Green Dozer

80, Sarcasm and negativity on your part? I am surprised because you have been one of the more positive voices lending reasoning as to how the stadium project is being handled. I can't understand why more info is not put out. If it is now an issue of raising capital by borrowing or donations, and is the economy effecting it, then we could all understand that, if they (Dr. B and RV) would just step forward and say "This is where we are today." It is unfair to us fans/donors, but I believe grossly unfair to those who worked to get a "yes" vote for the athletic fee.

Is it a law that the official campaign cannot begin until the student fee passes the legislature? Though the fee is to be used for the stadium, it is still just an "athletic fee". I do not think it would halt a capital campaign or be a reason as to why the university is not putting out more info. Also, if what you are saying is correct, then how come a contractor can be hired?

The 19 mil dollar increase is not out of line. Though steel may be down, that does not mean the savings is past to the end user. As for labor being cheaper, that is not the case either. Most of the sub contractors that the construction firm will use are union (steel workers, electricians, plumbers, etc.) You can't go to the local labor pools and hire workers for a project like this. Though the homebuilding side of construction has slowed a great deal in North Texas, the commercial side is still strong as compared to other parts of the country. So what you here on a national news scale does not apply here for this project.

At the recruiting social, Dr. B spoke and said the stadium is coming, but gave no date. Her last words were "we are looking for your check". That was the strongest statement yet from her or RV that I have heard in regards to the new stadium. I have said the video of the stadium should have been played at every football game as well as at every basketball game, both men and womens'. The model should also be at every basketball game over by the jump stuff, etc. That is where most people come in.

They have as much right to expect first class facilities just like you/us business geeks and all us sports geeks.

This is what is gets me about the athletic department. First, they make people like Jeff Klein and Derrick think all we need is a "yes" vote to start construction on the stadium. Then these guys work their butts off, and get it done. When we get the YES vote, we hear nothing except a post here or post there, rumor, etc. All it would take to clear things up is a meeting between RV and members of the MGC. You know people can't donate if they don't know what is going on. The alumnae that are potential donors are the information seekers. Donors from the 60's and 70's era are, and its sad, trying to replace retirement money that has been zapped over the past year. So, it is the 80's and 90's group that is going to have to step up.

Silver, I agree with you. Unfortunately, a lot of these kids come from broken homes and were fortunate they made it this far without them getting into trouble. What my point is, and a lot of other athletic programs have it, is a mentoring program that help these young athletes adjust to the responsibilities of a college athlete. And I think, like a dedicated strength coach, a life skills coach overseeing some mentors would be a great asset. I have a feeling since Rucker was hurt, he was not being held accountable for the responsibilities he had. Also, check your PM.

Great post and you saved the best for last!!! Please present this at the next admin/ board of regents meeting, but take some coffee so they will stay awake and listen. They have never heard of anything like this before.

I bet he tried to get out of it, but it is a little late to try to find a replacement.

And if what Lifer posted is fact, then he should come back. A wrong is a wrong, but the job of a college is to teach people how to make decisions in life. This kid made a poor one, accepted responsibility (which is more than I can say for a couple of other players), and is working to make amends. It should have been handled internally to begin with. What would have been wrong with working at McDonald's until 1:00 AM and then running bleachers at Fouts for an hour at 6 AM the following morning, being held in a study hall, etc? And most here would not want the book thrown at their kid. This saying this or that is easy until it happens within your family. The kid deserves a chance, and should not been thrown to the curb, and you would not want your kid on the curb for this either. I bet if you look deeper, it is just some parents who didn't like their daughter seeing this kid for whatever reason, just a guess on my part. No, right does not make a wrong, but if we recruit only in the Christian schools, I can guarantee you our record will not improve.

Very interesting, thanks for the pic.

Lonnie, UTSA is mainly a research univerisity, and also a commuter school. Plus, in the middle of both Longhorn and Aggie country, I don't think UTSA is going to make much of a splash. If they get a crowd anywhere near the crowds for state championships in the Alamo Dome they will be lucky. And again, if Larry Coker is so great, why is he looking around and not even received a sniff from anybody since he left Miami. If UNT was such an opportunity, why didn't he apply here? Not even a small mid-major like Southern Miss, New Mexico, etc. There is more there than meets the eye as to why he would apply at UTSA.

