I Hate This Board

[UNTLifer]

Here are my concerns about the current situation:

1. It appeared during the Rice game that the team quit trying. They also came out at the start of the game and after halftime with absolutely no emotion. This all points to issues with the coaching. Players will put forth the effort for a coach they respect. It appears that either the players don't respect their position coaches or Dodge himself.

2. The is a lot of smoke around this program right now, and where there is smoke, there is usually fire. I played off the racism charge last year as two disgruntled players trying to get back at the coach, and that may still be true. Now we see our second leading receive leave the team in the middle of the year which leads me to believe there is more to this story than is being published, Dodge's own high school players that he recruited leave the team for "medical reasons" then pop up at a different school ready to play, the assistants have been off limits to the media since day one and it appears through various grumblings that some of our most experienced assistants are unhappy and we are being told that things will get much worse before they get better.

3. I have concerns about Dodge's ego. Sure, successful coaches, or any successful person for that matter, have big egos which typically drive their success. I'm just afraid that Dodge won't be able to swallow some pride and admit he has made some mistakes along the way. It appears that he is losing the team and some of the coaches and clearing the air could do some good, but I'm afraid his ego may keep him from doing this.

I hope I'm wrong, but I support these young men that made the decision to play for my university and want to see them succeed. I think Dodge deserves another year, but if there are fundamental problems that are hurting the program as a whole due to his conduct, then he should be gone after this season.

[Green92]

UNTLifer -- Excellent post.

Shaft needs to have himself a good cry. He'll feel better.

[JesseMartin]

I think one of the most valid points on the subject thus far has been the one about how Dickey was dropped less than 2 years after 4 straight conference titles and 4 straight coach of the year awards and a month after a heart attack, and how difficult it would be to find a decent coach if we dropped Dodge right in the middle of trying to totally re-create a new type of team.

If we fired Dodge now, or even at the end of the year, who the hell would come here next with this type of "job security"?

[UNTLifer]

If we fired Dodge now, or even at the end of the year, who the hell would come here next with this type of "job security"?

A lot of coaches. It's called opportunity, and no coach has ever turned down an opportunity to coach a D1 football program.

[JesseMartin]

I dunno...considering the feelings if Dodge gets bumped early, they may hope for "opportunity" elsewhere...and see UNT as a very, very short opportunity followed by a death sentence.

[Smitty]

A lot of coaches. It's called opportunity, and no coach has ever turned down an opportunity to coach a D1 football program.

Absolutely agree. The fact that anyone is willing to coach for Al Davis in Oakland suggests that you can always find football coaches to take a head coaching job.

[greenminer]

Are you saying that in general, this reinforces the idea that players are disgruntled and don't like Dodge? Or are you saying that Dibrell leaving reinforces the idea that racism exists on this staff?

I think all he is trying to say is that there is fire.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

Absolutely agree. The fact that anyone is willing to coach for Al Davis in Oakland suggests that you can always find football coaches to take a head coaching job.

This is not just the Post of the Year, but the Post of the Decade...maybe even the Post of the Millenium. Oakland used to be my favorite NFL team. I'm to the point now where I actually root for Denver and Kansas City to whip the Raiders' arses everytime they play. Al Davis needs to step aside. His best player, for the better part of a decade, has been a foreign placekicker. The dude just can't do it anymore, but his ego won't let him quit.

Back on the subject of who would come here - can you imagine the hype that would follow a guy if he came in here after an 0-12 season and won? There are guys out there who could do it. Jeff Bowers. Steve Logan. Maybe even...<cough, cough>...Dennis Franchione?

[GrandGreen]

I dunno...considering the feelings if Dodge gets bumped early, they may hope for "opportunity" elsewhere...and see UNT as a very, very short opportunity followed by a death sentence.

Yes, there is a shortage of coaches willing to take one of the 120 jobs available at the highest level of college football for a mere $300,000 a year.

[UNTflyer]

Unless he hates white people too.

Or more specifically, the French.

[RETSO]

Gerry Faust anyone?????

[Mean Green 93-98]

I'll agree with you that faith exists where direct observation of the fact does not. However, one cannot have faith, at least not biblical faith, without evidence. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21).

[Green Nightmare]

I think one of the most valid points on the subject thus far has been the one about how Dickey was dropped less than 2 years after 4 straight conference titles and 4 straight coach of the year awards and a month after a heart attack, and how difficult it would be to find a decent coach if we dropped Dodge right in the middle of trying to totally re-create a new type of team.

If we fired Dodge now, or even at the end of the year, who the hell would come here next with this type of "job security"?

We don't put up with losing. I am in no way advocating getting rid of Dodge

Dickey had to go. Because after 4 conf Titles and a bowl win. We shouldn't be having those kind of down years.

I'd point to TX and Houston as 2 good examples. Briles had his class with Kolb and the have had a few down years since really tearing it up, but down is like 7-5. As for UT yes they will always be in the hunt, but the players he has now are results from the Rose Bowl wins and National Title. Mack has capitalized on that

[stebo]

I think one of the most valid points on the subject thus far has been the one about how Dickey was dropped less than 2 years after 4 straight conference titles and 4 straight coach of the year awards and a month after a heart attack, and how difficult it would be to find a decent coach if we dropped Dodge right in the middle of trying to totally re-create a new type of team.

If we fired Dodge now, or even at the end of the year, who the hell would come here next with this type of "job security"?

