DeepGreen
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GoMeanGreen.com
Posts posted by DeepGreen
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Updated Jan 26, 2007 10:35:42
Dooley Completes Staff with Hiring of Russell
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley completed his coaching staff with the hiring of Eric Russell as the Bulldogs special teams coordinator and tight ends coach.
Russell’s hiring is pending approval of the Louisiana Tech Athletic Council and the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.
The 39-year-old comes to Louisiana Tech after serving the past 13 years on the staff at North Texas where he served as the special team’s coordinator for the past five years.
“Eric comes highly recommended and has a history of producing aggressive and game-changing special teams play,” Dooley said. “He has developed strong recruiting ties in the state of Texas and is a perfect fit for our university.”
During his tenure at North Texas, Russell helped lead the program to four straight Sun Belt Conference titles and four consecutive appearances in the New Orleans Bowl from 2001 through 2004.
His Mean Green special teams units were annually ranked among the best in the Sun Belt Conference in punt returns, kickoff coverage and field goal percentage. North Texas ranked No. 1 in the Sun Belt in net punting in 2002 and 2003 and No. 1 in kick returns in 2002.
The Mean Green ranked No. 1 in the country in punt return defense and No. 3 in kick return defense in 2003, and No. 5 in kick return defense in 2005.
During his time as special team’s coordinator, North Texas blocked 14 punts, including seven during the 2003 season.
Russell helped develop two of the top kickers in the programs history in Jason Ball, who set the school record for consecutive field goals made, and Nick Bazaldua, who became the school’s all-time scoring leader.
In addition to his special team’s duties, Russell served as the defensive tackles coach from 1994 through 2000 before taking over the North Texas defensive ends starting in 2001 and outside linebackers in 2006.
Russell coached 15 all-conference selections during his time at North Texas, including Adrian Awasom, who developed into a Lombardi and Hendricks Award candidate and who finished his career as the Sun Belt Conference’s all-time sack leader.
“I am very excited to be joining Coach Dooley and the Louisiana Tech family,” Russell said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for me and my family. Derek’s vision and direction for this program makes it an exciting time to be a part of Louisiana Tech football.”
Prior to joining the North Texas staff in 1994, Russell served as a graduate assistant at New Mexico in 1993 and at Idaho in 1991.
An all-state quarterback at St. Marie’s High School, Russell was named the Idaho Offensive Player of the Year as a senior before earning all-conference honors at Spokane (WA) Falls Community College in 1986-87.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations from Idaho in 1991.
Russell is married to the former Shannon Cook of Tyler, Texas, and the couple has a six-month old son named Hayden.
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What should really be interesting is the number of fans that attend the scrimmages and the spring game this year. I look for a marked increase.
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Thanks for destroying my world.
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Does having a quarterback with an Italian name better my chances at Giada De Laurentiis?
If so, I may have to give my soul to Todd Dodge.
Fugitaboutit! She is way out of your class and only longs for TRUE SICILIANS. Like me!
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Viva La Vizza! Oh, wait, that's not right. Get back with you later.
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We are in no place to criticize another school's stadium.
I started to respond in the same way you did.
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I wish him well. Can't fault a young man for attending one of the academy's. A very select few get the opportunity.
Being a Veteran, I tip my hat to any young man that attends one of the Academy's.
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Does he have a technical background?
More important, does he have Mean Green season tickets?
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Other items of interest from Dodge -
-Will sign 20 players - 11 offensive, 9 defensive
-Will sign one QB in this class
West commented that he knows of at least one player from SE Texas that will sign with NT. Not sure if that is any of the Lufkin players, or the RB from Nederland. Also, talking about the four QB's we already have, he will "coach the the guys up".
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Todd Dodge will be on Bob West's Sportsrap tonight arount 9:05. You can catch the show at www.klvi.com. Should be an interesting show, maybe some recruiting info.
Here's the actual link you need -
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Riley Dodge is going to college.
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Will some one inform the Athletic Department that the Box Score link on MeanGreenSports for the FAU game is actually for the FIU game. Who's minding the store?
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Thanks EPE. With that link I guess everyone can listen to the interview on the internet.
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This is taken from Bob West's Sports Column Sunday Jan. 21, 2007.
"One of the things Todd Dodge will have to contend with at the University of North Texas is the oversheduling schools in the Division 1-A second tier have to do to survive financially. Dodge’s first game as head coach at UNT will be at Oklahoma. The Mean Green also play at Arkansas. Dodge, by the way, will be a guest on my Sportsrap radio show this week as it returns to Monday nights at 8:05 on KLVI (560-AM). "
Not much news here, except that TD will be in the Golden Triangle recruiting. The bad news is that I'll be in Houston Monday and unable to hear West's interview with Dodge on Sportsrap.
Island Eagle or Kingwood Green, can either of you pick up 560AM out of Beaumont? It might be worth a try just to hear what TD has to say. -
A couple of offensive and defensive linemen may have some use, even on a Todd dodge team.
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That reminds me, I received my season ticket renewal packet today. Sent it back today, so now I'm all set for Dodge Ball.
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And by the way--what is "Pubicity"?
EDIT:
Well dang--answered my own question:
pubicity
The visible top of a person's pubic bush when their pants or board shorts are pulled down low (without wearing underwear).
"Mark's pants were so low, he was sporting huge pubicity."
Picky, picky, picky!
The spelling "gastapo? is at it again. -
That stadium (Fouts Field) is still like a boil on our school's butt that needs to be lanced before it pre-explodes and gets all over FFR's television set!
I've never heard it put quite like that Plummer.
