Breaking: North Texas Makes Skyler Cassity Hiring Official

Glory to the Green · December 3

7 minutes ago, TheReal_jayD said:

Last year, he held FIU and La Tech to a combined 10 points. The Previous year UNT allowed 46 and 37 to the two schools.

This is a great point.

MeanGreenTexan · December 3

To all of you who are concerned with how young Cassity is... I'm with you.

And, although we don't have any common opponents this season, how many of you think our defense would have done THIS to Rice (btw... as bad as Rice was this year, at least they beat UTSA)?

18 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

Demerick Gary?

I'm guessing he means Coach Odom (if he wants to stay).

UNTLifer · December 3

4 minutes ago, UNTcrazy727 said:

Our offensive line was average at best. We struggled mightily in short yardage situations and pass protection often broke down.

Short yardage situations, to me, were a result of the system and the lack of lining up under center.

Leftwich had to work with:

* No Gabe Blair

* Leke Asenuga up and leaving after ten games.

* Jett Duncan being injured

* Jasper Lott leaving the team.

* A true freshman playing a majority of the games at starting center and another starting at guard.

* Peterson playing with an injured shoulder.

I think considering the above and our offensive production, Leftwich did well.

NT80 · December 3

32 minutes ago, GMG_Dallas said:

We can't ask for somebody with experience and then pretend to be happy with this.

He dad was a college DC for 22 years.

So, he could always ask him for advice.

Think of it as we're getting 2-for-1...

https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2024/06/11/skyler-cassity-is-the-youngest-defensive-coordinator-in-the-fbs-he-didn-t-take-any-shortcuts?ref=article_preview_title

MeanGreen22 · December 3

There will always be a few "yeah, but..." people for every North Texas hire/decision. Some people just live in misery.

GMG_Dallas · December 3

13 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

To all of you who are concerned with how young Cassity is... I'm with you.

And, although we don't have any common opponents this season, how many of you think our defense would have done THIS to Rice (btw... as bad as Rice was this year, at least they beat UTSA)?

They held the 114th ranked scoring offense to 14? Wow.

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/27/p3

MeanGreenTexan · December 3

59 minutes ago, TheReal_jayD said:

Temple and Keeler foought to get Cassity to Philly. He wanted to stay in Texas.

If I'm Cassity, going to Temple is my last resort. Period.
This may have been more like a life preserver to Cassity. UNT's DC VS Temple's DC positions are vastly different, especially in the area of available talent pool.

I really hope we're not needlessly shelling out much more $ than what he was making at SHSU. No reason for him to come to NT and immediately make as much as Caponi was.

MeanGreenTexan · December 3

7 minutes ago, GMG_Dallas said:

They held the 114th ranked scoring offense to 14? Wow.

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/27/p3

You're dodging another question.

Do you think NT's defense would have held Rice to the same output? I don't.

Heck, NT's defense allowed more points to 2 lower-ranked teams (Wyoming-17 & Temple-17).

UNTLifer · December 3

42 minutes ago, Glory to the Green said:

My guess is Clay or Odom, but I honestly don’t have any information.

Clay? As in Jennings? He's been here too many times with lack luster results. Maybe a nice guy, but he has never impressed me as a coach.

GMG_Dallas · December 3

10 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

You're dodging another question.

Do you think NT's defense would have held Rice to the same output? I don't.

Heck, NT's defense allowed more points to 2 lower-ranked teams (Wyoming-17 & Temple-17).

Using NT's defense as a standard for anything is not the way to go. Just because our defense wouldn't have done it, doesn't mean that's what I want either.

Hunter Green · December 3

1 hour ago, TheReal_jayD said:

he tried his best

What defense does he run? Can he be here for the bowl game to get a feel for what he has coming back?

greenminer · December 3

Not the experience I wanted, but I suppose this is the guy if you want to roll with youth.

UNTLifer · December 3

For those of you unhappy or questioning this hire, care to name who you would have preferred?

Green Otaku · December 3

1 hour ago, TheReal_jayD said:

I agree that Cassity is younger than our previous defensive coordinator. However, he has more experience as a DC than our previous hire.

I'm willing to give Cassity a wait and see approach, but what you've pointed out is a glaringly low bar. Our previous coach had 0 DC experience, so anyone with at least one year clears that. A DC with 1 good year of FBS experience is a valid point of concern, but to me the pressure really isn't on Cassity, it's on Morris. This hire reflects his ability to evaluate staff, and to right the ship. If he doesn't deliver next year it's clear he doesn't know how to manage a program and should be fired.

Rudy · December 3

49 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

If I'm Cassity, going to Temple is my last resort. Period.
This may have been more like a life preserver to Cassity. UNT's DC VS Temple's DC positions are vastly different, especially in the area of available talent pool.

