Praise for Mason Fine (and how far we've come)

meangreen2016 · October 1, 2018

Main thought: Just want to brag on Mason Fine and the toughness he showed. Even though he probably should have been taken out of the game (I think he would have gotten into a fist fight with Littrell if that had happened.. jk.. but seriously) the dude laid it all out on the field. I seriously haven't seen a player in a while with as much of a desire to win as Mason Fine, especially in the way he does it. He's been sacrificing his body for W's since he got here, there are so many examples: Florida game 2016 (dude was 170 lbs against an SEC defense), UTSA game winning drive last year, the bloody nose vs Arkansas this year, and the game last night with the limp (anybody know what the injury was yet?). We have a winner at QB, and we're witnessing something really special. I know nobody is arguing against that, I just think we need to remind ourselves how special Fine really is. Maybe we could put a statue of him with crutches and a leg cast right next to the Mean Joe Greene statue. 😂

Second thought: I've had my time to think and be depressed about the loss last night, one of the most heartbreaking losses I've witnessed as a fan in general. So many "What if's". But then I went and watched the video of the Florida game from two years ago. I remember my thoughts before the game were "We have no chance". We put up a decent fight yet lost 32-0. Fast forward to this year and the confidence we had going into Arkansas, and then afterwards "I don't think it's an upset,” North Texas coach Seth Littrell said. “We're very confident as a football team." That's a pretty big turn around right there. Yes we lost to La Tech. The best teams get the best performances out of their opponents each week. That was La Tech's best performance and NT's worst thus far. I hope this loss lights a fire under the players and reminds them how much it sucks to lose. Especially to lose in a game you could have won.

Heck, I'd like to see North Texas take on a big school like Florida, Iowa, Texas Tech, or TCU this year in a bowl. I think it would be a great game that we would have a good shot at winning (that still feels weird saying). Will we get a shot at one of those teams? Probably not. Who knows, maybe I'll eat those words. Maybe we do get a shot and they smother us. The only point I'm trying to make is the stark contrast in confidence and attitude. Let's keep on showing up to these games. GMG!

Anyways, that's my optimism for the day. Rant over. Commence to ripping it to shreds and bringing me back to Earth if you want lol.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGu3HokbUBY (Florida Game)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B635h6y1Yk (Final Drive vs UTSA)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG8z6d-D2qk&t=159s (Arkansas Game)

https://www.apnews.com/d338057907584f7e99630f550cc77e04 (Littrell quote)

risinggreen · October 1, 2018

Yes to your good post. Since we're talking QBs, when are we going to see the freshman from Mansfield? Too lazy to look up names at the moment, but he and the QB from Manvel were very impressive when I watched them in the HS playoffs last year. Didn't Mansfield run a 10.3 100 at State last year? Love him as a QB, but any talk of a WR switch with all of that speed? Hope we do well enough at EP to get a better look at these guys (including Cade), with the new four game RS rule and Mason's knee situation.

peanuts104 · October 1, 2018

As much as I want to praise him for his toughness and as much shit as I'm going to get for saying this, his unwillingness to take himself out of the game could have been a deciding factor. I don't like to play the what if game, but he was not able to operate the offense like it should have been in his condition. He made some good plays but him keeping himself in the game, while a display of toughness, was also a display of arrogance on both the part of himself and the coaches (for not pulling him), one that might have lost us the game. I love Mason Fine, he is a fantastic quarterback, but he was a liability on the field, and while he put us in a position to get the last minute field goal at the end, we stalled on the previous two drives with him hobbled. He should have taken himself out of the game or the coaches should have done it for him, end of story.

Edit: Also failed to make mention of this, it is a long season. If him moving around on that knee made the injury worse and we lose him for more games, he did us an even worse disservice.

