Well, The Season Is Over...

[eagle37]

Some final thoughts...

I was at a party last night and we were watching the Big XII game and the UNT scored rolled across the screen and I just had to duck my head in misery hoping no one else saw the score, but unfortunately they did and then here came the comments. So, I sat there calmly, bitting my lip and keeping my temper at bay not wanting to cause a scene. I could have come back with "wait until next year", but I know that wouldn't have shut anyone up and then OU scored yet again and finally everyones attention was back on the game. I believe las night that the whole team just quit. They threw their hands up and went through the motions until the final second. Just waiting for the game to be over, so they could get back and hang it up. That is disappointed me the most.

This was not the first time this has happened. 1989 I was a GA with UNT and we went up to play Kansas State, which at that time was the proud owner of the nations longest losing streak and the same thing happened. We were the team that they beat to snap that losing streak and they celebrated by tearing down the goal post. All 1,000 fans.

I read the article from the Star Telegram the most interresting point from this article was:

Mendoza admits to using a drill-sergeant mentality early on with his players to instill discipline. The give-and-take growth period ensued, and now players freely walk into his office or call him at all hours.

They've grown close, he said. He hurts for their lack of success this season and said they've helped him grow that extra skin layer.

"At the beginning of the year, he'd wreak havoc on the sideline," defensive tackle Joseph Miller said. "He'd get so hot, I wouldn't want to be around him. He's calmed down a lot and started handling the situation better and communicating better with us."

Both Miller and linebacker Derek Mendoza (no relation) said Ron Mendoza has taken an unfair share of blame for their play.

"The schemes, that's the go-to thing [for critics]," Derek Mendoza said. "As soon as something goes wrong, it's the schemes. The players have to be accountable for what's going on, too."

Now, before I go any further I am not defending Mendoza, but hopefully adding some insight.

When I read these comments I understood a little better of what happened to the defense this year. You have a coach that has been successful at the high school level coaching 16-18 year old players. His "drill sergeant mentality" works on kids this age by intimidation and most of the time these kids respond. The "drill sergeant mentality" will not work on 19-22 year old players. Most of them, espicially the older ones. These guys will shut down every time. I have been on both sides of this. When Corky or one of the other coaches would start to go off on the tangents we would kind of look at each other and roll our eyes and sit back and wait for the storm to pass. I remember my first year as a GA. I tried the drill sergeant approach just because I was a coach and the players that I was coaching shut down didn't even come talk to me if they had questions. Nelson Barnes (greatest coach I ever played for) told me that I had not earned these players respect yet and that is the one key thing that I had to remember before I could learn how to coach. So, I calmed down started to talk to the players helping them understand what we were trying to teach them letting them vent and listening and pushing them to be better with this mentality and they started to respond.

This I feel like was what happened to this defense this year. Mendoza, I believe, came in here and tried to instill the same coaching method that he had at SLC with grown young men and basically they quit on him. That goes two ways too. I might add that the comment from Derek Mendoza is accurate as well. These players have to be responsible as well!

So, to all lesson learned. If you still want to blow your top just remember the first time some of you stepped into a managers role at work. How successful was that first year for you and how much did you learn and how much did you change over the course of the next years?

So, we are in the middle of recruiting season now. Just know that there are a large percentage of HS coaches in Texas that have a tremdous respect for Dodge and there are alot of kids around this area that want to play for Dodge. I believe that Dodge will get the best players that he can find. For a freshman that has a good chance of starting at the D1 level or sitting the bench for 4 years on a larger team, which one would you choose?

[mad dog]

We could really use more Cantrell around here these days...

[rcade]

This was not the first time this has happened. 1989 I was a GA with UNT and we went up to play Kansas State, which at that time was the proud owner of the nations longest losing streak and the same thing happened. We were the team that they beat to snap that losing streak and they celebrated by tearing down the goal post. All 1,000 fans.

I was the editor of the Daily when that occured. We caught hell from the journalism professors advising the paper because we ran a front-page photo of K State's fans tearing down their goalposts. I knew at the time it would be one of UNT's most infamous losses. I couldn't believe it when K State became a top 10 team later.

[GreenBat]

I was the editor of the Daily when that occured. We caught hell from the journalism professors advising the paper because we ran a front-page photo of K State's fans tearing down their goalposts. I knew at the time it would be one of UNT's most infamous losses. I couldn't believe it when K State became a top 10 team later.

I was the reporter who covered that game. It was truly one of the most infamous losses in NT history.

[good_ken]

I think the part of the Drill Sargent approach that may have failed Mendoza is that DD was never a disciplinarian. I am sure it has been a culture shock for every kid on the roster that played for DD. This staff is holding them accountable for their actions on the field, and in the classroom. Major change in philosophy.

Doesn't mean its a bad approach, just way different.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

Well the loss to FIU did produce ONE GOOD THING.......... SMU now has the nation's longest losing streak (along with two other colleges... at 10 games)..

The bad news their last win was North Texas... We lost to two 1-11 teams, both of which would have been winless had we beaten them...

Edited December 2, 2007 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[FirefightnRick]

I was the reporter who covered that game. It was truly one of the most infamous losses in NT history.

One of the longest drives back home I ever remember. Sad part was that the highlight of the trip was a visit to the National Greyhound Hall of Fame in Abilene Kansas.

I still say we got jobbed on that pass interference call that gave KSU a new set of downs. Horrible call on a ball thrown 5 yards beyond in front of reciever and defender, who happened to get tangled up.

Rick