GrayEagle

We do have a few lightweights but they are primarily walkons. We have six that weigh 290 or better and five more in the 280-290 range that may weigh close to 300 by the start of the season since most are at least 6-2. The only one that I'd like to see with added weight is Joel Foster. He's got great technique but is going to be outweighed by nearly every defensive lineman that he faces. We have some good talent here but we need about five or six more near 300 pounders IMO.

Little experience but good talent in this group of three juniors and two freshmen tight end candidates. This is a great group of blockers but not much of a receiving corps. Charley Brown FR 6-4 235 Muskogee OK Jimmy Chaney JR 6-5 260 Inola OK Beau Davidson JR 6-4 230 Katy Eddrick Gilmore FR 6-5 250 Alief Robert Harmon JR 6-4 265 Houston Starter: Harmon Backup: Davidson Both of the freshmen were highly touted. Brown was all-area (Tulsa/eastern Oklahoma) and honorable mention all-state. With 19 catches last year, he may be our best all-around candidate. Gilmore had 6 catches but is a devastating blocker. He came into his own last year and was on Top 100 lists. He could be a future star as well. He could also be shifted to defensive end where we may have a greater future need. Two of the three juniors are transfers. Davidson transferred from Syracuse, sat out 2003, and played last year. He was injured and only appeared in eight games. He had 29 receiving yards, our only tight end with yardage in Division 1-A games. Chaney transferred from NEO after finishing there and this will be his first year in a Mean Green uniform. Harmon is the best blocker of the group and will likely start for that reason. However, I have seen him catch the ball in practices and he has pretty decent hands. I would rate this group a 6. They appear to be a solid group that only needs experience.

From what I was told, about 2-3 weeks before the first game.

Bull s===! You're right, this is not the forum for your liberal crap but one thing really caught my eye. Only the wealthiest 10% own property? Apparently, that means that you don't own property. I can tell you that I do and I am FAR from the wealthiest 10%. I am 73 and live on a meager retirement income, far less than a professor makes. In fact, my wife is a retired teacher and her pension is larger than mine. Now, I don't believe in whatever the legislature is trying (and not very hard) to do. The system does need revising but taking large amounts from business, thereby either raising costs or causing job losses is not the answer. For now, I think that they should only find additional revenue and urge school districts to cut expenses. I also think that colleges SHOULD have a say in how much tuition and fees will be charged, leaving oversight to the legislature. As to your trivia question, how do you think that we got the increased revenue that led to the surplus during that period? Answer: from the largest tax cut in history, which stimulated the economy. Neither party has ever cut expenses. I usually steer clear of political discussion, especially on this board, but since you brought it up you deserve a reply. I have been both a Democrat and a Republican; now I am neither. Our system is not perfect and will never be due to power and greed, but it's still the best on earth. And, in case you ask, I still find a way to give to the Mean Green Club and buy season tickets. Not as much as I'd like but maybe that'll change.

Don't try this when you are dog tired. Hit Enter instead of Tab. Wide Receivers continuing: Backups: Nwigwe, Stickler, Jackson Sleeper: Stickler Fitzgerald and Smith are walkons with unknown credentials and, as good as the others are, may never be heard from. Bishop is an enigma. He was San Angelo Central's leading receiver as a senior catching passes out of the backfield, as he was also their leading runner. With his size, you'd think that he would make an ideal fullback since we are loaded at running back. I can only assume that his blocking ability is lacking so they are making him a possession receiver. Ieans might be another possession receiver if he doesn't work out at quarterback. That was his position until he was a senior in high school, where he replaced (UTs) Vince Young at quarterback. Covington was highly regarded in high school but he may have a tough time getting PT this year. Brandon Jackson is a highly talented receiver who was listed on the two-deep after spring training. However, Stickler really caught my eye, as well as some others, and stands an excellent chance at being on the second unit come season opener time. Joel Nwigwe is back after sitting out a year and brings his blazing speed to the table. He is a great long ball threat if we have someone who can get him the ball. Muzzy is another that runs well and has good hands. There is little more that can be said about the Might Quinn that hasn't been said. He reminds me a lot of long time ago receiver Ray Renfro when he was with the Cleveland Browns. Johnny Quinn, in my opinion, will become an all-pro if he stays the course.