I really hope we're not needlessly shelling out much more $ than what he was making at SHSU. No reason for him to come to NT and immediately make as much as Caponi was.

Agree. I hope we aren't throwing bags of cash with a dollar sign to bring him here. Pay him more than he was making at Sam Houston, but don't break the bank. Keep some in reserve for him to bring in a good staff, and some to help the buyout of EM if necessary.

NT80 · December 3

2 hours ago, GMG_Dallas said:

We wanted an experienced coach and instead got a 30 year old who's spent as much time as a grad assistant at Texas State and Texas Tech as he has a DC.

Oklahoma hired Washington State’s Ben Arbuckle — just 29 — to be its new offensive coordinator yesterday. He takes over for the fired Seth Littrell, whose offenses sputtered in the Sooners’ first SEC season. Meanwhile, Florida Atlantic picked Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, just 33, to replace Tom Herman as head coach.

-The Athletic Plus

MrAlien · December 3

I dont necessarily like it, but I dont hate it either... I like that they are going with the 3-4, but can he recruit? Drawing up the Xs and Os is one thing, but finding players that can execute the plays in another. Missed tackles has been the story of the defense the last two seasons, we need to bring in guys that can tackle.

FirefightnRick · December 3

3 hours ago, SUMG said:

20th ranked defense in the nation......

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/22

56th in Run Defense, 21st in Scoring defense. That would have earned us an 8-4 record this year, easily.

Rick

TIgreen01 · December 3

Disappointed to see the 3 man fronts likely continued. Having not watched any SHSU or ACU games in the past couple years, I'd be interested to know if he at least has a goal line / big package, ideally able to go with multiple fronts as the situation calls for. Single most infuriating thing I watched all year was us lining up in a 3-3-5 on the goal line against UTSA. If I see that ever again, in my lifetime, I'm pretty sure my head will explode.

Overall, as Cooley said, we have no idea what we're getting until later on and the games get played. I'll reserve judgment until then. For now, welcome aboard and get to work! There's LOTS to do.

p_phelps · December 3

3 hours ago, UNTcrazy727 said:

Considering another 6-6 season probably gets Morris canned, this hire really surprises me. The defense HAS to get turned around next year. I figured we'd hire someone with more experience and skins on the wall. This guy might be a genius, but does he have the pull to put together a good staff, and recruiting experience to sign quality players?

This is the hire I would have expected when Morris was first brought on. Shocked its the route he's taking after his first hire completely blew up in his face.

Like he did at ACU and sam houston.. this isn't his 1st job

p_phelps · December 3

2 hours ago, GMG_Dallas said:

So that justifies being ranked 117? Not buying it.

We wanted an experienced coach and instead got a 30 year old who's spent as much time as a grad assistant at Texas State and Texas Tech as he has a DC.

ACU and sam houston... sam houston is a top 30 defense. Sorry we didn't get nick saban

GMG_Dallas · December 3

6 minutes ago, p_phelps said:

ACU and sam houston... sam houston is a top 30 defense. Sorry we didn't get nick saban

Cool. 1 good year against horrible opponents and allowed 45 to a 4-8 UCF team. When he fails and we're back with a new coaching staff, don't ask why.

Edited December 3 by GMG_Dallas

Green with Envy · December 3

2 hours ago, UNTLifer said:

Unfortunately, Ernie Stautner is dead.

too soon

TheReal_jayD · December 3

17 minutes ago, TIgreen01 said:

Disappointed to see the 3 man fronts likely continued. Having not watched any SHSU or ACU games in the past couple years, I'd be interested to know if he at least has a goal line / big package, ideally able to go with multiple fronts as the situation calls for. Single most infuriating thing I watched all year was us lining up in a 3-3-5 on the goal line against UTSA. If I see that ever again, in my lifetime, I'm pretty sure my head will explode.

Overall, as Cooley said, we have no idea what we're getting until later on and the games get played. I'll reserve judgment until then. For now, welcome aboard and get to work! There's LOTS to do.

will be more 4-2-5

GMG_Dallas · December 3

29 minutes ago, NT80 said:

Oklahoma hired Washington State’s Ben Arbuckle — just 29 — to be its new offensive coordinator yesterday. He takes over for the fired Seth Littrell, whose offenses sputtered in the Sooners’ first SEC season. Meanwhile, Florida Atlantic picked Texas Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, just 33, to replace Tom Herman as head coach.

-The Athletic Plus

Luckily I don't care about either of those two programs. As has been said, this could have been a fine first hire but with where we are as a program entering year 3 of Morris' tenure, I would have hoped we wouldn't be taking a flyer on a guy with limited experience.