GrandGreen

Canales is obviously a candidate but he must finish strong. The problem with Canales is that he is not a name in Texas and his association with the current debacle does not help him. We should get a good idea of his ability to coach over the rest of the season, but it will not tell us what is recruiting ability will be. Also his hire would not convey the message that NT is a lot more serious about football. He would be viewed as just another "cheap" assistant coach hire for NT and would not make the type of statement that a more renowned coach would. I believe Canales is a long shot and will need a great finish to be a serious candidate, but if he wins a couple of games and plays the rest close he will be difficult to ignore.

WKU or anybody else will be a big challenge for this NT team, too many injuries and now an interim coach. I expect that WKU will be a good Belt team very soon. NT might have a chance if Dodge is able to play and the offensive line improves. NT better give a heck of an effort or they will be steamrolled.

Only partially agree, programs like UT were you can pay to have the very best assistants; this is the approach that works. For lower tier teams, the HC has to be a more hands on guy. It is common to have the hc be the de facto coach on one side of the ball. It is why Mack Brown would be a terrible coach at a place like NT. His main role is hiring and monitoring assistants, fund raising, and providing very general guidance. NT needs someone who does those things but also who can recruit and take a much bigger part in the developing of game plans and players. This doesn't mean the hc is out leading drills and coaching techniques but it does mean that he takes an active part in game planning, play calling, and recruiting. It is a fact that even if a lower tier team can afford a very capable hc that they will also have the same level of assistants.

There should have been a Green player as pre season MVP, but I guess the vote was too split. Frankly, between Thompson, White and Odufuwa, it is a difficult just to predict the team mvp. If Thompson has many games like against Kansas State he could be all world. Odufuwa is probably the team mvp in that at this point he is NT's only proven post presence. Look for him to continue to be the top rebounder in the league and probably add a couple of points to his scoring average. White, one of the most unselfish players at NT ever, with Johnson's help at the point should have a great year.

I am not sure how much this helps anything. Almost all teams play a bunch of patsies in the oc, for a number of reasons. It allows cheap home games, pads player statistics, allows bench players more action and obviously builds up the record. Playing against lower division teams is RPI neutral, while playing against a bad D1 can lower your rpi even it is a big win. As far as having to play an oc schedule that averages 150 rpi that will be expensive and it will be impossible to monitor. What is the league going to do if a team falls far short of these standards? I assume the obvious intent of these standards is to eventually raise the likelihood of being a multiple NCAA conference by raising the RPI of the conference. The problem is that just playing better competition does no good if you don't also win your share. With most upper tier conference teams playing few away oc games, this mandate will be very difficult to obtain as the number of home games could go down. I don't have a lot of faith in the conference help with scheduling. The problem is that you greatly limit regional teams as less than probably a third of the so called mid majors will have a rating above 150 while the majority of the schools with higher ratings will be in the so called high major category. Not many of the upper league conferences such as the Big 12, or SEC are going to play home and home against a Belt team. This would be a good thing for the serious fan because the games should be better against better competition. However, how many fans are going to be lost when those 20 win seasons are much more difficult to come by. There are a lot of 20 win team these days that include a lot of victories over non-division 1 teams and very poor D1 competition. Is it really going to help the Belt's perception even if the rpi does rise if the win percentage goes significantly down? As far as averaging 5000 a game that seems unrealistic for most of the Belt. NT should average that and more but has not been close in decades. I have no idea of how the league is going to help at all with this.

Well for one thing, I don't think the recruiting pitch "Come get slapped around at NT" would be very successful. As far as you wanting an explanation as to the harm inflected, I don't think anyone knows enough to answer that. IF the alleged incident took place, how hard was he hit, was it done in anger or just a bad motivation ploy, were actions like this common or was the player singled out? I wonder if Woody Hayes could answer your question.

