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Yes, let's expand more on the garbage tweet that pre-dates the other one. Been looking for some fresh new takes on Fran and Scott Cross as we live in a magic bubble where only these two, Benford and JJ exist as options for poor little UNT. Harper would be fine, but really don't understand why everyone is so willing to just zero in and go with things based on the sparest info imaginable.

Read the dates of the tweets, morons.

I wish nearly every thread didn't devolve into an argument with UNT90 on how badly every person in a decision making position at NT has personally chosen to betray him. After thousands of posts over four plus years, we already KNOW this. It is now painfully obvious to everyone nothing Baker or anyone else at NT will ever do in the future will please him in his irrational emotional state. On the actual subject of the thread, Ray Harper would be a great coach to approach once his NCAA run is complete. The rumor of his interest is good in that it shows Baker is once again correct, this time about current Division 1 coaches being interested in the opening at NT. Just remember, it's just a rumor! On the lighter side, I don't get to use the word "devolve" very often.

No major moves ... except replacing the ENTIRE leadership of the AD office with his own hires. Keeping a guy who wanted his job ... Or perhaps he has the internal confidence and support of the administration to handle that "guy" and perhaps that "guy" is also mature enough to still do his job and work well for his new boss. Letting Benford coach out the season ... he plainly stated several good reasons for doing so which is really self evident. Even if you disagree with that you have to agree that Baker has a much more experience in leading an AD office and making decisions like this than you. He's also much closer to the situation than anyone on this board. Plus, if rumors are correct it seems he's been working on Benford's replacement for awhile. Because, so far, we have seen nothing else from him - additional support staff added Zero. Track/soccer field. Zip. IPF Zilch. From most reports the Ticket Office is functioning much better. Plus from reports recruits visiting practice are being handled much better.

Very powerful opponent plus fatigue factor equals end of season. Congratulations Ladies, you represented us well and we're proud of you.

What I expected when I began reading this thread: "Wow, Eric Jenkins is awesome!!" What I actually read: The grumpy old curmudgeon thread of the year.

My daughter was just admitted to TAMS for this coming fall!

MGB: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2017/03/notes-from-fridays-scrimmagepractice.html/

If we're talking about really taking this thing seriously, we should hire: Has all of the qualifications necessary to win since it's been on the sideline for every single NCAA championship game ever. Bio

I was there and saw "the new pecking order". This is the most that Vito has ever talked about Shanbour.....much less acknowledged anything positive about him. He used to dismiss him out of hand because, as he said to me once "good grief, he can't be over 5'10". Well since Mason Fine came along and started he had to stop saying that. And from my view from the sideline today, Shanbour didn't run anymore than Fine.......he was just more effective when he did run. And IMHO, Shanbour looks just as physically stout as Fine..... maybe more. So Vito's criticism of Shanbour applies just as much to Fine. And I would add that I guess that Shanbour's foot speed is about a step faster than Fine's. Remember last week when I talked about the head coach who came up to me and asked about Shanbour? He didn't bother to ask about anyone else. He only offered his opinion about Izzy when I asked him about it. Vito's summary is pretty spot on. That catch that Smith (#87 on your program) made was spectacular.....almost Bingham spectacular. It caused the whole team (defense and offense) to run over to him to congratulate him. One other observation. Two fights broke out today.....both started by WR's.......WR's FORGODSAKES! The first one was between Michael Lawrence (#32) and Kakpa Mansary (#41). Mansary kept grabbing Lawrences shirt as Lawrence got by him (which obviously was often) and Lawrence just had enough and the fight was on......and a good one it was. It took several players, including offensive lineman, to break it up, and Lawrence was still taking shots at him as they were dragging him away.The other one was on the other side of the field and I didn't get the numbers, but I could tell it was between a WR and DB. This version of SL's team is getting pretty salty. I had a nice visit with the parents of one of the newest members of the team Zack Bishop (#43 LB). He played HS ball at Allen. He looked pretty solid and it looked like he was running with the second team. Zack's younger brother is walking on this fall. He will be trying out for safety. I also had a few words with Mr. Shanbour after the practice. He told me that he has just been granted a medical hardship by the NCAA (I guess for his turf toe) and now has an extra year of eligibility. One other observation(2). I didn't see Smith (#21) out there. I hope it's because, like Wilson, they know what he can do, and don't want to risk him getting hurt. Hosley (#46) availed himself of the extra reps and made some pretty good runs.....one was pretty spectacular, considering that most of it took place between the OL and the LB's. You had to be there and see it for yourself. Here's the roster. http://www.meangreensports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ntex-m-footbl-mtt.html

