Biggest Reason Why We Lost,

UNTflyer · October 29, 2007

The Fake Lonnie Finch · October 29, 2007

The reason we lost is THE PUNTING TEAMS!!!!!! The punt team allowed a kick to be blocked and it resulted in a score. Then THREE times the punt return team let the ball go dead inside the 1-yard line.
If it happens once, chalk it up to luck. Twice, it might be something to be concerned about. Three times is inexcusable.
Coach Drake needs to pull his head out of his

Ah, yes...Mr. "Entering his first season, Robert Drake came to North Texas along with head coach Todd Dodge from Southlake Carroll High School...."

I'm sure opposing teams are terrified about this guy's schemes, based on what he did in high school and all. The official biography goes on to say he was part of six state titles at Southlake Carroll since 1990. Gee, that's terribly interesting. Now I have something to comfort myself with when our punts are being blocked and our return team is...well, doing what our return team does.

It's really hard to question this guy's credentials. I mean, think about it. How do you question the decision to hire a guy with absolutely no college coaching experience at any level whatsoever? It was a brilliant move! Dodge was smart to bring him along. Darrell Dickey had stealth recruiting, Todd Dodge has stealth hiring. Think of all the other college teams that missed out on hiring a guy who was a part of six state, high school football titles! How did this guy slip through the cracks for so long? The genius of it is stunning!

Also, the president and Board of Directors were equally smart about going about their daily lives and ignoring the football program while it happened.

Oops. This post might be seen as critical. I'm probably not real Mean Green fan anymore. Because I recognize poor coaching, I'm a bad, bad person. A really mean person. A person who probably hates puppies and kittens.

<burp>

...and has bad manners to boot!

Edited October 29, 2007 by The Fake Lonnie Finch

MeanGreenEngineer · October 29, 2007

After extensive studies, I've come to the conclusion the biggest reason we lost is because, now follow along here, at the end of regulation, they had more points on the board than we did.

The studies looking into why they had more points is going to take 5 months and a six figure budget, if it gets out of the Exploratory Committee Naming Committee on time.

UNTLifer · October 29, 2007

If the University of North Texas wanted to elevate itself, it should have hired a staff that could produce better results against Sunbelt teams THIS YEAR. We are losing to the worst teams in Division 1. For the dozen or so of you willing to put up with this for 3 or 4 years, you can huddle together in Fouts by yourselves in 2009. There will be plenty of seats to choose from. If your goal is just to be competitive with Sunbelt teams in 2010, you and your mindset are bad for the program.
I think some people on here REALLY like the familial aspect of the current NT program and its tiny fanbase, and they would choose having this over a true Division 1 program. For me, personal relationships with other fans and even the administration are great, but I would gladly trade that for having a nationally respected program that reflects well on the university. Unfortunately, the hiring decision last year is proving itself to be more in line with a continuation of our small-time roots. I find that to be very uninteresting, and if there are not some signs soon that things are IN FACT heading in the right direction, as some here say, then I will lose interest altogether, and I don't think I'm going to be alone.

You want to know why I choose to look at this situation realistically and give Dodge a year to get his system in place? Here are the reasons:

1. Dodge didn't arrive on campus until late in December.

2. Dodge had to hire a staff before he could even recruit.

3. He put together one of our finest recruiting classes, on paper, in the last few years in 17 days.

4. He arrived to find 3 WR's on scholarship when his offense regularly utilizes a minimum of 4.

5. He arrived to find players that had been "negatively motivated" by the previous staff with little regard to teaching.

6. He arrived to a program that had won 5 games in the previous 2 seasons.

Give the man some time.

TheTastyGreek · October 29, 2007

You want to know why I choose to look at this situation realistically and give Dodge a year to get his system in place? Here are the reasons:
1. Dodge didn't arrive on campus until late in December.
2. Dodge had to hire a staff before he could even recruit.
3. He put together one of our finest recruiting classes, on paper, in the last few years in 17 days.
4. He arrived to find 3 WR's on scholarship when his offense regularly utilizes a minimum of 4.
5. He arrived to find players that had been "negatively motivated" by the previous staff with little regard to teaching.
6. He arrived to a program that had won 5 games in the previous 2 seasons.
Give the man some time.

Throw in NCAA scholarship restrictions and take away the name credibility that Dodge has to recruit his target area... and it sounds a lot like Rick Stockstill.

Rather than asking for time on Dodge's behalf, why not give the man enough respect to admit that this is an embarrassment of a season and that these results shouldn't be acceptable, whether it's Year 1 or Year 10.

North Texas football shouldn't be the kiddie pool of College Football. Our assistant coaches don't get training wheels just because they may not have been able to handle their jobs from day one.

I'm not saying fire anyone, I'm not saying Dodge sucks. All I'm saying is that if we really believe in the man, if he's really the football messiah, maybe it isn't unreasonable to hold ourselves to the same lofty standards as... Middle Tennessee State University.

NCMeanGreen · October 29, 2007

I have plenty of time as I have been rooting for the eagles all of my life and I am not going anywhere, but there are many people on this board that need to understand, that without any staff changes, these first 3-4 years could very well be as bad as DD's first 3-4 years. There are some on this staff that are doing well, but there are others that do have a massive learning curve ahead of themselves.

OK, fair enough. However, hopefully TD makes the right decision based on what is best for the TEAM, not the individual. If that means having to displace a friend, then so be it? Does that sound cruel? Maybe, but look at the example that was made of Phil Bennet...you don't produce (in this business), and you lose your job.

Folks, are we in the business of winning football games...or maintaining relationships? Hell, our own Dr. Phil would probably know the answer to that.

Anyway, I am sure we all hope that the "learninig curve" does not affect us too badly. But, if it is more than that (aptitude for the college game, being unable to make adjustments in the hectic frenzy that is college football, etc.)...I sure hope the right decisions are made.

Be honest...would having the "right" players for this "system" really make some of these concerns go away?????