tell you that Saturday night wasn’t a great outing for him,” Dickey said. “He has to play better, but we are dealing with a guy who has played two college football games.” Cobbs thriving, Thomas hurting Even with UNT’s struggles offensively, Cobbs has been productive for the Mean Green. The senior rushed for 103 yards against MTSU and added 100 in UNT’s loss to Tulsa while answering questions about his health. Cobbs missed the final 10 games of last season with a knee injury. Thomas has had a much tougher time overcoming a pulled hamstring that has hampered him since the end of last season. The sophomore has just 71 yards on 17 carries. “My hamstring has been bothering me a little bit,” Thomas said. “I will be able to help the team more when it gets better.” UNT has relied on Cobbs to carry its offense with Thomas hobbling and Meager still learning the college game. Cobbs not only leads the team in rushing yards, he also ranks first with eight receptions for 29 yards. Cobbs has had a hand in 232 of UNT’s 403 offensive yards when his 29 yards receiving are taken into account. Dickey is hoping the Mean Green can find more balance, a process he believes must begin with an improved running game. “If we can get our running game to where it needs to be, it will solve a lot of problems,” Dickey said. “But there are a lot of things that need to happen for us to get there.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com. UNT running game The following is a look at North Texas running game this season. 111 – Number of rushing yards UNT is averaging through two games this season. The Mean Green averaged 186.4 rushing yards a game last year. 11 – Average number of tackles for losses UNT is allowing through two games this year. UNT allowed an average of 5.75 tackles for losses per game last year. 35.5 – Number of rushing yards Jamario Thomas is averaging this year while struggling to overcome a hamstring injury. Thomas averaged 180.1 yards a game last year. 101.5 – Average number of rushing yards Patrick Cobbs has produced in two games this season while serving as one of the Mean Green’s lone consistent offensive threats. 90.5 – Average number of passing yards UNT is producing per game, a total that ranks last in the Sun Belt Conference. The Mean Green’s struggles to throw the ball have allowed opponents to stack the line of scrimmage to stop the run.

TCU handed probation for track violations 05:01 PM CDT on Thursday, September 22, 2005 Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA placed TCU's athletic program on probation for two years Thursday for violations by track coaches that included taking a final exam for an athlete and giving others money to pay for moving expenses and taxes. The NCAA said the violations happened between 1997 and last year, when Monte Stratton was TCU's track coach. Stratton was fired in September after the NCAA and the school began an investigation of the program. Penalties against TCU include forgoing postseason team competitions in 2005-06 and 2006-07, although individuals will be allowed to compete. The university also reduced its men's track scholarships by 20 percent to just more than 10 full scholarships for the next two years. "The former head coach's purpose in providing these inducements and benefits was to gain an unfair competitive advantage," said Gene Marsh, chairman of the NCAA's Committee on Infractions. "These impermissible activities were used to recruit, retain and ensure the eligibility of a significant number of world-class student-athletes." The NCAA said that 16 of the 22 athletes involved in the violations finished in the top 10 in 43 events at the Division I indoor and outdoor track championships. Those results now must be vacated. Among the violations cited by the NCAA were a former assistant coach taking a final exam and writing a paper for an athlete in 1997 and other assistant coaches during 1999-2004 either writing or editing admissions essays for recruits. The NCAA also said that from 2000 to 2004, the coaching staff made several $100 monthly payments to foreign athletes to help them pay federal taxes and other payments ranging from $109 to $700 to help athletes pay off-campus housing costs. Stratton also directed his staff to give recruits thousands of dollars in cash, merchandise and airline tickets, the NCAA said

Monroe to start for UNT against K-State 02:16 AM CDT on Thursday, September 22, 2005 By BRETT VITO / The Dallas Morning News DENTON – Brandon Monroe will start at middle linebacker when UNT faces Kansas State on Saturday, UNT defensive coordinator Kenny Evans said. Monroe will replace Derek Mendoza, who will be part of a four-man rotation at the Mean Green's three linebacker spots. Monroe started 11 of 12 games last season and finished second on the team with 63 tackles. Briefly ... Sophomore defensive end Jeremiah Chapman sprained his ankle in practice. UNT is waiting for the results of an exam to determine the extent of the injury.

