1976 Recruiting Class

Cooley · November 30, 2011

Mean Green Coach Recruits New Talent

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1976

Hayden Fry, athletic director and head football coach, announced Wednesday that 12 high school football players have signed national letters of intent with North Texas.

With the first announcement of recruits for the Mean Green, Fry pointed out that a similar number of signings would be completed by the weekend. David Adkisson, a highly sought player from Lake Dallas, is expected to sign with the Eagles later today.

Half of Wednesday’s signees come from Dallas Carter High School in Dallas, a team that advanced to the state 4A quarterfinals in 1975.

“Our success the first day assures us of an outstanding group of freshman football players for next fall,” Fry said. “It has been one of the most competitive years ever because of the large number of top players and I think we will have done quite well,” he added. Two of the first day signees are quarterbacks, Dallas Carter’s Marty Morrison and Houston Washington’s Byron Bryant. Bryant, son of Washington’s coach James Bryant, was the top punter in Houston with a 43.7 average. The first day recruits for North Texas (linemen include linebackers, backs include receivers) –

BACKS:

Byron Bryant, 6-3, 195, Houston Washington

Bruce Chambers, 5-10, 165, Dallas Carter

Larry Dixon, 6-0, 185 Dallas South Oak Cliff

Malcolm Jones, 5-8, 165, Dallas Carter

Marty Morrison, 6-2, 200 Dallas Carter

Danny Whitaker, 6-0, 185 Decatur

LINEMAN

Clarence Chase, 6-5, 260 Waco Richfield

Robert Foster, 6-4, 255 Allen

David Hagerman, 6-4, 215, Dallas Carter

Melvin Lark, 6-2 215, Dallas Carter

Mark McNealy, 6-3, 235, Dallas WT White

Tony Palmer, 6-4, 250, Dallas Carter

Fry Adds Six to Letters of Intent Roster

Thursday, Feb. 5, 1976

North Texas added six high school football players to its national letter of intent roster Thursday. The list includes David Adkisson of Lake Dallas, a 6-7, 220 pound athlete who has a choice between football and basketball or both. Adkisson’s brother, Kevin, is a freshman running back at North Texas. His father, Jack Adkisson, is more widely known as pro wrestler Fritz VonErich.

Other line candidates are Greg Davidson, 6-2 230, of Stafford Dulles; and Brian O’Keefe, 6-4, 240 of Houston Bellaire.

Backs signing with the Mean Green are Gary Dirks, 6-2, 215, Paris North Lamar; Jimmy Lockhart, 6-0, 190, Dallas WT White; and Walter Sims, 6-1, 200, Waco Richfield.

Coach Hayden Fry announced 12 signings Wednesday, the first day for the national honor. According to Fry, this has been one of the Eagle’s most productive years in recruiting. “Now that we are competing with the “big boys’ for talent, things have gotten much tighter, but we have done very well,” Fry said

UNT90 · November 30, 2011

Do you have a link to this article? I would love to send it to one of the recruits on this list.

Cooley · November 30, 2011

No link

From Cooley's scrap book!

tylermeangreen · November 30, 2011

No link

From Cooley's scrap book!

Thanks for the memories - I remember many of those players - I was a commuting UNT grad student in '76, newly married, living outside of Canton, wife commuting to work and also attending college in Dallas, and I was beginning my career teaching economics at Tyler Junior College.

In spite of little time for such, we followed the Mean Green faithfully most weekends during football season, as we had during our dating years.

I know the "youngster's" on the board get tired of hearing about the Hayden Fry years, but there has been no era in Mean Green Land to match it - None! I hope that level of excitement will once again rain down on the fans of the Mean Green.

Again, thanks.

UNT90 · November 30, 2011

No link

From Cooley's scrap book!

Hey, what is up with your PM function? I really need to PM you about something.

Cooley · November 30, 2011

Still a novice with the other functions. Rarely pay attention. Let me take a look.

cwb · November 30, 2011

Mean Green Coach Recruits New Talent
Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1976

Hayden Fry, athletic director and head football coach, announced Wednesday that 12 high school football players have signed national letters of intent with North Texas.

With the first announcement of recruits for the Mean Green, Fry pointed out that a similar number of signings would be completed by the weekend. David Adkisson, a highly sought player from Lake Dallas, is expected to sign with the Eagles later today.

Half of Wednesday's signees come from Dallas Carter High School in Dallas, a team that advanced to the state 4A quarterfinals in 1975.

