Tuesdays News & Notes

[NT03]

The North Texas board of regents will consider a new contract for athletic director Rick Villarreal during its meetings later this week. Some basic financial parameters of the contract will be in tomorrow's paper. The deal would be for five years.

By now everyone knows that UNT won't be playing Miami to open the 2008 season. The Hurricanes were looking for a higher profile opponent to play in their first game at Dolphin Stadium after deciding to leave the Orange Bowl after a long an illustrious history there. Villarreal said UNT is still in negotiations with Miami on a settlement, but has already filled the void in its schedule with LSU. UNT has lost to the Tigers twice since 1999.

On the football front, head coach Todd Dodge said Thomas Moreland is leading the race for the job as the Mean Green's kicker. All-conference punter Truman Spencer could end up being UNT's kickoff specialist and designated kicker for long field goal attempts.

Running back Jamario Thomas was back at practice today. Offensive lineman Robert Peachey was still out and wore a cotton sleeve on his leg.

The play of the day came from an unlikely player in kicker Trent Deans. Senior linebacker Maurice Holman blocked Deans' field goal attempt, scooped it up and began running toward the end zone. Deans -- all 178 pounds of him -- caught Holman before he could get a full head of steam and posted perhaps the most unlikely tackle of fall practice. Needless to say, UNT's players went wild. Dodge blew the whistle and made the play the last of practice.

In other practice news and notes, sophomore defensive back Antoine Bush made a nice play to break up a pass intended for Casey Fitzgerald and Brock Stickler made an impressive leaping catch over the middle of the field.

From the mailbag …

I received a question yesterday about running back Cam Montgomery. The JUCO transfer is practicing but is having a relatively quiet camp.

Be sure to check out tomorrow's paper for a few other notes, including the story of the rapid rise of Esteban Santiago on the Mean Green's offensive line.

Edited August 22, 2007 by NT03

[MCMLXXX]

Additional info.

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/...s.59be722c.html

[Ibleedgreen]

"Running back Jamario Thomas was back at practice today. "

[greenminer]

The play of the day came from an unlikely player in kicker Trent Deans. Senior linebacker Maurice Holman blocked Deans' field goal attempt, scooped it up and began running toward the end zone. Deans -- all 178 pounds of him -- caught Holman before he could get a full head of steam and posted perhaps the most unlikely tackle of fall practice. Needless to say, UNT's players went wild. Dodge blew the whistle and made the play the last of practice.

Great story. Glad to see they're having fun making plays.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

By now everyone knows that UNT won't be playing Miami to open the 2008 season. The Hurricanes were looking for a higher profile opponent to play in their first game at Dolphin Stadium after deciding to leave the Orange Bowl after a long an illustrious history there. Villarreal said UNT is still in negotiations with Miami on a settlement, but has already filled the void in its schedule with LSU. UNT has lost to the Tigers twice since 1999.

---I hope whoever they get to replace us on the schedule "pounds the devil out of them" and ruins their season early which will make them wish they had never switched opponents.

Edited August 22, 2007 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[texas45green]

Does anyone know when OT Robert Peachey might be back? Or even if he will play agianst Oklahoma?