George Dunham's take on DD's fireing at 6:50 a.m.

[FirefightnRick]

At 5:30 this morning for one of only a handful of times I turned on the ticket to hear what George had to say about the situation. He sounded down about it and said he was closer to the situation more than most. But said one thing that he didn't understand was "these universities making the coach they fire continue to coach the remainder of the season?". Asked, "why don't they just make them step down?". I guess it's a good question but the coach is getting paid throughout the remainder of the season, and I'd think most would want to? Maybe DD didn't?

Said he'd go into it with more detail at 6:50 this morning so if anyone listens let us know what he said.

Rick

[Zeke]

He pretty much just reiterated what you put.

I would figure DD would WANT to come back these last 3 games and give a last hurrah. If he didn't, then Dunham is right, we should just let Evans finish the season.

[LongJim]

Mentioned the "cruelty" that comes with the profession. In particular, he was referring to what gets posted on "little internet sites". Junior reminded that coaches are paid hundreds of thousands--"sometimes millions"--of dollars to take the abuse.

GD felt that the axe could have waited until the end of the year. Repeatedly stressed that he was close to the situation, but that he knows first-hand how much DD was invested and cared about the program, and both referred to DD as probably the greatest coach in UNT history, certainly since the Fry Daddy. Talked about DD's reputation amongst his peers. Specifically mentioned Bob Stoops and Mack Brown as two coaches with high regard for DD.

Both agreed that UNT should aspire to high mid-major status, where Jub maintained DD had taken the program in the past.

Junior mentioned that until UNT gets better alumni support, the program will continue to struggle to rise above this level, but said that it could be done eg: Rutgers, etc.

Edited November 9, 2006 by LongJim

[UNTLifer]

Junior mentioned that until gets better alumni support, the program will continue to struggle to rise above this level, but said that it could be done

←

Funny how an alum that doesn't support his alma mater states that his alma mater needs better alumni support.

[Got5onIt]

He's just mad because he lost his insider status. He'll have to start the boot lickin' all over again with the new staff. Time to go to work, GEORGE!!!

[GoMeanGreen1999]

Funny how an alum that doesn't support his alma mater states that his alma mater needs better alumni support.

←

Boy that is an understatement. I still have no idea why Junior doesn't support the Green. I would question and disagree with GD's statement about bringing UNT to the level of a high mid-major. We sure didn't show that in our OOC games. I expected GD to have that kind of response though...he is employed by the Athletic Department.

[BleedGreen64]

DD should have an incentive to hang in for the 3 games and try to turn the program around. He would not be retained but if he wants to ever be a college head coach again he needs to show what he can do. Otherwise he is looking at being an assistant or high school coach.

With our limited OCC wins during the last 9 years I could not considder us a successful high mid major program.

[rcade]

I sent this e-mail to Dunham, whose comment about "little Internet sites" appears to be a dig at GoMeanGreen:

I'm an old P1 who moved to Florida years ago.

I read that you were down on "little Internet sites" in your

discussion of Darryl Dickey's firing at UNT. I can understand your

discouragement as a personal friend of Dickey, but I wish you'd reach

a better rapport with communities like GoMeanGreen.Com.

You're the voice of UNT football. I think it's huge that you've

supported the program the way you have, especially during those Big

West years with absurd road trips. If I haven't said it before,

thanks.

GoMeanGreen is the voice of a lot of rabid UNT fans. I know some of us

are a-holes, but if UNT will ever grow into the mid-major program it

should be, it needs fans who care this much.

I joined the Mean Green Club this year because of GoMeanGreen.

[FirefightnRick]

Wow!, that was an education this morning during that 8 minute exchange and I don't really have anything nice to say about it, so I won't say much about it at all.

We all want the same thing and it's time for healing and for the Mean Green Nation to move on. Just as we expected Bill Mercer to pull that dagger out of his own back and move on too in 1994. And even though today's he's still bitter over it he has been able to continue his 40 some odd years of service to this university by continuing to teach in the RTVF department that he started so long ago. If he can move on so can the rest of us.

Rick

Edited November 9, 2006 by FirefightnRick

[TeachinTodd]

I, too, emailed GD this morning after listening, and to his credit, he replied to my email. I think his closness to the situation and the Dickey family affects his judgement, but I find it hard to believe most of us wouldn't come to the defense of a close friend. We value relationships, and so does George. Just because his personal view of a situation is different than ours, give the guy credit for being able to state his true feelings.

[NT80]

I, too, emailed GD this morning after listening, and to his credit, he replied to my email.  I think his closness to the situation and the Dickey family affects his judgement, but I find it hard to believe most of us wouldn't come to the defense of a close friend.  We value relationships, and so does George.  Just because his personal view of a situation is different than ours, give the guy credit for being able to state his true feelings.

←

I only heard a portion of GD's defense of DD. I don't think he had the fan-in-the-stands perspective on the decline of the program we've watched the past two years. He kept referring to the SBC titles and Bowl trips but never mentioned the poor OOC and overall record, failure to positively portray the school, and turned off the fan base with dull gameplans. We can do better in coaching, and should!

[Zeke]

I must say there is a HUGE difference in how DD is percieved between those that know him personally (players, media, etc) and Joe Blow Fan. DD is obviously an amazing person to get to know, those that know him personally will defend him to the death.

I do think that those same people become blinded by "the man" and can't see "the coach".

[UNTFan23]

DD might have been a great person to know, but he sucked as a head coach. 'Nough said.

[PlummMeanGreen]

Neither George Dunham or his trusty sidekick, ie, Hank "NT would never want to be a part of CUSA" ** Dickenson would understand that Darrell Dickey could not carry John Hayden Fry's jock strap and I think even the entire Dickey clan would all be smart enough to know that. But our dynamic radio duo can do all the dreamin' about all that they want. ** Ol' HD said that to both SUMG and I in his first year on the NT Athletic Dept. payroll which was, uh, what decade again, John?

Rick V still needs to do some more house cleaning so new schools of thought coming into Denton soon won't be tarnished or sabbotaged by old schools of thought of which many of that group wore out their welcome in Denton a long, long time ago. If Hank loves the Denton community and civic scene that much maybe he should resign from the UNT Athletic Dept and the, uh, the Mean Green Radio Network and run for mayor of Denton? Of course, he would have to be fore-warned that there would be a "slight" pay cut in doing that.

A non-BCS athletic program that is not successful over an extended period of time (at a higher profile than that of the upstart SBC); anyway, such an athletic program should not become a haven of rest or retirement center for those who who've been around long enough to make a noticeable difference and I talk of all the ancillery athletic staff types as much as the coaches themselves.

Edited November 10, 2006 by PlummMeanGreen