It's a pity that we don't throw more because we're in great shape maybe even loaded) at this position. The only senior was moved in from running back. There are two juniors, including one who ranks with our very best ever. The other led the team in yards per catch in 2003. There are six, maybe seven receivers that could start on other 1-A teams. Roy Bishop SR 6-2 227 San Angelo Roy Covington RF 6-1 180 Dallas Casey Fitzgerald FR 5-11 169 Red Oak Jonathan Ieans, RF 6-5 218 Houston Brandon Jackson SO 6-1 190 Sugar Land Zach Muzzy SO 5-10 175 Alvin Joel Nwigwe JR 5-11 180 Houston Johnny Quinn JR 6-0 199 McKinney Isaiah Smith FR 5-8 195 Denton Brock Stickler RF 6-3 210 Lampasas Starters: Quinn, Muzzy

Sorry, my typo. As everyone has figured by now, Crumes weighs 270, not 230. He will only have to put on 15-20 pounds, not 60. I listed both Crumes and Stubblefield as being from Aldine. That is a school district located within the Houston city limits on the north side for all of you non-Htowners. Both went to Aldine Eisenhower. Also, North Shore High School is in the Galena Park School District but the high school is located within the Houston city limits. There are about 20 players from the Houston area on the 2005 football squad. That's pretty good and could get better since Van Malone is on the staff and he's from Houston.

The demise of the Wilmer-Hutchins School District was so sudden that there wasn't time to set attendance zones, etc. A merger of Wilmer-Hutchins with Lancaster fell through (bad blood and Lancaster didn't have the money). Realize that every Wilmer-Hutchins school building was deemed unfit for occupancy. Dallas said that they would take them and the UIL gave the W-H students a choice of three high schools...Carter, Smith, and South Oak Cliff. Carter has their pipeline and probably not too many would make their 2-deep. Smith wasn't very good last year (or any other) but some of the lesser players could wind up there. South Oak Cliff was 9-3 last year and has playoff hopes this year so my feeling is that the best players end up there.

Another question, is freshman P.E. still required? If so, where is it conducted? Could that be the usage for Bahnsen Gym?

This is a pretty decent group of offensive linemen with only three seniors; one starter and one likely backup. There are four juniors, four sophomores and five freshmen so there should be no gaping holes when one class graduates. Josh Alexander SO 6-3 282 Fort Worth Brian Amacker SO 5-11 267 Duncanville Ajani Banks FR 6-3 325 Spring Jeremy Brown SO 6-5 300 Tecumseh OK Jack Crumes FR 6-4 230 Aldine Drew Dubose FR 6-2 244 Humble Gary Elmore JR 6-2 290 Saginaw (tfr Michigan State) Joel Foster JR 6-4 268 Austin Bryan Glass FR 6-0 280 Paris Frank Gray JR 6-1 285 Allen Dylan Lineberry JR 6-3 310 Galena Park Jason May SR 6-4 295 Graham Ephraim Patterson SR 6-3 280 Crosby Chad Rose RF 6-3 285 Round Rock Robbie Vanderslice SR 6-4 265 The Colony Adam Venegas SO 6-3 305 Olathe KS Starters: Brown, Foster, Lineberry, May, Rose Backups: Alexander, Banks, Elmore, Patterson, Venegas Sleeper: Glass There are 16 candidates for the 15-man three deep roster. Because of size and his being the only freshman walk-on, I think that Dubose goes to the end of the line. I think that three of the four remaining freshmen will be on the third team, where they will be redshirted unless needed due to injury. Two of the first-line backups are somewhat of a guess. We lost Mazzola due to doctor's advice and he was second team after spring training. Micah West was lost to academics and he might have been second team also. Patterson, the listed starter (because Lineberry did not participate in spring drills) may be shifted back to center, where he was a backup at one time last year, behind Rose. The other two second teamers were not here last year....Elmore and Venegas. Elmore is a transfer from Michigan State and I haven't been able to find out much about him except that he had made the squad at State. One source listed him as playing in high school at Richland but as a resident of Saginaw he likely played at Boswell. Venegas did not play last year and lost a year of eligibility. But, a Kansas all-star as a senior and a state wrestling champion, he was thought to have great potential as a recruit in 2003. Glad to see him back in the fold. I see the freshman Banks as playing this year due to his size and potential. All of the starters except Rose have played enough to letter at least one season. It's also good to see Jason May back after a year's absence. I'd say that this is a little better than average Sun Belt line and I would rate it a 6 for now and a 7 a few weeks into the season. IMO we need more offensive linemen. There are four teams at the other positions so we need four or five more OL. Maybe we can find a JC lineman or two with some talent out there even at this late date.