Edited October 1, 2018 by peanuts104

meangreen2016 · October 1, 2018

@risinggreen I think you're talking about Jason Bean. Freshmen. 6-3 185 so he's got the size. I have been a little curious as to why Littrell hasn't played him, but maybe he's trying to Redshirt him? Or maybe he's just not ready? No idea, but if he's not redshirting the least they could do with him right now is some designed runs instead of letting Fine get banged up even more.

largekfcbucket · October 1, 2018

13 minutes ago, peanuts104 said:

As much as I want to praise him for his toughness and as much shit as I'm going to get for saying this, his unwillingness to take himself out of the game could have been a deciding factor.

100% this. I'm so proud of him having that warrior mentality, but look, we have plenty of quarterbacks that could have won us last night's game in his place.

This is why I've said that coaching lost us last night's game, not the players. As much as I love our staff and how well they've done, you just can't play a quarterback on a bad ankle three consecutive drives down 2 points and expect magic to happen.

peanuts104 · October 1, 2018

Just now, largekfcbucket said:

you just can't play a quarterback on a bad ankle three consecutive drives down 2 points and expect magic to happen.

I hope he doesn't play next week. We shouldn't need him against UTEP.

meangreen2016 · October 1, 2018

@peanuts104 This is just a legitimate question because I'm asking myself the same thing: Do you think we would still be saying Fine should have come out if Hedland makes one of the two kicks? I'm not sure, I'd like to say probably not. Then again, I'm not even sure what play Fine got hurt.

Yeah, I agree with you. I kept thinking they could've put Shanbour in there when they got to the 40 yard line and have him run a veer with whatever RB was left. Shanbour normally gets like 7 yards a run in the games he's come in, and with a fresh set of legs against a tired La Tech defense... But again, what if?

The main point of the post was just to highlight the fact that Mason Fine was marching the team down the field with one leg. Maybe they don't trust any of the QB's behind Fine. Seriously, maybe they are all garbage? I have been a little frustrated with how long Fine has been playing in those blow out games. I'm not sure why they haven't been giving other QBs game time in case he gets hurt.

largekfcbucket · October 1, 2018

Just now, peanuts104 said:

I hope he doesn't play next week. We shouldn't need him against UTEP.

Personally, I think Kason should start.

El Paso Eagle · October 1, 2018

10 minutes ago, peanuts104 said:

I hope he doesn't play next week. We shouldn't need him against UTEP.

Will be interesting to see if he does not play what we do. I’m sure Quinn will get the start but I wonder if we start slow at the beginning if maybe Cade Pearson will get in?

peanuts104 · October 1, 2018

5 minutes ago, meangreen2016 said:

@peanuts104 This is just a legitimate question because I'm asking myself the same thing: Do you think we would still be saying Fine should have come out if Hedland makes one of the two kicks? I'm not sure, I'd like to say probably not. Then again, I'm not even sure what play Fine got hurt.

Yeah, I agree with you. I kept thinking they could've put Shanbour in there when they got to the 40 yard line and have him run a veer with whatever RB was left. Shanbour normally gets like 7 yards a run in the games he's come in, and with a fresh set of legs against a tired La Tech defense... But again, what if?

The main point of the post was just to highlight the fact that Mason Fine was marching the team down the field with one leg. Maybe they don't trust any of the QB's behind Fine. Seriously, maybe they are all garbage? I have been a little frustrated with how long Fine has been playing in those blow out games. I'm not sure why they haven't been giving other QBs game time in case he gets hurt.

This is why I hate the what if game. There are so many things we could have done or not done toward the end. I think the pressure kicks for Hedlund is concerning going forward. I don't know how we're going to know how good the QB stable is behind Fine if we don't play them more. Like largekfcbucket said, I'd be interested to see how Martin, Bean, or Pearson could do. Quinn does not seem keen to pass the ball. Either way, no reason to rush Mason back against UTEP.

meangreen2016 · October 1, 2018

Totally. I could taste victory at one point... Anyways, as long as we get the W and Fine gets better soon I don't care who they put in. It might be time to just throw one of the new guys out there over Quinn and prepare them in case Fine goes down again. Bean seems more dual threat than Cade Pearson.

peanuts104 · October 1, 2018

Just now, meangreen2016 said:

Totally. I could taste victory at one point... Anyways, as long as we get the W and Fine gets better soon I don't care who they put in. It might be time to just throw one of the new guys out there over Quinn and prepare them in case Fine goes down again. Bean seems more dual threat than Cade Pearson.

