untjim1995

Yeah, I mean all of those Rice fans and UH fans have ALWAYS supported their team big-time. We could really learn from those fans!! How 'bout the way they supported the Oilers, too!!

If the AD gives Dodge a fifth year, it better be because he won 7 games and received an extension. If you all think recruiting is in danger now, it will really tank if we give Dodge a fifth year without an extension. No one would come here under the circumstance of not knowing who the coach will be in 2012. Next year is really it--we either go to a bowl or we get a new coach. Its the silver lining to this thing. And if Dodge gets a 5th season with anything below 7 wins from our university, then you really have to ask yourself if this all is really worth your time, energy, and most importantly, your money. Actually, it may not even be worth it all NOW.

I agree with you, but the question is where do you find the money to get us out of this situation NOW, as in TODAY? Its the chicken and egg deal--which comes first? If we had money, we wouldn't have Dodge. The alumni don't care about the university's athletic program, except for a hearty few. They have heard for decades how our football team isn't worth following, that it is uncool to even care about the team, and even worse to actually go to a game. Besides, Texas, A&M, Tech, and OU all play each other in the only conference that counts--this is the mindset that most college football fans around here believe in and it how the media covers the sport--excpet that TCU and SMU get coverage because of their hometown media coverage. The good news is that the new stadium will at least help a coach consider recruiting some kids that would never consider playing at Fouts, which is what most of the Denton ISD kids think. The even better news is that the student body that has gone through UNT since 2000 seems much different from the student body of the previous years. There is undeniably more school spirit than ever before--granted anything above zero is improvement--and I do believe that the student body of the 2000s will move up and actually support the program at a good level. The issue is that the big donors probably won't show up for another decade or two, as most big donors at other universities are over the age of 50. The bigger issue here is that when your local competition can pay a coach over $2 million a year and you can barely pay $250K and cannot afford to buyout more than one year of that $250k salary, this is the hard reality of where we are as a university, athletic department, and football program. It will get better, but it probably won't be for a looooonnnngggg time.

I do believe that Todd Dodge will be the head coach here for 2010. I believe the number one reason for that is money. But after that, I believe that RV will look at this year and say we made the improvement competitively that he expected to see. Remember, his words on this season were to see us get back to being competitive in our games. I can't say I blame him, either, since in 2008, our games were basically over by the end of the first half. So, in reality, he has gotten his wish, even if we only win 2 games. He even can use that line as a reason to say that Dodge will be back. It will also give RV a full year to prepare a list of coaches that will be available and will come here for a salary of around $350-$400K, which is my guess for what the next coach will sign for, including TDodge if he turns this around next year. For Dodge to get that extension next year, though, he must win 7 games and make it to a bowl--unless they are all full. I believe that his OC will get fired this year, but I also think it won't matter because TD is the real OC anyhow. But, in reality, Dodge has his son back as a sophomore, a stud running back, solid receiving options, and a pretty solid OLine. Most of the defense will be back and another year of DeLoach's coaching will make it better, just as it did when he was here under DD after a few years on staff. The biggest addition, though, for next year to be a huge success is not with the staff or with the players on offense or defense. We have got to find a legitimate kicker--one who can kick XPs, FGs beyond 30 yards, and can kickoff better than Charlie Brown in the Peanuts cartoon. It just costs the rest of you team so much if your kicking game is bad, so the biggest upgrade needs to be with Special Teams, with extra emphasis on the kicker. The schedule next year is tougher, although I HIGHLY DOUBT that KSU ever plays here, but I think the SBC play will determine if he gets the extension or gets fired. I would imagine it would be a win in 1 game OOC next year and 6 wins in SBC play or its over. In the end, though, although I believe Dodge will be back next year, it will also be his last. I just can't see a team going from 2 wins to 7 wins with the same coach and system that has failed badly before. But, as for the one thing that matters most, the financial benefit to the university and the AD will give Dodge 2010--you can take it to the bank.

How you got into this school amazes me...

Boise State has had so many more resources thatn UNT ever has had, it isn't even funny. They have a good-sized city all to themselves, as well as a state that wanted to support a winner. Plus, Boise State's stadium was a good size, easily expandable, and their city made itself a bowl destination. All of these resources basically combined to make BSU a monster--they city and university support the school with money and resources. Their conference recognized that a bowl game would be a good fit for Boise's stadium. All of that helps you schedule favorably. You start winning, going to bowl games, and recruiting picks up. Then, once you have it built up, you take on big-time programs and compete mightily with them because you have good coaches and consistent support. UNT has had a small city (both in population and especially in mindedness) to deal with, have been practically ignored by the Metroplex, and most of the state follows UT, A&M, Tech, OU, OSU, Arkansas, Baylor, and every once in a while, TCU, SMU, and UH. UNT students and alumni have had almost zero connection to the school, much less the football team for ever. This is even talking about the fact that UNT has had the WORST STADIUM to play in and watch a game at in Division 1. Hell, Fouts was a BAD 1-AA stadium. Its just not close.

