Tulsa Game

[NTEdgex2]

Made our hotel reservation a couple of days ago. The Hotel Ambassador is a great historic hotel in Tulsa. Had a good time the last time we went, but it was hotter than the devil in their stadium!

GMG!

[Eastwood Eagle]

I'm a possible with 3-4 people going with. Senior year, and I wanna go to an away game before I graduate.

[jdennis82]

I just finalized plans to not attend.

Thanks for reminding me!

[FloMoGrad]

I'm a possible with 3-4 people going with. Senior year, and I wanna go to an away game before I graduate.

A road trip to Tulsa could change your life.

[eppy4life]

I just finalized plans to not attend.

Thanks for reminding me!

You're point?

Dumb.

[FirefightnRick]

No direct knowledge, but have thought that the drug screening NT did not long before that game had a lot to do with the debacle. I still think that drug test was a major blunder on part of the administration and Dodge.

I'm thinking that we had a head coach who was of the mindset that not allowing skill position players to hit and get hit during two-a-days was the proper way to prepare for a season, may have had the most to do with it?

Rick

Edited June 27, 2011 by FirefightnRick

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

I'm thinking that we had a head coach who was of the mindset that not allowing skill position players to hit and get hit during two-a-days was the proper way to prepare for a season, may have had the most to do with it?

Rick

This is true as well. Texas, OU, and I'm sure most other "traditional" power schools hit in practice. I agree with the "you play like you practice" mindset because the game on the field isn't theoretical or a contest to see which side is more technically correct in their interpretations of practice on game day. No one really knows or cares except the coaches. Once you start taking live hits, you should be so accustomed to it that it doesn't rattle you brain off of the game plan. So, you've got to practice like it's game time every time.

I think the other broader point about drug testing and whatnot goes to the issue controlling the locker room. There's got to be a time and place for everything. A top to bottom drug testing was over the top, I think. Dodge could have just as easily smoked out drug-users with the announcement of a random drug-testing policy.

In the middle of a season probably wasn't the best time to implement it. You want to run off the "bad guys" before practices for the new season; I'd argue, before spring ball. Otherwise, you are putting players on the defensive in the middle of the year while at the same time you are trying to get them on board with executing your game plan. And, you risk losing guys you spent spring and fall building into key roles.

I think the mid-season drug-testing also probably intensified any finger-pointing that was already going on behind closed doors among coaches and players. Again, why do it in the middle of the season? Ride out the season, announce in December that on the first day of the spring semester a random testing policy will be instituted.

Overall, I think this is where Dodge may have "learned" when he now speaks of what he learned as our head coach. There must be discipline, that much is sure. NCAA and conference rules, for sure, have to be followed rigorously. But, you can't go overboard on ticky-tacky things.

There were times early in Dodge's tenure where you wondered what he and his coaches were thinking. I always think of the "redirection" of the cussing defensive back during a game...by an offensive position coach.

What was really the point? Players have to be able to have the safety to vent a little. Even during the GMG.com Bowl some "blue" words were heard after missed passes and whatnot. And, although I don't condone a Sam Kinison-like cavalier attitude toward curse words, you really do have to consider time and place to crack down.

At the time, I said that if this was going to be the policy, it should be enforced after games and off the field. Run bleachers, run gassers, or whatever during the next practice as punishment. But, to waste time stopping down in the middle of the game, I think, showed a tremendous lack of understanding about what is and isn't really important on the sideline during a football game.

Now, if the player in question had gone up to the coach in question during the game and dropped f-bombs all over him, that's a different story. But, here, the guy came off the field after the opposing team had scored and let out a curse word out of frustration, aimed at no one in particular...and, my guess is most the team was thinking what he was saying anyway.

I wondered about all of that anew during the Plano Caravan talk by Dan McCarney as he peppered us with "hells" and "damns." I may not personally "hell" and "damn" as much as McCarney or Barry Switzer, but it's something I think you kind of have to live with if you are going to be around football ball.

Edited June 27, 2011 by The Fake Lonnie Finch

[UNT90]

I'm thinking that we had a head coach who was of the mindset that not allowing skill position players to hit and get hit during two-a-days was the proper way to prepare for a season, may have had the most to do with it?

Rick

My theory also on the large amount of injuries. Going half-speed in practice is a recipe for disaster. Thank goodness for a real staff and real practices.