Bean is more of a runner, Pearson is a pocket passer. Why not play both? I want Kason to sit for this year and learn, but I think Kason could be the heir apparent after Mason leaves, though who knows. All the QBs are young and it's hard to speculate at this point.

NT93 · October 1, 2018

39 minutes ago, peanuts104 said:

Edit: Also failed to make mention of this, it is a long season. If him moving around on that knee made the injury worse and we lose him for more games, he did us an even worse disservice.

I feel confident that the training staff evaluated the injury and felt certain that he wasn't going to worsen the injury by continuing to play. Generally speaking, trainers are pretty protective of players nowadays. I feel like he pulled a hamstring based on how he was responding when the injury occurred, but obviously I could be wrong.

Also, Mason should get no blame whatsoever. We should hope that every player on the team has his mentality. It's the job of the trainers and coaches to pull a player. My son is a freshman in high school and he just missed 2 games due to injury, but only because the trainer (and his parents) wouldn't release him to play. He would have gone back in the game the night he was injured if he'd been allowed to do so.

peanuts104 · October 1, 2018

4 minutes ago, NT93 said:

I feel confident that the training staff evaluated the injury and felt certain that he wasn't going to worsen the injury by continuing to play. Generally speaking, trainers are pretty protective of players nowadays. I feel like he pulled a hamstring based on how he was responding when the injury occurred, but obviously I could be wrong.

Also, Mason should get no blame whatsoever. We should hope that every player on the team has his mentality. It's the job of the trainers and coaches to pull a player. My son is a freshman in high school and he just missed 2 games due to injury, but only because the trainer (and his parents) wouldn't release him to play. He would have gone back in the game the night he was injured if he'd been allowed to do so.

I hope you're right.

NT93 · October 1, 2018

1 minute ago, peanuts104 said:

I hope you're right.

Me too. A pulled hammy can linger, but it's still probably best case scenario. I don't really expect to see him against UTEP.

ADLER · October 1, 2018

Quinn Shambour has been preparing like 17 years for this opportunity and he won't let us down. He has certainly earned my trust.

He may not be The Legend Mason, but the force is strong in this one.

Harry · October 1, 2018

6 minutes ago, ADLER said:

Quinn Shambour has been preparing like 17 years for this opportunity and he won't let us down.

Lol!

Rudy · October 1, 2018

There is no doubt that Mason is a badass and tough as nails, but if he is not 100%, he needs to rest a week. If/when we get a good lead, he needs to come out regardless.

In regards to Bean, I've heard his arm is still needs work. Nothing a season with the strength and conditioning coaches can't fix.

dmaxel · October 1, 2018

Shanbour should start since he's definitely the one who knows the system way better than Bean/Martin/etc (no dig on them, but they're all still too new). I have no problem with the others coming in at some point during the game, thanks to the new rule that allows them to be in 4 games without sacrificing the redshirt. We used one game for some of them, and I don't think we'll desire their services in close games. Why not against UTEP if we have a cushion?

GrandGreen · October 1, 2018

2 hours ago, largekfcbucket said:

100% this. I'm so proud of him having that warrior mentality, but look, we have plenty of quarterbacks that could have won us last night's game in his place.

This is why I've said that coaching lost us last night's game, not the players. As much as I love our staff and how well they've done, you just can't play a quarterback on a bad ankle three consecutive drives down 2 points and expect magic to happen.

