Cooley

Not slow, but not fast!

Not to put a damper on this, but will 4.6 speed get in done in the secondary? At least he is tall enough to battle the Malcolm Kelly types, but can he stay with them?

So Ben Knox it down!

I've been to the majority of home games at Fouts Field since 1975. Additionally, half of the basketball games over the same period at the Super Pit. You can't find many alums in the metroplex with a similar attendance record! I also love High School football, especially the playoffs. My 2 sons are students at UNT, met my wife at UNT, My wife's deceased mother also graduated from NT. Not only do I continue to support the teams, I'm still writing checks. Were you at the game? If not, Why?

I'm loving their basketball situation! I thought SMU did former coach Jimmy Tubbs wrong by firing him after just 2 years. Tubbs was hired because of his connections to Dallas area coaches and kids. Unfortunately for him, the highly touted kids went to much larger programs. 2 years was certainly not long enough to win over the top area kids, despite getting many to visit. SMU used the excuse of sanctions as the reason for his dismissal. (Bought 2 kids a hamburger, gave a kid a half a cup of washing powder for laundry, made extra phone calls to recruits and held additionals practices) Anyway, Tubbs didn't fit the SMU image and they then threw the kitchen sink at Matt Doherty. (5-year contract, 3 times Tubbs base salary and promise of a new 13 million practice facility. Doherty should be fired not only for their performance thus far against HS caliber schools (first 3-games) but for the lame excuses he threw out in yesterday's paper to SMU fans: http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/...ps.2cf2c70.html http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...de.d05c22c.html

Ditto! http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gam...9&confId=80

I don't know where I would fall in the die-hard category but I chose to stay home in the warm comfort of my home in Dallas. I also spent quality time with my 2 sons. I did take in 3 HS games at Texas Stadium yesterday. (Looking for defensive help for the Mean Green) I couldn't muster up the effort today. Sorry fellows! BTW, anyone know if the 6-7, 360 lb Euless Trinity DT is taken? He also game in for a few selected plays at OT.

I know it was only one game Buford but when do you project him helping us and where; if at all? (i.e. next year, 2nd year, etc.) Do you see him as a role player or potential starter in time? You stated that he was "yanked" out of the game after an early foul. Was the coach dissapointed in him or just quickly took him out of the game because of foul concerns. I hope to catch him against Bishop Dunne. Thanks for the update! Do we owe you anything for gas?

UTA was definately the better team last night. It was the first game away from the Pit and it showed. Our outside shooting was brutal! We sorely missed Dennis' outside shooting as Adam McCoy's game is missing in action. We had to basically play with our 3 points most of the night (White, Bell & Dez) We also had key turnovers after turnover. Give UTA all the credit, this is a game that they get up for and appear to be comfortable playing at Texas Hall. Nice UNT turnout by the way. Despite the "L", I still like what I see when we get Dennis back. UTA beat us last year and we still ended up with a good year. Shit happens!!!

I think you missed my point. I'm not calling for Dodge's head. I'm saying that at some point during his 3-5 year contract, he will have to produce; as well as any other coach at any level. With this in mind, he will have to make some tough decisions with personel he inherited. I'm confident he will! I was just addressing the fact that he shouldn't feel obligated to play the kids on the roster, just because they are hard working good kids (with some lower D1 talent and experience) It should be a coach's obligation to try to upgrade each position at every opportunity. The recent adversity he has had to endure may have formed a special bond with this group. At the end of the day, though, are these the kids to help us shut out our opponents and/or stop drives at crucial times of game. Tough call, but he can't become emotionally attached to these leftovers (and his first class, assembled in 3 weeks). Troy, Middle Tennessee and others continue to upgrade their rosters despite passing us up 3 years ago.

Oops! Wrong player! I was told that it was Morgan. It was Kendrake Johnigan, a reserve role player.