I got enough undisciplined street ball when JJ was here, thank you very much. Plus, if we're ever up 2 and need to intentionally foul the other team late to preserve the win, how do we know our coach can keep the opponent from side-stepping the defenders hands and dunking 26 ft. from a standstill? Give me the fundamentals of Double Dribble if we're going down this ridiculous path.

I love athletics, but there are much higher priorities in naming a new chancellor. NT needs someone who can compete with second tier state universities (everyone but UT and A&M) for prestige and funds. I feel like despite, certainly not because of, Jackson; that NT has a lot going on positive right now. NT needs someone that can build on that and elevate NT to were they should be in the state hierarchy. It may never be possible to get to the big two in status and relevance, but there is no reason that NT should not bypass UH and Texas Tech for example.

Let's stop the 90 fighting and focus on someone using Bing to do a search here in the year of our lord two thousand and seventeen. Was Ask Jeeves down?

Isn't this the same org that report Ray Harper a done deal? Just curious as to why his name isn't in this tweet.

We are back in the wilderness. He recruited for his system well here and found some real gems in the process. He might not be the flashy name that people on here are looking for, but he is more than capable for the job. I would rather take a known quantity in a great coach like JJ than sign up for five more years of some top program's assistant. I attended more games than I can count pre-Benford. Yes the schedule was weak but we were also going deep into the conference tournaments (and twice winning it.) What difference does the non-conference slate mean anyways? We're not getting any at large bids anytime soon. On top of that. As our teams got better under JJ, we started getting better home-and-homes (OK State, Tech). I imagine if he stayed longer and continued to grow the program he had flourishing, more and more teams would be willing to play in The Pit.

You just don't comprehend much. WB came out and CLEARLY stated why he didn't let TB go mid-season. There were numerous factors that he weighed and he stuck by his plan. It's obvious you didn't like his decision or timeline.

DRC: Wheeler, UNT veteran players feel more comfortable in second season in system that will see no significant changes with Reffett taking over full time http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20170309-football-reffett-lone-holder-of-unts-defensive-reins.ece

I've got a somewhat healthy fern growing on the back porch. I've only recently begun evaluating its ability to coach but Ima get my Wren on and I'll let y'all know in 5 or 6 months.

Maybe as an assistant in charge of centers. Big Bird certainly has height. But if you're talking PBS characters, Barney has basketball experience.

We'' be fine at RB. WOuld love to see more development/depth in the trenches, though.

How can we be less invested in the team, you have sold out and moved onto TCU... Any of us having just a bit of faith in UNT has more invested... You may have had more in the past invested, but you have already moved on...

Yet you bash the new AD and athletic department when they've only been here for a few months. If they are wrong for being apologists then you're equally wrong for your criticism.

Best comment in the thread!

http://www.hudl.com/video/3/6078869/5721deede984d413d4294433 No 247 rating yet, has an offer from Illinois State. Listed at 6' 185

Here's an idea!

Honestly, Lutz could be a home run hire, but the Benford experiment has me gun shy over hiring another assistant that is a great recruiter that has never led a program. I know that isn't fair to Lutz, but Benford, who I thought would be a good hire, has ruined hiring from that direction for me.

I obviously can't speak for him. I saw him Saturday night and should have asked if the job would be of interest. Should put his name under consideration anyway. He would be what people thought Jackson would be but was not. We need someone with political clout. At one time I thought Kay Bailey Hutchison would have taken the job, if we could have dumped Jackson, but that ship has sailed.

