Those Overmatched Underclassmen

[UNT90]

Watching the TCU game, I keep seeing underclassmen make play after play on the d-line. TCU fourth and 2? Stuffed in the backfield by a frosh DL. TCU threatening to score? Interception of a screen by a frosh DL and returned to the TCU 10 yard line. Just think how great these guys will be when they are upper classmen!!

I know, tired subject, but i couldn't resist.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

You forget, we're the only school in America that gets a pass for not developing talent early.

It was in another thread a couple of weeks ago:

We can't be compared to public schools...

We can't be compared to private schools...

We can't be compared to BCS schools...

We can't be compared to non-BCS schools...

We can't be compared to big schools...

We can't be compared to small schools...

We can't be compared to schools who have been playing for 100 years...

We can't be compared to schools who have been playing for 10 years...

We can't be compared to other commuter schools...

We can't be compared to schools with traditional student bodies....

Many examples were given for coaches that turned a variety of different programs around by various methods. But, the Dodgebangers always have some excuse as to why Todd Dodge can't do it. Whatever it is, we are the only ones allowed to have an excuse for not developing young talent...with this head coach.

[emmitt01]

You forget, we're the only school in America that gets a pass for not developing talent early.

It was in another thread a couple of weeks ago:

We can't be compared to public schools...

We can't be compared to private schools...

We can't be compared to BCS schools...

We can't be compared to non-BCS schools...

We can't be compared to big schools...

We can't be compared to small schools...

We can't be compared to schools who have been playing for 100 years...

We can't be compared to schools who have been playing for 10 years...

We can't be compared to other commuter schools...

We can't be compared to schools with traditional student bodies....

Many examples were given for coaches that turned a variety of different programs around by various methods. But, the Dodgebangers always have some excuse as to why Todd Dodge can't do it. Whatever it is, we are the only ones allowed to have an excuse for not developing young talent...with this head coach.

Lemme tell you how this is gonna go. For the next 12 months the company line will be "You can't get rid of a coach after two years. It takes at least 3 to see what he can do in 'his' system...besides, he needs to get in 'his' players (nevermind that the vast majority of those playing last season were 'his' players)" After that 12 months is up the company line will change to "We need to bring in a coach who can breathe some new life into this program. Somebody that can turn us around, and fast because we've lost 3 years now miring in mediocrity...but we can't expect whomever we bring in to win overnight. About 3 years sounds good."

[oldguystudent]

because we've lost 3 years now miring in mediocrity.

I don't think mediocrity is the best choice of words for where this program has been miring the past couple years.

[UNT90]

After that 12 months is up the company line will change to "We need to bring in a coach who can breathe some new life into this program. Somebody that can turn us around, and fast because we've lost 3 years now miring in mediocrity...but we can't expect whomever we bring in to win overnight. About 3 years sounds good."

If this is mediocrity, I'd hate to see really bad!

[greenminer]

Lemme tell you how this is gonna go. For the next 12 months the company line will be "You can't get rid of a coach after two years. It takes at least 3 to see what he can do in 'his' system...besides, he needs to get in 'his' players (nevermind that the vast majority of those playing last season were 'his' players)" After that 12 months is up the company line will change to "We need to bring in a coach who can breathe some new life into this program. Somebody that can turn us around, and fast because we've lost 3 years now miring in mediocrity...but we can't expect whomever we bring in to win overnight. About 3 years sounds good."

You forgot the part about 'his' players needing time to develop.

[eulesseagle]

"finch"--- NT starts one of the youngest teams, if not the youngest, in D-1. So really your point is MOOT.

[GoMeanGreen1999]

"finch"--- NT starts one of the youngest teams, if not the youngest, in D-1. So really your point is MOOT.

So because they are so young, that is the reason they were COMPLETELY unable to compete in 9 out of 11 games?

[UNT90]

"finch"--- NT starts one of the youngest teams, if not the youngest, in D-1. So really your point is MOOT.

Your right. Our freshmen are 5 years younger than Boise St's Freshmen. That's it.

Talent level has noooothing to do with it.

[eulesseagle]

"90" & "99"-

Why did you quote my post without reading it?????

compare NT's starting line up with BSU's or any other d-1 univ.......

NT starts more freshmen and soph than "just" about any other d-1 univ.

read before you answer next time....

[UNT90]

"90" & "99"-

Why did you quote my post without reading it?????

compare NT's starting line up with BSU's or any other d-1 univ.......

NT starts more freshmen and soph than "just" about any other d-1 univ.

read before you answer next time....

I beleive Tasty has previously debunked this widely propagated myth. Too lazy to search for his post and much too lazy to do the research myself.

What's the excuse if we go 3-9 next year?

[UNT90]

"90" & "99"-

Why did you quote my post without reading it?????

compare NT's starting line up with BSU's or any other d-1 univ.......

NT starts more freshmen and soph than "just" about any other d-1 univ.

read before you answer next time....

