Harry

More details to follow!

Shawn will play on the inside this year and they are expecting big things from him. He has really made himself bigger in the weightroom.

I want to set the record straight on this. I am the one who made the mistake. I apologize to the fans but it was truly an honest mistake. I was looking at a player that looked a lot like Cullen Mills and was wearing the exact same number. There is no roster guys, so sure we have to make some assumptions. Illuvius was just taking my lead on this. I typically have been able to memorize every player on the roster with some exceptions. Illuvius has probably surpassed me at that now. So we take knowing the team and who the players are very seriously. Not having an updated roster makes this extremely difficult at times. And no, we don't go up to every player and ask them who they are. We try to be as unobtrusive as we can - most D-I programs have closed practices to websites. We've also had limited access due to the weather cancellations. To Cullen - we appreciate the info, thank you for your contributions and wish you the best. Also congratulations on your impending graduation. Don't be a stranger on the board, you've been a part of this program for awhile and we appreciate your insight.

Ok Here's my bio - played high school ball at Houston Memorial back in the day. At that time, Memorial was a UT feeder with players like Shannon Kelly, Omar Saleh, Gene Coke Machine Chilton, KiKi DeAyla and others. Was a linebacker and liked to hit. Fast forward 20 years and I am 6 foot tall and around 225, sit behind a computer all day - slow and out of shape. That said, I may have just one more game day performance left in me and I am hoping it will help propel my team to victory. I will wear an XL shirt. Really looking forward to it.

Buffdo you have a ponytail and drive a motorbike? If so I walked right past you yesterday at practice. Or do you have a bald head and glasses? I was wearing a blue dress shirt.

Yes Lineberry had the same surgery that Dan Meager had on his shoulder. Lineberry is there but he is not practicing. Oubre is there and he looked pretty good. He's a guy that can help us if he is healthy and has his head on straight. I was surprised to see him out there I thought he had left the team.

I pretty sure I saw Coach Douglas at practice today.

