Side Show Joe

Judging by the results of the latest head coach poll, the fans view every option as better then hiring McCarney. Since the fans are the ones who buy season tickets, t-shirts, coffee mugs, and every other North Texas item for sale, our voice had better be heard. If McCarney is hired, it won't take much for many on this board to start calling for peoples jobs at the athletic department. We don't want McCarney. I can't say it any clearer. Hire Fran, Canales, or Kragthorpe, just not McCarney. You got a 75% chance of doing the right thing. Don't screw it up.

I'll wait and see how the investigation of Auburn's star QB turns out. USC isn't so hot since Reggie Bush. Even their coach ran away from their program. They had to vacate their National Title. The scholarship losses will keep them down for years. We will see how this Auburn issue ends. I'm not saying anyone is guilty, or that it smells like an SMU pay for play, but something happened. And if Auburn knew about it and did nothing, that's a problem. If this kid hurts their program the way Bush hurt USC. Well, that Auburn coach that brought him in might not be so popular again. I wouldn't use a comparison of a national title contender under investigation by the NCAA to campaign for an individual in the North Texas coaching search. Our situation really doesn't have much in common with Auburn or their coach. Just my opinion. Now lets go hire Fran.

I didn't write he would be there. I wrote I would be there, and I hope Fran is there and RV introduces him as our new head coach. I believe the name of our new coach will get leaked on Monday and the athletic department will introduce him at the basketball game Tuesday night, but I have no evidence for thinking this. Just what I would do if if were in charge.

Fran. He beat Texas in each of his last two seasons at A&M, and that was when Texas was still good. I'll be at the UNT-UTA basketball game on Tuesday, and I hope they introduce Fran as our new coach.

If UNT insists on going with McCarney, he better win from game one. His name isn't going to sell tickets once the newness of the stadium is over. And more losing won't sell recruits on this program. I hope those in charge really think this through, and make a smart choice, that will both win and excite the fan base. I just don't see McCarney doing that. I can honestly say, I will be less excited about North Texas football if McCarney is our coach. The only thing that will change that is wins and many of them. That is something McCarney doesn't have a good enough history of producing. When you get down to it, it's all about winning. Lets get an FBS level head coach with a winning record. I feel anything less will disappoint many of our fans.

Personally, I don't have anything against the guy. Having said that, I don't think he is the right guy for this job. I just can't see McCarney generating new interest in our program. New people will show up for the new stadium, but who really cares to see a former Iowa State coach? He had a bad record like every other person who's coached at Iowa State. Yes, he had to coach against tough Big 12 teams, but I'd rather have a coach who enjoyed more success against that level of competition. Also, I can't see him selling good recruits on going to NT. They won't want to play for a coach they never heard of, and had a bad record at Iowa State. McCarney could come in and be our next head coach, and win some Sun Belt games, but I can't see him ever taking this program higher then that. I just can't see him creating new interest in North Texas football, or selling good recruits on coming to UNT. I feel there are better options out there. If McCarney is the top choice by Nienas, then UNT should demand a refund. If we take McCarney and Texas State lands Coach Fran, I will be furious. In my opinion Fran is a much better and logical choice. Can someone create a poll with just the top candidates on it, and lets see what the fans support?

Before all the teams that ment anything left the WAC, I thought it was a good option for North Texas. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I was wrong. Very, very wrong. That said, with only 7 members and no primary bowl ties that I can think of, the WAC is dead. In my opinion, the death of the WAC is good for the Sun Belt. I say let LA Tech, NMSU, Idaho, San Jose St., and Utah St. be cast down to FCS football with Texas State and UTSA. They wanted to play football with those schools anyway.

To me, the vote seems to indicate that Canales is ahead of 6 of the 7 known commodity hfc's. Canales has over 20% of the vote. Only Leach has more votes. Leach is a proven coach, but I can't see him coming to UNT under any circumstances. If Nienas can land Leach for North Texas, then he would have earned every penny of that $40,000. Every rational UNT fan knows are chances of landing Leach are about as good as us signing the #1 recruiting class in the nation next season. This fact elevates Canales to the top spot in the poll. When we win on Saturday, and more fans change there vote to Canales, what new argument will you create to try and substantiate not supporting him for the head coaching job? I know you care about this program. You wouldn't spend your time on this blog of you didn't, but I can't understand why people don't respect the wins that have resulted from Canales taking over as the interm head coach. Why is a nationally proven head coach, who has proven nothing at UNT a better option then our nationally unproven interm coach, that has proven he can win at North Texas?

Changed my vote to Canales. I've seen enough. I believe we will win on Saturday, and a 3-1 Belt record meets my standards, and is enough evidence for me that Canales can have NT challenging for the Sun Belt title and a bowl game next season. I don't know if any of the other candidates could have pulled that off under these circumstances.