And my original post was referring to 2 Frosh STARTERS on the Boise D line.

read before you answer next time.

[GoMeanGreen1999]

"90" & "99"-

Why did you quote my post without reading it?????

compare NT's starting line up with BSU's or any other d-1 univ.......

NT starts more freshmen and soph than "just" about any other d-1 univ.

read before you answer next time....

I did read your post before I answered. Again, if you are blindly supporting Dodge because you don't want or desire to look at the statistics and facts of this team, then nothing anyone posts will change your mind. Tasty has done significant research regarding this and other things and I will leave you links if you care to HONESTLY look at it:

http://tysports.blogspot.com/2008/12/greet...r-phillips.html

To say that we are playing this POORLY because we are so YOUNG, is simply just not correct.

[untbowler]

I did read your post before I answered. Again, if you are blindly supporting Dodge because you don't want or desire to look at the statistics and facts of this team, then nothing anyone posts will change your mind. Tasty has done significant research regarding this and other things and I will leave you links if you care to HONESTLY look at it:

http://tysports.blogspot.com/2008/12/greet...r-phillips.html

To say that we are playing this POORLY because we are so YOUNG, is simply just not correct.

I agree with you, but Euless wants to disagree by virtue that Tasty's study does not say how many Fr/So are starters as he feels UNT has the most Fr/So starters in the nation. So % might be the same but starters would be different.

[eulesseagle]

90 & 99, et. al........

I have seen, like others, those posted stats before......BUT.......you, and others, have not stated how many other d-1 teams "start" (that is the key word) AS MANY freshmen and sophmores as NT.....!!!!!!

nothing personal but your rants and raves are totally MOOT.

time to go back to your drawing board, again. hahahahahahaha

[CaribbeanGreen]

guys, he's amazing. Don't even bother. Mountains of evidence, proof that eugenics was a fraud, blah blah blah... doesn't matter. He's totally cool with it.

But, not wanting to dredge up what total crap it is that we suck because we play so many freshmen, I'll give you at least this, which took all of 3 seconds to find.

Notwithstanding the freshmen all over the field for TCU and Boise, of course. Oh, and don't forget that OU ALONE has four freshmen on the freshmen all-america team, not counting all that they've played. I guess it's good no one told THEM they should expect to be getting blown out by the second quarter every game.

In the meantime, let's check out the most experienced conference in the nation, the hardest place for a freshmen to break though.... surely harder than the meager little Sun Belt... the SEC:

Here are the SEC schools ranked in order of number of true freshmen impacting their team this season:

1. Alabama: There's not enough space in this column to list all the young players helping the Crimson Tide (6-0).

Alabama has played 15 true freshmen, most notably wide receiver Julio Jones and linebacker Dont'a Hightower. Both have started all six games.

UT fans know Hightower well. The Marshall County High School star from Lewisburg considered the Vols before committing to Alabama. Jones also considered UT briefly.

2. Florida: Cornerback Janoris Jenkins became just the second true freshman to start on opening day in Florida history.

A full-time starter, Jenkins is considered one of the best cover corners on the team. Jenkins forced a fumble and intercepted a pass against the Vols.

Speedster Jeff Demps, who chose Florida over UT, is averaging 10.3 yards per touch, has had a 62-yard kickoff return and has blocked a punt.

Demps and fellow freshman Chris Rainey both rushed for more than 100 yards against Arkansas, becoming the first freshmen duo in school history to do so in the same game.

3. Georgia: Despite having an experienced team, the Bulldogs have been forced to play young pups in four positions.

Injuries, especially on the offensive line, have contributed to the influx of young talent.

Ben Jones is the starting center. Cordy Glenn has started three games at right guard.

A.J. Green is starting at flanker. Blair Walsh is the starting placekicker.

Georgia has also had significant contributions from Richard Samuel at tailback and Jamie Lindley, who is handling kickoffs.

4. Kentucky: The Wildcats have eight true freshmen playing.

Former Alcoa star Randall Cobb was the talk of the 2008 class before suffering an ankle sprain on Sept. 13, which has sidelined him since.

Cobb saw extensive action at receiver and quarterback. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Cobb could eventually unseat starting quarterback Mike Hartline.

Cobb, who returns to action this week, strongly considered UT before committing to Kentucky.

5. Ole Miss: Ole Miss is playing seven true freshmen. Tailback Brandon Bolden leads the Rebels in rushing with 297 yards on 55 carries with a 5.4-yard average.

Edited December 25, 2008 by CaribbeanGreen

[GreenGonzo]

guys, he's amazing. Don't even bother. Mountains of evidence, proof that eugenics was a fraud, blah blah blah... doesn't matter. He's totally cool with it.

But, not wanting to dredge up what total crap it is that we suck because we play so many freshmen, I'll give you at least this, which took all of 3 seconds to find.