I witnessed most of the practice today. A couple of things to keep in mind - these practices are in shoulder pads and shorts so it is really difficult to access how certain positions are doing especially in the line and with the linebackers. That said, there are some things to gather in watching the skill positions especially in the 7-on-7 drills. Here are some of my observations by positions: - there is a 4-5 quarterback rotation that goes in order, Dan Meager/Woody Wilson/Matt Phillips/Jon Ieans/Cullen Mills (yes he is baaack) and Kellen Haynes. On this day Mills might have been the best but both Wilson and Meager had their moments. Phillips was not particularly sharp. But it's early. Since Wilson is the new guy let me pontificate on him for a bit. He's not a really big guy but he has the look of an athlete. He has a fairly nice throwing motion and decent arm strength. He is not a pure passer and whether or not he can throw the long ball with consistency remains a question in my mind. Meager looks bigger and stronger. Still has the lapses in the short passing games at times but also had some really nice throws, especially a deep one that drew a high five from Coach Flanigan. - At running back, Jamario has lost about 10-pounds and appears to have reclaimed his speed. Running behind him is Evan Robertson and I like Robertson's hands out of the backfield. Deavin Cox has moved over as reported in the DRC and will be an interesting player there. He has really good speed and is probably the strongest running back we have sans Kerona Henderson. The usual suspects are also there including James Mitchell etc.. Henderson is the fullback in most sets that require one. - WR - Quinn is running track and so I saw a lot of Jo-El Nwigwe, Brandon Jackson, Brock Stickler, and Zach Muzzy. Casey Fitzgerald had a nice day and so did Korey Washington. I just have a sense that Washington will be something special for us - I love his speed. We are deep at receiver folks. I think Jackson will be a really good player, Muzzy has great hands and Stickler seems to be back in form. Others getting looks included Isiah Smith and Art Stubblefield. I do not think Roy Covington is with the team anymore as there was another player wearing his jersey number. There's a guy named Guy Fernandez that is scary fast and tall. If he could ever catch a pass he could be something special. - TE - Finally got to see Brian Carlson and let me tell you he is a load. Every bit of 6-5, 255/260 and could be bigger. I was fairly impressed with him but lets please wait until the pads are on. Surprise for me, Beau Davidson is back for another year although he is wearing a red shirt meaning he can't be hit...he's still not 100% but I like that he could be back. He musto received a medical redshirt from last season. Also getting reps were Robert Harmon, Charley Brown and Ronald Hull has returned from severe injuries to be back with the team. DB - Really like some of the athletes we have here. Desmond Chatman is a physical specimen at corner. The rumors of Antoine Bush's ability at cover corner are true and Dom Green looks like he hasn't lost a step. The starters at corner are Tyrone Carter who is smallish but very technically sound and Green. At safety I saw a lot of Steve Warren who looks like he really has pumped the iron and Roderick Cotton. Aaron Weathers is sitting out of drills for some reason but he looks ok. They are really getting some good coaching from Fred Bliel who impressed me a lot today. You can tell he trying to build a strong and trusting relationship with his players from the start. Biggest surprise was seeing Gary Oubre out there in the mix. Looks like he has made his way back. OL - Stanley is playing center behind Rose. I swear I saw Bryan Glass back out there. Starting OLine is Rose, Venegas, Brown (at guard) and Foster and Josh Alexander at tackle. It will change. Jack Crumes and Ajani Banks are playing second team guard. Not much to report here. LB At linebacker we have 4 starters which look right now to be Holman and Monroe in the inside and Gilmore and Graves on the outside positions. I was intrigued with this lineup as it presented a mixture of speed, size, and ability. It dawned on me that we have a lot of different types of linebackers that can play. The challenge will be to find the right mix. Nwigwe looks big and strong as does Mendoza. Don't forget about Davenport and Mahan either. DL - Issac Thomas looks healthy again, and Bugar was praising Jon Stewart and interestingly they had Burris over there as well. It's just too early to draw any conclusions over here. The usual suspects, Joe Miller, Montey Stevenson, etc were there. No surprises and no proven playmakers. It's early so a lot more will be able to be evaluated once the pads come on as always. I am pretty sure I saw the RB Coaching candidate in attendance. Brewster is coaching the O-Line along with Ethridge which is nice to see. Barela is working with the RB's. Dickey looks a lot better and seems more like his old self. I can't emphasize enough what a nice impression I had of Bliel - I really like the way this guy runs his practices and he seems to do very well with the players. That's it for now. The first day of full pads looks like Friday and it would be a nice practice to visit if you can. Everyone has a clean slate on defense and I imagine they will be trying to make a good impression for Bliel...should be fun!

Pop Charley's weight room work is very impressive and he should be a role model in that regard to the rest of the team. Please send him my congratulations on his strength and weight gains.

