Mean Green 93-98

ArkStFan had a good quote the other day related to this subject: If a 16-team playoff stacks the odds against the non-BCS conferences, how much more is that the case with an 8-team playoff with 6 of those slots reserved for the big conferences?

Good to know that all is still right in the world.

I don't know about 4-8, but I could definitely live with 5-7 and see it as improvement over the past few years. I don't jump out of a plane from New York to Los Angeles because after 1 hour we're just over Pittsburgh. But let me ask, what could you "live with" next year? What would it take to get there? Just curious.

Jan. 3rd Link to job posting

No, not a new stadium. But haven't the 10 mandatory days elapsed since our fomer DC was let go? If another DC is lined up, shouldn't there be an announcement very soon (i.e., today or tomorrow)?

Good call!

Listening to the radio out of Jonesboro, Dickey Nutt was placing a lot of the blame on the officiating. The rest he placed on his players--he sure didn't give any credit to North Texas.

You've been watching far too many cloak-and-dagger shows. Like Dodge sits in his office scheming up ways to sabotage Brett Vito. I highly doubt the thought ever crossed his mind.

Thanks for sharing, Matt.

Sounds to me like Jones' comments were more directed toward a certain AD who failed to address problems he knew existed. And judging by Hawaii's firing of that AD, it sounds like they agreed with Jones' comments.

Assuming his OC and QB coach from Michigan go to Tennessee, all indications are that he will follow them there.

From DMN, has quote from RV:

Deal to continue UNT-SMU football series could be on way Link UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal confirmed today that he is in talks with SMU about the Mean Green renewing its football series with the Mustangs. Villarreal said UNT and SMU are comparing open dates and hammering out the details. More and more, it sounds like the schools could have something done within a matter of weeks. It will be great for both schools to keep the series going. SMU and UNT played on a semi-regular basis until 1992 and then picked up their series again in 2006 when the Mean Green beat the Mustangs at Fouts Field. SMU got its revenge last season at Ford Stadium. The Mustangs have dominated the series and lead 28-4-1. After covering UNT football for the last few years, I think a good yearly rivalry is something the Mean Green could really use. Having a hated rival or two boosts interest, the crowds at games and just makes everything more interesting. A few years ago, I could have made a pretty good argument that New Mexico State was the closest thing UNT had to a real rival. NMSU was in the Sun Belt, was close enough geographically for fans to travel to games and the schools had some great showdowns throughout a long history of playing on a regular basis. When NMSU left the Sun Belt, UNT was left without a rival other than maybe Middle Tennessee, and to me even that is a stretch. Feel free to weigh in on the blog. Is SMU the Mean Green's biggest rival and how would you feel about the schools continuing their football series?

The high school coaches in Texas know and respect Todd Dodge. They don't know June Jones from Adam (yet). Having that "in," while obviously not the only factor in recruiting, is a big advantage. Also SMU and UNT are hardly identical schools. SMU is an inner-city private school with a small enrollment, while UNT has a spread out but contained campus with massive enrollment. Different kids are going to be more attracted to one than the other.

Gary DeLoach was scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. last night at the AFCA convention where Coach Dodge is. Hopefully contact has been made.

It's a good hire for SMU. I was about to start feeling bad for y'all--but now I can happily resume my normal antipathy.

After last year's no-show, there is no way I pick Ohio State again.

I was about to post the same thing. Holy war--right.

Hiring Franchione, Coker, or Neuheisel would have made bigger waves. Paul Johnson or Mike Shula would have been a better hire than Jones or any of the others, IMO.

This only identifies 2 commits as having been recruited by MacDuff.

I'm not sure how respected he is. He is fairly well-known, and what he did at Hawaii was impressive. But this to me is not as big a splash of a hire as I was expecting SMU to make with that big moneybag they were flashing around.

Probably Derek Tomlin.

I would rather have a playoff. But since that will probably not happen during my lifetime, I would rather they go back to the old classic bowl matchups.

I wonder if LaCroix's departure somehow factored into this.