GrandGreen

He would have to be really desperate to use Cantler, an all conference first baseball, as a pitcher. Plus as far as I know she has not pitched an inning of college ball.

www.twincities.com/sports/ci_15700497?source=rss

Does anyone really know if he was in fact a promising player, has fully recovered from his injuries, does not have family obligations that become before football, havs academic issues, etc.? Not everyone is suited for college or college football, It is easy to criticize especially when you are speculating without much information. Maybe he just rather drive trucks, but there could be any number of other reasons; he is not going to play at NT. Whatever, I hope Keenan made the right decision for himself.

acu.sidearmsports.com/staff.aspx?staff=59 Actually looks like a great hire to me, ACU did finish 4th in the nation last year in their Division. You must have high standards. Both Iona and ACU pretty much lived on foreign runners mostly Kenyans. So I would expect that to happen here. I have mixed feelings about that, but if NT wants to break WKU and MTSU stranglehold on the "all sports competition", this is the best way to do it. Create a very strong cross country team that also will dominate the track long distance events. It won't be easy because WKU, MTSU, Arkansas State and others use exactly that strategy, so it will take very good foreign athletes to win.

weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports/college/fau/blog/2010/08/the_annual_swipe_at_troy_for_o.html FAU beat writer's rant on Troy.

Great post untcampbell. It is obvious that this happens every year or they could not continue to offer 30+ ships a season. I also don't believe for a second Troy's contention that they always have scholarships available to those who qualify. It would take Nostradamus to predict how many players would qualify out of their new recruits, and players being gray-shirted or at preps or jucos. Troy is the football power of the Belt, but it is really disappointed how they have got there. They may be doing everything according to the rules, but IMO their tactics give the Belt a black eye. Yes, OU, SMU, USC and countless others have done far worse; but frankly Troy is the one conference team that I wish were in another conference and that has nothing to do with their success on the field.

Leo Taylor was a tough runner who compares with the more modern running backs. He didn't get that many carries with the great passing game of Ramsey to Barry Moore, Ronnie Shanklin, etc. He did not have the speed of Cobbs, Dunbar, and a healty Thomas, but he ran as hard as any of them. Pegram was a much better back than he was given credit for. He played on bad teams with little blocking. I don't remember who the A&M back was when NT with Pegram played there, but he was highly honored. I remember thinking how much better Pegram was than he was. Only problem, most of pegram runs were under 3 yards; but they were maximum effort. I think Pegram was quicker than Cobbs and was a better receiver. IMO the best backs I have seen at NT were Taylor, Mike Jones, Bernard Jackson, Eric Pegrim, Cobbs, Thomas, Galbreath, Malcom Jones and Dunbar. I think Thomas had the best one year of any of them, but if I rated them based on a career contribution; Cobbs would be the best. Rating who was the best back is difficult because of comparing those who benefited from DD run first offense and others that played in a much more balanced offense. Best being defined is who is the best running back not who did the most and had the best stats. Both Taylor who had a great Canadian football career and Pegram who was after Abner Haynes run in the pros had the best NFL career. Mike Jones, Bernard Jackson and Malcolm Jackson led Fry's offenses. It is interesting that all these backs except Dunbar and Pegram played on good teams. Leaving Dunbar out because he isn't finished and those I have not seen play college ball like. Haynes; I would rate the backs on an ability basis: 1. Thomas ( his freshman year) 2. Patrick Cobbs 3. Eric Pegram 4. Leo Taylor 5. Bernard Jackson (his junior year), 6. Mike Jones 7. Galbreath, 8. Malcom Jones. As most know, Jamario was never the same after his freshman year. Bernard who was great under Fry, was relegated to the bench by Jerry Moore (He was murdered during his senior football year but he was not a starter).

www.grahamleader.com/index.asp?Story=19768 Do walk ons actually sign or is just for show?

Repeated post

From Sport Illustrated Vault (Nov 5, 1973) LANDSLIDE VICTOR Football coaches place a lot of faith, or at least interest, in polls (We're No. 1, and so forth), and head Coach T. W. Alley of the University of Louisville was therefore a bit miffed earlier this season when his star senior defensive back, Lonnie Schuler, was beaten out for Defensive Player of the Week in the Missouri Valley Conference by an unknown from North Texas State named Walter Chapman. "Who's Chapman?" Alley asked. "A freshman. Defensive tackle. Five feet, 10 inches. Weighs 244." "A freshman?" Alley said with some irritation. "What did he do?" "Well, he had 22 tackles and knocked down a pass." There was a moment of silence. Then Alley said, "Where can I go vote for him I will continue a little more rant. To me it is totally ridiculous that Chapman is not in the HOF. Saw a recent post on the official site talking about people left out of HOF and it mentions Camper and Lott. Both very good football players but neither were close to Chapman who was a starter and leader of the defense for four years. As for as comparison between defensive linemen for the Green. Yes, Joe Greene was obviously the best. After that it would be between Kennedy and Chapman. There are others that may have one on two great years: Cedic Hardman for example, but for a career no one matches Greene, Kennedy and Chapman. By the way, per article above has any other defensive lineman for NT ever come close to 22 tackles in a game, and that was for a freshman. Chapman like Kennedy played nose guard and was the focus of every opponents offense for four years. He regularly had double digit tackle games despite being double teamed. Kennedy was great and was a lot more flamboyant, but Chapman had a never stop motor. Chapman suffers some because there are fewer and fewer fans left to remember him. He played in a time before the Internet and only played one year in a conference so he does not a bunch of readily available accolades. By the way he was all conference and freshman of the year in that one year. Most of the HOF recipients are deserving but few more so than Chapman. I would hope that the committee, who ever they maybe, would take time out to do a little research and reward, although it would be way too late, one of the all time NT greats. Talk to Hayden or Chapman's teammates which include Jordan Case about his qualifications.