Seems like Channel 8's Brett Shipp has been working on a story for over a year about J'Misson Morgan not going to class and failing all of last year. As you know, Morgan lead SOC to their 3rd straight state title last year. What I hear is a forfeit is in order by the UIL. Story at 10 PM tonight. Damn!

No need to apologize Plumm! This is arguably the worst defense in the history of D1 football. Dodge needs to be fired now if he maintain the status quo. We need better players in here now! If we improve 25% with what is coming back we are still a bad defensive football team. We need to go Juco heavy if we can't find impact High School kids. We shouldn't guarantee any returning player a starting position. (Not when we average giving up 50 points a game) Dodge's job will be on the line in a few years if we can't fix this defense. Our fund raising efforts will suffer as well. This is big business and we can't worry about hurting the kids feelings.

The Battle of the Undefeated: UNT Mean Green vs UTA Movin Mavs Wednesday, November 21, 2007 7:00 PM (Texas Hall - Arlington) http://utamavs.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/tx...askbl-body.html Last Season 13-17 (.433) Conference Record 8-8 (t-3rd) Starters Lost/Returning 0/5 Coach Scott Cross (Texas-Arlington '98) Record At School 13-17 (1 year) Career Record 13-17 (1 year) RPI Last 5 years 179-207-274-196-253 COACH AND PROGRAM It didn't even take one season as a Division I head coach for Texas-Arlington boss Scott Cross to prove his abilities as a soothsayer. Before last year, his first with the Mavericks, Cross seemed certain that UTA center Jermaine Griffin would prove to be one of the league's best players, even calling him ''a Big 12 power forward'' who would play the five position for the Mavericks. Boy was he right. Griffin, a 6-9, 240-pound senior, lived up to his coach's high expectations last season, earning first-team All-Southland Conference honors by averaging 13.2 points and 6.8 re-bounds. Now, Cross is calling for an encore from his big man. ''He had a very good year, but we're expecting even bigger things from him this year,'' Cross said. ''Our season will go right along with how well he does. He really rubs off on the rest of the team. If he plays up to his capabilities, we'll have a chance at the beginning of March to be a really good basketball team.'' That seems a lot of pressure, but Cross knows Griffin can handle it. As a junior last year, he shot 62.6 percent from the floor and led his team with 70 offensive rebounds. ''He's just really athletic with very good size,'' Cross said. ''We really emphasize with all our guards that we want to get the ball inside to him, but he is athletic enough to run the floor, too. I think he can average more rebounds this year than he did last year. I'm actually hoping he'll average close to a double-double this year.'' If he does, expect a potentially dangerous Mavericks team to be really dangerous especially considering the supporting cast that returns with Griffin. PLAYERS UTA returns all five starters from a year ago, and 10-of-11 lettermen return as well. And while Griffin's presence is most important, the real key to a mid-season turnaround last year was the move of 6-0 sophomore Cardell Hunter of Dallas Carter to the point guard position. Hunter, who wound up starting nine games, sparked the Mavericks; they won eight of their final 11 regular-season games after starting the season 5-13. But it wasn't so much Hunter's scoring (3.4 points per game) or assists (44) that made the difference. It was mostly his leadership. ''He's not going to score as much, but he creates plays and is a great leader,'' Cross said. ''He's just one of those guys who does whatever you ask. He's a team player who plays with a lot of heart and intensity.'' Hunter's ability to take over the point allowed 5-11 sophomore Rog'er Guignard (10.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.5 apg) the opportunity to move to shooting guard, where he thrived, earning the league's freshman-of-the-year award. Guignard showed no fear as a rookie, launching 204 three-pointers and making 71, a respectable 34.8 percent. ''He was better than I imagined,'' Cross said. ''He's a really good outside shooter with a positive assist to turnover ratio [1.6]. He handles the ball well and his defense got a lot bet-ter as the year went on. ''By season's end he was one of our minutes leaders [30.2 mpg], and that's because of his ability to play at more than one position and because of the way he can handle, pass and shoot the ball.'' If needed, 6-2 senior Rod Epps (9.7 ppg, 3.1 apg) has certainly proved capable of starting at either the point or shooting guard position as well, and Cross expects him to put up a serious challenge for both of those jobs. He did, after all, start 27-of-29 games last year, much of it at the point, and led the Mavericks in minutes (31.2 per game). He also shot 43 percent from three-point range in conference play and a solid 37 percent overall. ''I think he's one of the best three-point shooters in the league,'' Cross said. ''He's a great ball handler and a great defender as well. To me, he's a returning starter even if he doesn't start. The hard part for me will be to figure out which five to start.'' Sophomore Tommy Moffitt (5.