Dickey considering resting RB Thomas 08:46 PM CDT on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 DENTON – Coach Darrell Dickey said he is considering resting Jamario Thomas during the Mean Green's game against Kansas State on Saturday. The sophomore has struggled with a pulled hamstring throughout the season and enters the week with 71 yards on 17 carries. Thomas won the national rushing title as a freshman with an average of 180.1 yards a game. "We have talked about ... letting it get well and then bringing him back," Dickey said. "We have to consider what is best for him." Brett Vito Briefly ... Freshman Daniel Meager will start Saturday against Kansas State. Darrell Dickey also said freshman Matt Phillips will play. Brett Vito

Of Course the $50,000 we got for cancelling homecoming and the $100,00 others got (don't know if the $50K was part of the $100K) didn't get turned down. I realize La Monroe didn't need their share of the loot.

UNT's Dickey influenced by K-State 11:04 PM CDT on Monday, September 19, 2005 By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle DENTON – Most of Jim Dickey's assistant coaches thought he was crazy when he made a decision that changed the course of not only his career, but that of his son, Darrell, in 1981. With his team coming off its 10th straight losing season, Kansas State's coach essentially conceded the year by redshirting eight of his top upperclassmen in an effort to build for his son's final campaign as Wildcats quarterback a year later. The plan paid off with a winning season and an appearance in the Independence Bowl. Experiences along the way to that breakthrough still influence the coaching philosophy of Darrell Dickey, who is in his eighth season as coach at North Texas. Dickey returns to Kansas State on Saturday, when UNT meets the Wildcats at KSU Stadium in Manhattan, Kan. "What I remember most from Kansas State is going to the first bowl game in the history of the school," Dickey said. "It took a lot of hard work and imagination by my father. When we went to that bowl game, all the people who doubted us turned around and were our buddies. That was fun and satisfying." Dickey's UNT teams have won four consecutive Sun Belt Conference titles. He attributes his success with the Mean Green in part to his experience at K-State, from the team's struggles early in his career to a memorable senior season when the Wildcats finished 6-5-1. "Kansas State prepared me for this job more than anything I have ever done," Dickey said. "A lot of the same things I went through as a player, these kids have gone through here." As coaches, Dickey and his father each had to find a way to turn around a downtrodden team. K-State had posted seven straight losing seasons when Jim Dickey arrived in 1978, while UNT was coming off its third straight losing season when Darrell took over in 1998. Each program's turnaround can be traced in part to the unorthodox decision Jim made before the 1981 season. "I grabbed a press book from Nebraska that summer and figured out that we were not only playing kids 50 pounds bigger, they were also two years older," Jim said. "That summer, I started talking about redshirting a bunch of our returning starters. When I mentioned it to my coaches, they thought I was off my rocker." Jim stuck by his plan, and the Wildcats went 2-9. "Darrell took a lot of grief in those early years," said Mark Mackey, one of Dickey's teammates at K-State. "He handled it with grace and composure, which helped us through that season." Enduring that dreadful year proved to be worthwhile. The redshirts returned the next season, and Dickey threw for a career-high 1,225 yards. The Wildcats beat in-state rival Kansas before falling to Wisconsin in K-State's first bowl game. "The downfall of playing for my dad was I caught a lot of flak, my dad caught a lot of flak and my mother caught a tremendous amount of flak," Dickey said. "When we finally had our winning season and went to a bowl game, the pride she had was as satisfying as anything I have experienced in my career." That season provided the model for Dickey's first few years at UNT. "We have not had to go to the extreme my father did when he redshirted all those players, but what it taught me is having numbers of players who can play across the board is the key to having a successful team," Dickey said. "I also learned that if everyone doubts you, bad mouths you and tells you that it can't be done, if a group of people pull together and work for a common cause, it can be done." Dickey initially struggled with recruiting, and his first three UNT teams had losing records. But the Mean Green turned the corner in 2001, winning its first Sun Belt title. Mackey and other former teammates of Dickey will be at KSU Stadium for Dickey's second trip to his alma mater as UNT coach. The Mean Green lost to K-State in 2000, 55-10. "We are all still great friends," said Steve Willis, another former teammate. "It goes back to that season when so many of the guys redshirted. I was a kicker, and he was nice to me when no one else was. That shows why he held us together." E-mail bvito@dentonrc.com