Jeez, what Leavitt allegedly did is not ok under any circumstances, but neither is it worthy of completely destroying a career. If he did do it as alleged, it cost him his job and probably a lot of money. The question is what is his character and going forward can he perform the job in the manner that NT needs. Again, if this did occur and is an isolated occurrence in a long career, then I believe it should be given little weight. However, if he has a history of questionable conduct than he is not NT's man. Frankly, in the old days this would hardly be noticed; but in the days of openness, this has to be evaluated. There appear to be a lot of potential good applicants available and maybe Leavitt is not the best one, but he certainly should be looked at. He has a proven record of building a program with little limited resources. However, there is definitely a reason that USF wants him out.

The positive thing is that NT never recruits anywhere close to WKU on paper, but still manages to win it's share. JJ in the past has got few big names but still has managed to usually be deemed the most athletic team in the conference. It will be very interesting with this class which should the best in JJ's career, to see how it progresses through the Belt.

West is a Golden Triangle homer that gave NT great coverage when Dodge was hired and has supported him through the ordeal. Heard even more of this when Dickey was fired with all his success and late ailments when at NT. I like Dodge and was never fond of Dickey, but both men were in hind sight terminated too late not too early. It is easy to opine over some perceived wrong when it is not your program involved.

Yes, several as a matter of fact at this point. However, this is an early signing group that has a year to improve.

Right, SMU might be a meaningful comparison for football but not basketball.

Assuming all the commits are signed. NT will have the following squad: Posts Edwards 6'7 Sr Hogans 6'7 Sr Knox 6'10 Jr Holmen 6'8 Jr Robinson 6'9 F Post/Wing Williams 6'6 F Combos A. Williams 6'4 Jr Jones 6'2 F Walton 6'2 Jr Point Norris 5'10 F I think NT can afford to be very selective with their other 3 ships. They need another wing for next year but other then that unless they can get some super prospects, one or two transfers might be a good strategy. I would like to see a big man like Wooden sitting on the bench a year waiting to replace Hogans and Edwards.

When will people ever learn that college coach's contract are almost completely one sided. JJ just signed a contract extension, signing him to a longer contract does absolutely nothing but tie down the school. Now if NT wants to increase his compensation that is another thing but adding years to the contract would only add to NT's exposure. All NT fans want JJ to stay and keep winning. With the recruiting class he is putting together, he is certainly more likely to stay but if a LSU or like program comes after him, it is doubtful NT could keep him no matter what they are paying.

Obviously, NT or anyone else that is looking at Leavitt needs to be satisfied that anything like the alleged incident will not happen. Amusingly, there is another thread discussing the differences between now in the past relating to what coaches can get by with. Decades ago, an incident like this would not even be newsworthy. Many who admire Corky Nelson, seem to forget his fighting with a player on the sidelines. An event that passed with little consequences for Corky or the player. However, this is today and things like the alleged incident can't happen. It does seem that this is all about the money and most likely will be settled. This event has to be evaluated in any review of Leavitt as a candidate just as Lynch's conduct or any other hc hopeful. One thing about hiring any established head coach, they are all going to have a public record that can be analyzed and all are going to have both good and bad factors. In the case of Leavitt, he has had a long coaching history and if this is an isolated event; than it should treated as such.

I never understood why NT was not better able to take advantage of their history as it relates to the integration of its athletic teams. However, I believe the time for that has long passed. I do think with the right leadership decisions that NT could ultimately become a force in Texas athletics. It is the only football playing public school in the biggest and most prosperous part of the state. The major problem is that athletics has a very poor infrastructure, and I am not talking about mortar. NT just has never developed the fan base and support it needs to be successful. Frankly though it is slowly improving, NT has never enjoyed the financial support it takes to excel. NT can rapidly process even with the historical perception of athletic ineptness but it is going to take great leadership. I believe NT has taken the first steps by getting good base facilities for a non-AQ program and the next step in the process is hiring a recognized coach that illustrates that NT is at long last serious about its athletic program.

