A few collected thoughts

Caw Caw · October 12, 2015

Hello Everyone,

As you may have seen, i've only been posting gifs of things on fire for awhile now. This was better than words could do for our current situation. I'm choosing to break my non-gif related silence now that a change has come. I've taken the whole weekend to collect everything and organize my thoughts because I think there's plenty of venom going around that more of my own won't do anyone any good. Let me preface this by saying I stayed every single snap of that atrocity vs. Portland State. I stood the whole time the game was going, call me a masochist. Anyway, back to my list of things i've been pondering.

We have a fanbase who cares. It runs much deeper than I've seen it since i've been here. While I recognize this is a short time period compared to most of you that's something that I really walked away with as a post-firing positive.
Dan McCarney got fired for the right reasons in the wrong way. He also was a class act all the way out the door, took time to talk to the media, etc. when he probably had one of the worst nights of his professional life. He walked away saying it can be done here, and he hopes for that. Too bad it couldn't have been him.
Holy shit, DaMarcus Smith can slaaaaang the ball. That kid put every pass on the numbers. While he may not be ready to turn the team around, he is the first QB i've seen look like he belongs on a Division I football team at North Texas. Also, he can make plays with his feet and throw on the run.
I expect the offense to rally around Smith, The effort level changed once receivers realized they could possibly catch a ball at the end of their route. he just needs some things to go right for him early.
Kishawn McClain seems like the player on defense who gives a damn. He seems to really want to be a playmaker, looking at the stat sheet, James Gray is doing alright as well (tackles not coverage).
We'll get to see if Mac really did oppress the Chico offense or not. I think we'll see a bit more gambling, what the hell does he have to lose at this point?
Cosh's defense is garbage. If he never coached another down, we'd be better for it. Too bad Skaldany wasn't 40.
RV handled this thing like shit. He should be fired. And if not for that, for the accountability of his coaching hires. Like i've posted before. Thanks for the big gifts and the nice place to play, but we need someone who will higher the people to put in it.
Jesus, that extension hurt us. Be interested to see who on the boards was on board with it.
I think, from twitter, a lot of the players feel like they cost a coach his job. I think that could be a chip on the shoulder of these guys as they finish out the season.
Nice to see Zac Orr open his mouth at these younger guys and call them out. Those guys want to do what he did. Go to the NFL from little ol' North Texas. They'd be wise to listen.
Why did those two random guys on twitter have better instant coverage on the situation than Vito? (YOU HAD ONE JOB)

I'm sad, frustrated and slightly optimistic about the coming weeks. At least we can put people in a position to learn for next year instead of stubbornly proving we're right and bashing our heads into the ground.

Now some questions:

I'm also curious what types of defensive and offensive schemes people would like to see installed here. Also, what is your expectations for upcoming seasons?
Should we swing for the fences and offer a proven coach a lot of money? Or gamble on someone to grow with?
What is the genuine best way to recruit better here? How can we compete in that area better?
Who should be left on the coaching staff, if anybody?

My passion and interest in our program hasn't dropped. Neither has my support. Go Mean Green.

Edited October 12, 2015 by Caw Caw

FirefightnRick · October 12, 2015

Good post.

Rick

Edited October 12, 2015 by FirefightnRick

greenit · October 12, 2015

I don't see how the extension hurt us at all. The only way it would have hurt is if we did not make this move and left ourselves handcuffed for the next three years. It does not appear that the extension prevented us from making the tough call. I hope that decision signifies true change around here.

Caw Caw · October 12, 2015

I don't see how the extension hurt us at all. The only way it would have hurt is if we did not make this move and left ourselves handcuffed for the next three years. It does not appear that the extension prevented us from making the tough call. I hope that decision signifies true change around here.

I see how you get that, but not extending that contract could have saved us almost $2,000,000 we'd be wise to have a couple years of success before we go on about extending lol.

GrandGreen · October 12, 2015

I don't see how the extension hurt us at all. The only way it would have hurt is if we did not make this move and left ourselves handcuffed for the next three years. It does not appear that the extension prevented us from making the tough call. I hope that decision signifies true change around here.

Yes, it's only money that could have used for a lot of other things and bought NT exactly nothing. There was no reason to extend McCarney's contract. He wasn't going anywhere and it should have been obvious that he wasn't getting it done on the recruiting front. A raise or bonus could have been given to reward McCarney for the bowl year without exposing NT to a huge financial loss if things went South as they did.

That buyout could be almost equal to the total donations of the three great fans that were honored at half time for their contributions. No telling how many hours and dollars were used to cultivate those donations. It is also equal to three of those away guarantee games that many complain about. The guarantee amount not the net that NT really earns on those games.

greenit · October 12, 2015

Yes, it's only money that could have used for a lot of other things and bought NT exactly nothing. There was no reason to extend McCarney's contract. He wasn't going anywhere and it should have been obvious that he wasn't getting it done on the recruiting front. A raise or bonus could have been given to reward McCarney for the bowl year without exposing NT to a huge financial loss if things went South as they did.
That buyout could be almost equal to the total donations of the three great fans that were honored at half time for their contributions. No telling how many hours and dollars were used to cultivate those donations. It is also equal to three of those away guarantee games that many complain about. The guarantee amount not the net that NT really earns on those games.