Notwithstanding the freshmen all over the field for TCU and Boise, of course. Oh, and don't forget that OU ALONE has four freshmen on the freshmen all-america team, not counting all that they've played. I guess it's good no one told THEM they should expect to be getting blown out by the second quarter every game.

In the meantime, let's check out the most experienced conference in the nation, the hardest place for a freshmen to break though.... surely harder than the meager little Sun Belt... the SEC:

Here are the SEC schools ranked in order of number of true freshmen impacting their team this season:

1. Alabama: There's not enough space in this column to list all the young players helping the Crimson Tide (6-0).

Alabama has played 15 true freshmen, most notably wide receiver Julio Jones and linebacker Dont'a Hightower. Both have started all six games.

UT fans know Hightower well. The Marshall County High School star from Lewisburg considered the Vols before committing to Alabama. Jones also considered UT briefly.

2. Florida: Cornerback Janoris Jenkins became just the second true freshman to start on opening day in Florida history.

A full-time starter, Jenkins is considered one of the best cover corners on the team. Jenkins forced a fumble and intercepted a pass against the Vols.

Speedster Jeff Demps, who chose Florida over UT, is averaging 10.3 yards per touch, has had a 62-yard kickoff return and has blocked a punt.

Demps and fellow freshman Chris Rainey both rushed for more than 100 yards against Arkansas, becoming the first freshmen duo in school history to do so in the same game.

3. Georgia: Despite having an experienced team, the Bulldogs have been forced to play young pups in four positions.

Injuries, especially on the offensive line, have contributed to the influx of young talent.

Ben Jones is the starting center. Cordy Glenn has started three games at right guard.

A.J. Green is starting at flanker. Blair Walsh is the starting placekicker.

Georgia has also had significant contributions from Richard Samuel at tailback and Jamie Lindley, who is handling kickoffs.

4. Kentucky: The Wildcats have eight true freshmen playing.

Former Alcoa star Randall Cobb was the talk of the 2008 class before suffering an ankle sprain on Sept. 13, which has sidelined him since.

Cobb saw extensive action at receiver and quarterback. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Cobb could eventually unseat starting quarterback Mike Hartline.

Cobb, who returns to action this week, strongly considered UT before committing to Kentucky.

5. Ole Miss: Ole Miss is playing seven true freshmen. Tailback Brandon Bolden leads the Rebels in rushing with 297 yards on 55 carries with a 5.4-yard average.

[UNT90]

90 & 99, et. al........

I have seen, like others, those posted stats before......BUT.......you, and others, have not stated how many other d-1 teams "start" (that is the key word) AS MANY freshmen and sophmores as NT.....!!!!!!

nothing personal but your rants and raves are totally MOOT.

time to go back to your drawing board, again. hahahahahahaha

Well, apparently Boise St started 2 frosh on the d line in a bowl game vs TCU. Again, that is the thread topic. These 2 frosh didn't need 2 years to "mature", like you say our players do.

But, keep on believing. Hope Santa brought you good things for Christmas. I hear he is a Junior.

[GoMeanGreen1999]

90 & 99, et. al........

I have seen, like others, those posted stats before......BUT.......you, and others, have not stated how many other d-1 teams "start" (that is the key word) AS MANY freshmen and sophmores as NT.....!!!!!!

nothing personal but your rants and raves are totally MOOT.

time to go back to your drawing board, again. hahahahahahaha

Speaking of Moot point, it is a moot point to try and prove you wrong since no amount of stats or fact will convince you, but just out of curiosity, how many wins to you believe this team should get this coming year?

[oldguystudent]

how many wins to you believe this team should get this coming year?

Rose Bowl or bust! Accept nothing less!

[NT80]

Vito thinks we're about average in number of starting underclassmen, I agree, but below average in results.

http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/

[UNT90]

Finally closure. Arkansas St. plays for the conference crown with two more upper classmen starters than UNT. They must have been 2 heck of a good players!!

Couldn't resist last shot.

[UNT90]

Oh, and just another example of that Vito guy taking a shot at UNT. Hear the sarcasm when he points out that we had 5 all conference freshmen players?? What a vieled shot at everything UNT. And this guy calls himself a fan...um..reporter.

[GoMeanGreen1999]

Finally closure. Arkansas St. plays for the conference crown with two more upper classmen starters than UNT. They must have been 2 heck of a good players!!

Couldn't resist last shot.

We better go back an look at that MUTS score this past season, because I seem to recall it being rather lopsided and that just can't be true since they STARTED 4 more fresh and soph's than we did.

[UNT90]

We better go back an look at that MUTS score this past season, because I seem to recall it being rather lopsided and that just can't be true since they STARTED 4 more fresh and soph's than we did.

Ok...so we now know that we are not losing because of all the underclassmen. We know that these underclassmen are part of the best recruiting class ever at UNT, so obviously they have talent (as evaluated by numerous sources). So, what does that leave...anyone?