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg) returns after starting five games last season and could very well start at the small forward position this season. A 6-4, 220-pounder, Moffitt stepped up most in the Mavericks' final two games and helped his team reach the conference tournament with back-to-back double-doubles. ''I've never seen a kid play as hard as he did in those last two conference games,'' Cross said. ''Every time a shot goes up, he is crashing the boards. He's not the quickest, most ath-letic guy, but he does all the little things and he's a great defender because he plays so hard.'' As much potential for improvement as there is with the UTA guards, the strength of this team, no doubt, lies in its frontcourt. Along with Griffin, who many consider a candidate for the league's Player of the Year award, are two returnees who have experience in the starting lineup. The early frontrunner for the power forward job is 6-7, 230-pound junior Anthony Vereen (11.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg) who started 20 of games last season and shot 59.6 percent from the floor. ''One of the best in the league at finishing when he's around the basket,'' Cross said. He'll be supported by -- and at times, potentially joined by, when the Mavericks decide to go with their ''big'' lineup -- 6-5, 250-pound senior Larry Posey (8.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg), who started 21 games a year ago. ''I think we have one of the biggest, strongest front lines in the Southland,'' Cross said. ''All three of those guys are capable of playing 25- to 30 minutes a game and making a big impact.'' Another potential contributor down low for the Mavericks is 6-8 red-shirt freshman Trey Parker, a long, rangy athletic player whose forte is blocking shots. He'll be joined in the post rotation by 6-8 sophomore Matt Read (2.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg), who Cross said was the Mavericks' most improved player in the offseason. At combo guard, 6-1 junior Brandon Long (8.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg) hopes to find increased playing time after a productive sophomore season as a key reserve. Another small for-ward/off guard combo player hoping to see time is 6-4 junior Jeremy Dewalt (1.2 ppg, 0.9 rpg), a good outside shooter who played just more than four minutes a game last season. This UTA team won't, however, have its playing time dominated by returners. In fact, the two incoming freshmen -- 5-10 point guard Jeremy Smith and 6-5 small forward LaMarcus Reed -- appear more than capable of earning minutes. ''Jeremy is a very solid point guard who knows how to run an offense,'' Cross said. ''And LaMarcus is a very well rounded player who can do a little bit of everything. He doesn't really have any flaws in his game. He can shoot it, handle it, rebound it and defend. ''I like both of our freshmen a lot. I think they will fit into our system and can help us. I won't be scared to play either one of them at any time.'' Cross believes his team could have the strongest, most productive frontcourt in the league this year -- and with good reason. The Mavericks are three-deep with proven, experi-enced talent there, and one of those three could challenge league MVP honors this season. Add in an athletic, gifted newcomer in Parker, and UTA certainly seems set down low. The Mavericks also seemed to work out any backcourt issues late last season, and by all ac-counts should be improved there this year. The Mavericks do play in a very tough Western Division of the conference with A&M-Corpus, Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin, but they enter this season with the con-fidence that this year, they can challenge for that top spot. How the rest of the team supports their superstar (Griffin) will determine that. BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT: B- BENCH/DEPTH: A- FRONTCOURT: A INTANGIBLES: B

