GrandGreen
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Posts posted by GrandGreen
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I wonder if Ross weight is correct. The Green Gang may just be relying on a sheet of paper that was not updated. It is strange that he is exactly the same weight as last year. You think they would have checked before using it in a post, but things happen.
As far as Abbe, at 6'4; he probably no rounder than Booger and Booger could play a little. Per Greengang face book today, he apparently is not afraid to mix it up a little.
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Very good points, and I would also add the inequality in how the state historically funded Texas, Texas A&M and then all the other state suppported schools. I'm not sure U of H is a good comparison. They still have the notch in their belt of being a part of the SWC which puts them a nod above us in many peoples eyes. Our conference affiliations, or lack thereof, is really what hurts us in the public's eye. Houston's facilities, on a whole, will be behind NT's once the stadium is completed, and their basketball facilities are abysmal, although their new AD is trying to change this. The SWC and Phi Slamma Jamma still carry a lot of weight in many peoples eyes.
North Texas really hurt themselves when Fry left and the administration pretty much gave up properly funding the program and allowing us to drop to 1AA. We basically went from the verge of the SWC and Top Twenty rankings to poor coaching decisions, losing seasons and being group with the likes of SFA, Sam Houston, Northwestern (La) State, etc... Nothing against those schools, but when your aspirations had you playing alongside the likes of UT, A&M, TTech, etc... one day and the next your playing against the schools listed above, public opinion is sure to slide.
You bring up the point that I think hurts NT more than any other. The fact for most of it's athletic life, NT has been isolated from their Texas rivals. The only other fb division team that was not part of the good ole boy SWC was UTEP and their location had a lot to do with it. It's not often mentioned but I think NT's early integration certainly played a part in this isolation. However poor leadership and lack of political power were probably bigger lasting problems. I think there are still a lot of older fans that still link Texas football and the SWC. NT wasn't good enough then and it is not now. Even years after the collapse of the SWC, even those schools that didn't get in the Big Twelve still are though of as bigger time programs than they are.
With the exception of TCU, who definitely left CUSA to separate themselves, all the other Texas teams are nestled in Texas dominated conferences. Only NT remains alone not by choice, the same status it had in the Big West and a lot of the time in the MVC. After Houston left, NT was along in the MVC until WTSU joined in a failing effort to keep MVC football alive.
I don't think it is even a conscious thing with a lot of college football fans. They just associate NT with something lower than the old SWC teams. Not a knock on the Belt, because without it; NT would really be in a jam, but being in the newest conference just adds to the perception that NT is Texas second rate.
Winning will cure all, and at last IMO NT is doing the things that should turn the tide. NT first order of business should be to dominate the Belt. I really think that NT can do that relativily quickly. NT should in a very short time even with the lion's share of the new athletic fees going for debt service, have the highest budget in the Belt. That added to the location and academic standing of the university should make many Belt fans wish that NT was in another leauge.
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New pitcher has been added. High school lefty Lauren Poole from Oklahoma. I can't see using Cantler, your best hitter as a pitcher in her senior year unless the other pitchers are really questionable. Maybe it is just a contingency plan preparing for the worse.
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I hope the players are gettings as tired of this MTSU and Troy stuff as I am.
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More than likely TJ Hubbard will implement usual 1B Mallory Cantler to do some pitching work, and I'm looking for more info on the other pitcher.
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.
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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.
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Carl Sheffield is not coaching anymore. One of his athletes, Sammy Dabbs, has taken over his position and has done a great job at it the past couple of years.
Watkins has hired former ACU coach Sam Burroughs as the distance/cross country coach. He took over ACU two years ago. The team he took over was a national championship team, and as far as I have seen, he did nothing with that team. This will be interesting to watch. He is a young guy that is energetic about his job, which is far opposite from what UNT had at this position.
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.
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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.
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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).
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Repeated post
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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.
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Surprise, surprise; once again no Walter Chapman.
Now that my annual rant is over, it looks like a good deserving group.
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I just wonder why they think the series record is 2-0 when Corky Nelson 1aa team clobbered them.
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Buchholz is I believe a NT alum and very successful businessman. So I well give him some slack and hope that he is not as unaware as these quotes would lead you to believe. I would imagine that the BOR is taking their share of grieve about Jackson and may be overly defensive. Whether they back Jackson publicly are not, the continued expressed dissatisfaction with Jackson has got to be registering loudly.
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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.
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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.
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I would hope at least 5,000 NT fans travel to San Marcos with the quality of our basketball team.
We are far from any position to be talking trash about support for our basketball program.
Hope to see you in San Marcos on Nov. 27. If you're not in San Marcos, you need to be at Fouts.
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.
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Milton was a very nice and respectable guy. This didn't help him on the field! It was obvious that he was from a small town. He pledged the same social organization that I was a member of (my last year) Milton's main problem were the guys ahead of him. All-Time Greats Bernard Jackson & Malcolm Jones (The Carter connection) Additionally, Bobby Daniels of Dallas Roosevelt. Both of these guys fell under the recruiting radar. Had they came out of HS a year or two later, they would have been Blue Chip recruits in Texas. Anyway, any other era, Milton would have been more productive at running back.
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
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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.
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You guys calling him sorry are freakin' nuts. It's obvious job security was a major factor. Dodge will be gone after this year, so where does that leave him?? Seriously, Dodge was all but fired at last years end. What do you think the coaching staff went through during that very short and bizarre period?? Why take a chance and go through that again??? Don't blame the guy one bit. Besides, he's on the inside and an experienced coach that knows what this team is capable of. His glasses obviously aren't tinted as deep green as some of you here.
I guess he was not aware of any of this before he signed his last contract with NT.
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Roster Updates
in Mean Green Football
Posted
Almost all listed heights in college football are overstated. It is done so much that any school using the actual measurements would be criticized for failure to recruit college size players. If you remember NT supposedly posted the actual heights a couple of years ago and almost all the linemen were an inch or two shorter. For example, Santiago had been listed at 6'5. Most of the players magically gained their height back the next year, although a few like Santiago did not go back up. Several years ago, I looked up the college roster heights of about 15 good players and compared them to the pro combine heights. On average the college rosters listed players at 1 1/2 inches taller than actual. I am a little less than 6'3 and I am taller than most college football players listed at 6'4. Next to 40 times, football players height is the second most fibbed about stat. It is interesting because really tall guys are usually close to accurate, but average size college players are almost always shorter.
You can see both the last year and current roster on the official site, so do your own comparison.
Santiago was listed as about 285 last year, you must be thinking of Gill. Who is still in the two sixties.