TI Green--you and I seem to see things very similarly. I, too, believe the NCAA will stay away from a playoff until finally being forced to do it. When that happens, I can almost guarantee a shift like the one I listed would occur. Those big schools are not going to share anything if they can get away with it, which is why I expect an expanded MWC becoming an AQ BCS conference would be the easiest route to take. Yes, you share more, but you virtually lock up any "outsiders" from crashing the party ever again.

Army 41 UNT--20

Never mind--I will blame all of those mentioned.

That is a weak excuse--a score can still be given, even as a last second mention, without video, especially as the sportscast ends. Nothing, though? Someone has to answer this for me, or at least attempt to.

http://%20http://rebelnation.reviewjournal.com/blogs/from-the-editors-desk/coach-fran-should-be-the-man-for-unlvs-head-coaching-job It appears that one of our mentioned preferred replacement possibilities has another school (UNLV) very interested

Or the better lesson might be to not let the governor and his buddy that he placed as the university president pick the new head coach without interviewing anyone else just becasue he coached his kids when they were in school as OLinemen

I enjoy your positive posst about UNT, but you missed big-time on this one. Turner Gill will be at a big-time school in the next year. He has performed a miracle at a place that was as bad as we are now. There is a reason many think Auburn made the worst decision possible by passing him over for Gene Chizik. Buffalo will not get a better replacement than Turner Gill in my opinion. Maybe someone can keep up his program, but he is up there on the list for greatest program turnarounds in history.

That was my first game at the Stage in about 16 years. The need for a new arena is so evident, so I won't go on about it. Just glad UTA is finally getting an actual arena for basketball. Great game and the crowd was defintely into it big time. Why the private schools cannot see this on any level is completely beyond me, but it is what it is. After a great game, between two large universities in the Metroplex that ended around 10pm, I expected to see some coverage or a mention on ANY of the 4 networks during their sports reports. Nothing, nada, zilch. It really frustrates me--when TCU and SMU play each other, no matter their record, they get TV coverage. You can't say that the two teams are spares either, because they have both been to the NCAA tournament in the recent years, unlike the two privates. Heck, we have won 20+ games for the last 3 years. Maybe I missed something on the sports coverage--very possible, but I tried to watch all four and saw no footage, nor heard a mention from Hansen, Scruggs, Laufenberg, or Doocy. I just don't get it.

A few points on this. 1.) Yes it will be used against the university when recruits are visiting with other coaches. In many minority communities, gays are not accepted, nor tolerated. You can look at any poll or study about this. I once heard a black professor state, "Socially, the black community is MORE conservative than most suburban white communities when it comes to acceptance of gays." This whole mess, though, will be swept under the rug if this new vote doesn't pass to have two gay men or women as the homecoming court. Otherwise, it will be just one more point used by coaches to point out a perceived "negative" of UNT. Trust me, the current state of the football program weighs much heavier in the whole recruiting process, but it will matter to many parents and recruits when brought up by other coaches. 2.) The university really needs to back its SGA here. The issue was addressed already and that should be enough. If you want to change the focus of how homecoming courts are determined, then do what was just posted and make it open for one man and one woman. Leave it at that. Sometimes, I really can't believe we make it so hard on ourselves at UNT. And, in full disclosure, if we do allow this all to pass and do elect two people of the same gender to represent us as the homecoming couple, this university has seen my last dollar and my last ounce of support. The embarrassment would SEVERELY outweigh my diploma. I have already heard enough as it stand from other school's alumni to make me vomit.

I still believe that there will be a new version of the BCS forming soon--especially now that tow non-BCS AQ team will have to get in to their precious bowls. The most plausible one to me is the MWC just adds Boise State, Nevada, and Fresno State and becomes the new AQ league. This would really cover the ass of the current BCS leagues--and I am surprised that it hasn't happened yet. This would give the 7 leagues a guaranteed spot for their champs, with three remaining spots for non-champs. Before they added the last bowl, the big six leagues went with two at-large spots, so the whole thing is a big winner for the whole BCS. They will share the monies at a high level and can certainly add another BCS game if they want--like at JerryWorld or at the Peach Bowl. The MWC may be making noise now, but they will sell-out in a minute if they get added to the BCS grouping. The other plausible scenario is just a complete reconstruction of the highest level of college football. Right now, 120 team "qualify" as FBS, with 66 teams being "more qualified" somehow. Some of the "more qualified" really aren't (like Baylor or Vanerbilt) and some of the "less qualified" (like BYU, Utah, etc.) are . I could see a formula put in place that involves student body enrollment, alumni, win-loss record, attendance, and total athletic budgets to make a Super BCS. You would see a new level that is made up of about 60 teams and just gets to keep it all. They would basically be a semi-pro league. It might look like this: West--UW, WSU, Oregon, OSU, Cal, Stanford, Arizona, Arizona State, USC, UCLA, Utah, and BYU Midwest--Texas, Tech, A&M, OU, OSU, Arkansas, NU, KU, KSU, and Mizzou Southeast--LSU, Ole Miss, MSU, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, Georgia East--Miami, FSU, USF, Clemson, Georgia Tech, UNC, NC State, Virginia, Va Tech, and Maryland Northern--Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Iowa State, Illinois, Ohio State, Indiana, and Purdue Northeast--Notre Dame, Penn State, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Louisville, Boston College, Pittsburgh, UConn, Syracuse, and WVU Those 60 teams would get all of those BCS games and probably just play amongst themselves. Yes, they would dominate media interest--they pretty much already do--but the money that these schools would generate is almost mind-boggling. Its not what I want to see happen, but I think its possible if these schools get threatened. Hell, they could leave the NCAA and for their own coalition if the NCAA didn't cooperate. And all of those legislators in Congress--guess where most of them went to school? See the list above. Lawsuits may get filed, but just like when the SWC broke up and when the ACC pilfered the old Big East, which pilfered the old CUSA, there really wasn't anything that could be done.