It didn't cost you or I an extra dime. Impossible to say whether that money would have been available otherwise. The 17 took care of it. Thank you. Now, if they were just as critical in other areas.

Cerebus · October 12, 2015

Why did those two random guys on twitter have better instant coverage on the situation than Vito? (YOU HAD ONE JOB)

Vito has to defend the journalistic integrity of the DRC. In other words he needs to have either an official statement or multiple sources. Twitter guys don't and can run with every rumor, that is why they are wrong a lot more.

Edited October 12, 2015 by Cerebus

Caw Caw · October 12, 2015

It didn't cost you or I an extra dime. Impossible to say whether that money would have been available otherwise. The 17 took care of it. Thank you. Now, if they were just as critical in other areas.

I paid my way through school, and so it did and does cost me money. It all works as one big machine. I paid athletic fees etc. Just because it isn't an extravagant amount of money doesn't mean i'm exempt from the poor management of the athletics or the finances as an Alumn. It's ignorant to say otherwise. Or else maybe only "the 17" get to be mad about success and failure, right?

Vito has to defend the journalistic integrity of the DRC. In other words he needs to have either an official statement or multiple sources. Twitter guys don't and can run with every rumor, that is why they are wrong a lot more.

I understand that piece of it, but their coverage post breaking announcement seemed to be better. Quick video interviews online, etc.

VideoEagle · October 12, 2015

I still I still think an extension of some kind was right after the bowl win. It was the best season in a long time and arguably was one of the top five in 100+ years of NT football. If you are going to play at the top level you need to act like it and extensions are the norm after a successful season.

But if you are going to play at the top level you need to be willing to buy out contracts sometimes. We just showed we are willing to do that. Bedford better produce, at last.

Christopher Walker · October 12, 2015

I see how you get that, but not extending that contract could have saved us almost $2,000,000 we'd be wise to have a couple years of success before we go on about extending lol.

AD's around the country make those extensions across the board as a means of showing recruits that a program is stable in its success.

Now when you then turn around with that extension and completely squander any and every opportunity on the recruiting trail...

Edited October 12, 2015 by Christopher Walker

MeanGreen13 · October 12, 2015

If I'm the next coach, you can give me Patrick and Perry... they coach two of our strongest groups going forward.

greenit · October 12, 2015

And if the buyout does somehow impact a future decision then that goes back to the person that made the extension. If he cleaned up his own mess and it doesn't hurt the program, then that is what he is supposed to do. Not realistic to expect no mistakes. Just clean up your mistakes without impacting everything else. Happens at other programs as well.

Benford is a prime example. It seemed like a good enough hire at the time. He was able to retain TM. Then it became obvious it was a mistake yet it went unfixed.

If the Mac buyout somehow impacts decision making on Benford, then again, a problem.

meanrob · October 12, 2015

Vito has to defend the journalistic integrity of the DRC. In other words he needs to have either an official statement or multiple sources. Twitter guys don't and can run with every rumor, that is why they are wrong a lot more.

He doesn't need that to have an opinion. And saying something as ludicrous as UNT will always be in debt to Mac for what he did for the program is about as ludicrous as it gets. Are we so in our bubble that we don't know how reporters are supposed to cover a team? He called the loss to PSU "possibly one of the worst losses in UNT history". Possibly??? He can't even have a declarative opinion on that.

Cerebus · October 12, 2015

He doesn't need that to have an opinion. And saying something as ludicrous as UNT will always be in debt to Mac for what he did for the program is about as ludicrous as it gets. Are we so in our bubble that we don't know how reporters are supposed to cover a team? He called the loss to PSU "possibly one of the worst losses in UNT history". Possibly??? He can't even have a declarative opinion on that.

I'm not defending Vito's entire back catalog, merely why he wasn't as quick as the twitter based folks to report certain things.

meanrob · October 12, 2015

I'm not defending Vito's entire back catalog, merely why he wasn't as quick as the twitter based folks to report certain things.

If it weren't for this board, Vito's entire back catalog would fit on a bar napkin.

GrandGreen · October 12, 2015

It didn't cost you or I an extra dime. Impossible to say whether that money would have been available otherwise. The 17 took care of it. Thank you. Now, if they were just as critical in other areas.

What the heck are you writing and why do you think the 17, whoever you think that is, is paying off the buyout. As far as costing you or me an extra dime, what does that have to do with anything? You must believe in the good fairy if you don't think this buyout is not very costly for NT athletics. Even if money was raised for the buyout those funds could have certainly been used more effectively elsewhere.