The Home Opener

[FirefightnRick]

I absolutely love "Central Grill". It's my new favorite place to eat when I'm in town. Tom and Sherryl have been outstanding hosts to my family and I the 10 or so times we have visited there, offering up a warm welcome and great service each and every time. Besides good food(outstanding hamburgers), it becomes very obvious when you first walk in that they support the Mean Green because of all the memorabilia on display. One of the best collections for a restaurant that I've seen in Denton. Then after talking with them you come to understand that they are both big fans and have even become involved with caterings to some of our events in the past.

"Central Grill" is a wonderful place to eat and it's owners and staff are good friends to the North Texas Mean Green.

Rick

[Dodge2007]

I absolutely love "Central Grill". It's my new favorite place to eat when I'm in town. Tom and Sherryl have been outstanding hosts to my family and I the 10 or so times we have visited there, offering up a warm welcome and great service each and every time. Besides good food(outstanding hamburgers), it becomes very obvious when you first walk in that they support the Mean Green because of all the memorabilia on display. One of the best collections for a restaurant that I've seen in Denton. Then after talking with them you come to understand that they are both big fans and have even become involved with caterings to some of our events in the past.

"Central Grill" is a wonderful place to eat and it's owners and staff are good friends to the North Texas Mean Green.

Rick

Tom and his wife are great people. I love Tom's analysis before each game. He has his eyes and ears on the program. Good food from good people. I eat there all the time.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

The home opener will be a great gauge for us defensively. Ohio has traditionally been a run-based school under former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich, but threw it around a bunch last year. Solich's Bobcats finished the season almost a 50/50 split between run and pass plays (392 run, 386 pass). So, we'll see a truly balanced team at Fouts Field.

A possible advantage for us is that Ohio will be breaking in three new starters on its offensive line. That should bode well for us because we will also have many new faces starting on our DL. Plus, we now have a bona fide college coach leading them.

Ohio also loses their first and second string tight ends and their starting fullback to graudation, so they may be very susceptible to the blitz. If we can take advantage of so many new players in their blocking scheme, we could actually pull this one off.

The flipside, though, is that the Bobcats return eight of their defensive starters. We're breaking in a new QB and WRs. If they're not on the same page in this game, the Bobcat defense could have an excellent day.

On special teams, the Bobcats will be replaing their kicker. Everyone else returns. Their punter returners averaged 11.6 and ran one back for a TD. Their kick returner earned a healthy 23.6 per return. Their punter will be a junior, but only had a 37 and 38 yard average his first two years. If Gandy is as good a special teams coach as he is a runningback coach, we may actually have a push here if we can knuckle down on their return guys.

The X-factors for the game will obviously be to see whether the offense is gelling with the new skills players. The X-factor for the Bobcats will be to see if they can improve in their second year of passing. Their QB is a California JUCO guy who led their shift to a more balanced offense last year with over 2300 yards passing and more than 300 rushing. He threw 19 touchdown (against 12 interceptions) and ran for three more. His backup is a carbon copy - also a California JUCO who can throw and pull it down and run.

Ohio will test us the way we need to be tested - they'll throw it and run it and they have good return units. We'll find out whether or not we can shut down a dual threat QB, and whether or not our special teams, newly coached, can handle some speed.

Edited February 6, 2009 by The Fake Lonnie Finch

[UNT2012]

At the Kickoff Cookout, he encouraged fans to come watch his team practice. That's true. But when you went to practice, Mark Barrow had you thrown out.

Barrow is now gone. All I can tell you, is that tonight....Coach Dodge looked me straight in the eye, and told me that fans could go to the first scrimmage.

I guess I'll find out in August....

Dodge is doing anything and everything to please in order to keep his job safe. He didn't want anyone at his practices. Now its done. He didn't want TE's, now he is gonna use TE.

The best move Dodge made was getting our new strength and conditioning coach. He is awesome to be around.

Mark Barrow only did what TD told him to do.

[Eagle1855]

This thread needs this.

You are welcome.

[LoveMG]

Dodge is doing anything and everything to please in order to keep his job safe. He didn't want anyone at his practices. Now its done. He didn't want TE's, now he is gonna use TE.

The best move Dodge made was getting our new strength and conditioning coach. He is awesome to be around.

Mark Barrow only did what TD told him to do.

it may not matter after this season anyway. maybe the new guy will open scrimmages.

[BIG DAWG]

Two other notes: Coach Dodge did point out, that in spite of all that has happened....we've not lost one single player from the 2008 class.

