Side Show Joe

I will go ahead and eat my crow. I wanted Nix here at UNT. I'm still not a fan of Bowen. But, if Nix is let go by UTSA, than I certainly admit Littrell was smart to pass on him.

You make some good points, but I for one have no interest in apologies at the microphone. I want evidence of real change. I get tired of hearing the same "we have to focus on getting another day better", and "we have to be accountable and make sure our players are too". Because we hear the same excuses every time we lose. And, that is too often. I see no point in trying to prevent the airing of our dirty laundry, when everyone already knows it. So to me Wren's silence comes off as indifference. I actually pay very close attention to recruiting. That is why I have been posting for a few seasons about our issues on both offensive and defensive line. Have we improved in recruiting? Absolutely. North Texas has become one of the better recruiters among the G5. But that doesn't tell the whole story in this new age of the transfer portal. To put it simply, the recruiting game has changed, and Littrell hasn't figured it out yet. Just like his lack of attention to recruiting the lines got Mason Fine pummeled and cost us bowl wins and conference titles. Littrell's failings in using the portal to address needs will continue to cost us when we play teams like SMU. I'm not totally doom and gloom. I do expect us to be better next season (if we play). I can see us contending for our divisional title and playing in a bowl game. But, until we get better at the new system of recruiting, we will probably continue to lose those bowl games, and OOC games against AAC level competition (like SMU) or higher.

I disagree. I think for a program to be fully invested, there has to be consequences for failure. As it pertains to football, I have yet to see any consequences under Wren's watch. And, no word at all regarding Littrell's failings.

I'd like replica championship rings like we are doing for basketball.

Did the athletic department do something about this? No wonder we haven't played a game since.

Playing as an Independent is only an option if North Texas were to actually outgrow C-USA and have no better conference options. Right now, we can't even win this dumpster fire of a conference. The fact that Marshall enjoys a top 20 ranking while residing in C-USA proves our problems are completely self inflected. The bigger questions are... What have we been doing wrong? & How do we correct it?

While I believe Liberty will still be a strong G5 in 5 season, I'm skeptical about them being in the playoff discussion. I will say, they appear to be serious about being a dominate G5 program and a top 25 team. I'm jealous. Speaking of being a serious G5 program... Utah State fired Gary Anderson today after just one season in his second stint with the program. In 2019 Anderson led Utah State to a 7-6 record with a bowl appearance. Utah State started 2020 with an 0-3 record. Seems like Utah State is serious about winning too.

We can't get on the field, but in just their 2nd FBS season, Liberty has won their 7th straight, taking down a 4-2 Virginia Tech team. Just venting since I'm not watching us play today. On a side note... I will take a day off from work and drive 2.5 hours to be at the Dec 3rd make up game with LA Tech. I may complain a lot, but I do love my Mean Green. I'm just tired of watching other programs rise, while we flounder. Rant over.

This is the game I've been waiting for all season. LT has been the most consistent program in C-USA since joining the conference with us in 2013. The Bulldogs have won 6 straight bowl games, against the likes of Miami, Illinois, SMU, and Navy. And, they have done it all with a fraction of our budget. Littrell is currently 1-3 versus the LA Tech program. They ended our incredible 4-0 start in 2018, on the same day we unveiled the Mean Joe Greene sculpture at Apogee. I do not like them.... In my opinion this is a game we must win, and it is a conference series we must begin to dominate if we are going to elevate our program. I cannot wait for Saturday.

Nope. In those games our offense was most productive in the 4th QT, after we were too far behind to win. At the end of the 3rd QT in our losses we were losing by even more points than at halftime of those games. Since our deficits only grew in the second half of these games, the offense actually got worse. At the end of the 3rd against SMU we were behind by 41, against Southern Miss we were behind by 17, and against Charlotte, NT was behind by 21. None of that is evidence of being one of the best offenses in the country. If we had one of the best offenses in the FBS, we would post more than 2 TD's through 3 quarters against the likes of SMU, USM, and Charlotte. Let's be honest, against SMU, USM, and Charlotte, most our our offensive scoring was garbage points in the 4th quarter. Against SMU, we posted 14 4th quarter garbage points. Against Southern Miss, we posted 14 4th quarter garbage points, and against Charlotte we posted 7 4th quarter garbage points. Here are the scores at the end of the 3rd quarter in those games... NT 14 SMU 55 NT 10 Southern Miss 27 NT 14 Charlotte 35 NT 42 MTSU 28 The truth is our offense played great against a terrible MT team, but aside from that has put up some big numbers mostly late in games against some of the worst teams in the FBS. #8 Southern Miss, Charlotte, and #3 MTSU are all ranked in the bottom 10 this week or on the waiting list. While the rankings are a spoof, they are fairly accurate in projecting just how bad G5 programs are. https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30155963/there-never-another-eddie-van-halen-push-week-bottom-10 Also, we are half way through the season, and the easy part of the conference schedule is done. It is only going to get harder from here. I honestly believe every team left on our schedule will play better defense than those conference teams we have already played. My stated opinion of our offense is based on where we are at this moment. As we play better defense it will certainly evolve. But, you are correct about my opinion on firing Littrell. He needs to go after this season is done.

