Mark Gommesen

Them there be fightin' words.

I am looking forward to watching Zac Whitfield. This young man is fast. 4.49 forty and ran the 100 yard dash in high school at 10.49.

Why would the Big 12 expand? They have huge media deal. If they expand, it unlikely they could appreciatively improve upon team revenues or number conference games televised. In fact individual team may end up with fewer games televised. The ten game round robin actually helps weaker teams like Kansas who get to play all of conference powerhouses and sell tickets and keep interest in the program. Every time that the Big 12 as added a team it was in direct response to teams leaving, not to grow just for growth sake. Nebraska and Colorado leave...stay steady at 10. A&M and Missouri leave... it was only as after losing 4 teams did they add.

I guess it's just a little early to have them sign letters of intent. Congratulations, Mean Green!

I agree. This a good link to bookmark and revisit in six month or so.

In 2011, Derek Thompson threw for 1,759 yards, which is the fifth most passing yards in a single season at North Texas since 1995. Derek Thompson threw 11 touchdowns with just six interceptions in 11 games. Last season 15 different players had at least one reception. All this in a season, where passing game was clearly the second option for UNT. Perhaps no coach as a better track record at developing Quarterbacks than Mike Canales. Canales has coached five different quarterbacks which have earned All-America recognition. Expect Derek Thompson to have a break-out year!

There is nothing wrong with recruiting a few highly talented JUCO players. But, I agree too many creates, it own challenges. It really ties the hands of your offensive coordinator. Although, Mike Canales' offense is not the most complex in the world, it is multi-dimensional and challenging. It still takes time for an athlete to become well verse in all aspects. During a typical season, a coordinator has to adjust his offensive due to personnel changes or the propensities of your opponents. This very difficult with athletes who have been in your system a short time. An athletes needs time to learn a system; time that JUCOs simply do not have. Because many players have been in coach Canales' system for a couple of years,the UNT offensive will be exciting with multiple players contributing in a multiple of ways.

An early peek... http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=14&view=2&yr=2013 Arkansas State has a good defensive lineman signed up — one from Western Kentucky’s backyard, by the way. FIU has three players committed, including two offensive linemen Rivals.com lists as three-star players. Here’s a link: FIU two good linemen \ http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2012/05/just-for-fun----a-look-around.html/

Post spring football series Part 1 — Quarterbacks http://meangreenblog...rterbacks.html/

I wonder how much it would cost to rent the Jerry Dome?

The Dallas media market growth in one year is greater than entire LALA media market.

I suspect that we will rate above most teams in the Sun Belt and half of C-USA. LaTech will probably rate very well, too. This should give fans on C-USA fans on who are concern about the newbies some pause.

No doubt SMU needs UNT more than UNT needs SMU. Even if SMU is able to maintain a series with TCU, Baylor and UNT, and that's a big if, SMU can only expect to play two home games against regional opponents. Do the math TCU, Baylor, UNT, Houston are SMU only regional opponents, half these games will be played at home and the other half away every year. Ford Stadium is going to very empty in 2013.. Now the SMU has join the BE, it will not be able to offer Baylor or TCU as favorable revenue terms as playing C-USA team. Don't be surprise if Baylor and TCU seek to replace SMU with UNT, La Tech or UTSA on their schedule. Also, once TCU leaves joins the Big 12, it will have plenty of regional games in the conference. TCU will probably use their OOC game to better advantage. I do believe that developing a rivalry with SMU is to UNT's advantage, just because it will raise local media attention. It will give UNT fans another game they can easily attend.

I think you raise some legitimate concerns. However, these are very young men and very young men do stupid things out of bravo or just immaturity. Being mustered out of a premier football program is a real learning experience. I think they need to be evaluated as individuals to determined if they are worthy of a second chance. You have ask yourself if program that these young men are leaving bears some responsibility.

What are the odds of UTA adding football? Welcome to the Sun Belt Mavericks1

It would not surprise me, and Notre Dame is seeking conference home in the near future. The changes in the national NCAA football championship playoff are directed towards conference champions; independents are at a disadvantage. It is no secret that NBC's ratings for for Notre Dame football games have been disappointing. NBC is under new ownership. It is expected that NBC/Comcast wants to become a greater player in college football. Notre Dame may no longer fit with and NBC future plans. However, the big 12 does not appear to be good fit. Notre Dame has a longer tradition with Big Ten teams, and is geographically located within the Big Ten footprint. Also, Notre Dame's basketball and other sports are competing in the Big East. The big 12 has just finished the negotiating a huge TV contract. It is doubtful that the current members of the big 12 are looking to expand in the near future.

You're right. This probably one reason why the MWC was seeking an alliance or an merger was to maintain access to Texas for recruiting. With TCU joining the Big 12, UTSA and LaTech joining the C-USA and TSU joining the Sun Belt. There will be no schools in the region in the WAC or the MWC. That's incredible. With NMSU either joining the Sun belt or dropping to the FCS, the school will drop from the college recruiting radar in North Texas. Certainly with UNT joining the C-USA will increase recruiting opportunities. Because C-USA is structured around schools in a geographic region a player's friends and family will be able to attend most of the player's games. This is big advantage over SMU. Rivalries will develop among area schools, new recruits will want to be a part. Including possible out of conference rivalries within metroplex teams in the Big East and Big 12. With SMU joining the Big East, regional Big 12 teams will become less interested in booking games with SMU, will want to engage UNT. Bottom line it will become extreme difficult for the MWC to recruit in DFW.

