UNT Mean Green

This is all great discussion, but there are A LOT more factors that play into the conference re-alignment than performance of the football program. Geography, media market, academics, media contract(s), facilities, fine arts, athletic program financials, etc. all go into the equation among other factors. Colorado and Utah to the Pac 10. Okay, so that leaves 1 opening in the Big XII north and 1 opening in the MWC. I'll say Arkansas to the Big XII North and Nevada and/or Boise State to the MWC. I don't see any other schools in the region of the country being a draw to the Big XII other than Arkansas (who's somewhat of an 'outsider' in the SEC because of geography). So there's still an opening in the SEC West. Florida has so much power and say-so that Fla State won't get in. I could see a Clemson getting in and re-drawing the west and east divisions.

There are several NT alums who run successful businesses in the metroplex and this region of the country. We need to get them all involved and on board with the university for sure.

Double the size of the current one? Not bad! They should move the current video board into the basketball arena.

It would be interesting to find out who people think should be the QB coming out of spring practice and why. I'll personally say #7 Derek Thompson because he has a great amount of ability, can make all of the throws, does a good job of buying time in and out of the pocket, and I look at things long term (meaning that we need a 3 year starter at QB if him and Tune are even in the coaches eyes). Yesterday Thompson did a better job of sustaining drives and eating up yards in segments, rather than just going for the homerun. He also, seemed to make less risky throws (ie late over the middle of the field) than Tune. I'll take Thompson, and say that we'll score 32 points/game this fall with him leading the charge.

This kid looks like he should make the squad coming out of spring camp. He's a large body, with long arms whos effective in pass pro, as well as having a bit of a nasty streak in him while run blocking. He definitely has good feet for a man his size.

Absolutely! Well put. Although Canales has said that Thompson is 'straight-line speed' as fast or faster than Grothe, who was a record setting QB at USF.

Didn't see any. However, I will say this offense seems to be much more effecient in short yardage situations and in the red zone. The 'under center' stuff is way over-done on this board. If you were out there yesterday, you saw that in short yardage there'd be at least 1 TE and mostly 2 TE's, a FB who went in motion, a RB who started 2 yards behind the QB (not pistol, but close) and they ran the simple "iso" or "lead" play off guard or tackle which worked well. It's not a lot different than being under center in an I formation. It is certainly different than Todd Ford's version of the 'short yardage' offense, and seems to be a lot more effecient.

I've heard somewhere in the neigborhood of 40' by 30' for the video board at the new place. Also, you see Alabama listed down there near the bottom. With their new endzone addition to open this fall, they will have 4 scoreboards that size (one in each corner of the endzones).

Couldn't agree more on this topic. Mosley, Austin Fitzpatrick, and Jeremi Mathis can make a huge difference in the passing game and running game. Losing the threat of #11 running the ball (Thompson will run, but isn't a homerun threat) magnifies the need for someone to pick up that slack in the offense. It's the old adage that "you can't cover all of them", and if Canales will utilize these hybrid type of athletes it really opens up a lot of opportunities for big plays and eating up chunks of yardage at a time. Don't forget about Jamize Olawale the TE recruit from California as well as Chris Bynes the WR recruit from Kansas who will be here in the fall. Olawale is a 240 lbs H-Back type that runs a 4.5 40yd and averaged 25 YPC last season. He's one of the most exciting recruits in the 2010 signing class to me. If used correctly he can be a huge matchup nightmare. Bynes is a WR recruit who weighed in a 220 lbs on his visit that can also run (shown in his role as an outside WR at Coffeyville JC) and create matchup problems. The college player from this past season that always comes to mind who was visible to the entire country on a regular basis was Aaron Hernandez the "TE" from Florida. He was arguably the most valuable player in the Florida offense not named Tebow and was a 1st team All-American.

These pictures get me very excited. This is an awesome project and time for North Texas.

I like it. Sure would have hated to face him as a high school coach.

So Baine throws as well as Thompson and Tune by your observations?

What time is the scrimmage at Fouts today? I heard 4:30, is that accurate?