Dickey had other issues. I am not going to rehash them all but he really had the opportunity to be a legend at NT and he screwed it up. Personally, I went back and forth on Dickey and really enjoyed talking with him but there were other things that were just unacceptable. The last year he was here, he didn't even speak to his boss - they would literally avoid one another. Lots of people don't like their bosses... heck, some of my employees probably don't like me all the time... but he held that Mattress Mac deal over RV's head and used it as blackmail in a way. It was not a healthy relationship and if he would have just been proud of where he worked and kissed his boss' ass like the rest of us have to do, he would probably still have a job.

[Smitty]

This is not just the Post of the Year, but the Post of the Decade...maybe even the Post of the Millenium. Oakland used to be my favorite NFL team. I'm to the point now where I actually root for Denver and Kansas City to whip the Raiders' arses everytime they play. Al Davis needs to step aside. His best player, for the better part of a decade, has been a foreign placekicker. The dude just can't do it anymore, but his ego won't let him quit.

Back on the subject of who would come here - can you imagine the hype that would follow a guy if he came in here after an 0-12 season and won? There are guys out there who could do it. Jeff Bowers. Steve Logan. Maybe even...<cough, cough>...Dennis Franchione?

A Raiders fan cheering for the Chiefs or Broncos...sign of the apocalypse? Can't blame you. It's amazing what Al Davis has done to one of the proudest organizations in American sports.

[RETSO]

Lots of people don't like their bosses... heck, some of my employees probably don't like me all the time...

I would think that MOST of the time they do not like you STEBO

[ADLER]

Dickey had other issues. I am not going to rehash them all but he really had the opportunity to be a legend at NT and he screwed it up. Personally, I went back and forth on Dickey and really enjoyed talking with him but there were other things that were just unacceptable. The last year he was here, he didn't even speak to his boss - they would literally avoid one another. Lots of people don't like their bosses... heck, some of my employees probably don't like me all the time... but he held that Mattress Mac deal over RV's head and used it as blackmail in a way. It was not a healthy relationship and if he would have just been proud of where he worked and kissed his boss' ass like the rest of us have to do, he would probably still have a job.

Well said Stebo. A change needed to be made but I do wish that we had been able to retain a couple of the coaches from his staff.

[UNTLifer]

Are you saying that in general, this reinforces the idea that players are disgruntled and don't like Dodge? Or are you saying that Dibrell leaving reinforces the idea that racism exists on this staff?

I'm saying the situation must have really been bad for Dibrell to leave in the middle of the season. That, or something else caused him to leave school. You just don't see the second leading receiver of a team, playing with his high school quarterback that basically recruited him here, just up and leave in the middle of his sophmore year when he would have been the man among the receivers the next two years. It just doesn't make sense to me.

[GreenMachine]

Or more specifically, the French.

northern or southern French?

[jimmyjames_99]

Well I was just thinking that a white guy leaving the team was poor evidence that Dodge is racist. Unless he hates white people too.

[GoMeanGreen1999]

Well said Stebo. A change needed to be made but I do wish that we had been able to retain a couple of the coaches from his staff.

I was told that Dodge was highly advised not to retain any of them.

Edited October 23, 2008 by GoMeanGreen1999

[jwynn05]

I heard that this WR left the team due to personal off the field issues and it was not an academic issue

I'm saying the situation must have really been bad for Dibrell to leave in the middle of the season. That, or something else caused him to leave school. You just don't see the second leading receiver of a team, playing with his high school quarterback that basically recruited him here, just up and leave in the middle of his sophmore year when he would have been the man among the receivers the next two years. It just doesn't make sense to me.

[KBJ]

I'm saying the situation must have really been bad for Dibrell to leave in the middle of the season. That, or something else caused him to leave school. You just don't see the second leading receiver of a team, playing with his high school quarterback that basically recruited him here, just up and leave in the middle of his sophmore year when he would have been the man among the receivers the next two years. It just doesn't make sense to me.

Just look at who is the WR coach and you will find the reason for several players leaving

[GoMeanGreen1999]

I'm saying the situation must have really been bad for Dibrell to leave in the middle of the season. That, or something else caused him to leave school. You just don't see the second leading receiver of a team, playing with his high school quarterback that basically recruited him here, just up and leave in the middle of his sophmore year when he would have been the man among the receivers the next two years. It just doesn't make sense to me.

You mean you don't believe him when he says he wants to go into the "oil and gas" business?

[SilverEagle]

Yes, there is a shortage of coaches willing to take one of the 120 jobs available at the highest level of college football for a mere $300,000 a year.

There are LOTS of up-and-coming coaches out there who would love to have the opportunity to coach at North Texas. And most of them would not see the current salary structure as a problem.

When Hayden Fry left, Jerry Moore (who was a promising assistant on the Nebraska staff) applied for the job. I wasn't impressed with him at all. But now, in looking back at his 11-11 two year record, I have to say that I am real sorry for all the unkind things I said about him.

Corky Nelson, was the DC for the Baylor team that went to the Cotton Bowl. If NT was such an undesirable option, then he would have stayed at Baylor and applied for a Head Coaching job somewhere else.

I don't mind us being a stepping stone for coaches, as long as we identify and hire the talented ones who are on thier way up. All you have to do is always keep your eyes open for the next "up-and-coming" coach in anticipation that your current coach will get hired away from you.

This is what Boise has done, and it seems to work well for them.

Is the administration at Boise smarter than ours?