Surprise, surprise; once again no Walter Chapman. Now that my annual rant is over, it looks like a good deserving group.

I just wonder why they think the series record is 2-0 when Corky Nelson 1aa team clobbered them.

The good thing is that there should be real competition for playing time. NT returns all four starters: Lewis, Jackson, Outlaw and Carey. Add to that Lott who has started in the past, Stradford who may be the best of the bunch, Dodge with I think excellent potential at receiver, and Bynes who the coaching staff wanted despite having a loaded squad at the wr position. There are also two more lettermen in Taylor and Johnson. With a lot more tight end and H back sets, there will not be as many minutes available at wr., It is very difficult to name a starting three, my guess would be Stradford, Jackson and Carey. The battle for the fourth spot in 4 receiver sets should be close between Lewis, Outlaw, Dodge and Bynes. This group has scary potential with a lot better speed than the NT norm. There may be better receivers in the Belt, but I doubt anyone can match NT' s depth. Jackson was an all conference receiver last year and he could have plenty of NT company this year. Dunbar should certainly keep defenses honest. The biggest question is can Tune or Thompson turn into the kind of QB that can elevate this receiver group.

It is ironic that NT strongest position is running back. Dunbar could and should be one of the best in the nation. Many may have forgotten that Mosely actually started in his freshman year and Mathis actually looked very good based on only a few carries and both are reported in be in the 225 lb range. . Hamilton looked excellent in the spring and has the speed and moves to start at a lot of schools. I would redshirt Byrd, I don't see him getting enough carries to warrant losing a year. However, I doubt there will be many redshirts; Dodge is going full out to win this year as he cannot afford to build for a future that he may not be part of.

Really, actually I was talking trash about them talking trash about our football program. As a season ticket holder for over 20 years and having attended most of the home games for 40 years, I am well aware of NT's basketball support.

Mike Jones was one if not the leading rusher in the nation in 1976 or 1977. Anyway your post, reminds me of the NT at UT game where NT had Mike and Malcolm Jones and UT: Ham, Jam and Lam Jones. The announcers had a rough day. Lam Jones looked faster than any player I have ever seen on the football field

Rice is a very big game but not a must game. It would be nice to win and have some evidence that NT is not the worst team in Texas.

/My link Although, I am not for NT committing a bunch of early players, he looks good.

I guess he was not aware of any of this before he signed his last contract with NT.

I do blame Leftwich for leaving. I doubt his contract had clauses that stated if better opportunities evolve, please feel free to renege on your word. Also please, don't give me the obligatory expression of your concern for your players. Admittedly, most coaches would do the same thing as Leftwich, but that does not make it right. Coaches leave schools and ignore contract all the times, but leaving days before the season is especially disappointing. Kudos to Dodge, for handling this desertion with class.

I don't like the subject of this thread, there are lots of players who did not live up to expectations; but the label a player a bust that NT wanted and signed seems very inappropriate to me. Milton is often cited as a big bust,only problem he wasn't : he ended up starting in the defensive line. He also provided more publicity to NT than any signee. Approximately 50% of all players who sign a division 1 ship have little impact on a program whether it is NT or UT. Do you label all of them busts? Even if you do, you could not include Collins because he gave a big boost to Fry's program for just signing and played a lot. He was the most heralded recruit in Texas that year, therefore the fact he did not turn out to be a super star was disappointing to NT fans. However, he did contribute a lot to NT.

I don't think much of Vito's Hall versus later QB comparisons. Vizza and Dodge were in a completely different environment. Not only were their teams a lot weaker, but they had to do so much more than in DD's offense. Nothing against Hall because he did a great job and will be in the NT HOF, but Vizza and Dodge might have been just as productive in a good run first offense. Unfortunately Vito is right, NT is once again going into the season with QB questions. Quarterback has the least experience retuning of all positions except perhaps the newly reinstalled tight end position. Tune has some good experience having a couple of starts but IMO he was primarily in there to hold down the point spread and not to win. Thompson had one great series but nothing else. Back of them, there is a walk on and a very small freshman. However, Riley will probable get sport duty which at least will provide a change. The good thing is both Tune and Thompson are big and hopefully a lot more durable. Both Tune and Thompson should be much better down field passers than an injured Dodge. Hopefully, that will open up the runner game and offset the lost of an QB option attack.

It seems that almost every fb division football or basketball player in Texas that wants or has to transfer is assumed good enough for ole NT. Any such player was good in High School but that does not mean he will be a success at the next level, no matter how many stars he received. Jones has done a great job in finding basketball players who can not only play but fit in. Unfortunately, the football program has not had that kind of success. As far as criminal or character issues, each case has to be analysed. I think almost everyone is for giving people a second opportunity but no one wants to turn NT into a haven of malcontents or criminals. Personally I no not like the Troy model for success which is based on finding very good athletes with risks that most programs don't want to take. D. J. Jones, may or may not be a good fit for NT. I would hope that NT at least evaluates his situation to determine if there is any mutual interest.

Well, don't read it, pretty simple.