Possibly the most underrated comment of the converstation. Maybe there is something to the whole excuse that Dodge didn't get enough time to evaluate the 2007 class...it is good to hear that with all the bad crap with turn over that the 2008 class is all here

[Green Dozer]

I am willing to overlook the blunders of the 2007 class. Dodge officially started here on Dec. 26. I wonder how many recruits were at home that morning (day after Christmas), and who also wanted to talk football. Do you think the high school coaches were available in their offices so Dodge and staff could request film? That first week, until the high schools' holiday break was over, had to make it double difficult for a new coaching staff. And, no, I do not think he should have left Southlake prior to the state championship game. I just think he deserves a pass on it, and even if John Gruden came here to prove he was not as bad a coach as his players from Tampa have made him out to be, I would do the same for him.

[greenminer]

I am disappointed in you for going to central grill. *tisk tisk* I have made it a life goal to turn as many people away from them as I can leading that business to ultimate ruin.

a bashing hijack.

where's the uproar?

[mean green d]

it may not matter after this season anyway. maybe the new guy will open scrimmages.

I think you may be surprised by this years results. I am excited by the prospects of players we have. Anyone want to

join in on that with me. GMG

[UNT90]

I think you may be surprised by this years results. I am excited by the prospects of players we have. Anyone want to

join in on that with me. GMG

How quickly we forget. And they say we Americans have short memories.

Seriously, I hope your right.

[TheTastyGreek]

Possibly the most underrated comment of the converstation. Maybe there is something to the whole excuse that Dodge didn't get enough time to evaluate the 2007 class...it is good to hear that with all the bad crap with turn over that the 2008 class is all here

Don't Alonzo Horton and Justin Edwards count as lost recruits?

[mean green d]

I am happy with our schedule this year. I am hoping the first two games will be competitive, unlike the

pasting we have taken in the first game the last few years. I give kudos to the AD for this year's schedule.

GMG

[Green Nightmare]

Don't Alonzo Horton and Justin Edwards count as lost recruits?

[GreenBat]

I don't get it. Any Wizard of Oz references have to start with the separated at birth Tin Man and Todd Dodge. Not because the look alike but because they both sing "if I only had a Brain."

[GoMeanGreen1999]

WHATTTT????? they are one of the best places to eat in denton, and the owner is one of the nicest guys i have EVER met...i love central grill!

Great place. Thanks for SUMG for bringing this up as I went to eat yesturday and it was good, I took my wife there for lunch today. They UNT stuff all over the place not too mention great atmosphere and friendly owners. We all should eat there if you like burgers and great salads.

[UNT90]

Does anyone know the date of the Alabama game??? Trying to plan a road trip.

[UNT90]

9/19

http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-footbl/sc...l-sched-09.html

Thanks much....guess I coulda gone there ........BF

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

Don't Alonzo Horton and Justin Edwards count as lost recruits?

Why are you always trying to mess up the Official Dodge Storyline with facts?

All the 2008 recruits are here. See. They are all here. Not one of them has left. All are here.

Edited February 9, 2009 by The Fake Lonnie Finch

[UNT90]

Why are you always trying to mess up the Official Dodge Storyline with facts?

All the 2008 recruits are here. See. They are all here. Not one of them has left. All are here.

I don't read mandarin (sic??), but it seems there aren't enough symbols there for all those words.

I think most Oriental countries feel UNT will be unsuccessful this year, so I severly doubt the accuracy of this quote.

Edited February 9, 2009 by UNT90

[GreenMachine]

I don't read mandarin (sic??), but it seems there aren't enough symbols there for all those words.

I think most Oriental countries feel UNT will be unsuccessful this year, so I severly doubt the accuracy of this quote.

that's not mandarin, that is obviously yue chinese. Says something about GreenMachine and hung and something about like donkey.

[Quoner]

that's not mandarin, that is obviously yue chinese. Says something about GreenMachine and hung and something about like donkey.

That and/or doing something to someone else's coke? As a prank perhaps?

[Censored by Laurie]

That and/or doing something to someone else's coke? As a prank perhaps?

look...its Xiang...and it says that if you can save the kittens from the burning well you will be famous

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

that's not mandarin, that is obviously yue chinese. Says something about GreenMachine and hung and something about like donkey.

You're absolutely right. I should have checked the translation closer. It actually says: "Don't worry so much about your neighbors and family disappearing. The important things is that I'm hung like a retarded mule."

And, you're right...Mao's size currently has nothing to do with UNT football.

[NT03]

I think most Oriental countries feel UNT will be unsuccessful this year, so I severly doubt the accuracy of this quote.

My fortune cookie from Pei Wei disagrees