Brett Vito: UNT buzz fizzles with big blowout 08:23 AM CDT on Monday, September 19, 2005 Brett Vito The look of disappointment on running back Patrick Cobbs’ face said it all on Saturday after Tulsa finished putting a whipping on North Texas in its home opener. UNT came into the night with the stage seemingly set for a breakthrough win over the Golden Hurricane in a non-conference game. The Mean Green were playing at home, coming off of a win and had the third-largest crowd for a UNT game in Fouts Field history waiting for a memorable night. None of those factors seemed to matter when Tulsa handed the Mean Green a 54-2 whipping that ranked among their most disappointing outings of the last few seasons. “We just got beat,” Cobbs said. “I don’t know how to put it.” But this wasn’t just any loss. This was a shellacking in a game that ate away at the positive momentum UNT built while setting the stage for its home opener. UNT headed into the year with a buzz surrounding the return of Cobbs and Jamario Thomas, the last two national rushing champions who were playing together at home for the first time in 2005. A total of 23,112 fans packed the stands to see if the Mean Green could move to 2-0 against one of the teams from the region UNT hopes will turn into a rival. There couldn’t have been a better time for UNT to break through for a non-conference win – or a worse time for the Mean Green to lay an egg. And that was just what UNT did. The Mean Green failed to score a touchdown and saw an early 2-0 lead vanish under a hail of points from the Golden Hurricane. The publicity the Mean Green received because of the return of Cobbs and Thomas has been replaced by questions of how UNT’s running game has gone from highly effective to just average in the span of just a few games. The turnover free play UNT received at quarterback from Daniel Meager in its season opener was replaced by a shaky outing from the redshirt freshman who was replaced for a short time by freshman Matt Phillips. Both quarterbacks spent the night on the run after the Mean Green’s offensive line struggled to keep Tulsa’s defense out of the backfield. A defense that came up with stops at just the right times in a season-opening 14-7 win over Middle Tennessee fell apart after a solid first quarter. The total collapse raised questions about where UNT is headed in its eighth season under head coach Darrell Dickey. “In the past, when we’ve struggled early, we’ve had guys who have pulled together,” Dickey said. “I’m going to find out who’s going to pull together. I’m going to find out who might be doubting what we’re doing, and the ones who are doubters, I’m going to get rid of them.” The situation the Mean Green face is not an unfamiliar one. UNT has stumbled early in non-conference games before rebounding in previous seasons. Texas and Oklahoma beat the Mean Green handily in their home openers in the 2004 and 2003 seasons, respectively. UNT rallied each time to win the Sun Belt Conference title and play in the New Orleans Bowl. UNT still has a non-conference game left with Louisiana Tech, another regional rival who could offer the Mean Green a chance to break through outside of the Sun Belt. The team’s offensive line could come together and help Cobbs and Thomas get back on track in time for one standout season together. Cobbs has 203 yards in two games this year, but Thomas has just 17 carries for 71 yards. That’s a far cry from the 180.1 yards Thomas averaged last year or the 152.7 Cobbs posted in 2003. Even if UNT bounces back, there is little doubt the Mean Green let a golden opportunity pass on Saturday. UNT will face a Kansas State team that drilled the Mean Green 55-10 in their last meeting in 2000 next week and then return home for a game against Troy on national television on Oct. 4. The athletic department has been working to promote the game throughout the fall while hoping for a big turnout. UNT could have used a few positives to point to against Tulsa to build buzz for the game. That opportunity vanished with a landslide loss to the Golden Hurricane. The way the Mean Green respond to that loss will determine if UNT can recover some of the momentum it lost. “Maybe this is what we needed,” Cobbs said. “Usually we start off playing big teams that bring us down to earth. Last week we were 1-0. … This might make guys get more focused and ready to play.” BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com