I don't have a problem with the ASU 'home' game in K.C. but I do have a problem with the ULM-Arkansas game in Little Rock. ArkSt is taking the risk by doing all of the things that a home team does but at a neutral site. They make the guarantees, sell the tickets, etc. ULM has no such liability and they are playing at a site already developed by the University of Arkansas. All they have to do is show up and they reap the financial and attendance rewards that the Razorbacks had built every other year. I realize that we are fighting a hopeless case against the auto-bid conferences/teams and drastic measures must sometimes be taken to compete. But, my hat's off not to those who have it given to them but to those who earn it.

This is an extreme example but one potential donor (an ex-student who did not graduate) has an ANNUAL income in the neighborhood of $70 million (great neighborhood). The amount that taxes would not get would pay more than half of that $30 million donation unless a reasonable portion is from tax-free bonds. There are at least several others with ties to the university that have deep enough pockets to have a stadium named for them with their donation. The money is not lying around in their checking account though, and could require months or even years to free. Just keep the faith. I don't believe that we would even have an announced Capital Campaign Fund if we didn't have a reasonable certainty of obtaining the goal. All we are trying to determine now is when.

I'm for leaving it at 1. November nights in Denton can be a little chilling.

Somehow I get the feeling that when Notre Dame's TV contract runs out that they will become a member of the Big East for football (which would make them a full member) and thus keep the Big East's auto bid. They might even be able to talk Army, Navy and one other to form a 12-team league, thereby cementing their remaining in the Big 6.

I believe that Shawn Early has played what amounts to a safety in the nickel package. If he's 100%, he could be a possibility. We are hurting at safety. The only incoming speedster with size is Desmon Chatman and he's still penciled in as a running back. Great athlete though and could develop quickly IMO.

Naw, here's the deal. They will almost never list anyone that has not taken a snap in practice. Meager and Ieans have; the other three haven't. If, two weeks into fall practice, Ieans is still listed as a possible starter then we're in trouble (or he has made the greatest turnaround in history).

He's tall.

Dreaming.

I agree on all that you said and I know of Thompson's reputation. He'll play plenty I'm sure but a returning starter can be hard to dethrone. I heard Coach Dickey say to the effect that there may be some faster linebackers but none will be more prepared. Mendoza watches more film than any other player. He makes few mistakes since he's so well prepared. As to Graves, he is so valuable on the kickoff and punt teams, I'm not sure that we'd want to give him the number of plays that a starter gets, lest he lose his effectiveness on being the first man downfield. He plays like a crazed kamakazi.

Maybe this is why I left off the classifications before...I need to do more editing. I erroneously listed T.J. Covington as a JR...he's a SR.

Good point about classification and I'm adding in hometown. Sometimes it's easier to remember about players when we know where they're from. I'm including both corners and safeties together even though it makes for a long report. They're somewhat interchangeable in my opinion. Corners are often a tenth of a second faster and ten to twenty pounds lighter. I realize that's generalizing without adding ability to backpedal, agility, instincts, etc. There are 25 defensive backfield candidates, or more than six teams worth. Kartay Agbottah FR 6-2 180 Irving Matt Barger SO 6-2 186 Keller Ja'Mel Branch SR 5-7 171 Katy Antoine Bush FR 5-11 170 Tyler Tyrone Carter JR 5-8 176 Hillsboro Desmon Chatman FR 6-2 190 Conroe Derrick Cooper FR 5-9 184 Wichita Falls Roderick Cotton SO 5-10 202 Nacogdoches TaRon Covington JR 6-2 190 Coffeyville KS Deavin Cox SO 5-9 190 Dallas Dominique Green FR 5-11 175 Lawton OK Gerrod Hall SR 6-1 188 Allen Demarcus Haskins SR 6-0 173 Douglassville Cliff Higgs SO 6-1 222 Sanger Montrail Mitchell SR 5-9 195 Fort Worth Brian Nelson RF 6-0 190 Arlington Gary Oubre SO 5-9 170 Plano? (Tfr from Coffeyville CC) Ricardo Smith SO 6-1 213 Fort Worth Cass Starks SR 6-1 205 Denton Arthur Stubblefield FR 5-10 180 Aldine Hunter Tucker FR 5-9 169 Wichita Falls Jared Vaughn JR 6-1 203 Allen Christopher Walthall SO 6-0 200 The Colony Korey Washington FR 5-10 185 Cedar Park Aaron Weathers SO 5-11 198 Bonner Springs KS (Tfr Coffeyville) Starters: Branch, Covington, Higgs, Weathers Backups: Carter, Cotton, Cox, Walthall More than 1/3 of these athletes are walkons. Some have been successful; most have not. Let's eliminate those that have not been or are unlikely to be. That would leave 12 exclusive of 7 incoming freshmen. Those would be Branch, Carter, Cotton, Covington, Cox, Higgs, Nelson, Oubre, Smith, Starks, Walthall and Weathers. Other than Covington, no one has any real skins. Higgs, Cox, and Cotton are the only other ones who played last year and most of their time was on special teams. That's the bad news. The good news is threefold; new coach Van Malone had them looking sharp in spring drills, transfer Aaron Weathers is supposed to be an excellent safety, and there are some outstanding freshman athletes who will report in three weeks. Because there are so few that have game experience, I look for three or more true frosh to play. It's possible that several of the incoming DBs could be moved. Dominique Green is also and excellent wide receiver, Desmon Chatman is still listed as a running back, and Korey Washington could be pressed into service as a quarterback. But, Agbottah, Bush, and/or Stubblefield, as well as Chatman, Green, and Washington (if any end up as defensive backs) are capable of making the 2-deep roster. Those six run 4.4-4.5 40s so Coach Malone will have something to work with. Some that were eye-catchers at spring training: Covington, as was expected; Branch, excellent switch from wide receiver, Higgs, but we were short on tight ends; Walthall, a real nose for the ball, Cotton, a real surprise to me; and Oubre, who looked small but played big. For now, this group is just too inexperienced to rate higher than a 4.