Yes, this does require a pubic apology.

If the BIG12/SEC/PAC12/BIG10 cartel is able to monopolize the TV media money and time-slots, set the rules for FBS championship, claim major BCS Bowls and other major Bowls as their exclusive property. It really doesn't matter how many games you win. It's an exclusive club and they're not going to let you in and you will not get media attention period! I think there is a lot must and can be done in creating alliances for TV contracts and voting blocks in governing bodies. There maybe legal issues regarding restraint of trade or the conferences may want to seek legislation to force more parity. Remember, all of these institutions,including private ones, receive Federal and State funds.

You're right the NCAA cannot prevent the cartel from pillaging other conferences. NCAA can be useful in curbing the cartel's power in other ways. The NCAA creates and enforces rules governing personnel, amateurism, recruiting, eligibility, benefits, financial aid, and playing and practice seasons .The Football Bowl Subdivision is part of NCAA. Currently the FBS has 120 members. The Big 12 has 10 votes, Pac 12 has 12 votes,SEC has 14 and the BIG 10 has 12. that a total of a 48 votes. ACC has 14 and the BE has 12 at total of 26. By throwing some crumbs like AQ's to the ACC and BE the Big12/Pac12/B1G/SEC cartel have been able to control a comfortable majority of votes in the FBS. But now that Cartel has raided teams from the ACC and BE, taken a stranglehold TV broadcast dollars, and the AQ eliminated, the world has changed. Now that it is clear the BE and the ACC are no longer allow to sit at the popular kids table, they maybe looking for new friends. BE and ACC it would be wise for BE and ACC to make new friends with mutual interest in seeing that Cartel does contnue to grow in strength. The reason that the NCAA tournament is includes so many participants and is more democratic is because the Big12/Pac12/B1G/SEC cartel cannot control a majority of votes. NCAA/FBS does have influence on the structure of BCS championship playoff and bowls, scholarships, roster sizes, recruiting and eligibility rules. NCAA FBS could prevent the creation a new NCAA championship Bowl and require that the NCAA playoffs and championship be conducted using the current BCS bowls. Thus preventing the the Cartel from claiming a BCS bowls as their exclusive property. FBS could reduce the number of FBS football scholarships by 10 for every team for six years. Yes, it would reduce the number of scholarship players at other schools besides the Cartel But, it would have the big advantage, it would free up hundreds of quality athletes to be recruited by schools other than the Biggies. National NCAA Football championship playoff includes 8 conference champions without regard to national ranking, taking a huge recruiting advantage from the Cartel. NCAA can set rules to protect athletes including the number hours or miles an athlete may travel during the season. NCAA can reduce the number of expense-paid recruiting visits to NCAA institutions. Require that recruiting can only occur in a set geographic area for area of limited time frame. If the ACC breaks rank, the Cartel no longer controls a majority of the votes in the NCAA/FBS! The ACC is not happy about being treated like a second class citizen by the TV networks. If the Big 12 grabs Clemson and Florida State, ACC will not just sit still.

Why would a C-USA even consider the BE if it loses two more major teams to the ACC? 1. BE still has not negotiated a new television contract. If the BE was two lose two more major teams like Louisville , Rutgers or UConn. it would leave a huge hole to fill. With all due respect to our C-USA friends including ECU and Marshall, there are no C-USA teams that could fill the gap in terms of replacing TV money. Combined with all the network cash that the BIG12 and ACC have already taken off the table, BE will not be the money cow it was in the past. 2. With the elimination of the AQ, getting to national championship playoff bowl will depend on the level of competition in the conference. BE will not be a power conference. 3. The Basketball only schools will gain influence in the conference. They revolted last year to kill a media deal. If they leave the conference or demand a larger portion of the TV revenues. (and they will.) The all sports and football only schools will lose revenue share. 4. The conference is without a permanent commissioner. Many members are openly unhappy with the conference. BE is the most unstable conference in the country.

I wouldn't not be surprised to see a stop the SEC/BIG12/PAC12/B1G alliance. An informal alliance of the Big East, ACC, C-USA, MWC,MAC, and the SBC would be a powerful voting alliance within the NCAA. It is not in best interest for the ACC to weaken the BE. The collapse of the BE would only strengthen the SEC/BIG12/PAC12/B1G cartel. A smarter move would be a scheduling and TV broadcast alliance between the two conferences. BE/ACC are still the dominant force in college basketball and could use this as a leverage with TV networks.

I don't think this is all that surprising. The OOC games are the preseason. Games are scheduled to provide a couple early wins or a big payday. Even the Big conferences have similar schedules. LSU 09/01 - North Texas 09/08 - Washington 09/15 - Idaho 09/29 - Towson

Maybe because they are fifty miles away from USM, the closest eastern conference school.

Your right. C-USA was guided more by business concerns than by the level of sports competition. San Antonio, Charlotte, and Norfolk represent large fast growing markets without competition from other major conferences or professional teams. Hopefully this gamble will payoff when the conferences negotiates new TV contracts. I think the conference has position itself for rapid and long term growth. Expect some growing pains in the near future. FIU allowed C-USA to maintain a foot hold in Florida and in particular the Miami market. The unfortunate truth is collegiate sports is big business.