UNT looks into fan incident

MeanGreen61 · November 7, 2005

10:10 PM CST on Sunday, November 6, 2005

By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle

DENTON – North Texas coach Darrell Dickey said he will look into a confrontation between offensive coordinator Ramon Flanigan and a fan during halftime of the Mean Green's game against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday at Fouts Field.

A few UNT coaches were walking from the press box to the field when alumnus Bill Covert said he yelled toward them that they were being outcoached.

Covert said one assistant walked into the row that he was seated in and asked him to repeat his comment. Covert did so after the assistant returned to the stairs leading to the field.

Covert said the coach was restrained by other staff members.

Covert couldn't identify the coach. Fellow UNT alumnus Paul Clark, seated in the same row as Covert, identified Flanigan as the coach involved.

Dickey said he didn't see the confrontation, and Flanigan declined to comment.

ipEAGLE · November 7, 2005

Here we go.

Zeke · November 7, 2005

I think Ramon just couldn't get his eyes off of Bill's pimped out lighted sunglasses.

hope24 · November 7, 2005

UNT looks into fan incident
10:10 PM CST on Sunday, November 6, 2005
By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle
DENTON – North Texas coach Darrell Dickey said he will look into a confrontation between offensive coordinator Ramon Flanigan and a fan during halftime of the Mean Green's game against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday at Fouts Field.
A few UNT coaches were walking from the press box to the field when alumnus Bill Covert said he yelled toward them that they were being outcoached.
Covert said one assistant walked into the row that he was seated in and asked him to repeat his comment. Covert did so after the assistant returned to the stairs leading to the field.
Covert said the coach was restrained by other staff members.
Covert couldn't identify the coach. Fellow UNT alumnus Paul Clark, seated in the same row as Covert, identified Flanigan as the coach involved.
Dickey said he didn't see the confrontation, and Flanigan declined to comment.
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Wow that article seems to make the incident seem like nothing really happened at all. It didn't say anything about any actual comments Flanigan made and didn't even say that he "allegedly" said anything.

It did say that he was restrained, but even that doesn't sound too bad - like the staff members who restrained him might have done so just as a precaution rather than out of necessity.

Instead of saying "staff members had to restrain Flanigan after he turned around and started heading into the stands toward Colvert, shouting at him angrily", they left out some details and made it seem more like a minor occurrence.

At least that's the impression I got.

KingDL1 · November 7, 2005

Wow that article seems to make the incident seem like nothing really happened at all. It didn't say anything about any actual comments Flanigan made and didn't even say that he "allegedly" said anything.
It did say that he was restrained, but even that doesn't sound too bad - like the staff members who restrained him might have done so just as a precaution rather than out of necessity.
Instead of saying "staff members had to restrain Flanigan after he turned around and started heading into the stands toward Colvert, shouting at him angrily", they left out some details and made it seem more like a minor occurrence.
At least that's the impression I got.
←

Thats fine as long as RV and UNT (and maybe Bobby Ray) know the details, we don't need a lot of bad press about this as a school or for the athletic department. Could hurt recruiting.

SilverEagle · November 7, 2005

UNT looks into fan incident
10:10 PM CST on Sunday, November 6, 2005
By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle
DENTON – North Texas coach Darrell Dickey said he will look into a confrontation between offensive coordinator Ramon Flanigan and a fan during halftime of the Mean Green's game against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday at Fouts Field.
A few UNT coaches were walking from the press box to the field when alumnus Bill Covert said he yelled toward them that they were being outcoached.
Covert said one assistant walked into the row that he was seated in and asked him to repeat his comment. Covert did so after the assistant returned to the stairs leading to the field.
Covert said the coach was restrained by other staff members.
Covert couldn't identify the coach. Fellow UNT alumnus Paul Clark, seated in the same row as Covert, identified Flanigan as the coach involved.
Dickey said he didn't see the confrontation, and Flanigan declined to comment.
←

Christ, what mess....and not exactly accurate.

After the coach in question turned around and started to angrily shout, he pulled away from the other coaches who were trying to calm him down. He then had to, not walk, but charge up at least 15 rows, and then push past Paul Clarke and family (including his young son) to arrive in front of me. After he demanded that I repeat my comment to his face, I did so....to his face. He then either removed himself, or was pulled away. Paul Clarke and family were in the row in front of me.

