Western Kentucky Coach Regrets Team's Behavior Against North Texas

mgsteve · July 23, 2008

Western Kentucky coach regrets team's behavior against North Texas

By TROY PHILLIPStphillips@star-telegram

NEW ORLEANS — North Texas coach Todd Dodge and Western Kentucky coach David Elson had no problem being cordial during Sun Belt Conference media days. Their teams might not feel that way Nov. 1.

Elson’s Hilltoppers have one more provisional season before joining the Sun Belt and the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (former Division I-A) full time. UNT travels to WKU in 2008, and Elson said he doesn’t want a repeat performance from last year on his side of the field.

"It’s a lesson learned," said Elson, whose team lost 27-26 to the Mean Green after missing a 35-yard extra point that resulted from a double personal foul for unsportsmanlike conduct. "Our guys are well aware we have to be smarter."

WKU players danced on UNT’s 50-yard line before senior-day festivities. The teams had a combined nine personal fouls. After a touchdown, WKU was flagged twice for celebrating before the extra point, once for a choreographed "bomb" dance that’s a major no-no in college football. Postgame shoving ensued, and UNT coaches and players were visibly incensed.

"There was nothing right about it," Elson said. "It was the combination of being our last game of the season on the road. We got a little too excited in that game and didn’t control ourselves."

Asked about the return trip during a television interview, Dodge kept his comments short.

"We’re really looking forward to going up there," Dodge said.

Sun Belt bowl deals

The Sun Belt champion again will play a Conference USA team in the New Orleans Bowl. A new deal could get more bowl-eligible teams into games. Troy was 8-4 last year but stayed home.

In 2008 and 2009, Sun Belt teams could play in the Papajohn’s.com Bowl in Birmingham, Ala., the Independence Bowl in Shreveport or the new St. Petersburg Bowl in Florida.

Those games have partnerships, in some combination, with the Southeastern Conference, Big East and Conference USA.

If those leagues don’t have enough bowl-eligible teams, the Sun Belt is contracted now to fill that spot.

"There are 34 bowls now, but no more eligible teams than five years ago," Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters said. "The chance of an eligible team in our league being able to compete just went up."

Briefly

In 2012, South Alabama will become the 10th football team in the Sun Belt. The Jaguars will debut as an independent in 2009. The university has raised student fees $150 per semester to help fund the program.

UNT receiver Casey Fitzgerald and center Kelvin Drake were selected to the preseason all-conference team, which includes no Mean Green defensive players.

Quote of the day: "Ten teams? Aren’t there enough teams in this league already? Do we really need any more?"

— Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger

UNTflyer · July 23, 2008

WKU is quickly becoming a team I dislike, both in football and basketball.

As for the bowl game deal, I'm excited about this. It used to be, Win the Belt or stay home. Now we have a fair shot at a bowl game if we finish 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th in the conference.

good_ken · July 23, 2008

Star-Telegram.com
Briefly
In 2012, South Alabama will become the 10th football team in the Sun Belt. The Jaguars will debut as an independent in 2009. The university has raised student fees $150 per semester to help fund the program.

that should make the Sun Belt eligible for a conference championship game at that point? Right?

UNTflyer · July 23, 2008

that should make the Sun Belt eligible for a conference championship game at that point? Right?

No. We need 12 teams to hold a championship game.

GoMeanGreen1999 · July 23, 2008

No. We need 12 teams to hold a championship game.

Is that an NCAA rule, or could the Belt just have two divisions with 5 in them if they wanted?

Arkstfan · July 23, 2008

Is that an NCAA rule, or could the Belt just have two divisions with 5 in them if they wanted?

It wouldn't be an exempt game. Everyone would have to play an 11 game schedule so they could have a date available to play in the championship. See the SWAC.

galojah · July 23, 2008

WKU is quickly becoming a team I dislike, both in football and basketball.

Let me just say as an alumnus and a donor, I was greatly disappointed in the behavior of our guys down there and hope to never see something like that again, and I told Coach Elson the same thing. It was definitely a learning experience for our guys and young staff.

ADLER · July 23, 2008

Star-Telegram.com
In 2012, South Alabama will become the 10th football team in the Sun Belt. The Jaguars will debut as an independent in 2009. The university has raised student fees $150 per semester to help fund the program.

Here are the per semester student athletic fees for this year at South Alabama. Please remember that South Alabama does not even start playing division 1 football until 2012.

Athletic Fee

Undergraduate full-time (12 hours or more) 253.00

Graduate full-time (6 hours or more) 253.00

Undergraduate part-time (6-11 hours) 140.00

Graduate part-time (4-5 hours) 140.00

Undergraduate part-time (1-5 hours) 79.00

Graduate part-time (1-3 hours) 79.00

Source: University of South Alabama official web site

Yet people think that I am advocating imposing something unrealistic to raise North Texas athletic fees to $240 per semester to support a program that requires financial help.

Folks, that is the going rate. North Texas has always underfunded it's athletics and it shows in the results.

It is time to ___ ___ _______!

Lets's see who the first smartass is.

Edited July 23, 2008 by ADLER

greenminer · July 23, 2008

I'll be the smartass

I will be sure to not go to USA to get my next degree. *$%@ that fee.

Edited July 23, 2008 by greenminer

Will to Win · July 23, 2008

Here are the per semester student athletic fees for this year at South Alabama. Please remember that South Alabama does not even start playing division 1 football until 2012.
Athletic Fee
Undergraduate full-time (12 hours or more) 253.00
Graduate full-time (6 hours or more) 253.00
Undergraduate part-time (6-11 hours) 140.00
Graduate part-time (4-5 hours) 140.00
Undergraduate part-time (1-5 hours) 79.00
Graduate part-time (1-3 hours) 79.00
Source: University of South Alabama official web site
Yet people think that I am advocating imposing something unrealistic to raise North Texas athletic fees to $240 per semester to support a program that requires financial help.
Folks, that is the going rate. North Texas has always underfunded it's athletics and it shows in the results.
It is time to ___ ___ _______!
Lets's see who the first smartass is.

I used to live down on Old Shell Rd in Mobile. The campus was pretty cool and I almost enrolled but my health club sales career got swinging in high gear so I opted not to go. I think USA will be a nice addition to the Sun Belt. The drive is going to be killer if you want to attend an away game but other than that Mobile is a cool city to visit.

VideoEagle · July 23, 2008

The drive is going to be killer if you want to attend an away game but other than that Mobile is a cool city to visit.

Fly Southwest to New Orleans and rent a car. MUCH cheaper than flying direct - the difference is enough to pay for the car rental and a cheap motel room.

galojah · July 24, 2008

Fly Southwest to New Orleans and rent a car. MUCH cheaper than flying direct - the difference is enough to pay for the car rental and a cheap motel room.

Absolutely-- that is what I do from Bowling Green. Fly Nashville to New Orleans. Then, of course, you can stop and get some great New Orleans cuisine before you hit the road.

God Bless Southwest Airlines!

If SWA doesn't fly there, it's not a destination!