Overall the North Texas offense has done well in the second half of games after opponents have put us away. Sure we are posting some points on the board, but a lot of those points are coming after the games have been decided. The MT game is the only game where we scored meaningful points late in an FBS game this season. In each of our first three games this season, our offense could only muster one touchdown by halftime. That is not the sign of an offensive juggernaut. Facts are stubborn things. Halftime scores from this season's FBS Games... North Texas 7 SMU (5-0) 34 North Texas 10 Southern Miss (1-3) 20 North Texas 7 Charlotte (1-2) 21 North Texas 21 MTSU (1-5) 28

It is still a free country. People can be positive any time they want. I think everyone on the board was happy for Darden following the game. And many of us were very happy to see Bean finally get another shot at QB. For me, and this is my personal criteria, I need to see North Texas beat more winning programs. I highly doubt MT will finish their season with a winning record. The simple fact is Littrell hasn't consistently beaten winning programs since 2017, when we beat 5 of them. Since 2017, Littrell only beaten 1 (Southern Mississippi 2018). And, that is a major reason why I am done supporting him as our coach. LT is a thorn that must be removed, but we'll discuss that issue soon enough. Right now, I'm just hoping we can handle UTEP in El Paso. If we win two in a row, that would be nice.

I agree. Littrell has improved his recruitment on the lines. No doubt about that. On the surface it looks good and should help us be more competitive against the lower to middle of the road G5 programs. The problem is that our improvement isn't enough to help us catch up with the likes of SMU. When looking at the 2019, 2020, and even the 2021 classes, we are not recruiting offensive and defensive linemen at the level of SMU. In 2019, our highest rated OT came in at #144, while SMU's OT recruit came in at #47. In 2020, we sign the #43 OC recruit in the country, but SMU signed #16. Even in our current 2021 recruiting class, our WDE recruit is ranked #90, while SMU's is ranked #70. And if you look at our head to head battles for linemen, we are not even competitive with SMU. Since the 2019 class, we are 0-7 against SMU in head to head recruiting battles for offensive and defensive line recruits. So yes, we have improved in our recruitment of linemen, but not to the point where we can close the gap with the programs we wish to call our football peers. I just feel like if we don't acknowledge this fact, we cannot move forward and fix the problem. I appreciate you hearing me out and GMG!

^ This. I think it's funny that some think we have turned the corner after just one win over a very bad MT team.

You are not far from my thinking. I honestly believe Littrell will never lead us to consistently winning the bigger G5 games necessary to challenge for the new year's access bowl. It has been years since he has beaten a program that finished their season with a winning record. As for the '19 and '20 recruits... Yes, they are much better than the quality he was bringing in when he first got to UNT. But, he still isn't bringing in enough high ranking talent on our offensive and defensive lines, and he isn't utilizing the transfer portal as effectively as the better G5 programs. So, I believe we will continue to fail against the likes of SMU. I want more for North Texas. I know it isn't popular to make these remarks, but I have to be honest about where I feel we are headed.

I have already explained that he should be allowed to finish the season, with the understanding that he would not return next season. I just don't want him back next year. If you honestly think the other teams are not dealing with the same COVID issues, than I don't know what to tell you. You are choosing to only account for half of the factors. MT was down 6 players yesterday. Those are the facts. North Texas is favored in our game against UTEP, but don't sleep on UTEP. They are 3-2 and gave LA Tech all they could handle in their last game. I will not save my fire Littrell position for after the season. You have your opinion, and I respect that. I also have an opinion. And in my opinion, our team will continue to be drug through the mud by the better teams we schedule as long as Littrell remains in charge. Yes we beat MT yesterday, but will they finish with a winning record? I doubt it. Until we begin beating winning programs, we still have major problems. I know it isn't popular to express this opinion on the board, but it is the truth.

Apples to oranges... We got a much needed win against a really bad MT team, and I'm happy we got it. But, lets not pretend this is the beginning of a turnaround just yet. MT may well lose the rest of the games on their schedule. I don't think anyone is disputing that we have some serious talent at the skill positions. My main problem is with the talent on our lines, because I feel that is where games are won and lost. MT had worse lines and we were able to take care of business. That won't be the case when we face the likes of UAB, LA Tech, and maybe even UTSA. Littrell still needs to go.

I'm really shocked MT hasn't put a spy on Bean. At this point why not?

If the defense doesn't give away too many more TD's we should win this one. But, I'm going to tap the breaks a little. Middle is pure garbage. The real test is how we play against LA Tech (who has owned us), and UTSA (who played Army tough today). Despite how this season ends, Dardin has been a joy to watch. So, happy for him. I'm glad Bean finally got back on the field. I have to wonder how our games against Charlotte and USM may have turned out. Also, the RB stable is incredible. Hats off to those players and Cobbs. What a job if coaching he is doing.

Stock has been at MT for a long time. He knows how to make halftime adjustments. I expect Bean to have a spy on him in the second half. I hope Littrell is ready to make adjustments too.

This is just an excuse. Every program is dealing with multiple players being out. Our problem is that Littrell never acquired the talent needed to begin with (recruiting/portal), and now we are trying to develop young guys before they are ready. This was supposed to be a rebuilding year (.500), not a basket case. Regardless of the factors surrounding our program, it is Wren's job to fix it. Keeping Littrell for a few more seasons in the hope that he develops our young players is not a realistic option if UNT is serious about football, and it will hurt the health and overall perception of our program. Wren doesn't have to publicly berate Littrell to let the fan base know he is working on the problem. There are simple statements that would imply he is actively working on the issue.

In just their 3rd season as an FBS program, Liberty is setting at 5-0 on the season with wins over Syracuse, WKU, and FIU. But, Littrell needs a few more season to develop our young players.....

I understand your position, but don't you think it is fair to question why we are even in this situation? A head coach making $1.865 million a season, should not have us in this situation in his fifth season in charge. Other coaches don't need this much time to develop players. Liberty just beat Syracuse today. We are not what we should be. If Littrell was going to build us into something special we would be there by now.

I added the $13 a month regional sports package to my Dish subscription. Now I can watch it on Ch. 412-28.

This is as optimistic as I can get for today's game.... Go Mean Green.