GrandGreen

Tyler may not have been technical fired after one year, but he would have been if he had not left. Miss State took Chapman out of the game in two straight years, and barely eked out wins that were later forfeited due I think for using ineligible players.

Just for the hell of it, back to original intent of the thread. It is usually a good assumption that when you have all the players back at a position it should be significantly better. Does not always happen like Jarmario's sophomore year when NT had two national rushing champions returning. I think Montgomery is a very good back and if he were in DD's offense he easily could be a 1500 yard rusher. In a pass first offense and having to share the backfield with other good backs, he may not get to the overrated 1000 yard marker. I would not state that NT that next years backfield is the strongest in NT history, but it should be the deepest. Dunbar with his speed and reported size 5'9" 205 could also turn into something special. I have seen severl comments about the value of Mosley as a short yardage back. Yes, he could do that but he also has a very good ypc average and more speed than he gets credit for. Hamilton is one of the quickest players on the team and TD needs to get him on the field a lot more than last year. I still think he should be a wide receiver. Running back is loaded, why not try him at WR were there are no proven performers? Expanding on good point by Vito, it is ironic that Dodge has recruited such a good group of runningbacks and has yet to establish any of his recruits as a FB Diviison level receiver.

Chapman was obviously hindered by not being in a conference for most of his playing times as well as probably the lack of defensive stats from that era. He was also injured twice by illegal blocks by Mississippi State and missed a few games. However, the not being in a conference has not hindered other Fry players who have been named to the HOF, despite IMO not being the player Chapman was. For those that didn't follow the link in my post, it had to do with Walter being the MVC player of the week as a freshman after having 22 tackles in one game. The only other item I found on the net about Walter was about him getting 13 tackles in NT's 28-0 victory over Houston. Just for perspective, Nwigwe last year led NT with 111 tackles in twelve games and the highest total by a lineman for the year was 30 by Russo and 29 by Thomas who also was a defensive tackle. Chapman playing nose guard got almost as many tackles in one game as NT's last years leading linemen did in a whole year. Other comparisons among defensive linemen in recent years who led the team in tackles: Jeremiah Chapman in his senior year, 78; Awasom in his senior year, 53 and Booger Kennedy in his senior year, 66. Again how can Walter continue to be ignored. He passed away years ago, but right is right; he should have inducted decades ago.

Another year without Walter Chapman. I think I will continue to bring this up every year as NT continues to ignore IMO the best player on Fry's teams. Other than that, a good class; glad to see Gales honored and also probably the best volleyball player in NT history. Wilburn also is definitely deserving. Walter was before the internet but just to give you an idea of how good he was. http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...68/2/index.htm#

Yes, if you start with the assumption that the defense does not substantially improve, what the offense does hardly matters. I think the likelihood of the defense substantially improving next year is better than the offense doing the same thing.

NT was a very conservative last year despite being hammered in most games. I think Vizza was much more frustrated than even the fans with TD's offensive calls last year. TD's spread offense was a passing team's equivalent of DD's run up the middle game plans. The game plans last year stressed not turning over the ball and not beating yourself. A very faulty strategy when you have the worst defense in the nation. Yes, he limited interceptions but ended up with with one of the lowest average yards per catch in the NCAA. Which is an even more amazing statistic when you considered how many games, NT was basically playing against the subs in the third and fourth quarter. I personally preferred TD's go for broke offense of his first year to his kick a field goal no matter what the score approach last year. I also think it time to forget about Vizza, he made a strange decision to quit but it was his to make.