Not totally disagreeing at all. I just still don't see why if what you have said were true, why hasn't it taken hold here. I am of the mind, like you, that this would be a great opportunity. The only problem is that the alumnae, admin, and coach have to be on the same page at the same time. That has not ever been the case here, so if we are to be an incubator if you will, then we need all three of these lamps to put out equal heat. By the way, Schnelly was nothing but a drunk at OU, don't think that would not have been used against him in our region no matter who he was the coach for. That is why he took a job in Florida, people were not beating down the door, Atlantic were the only ones who wanted him. As for Coker, there has got to be some reason why is pursuer of jobs and not the pursuee. He won the national champ, but had lots of off the field issues. Well, he already has some experience for the job here (LOL). There have been other jobs that would have been much better for somebody to prove themselves, and I never saw him considered. And, I agree with you about Dickey, but he did make the best of things here for a few years (though he was bitching and screaming the whole time), but still he did. I guess we can agree that an above average coordinator from a successful mid major might take this job to prove himself. But not a top 25 to 30 program coordinator, sorry but Veneables from OU, for example, is not going to take that kind of pay cut. I think you know that. The fee is great, and though money should not be used as an excuse as you say, but to consistently be successful you have it to raise the bar. Most victories without it take place in the movies (i.e. Rocky 1). I will say that there have been more strides in your 10 years as a fan/supporter then there were in the previous 20, so I can both see and respect your perspective. Thanks for the reply and your insight. Have a good one!

I see your point. But to the casual fans, the ones who come to the games in UT gear that are alumnae of "UNT", and others who don't show up at all is due to the teams we play. These fans do not get fired up over Florida Atlantic or Intl., Louisiana whatever, etc. And they won't get excited about Lamar, UTSA, or TSU. But games every year against TCU, SMU, RIce, TUlsal and UTEP would generate a lot more interest from the casual fan/former alumnae. Not disagreeing with you at all.

HEY QUONER, THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN ESPN MAGAZINE A FEW MONTHS AGO (OCTOBER) ABOUT THIS OFFENSE. SEEMS IT USES EVERYBODY AS A RECEIVER. IT WAS DEVELOPED BY SOME PART TIME COACH WHO WAS AN ACCOUNTANT (I THINK) AND IS USED BY PIEDMONT HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN FRANCISCO. IT TALKS ABOUT HOW THE THE SPREAD WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE, EVEN INTO THE NFL, BECAUSE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, DROP BACK/PRO STYLE PASSERS WILL BE RELICS, BECAUSE THE SPREAD IS SO POPULAR IN HIGH SCHOOLS, MORE AND MORE COLLEGES WILL USE IT SO THE NFL WILL HAVE NO CHOICE, THIS FROM THE ARTICLE, SO TO ALL OUT THERE, PLEASE DON'T SHOOT AT THE MESSENGER. THE NFL WILL ADOPT IT BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE QUARTERBACKS WHO ARE BETTER IN THE SPREAD, AND THEY CAN HAVE TWO QUARTERBACKS, AND STILL NOT HAVE SO MUCH MONEY TIED UP IN THAT POSITION (AGAIN, FROM THE ARTICLE, NOT ME). LONNIE, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU READ THE ARTICLE ON IT BEFORE PASSING JUDGEMENT. QUONER, I COULD NOT FIND A LINK TO IT, CAN YOU OR SOMEBODY ELSE.

You know Playmaker, I have often wondered why we do not have a pep rally/giant tailgate one evening on the Denton square during the week leading up to our first home game. Have the band cheerleaders, Scrappy, Boomer (though shooting it up there would not go over, but still), pass out some hot dogs and have cokes available. Dodge could introduce the team, band plays, have model of the stadium etc. Heck, Hansen might come up and interview the coach on the 6:30 news. They had a parade in Athens, GA this past season the week before the opening game because the 'dogs were ranked #1. Just a thought.

Wishful thinking on my part at the present, but how bout a mostly TX division of Conference USA & everybody else: UNT, SMU, TCU Tulsa, La Tech, UTEP. I would hope we would move on, and want to go to a conference with established programs. After all, that is what we believe can happen. We should have bigger aspirations then to have UTSA or even Texas St. as rivals, don't see how playing shows our program is growing. After all, we have been in this game a lot longer than either. Come on guys, we need to think bigger & better!