Football: UNT opens spring Mean Green football hits practice field with new faces http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/...g.2788461b.html 08:56 AM CST on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer Shawn Early returned to practice for the first time in nearly a year on Monday and found himself in an unfamiliar situation. DRC/Al Key UNT assistant head coach coach Kenny Evans makes a point to his players on the first day of spring practice on Monday at the UNT practice field. The North Texas senior was a starter at outside linebacker during the 2004 season and was expected to play the same spot in 2005 before a knee injury kept him on the sideline. Early began preparing for his senior year a second time during the Mean Green’s first workout of spring practice as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. UNT is considering changing to the alignment after spending the last several years in the 4-3. “I think it will good for us,” Early said of the new scheme. “We have a lot of athletes who can run to the ball. It’s a matter of seeing where we all fit.” UNT is probably deeper at linebacker than at any other spot on its defense. The Mean Green return all five linebackers who filled the six spots on their two-deep depth chart last season. Senior linebacker Phillip Graves was a second-team All-Sun Belt Conference pick, while junior Maurice Holman was named to the honorable mention team. Junior Brandon Monroe has started off and on throughout his first two years and finished fourth on the team with 67 tackles last season. A switch to the 3-4 would allow UNT head coach Darrell Dickey to get more of those players on the field next season. “We have played the 3-4 some in the past and are looking at using it more,” Dickey said. “We think it will help us get some of our better players on the field.” A host of young players could also make an impact for the Mean Green in the 3-4, including redshirt freshman Tobe Nwigwe and sophomore Eddrick Gilmore. Gilmore has played defensive end and tight end during his short stay with the Mean Green, but opened spring practice at outside linebacker. “It’s perfect for me,” Gilmore said. “I will be able to get into a two-point stance and rush the quarterback. The new defense will let us fly to the ball. We have a lot linebackers and quick safeties who will be able to get to the ball and make plays.” UNT’s players believe the switch could allow them to regain their form of a few years ago after finishing third in the Sun Belt in scoring defense during league play last season with an average of 20.3 points allowed a game. UNT’s players knew coming into spring that they would start out in the 3-4 and began the adjustment process on Monday under new defensive coordinator Fred Bleil. UNT’s players had a positive first impression of both their new coach and new defense after the first session of spring workouts. “I liked everything about coach Bleil,” Gilmore said. “He is up-tempo and upbeat. He is going to fuss at you, but he is going to congratulate you when you do well, too.” Opportunity too big for Malone to pass up Former UNT defensive backs coach Van Malone said a chance to coach at Arizona State was too big an opportunity to pass up — even if it is to coach a position out of his area of expertise. Malone spent one season at UNT before agreeing to coach running backs for the Sun Devils earlier this month. The former Texas standout was back on campus last week to clean out his office before heading out to begin his new job. Malone recruited the Houston area for UNT and will keep the same territory at ASU. “It’s an opportunity to learn more about the game from some good coaches,” Malone said. “It will be a little scary coaching in an area I do not have as much experience in, but coaching is coaching.” Briefly … Defensive ends Jeremiah Chapman, Willie Ransom and Tye Rexrode and offensive lineman Dylan Lineberry will miss spring practice with injuries. … Deavin Cox has moved from defensive back to running back. … Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College transfer Trent Stanley opened spring practice at center. He played guard for the Red Ravens last year and was a second team NJCAA All-American. … Director of Football Operations Mike Barela is filling in as an assistant coach. UNT has not filled openings for a running backs or tight ends coach. Barela was the tight ends coach for two seasons at Sam Houston State before joining UNT’s staff. Dickey said he would complete his staff late this week or early next week. … Dickey said he liked his players’ attitude on the first day of practice. BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com

Here's DT signee Tim Patton #58 shown squatting.

http://www.southgarlandfootball.com/images...ingDay/SD32.jpg

Nice info, thanks for sharing. As my daughter is playing Chamber soccer, I am interested in how things work. Hedlund is doing a great job. Does anyone know the minimum age that is required to participate in his camp. I have heard he does a really good one in the Summer...

No I haven't and that might be the problem. I'm wondering if you are getting chewed up by my spam filter. Try me PM.

February 9, 2006 Dear Mean Green Fans: I would like to thank everyone from the Mean Green family for all the phone calls, prayers and overwhelming acts of thoughtfulness during my hospital stay. I appreciate all of your concern for my health and the Mean Green football team during my tough time! My procedure was a success, and my recovery time should be short. I’m looking forward to getting back on the field to prepare your Mean Green for a successful 2006 season. Once again thank you very much for all your thoughts and prayers during my recent procedures! Go Mean Green, Darrell Dickey

Dad graduated with BBA and MBA, sister attended for 2-years before transferring to Baylor she was an A Phi at UNT, cousin was a QB for the Mean Green....

Send me a PM or an email. I have sent you responses for some reason they aren't getting there.

Congratulations to NORTX9 our 2000th registered member! Welcome aboard! Thank you to all of the Mean Green Fans that have made this board so much fun and informative over the years. It's been so neat to see the growth of this board and I am so grateful for the lifetime friendships that it has provided me and my family. If you are a lurker - and we have a ton of them - then please consider taking the step to register. Your opinions are valued and we would appreciate seeing them. As fans we don't always agree on things but it is good to have a forum where issues can be addressed and discussed in a reasonable manner. We have as good a core group of fans as any program in the country and I'm proud to be one of them. GOMEANGREEN!

