Did DD Really Slam The Fans In His...

untbowler · March 19, 2006

Several factors could be included in past year's attendance averages: actual attendance vs. tickets sold counts, 1-A vs. 1-AA status, school enrollment doubled from 1979 (16K) to 2006 (32K), new conferences, new AD, new President, new coach, teams played at home, team record, etc...
From the NT media guide:
DD:
2005--16,446
2004--15,184
2003--18,694
2002--15,260
2001--14,769
2000--14,180
1999--13,752
1998--12,480
Matt Simon:
1997--19,704
1996--14,234
1995--17,376
1994--19,517
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Hmm looks like ole Matt simon had better attendance could it be maybe it he did not tear into the fans?

MGW · March 19, 2006

Hmm looks like ole Matt simon had better attendance could it be maybe it he did not tear into the fans?
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Nope. I think his numbers are a reflection of games at Texas Stadium, and a result of a big time attendance push in 1994 to meet D1A requirements.

untbowler · March 20, 2006

Nope. I think his numbers are a reflection of games at Texas Stadium, and a result of a big time attendance push in 1994 to meet D1A requirements.
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Numbers are numbers still, maybe if they would do another push the numbers could continue to rise, but marketing skills are obviously lacking within the Athletic's Department

Doubtful DD and company should really be considered the catalyst for the current attendance. This year we should see a better number especially with La. Tech and SMU on the home schedule. We shall see how far we have come or declined depending on one's view of the glass.

Edited March 21, 2006 by untbowler

ADLER · March 21, 2006

I'm not asking anyone to make any judgments nor any interpretations. I was also on the periphery of the assembled group so there is also a possibility that I may have missed or misheard a couple of things.
If there are any inaccuracies in my recollections, I asked that you guys please post in reply. I would love to hear that I heard it wrong.
I don't think Coach intended to make any offensive statements, but I think it's obvious, from what I heard, how they could have been taken that way.
Please, also remember that this was also said only 5 days after several fans had provided and served a barbeque dinner for the team.
___________________________________________________________
" Division from within! Division from within! Does anyone know what division from within means?" Coach Dickey asked his players. The players all stared while the coach repetitively made a globe shape by touching his fingers together and then pulling his hands apart. "It's when internal forces destroy something by pulling it apart."
"In my 46 years of being around college football, North Texas is the worst, the worst, THE WORST, place that I have ever witnessed this type of division. It's probably the worst in the country."
"The fans at Gomeangreen will feed you, and they'll give you cupcakes, but, as soon as anything goes wrong and you lose a game, those same f***ers will be calling you losers, they'll be calling you woosies, and they'll be calling you worthless."
"I'm not telling you to be mean to anyone, I'm not telling you to be rude to anyone, I'm just telling it like it is, and to not forget it."
He then finished his post-scrimmage talk by telling the players that "the team needed leaders and that leaders do not have to be seniors or even star players, and this past year we were missing leadership" and then gave a "work hard in the classroom, work hard in the weight room, stay in shape, stay out of jail, and have a great time but be careful during Spring Break" speech.
____________________________________________________________________
After the team left the field, Coach Dickey walked around to many of the fans and thanked them for coming out to the scrimmage, and then said that "he and the players appreciate your support". He also said that he was going to try to make it out to the Gomeangreen flag football again this year.
Like I said, I don't think his statements were necessarily intended to be directed at the entire Gomeangreen fan base, but his aim was much like that of Dick Cheney and somebody got shot in the back.
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Well, it's 5 days after I openly solicited for any contradictions to what I, and several other people present thought they heard, and there's still not a single dissenting reply. I see this as an indicator that my recolection may be fairly accurate.

Likewise, it has been several months since I was openly lambasted by many of the player's parents, and a couple of gomeangreen board moderators, for stating that the football team appeared to have, at best, total indifference towards the people that support them.

Would it be totally unrealistic to speculate that there may be a direct correlation between those types of statements and the disdain shown by the players towards the fans?

SilverEagle · March 22, 2006

Well, it's 5 days after I openly solicited for any contradictions to what I, and several other people present thought they heard, and there's still not a single dissenting reply. I see this as an indicator that my recolection may be fairly accurate.
Likewise, it has been several months since I was openly lambasted by many of the player's parents, and a couple of gomeangreen board moderators, for stating that the football team appeared to have, at best, total indifference towards the people that support them.
Would it be totally unrealistic to speculate that there may be a direct correlation between those types of statements and the disdain shown by the players towards the fans?
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I would be more inclined to use the word "distrust" rather than disdain...

Still an understandable feeling/attitude, in light of the type of motivational speeches they receive.

Edited March 22, 2006 by SilverEagle

Monkeypox · March 22, 2006

Another interesting point to be made here is that DD is a coach always ready to offer up excuses for his team. He DOES NOT require the most out of his players, and thus he'll never get it.

"As soon as something goes wrong and you lose," or words to that effect, further illustrate the "it's not our fault" attitude. What "goes wrong?" Divine intervention? Techtonic Plate Shifting moves the goal post during that last-second field goal? The Apocalypse? Sometimes you just get beat, but I worry about a coach for whom this is the only answer. We're much quicker to throw DD under the bus than we are our players. WE believe they have the ability, more often than not, but the execution and attitude are what's lacking. If I didn't think we actually COULD go to UT or OU and win, I wouldn't waste my time watching the game. Now, I'd feel a little better about it if we had a coach who actually thought we could win. And this guy wants to say WE'RE against the team?!

Now, take a coach like Bill Parcells (you know, a good one). I watched a documentary on him the other day, and they were interviewing former players. The most interesting thing was seeing Lawrence Taylor speak about him with a fear and respect I'd never witnessed from him. And every player said the same things. Parcells was not your friend. He was not a nice guy. You hated him like a kid hates their parents sometimes, because he was tough on you and wanted everything you had, and that's why you gave it. And players really WANT to play for him.

It's not the only way to coach, but I'd take that over the buddy approach anyday.

So then DD goes on and attempts to explain what division from within was. If only his comments were intentionally satirical, because it perfectly illuminates the problem.