ghost of smith hall

No offers for Miles Davis? I'm sure that makes him...Kind of Blue.

I have to agree. I certainly hope he proves me wrong but I am very skeptical of hiring a recruiting coordinator with seemingly zero ties to Texas high school football. The coaches in this state are a great group of guys, but they tend to stick together. Out of state and in-state P5 universities are hiring Texas high school coaches like crazy for that very reason. I really hope this works out.

I just wanted to weigh in on the upcoming series with Liberty University. It seems there is a ton of hate for LU on the board and that's fine, I just want to share my personal experience. My wife is earning her Masters online from Liberty, and when I say earning it, I mean it. The classes are tough, demanding, and real, they don't just let you swear on a stack of Bibles and hand you a diploma. Because of her degree program, we have had to travel to Lynchburg three times in the past three years. Each time we have been there the campus has improved and looks better and better. They're football stadium might not be quite as nice as Apogee, but it is close. they have a brand new, multi-million dollar indoor practice facility going in right next door. All of their athletic facilities are actually pretty top notch. There is a real commitment to athletics that you can see (right or wrong). The town of Lynchburg is small, but beautiful. Lots of cool things to do in the area, I have taken my kids to Appomattox, Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest, and the National D-Day Memorial among other things. The town itself is not opposed to partying, lots of places to eat, drink and be merry. Not everyone that attends Liberty is a right-wing extremist, fundamentalist, conservative white Christian, With the exception of her Christianity, my wife is none of those things. We certainly do not share many of the views credited to the University but so what? I don't think I would agree with everything BYU stands for, or even Notre Dame, but it's about football, isn't it? Look, you could hate everything about Liberty and I would not blame you, but don't judge every student, or student athlete for that matter, based on the philosophy of the school. Those young men absolutely do NOT deserve to be booed or protested when they come to Denton and I would be ashamed of anyone that did that. Also, if you go to the game in Lynchburg, I think you will have a great time and get treated with great respect. That is all.

What I find incredibly ironic is the constant complaining that UNT will not buy out a bad contract like the "big time" programs do, but when we do buy a contract out, at what amounts to chump change in a "big time" athletic program, you complain about that too. Whiners gonna whine.

This was not a direct shot at you. It was in response to the number of threads I have read over the last couple of days stating that we need to hire UNT people to be in UNT jobs. Sorry you felt you were being singled out. My point is that if we are going to go big, as everyone on this board seems to think we can and must do, then it benefits us to look for the very best we can get, no matter that person's current or former affiliations.

So the only people UNT should hire are people that went to UNT? I love my university but that seriously limits your talent pool. Also, I believe that grown ups, you know, people out in the real working world, are professional enough to put their loyalties where there paychecks come from. I doubt very seriously that anyone who graduates from University "A" but goes to work for University "B" spends their time thinking of ways to undermine "B" for the sake of "A". One other thing. I know changes are coming in the AD...they need to. But I like how Vito kept the names out of it. These people are not politicians, or rock stars, or any kind of celebrity...they are working people with families whose lives will be dramatically effected by what happens over the next few weeks. They have done great work for UNT and they don't always get a lot of support or a lot of pay to do it. Give them some respect by not putting out these blanket statements like "clean house" and then posting peoples names to go along with it. Not cool.

Just wanted to post this...North Texas Alum and former Assistant Tim Duryea named as head coach at Utah State after serving under Stew Morrill for many, many years. Tim is a good guy, excellent coach, did some nice things with the staff when he was with us and has earned this chance with the Aggies. http://www.sltrib.com/sports/2344889-155/utah-state-assistant-duryea-will-replace

Yes Greenminer that is what I meant. Sorry if that was lost in translation. Cooley you do have class! I love your lists too..brought back a lot of memories of names I had not thought of in forever.

Also from the Factbook: All-time letterwinners  J Eric Jackson ‘92, ‘93, ‘94 Jonathan Jackson ‘07 Sammy Jackson ‘57 Eugene Jemison ‘87 Alonzo Johns ‘34 Bob Johnson ‘73 Charles Johnson ‘49, ‘50, ‘51, ‘52 Dominique Johnson ‘09, ‘10, ‘11 James Johnson ‘46, ‘48, ‘49 Johnny Johnson ‘48, ‘49 Luke Johnson ‘17 Royce Johnson ‘93 Shawnson Johnson, ‘04 Walter Johnson ‘76 ‘77 Wayne Johnson ‘82 ‘83 ‘84 Albert Jones ‘64 ‘65 ‘66 Carl Jones ‘74 ‘75 ‘76 Dello Jones ‘35 ‘36 Deral Jones ‘26 ‘27 Mack Jones ‘96 Michael Jones, ‘04, ‘05 Tony Jones ‘95 ‘96