Probable the quickest player I've ever seen at NT was Antony Bridges who was a second team All American who transferred from Louisville to NT for his senior year. The reason I mention him is that I think he was even smaller than Smith and played safety. Unfortunately for NT, he was injured most of the year and didn't even make the All Southland Conference team. NT seems to be loaded at cornerback were three year starter Bush if running at second team. Also according to TD's interview he is most impressed with Santiago and Gill on the offensive line and they both play tackles, so the best chance for other offensive linemen to start is probably at guard. Also as I have posted before, I think Franklin's future is much brighter in the offensive line. I hope they redshirt him this year, because this line is very deep. I like NT putting out the depth chart, sure it will change but it keep interest in the program. I have to comment the athletic staff for making a much better attempt then in the past of trying to keep interest in the football program during the summer.

I basically agree with GrayEagle, Riley has the potential to be a much better QB than any NT has had since the move back up to FB diviison. However, QB is a scary position for NT not only because they are starting a freshman but they have little depth. As someone has seen a lot of spring games, I have come up with only one conclusion; you can tell practically nothing about the team by watching them. Under Dodge it is even worse, because he seems to be paranoid about divulging anything about the team. The team will go as Riley goes and I think the odds are that he will have a great freshman year versus be a disappointment. I am concerned that he has no proven targets on the team and the development of the receiving corp could slow down any offensive progress. TD just stated in the chat, that Riley was up to 195 lbs which a good weight no matter what his height really is. If you have to start a freshmen QB, NT has as good an one has anybody. I think Riley will do an excellence job of leading TD's offense. However, the question is; can that offense succeed against good FB Division teams.

Son of Worm, I think. Unofficial label for new eagle logo.

The annual game with ASU can be called the Grenade Bowl and have an appropriate trophy.

I really hope that the Belt does not mess up and lose their best asset, the New Orleans Bowl. There is not a better location in college football to play a bowl game. Maybe the key is to allow the NO bowl to have the option of getting the first place team or another that is more suited geographically. I really doubt there are many teams that would prefer to go to another low level bowl rather than to New Orleans.

Sun Belt tennis is almost entirely made up of foreign players. NT was the only team that used predominately American players until the coaching change. That change has allowed NT to move up quickly from being the doormat of the conference. It is obvious that limiting foreign players would hurt the other Belt teams just as much as NT, in fact probably a little more as NT still more USA players than most if not all the Belt. As the rules are now, NT would be stupid not to follow the trend of recruiting mostly foreign players. However, I would be all far a rule that would limit foreign players in all sports. I do believe that having a few international athletics is a good thing, but in some sports specifically long distance running and tennis it has got competely out of control. One of the reasons that WKU and MTSU dominate the all sports competition is that they liberally use foreigners in several sports.

It seems to me if you are writing a blog on a player like the one on Gilmore, you could at least state his current weight, it seems very pertinent in the context of the article. TD recently stated he was 6'6 270. Not that Dodge doesn't frequently overstate size of his players at least compared to what are supposedly accurate measurements used on the roster. If Gilmore is truly over 270 he should be able to be very effective at defensive tackle and may have lost some of the quickness that made him a good defensive end. With the predominance of the spread offensives, most teams are going to quicker defensive lineups. While Akpunka is at the low end of the weight scale, lots of teams now have linebacker sized defensive linemen on the outside. Putting Gilmore at dt follows that trend, and as I've wondered on previous posts, what is the future of all those 300 lb. plus linemen NT recruited last year. Cantly remains apparently the exception to the rule, it seems if he is quick enough to play de, he would be even more suited for dt if he has adequate strenght to play the position. It appears that most of the defensive lettermen returning havn't impressed the coaches enough to figure into the line rotations. That could change but it appears that only Ross and Gilmore really are being considered as possible starters at this point. It looks like Ross and Gilmore at dts with Cantly and Akpunka at de's with the possibilities of jucos Atkisson, Jackson and Weber being in the rotation. I also wouldn't count out freshman Tyler Washington at de.

