DT climbs the charts

El Paso Eagle · October 7, 2013

Ramsey was 1967-69, three seasons. And, you're right, it isn't apples to apples. Ramsey was throwing to 1st Team All-Conference receivers Barry Moore and Ron Shanklin in 68 and 69, and 2nd Team All-Conference receivers Shanklin and James Russell in 1967.

Ramsey's offensive line also included Willie Parker and Glen Holloway, who would have a nice runs in the NFL.

Please name me the NFL talent that Derek Thompson has had in front of him and and wideout since he's been here. Is it worth mentioning who was on the Mean Green defense when Ramsey was there? Guys who stiffled many opponents before going onto NFL careers themselves in Joe Greene, Cedric Hardman, Lenny Dunlap. Chuck Beattie, and Tom Gipson?

If you ask me, what Thompson has done is equally, if not more, impressive because he has never had the type of talent surrounding him that Steve Ramsey had. Not to take anything away from Steve Ramsey. But, look at what both quarterbacks had to work with during each tenure.

North Texas:

1967: 7-1-1, 16.4 points per game given up, defense holds opponents to 14 or less 5 of the nine games

1968: 8-2-0, 18.4 points per game given up, defense holds opponents to 17 or less 6 of the 10 games, four under 14

1969: 7-3-0, 17.4 points per game given up defense holds opponents to 17 or less 7 of the 10 games (again), with five under 14

During the 29 games 1967-1969, the seasons Ramsey started at North Texas, the defense held opponents to 17 or less points 18 times! In 14 or those 18, the opponents were held to 14 or less!

The fact is, not only did Steve Ramsey have better receivers and a better line than Derek Thompson has ever had, the other side of the ball kept Ramsey from having to play comeback all the time. Derek Thompson has never had the luxury of a great defense that Steve Ramsey had.

Derek Thompson, barring injury will also have started for three full seasons, 2011-2013. Thusfar, and coincidentally for the sake of this discussion, North Texas had played in 29 games during that time span. The defenses have held opponents to under 17 only seven times, six of those under 14.
So, you are correct. It is apples and oranges. Steve Ramsey compiled his statistics on squads that were much better than the ones Derek Thompson has played on. Both quarterbacks are impressive. I don't see how anyone looks at the situations the two had as starters and believes what Thompson is accomplishing isn't impressive.

(And, it's equally depressing to look back and see how great those North Texas team of old were compared to what many of us in younger generations have seen!)

He also played at a time when the DB could maul the receivers. With the way the defense is being controlled these days we will be seeing a lot more big numbers from the QB's (College and Pros)

BillySee58 · October 7, 2013

Yes, he did. Mostly played second string QB (he was slow as molasses, but had a rocket arm and good receivers like Shanklin). What makes you think DT won't sniff the NFL...there has already been some interest in him. He'll get a look-see for sure.

DT has the same baseball-pitcher-esque long wind up that Tim Tebow was highly criticized for entering his nfl draft. Tim Tebow was also a Heisman trophy winner.

scratch1976 · October 7, 2013

Todd Dodge recruits...DT, Vizza and Riley ... to mention Lance Dunbar

Graddean · October 8, 2013

Remember also for Ramsey this was about the time fresh did not play varsity. Greene, for example, played freshman ball. I am not sure when freshmen were allowed to play varsity.

greenminer · October 8, 2013

Where does Ramsey stand all-time Pass Completions?

JesseMartin · October 8, 2013

The point about W-L records can probably be tied to the fact that he's so close in so many categories other than touchdowns. If he hadn't had as many interceptions, and some of those drives resulted in TDs instead, he'd be a lot closer. Hey, not saying it's all on him because there are receivers, good defenses, etc. that play a part as well, but with a couple more TDs here and there instead of pick 6's, the wins and losses during his tenure would be more of what you'd expect from a leader in so many statistical areas.

The Fake Lonnie Finch · October 9, 2013

Where does Ramsey stand all-time Pass Completions?

He completed 491 in 1,015 attempts...less than 50% for his career. Also, he threw 67 interceptions. So, more than 6% of his passes were intercepted. Derek has completed a higher percentage and 3% of his passes have been intercepted.