From the official UNT Basketball Fact Book...look who had 10 assists against SFA on January 21, 1993...maybe that is the only game he ever played for UNT, I don't remember, but I remember that game because I WAS FREAKING THERE! Thanks for your input, I appreciate the debate. Assists (1 Game) 19 ......Pat Hicks vs. Loyola Marymount, 12/22/81 16 .... Pat Hicks vs. Pan American, 2/27/82 15 .... Weasel Johnson vs. TCU, 12/11/76 13 .... Terence White vs. A&M-CC, 12/2/00 12 ...... Deon Alexander vs. Southwestern (KS), 2/25/87 12 .... Charles Kearney vs. NW (La.) St., 2/8/93 12 .... Calvin Williams vs. Nevada, 1/30/99 11 .... Ricky Roberson vs. NE Louisiana, 3/10/88 11 .... Tom Etchison vs. NE Louisiana, 3/5/94 11 .... Calvin Williams vs. Utah St., 1/28/99 11 .... Calvin Williams vs. Wyoming, 1/8/00 10 .... Pat Hicks vs. Southern Miss., 1/24/81 10 .... Pat Nash vs. South Alabama, 12/17/91 10 .... Royce Johnson vs. SFA, 1/21/93 10 .... Jesse Ratliff vs. Sam Houston St., 2/18/93 10 .... Tom Etchison vs. NW (La.) St., 2/17/94 10 .... Calvin Williams vs. Pacifi c, 1/20/00 10 .... Terence White vs. Texas A&M, 11/20/00

Wasn't trying to jump to conclusions so much as speak to perception. We want to brand Snoop and his family a bunch of cheaters, and maybe they are, but he played here, thought maybe he had earned at least a little benefit of the doubt. NOT saying because he played here that we produce cheaters and somehow we are responsible...no more than Larry Brown is responsible for new cars and money for Eric Dickerson and the SMU football teams of the early 80's. I know I am way in the minority here but I love what SMU is doing on the basketball court..I hope it is clean and I hope it continues...makes everyone else step up their game including us. Could not find a media guide online but here is some proof that Snoop played for us from an old Brett Vito story in the DRC: Basketball: UNT lands Arizona St. transfer May 25, 2007 Denton Record-Chronicle By Brett Vito / Staff Writer A little more than a year ago, North Texas head coach Johnny Jones was sitting in the stands for a showdown between two of the top teams in the Dallas area when George Odufuwa showed why he was considered one of the top players in the state. The 6-8 power forward from Dallas Kimball dominated inside and out while scoring 41 points and pulling down 17 rebounds against perennial state power Dallas Carter. The moment came to Jones' mind on Thursday when the former Class 4A first-team all-state selection transferred to UNT after one season at Arizona State. Jones said Odufuwa would fit perfectly into UNT's system because he is a versatile player. The assessment is one Royce Johnson, a former UNT player who coached Odufuwa at Kimball, agreed with. "George will be an excellent fit for North Texas with their style of play and who they have coming back when he will be eligible," Johnson said. "He will have a chance to play closer to home and sitting out a year will give him a chance to heal." Thanks for you input..I appreciate the debate.

I just did not like the idea using one of our former players as an example of the kind of cheater that SMU needs because they cheat. If we are the program that produced the cheater, how are we any better than the program hiring the cheater? A friend of mine is fond of saying "If they are winning they are cheating, and if they are losing, they are not cheating very well" So what does that say...that SMU is cheating well at basketball but not at football? That we are cheating well at football but not as well at basketball? I am not accusing anybody of anything...just rambling, where is Joey Greco when you need him?

Let's remember he played for UNT. One of ours...not theirs...does not make sense to take a cheap shot at SMU if you disparage us in the process. BTW I remember his first game at the Super Pit...was here to play football but suited up and got ten assists.

As much as anyone I wish that we could keep Denton kids in Denton. I do think, however, that it is completely understandable for a young man heading to college to want to spread his wings and leave the family nest. The subject made me curious to see how other schools in Texas fared at recruiting players in thier own backyard. Looking at the rosters of various schools this is what I found. Note: I did not include any suburbs in my search, only players from the actual town where the university is located with the exception of A&M which had one kid from College Station and one from Bryan. UNT: 2 players from Denton A&M: 2 players from Bryan/College Station Texas Tech: 2 players from Lubbock TCU 2 players from Fort Worth (including Devante Fields who actually played at Arlington Martin) UT: 3 players from Austin Baylor: 7 players from Waco SMU: 7 players from Dallas UTSA: 15 players from San Antonio Houston: 19 players from Houston Not sure what this tells us...too me it seems to say that keeping hometown kids at home is not an easy task unless you are Houston...but comparing populations 2 Denton kids going to UNT and 19 Houston kids going to Houston is about the same thing. Would love to know what ya'll think.