I should have known better than to talk to a reporter. Especially one that doesn't want the coaching staff to get mad at him.

VideoEagle · November 7, 2005

The Record-Chronicle has fired people in the past for writing what RF actually said!

Was the article in the Record-Chronicle too, or just the Morning News? I think the staff up there would like to pretend the Wretched-Comical is more important paper than the Morning New that owns them.

I'm very curious to see if RF's incident is combined with Tortilla-gate and blamed on "bad fan behavior."

I'll bet dollars to donuts that in RF's version of the story Bill said a lot more than "you're being outcoached" and that RF's will claim to have said nothing - that is was all invented by "bad fans."

OldTimer · November 7, 2005

The Record-Chronicle has fired people in the past for writing what RF actually said!
Was the article in the Record-Chronicle too, or just the Morning News? I think the staff up there would like to pretend the Wretched-Comical is more important paper than the Morning New that owns them.
I'm very curious to see if RF's incident is combined with Tortilla-gate and blamed on "bad fan behavior."
I'll bet dollars to donuts that in RF's version of the story Bill said a lot more than "you're being outcoached" and that RF's will claim to have said nothing - that is was all invented by "bad fans."
←

I emailed Bobby Ray a link to the post that everyone contributed to earlier with the facts.

The same article was printed in the DRC this morning. I did not repeat it because it said nothing different.

Edited November 7, 2005 by OldTimer

emmitt01 · November 7, 2005

That dizzy feeling you are all experiencing is the result of the story being spun valiantly.

H-towngreen · November 7, 2005

Silver-

Have you been contacted by the university to get the facts about the case? If not are you planning on doing so, as there needs to be some form of punishment handed down. In my opinion he should be suspended for one game and then fired at the end of the season. Not just because of this one incident but because of his all around performence. This offense is the most bland thing that I have ever seen. For some reason we can't find a way to get PC and JT on the field at the same time. He has not done diddly in term of recruiting lately(according to previous posts) the lifeline of a team. And a coach is probably going to be have to be let go at the end of the season just to show everyone that this will not be accepted again.

SilverEagle · November 7, 2005

Silver-
Have you been contacted by the university to get the facts about the case?
←

No.

NT80 · November 7, 2005

Updated version with RV comments:

.............................................................................................

08:25 AM CST on Monday, November 7, 2005

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas athletic director Rick Villarreal and head coach Darrell Dickey said they will look into a confrontation between offensive coordinator Ramon Flanigan and a fan during halftime of the Mean Green’s game against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday at Fouts Field.

A few of the Mean Green’s coaches were walking from the press box to the field at halftime when UNT alumnus Bill Covert said he yelled toward UNT staffers that they were being out-coached.

Covert said one of the assistants turned around, walked into the row that he was seated in and asked him to repeat his comment. Covert repeated the comment after the assistant returned to the stairs leading to the field.

Covert said the coach turned back toward him, but was restrained by other members of the staff. The coaches then walked to the field.

Covert couldn’t identify the coach, but fellow UNT alumnus Paul Clark said Flanigan was the assistant who came into the stands. Clark was seated in the same row of seats as Covert.

Clark said Flanigan didn’t shove or make contact with any fans. Covert said he was not sure if Flanigan made contact with any other fans, but he did not touch him.

Dickey said he didn’t see the confrontation.

Covert said he has not decided if he will file a complaint with the police over the incident.

“Ramon regrets the situation,” Villarreal said. “He took the time to call after the game to say he made a mistake.”

Flanigan declined to comment.

Edited November 7, 2005 by NT80

untbowler · November 7, 2005

“Ramon regrets the situation,” Villarreal said. “He took the time to call after the game to say he made a mistake.”
Flanigan declined to comment.
←

Unfortunately sounds like not to much will happen now and UNT will just move on with another black eye.