I too am trying to withhold judgement on the kid until I see him play. My main issue with this signing (on paper) is that we could have signed him (or equivalent) in March. I don't mind a project big man in a recruiting class but I would hope that we would have already secured a signature (or commitment) from a difference maker big man. We clearly have a major hole at center next year. We also need a true point guard to back up White. (Although I feel comfortable with Mangrum in limited minutes) We have done extremely well with transfers from other D1 programs late. We have no reason to get cute with our offers when we have not yet arrived. Speaking of point guard prospects, I hope the staff extends an offer to William Weathers of Lewisville. The kid scored 34 the other night in a loss. I have not heard anything about his recruitment. He would compliment White extremely well at 6-1.

Put that on Mean Joe Green's stationary and send it out to all the Juco's in the South.

Off to a great start! 29 points 30 points (9 - 3's) http://extra.holyfamily.edu/athletics/mbb/index.asp

I understand that we had to help Miami find an opponent since we back out of that game to play LSU. Anyone know where we stand with that?

I estimated about 1,800. Let's face it, we need bigger names to come to the pit to help attendance. (unless it's a championship type game) I think the calls the refs made were correct but the variety that often goes uncalled. I thought Indiana State came to play more than UNT not being in it. OSU may prove to be a bad team this year so we have not accomplished much for let downs this early. Not crazy with the 3 pt guard lineup that JJ continues to play. (White, Bell, Dez) I know he has depth but I would like for him to stick with the kids longer than he does. McCoy, Dennis & Tristan need more time to get into a groove than JJ allows. Tristan sat down 1:30 seconds into the game. Anyway, see you guys at UTA

Larry Bird wouldn't be able to stop this ass whipping. On my way to Denton!

Not many people knew of Fitz before this year. Quinn lead all of Class 5A in receptions his senior year. Quinn also stood out more in a running offense. No question that his performance is worthy of the record books. The most pleasant surprise in a very dismal season. Congratulations Fitz! If he could only tackle or cover a WR also!!!

I don't know about the Cedar Hill score of 61 points. I left the game at the beginning of the 4th quarter and it was 38-14. Still don't know why we recruited Brandon Apunku!

Class of 2008 superlatives: Quarterbacks By Tom Luginbill ESPN.com (Archive) Updated: November 1, 2007 Best intangibles What Scouts Inc. looks for: An innate ability to succeed on toughness, leadership, savvy and creativity. Some guys have great tools along with intangibles, and others lack great measurables and physical gifts but find ways to win regardless. Intangibles are extremely difficult to define, but you know when you see them. 1. Riley Dodge (Southlake, Texas/Carroll) If Dodge were two or three inches taller, he would be one of the most highly recruited prospects in this class. He is the ultimate competitor as both a signal caller and athlete. The son of a coach, North Texas' Todd Dodge, Riley is a coach on the field and makes plenty of plays despite his lack of ideal height. Reminiscent of Todd Reesing.

I'm sorry if I didn't mention "Blue Ribbon College Yearbook" as the source. I do an adequate job of coping and pasting. CBL is the one with the great write ups!

