Sergio Medina on Tulane decision and some thoughts

Harry · January 28, 2013

Sergio Medina committed to UNT all the way back in December, but backed out today, leaving UNT at the altar to commit to Tulane.

It a tough break for UNT, which spent a lot of time working on the Louisiana linebacker.

Media said it was just as tough a decision to not sign with UNT, especially after getting to know cornerbacks coach Justin Gaines and UNT head coach Dan McCarney.

“It was definitely tough to decommit,” Medina said. “I really like coach Gaines. He is an awesome guy and coach McCarney is so enthusiastic. He will turn the program around. I just felt like Tulane was the right

place.

“The chance to go to such a prestigious university and a chance to play for the city you grew up are big. A lot of Louisiana kids feel that way. You want to stay home and do it for your state.”

Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/01/sergio-medina-on-tulane-decision-and-some-thoughts.html/

Cooley · January 28, 2013

No big loss in my view. We spend too much time in Lousiana as it is. Let's keep our Texas talent in Texas and let Louisiana keep Louisiana talent in Louisiana. No, we aren't ready to compete for Top 100 area talent but we should compete quite well for #101-200. We can challege CUSA every year with local 200 kids as well as what we can get out of Houston, East & SE Texas..

CurveItAround · January 28, 2013

If Woods signs, and we are able to add 2 DL instead of 1, it would help lessen the sting of losing a recruit to Tulane.

UNTLifer · January 28, 2013

I agree Cooley. Let's get Woods, Tebo and Howell.

Harry · January 28, 2013

I don't know that you can ignore Louisiana -- case in point, Darius Carey might have been one of the most talented athletes we have signed in the last decade or more...

I've heard people say that Louisiana may have more per capita NFL players than any other state...

Gaines has worked that region hard --- he has very good relationships there...

I would tap the brakes on any changes in the strategy...we will have several guys from there who will come on the scene this season...

My take is that Tulane made a good hire in Curtis Johnson and he is keeping more kids in state than they had before. We're not the only ones feeling that, ask La. Tech, ULL etc..

UNTLifer · January 28, 2013

But do we work La at the expense of Texas talent in our own backyard? If Gaines is so good at building relationships, then I might rather have him focused on DFW, SE Tx/Houston or East Texas.

Cooley · January 28, 2013

I don't know that you can ignore Louisiana -- case in point, Darius Carey might have been one of the most talented athletes we have signed in the last decade or more...

I've heard people say that Louisiana may have more per capita NFL players than any other state...

Gaines has worked that region hard --- he has very good relationships there...

I would tap the brakes on any changes in the strategy...we will have several guys from there who will come on the scene this season...

My take is that Tulane made a good hire in Curtis Johnson and he is keeping more kids in state than they had before. We're not the only ones feeling that, ask La. Tech, ULL etc..

Not saying to totally ignore Louisiana. Mail out some pretty flyers from Kinkos with a return address envelope (stamp included) If kids are interested in playing in Texas, have them mail it back. Gaines is specifically assigned to Lousiana. Have him help with the larger DFW schools. (Allen, Trinity, Southlake Carroll, Skyline, DeSoto, Plano West, McKinney, Frisco and others) DeSoto has produced over 100 D1 kids over the past decade. More NFL players come from Texas and many from DFW. Ride around Dallas and you see UNT billboards all over the place. If we are going to promote UNT as the university of North Texas, let's make sure the DFW high school coaches know that as well.

Carey was a Dodge recruit that Mac ran off. Not the best way to maintain relationships in Lousiana. Carey actually ended his career playing in Louisiana. With all things being equal, kids want to play close to home so parents and friends can watch them. In my opinion, Mac has spent too much time fooling around with kids from Iowa. Kids come and go for various reasons. At least we won't have a metroplex kid leave because they were homesick.

Having a little fun with you Harry

All About UNT · January 28, 2013

Not saying to totally ignore Louisiana. Mail out some pretty flyers from Kinkos with a return address envelope (stamp included) If kids are interested in playing in Texas, have them mail it back. Gaines is specifically assigned to Lousiana. Have him help with the larger DFW schools. (Allen, Trinity, Southlake Carroll, Skyline, DeSoto, Plano West, McKinney, Frisco and others) DeSoto has produced over 100 D1 kids over the past decade. More NFL players come from Texas and many from DFW. Ride around Dallas and you see UNT billboards all over the place. If we are going to promote UNT as the university of North Texas, let's make sure the DFW high school coaches know that as well.

Carey was a Dodge recruit that Mac ran off. Not the best way to maintain relationships in Lousiana. Carey actually ended his career playing in Louisiana. With all things being equal, kids want to play close to home so parents and friends can watch them. In my opinion, Mac has spent too much time fooling around with kids from Iowa. Kids come and go for various reasons. At least we won't have a metroplex kid leave because they were homesick.