http://goaztecs.collegesports.com/sports/m...eil_fred00.html Fred Bleil is in his eighth season of coaching the Aztec secondary and added special teams duties in 2003. Under his direction, the Aztec secondary has been a big reason State's defense has become an annual force in the Mountain West. Under Bleil's tutelage, SDSU's Will Demps earned two straight first-team all-conference selections and went on to become a rookie starter with the Baltimore Ravens. Another former Aztec player, safety Brian Russell (whom Bleil helped convert from quarterback), has gone on to a professional career with the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns and was the NFL leader in interceptions in 2003. In 2005, Aztec safety Marviel Underwood was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. Under Bleil's direction, the Aztecs improved from 86th in the country in pass defense in 2002 to fourth in 2003. Aztec cornerbacks Jacob Elimimian and Jeff Shoate ranked first and second in the Mountain West in 2003 in passes defended and Elimimian was third in the league in interceptions. Prior to arriving at San Diego State in the spring of 1998, he spent two seasons as defensive coordinator at North Texas. Under Bleil, UNT finished in the top three in the Big West in scoring defense in both 1996 and '97, and ranked second in the league in pass defense in '96. Three UNT players earned all-Big West honors. Prior to North Texas, Bleil was the defensive coordinator at New Mexico from 1992 to '95. In four seasons with the Lobos, Bleil helped improve the defense from one of the worst in the nation to one of the best in the WAC. He was defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Utah State from 1986-91. He was head coach at New Mexico Highlands from 1979 to 1982, and in his third season was Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year when he led the Cowboys to the 1981 title. For his efforts, he was also honored as the AFCA College Division coach of the year and later served as director of athletics at the school from 1981-82. He has also had coaching stints at Texas A&I (1983) and Drake (1984-85). As A Player: Bleil played his college football at Northern Iowa in 1967. Personal: Fred Bleil was born Jan. 7, 1949, in Remsen, Iowa, and attended Remsen-Union High School. He earned a degree from Westmar College in 1971 and a masters degree from Eastern New Mexico in '72.

RESPONSES IN CAPS 1. Tyrone Carter - THOUGHT HE WAS A JUNIOR? 2. Beau Davidson - THOUGHT HE GRADUATED LAST YEAR UNLESS HE RECEIVED A MEDICAL REDSHIRT?? 3. Shawn Early - Starting linebacker back from knee surgery 4. Joel Foster - Underweight starting tackle 5. Phillip Graves - Our best special team player and a good linebacker 6. Robert Harmon - Backup or possible starting tight end 7. Ronald Hull - Little playing time due to injuries? - WONDER OF HE WILL EVER PLAY AGAIN AFTER MAJOR SHOULDER PROBLEMS LAST YEAR. 8. Dylan Lineberry - All-Conference guard 9. Cullen Mills - Little-used quarterback who left the team but was asked back - I HEAR CULLEN IS GONE. 10. James Mitchell - Smallish fullback and backup running back 11. Zack Muzzy - Sometime starting wide receiver....extra year??? 12. Joel Nwigwe - Speedy sometime contributor at wide receiver 13. Sky Pruitt - Probable starting nose tackle or DT 14. Johnny Quinn - Among our best wide receivers of all time 15. Willie Ransom - Likely starting defensive end There were at least three walk-ons who were juniors last year (Ellison, Leary, Payten) but I don't remember their being there at season's end.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635180990,00.html THE GAME PLAN: The Aggies needed to strengthen their running back situation and did so by signing four — one junior college transfer and three high school seniors. TOP OF THE CLASS: Quarterback Riley Nelson, a Parade All-American, is the top of this year's class. The Logan High product set nine state records and two national records in leading the Grizzlies to the Class 3A state title. He'll serve an LDS Church mission before suiting up in 2009 or 2010. IMMEDIATE IMPACT: RB Marcus Cross, a junior college transfer from Garden City Community College (Kan.), rushed for 1,163 yards and 14 touchdowns in 10 games. Last year, the Aggies rushed for only 1,287 yards. NEAR MISS: <b>Kelvin Drake, a 6-foot-2, 300-pound offensive lineman, at the last minute chose North Texas over Utah State. He went to the Mean Green with high school teammate Avery Curry.</b>