Were you not around when McCarney was here? The Instruction Manual from your old copy of NBA Jam Tournament Edition for Super Nintendo says the same things over & over. Once you've heard the spiel once, it becomes loathsome. If you're tired of hearing about Iowa/why not North Texas/Grey Goose curing strokes/etc... How much more tired would you be of "B button = Shoot (offense) / Block (defense)"? Put me in the camp of being staunchly against this retread.

MGB: Harper makes a lot of sense, but there is a long way to go http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2017/03/unt-basketball-coach-search-update.html/

I don't really disagree with any of that. But how many coaches do you know who have been out of coaching for 15 years, come back to take on a rebuilding process, and had success? And it's not like he had a long, illustrious head coaching career before that. I'm sure a lot of players would be very interested in playing for him, but you take on a certain risk by taking on the unknown.

Worthless to even discuss this guy until we hear he's a viable candidate for the job from @Coaching Changes.

Another great pick up from East Texas. Love his energy.

Coach Mitchell has the program headed in the right direction.

Call me suspicious but these are all names that have been brought up here on this message board at one point or another.

If you are a co-ed and arrive at Rock and Roll Sushi in a Keiichi t-shirt will Rick invite you to his office to change in to a Rock n Roll Sushi t?

Steve Lutz--a recruiting-focused assistant coach from the Big East. Sound familiar?

One possible option may be an alum. Dr. Michael Burgess. Connected, loves NT, very close friends with Senator Jane Nelson which is a plus.

I didn't cleeely do anything. Been following UNT hoops since I was a ball boy during the Jank days during the mid 90's. Pre 1994 I can't tell you much....

I found it interesting the Royce West credited Jackson with "doing what is best for Dallas and all of North Texas." Notice how Dallas is placed in front of North Texas in that sentence? Great description of Jackson's tenure here. I also noticed that the Chancellor's office is located in Dallas. Nothing says out of touch like an office located a county away from the flagship campus of the system... And he is the grandfather of the NTTA? The government hand that is perpetually reaching in citizens' pockets? Another reason to dislike the man.

One of the mods is playing CBS and editing my post.

I concur fully with the above comments.

I think Harper would be perfect for a quick turnaround, and then possibly moving on, so we can get a younger up-and-coming coach once our program is back to respectability. Look what he did to Jacksonsville State this season. They were 8-23 last season in the Ohio Valley conference. Now in their first ever NCAA tourney. I almost wonder if we won't be outbid for him, now that his NCAA issues at WKU have faded a bit..

Jankovich had a .564 winning percentage as a head coach and no NCAA appearances. Harper has two (now 3) NCAA appearances and a .592 winning percentage (actually higher if you count this year) in a shorter time period coaching D1. In your world Jankovich was a killer hire and Harper is average to above.

Amen. And the other 3/4 can't do math.

UNT wins 67-62. Your welcome.

Is that a Small Wonder Gif? Plus 1 for going old school.

Congrats! You've been posting y'all were hoping for that for a while. Glad she made it happen!

Not at all... You said and proven it, that you wanted TB gone, and that you would have been happy making the Conference Tourny... Harper is someone who has been to multiple NCAA Tourneys, in this conference and is someone that can be had.. Others that UNT would appear interested in you have agreed they would be welcomed hires, but most likely wouldn't jump at coming to UNT. While Harper isn't the sexiest hire, neither was SL and alot of people outside of TX have taken notice of what SL did. Yes we would all love to land a Larry Brown, but I doubt that WB can pull the money together to pay someone what brown was making at SMU (reportly 2.6 Million, http://www.bing.com/search?FORM=U312DF&PC=U312&q=larry+brown+smu+salary).... Its going to be even harder with fans, such as yourself that have gone on the record saying he will buy and support TCU MBB.

So true. I think most of the fan base would be okay with Harper, bc of his pretty good winning % and getting teams in the tournament. We could do a lot worse than Harper with a guy like Fran or Paul Hewitt. But I agree with you that Harper isnt the type of guy who could turn UNT into a CUSA power.

Thank you.