I'm happy with what Canales has done in his brief time as the interm coach. I believe we will beat ULM on Saturday. If we do, then I think we should name Canales as our new head coach. I don't expect to beat Kansas State, but I feel confident we won't get embarrassed. I think 3-2, with a win over MTSU, a close loss to Troy, and a respectable loss to K. St., is remarkable for 5 games with another coaches team, and base playbook. Personally, I feel this program is night and day from what it has been the last 4+ years, and under Canales it will only get better. We can see it is already getting better. Another coach could come in and win, but I think that would be a bigger risk. How long would it take that coach to evaluate his players and get them where he wants them in his new system? How long would it take him to start winning games? Will he give us a chance to win that opener in the new stadium against Houston next season? Will that coach have us challenging for the SBC Title and a bowl game next season? I think we know Canales can win, and win now.

NBC didn't say one thing about the NT-Tech game. Snub. 7,000 + in attendance and not one word. The best players on SMU and TCU could combine to form one team, and we would still beat them. We will continue to receive this kind of attention, or lack of attention, as long as we tolerate it. Get mad, make calls, and rock the boat. Be loved or be hated, but lets not be ignored.

Saw that too. Everyone needs to call "Tell it to Tim" and leave an ugly message. It's hard to reach your fan base and get them excited when they don't get the news.

Great game! The guys really steped up and played great. From start to finish, our team played with the confidence of the favored team. White was drilling every shot in warm ups. I knew he would have a big game. Tech played him tight around the arch, but left some space during overtime, and White made them pay. I hope we can carry over the excitement and attendance to the Rice game. Big thanks to the students. They filled their section and made lots of noise. JJ and RV have to be proud of how this night turned out. Congrats guys, you earned it.

Looking at the stats this morning, Lance is ranked 9th in the nation in rushing. Ahead of any other SBC back. Dunbar is also ranked 4th in total offense, just ahead of Rainy. It may be too early to officially crown him, but I can't see anyone stepping up to challenge him for the title. Any other opinions?

I don't know about FIU, but I think we could have beaten ULL.

I think at the very least Canales deserves a full season to show what he can do. I think he has earned that. 2-1 is lightyears ahead of where this program has been the past few years. I think next weekend we beat Monroe, and have our first back to back wins in years.

Since taking over as head coach Canales has altered the Mean Green playbook, and I think that has been a large part of this teams recent success. Maybe he didn't have the freedom to change things as an OC. I don't know. That is the topic for another thread.

I personally have no interest in Mark Stoops. I think there are more compelling options out there.

A highly reliable inside source told me the North Texas mens basketball team was scrimaging Oklahoma at the Super Pit while we were tailgating for the Troy game. The scrimage was closed to the public and media, and the doors were locked. I personally believe this rumor, because I saw the Red Carpet Traval bus with Oklahoma plates parked along side the arena. Red Carpet Travel is the same company OU uses for their annual trip to Dallas for the Texas OU game. Does anyone have more information on this scrimage? Who won?

Our team really stepped up against Troy. Our offense put up 35 points against the Troy defense, who I consider the most talented if not best defense in the Belt. I give coach Canales and the players alot of credit for pulling that off. That said, our defense really had trouble slowing down Troy most of the night. Troy was bigger, faster, and more athletic, and it showed. The fact that we had the ball with 3 minutes left in the game, and a chance to drive for the winning score, says alot about the caliber of coach Canales is. I don't know how this coaching search is being done, but I know we need to keep coach Canales at UNT.

I don't think winning the Sun Belt is enough. North Texas would need to destroy the Sun Belt on an annual basis, as well as win most of their ooc games, especially most of the ones against ranked opponents. That, combined with a major increase in attendance, is the key to positioning UNT for moving up in conference realignment. Even then we probably would still need outside help, like a conference break up.

I think the D did a good job of executing and putting pressure on the qb. That said, every area of the game effects the others. The offense didn't have a turnover today, and our special teams played well, so our defense wasn't put in alot bad situations, and they didn't spend all day on the field. Because of this, I think they were not gased down the stretch in the 4th. At least that is my take on it. It was a great win for everyone associated with North Texas. Thank you players, coach Canales, and coach DeLoach.

Canales openly says he wants to be the head coach of North Texas next year. This was the best I've seen us play since 2004. Troy is coming to town next Saturday. If Canales can put together a gameplan and beat Troy, RV will have a hard time not placing Canales at the top of his list. I like Leavitt too, but if Canales can run the table on the remainder of the Sun Belt, and play close with Kansas State, will we still need Leavitt?

I like Canales. I think he is a good guy. So far this season our offense is averaging about 18 points a game. That's bad. I'm not going to put all the blame on Canales because of all the injuries, and he was modifying the Dodge offense. Lets see what he does now that he has the freedom to design his own playbook. I don't know if he can really redesign the playbook and teach it to the offense in a by-week, but I'm willing to bet the offense will be changed some . The fact is, if he wants to be a serious candidate for the head coaching job, this team needs to be scoring more then 18 points a game. Look for North Texas to run it up on WKU if we get the chance. For Canales to get the head coaching job I think he needs to win 4 of the 5 games left in the season, or win 3, if one of the wins is over Kansas State. Just my take on it.

Yeah, that's my bad. Must have been wishful thinking when I wrote that he did.