Joe Greene played for Rust not Fry and if you think football was cleaner in the "ole days", it is because you just were not around. As mentioned above, coaches could never get away with the stuff they used to pull. Illegal recruiting, abuse of players and little regard to academics were all issues that were much worse in the past. There were no cameras at every event and very few investigative reporters. Coaches could just about get by with anything and many did. Coaches such as Royal, Wilkerson, Bryant, etc. were legends because they won not because of great character. The powers routinely gave out 60 and 70 freshmen ships and then proceeded to run off the majority to make way for next years crop. Rules limiting number of scholarships, stating minimum academic standards, and requiring academic progress are not always effective, but it is a much better environment for players than existed decades ago.

If history means anything, NT is not going to be scared away by a little fisticuffs between a player and hc. If there is any mutual interest between Leavitt and NT then this alleged event should be investigated and NT satisfied that it is not a pertinent issue. The contract could specify immediate dismissal without compensation if something similar ever occurs. I don't see a major risk if NT does necessary due diligence.

Yes, there is usually turnover after a coaching change, but more often than not it is instigated by the coach. I would think the majority of the players look forward to a fresh start, the last three years couldn't have been that enjoyable. NT has a handful of great or potentially great players, and even if all of them decided to leave; NT is still ahead making the decision. Dodge lost a few of Dickey's recruits but most forget that over half of Parker's squad was gone soon after Simon arrived. Hopefully, NT can keep the vast majority because it is down in numbers and medical redshirts can be obtained for Tune, Byne, Johnson, Leppo, Thompson and others. This team has shown that it doesn't have a lot of quitters involved, and I doubt a new coach is going to scare any of them.

WKU and MTSU; seem to think the basketball world revolves around them. WKU definitely has the historically best bb program, while the Muts have a great WBB program. Based on their fans participation in the Belt tournament; they should also get more attention than the other Belt schools. Frankly, although much closer and having a high caliber BB team, NT's fan response has been disappointing. Much better last year, then NT first Belt tournament win in Lafayette when the NT fans were practically non-existent; but still needs to be vastly improved. All that being said, there still has to be a site that actually bids and offers something comparable to Hot Springs and apparently that has not happened. I am not as enamored as many with Hot Springs. It is a easy travel location and is small enough that it is easy to get around, but for a half a##ed bb fan like me that doesn't have a great interest in watching non-NT games; it doesn't have a lot of attractions. A Memphis, Nashville, Mobil, New Orleans and even Biloxi would be more centrally located and offer far more then Hot Springs. However, the Belt is not going to get near the focus at any of these places with the exception of Mobile, and that is not a neutral site. Hot Springs is overall a great location for NT fans and we should take advantage of it for the next three years. The weekday games are tough for most to make, but if MTSU and WKU can do it, why can't NT. We are much closer and there are potentially a lot more of us.

Does anyone really think Leach is even a remote option? Forget about the money aspect, RV couldn't control Dickey; can you imagine Leach here? It would be fun and I think he would win but highly unlikely. . Out of that group, I would go with Leavitt a proven program builder and to my knowledge never complained about USF lack of resources. Also his character questions seem to be small compared to Leach.

Frankly, based on the Dodge hire; I think RV needs all the help he can get. Having the acting president in your corner is of enormous benefit.

Traditionally, NT has always relied on recruits committing in December and January. Unfortunately, NT is doing about all it can at this time; and that is just to keep in contact with recruits. Basically, recruiting is dead until a new coaching staff is in place. Obviously, the quicker a hc is named the better that is one reason that a not currently employed coach is more desirable than one that is not available till after a bowl game.

Shows just how ignorant some of these posters are. I give DD all the credit for NT incredible run of conference wins but also all the blame for the fall of the program after that. DD apparently thought he was destined for bigger things not realizing that most programs didn't want a hc who was a public relations disaster and most of his success related to one inexplicably good recruiting class. HIs lazy recruiting and bad mouthing of the program finally cost him his job.

NT's tie with a very average UALR team about killed any chance of winning the regular season conference title.