VideoEagle · November 7, 2005

“Ramon regrets the situation,” Villarreal said. “He took the time to call after the game to say he made a mistake.”
Flanigan declined to comment.
←

He took the time to call whom? Did he call SilverEagle? Or did he call Rick to give him the heads up that a situation was about to hit the fan?

medpilot21 · November 7, 2005

I am a huge Darrell Dickey guy...you all know that, but this CANNOT go away. If Ramon Flannigan gets away with this one, I will have huge issues with Darrell Dickey. I give him the credit for being a class act, and he really is that. However, this is one of his coaches and he has to be dealt with. Flannigan didnt just say something as he walked by... he charged into the stands pushing people aside and threatend a fan! We were right there and saw the whole thing. I had a fan with me who had NEVER been to a college football game, and his comments about what happened are speading through my co-workers. These impressions are being repeated by people at work who know nothing about North Texas and the strives we have made. I work with some NT-Exes that I have been trying to get to support our program, and they havent been back to NT since they graduated. Now the impression is we fight with our coaches in stands at football games and have no student parking. THAT crap sets my efforts back a year with these guys.. I will not defend the Alums one more time today! Silver did nothing to instigate that reaction from Ramon Flannigan other than hit the nail on the head. Something needs to be done about this, and it needs to be made public. People outside the University need to believe we are accountable for our actions...especially our coaches.

GMG!!!

UNTFan23 · November 7, 2005

He took the time to call whom? Did he call SilverEagle? Or did he call Rick to give him the heads up that a situation was about to hit the fan?
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I wondered the same thing. Vito seems to lack investigative reporting skills.

SilverEagle · November 7, 2005

He took the time to call whom? Did he call SilverEagle? Or did he call Rick to give him the heads up that a situation was about to hit the fan?
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I would be MOST UPSET if RF somehow acquired my phone number.

Michael Scott · November 7, 2005

I wondered the same thing. Vito seems to lack investigative reporting skills.
←

How much access do you think they give him? Usually he's chatting up the student workers while everyone else avoids eye contact.

You can bet they are on extra "lockdown" today.

FirefightnRick · November 7, 2005

After the coach in question turned around and started to angrily shout, he pulled away from the other coaches who were trying to calm him down. He then had to, not walk, but charge up at least 15 rows, and then push past Paul Clarke and family (including his young son) to arrive in front of me. After he demanded that I repeat my comment to his face, I did so....to his face. He then either removed himself, or was pulled away. Paul Clark and family were in the row in front of me.

What many here may not realize is that RF is extremely, extremely lucky in who he chose to get into it with in the stands. SilverEagle is one of the most calm, level headed, non-violent individuals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He's worked for the state CPS department nearly 30 years, training others on how to intervene and avoid such violent encounters between individuals. He also currrently continues to teach and train a class to future foster parents on such subjects. Had RF chosen someone who had been drinking too much and/or was an individual who stands to be a more reactive and aggressive personality with a short fuse, someone would have gotten seriously hurt, and this would have ended up as a HUGE ordeal involving national press and all.

LUCKY, LUCKY, LUCKY!

Also to make mattters more embarrassing for RF in this case,

SilverEagle was one of the 4 guys who stood out in the 100 degree heat back in August cooking and cutting up lunch for Coach Flanagan and his team. Silver would give his shirt off his back to anyone and has been one of our more active contributors to this program over the past several years.

RF couldn't have piled on a better supporter, but lucky for him, he chose Bill. I'm sure DD will do the right thing with this matter. He's a class act and demands that from his staff.

Rick

Edited November 7, 2005 by FirefightnRick

Stan R · November 7, 2005

I'm sure DD will do the right thing with this matter. He's a class act and demands that from his staff.
Rick
←

Oh.. Really? I'd like to hear from you what the "right" thing will be exactly? I'd be willing to bet 10 bucks that we never hear any more discussion about this incident coming from either RV, DD, or RF.

FirefightnRick · November 7, 2005

StanR

Oh.. Really? I'd like to hear from you what the "right" thing will be exactly? I'd be willing to bet 10 bucks that we never hear any more discussion about this incident coming from either RV, DD, or RF.

I'd say a public apology from RF would be a starter for one thing, and I'll leave it up to DD for the rest as MedPilot has already suggested.

By the way, I like Guinness Stout which I would happily accept over a full $10.

Rick

Edited November 7, 2005 by FirefightnRick

GoMeanGreen1999 · November 7, 2005

I am sure that DD will take just as much displinary action against Flannigan as he does his players when they get Unsportsman like and stupid penalties....

oh wait....