UNT football coach, AD get contract extensions

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UNT football coach, AD get contract extensions

05:36 PM CDT on Friday, August 19, 2005

By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle

The UNT Board of Regents approved one-year contract extensions for head football coach Darrell Dickey and athletic director Rick Villarreal on Friday.

Dickey’s deal was extended to Dec. 31, 2009 and a provision added that would result in a $100,000 payment if he serves the entire length of the deal. Villarreal’s contract was extended to May 31, 2010. His new deal includes raises of $15,000 on Sept. 1 and June 1, 2007.

Villarreal’s buyout provision was also modified under the new deal to include a retention payment of $50,000 if he remains at UNT for the duration of the contract.

[MootPoint]

Football: UNT to hold first scrimmage today

08:26 AM CDT on Saturday, August 20, 2005

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

Moving day will arrive early this morning for Aaron Weathers and a few other members of the North Texas football team when the Mean Green hold their first scrimmage of fall practice.

The sophomore from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College has been crawling his way up UNT’s depth chart since he first practiced with the team this fall. A solid outing in the team’s first scrimmage could help move him into an increased role with the Mean Green’s defense, or even a starting job.

“There is no question this is a big opportunity for some of the guys,” UNT coach Darrell Dickey said. “We will take a good, hard look at where everyone is and see who separates themselves.”

The fight for playing time will begin at 8:30 a.m. at C.H. Collins Athletic Complex. UNT will play at the complex because work crews are still putting the final touches on a new artificial surface at Fouts Field.

“I am really looking forward to it,” Weathers said of the scrimmage. “I want to be consistent out there and make some plays.”

The scrimmage will be the closest Weathers has come to playing in a live game since his days at Coffeyville. Weathers committed to UNT at the semester break, but didn’t arrive on campus until the beginning of fall practice.

Several of the junior college recruits UNT has signed over the past few seasons have transferred at the semester break and participated in spring practice.

Weathers has quickly made up for lost time this fall, and his abilities have made an impression on UNT’s coaches.

“Aaron has good size and can be physical,” Dickey said. “He has good range and a knack for the ball. He has a good feel for the position, but he is still learning our system.”

Weathers’ Coffeyville connections have helped ease his quick transition to the college game. Starting cornerback T.J. Covington transferred to UNT from Coffeyville last season, while defensive back Gary Oubre and defensive end Willie Ransom joined Weathers to make a three-man recruiting class from Coffeyville this season.

Weathers finished with 50 tackles and two sacks in his final season at Coffeyville. The former all-state defensive back from Bonner Springs, Kan., is expected to help fill the void left when UNT’s starting safeties Jonas Buckles and Markeith Knowlton graduated following last season.

Weathers credited his Coffeyville connections with helping prepare to him to compete for a starting job with the Mean Green.

“We were pretty well-coached at Coffeyville, so some of it has transferred over,” Weathers said. “I have had to learn new calls, but most of the coverages are pretty similar.”

Players to miss scrimmage

Five players are expected to miss UNT’s intra-squad scrimmage today due to injuries, including Oubre and junior tight end Ronald Hull.

Hull end separated his shoulder in practice on Thursday and is expected to miss several weeks, while Oubre injured his knee. UNT is hoping Oubre will return in time for its season opener at LSU on Sept. 3.

Sophomore linebacker Brandon Monroe, sophomore defensive end Jeremiah Chapman and freshman defensive lineman Issac Thomas are also expected to miss the workout with a variety of minor injuries.

McIngvale donation in house

The UNT Board of Regents announced Friday morning that has it received the $1 million donation former Mean Green football player Jim McIngvale committed to give to the UNT athletic department early last year.

McIngvale’s donation that arrived on Thursday night is expected to help pay for the Mean Green Athletic Center. The facility opened early this year.

The announcement was one of several the board made regarding the UNT athletic program. The board also approved modifications in the contracts of athletic director Rick Villarreal and head football coach Darrell Dickey.

Dickey’s contract that was set to expire on Dec. 31, 2008 was extended by a year and a provision for a $100,000 payment if he serves the entire length of the deal was added.

Dickey’s base salary of $170,000 is scheduled to increase by five percent on Sept. 1 under the provisions of his old contract and did not change under the new deal.

The board also extended Villarreal’s contract that is set to expire on May 31, 2009 by one year. Villarreal’s new deal included a raise of $15,000 to his base salary of $155,000 on Sept. 1 and another $15,000 pay increase on June 1, 2007.

Villarreal’s buyout provision was also modified to include a retention payment of $50,000 if he remains at UNT for the duration of the contract.

Fans to host barbecue after scrimmage

A group of UNT fans will host the sixth annual Gomeangreen.com barbecue honoring the Mean Green’s players and coaches today following the team’s scrimmage at C.H. Collins.

The event, which will take place in front of the dining hall adjacent to the Mean Green Athletic Center, is free of charge and open to the public.