Higher Ups

Matt Grothe set all kinds of records at USF and Big East records as well, and he wasn't the fleetest of foot (words straight from Canales' mouth). If Thompson can execute the Zone Read, we'll be fine. Just to keep LB's and DE's honest, all you gotta do. Texas did it with Colt who ran a 4.7 (though I don't like Greg Davis' offense)...just saying. Thompson has a sound delivery and can make all the throws which will open up the field more for #5. The problem the last few years was that the box would get crowded without the threat of a downfield passing game and that would make it tough to get the necessary yards in the running game. If you look at #5's long runs last year, several came on passing downs when teams had nickel and dime packages in the game. In turn, if this offense can spread the field vertically and horizontally, it will open up things for #5, which is who we all want to have the ball.

That threshold of 7 wont change. The higher ups in the Athletic Department have faith in Derek Thompson and expect nothing less regardless of who's playing QB. Ultimately it all steers back to the head coach, and if he hasn't done a good job of recruiting and developing QB's to win 7 games, then that's definitely a strike in the book.

....and Elizabeth too. Regardless if people approved or did not with Todd's performance on the field, it had to be even tougher when fans were criticizing your son as well who played the most pressure-packed position on the field, and the position that gets the most criticism for sure. Like it or not, that's the nature of the beast, and now Todd can relax and be the CEO of the program. Elizabeth can surely take a deep breath. And Riley can use his 4.4 speed and football savvy at WR and become a nice weapon in the UNT arsenal.

Good find! So Frank Gaines and Mike Miller were All-Region. Fantastic!

There's another #87 that's a walk on going through spring ball. Of the walk on WR's, #81 who's about 5'8" 180 and #83 who's about 6'3" 205 seem to stand out and make plays. Also #16 is a walk on/transfer from La Tech and is a good looking kid. Just appears to be getting familar with the offense. Of the walk on's, Davis (83) is definitely making plays and separating from the pack of walk ons. Speaking of separating, when Stradford (14) lines up in 1 on 1 drills and goes straight down the field on a vertical route, there's about a 3 yard gap between him and the DB once the ball is thrown. Very impressive speed for sure. Also, Willie Taylor seems to be having a nice camp thus far, always making plays. Then there's Bennie Jones (18). He can really move and plays the game the right way. Of the practice's I've been to, he stands out for sure. Don't know why Todd Ford didn't like him, but it appears that Canales does. It's not like there's a plethora of athletes who can move like that roaming the sidelines on this team, and I believe Mike knows that, and will utilize him if he performs in practice.

Has there been a practice schedule posted or anything?

The Super Pit is a nice building no question about it. I do think it needs a facelift for sure. For one, it's very cavernous for a Sun Belt school. Even 5,000 fans in there makes it look sparse. I would reduce the seating and make the seats more spacious and comfortable. Secondly, I'd put in updated 'stat boards' with video on both walls where the 'scoreboards' are now. Third, I'd put in a large center scoreboard with video. And finally I'd put in some sort of luxury suites/club level/loge level set up. There's too much wasted space at the top of that arena (really above the concourse).

ESPN NCAA FB Blog As we told you last week, coach David Bailiff can't be feeling too secure about his job with a new, trigger-happy athletic director in place. But Bailiff may finally have the pieces -- at least on offense -- to get the Owls over .500. Rice's top two rushers -- sophomore Charles Ross and junior Tyler Smith -- return. Add to them heralded Michigan transfer Sam McGuffie, a sophomore who ripped off two TD runs in Tuesday's intrasquad scrimmage, including a 50-yarder, and redshirt freshman Turner Petersen, whose physical style belies a guy who came to Rice as a WR, and the Owls suddenly have the depth to run the ball all day. Moreover, at QB, junior returning starter Nick Fanuzzi is expected to have his hands full fighting off challenges from the two Taylors (and we don't mean Lautner and Swift): sophomore Miami transfer Taylor Cook, a Ryan Mallett clone at 6-foot-7, and redshirt freshman Taylor McHargue, who is considered the best athlete among the three. The college football world is littered with transfers who never lived up to their hype, but if Rice's pair can deliver, the Owls could make a move in Conference USA.

Was over there today also. Quite impressive the scope of that construction project that has taken place in just the past 3 months. It's certainly a large amount of work, and it's hard to appreciate until you get up close.

Congratulations to Coach Hubbard and the Mean Green softball team on beating the Whorns at Lovelace Stadium!

Nice article. Coach Hines sounds excited.