Yes, the times were different. But, the bottom line is, Ramsey played on NT teams that had more talent for that era on both sides of the ball.

And, you know what? It's crazy that I'm now a Derek Thompson apologist. When we signed him, I scoffed because he only had one other offer - from one of the directional Division II New Mexico schools.

I mocked the people who said he was a sleeper and compared it to Darrell Dickey's so-called "stealth" recruiting that Todd Dodge was supposedly saving us from. Having family in Granbury and knowing how little football tradition it has, then thinking of little Glen Rose down the road a piece...it was just all highly laughable to me that this kid was a I-A/FBS-level quarterback.

But, guess what? Derek has proved me wrong and I'm big enough to admit it. I admire this kid a ton. He has bled for this team. To wit:

-2009: His redshirt was originally burned in the final drive of a horrible season during a game that really meant nothing in the overall scheme of things.

-2010: He suffered a major injury early in the following season

-2010: The year he suffered the major injury he was not the starter. He was called to duty because of the injury to Nathan Tune. He was ready when called upon as all players at all positions should be at all times if the give a damn about the program/school which is paying for their education! He wasn't moping, going to twitter to rant, or transferring out because he wasn't The Guy.

-2011: He overcomes injury to become the starting QB and leads us to the first five win season, and non-losing conference record, since 2004.

-2012: He plays through a season where the fans turn on him despite having few playmakers at receiver, and the main one, Chancellor, being lost for the last quarter of the season.

-2013: He keeps calm and keeps the starting QB job despite having the head coach put it up for grabs.

-2013: He is among the top three QBs in the conference. He is in the Top 20 for the entire NCAA for completion percentage, Top 15 for completions, Top 35 for QB efficiency.

-2013: Through all of the fan bitching about him, he stays above the fray and leads the team. He doesn't pout, rant on twitter/facebook, or embarrass the university...and, I doubt he ever will. This is not a kid who will turn around someday and cuss the fans back or give them the finger or criticize coaches, fans, or teammates.

Derek Thompson has turned me from skeptic to believer. After all this kid has done for this school during an obvious transition time (stadium, coaches, conferences), I don't see how anyone can be critical of him. If anyone on that campus can be called true to the Mean Green, it is Derek.

We say we want a football team full of good kids who love the university, play hard, and do things right on and off the field. Guess what? Derek Thompson is that kid.

So, f*ck you.

Edited October 9, 2013 by The Fake Lonnie Finch

KRAM1 · October 9, 2013

I fully believe that DT will be treated and looked upon with much more fondness and respect in the years to come by UNT fans than he is now by a lot of our current fan base. History will treat him well. It is a shame that more now do not give this kid credit for what he has done throughout his career. What is interesting, to me, to note is what he has done with the teams around him through the years, the injuries to key players in the offense, his own injuries, et., etc. and, as to the wins and losses, there is a defensive and special teams side to a team. The wins/losses are not always on the offense.

Plus, the current day Sunbelt teams are much better overall today than when UNT, under Dickey, was heading to the NO Bowl back in the day. One must recall that UNT won the Sunbelt with either a 50-50 or a losing record one of those years. Got pretty much destroyed in the OCC games and then ran the table pretty much in conference over some very weak Sunbelt teams. That's the facts, Jack...as they say. So, sure, wins count. Wins are the barometer by which all teams are measured. I definitely get that. But, I do believe, DT will be treated much better by history when the emotions die down and the reality sets in.

Simply my opinion.

Green P1 · October 9, 2013

Agreed. Once people are looking at his stats rather than his play... DT will be treated much better.

adman · October 9, 2013

Derek only needs one more interception(27) to pass Scott Hall (26) for his career. He's already beaten Riley Dodge (20).

Will he catch Jason Mills (34) or Givanni Vizza (36)? I pray he doesn't.

DT has smoked Jordan Case though. JC only had 8 career INTs.

outoftown · October 9, 2013

What else was he going to do? Walk out mid-season from his guaranteed starting D1 QB job??

Because that has never happened before, certainly not at north te.... wait a minute

Edited October 9, 2013 by outoftown

The Fake Lonnie Finch · October 9, 2013

One

Scott Hall

26 interceptions thrown in 784 attempts = one every 30.15 passes.

Derek Thompson