http://www.gosycamores.com/SportSelect.dbm...amp;SPSID=65149 Last Season 13-18 (.419) Conference Record 5-13 (10th) Starters Lost/Returning 1/4 Coach Kevin McKenna (Creighton '81) Record At School First year Career Record 89-33 (4 years) RPI Last 5 years 263-223-202-161-142 COACH AND PROGRAM The adage goes ''if you can't beat them, join them.'' For Kevin McKenna, things are working the other way. After a successful run as a player at Creighton and nine years as an assistant there, McKenna crossed enemy lines in April to take over the job at Indiana State. The view of the Valley is much different for the former Bluejay now that he is in Terre Haute. While Creighton has been rolling up 20-win seasons and trips to the NCAA Tournament the last five years, the Sycamores have become a perennial bottom feeder in the Missouri Valley Conference. McKenna was once a standout All-Valley player who played against Larry Bird at ISU during the Sycamores' glory days and then went on to win a championship ring with the Los Ange-les Lakers. Now McKenna looks to restore that glory at ISU in his first stint as a Division I head coach. He previously served as the top man at Division II Nebraska-Omaha in between assistant jobs at Creighton. ''We have a tough hill to climb,'' said McKenna, who inherits a team with four starters back and who went 1-2 against his old team last season. ''We are going to be depending on a lot of young players.'' PLAYERS The Sycamores do have one proven veteran in 6-1 senior point guard Gabriel Moore (11.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.9 apg), who led the program in scoring a year ago and the Valley in minutes played (37.5 mpg). Moore, a fourth-year starter, was sixth in the Valley in steals (1.7 spg) and eighth in free throws (80.5 percent), but was the exception for the Sycamores, who had few players rank among the league leaders in any statistical category. ''He's one of the better guards in the league,'' McKenna said. ''He has a lot of experience.'' Moore enters the season 103 steals behind Bird and Nate Green for the school record (240) and needs 10 assists (he has 303) to rank 10th all-time in that category The three other backcourt players with starting experience are not quite as seasoned, but all of them played in at least 25 games as freshmen. Sophomore Cole Holmstrom (9.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg) started 20 games, and the 5-10 guard finished second on the team with 51 three-pointers. The Bloomington native wasted little time making his impact at the college level, scoring 17 points to lead the way in a season-opening win over Western Michigan. Holmstrom led the team in scoring six times and finished seventh in the Valley in three-pointers made per game (2.04). He combined for 14 threes with 6-3 sophomore Marco Stinson (9.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg) in a late December win over Drake. Stinson made a school-record nine threes in the game and led the Sycamores with 54 on the season. Stinson certainly had a scorer's touch at times last season, and struck for 24 and a career-high 37 in back-to-back wins over Purdue and Drake, respectively to close out the first half of the season. He started 13 of the 30 games he played, but led the team in scoring only three times in the final 19 games after doing it four times in the first 12. The third sophomore guard fighting for minutes is 6-0 Harry Marshall (3.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg), who started eight of the 30 games he appeared in last season. Three incoming freshmen figure into the guard equation as well. Jordan Printy arrives from Marion, Iowa, where he built a reputation for being a sharp shooter while leading Linn-Marr High on a state championship run. The 6-4 guard originally com-mitted to former coach Royce Waltman before his senior season and followed through on it despite the coaching change. Another Waltman recruit, 6-4 guard Aaron Carter, from in-state Perry Central High, also stuck with the Sycamores. ISU did lose two freshmen from its original class, including 6-9 forward and Iowa Mr. Basketball Clayton Vetter. In-state Jefferson High graduate Lamar Lee, a 6-1 point guard, filled one opening, but Vetter was the prized piece of the recruiting class. ''I'm excited about all the freshmen,'' McKenna said. ''I think we would have recruited them anyhow.'' Fortunately for the Sycamores, they already have some young talent in the frontcourt, led by two juniors -- 6-8 Jay Tunnell (9.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and 6-6 Adam Arnold (6.