Having a little fun with you Harry

Not sure if the situation behind Carey's departure was being "run off"..... dude wouldn't give up his habits from what I heard.

eulessismore · January 28, 2013

Not saying to totally ignore Louisiana. Mail out some pretty flyers from Kinkos with a return address envelope (stamp included) If kids are interested in playing in Texas, have them mail it back. Gaines is specifically assigned to Lousiana. Have him help with the larger DFW schools. (Allen, Trinity, Southlake Carroll, Skyline, DeSoto, Plano West, McKinney, Frisco and others) DeSoto has produced over 100 D1 kids over the past decade. More NFL players come from Texas and many from DFW. Ride around Dallas and you see UNT billboards all over the place. If we are going to promote UNT as the university of North Texas, let's make sure the DFW high school coaches know that as well.

Carey was a Dodge recruit that Mac ran off. Not the best way to maintain relationships in Lousiana. Carey actually ended his career playing in Louisiana. With all things being equal, kids want to play close to home so parents and friends can watch them. In my opinion, Mac has spent too much time fooling around with kids from Iowa. Kids come and go for various reasons. At least we won't have a metroplex kid leave because they were homesick.

Having a little fun with you Harry

Well, I don't know who is assigned to recruit Euless Trinity, but I would certainly consider it a good idea for Gaines to be assigned there. He recruited Darius McGhee to Montana state from Trinity before he came here (not that I'm saying McGhee would have been a good fit at QB for UNT). After Gaines left Montana State, McGhee got Tre Robinson to come to transfer there from Nebraska, and at least one other former Trinity guy transferred in there from a major program. Long story short, once the pipeline got started, those guys started recruiting each other.

Oh, and speaking of former Euless Trinity quarterbacks, Willie Hubbard, who was instrumental in helping win a state championship for them is now at UNT as a wr, after transferring from Northeastern Oklahoma. I sure hope the coaches can find some ways to get him in the game. The guy can make plays. Heck, I'd have him throw a pass off the reverse once in a while if I were them.

Edited January 28, 2013 by eulessismore

Mean Green Matt · January 28, 2013

Replace him with a good D lineman and its a win win situation...except for Medina when we beat them in NOLA this fall.

H-towngreen · January 28, 2013

Agreed. I'd love to have our top recruiter in our DFW backyard

Cooley · January 28, 2013

Not sure if the situation behind Carey's departure was being "run off"..... dude wouldn't give up his habits from what I heard.

That habit is legal in other states now. Alcoholism is considered an illness in some circles where you grant a leave of absence and pay for treatment. Anyway, was it worth throwing your best player off the team? Was he/is he the only player in the country with a similar habit? Jim Wacker, I mean Dan McCarney had to use him as an example. I don't mind the punishment but be consistent. Other players, that he recruited, with more severe criminal offenses, have to perform community service (during the off season) before they return to the team. We must be in year 3 with a greater urgency to win.

Cooley · January 28, 2013

Agreed. I'd love to have our top recruiter in our DFW backyard

H-town, how about him being a 2nd full-time recruiter in Houston? The way I see it, let's just wait on another Louisiana Hurricane to get families to relocate to Houston and Dallas. Katrina and Gustav have been our best recruiter in Louisiana. (Lance Dunbar by way of Haltom City)

wardly · January 28, 2013

Just my opinion,but we seem to be trying to get the "best of the rest" just as we have tried in the past. I just don't see much if any difference in Coach Mac's results than Dickey's.Lot's of 4A and 3A players, but I don't know how many from 5A programs.Could Harry or someone more knowledgeable than me [which would be a long list]give us a breakdown as to the level of high school play from our 23 committments ?

UNTLifer · January 28, 2013

That habit is legal in other states now. Alcoholism is considered an illness in some circles where you grant a leave of absence and pay for treatment. Anyway, was it worth throwing your best player off the team? Was he/is he the only player in the country with a similar habit? Jim Wacker, I mean Dan McCarney had to use him as an example. I don't mind the punishment but be consistent. Other players, that he recruited, with more severe criminal offenses, have to perform community service (during the off season) before they return to the team. We must be in year 3 with a greater urgency to win.

Man, can't you come up with a better argument than that? Dope may be legal in other states but it isn't here. Kind of like prostitution is legal in parts of Nevada, but I wouldn't want that to be the coach's defense if one of the athletes at North Texas decided to practice the world's oldest profession.

Carey allegedly had an illegal "habit.". If our two players that were caught stealing turn that into a habit, I bet they will be gone too.

How much time is Mac spending in Iowa? I count one recruit/player.

What's with the Wacker comparison?

DeepGreen · January 28, 2013

H-town, how about him being a 2nd full-time recruiter in Houston? The way I see it, let's just wait on another Louisiana Hurricane to get families to relocate to Houston and Dallas. Katrina and Gustav have been our best recruiter in Louisiana. (Lance Dunbar by way of Haltom City)

C'mon man! Don't wish a hurricane on anyone for possible recruiting purposes. I went through Rita and Ike, part of Katrina. Nothing I wish on anyone.