http://www.wacotrib.com/sports/content/spo...xsvc=7&cxcat=17 Bears' ace recruiter gives 5 stars to the truth By Jerry Hill Tribune-Herald assistant sports editor Sunday, January 29, 2006 Wesley McGriff has a rather unorthodox view of recruiting. In a cut-throat business that thrives on more empty promises than any politican, he tells the truth. Rather than talking bowl games, X's and O's and shoe contracts, he recites lines from a rap song. And he's even shown up at a recruit's church, just to put in a good word with the pastor. “It ain't the X's and O's, it's the Henrys and Joes,” said the 38-year-old McGriff, Baylor's recruiting coordinator and best pitch man. “So you better go out there and get you some ballplayers.” In his pursuit of a recruit, no stone is left unturned. “He's on a first-name basis with the principal, the counselor, the coach, the janitors, the preachers, the whole community,” said Baylor head coach Guy Morriss. “That ol' security guard, he can tell you more about the kid than any coach will ever tell you,” McGriff said. “He might tell you he's a good kid. But if he turns around and raises his eyebrow a little bit, you know he's not a good kid. “You've got to talk to everybody in that school, because you're investing in that kid a scholarship to come in and help you win games. And he may be a good football player. But if he doesn't have good character or he's not committed to working hard, then you'll have a lot of turnover and you don't have a chance to build a program.” It's the lifeblood of any college football program. Building starts with recruiting. “I think we're to the point where we're really ready to kick down the door,” Morriss said. “And we try to tell them: ‘You could be the difference.' I think everybody really believes it's fixing to take off, and they want to be a part of it, kind of get in on the ground level.” Three days from national signing day, the Bears have commitments from 18 high school recruits after bringing in seven players at the mid-year break. Of those 25 players, McGriff has brought in nearly half. Twelve have come from either his Dallas recruiting area or the spots he picked up when Mark Nelson left for Tulsa. Part of McGriff's recruiting drive comes from a survival instinct. After Division II coaching stops at Savannah State, Kentucky State and Eastern Kentucky, he doesn't want to go back. “It's like being in prison. You ain't going back,” he said. “People ask me why I recruit so hard: ‘Man, I'm not going back to Division II.' You got nothing to sell. “The only way you keep yourself from going back is you've got to work hard at your craft, and you've got to win. Because if you don't, you know the common denominator of losing is getting fired.” When Morriss' staff came to Baylor three years ago, one of the recruiting problems was building bridges. On McGriff's first trip to Dallas Lincoln, he “took some heat” from coach Reginald Samples. “He called all his coaches together and said, ‘Hey, look, we finally got somebody from Baylor in here,' '' McGriff said. “I took some heat, but I stood in the fire, because I knew that one day they'd have a guy.” Last year, Baylor signed Antonio Jones, a Dallas Morning News all-area linebacker from Lincoln. “I think the second time I was there (at Lincoln), I told him, ‘I'm here, baby. I'm ready for my beating,' '' McGriff said. “So he knew at that point that this guy's going to be all right. I can sit down and talk with him. So it's basically about developing those relationships.” And it starts with the high school coaches. Recruiting can begin and end in the office of the head coach. “Just from the first time I met him a couple of years ago, I could tell he was real honest, up front,” said Dallas Skyline coach Derick Roberson. “I immediately felt comfortable with him. And I think with that comfort, you try to give him the best shot at recruiting your kids. Because you know he's going to do what he can to take care of them.” When McGriff was recruiting Skyline defensive back Josh Bell three years ago, he got the cold shoulder. “He looked at me like, ‘Yeah, you're anoher guy that's promising me an opportunity that's not going to happen,' '' McGriff said. “And when I asked Coach Roberson about it, he explained that another school had pulled his scholarship offer back. If I didn't have that relationship with Coach Rob, I never would have found that out.” McGriff has the kind of personality that's hard not to like. “I don't think Wesley McGriff has ever met a stranger,” said former Arlington Bowie coach Anthony Criss, who is sending his son, Dominique, and another Bowie player to Baylor. “First of all, Coach McGriff is a really down-to-earth guy. He doesn't come by talking a lot about football. He wants to know what he can do to help build the character of a young man. He doesn't mind being a mentor and a role model.” The