Side Show Joe

Fine, Thompson, and ..... Bean had a fine first start, and I think he did enough to get the start against SMU. But, some of those big throws he completed will be picks against FBS caliber secondaries. He has to be more disciplined, and make smarter choices with the ball.

Someone needs to turn that run into a gif. Now I want to see him do that to SMU.

I think you should wait until after we play an FBS level program. Our run blocking looked too much like last year's o-line, ad a few pf those passes would be picked off by FBS secondaries. This offense has some work to do. But, compared to Bowen's defense, the offense was impressive.

I'm going to go ahead and take off my green glasses and post a few observations from tonight's game, because despite the record setting offensive production, this team still has some of the same issues from last season. 1. Bowen's defense needs to get a lot better. Bowen's system gave up 568 yards of offense and 31 points to an FCS team tonight. 2. We didn't record a three-and-out until half way through the 3rd quarter. And this was against FCS talent. 3. Our offensive line was descent in pass blocking, but still bad at run blocking. This was also against FCS talent. 4. Adaway looks like the real deal (5 carries/ 118 yards/ 2TD's), especially since the o-line wasn't really blocking well. Glad I adopted OAIII for the season. 5. Bean looked better than Aune.

I love these uniforms!

If he is still available...... I select Oscar Adaway III with my first round pick. Since I first saw his high school highlights, I thought this guy will be a beast for us one day. Well, I think this season will be his coming out party.

I think the athletic department has a few things working against them. All would agree that Wren and Seth have elevated North Texas football in the 4 years they have been here. There really is no question about that. But, I think the glaring issues are that we have yet to win a conference title. We are also still chasing LA Tech despite having more to sell and twice their budget (I know I'm tired of LT making us eat humble pie). And, the last issue is that the athletic department has not done a better job of vetting us donors. I have already stated that I increased my donation this year because of COVID-19. And, I understand the position of the big money donors too (although I wish they didn't state it publicly in the local paper). Like most on this board, I am a smaller donor, and I am limited in what I can give. But, if Wren or someone on his administrative team called me directly, and asked for an additional $100 donation so they could get those exercise bands for the athletes, I would have got my check card out and given him a $100. Would it have covered the entire cost? No. But, I have to believe there are 49 other smaller donors that would do the same. It may have taken 75 calls to reach the $5,000 needed. But, that is the kind of person to person engagement that will help grow our athletics. The small donors can't help if no one reaches out to us. Donors like me will never be able to give at the level where are names will be on the side of anything, but if the athletic department does a better job of identifying those that will do a little more when it is needed, it might go a long way towards keeping our larger donors from feeling like no one else cares. I think the "Scholarship Fund" (and I also agree it should be changed to the "Mean Green Foundation") should inquire if a donor would like to be listed as an additional "small gift" resource, that the department could reach out to no more than once a year in the event of an emergency for an additional contribution of no more than $100. Not everyone is in a position to make that commitment, but I think there is a segment of our fan base that would step up if the department actually reached out and explained the need.

That is a nice looking conference right there....

From 247 Sports...... The Mean Green first offered Jordan Rucker back in March of 2017. They were his first offer and kickstarted an extensive recruiting process that expanded to 12 schools before eventually ending with Rucker committing and enrolling at Purdue for the class of 2018. However, after two years as a Boilermaker, the 6-foot cornerback returns to Denton and the team that first offered him back in 2017. On Twitter, Rucker announced his decision to return home and play for North Texas. From Denton himself, he played for Denton Ryan in 2017 before redshirting his first season at Purdue and playing in five games in his redshirt freshman season. Now, Rucker comes to Denton as a redshirt sophomore and will have to presumably sit out a season before being able to compete for playing time as a redshirt junior in 2021. https://247sports.com/college/north-texas/Article/Jordan-Rucker-North-Texas-Mean-Green-football-lands-Purdue-transfer-Denton-Ryan-148307811/

OL Toby Wilson? https://247sports.com/player/toby-wilson-46098183/

I like Littrell, but in my book he has to beat LA Tech, not just this season but in most seasons. Of course the game from the Joe Greene sculpture unveiling night last season must be avenged. But, with what UNT has built, and the disadvantages LA Tech has, Littrell should be able to wins these games. If he cannot, than he certainly deserves to be on the hot seat.