"Our success the first day assures us of an outstanding group of freshman football players for next fall," Fry said. "It has been one of the most competitive years ever because of the large number of top players and I think we will have done quite well," he added. Two of the first day signees are quarterbacks, Dallas Carter's Marty Morrison and Houston Washington's Byron Bryant. Bryant, son of Washington's coach James Bryant, was the top punter in Houston with a 43.7 average. The first day recruits for North Texas (linemen include linebackers, backs include receivers) –

BACKS:

Byron Bryant, 6-3, 195, Houston Washington
Bruce Chambers, 5-10, 165, Dallas Carter
Larry Dixon, 6-0, 185 Dallas South Oak Cliff
Malcolm Jones, 5-8, 165, Dallas Carter
Marty Morrison, 6-2, 200 Dallas Carter
Danny Whitaker, 6-0, 185 Decatur

LINEMAN

Clarence Chase, 6-5, 260 Waco Richfield
Robert Foster, 6-4, 255 Allen
David Hagerman, 6-4, 215, Dallas Carter
Melvin Lark, 6-2 215, Dallas Carter
Mark McNealy, 6-3, 235, Dallas WT White
Tony Palmer, 6-4, 250, Dallas Carter

Fry Adds Six to Letters of Intent Roster
Thursday, Feb. 5, 1976

North Texas added six high school football players to its national letter of intent roster Thursday. The list includes David Adkisson of Lake Dallas, a 6-7, 220 pound athlete who has a choice between football and basketball or both. Adkisson's brother, Kevin, is a freshman running back at North Texas. His father, Jack Adkisson, is more widely known as pro wrestler Fritz VonErich.

Other line candidates are Greg Davidson, 6-2 230, of Stafford Dulles; and Brian O'Keefe, 6-4, 240 of Houston Bellaire.

Backs signing with the Mean Green are Gary Dirks, 6-2, 215, Paris North Lamar; Jimmy Lockhart, 6-0, 190, Dallas WT White; and Walter Sims, 6-1, 200, Waco Richfield.

Coach Hayden Fry announced 12 signings Wednesday, the first day for the national honor. According to Fry, this has been one of the Eagle's most productive years in recruiting. "Now that we are competing with the "big boys' for talent, things have gotten much tighter, but we have done very well," Fry said

Somehow, I still have a copy of Athlon's 1978 Southwest Football. In the North Texas (State) writeup, there is a picture of Chambers against SMU. Among other things in the mag are the so PC "Honey Watching" section and this nugget on our SWC advances: "Despite the fact that Fry's charges defeated SMU last year and played Texas extremely close in 1976, Southwest Conference officials spurn North Texas' overtures for membership like advances of an enamored suitor with leprosy. As one metroplex athletic director noted, 'They won't get in the league as long as I'm here.' "

SilverEagle · December 5, 2011

Mean Green Coach Recruits New Talent
Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1976

Hayden Fry, athletic director and head football coach, announced Wednesday that 12 high school football players have signed national letters of intent with North Texas.

With the first announcement of recruits for the Mean Green, Fry pointed out that a similar number of signings would be completed by the weekend. David Adkisson, a highly sought player from Lake Dallas, is expected to sign with the Eagles later today.

Half of Wednesday’s signees come from Dallas Carter High School in Dallas, a team that advanced to the state 4A quarterfinals in 1975.

“Our success the first day assures us of an outstanding group of freshman football players for next fall,” Fry said. “It has been one of the most competitive years ever because of the large number of top players and I think we will have done quite well,” he added. Two of the first day signees are quarterbacks, Dallas Carter’s Marty Morrison and Houston Washington’s Byron Bryant. Bryant, son of Washington’s coach James Bryant, was the top punter in Houston with a 43.7 average. The first day recruits for North Texas (linemen include linebackers, backs include receivers) –

BACKS:

Byron Bryant, 6-3, 195, Houston Washington
Don't think he lasted very long

Bruce Chambers, 5-10, 165, Dallas Carter
Ended up being a starting receiver....and a pretty good one too.

Larry Dixon, 6-0, 185 Dallas South Oak Cliff
Hung around for a long time, but I don't remember him playing

Malcolm Jones, 5-8, 165, Dallas Carter
1000 yrd runner one of his years

Marty Morrison, 6-2, 200 Dallas Carter
I think he played DB or LB

Danny Whitaker, 6-0, 185 Decatur
Hard hitting Safety....started most of his career at NT.

LINEMAN

Clarence Chase, 6-5, 260 Waco Richfield
Robert Foster, 6-4, 255 Allen
David Hagerman, 6-4, 215, Dallas Carter
Played in the DL
Melvin Lark, 6-2 215, Dallas Carter
Played in the OL
Mark McNealy, 6-3, 235, Dallas WT White
Tony Palmer, 6-4, 250, Dallas Carter

Fry Adds Six to Letters of Intent Roster
Thursday, Feb. 5, 1976

North Texas added six high school football players to its national letter of intent roster Thursday. The list includes David Adkisson of Lake Dallas, a 6-7, 220 pound athlete who has a choice between football and basketball or both. Adkisson’s brother, Kevin, is a freshman running back at North Texas. His father, Jack Adkisson, is more widely known as pro wrestler Fritz VonErich.

Other line candidates are Greg Davidson, 6-2 230,Started at center and played pro ball some. of Stafford Dulles; and Brian O’Keefe, 6-4, 240 of Houston Bellaire.

Backs signing with the Mean Green are Gary Dirks, 6-2, 215, Paris North Lamar; Jimmy Lockhart, 6-0, 190, Dallas WT White; and Walter Sims, 6-1, 200, Waco Richfield. Played some at FB

Coach Hayden Fry announced 12 signings Wednesday, the first day for the national honor. According to Fry, this has been one of the Eagle’s most productive years in recruiting. “Now that we are competing with the “big boys’ for talent, things have gotten much tighter, but we have done very well,” Fry said