In reaction to the predominance of spread offenses, defenses have been altered to counter the passing game. This concept of Nelson of preferring quickness to size is nothing new and in fact the norm. Many teams are starting linebacker sized defensive ends to add quickness and improve the pass rush. Akpunka at about 6' 1 220 is at the small end of the scale but not all that unique in present day college football. Moving Cantly to defensive end seems to be going counter to the trend, if he is quick enough to play de; he should be even better at defensive tackle, if he has the strenght to play the position. Gilmore's good play was a lot more evident last year when he played on the end. However, his play at dt might have been just as solid but not as noticable. At 6'5 or 6'6 and 270 lb plus he should have the size to play either position. It will probably come down to which position is most in need of a solid player. I would prefer Gilmore at DE and Cantly at DT but it will depend on the playing ability of the new jucos and the progression of Ross. If Ross, Desoto, Jackson or Atkisson show enough at tackle then Gilmore will probably play at DE. Likewise if Weber is the real deal or another de such as Sykes, O-Hemeng, or Cole progress, than Cantly might be moved back to DT.

Loriane dos Santos Favoretto from Brazil via Laredo CC is apparently a new recruit to the Mean Green tennis program. She is currently listed on the roster on the official athletic site. Based on quick google, She was one of the top junior college players last year and was part of the doubles juco championship team.

The limit is 13 scholarships for men's basketball and 15 for women. The above list does not include the last signee Alzee Williams.

Yes, NT can really afford to subsidize high school games. Being critical is great, but do you really think NT who has to bring in portable generations just to run the lights, can rent out Fouts for $500. I am confident that NT would love to have more high school games but they can't lose thousands of dollars a game to do so.

I think you have a good point. The sad thing about Jamario is that if his career had been in reverse, the leading rusher in the nation his senior year instead of as a freshman; he would have gotten a lot more accolades. I have no doubt he would have been hailed as the best back ever in the Belt and at NT if in his senior year he had rushed for over 180 yards a game even if he had the same career statistics. Finroy was a good hardworking back but he was never close to the magic of Thomas's freshman year. If it was not for Thomas's four carries against UT and an injury in the Baylor game, he would have averaged well over 200 yards a game.

Very interesting article. Diverting from the main theme of the piece, one thing that really struck me is the following quote: "Fulks said there are only three major items that would really affect the budget: salaries (33 percent), grants and aid (17 percent), and facility maintenance (10 percent). But, because tuition is set by the school, most athletic departments can't alter grants-in-aid, and many are unwilling to cut coaching salaries or even agree to a uniform NCAA cap on coaching salaries. Schools with smaller athletic budgets generally spend a higher percentage of their money on salaries than the schools with large budgets." I think coaching salaries are approaching obscene at many of the football powers. Eventually, I think this could lead to a complete restructuring of the college game. If any player group ever takes the current system to court to obtain pay for college players, I think it is going to be very difficult for the NCAA to defend situations were the players get a college education versus college head coaches making $4m a year. Does it seem equitable as stated above that coaches and staff salaries are paid almost twice the value of the entire teams' scholarships? I may be wrong but aren't the players the ones who are taking the risk and account for most of the success of the team. Ultimately, this could lead to the division of college football into the teams that can afford to pay players and those that cannot above a scholarship. Coaches mega-salaries are defended in this article by noting that at larger schools, salaries make a smaller percentage of the budget than at the have-nots. Typical logic to support the status quo and insure that competition remains as unfair as possible between the top and bottom tiers.

It is all opinion, but in my view, not only did Booger play 4 years to Ware's one; but he was a more dominating player than Ware was in at least three of his four years. I don't think everyone realize how great a defensive lineman has to be named a conference player of the year not once but twice. This honor is all most exclusively given to quarterback and running backs. There is no doubt Ware is a great pro player and had a great year in the Belt, but Kennedy was a better college player. Again, I think the staff that supposedly voted on this team, either forgot about Kennedy or has very questionable judgment. Picking Johnson above a two time player of the year that anchored a team that won the championship every year he played makes no sense.