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg). Tunnell started 29 games, led the team in blocks (12) and was second in rebounding. Arnold, who was an All-Valley bench player, started only 6-of-31 games but managed to rank sixth in the conference in rebounding. ''They both showed signs of putting up decent numbers,'' McKenna said. Tunnell posted three double-doubles last season, and scored 16 points with seven rebounds to lead the way in an opening-round MVC Tournament win over Illinois State. Arnold led the team on the boards 14 times and posted a double-double with Tunnell in a win over Wagner. Tunnell had 17 points and 11 boards while Arnold had 13 and 10, marking the first time two Sycamores have done it in a game in years. ISU has two 6-10 centers in sophomore Brant Leitnaker, who played in only 12 games because of a foot injury, and senior Mick Yelovich (3.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg). The latter averaged 6.5 points in the last seven games of the year and is one of only three seniors on the roster. If Leitnaker develops, it could help soften the blow of losing out on Vetter. Leitnaker averaged 12.3 points and almost six rebounds per game as a high school senior in Ohio. ''He's mobile, can run the floor and block shots,'' McKenna said. The Sycamores also return 6-4 senior Todd McCoy (2.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg), who started 13-of-30 games last season, and bring in two freshmen -- 6-5 Indianapolis product Keenan Barlow and 6-8 Chicago native Isiah Martin. Martin averaged 16 points and nine rebounds at Morgan Park High, but the most important stat for ISU is his five blocks per game. The Sycamores come off a year where they blocked only 42 shots in 31 games, and landing Martin also helps offset the loss of Vetter. McKenna decided to retain two of Waltman's assistants when assembling his coaching staff, Greg Lansing and Stan Gouard. The new assistant is Lou Gudino, who arrives after two years on the staff at Louisiana Tech. Even though McKenna has been around the Valley block as a player and assistant, this will be his first go-round as a head coach. ISU is one of five league schools that changed coaches since March, which along with the departure of some experienced players makes things rather different this season. ''Overall the league has lost a lot of veteran players, so I think the league is wide open,'' McKenna said. ''It's a [good] time to come into the league with five new coaches, even though three of them have a lot of experience in the league.'' A change at the top might just be the thing to reinvigorate the Sycamores' program, which has grown stale in recent years and struggled to contend in the Valley. McKenna comes from a winning background at Creighton and knows how to be successful in the conference, both as a player and coach. That winning attitude should be something the young Sycamores soak up as they try to climb out of the basement. Moore provides a solid leader in the backcourt, and Arnold and Tunnell are proven factors up front, so McKenna has a few solid veteran pieces to lead the charge this season. The real key will be establishing a winning attitude in the freshmen and sophomores, who have little experience with the program's lean years. With the Valley turning over half its coaches and losing some top players, it's not out of question for ISU to have some success this season and maybe even win a tournament game or two. However, the Sycamores are likely several years and a good recruiting class or two away from being one of the conference's top contenders. ROSTER 3 Arnold, Adam F 6-6 219 Jr. 2L Decatur, Ind. (Belmont HS) 43 Barlow, Keenan F 6-5 195 Fr. HS Indianapolis, Ind. (Cathedral HS) 32 Carter, Aaron G 6-4 185 Fr. HS Cannelton, Ind. (Perry Central HS) 5 Holmstrom, Cole G 5-10 170 So. 1L Bloomington, Ind. (Bloomington South HS) 11 Lee, Lamar G 5-10 165 Fr. HS Lafayette, Ind. (Jefferson HS) 0 Leitnaker, Brant C 6-10 235 So. 1L Lancaster, Ohio (Lancaster HS) 23 Marshall, Harry G 6-0 185 So. 1L Bowling Green, Ind. (Owen Valley HS) 21 Martin, Isiah F 6-8 210 Fr. HS Chicago, Ill. (Morgan Park HS) 34 McCoy, Todd F 6-4 200 Sr. 1L Philadelphia, Pa. (Johnson CC) 1 Moore, Gabriel G 6-1 190 Sr. 3L Little Rock, Ark. (Mills HS) 24 Printy, Jordan G 6-4 180 Fr. HS Marion, Iowa (Linn-Marr HS) 25 Stinson, Marico G 6-3 195 So. 1L Memphis, Tenn. (Kingsbury HS) 44 Tunnell, Jay F/C 6-8 255 Jr. 2L Topeka, Kan. (Topeka West HS) 50 Yelovich, Mick C 6-10 265 Sr. 3L Mount Zion, Ill. (Mount Zion HS) BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT: B- BENCH/DEPTH: C FRONTCOURT: C+ INTANGIBLES: C