Offensive Line: RT Jeremy Brown was a starter last year for 3/4 games before he got mono REG Lineberry is a Sr...two year starter C Rose is a true FR...this is young but backed up by a Sr. LG May is a Sr. isn't he a two year starter who sat out last year LT Joel Foster is a Jr. but he may be a first time starter...undersized OL DD's quotes: Heads might roll this week. "In the past, when we've struggled early, we've had guys who have pulled together" "I'm going to find out who's going to pull together. I'm going to find out who might be doubting what we're doing, and the ones who are doubter, I'm going to get rid of them." "The main reason he (Thomas) didn't get more carries is the same reason Patrick Cobbs didn't get more carries: We didn't made any first downs" "Nobody's going to get many carries when we can't make and first downs" Question: Doesn't the BUCK stop at the head coach? I can imagine one quick kick on 4th down with no DB to field the ball....but the 2nd time? It took the 3rd 4th down to get a DB back there. NO excuse for the 2nd time IMNO. We started two series of plays on our own one yard line, its kinda hard to pull out of that hole.

Offensive Line: RT Jeremy Brown (soph) was a starter last year for 3/4 games before he got mono REG Lineberry is a Sr...two year starter C Rose is a true FR...this is young but backed up by a Sr. LG May is a Sr. isn't he a two year starter who sat out last year LT Joel Foster is a Jr. but he may be a first time starter...undersized OL DD's quotes: Heads might roll this week. "In the past, when we've struggled early, we've had guys who have pulled together" "I'm going to find out who's going to pull together. I'm going to find out who might be doubting what we're doing, and the ones who are doubter, I'm going to get rid of them." "The main reason he (Thomas) didn't get more carries is the same reason Patrick Cobbs didn't get more carries: We didn't made any first downs" "Nobody's going to get many carries when we can't make and first downs" Question: Doesn't the BUCK stop at the head coach? I can imagine one quick kick on 4th down with no DB to field the ball....but the 2nd time? It took the 3rd 4th down to get a DB back there. NO excuse for the 2nd time IMNO. We started two series of plays on our own one yard line, its kinda hard to pull out of that hole.

I have watched three fb games this year. The UH/UTEP game had 21 penalties called before the 4th quarter. The A$M/SMU game had more penalties...didn't keep count...but it seemed like ever other play. Then the NT game tonight.....penalty after penalty. It's as if the Ref's believe we come to see them call the game....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Surely on 4th down Nt had seen film on Tulsa using a quick kick instead of a long snap to the punter....we were fooled, not once, but twice with no one back to catch the ball resulting in getting the ball on the one yd line twice...the 3rd time we had a back to catch the ball on the 20....................Question...if we knew this was a possibility why didn't we blitz and block the close to the line of scrimmage kicker? Cobbs got his 100 yards, thomas must have had less than 10 calls all game...and they were only in there at the same time one time...its like DD has decided this is to be Cobbs year.........with Thomas being held back for the next two years. Is there something wrong with Thomas that we are not aware of? Is he injured?

I only saw about 6 recruits...did I miss some...one had a spring ball cap.

I hope you are correct, but remember Washington is one on the most liberal states in America and they are in the 9th circuit which is the most liberal judicial jurisdiction...remember the Pledge of allegience disallowance which rules in the 18 states of the 9th circuit and which just last week was declared unconstitutional by a federal judge.

In a college football section the paper reported a federal judge in Seattle has cleared for trial a lawsuit challenging NCAA scholarship limits filed in behalf of walk on FB players who are shut out of financial benefits. The complaint filed by a U of Washington player who lettered in 1997-99, contends the NCAA ship limits exploits walk on players who make up nearly a 3rd of Div 1 A college FB rosters. Lawsuit seeks an end to the NCAA limit on Div 1 A scholarships plus damages for FB walkons who were harmed by the policy. THIS WILL REALLY HURT SMALLER COLLEGES FB PROGRAMS IF LARGER BCS SCHOOLS HAVE UNLIMITED SCHOLARSHIP CAPABALITY. THEY WOULD STOCKPILE PLAYERS WITH THEIR UNLIMITED FINANCIAL ABILITIES WHICH WOULD LIMIT PLAYERS AVAILABILITY TO SMALLER AND MID LEVEL SCHOOLS.