Report

Why should we care much about high school recruits anymore? I would focus on recruiting Sun Belt/CUSA, D2, D3, JUCO and NAIA STUDS. Guys who have proven themselves at a higher level. Along with some P4 drop downs who have also gotten reps but have suffered a setback and are looking for an opportunity to make an impact. There is no reason to develop a high school player anymore. If a high school player is ready to step on the field and compete NOW, let’s get him. Until the rules change or our NIL gets to a level where we can hang on to good guys for multiple seasons (which will probably be never) then team-building is year-to-year proposition. Get the guys who have reps at higher levels and have spent time in college weight programs. We will get poached by the schools higher in the current food chain than us, we need to be doing the same to the schools below us. That is just how it is right now and if we can properly identify and acquire that available talent, we can win.

"Wilson's firing marks the sixth job to open in the AAC (along with those at Charlotte, Rice, Temple, East Carolina and FAU). Tulsa, Charlotte and FAU fired their coaches before the finish of their second seasons, a sign that the expected length of coaching tenures in the Group of 5 is shortening." Here is the ESPN article about the AAC and G5 trend... https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/42581760/sources-tulsa-firing-kevin-wilson-latest-blowout-loss

Love me some Chico with the jet black Roy Orbison interim hair. For me Chico is like Creed. I'm not supposed to love them but I do. Coach Canales loved North Texas more than most alumni.

UNT fans at the Thanksgiving dinner table this week

This world does not exist anymore. It used to, but not in the portal and NIL age of college football. If players cared about coaching staff stability they would not be transferring at the rate they are. If this thinking permeates our AD, then they need to look for a new line of work because that ship sailed. Seriously, how many 17-18 years olds sit down and review the contracts of the coaches to decide which offer to take? High school recruiting should be de-emphasized. It can't go away completely, but building a program through the high school ranks over multiple years no longer works. When recruiting high school players, I think the only "stability" play is academic stability. There are a lot of players that have the skill and ability to play D1 football, but won't make it to the next level. Hopefully they are smart enough to realize that. Sell them (and their parents!) on playing a sport they love and getting a solid education and degree while they do. That's why it's important to continue to improve the academic status of UNT. We're not going to be a Stanford, but improving 4-year graduation rates and tighter admission standards will help.