2 hours ago, peanuts104 said:

As much as I want to praise him for his toughness and as much shit as I'm going to get for saying this, his unwillingness to take himself out of the game could have been a deciding factor. I don't like to play the what if game, but he was not able to operate the offense like it should have been in his condition. He made some good plays but him keeping himself in the game, while a display of toughness, was also a display of arrogance on both the part of himself and the coaches (for not pulling him), one that might have lost us the game. I love Mason Fine, he is a fantastic quarterback, but he was a liability on the field, and while he put us in a position to get the last minute field goal at the end, we stalled on the previous two drives with him hobbled. He should have taken himself out of the game or the coaches should have done it for him, end of story.

Edit: Also failed to make mention of this, it is a long season. If him moving around on that knee made the injury worse and we lose him for more games, he did us an even worse disservice.

Do you really believe that NT could have substituted a QB and won? I sure don't. You do realize that no QB has got meaningful minutes other than Fine. The offensive line couldn't pass block their shadow, a new inexperienced QB would have been destroyed.

The coaching staff decides who plays not the players. A hobbled Fine was NT's best option for winning the game. It may not have been a good decision to leave Fine in, but it sure didn't diminish NT's chances to win.

You can certainly question the decision to not pull Fine for fear of injury, but not because NT has better options at QB.

peanuts104 · October 1, 2018

14 hours ago, GrandGreen said:

You're inaccurate if you don't think that any of the other QBs couldn't hand the ball off 90% of the time like we did in the 4th quarter. You're also fucking stupid if you don't think the coaches trust any of the QBs over an injured Fine. It comes down to basic shit like could he even protect himself if the pass rush got to him? It was horrible coaching, and your defense of it shows how little you care for player health.

GrandGreen · October 1, 2018

10 minutes ago, peanuts104 said:

You're fucking stupid if you don't think that any of the other QBs couldn't hand the ball off 90% of the time like we did in the 4th quarter. You're also fucking stupid if you don't think the coaches trust any of the QBs over an injured Fine. It comes down to basic shit like could he even protect himself if the pass rush got to him? It was horrible coaching, and your defense of it shows how little you care for player health.

Are you 12? There is no place on this board for that kind of language.

After this post, I would not advise you to call anyone stupid. If you can read above a third grade level, you might notice I never defended leaving Fine in the game. Only stated he was the best option to win the game.

peanuts104 · October 1, 2018

15 minutes ago, GrandGreen said:

Attacking my intelligence is definitely a logical farcically. And if you don't understand that changing to Shanbour, especially in the last couple of drives with his run first mindset, it could have been the change of pace we needed to win. I'm not saying that would have happened. Again, it's stupid to speculate, but we have guys behind Fine that can do work at QB. The only thing that kept him on the field was Arrogance, both on him and the coaches.

Edit: lol I misspelled fallacy, thanks autocorret

Edited October 1, 2018 by peanuts104

GrandGreen · October 1, 2018

21 minutes ago, peanuts104 said:

You're fucking stupid if you don't think that any of the other QBs couldn't hand the ball off 90% of the time like we did in the 4th quarter. You're also fucking stupid if you don't think the coaches trust any of the QBs over an injured Fine. It comes down to basic shit like could he even protect himself if the pass rush got to him? It was horrible coaching, and your defense of it shows how little you care for player health.

Are you 12? There is no place on this board for that kind of language.

After this post, I would not advise you to call anyone stupid. If you can read above a third grade level, you might notice I never defended leaving Fine in the game. Only stated he was the best option to win the game.

2 minutes ago, peanuts104 said:

Attacking my intelligence is definitely a logical farcically. And if you don't understand that changing to Shanbour, especially in the last couple of drives with his run first mindset, it could have been the change of pace we needed to win. I'm not saying that would have happened. Again, it's stupid to speculate, but we have guys behind Fine that can do work at QB. The only thing that kept him on the field was Arrogance, both on him and the coaches.

The last thing I want to do is talk football with an idiot.

peanuts104 · October 1, 2018

4 minutes ago, GrandGreen said:

The last thing I want to do is talk football with an idiot.

Avoiding the issue. Appeal to authority? IDK, I'm rusty on my logical fallacies, it's been a while. Either way, you're not actually supporting your argument with anything other than calling me stupid.