I'm glad to see your numbers reflect what many on here have been pointing out for a while now. It is my opinion that both of our lines have been weak. I think the backbone of successful programs are their lines. Until we make our offensive and defensive lines a higher recruiting priority, we will continue to struggle against the better programs in C-USA. Small and poor LA Tech places a priority on lineman, and we all know what happened last time they came to Denton. Also, since both of our programs joined C-USA in 2013, LA Tech has had an offensive tackle, and 3 defensive linemen drafted by the NFL. Littrell's staff is doing better, but we just had a 4-8 season. At $1.8 million a year, Littrell needs better lines now. We don't have time for the young talent to develop.

We might be a little better, but I doubt we will be a bowl team. New offensive and defensive coordinators, no starting QB, and no spring practices, combined with a very tough OOC schedule, is just too much. And, I still don't think Littrell is placing a high enough priority on acquiring talent in the trenches. I think he should have hit the transfer portal harder.

Now that you mention it, I think Wren spoke about new dugouts for Lovelace too. But like I stated, I have no idea how many of those projects are still going forward. I'd like to see seating capacity expanded too. I watched the girls beat OU in Norman, and wanted to get tickets for the game in Denton, but it was already sold out.

From what I have read, Lovelace was due to get new turf and outfield wall this off-season too, which is almost like getting a new stadium. I don't know if that is still the case with all that is going on, but those projects were planned.

Here are some pictures of the new hitting facility and bullpen at Lovelace. The girls certainly deserve the upgrades. Can't wait to see them play next season.

That is all.

We need to compare who we have on those weeks the will be playing Army. If we actually get to play our games, I like our schedule better. Sept. 10, 2022- Cal @ North Texas (I'm still waiting to hear that this game will happen, or that we are hosting a comparable P5) Sept. 16, 2023- Memphis @ North Texas (UTSA's game with Army is scheduled for Thursday the 14th, which means it's going to be on TV)

I like the idea of having our weaker teams play bus trip OOC games. That would certainly save some money. But, I think men's basketball, soccer, and softball could benefit of being available to travel to the better programs in their sports, in exchange for return trips to UNT in future seasons. If the athletic department can spare the additional funds for those sports, I think it could elevate the perception of where those programs are in the landscape of college athletics, and that would help raise the overall perception of our entire athletic department. Adversity can be opportunity.

Most FBS recruits think they can get to the NFL. And, most people don't let facts get in their way when they want to believe something. It's how Vegas makes billion every year.

Wren has been the AD at North Texas since 2016. It isn't like he doesn't know about our drought. The administration should be having a ongoing conversation with Littrell and his staff. They should be formulating a plan to get us a player drafted. We shouldn't be sitting around talking about this issue. No other program in this country is facing this problem. It isn't rocket science. Hit the Juco's and target a top notch talent that isn't a high priority at an OU or Texas level P5 (maybe a kicker), and get him into our program. I don't care if Littrell has to go to the kid's junior college and hand him the offer with the band and cheer leaders throwing confetti. We need a player selected next season. If they have a better plan that's fine, but we need a player drafted the next draft. The 2021 recruits were not even alive the last time North Texas had a player drafted. Let that sink in. I know our leadership has to be embarrassed by our 17 year drought.

This is the most embarrassing aspect of our program. This drought is absolutely "Old Denton", and ending it must be a priority for our athletic department. Don't think LA Tech and other C-USA programs won't point to our draft drought and try to pry recruits from us. It is pointless to ask why we had another year without a player drafted. That ship has sailed. I want to know what our administration is going to do to make sure we have at least one player drafted next year? If we don't have that player on this roster right now, than we have to find him before next season starts. I'm tired of us having this annual conversation. I hope our athletic department is too.