That statement could get signature line of the month. Congrats! -
Wow great article and nice find Deep. I know you have to be excited coming from that area and knowing that Dodge will give it proper attention.
Bob West has been the sports editor of the PA News probably since the beginning of time and this is the most he has ever, ever written about North Texas. Including the time his son played for NT. Now if Dodge can just pick up some players from down here. Too many go off to Houston, A$M, UT, and others.
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I can't track Hamilton down for anyone, but I can tell you he was a fine basketball player for NT during the mid 1960's. And yes, North Texas was in the Missouri Valley Conference with Memphis and a host of other top tier teams.
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Dodge pedaling as fast as he can in recruiting race
Bob West column for Wednesday, Jan 17
The Port Arthur News
Todd Dodge is pretty sure the day will come when he’ll have time to kick back and reflect on the truly monumental feat of going 79-1 and winning four 5A state championships in the span of five years at Southlake Carroll. He’s dead sure it won’t be any time soon.
Dodge, in the 25 days since his Dragons came from behind to defeat Austin Westlake for that fourth championship ring, has been playing a furious game of catch-up as the new head coach at the University of North Texas. The earliest he’ll be able to come up for air is Feb. 8 — the day after national signing day.
“I’ve been busy, but it’s a good busy,” he said from somewhere on the road between Waco and Denton. “My AD keeps telling me he can’t believe what we’ve gotten accomplished in such a short time, but all I can see is what still has to be done.”
Atop the list, of course, is signing the 20 players who will form his first Mean Green recruiting class. For someone who spotted the competition about 80 yards in a 100-yard race, the former TJ All-America feels like he’s gained a lot of ground.
One of Dodge’s many recruiting positives is that North Texas’ primary positon of need just happens to be wide receiver. Can anybody who’s been paying attention to his star wars attack at Southlake Carroll imagine a receiver not wanting to be a part of the man’s offense?
“For getting such a late start, we think we’re in on some pretty good ones,” confides the star pupil of Memorial coach Ronnie Thompson. “It would have been nice to get an earlier start, but it is what is. To us, it’s early in recruiting. But for recruits it’s late and a lot of them have already made up their minds.”
To put the mountain Dodge is climbing in perspective, bear in mind that his first day on the job at North Texas was Dec. 26. And, before he could think about recruiting it was necessary to hire a coaching staff, then try to get a handle on the returning players.
The staff, heavy with assistants from Southlake and without any coach at UNT last year, is in place. Player evaluations have been made as best they could under the circumstances. With school having been out for the holidays, Dodge didn’t even get to meet with his players for the first time until Tuesday afternoon.
So how exactly did Todd begin the catch-up process in recruiting? Other schools, after all, boast sophisticated recruiting networks, have long since identified the players they want and are well into the courtship process.
UNT, meanwhile, hadn’t made a contact when the calendar flipped over to 2007.
“A lot of it’s common sense,” Dodge said. “Our starting point was scouting reports from the 16 teams we played at Southlake. Then we started to brainstorm on all the great friends in high school coaching all of us have and could call for recommendations. Those guys have been a tremendous help.”
Dodge admitted that the infomercial of a regionally televised state championship game in late December was quite a boost, as far as getting the attention of potential recruits. Especially since most of those players know Todd and his Dragons have long been the gold standard in Texas schoolboy football.
“No question, that has been a blessing,” he said. “I think the players, the parents and the coaches have seen us up close and personal, know what we do and what we’re about. That gets their attention. Then the biggest thing is selling people on the intangibles of how we did what we did five years in a row.
“Yes, we had good players who were efficient at what they did. But to win that much means a big part of it was the family atmosphere, the relationships and the unselfishness that was part of our program. I think that’s a strong selling point for kids and parents.”
Dodge said his primary recruiting target has to be the talent-laden Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. But he and his staff, relying on high school contacts, will go anywhere in Texas to try and woo players who fit their system. Southeast Texas, an area where good players seem to fly more and more under the recruiting radar, is a place where the new UNT boss expects to do well. The first example of that is likely to be Nederland’s Micah Mosley, a terrific talent who has only gotten a few recruiting nibbles.
“I played down there and I know what a hotbed of talent it was,” he said. “From what I have been told, it’s become one of the most under-recruited parts of the state. I guess it’s not as convenient to go in there as some of the cities.
“All I can tell you for sure is that opens the door for North Texas. We’ll be coming in often. I’m hoping to get down there myself later this month.”
Dodge, meanwhile, said he’s had no second thoughts about leaving his quarterback son Riley behind for his senior season at Southlake Carroll.
“I’ll only be 17 miles away and I expect to see most of his games,” Dodge said. “We were together for three years. How it played out this year, with us winning the state championship and him being the 5A Player of the Year sure helped. There really isn’t a lot more we could do.
“Riley told me he was proud of me and knew the North Texas job was a great opportunity. He thought I should take it. That made the decision a lot easier. That and what the move means to our family financially.”
So the architect of what arguably was the greatest dynasty in the history of Texas high school football moved on to the next challenge. Southlake Carroll’s loss is an incredible gain for what has long been a wannabe Division 1 power from college football’s second tier.
Move over Boise State, you are about to have company.
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that thread is actually HILARIOUS! whats the big deal?
1855, don't you recognize my sarcasm? I thought it was funny too.
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4:45PM. In Beaumont-Port Arthur it's 70 degrees, clear to partly cloudy. Think I'll go check the pool level.
Breaking News-----stadium News------
in Mean Green Football
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Very true. Kinda like the big baseball stadium deal with the Denton collegiate teams new stadium. Haven't heard a word on that since.....forever.