I am willing to overlook the blunders of the 2007 class. Dodge officially started here on Dec. 26. I wonder how many recruits were at home that morning (day after Christmas), and who also wanted to talk football. Do you think the high school coaches were available in their offices so Dodge and staff could request film? That first week, until the high schools' holiday break was over, had to make it double difficult for a new coaching staff. And, no, I do not think he should have left Southlake prior to the state championship game. I just think he deserves a pass on it, and even if John Gruden came here to prove he was not as bad a coach as his players from Tampa have made him out to be, I would do the same for him.

Larry Coker did not make a big enough name for himself to really create a lot of buzz anywhere. There have been jobs open since he was let go, and his name very seldom came up. Must be some who question his ability to be the head man, even with the title. And, yea, he won it with Davis' players. There is another coach a little north of Denton that won his only National Title with somebody else's recruits

No it doesn't, just look at most of the men who have walked our sideline. (70% of the coaches at UNT have had losing records out of 17). Why has somebody not seen this opportunity? This was a plum job with a lot of upside in the 70's, then in the 80's it was a plum job with a lot of upside, THEN in the 90's it was a plum job for some up and comer to prove his worth, and FINALLY in the 2000's, this was a plumb job for somebody to build a program and prove his worth, make a name for himself. Not trying to knock you down, but your theory has been floated around here for 30+ years that I have followed this program, and has been the mantle for every coach, including Fry as to why they took this job. I remember Fry saying "Somebody has to be No. 1, why not us?". They have all mentioned the upside at UNT, and all the potential it has their initial press conference. How long should we give this theory to work? Since the 70's, only two of our head coaches have moved on as a head coach to another DIV 1 school. Hayden Fry, because of what he did here, and at SMU got the job at Iowa. Now, at that point, we did not go out and get the next up and comer nor did we hire Bill Brashear who Fry recommended. What if could have seen Snyder's potential? I knew both at the time, and Brashear would have made a great fit. Jerry Moore, who came after Fry, was hired at Tech, not for what he did here, but because of his offensive background at Nebraska. Yea,our job has proved to be an opportunity to lead. Dickey couldn't make up his mind about which offer to take from all the choice of jobs after 4 championships, so he waited until he was fired. We cannot build this program on the theory that somebody will come here for the "opportunity to lead and prove your worth...", and work below what the market pays. I know you don't like to talk about the money part, but programs do not live on want to alone, it costs money, and there are no shortcuts. Heck, we just got a dedicated strength coach. Oh, I did not follow UNT football in the 60's, but a good friend told me when he got here in '64, he could not wait to go to a college games. He said he was really let down by the lack of support, by the lack of enthusiasm in regards to football at UNT, and Fouts in no way lived up to what his expectations for on campus college football was like. But, they were talking about building a program, and all the upside this job had to offer. I have always wanted to meet "they". "They" seems to carry a lot power in every organization, but "they" never shows up, and backs up what they want with work and sacrifice. Lonnie, maybe you ought to consider endowing the head coaches' position so we can get a guy from your list. And maybe the admin of our esteemed university will finally make up their minds that they really want a living, breathing on its own athletic program, thus invigorating this apathetic alumnae base. How about these two parties step up to the plate?

Tony Franklin, former Auburn and Troy St offensive cood. has new job in the Belt, should make things interesting: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?i...ce=NCFHeadlines

I am disappointed this kid did not get more of a look by UNT. His work ethic is suppose to be outstanding, and the health camps he attended were no country clubs. This is one of those "overlooked" recruits that MG Insurance Pro suggested we start looking at. Heck, at least invite him to walk on. I hope Tasty is right, but this is disappointing.

Good thoughts in theory, but the internet uncovers all the gems that used to be overllooked. Add to the fact that only the city kids used to be the only ones attending camps leaves very few overllooked kids anywhere.

You know, there is a reason why we missed out and the other schools did as well. WKU is not establishing a presence, please. Something is not right here, and I bet it is discipline issues or grades. Just a guess.

90, We have never been strong in the top 100.