Shawn Early was before the ACL problem. Don't know if he lost anything or not yet; in fact, I doubt that he's been timed. If the operation has slowed Early then my money would be on Graves.

Wrong Nwigwe. Tobe Nwigwe, the linebacker, runs more like a 4.7. Joel, the wide receiver, runs a 4.5.

First, let me preface any remarks by saying that I definitely do not like what I'm hearing (on and off of the board) about Lee Jackson. I side with you and Don regarding the need for a change at chancellor. I do think that we need a chancellor because one person cannot administer his own campus and do justice to the other campuses at the same time. As I see it, the chancellor should plan for the advancement of ALL campuses, with emphasis on the new ones; especially any that are centers and not full-blown campuses. He should also see that the funding is obtained to carry out these projects. Lee Jackson could be an effective leader in accomplishing this but he hasn't been because he tends to micromanage in areas where he should have little concern. I also think that the chancellor should be courting other colleges to become a part of the North Texas system. Primarily, I'm thinking of Midwestern State, TWU, and possibly Stephen F. Austin. The reason? Because those three, to the best of my knowledge, were shut out of building funds in the current legislative session. Only 'system' schools received funding. I also wanted to enlighten about some distorted facts. Carl Matthews wasn't as anti-sports as you would think. Joe McConnell, the president before Matthews, not only established us as a university and under him we advanced from 'small' college to 'major' college, the forerunner to Division I. Matthews could have killed our fledgling major program at that point had he chosen to do so. Instead, he allowed Emmit Cambron, our AD, to pursue admission to the Missouri Valley Conference, which we gained. Carl Matthews didn't care for football but he was a huge basketball fan (note the fine coliseum that we have). So, while he did little toward making us a true university at that time (he wanted the nation's best teachers college), he also didn't squelch our athletic program, except for underfunding. Anyway, we stayed Division I under his presidency. Now, to Lee Jackson. Lee is a Dukie. His biggest sports interest is still Duke basketball (unless he has recently changed). That's probably where he got his elitist attitude in the first place. His parents, however, both attended North Texas. They were of my era but I didn't know them. His dad was very active in college affairs. He did get a master's degree from SMU but that's not where he developed his 'attitude' as I understand it. Not that some SMUers are not full of themselves but most, or at least many, are not. Another misleading statement is that Jackson failed to get us a law school. Well, yes and no. True, we don't have a law school yet but that is not Jackson's fault. The law school was not turned down, except maybe by the speaker of the house, who didn't submit it for a vote. All that after 22 sponsors of the bill had been lined up. My point is that he'll have enough rope to hang himself without misguiding our board about the facts of the case. Other than those, keep up the good work. I would applaud a 'Draft Norval for Chancellor' campaign but I doubt that he would accept, even if you were successful. It sure would be poetic justice if he would though, wouldn't it?

I couldn't agree with you more about Pistole. I can only assume that he was put inside because of his speed. But, if he was terribly slow he shouldn't have been recruited at all. I don't think that he could beat out Chapman but he might give Burruss a real tussle for playing time. If, indeed, he only weighs 260 he should have an easier time battling tight ends on the strongside than 300 pounders in the middle.