key in recruiting, though, is becoming a friend. That's why his CD collection now includes a heavy dose of rap. “In my opinion, you've got to come down to their level,” McGriff said. “You've got to keep up with the trends and the fads, because you can't always just go into the schools and talk about graduation rates and how many people come to the games. “You've got to show that kid that you care about him as more than a football player. That young man has to know that if he comes to your university and and something goes wrong with a girlfriend or in the classroom or back home, that he can come into your office and sit down and talk about it. When the kids know that and feels that, you've got a chance.” One of the keys is finding the player's circle of influence. It usually starts with the high school coach, but it can include a girlfriend, teammate, counselor, favorite teacher, principal, and even the janitor. “I've even gone to church with a kid and talked to the minister when I found out the pastor was involved,” McGriff said. Two years ago, when he was recruiting tight end Jason Smith from Dallas W.T. White, McGriff found out that one of Smith's biggest influence was a neighbor. “I go over there one day, and they're in there working on an 18-wheeler,” he said. “Well, I jumped right in there with them and started working on the 18-wheeler. Sometimes, you've got to jump out of the box.” Like the high school coach, parents can be allies or foes. And the sales pitch can change in the same house. The late Bill Davis, McGriff's college coach, told him: “You've got to drink wine with the whinos and eat steak with the bourgeoisie.” “You have to find out what the parents are interested in,” McGriff said. “The kid's dad may be interested in getting him to the NFL, but the mom says she could care less about football. ‘Talk to me about your graduation. Talk to me about how safe your campus is. Is my baby going to have time to study, or is he going to be out there practicing all day.' “All of a sudden, I'm an academician when I'm talking to her. And when I'm talking to the dad, and he wants to talk about the NFL, I turn into Mel Kiper.” The toughest part for McGriff is when a recruit decommits and switches to another school. Just this year, he received a text message from a player saying he was going to commit to another school, “because you've been dishonest.” “The decommitment didn't bother me. It was that word dishonest,” McGriff said. “I called the mother and said, ‘Listen, it's fine that he wants to go to another school. But I don't want that on my tombstone that I was dishonest with him.' And it turned out that the other university said I lied to the kid. And when the smoke cleared, they realized I wasn't dishonest with him, and they stayed firm with Baylor.” Losing recruits is part of the game. Especially at Baylor, “you can't win ‘em all.” “When I got to Kentucky, and I lost a kid for the first time ... I thought I was going to lose my mind,” McGriff said. “I've got these facilities now, I've got a conference. This ain't supposed to happen to me now.” “But it tells me that I was in on the right guy.” McGriff recognizes that it's not all him. He said he couldn't be on the road full time without director of football operations Jerry Pickle and administrative assistant Sherri Elwood. There's also eight other assistants and Morriss, a recruiting jewel who can “go into any high school and mix it up with the kids and coaches.” But McGriff is the one who has the recruits listening. “I'm just a country boy trying to make it,” he said. jhill@wacotrib.com

Spring will be a good chance to look at some of the younger players. I am hearing Lineberry, Burris, Early, Chapman, Pruitt, Ransom and several others will be out due to injuries or rehab.... I am interested to see how defensive tackle Senaca Collins fares. Here's the list of redshirts who will get their chance to make a statement: Safety Kartey Agbottah OL Ajani Banks Corner Antoine Bush DB Desmond Chatman OL Jack Crumes DT Jon Stewart OL Bryan Glass LB Tobe Nwigwe OL Robert Peachy DB Arthur Stubblefield WR Korey Washington Also interested to see how WR Brock Stickler and Roy Covington fare Will they move Pistole to defensive end?

BobFam you always find the good ones.... Great article on a great kid. Proud to see his coaches and family decked out in the Mean Green Colors too!

http://www.gomeangreen.com/mgr Another recruiting year is coming to a close and I want to thank everyone for all of their help in gathering all of the information out there on the Mean Green prospects. There are so many people for me to thank and I'm grateful for all of your help - we couldn't do it without you. I do want to give a big shout out to my good buddy Old Timer who is such a big help in putting these reports together and has helped me so very much for so many years. GMG!