Yes, they corrected part of their obvious error. I believe Kennedy should definitely be defensive player of the decade, I guess they can't amend that. Sorry, but a player being all conference for three years and defensive player of the year once does not compare with Kennedy's four time all conference and twice POY year accolades. I think it is obvious they completely overlooked the best defensive player the league has ever had. Really sorry research on their part.

With the talent he is bringing in, it may not make any difference. I think all of you that expect Thomas to fall flat on his face, maybe in for a nasty surprise.

I won't really believe improvement till I've seen it. I way overestimated TD and his teams the first two years. However, there are many reasons for hope. It starts with Dodge, he is definitely on the hot seat. I have never seen a coach so ill prepared to be a FB division coach, but he must get a lot better to remain. Hopefully, with his job definitely on the line he can really step it up. Some of the structural things he has done by adding more experience to the staff can't do anything but help. The running game as noted should be much improved with a bevy of good to very good running backs and an offensive line returning 8 players who have started at least one year. Add to that line, Jenkins who was a four star rated lineman and Bean who obvious must be good are they wouldn't have added him to this mix of offensive linemen and the competition should be great. The concern on the offensive side is oddly the passing game with no experienced receivers and a rookie QB. I think the fate of this team is going to rest with how good Riley really is. If you have to depend on a freshman QB, Riley's potential is as good as any NT has had. On the defensive side, the line is the major concern with only Gilmore a proven first line player. With Nelson as the new defensive line coach, who preaches speed vs size; I just wonder how NT's bunch of 300 lb recruits are going to do. The facts are the coaching staff is obviously concerned with the ability of the returning lettermen and the newcomers are unproven. Cantly, Franklin, and Akpunka may turn into players, but to believe they are going to turn the defensive line around is IMO premature. Atkinson, Jackson, Weber, and White all bring size to the line but are they quick enough to play in Nelson's defense. I would not be surprised to see smaller players like Stewart, Brown, and Washington getting more time. I believe the rest of the defense is going to be much better. Linebacker is weak in numbers, but with all three starters returning plus converted safety Hill, veteran Warren and maybe something special Phillips; the linebacker squad should be one of the best in the Belt. The defensive secondary is very deep and hopefully good. The corner back position were NT was definitely abused last year should be very strong with a three year starter returning in Bush who may not even be in the starting lineup. With Bush, Adams, Hill, Smith and Chatman; NT should have a great rotation. Safety is not as strong but returning Shorter and Williams plus Cook who at 6'2 210 grew into a safety should be at least adequate. The schedule this year is the easiest on paper for NT since returning from 1aa. TD has definitely improved the talent level of both the coaching staff and the players. Again, Riley is the key if he can be at least as good as Vizza in his first year and Dodge can coach well, this team could really surprise.

www.meangreensports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1800&ATCLID=3756795 Talley wins 200m in Junior championships.

The logic I don't understand is in this quote: "Using simple logic you cannot sign 25 per year every year. In 2008 33 teams all signed over the 25 limit. 2009 was just as bad'." Sure you can sign 25 a year because players leave programs. You can sign a maximum of 25 in any year as long as it does not cause the total number of scholarships to go over the squad limit of 85. I guess I did not express myself well, so I will try again. Most teams over sign a few players based on their projections of having scholarships opening up. I don't think many have a problem with that, however many do have a problem with teams that sign a large number of players with borderline academic skills hoping that a percentage of those athletes will ultimately qualify. The NCAA clearing house requirements for college admissions are ridiculously low, having a third to half of a recruiting class having problems with those standards IMO indicates issues with either a college's academics and/or priorities. Sure there are athletes that have low test scores and go on to graduate and be successes, but the odds of this occurring are not encouraging. The most likely result, is that these students fail or are placed into degree plans to keep them qualified that fail to provide them with any significant college level marketable skills. I don't have to have heartburn to disagree with a point of view. I am not sure what NT's graduation rates have to do with the issues being discussed; but if you want to elaborate on the topic, go ahead.