Actually, the laughter you hear is probably from TWU and SMU.

???

Great--now we get a guy back who can win 3-4 games a year versus one who wins 1-2 per year. Way to go MFers!! Neither of these two guys are worth celebrating as head coaches in my opinion. Corky Nelson would run laps around these two guys with the current level of support and interest in the program today.

No chance that this happens. He either signs an extension because we field a bowl team next year or he is fired with a year left on the contract. Its either or, IMO. Of course, I go back to the words of the SIDs office that told a local media member that next year's goal is to get to 4-5 wins and then year 5 is to go to a bowl game. I can only pray that this type of expectation has somehow changed in the last two weeks.

I, too, heard that Harbaugh was looking at a salary that was in the between $375K and $400K per year. This could even be low. We couldn't come close to that because we were still paying for Dickey's last 2 years on his cotract, so we went and got the coach that we could afford and create a buzz. Everyone can hate the "we are poor little ol' UNT", but until the administration and the BOR say that we will buy out Dodge's remaining contract AND offer a salary that is around what Harbaugh wanted coming from a Division III school, Dodge will be here for 2010. We might only have 10K in attendance next year, but the cost to the university will outweigh the possibilities of increased support with a new coach. Look, it is really simple. Unless, the university decides to fund this thing at a differnet level than they have historically, Dodge will be here. But the good news is that it will be his reckoning as a head coach. Next year, either Dodge wins 7+ games and we go to a bowl game (assuming that there are no quirky leave-outs due to us being in a piss-poor conference) or he is gone. We go into a new stadium with a lot of talent that is somehwat seasoned and a new coach that can recruit kids here to a great stadium and facilities. We made a bad decision on signing Dodge to a five year deal and we have to deal with it--AND learn from it, too. Most deals are actually a year short of the tenure on the contract for recruiting purposes, so a 4-year deal really says that you have 3 years to get this going. No coach ever goes into his last year of a contract without an extension planned because it kills recruiting. Three years really should be enough to see a coach turn it around in today's world. We have seen Rice turn around in one year, SMU turn around in 2 years, etc. It can be done here, too.

I was just lurking over on killerfrogs.com and reading up on all the hysteria about the game tomorrow in my old hometown. It really amazes me just how far TCU has come since the old SWC days. It really does seem miraculous. They were 1-10 in Pat Sullivan's last year, with their only win being in the last game against SMU, causing the Ponies to miss a bowl game (hehe!!) But here is where the really crazy part sets in for me. In SI's college football season preview for 2005, we were ranked 1 spot behind TCU to start the year, somewhere in the 50s or 60s, IIRC. That year, TCU went 11-1 and finished #11, we went 2-9. Of course, we also beat Cincy in the NO Bowl in 2002 and they are now on the cusp of their 2nd BCS game in a row. I know that there are several lines of thought on what happend to us since 2004, but really, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO US TO CAUSE THIS? In mny ways, I think the 4 SBC championships falsely made us feel like we were further along than we were. It is just so frustrating. I mean, really, freaking TCU is a Texas loss (albeit not likely) from probably playing for a MNC if they take care of business. It just all blows my mind that we were once considered BASICALLY EQUAL to them in the national press just 5 seasons ago.

Let me see here--this thread was started by UNT-Playmaker and has great insight from shaft. This thread = greatness for sure. Only thing that surprises me is that it wasn't started at 3am...

Am I the only one on here that finds it absolutely embarrassing that we lost to TWU in an athletic event? Seriously?

This is so money, I can't even believe how close this comparison is on EVERY level. Trilli was such a great guy, but his coaching acumen was somewhere near your spare Denton YMCA basketball coach. Heck, the old Ryan coach one time mentioned that Trilli couldn't win in THEIR DISTRICT, much less at UNT. Sure it was probably an exaggeration, but it hit home with me when he said it. I just remember when Maryland beat us by 75 points in one game his first year at UNT and I thought to myself, Division II teams don't lose that badly to Kansas or UNC or Kentucky. But, I still bought into him completely and just thought success would show up soon. Then when Big West/ SBC teams would beat us by 30 at the Super Pit in front of 9500 empty green seats, I knew that I ws just a little wrong about Trilli, which is sadly how I now feel about Dodge. I am not sure, but I think Trilli got 4 years here, which is what I believe Dodge will get, too. The Zombie has returned!!