We were his FIRST offer. Big difference. I am sure that other schools would have and probably still will come calling. He was not getting heavily recruited right now because his size is a concern for the position he is playing. If he were to get seriously injured playing QB for DeSoto then schools don't want to have to honor an offer they could use somewhere else...as it has been said on this board there is a little risk involved with Desmon but the potential rewards far outweigh that in my opinion.

As much as we love to talk about QB recruits and obsess about skill positions, the quickest path to improvement for this team will be in the upgrading of the OL and DL...when those guys are doing their jobs, everyone else's job is easier and they look better. Great to see some excellent line prospects showing interest in the Mean Green.

I understand there will be a trophy but the question is: WHERE'S WRIGHT WATERS!!!!

Any relation to Murray Head of "One Night in Bangkok" fame? He gets his kicks above the waistline sunshine!

I remember Patrick Cobbs playing in this game...used to get a lot more firepower than it does these days what with all the Under-Armorin' and US Armyin' going on...I think the same game Cobbs played for Oklahoma, Johnny Jolly (A&M, Green Bay Packers) played for the defense.

I have mentioned before that I would like to see UNT become a destination for up and coming coaches and not a stop on the recycled coach carousel. That said I have to admit I was excited about possibility of Fran...If Fran is out and Benford is in...I am fine with it. Benford gives us pretty much everything we were wanting: 1) Success at Big-time college basketball programs 2) Texas ties 3) A hot name to draw interest from fans, future players. May not have the "head coaching" experience but neither did JJ..and neither did Bill Self, Tubby Smith, Steve Robinson, etc. who were so successful at Tulsa (earlier post). Welcome aboard Coach Benford, looking forward to seeing you in action.

I heard Karen Aston was taking the job...says she thought that was the "UT" she was going to in the first place.

Like this post...great players make great coaches...and great coaches make good players better...if you have great players and I think we do..then it makes sense to give the guy who got those players to UNT a shot..but I can't deny that it is a gamble. Now I am curious about something else. Word is that the woeful SMU coaching search has Normal, Illinois on its radar. What does the Mean Green nation think of Tim Jankovich now...good memories, bad memories? Not saying we should bring him back, but I am curious how people feel about him these days.

I know loyalty to the program is very important for many on this board. I can appreciate the coach that wants to make his "forever home" at UNT but I would like to offer up a different perspective. I have always wondered how great it would be if UNT could emulate the success that the Tulsa Golden Hurricane enjoyed for a twenty year period between 1982 and 2003: NCAA Tournament: Appearances: 13 2nd Rd: 82, 84, 97, 99, 2002, 2003 Sweet Sixteen: 94, 95, Elite Eight: 2000 Not to mention the NIT Championship in 2001 Would we take that? Now take a look at who coached them during this two decade run: Nolan Richardson (1980–1985) J. D. Barnett (1985–1991) Tubby Smith (1991–1995) Steve Robinson (1995–1997) Bill Self (1997–2000) Buzz Peterson (2000–2001) John Phillips (2001–2004) Two things stand out...whoever their AD was during this time was a freaking genius...and none of these very familiar names stayed very long...Nolan Richardson made people realize that you could win at Tulsa...then it was a matter of smart hire after smart hire to establish the Golden Hurricane as a destination for up and coming coaches. IMO there is nothing wrong with that. Now that our women's coach has taken her dream job, and our men's coach could potentially do the same, the time is now to establish UNT as a destination for the nations brightest up and coming coaches. I don't know for sure but I believe RV is up to that task.

Saw him play a few times this year. Has the competitive fire of his parents but is a long term project at best. He shot up to 6-8 between his jr. and sr. seasons and has not become totally comfortable with his body yet...needs to work on strength and mid-range jumper because he will not be able to muscle anybody at the next level. I don't personally think he fits into the program but I am not a scout either.

Cedric Benson (Midland Lee) was absolutely the most dominating high school running back that I had ever seen. He was just on another level from everyone else. He stayed alone at the top until Johnathan Gray (Aledo) came along. Gray is the only back I have seen that compares. I don't think I could put one above the other. It was a pleasure to watch both of them, looking forward to seeing what Gray does at UT.