Sunday morning thoughts

Harry · November 19, 2012

I’ve made the trip back from Monroe and have had some time to sort through some thoughts on UNT being blasted 42-16 by the Warhawks.

One comment after the game stuck with me.

Dan McCarney mentioned that everyone seems to get healthy — like Kolton Browning did for ULM last night — right before they play UNT.

Yep. This is what we like to call a post bowl era North Texas-ism. UNT has had no luck since the 2004 New Orleans Bowl, although the school created a lot of its own misery with one horrendous decision a few years ago.

Browning wasn’t quite himself. The Texas native couldn’t run as well as he usually does, but did torch UNT for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Brent Leonard, a former walk-on from Keller, caught eight balls for 93 yards.

There were two tough aspects to the game for UNT:

First off, UNT is now officially headed for its eighth straight losing season and will have to beat Western Kentucky on the road to match its 5-7 mark from last year. Selling progress to recruits is going to be tougher this year. UNT can point to fancy facilities all it wants. A big part of what players are looking for in college is a chance to play for a winner.

Secondly...

Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2012/11/sunday-morning-thoughts.html/

NT03 · November 19, 2012

One comment after the game stuck with me.

Dan McCarney mentioned that everyone seems to get healthy — like Kolton Browning did for ULM last night — right before they play UNT.

Read more: http://meangreenblog...-thoughts.html/

Sorry , but this sounds like a lame excuse and not a very good one

ULM was down 5 or 6 starters

MTSU was down their best RB & LB

ULL was down their starting QB , RB & their top WR didn't even play the whole game because he was already banged up

That's just off the top of my head , I'm sure there are others as well

Edited November 19, 2012 by NT03

Harry · November 19, 2012

I agree with Brett - you have to question how a program like ULM who lacks the resources we have has been able to do so better on the field. I know the standard reason is Dodge but I think we need to quit beating that dead horse and learn from the lessons so history doesn't repeat itself. I'm talking about how and why ULM was able to better pinpoint and recruit talent in our own backyard etc.

UNT90 · November 19, 2012

Sorry , but this sounds like a lame excuse and not a very good one

ULM was down 5 or 6 starters

MTSU was down their best RB & LB

ULL was down their starting QB , RB & their top WR didn't even play the whole game because he was already banged up

That's just off the top of my head , I'm sure there are others as well

Yep. It's just lame excuses at this point.

Next week should be interesting. WKU appears to be kinda laying down at this point. A battle of 2 teams of the verge of give up?

NT03 · November 19, 2012

Yep. It's just lame excuses at this point.

Next week should be interesting. WKU appears to be kinda laying down at this point. A battle of 2 teams of the verge of give up?

WKU will be playing for a bowl birth. They went 6-6 last year & didn't get in , I'm sure that's in their mind sitting at 6-5

Green P1 · November 19, 2012

WKU will be playing for a bowl birth. They went 6-6 last year & didn't get in , I'm sure that's in their mind sitting at 6-5

They're just about exactly as good as ULM. They will steamroll us in the exact same manner.

shaft · November 19, 2012

I wouldn't read too much into the ULM budget. Monroe and their bottom of the barrel budget have been one of the worst program in the FBS for over a decade. This is their first bowl, their only winning season in 12 years.

The idea that we should own ULM because we have a bigger budget doesn't add up. We're 5-7 against ULM for our SBC tenure.

UNT is doing the right things to elevate the program. Our program started over last season, the problem is the six SBC bowl bound teams were already a step ahead of us last year.

Harry · November 19, 2012

I wouldn't read too much into the ULM budget. Monroe and their bottom of the barrel budget have been one of the worst program in the FBS for over a decade. This is their first bowl, their only winning season in 12 years.

The idea that we should own ULM because we have a bigger budget doesn't add up. We're 5-7 against ULM for our SBC tenure.

UNT is doing the right things to elevate the program. Our program started over last season, the problem is the six SBC bowl bound teams were already a step ahead of us last year.

Well said -- at the end of the day ULM still gives out 25 free college educations every year despite their budget woes. What's interesting is they did it primarily through the high school route and adding key transfers similar to what Mac seems to be trying to do. Give Berry credit - he just did a better job of evaluating high school talent and developing it. Dodge signed two classes that were half juco while Berry was signing a bunch of quality high school players from our own back yard like the quarterback and receiver that mopped it up with us today.

NT03 · November 19, 2012

They're just about exactly as good as ULM. They will steamroll us in the exact same manner.

WKU opens up as a 11.5 favorite

STE · November 19, 2012

I agree with Brett - you have to question how a program like ULM who lacks the resources we have has been able to do so better on the field. I know the standard reason is Dodge but I think we need to quit beating that dead horse and learn from the lessons so history doesn't repeat itself. I'm talking about how and why ULM was able to better pinpoint and recruit talent in our own backyard etc.

I wonder if it's an admissions issue. I'm guessing it's easier for players to get in at ULM than it is at UNT. Why else would all of these Texas players leave to play at Monroe? If it's not that -- then our program has been grossly negligent over the years . . . . . .