medpilot21

The loss of Eddie hurts us... no doubt. Still, there are some positives coming. First, Coach Deloach LOVES the blitz, so we will get pressure at times without a stud DE. (If one does not emerge) Second, Horton is "supposed" to be an animal on the field? Let's see what we really get with this kid. Finally, remember that we won in the past with defenses that were fast, and not so big. Guys like Darrell Daniels and Ron Paris got into the backfield by blowing past their men..not so much fighting through them? We have several players on this team already who have that kind of speed, just not a lot of experience? Give them some time with Coach D. I think of it now as a challenge for a D-coordinator who made guys like Taylor Casey, Chris Hurd, and Tommy Harrison successful. None of those guys were recruited by the Big-XII, but as we saw all had that level of talent. It took a DC who saw the potential and he got it out of them. By the end of their playing days at NT... a lot of Big-XII coaches may have wished they had recruited those guys. We're in the same boat now at Defensive Line. We are never out of it because of the loss of one guy. It has just become a steeper mountain to climb. Todd Dodge and our DC are standing at the bottom looking up. The difference today is our DC is Gary DeLoach... and he has beat this hill a few times before. GMG!!!

Guess I stand corrected???? Apparently they are more "in the know" about the academic status of our players than some media guys here? CFN knew about this days before Brett Vito. I dont know how they found out so fast, but I guess I will have to trust them completely from now on. So, since they are right on about Gilmore, maybe they also know something we dont about the starting QB for the 08 season? looks like we are going with Riley Dodge? I wish they would publish who is going to win the coin toss in Manhattan? I could place a healthy bet on that one next trip to Shreveport... Sorry for the sarcasm, just ticked off about Gilmore. GMG!!!

Damn it Eddie... it figures. Guess we get to see if all of those publications were right about Marquis Sykes? This kind of thing happens for various reasons each year, and it really makes you wonder what could have been? Just a few names come to mind who could have really helped us somewhere. QB Kellen Haynes... left us after his sophmore year with no grooming by NT Staff (Grew to 6-2, 215lbs AFTER being ignored by Ramone Flannigan's spectacular tuteledge) RB Michael Ruff... (4.3 speedster who couldnt be caught by anyone on the football field, but apparently couldnt get past the initial level of academic qualifications.) DT "Big Cat" T.J. Raymond...(often took three offensive linemen to block him. Dominated scrimmages and practices, but could not pass his classes) LB Art McNac... (6-0, 260 lbs and a tremendous hitter... just never got it) QB Joey Byerly...(A big mother of a QB and lots of arm strength... just had the brain of a pop-tart) OT Robert Peachey..(a very talented OL who just didnt want to be here. Not sure what could have been done to help him, just know we honestly missed on a class act and great talent) OL Adjani Banks..(at 6-3, 325, he could really have helped our OL issues last season. Ask Giovanni how much better he could have been had he not spent so much time on his back?) I know we all have several names that come to mind, but it just kills me every year when we find out about things like this. I know every university has these issues... It just sucks that it happens... I'm out. GMG!!!

EXACTLY.... nuff said. GMG!!!

Hopefully not an issue. Giovanni starts, Meager at #2, Tune at #3.... Riley Dodge Red-shirts and competes for the job next year. My only question... will Danny be okay with going into workouts knowing he is #2 at best, and possibly a #3? Should make for an interesting fall. GMG!!!

I like the optimism, but still not so sure why all the publications are so quick to put Riley Dodge in the saddle? Yes, he is a huge talent... be we already have a huge talent at QB? I honestly think Riley would need to have a phenominal few weeks, and the God-Father would have to completely melt-down before a change like that would happen. Possible, but not likely... I am also wonderring where the info on Gilmore is coming from? As of Spring Ball, he was doing well and dominating from the DE spot? Otherwise some good write ups. I would like to see Jacob Kaiser start at left tackle, (291lbs seems more protective than the 235lb guy they show starting?) Fall ball is not that far away now. I hope TD continues to let us go to practices as he did in the spring. Should be interesting with DeLoach coaching the defense again. GMG!!!

I think this would be considerred football related? The YouTube clip says he is playing the school fight song, Instumental. I'm not sure of that, but damn Rick can play! Also, note all the old NT football helmets in the background. Thanks Rick... I needed this today! (And thanks Donnie for sending this to me) Enjoy guys... GMG!!!

The return of the GreenGrenade!!! Welcome back Rick. Now, could you speak english for the first few posts. It will take time for me to get back up to speed on martian verbs!!! GMG!!!

What the ???????? I dont know who this is, but welcome to North Texas Athletics. Apparently you dont spend much time around the program? Note to Texas Attorney General.... if you happen to read this, please pay attention. We have laws that make it illegal to drink and drive, drink and fly, and drink and operate a boat. I'm thinking now it should be illegal to drink while forming and un-educated opinion. GMG!!!

We go every year. It's a great time and the fireworks are right over the top of you...great view! GMG!!!

Good to hear he's doing well now. Get well soon GB. GMG!!!

Toby Gowin!!!!!......99 yards baby, 99 freakin yards!

HAHAHA... great schtick. We would go completely bankrupt in the WAC, but it's only money right? Now let's consider all options? If Howard Schnellenberger manages to get FAU to the SBC crown this year, they should plan on new conference affiliations next year with South Florida or SMU. FAU is the favorite to win it all this year... I just read that somewhere. MTSU and Troy move into the SEC. Then NT moves into the BIG XII South. Of course Baylor will have to move into Conference USA with SMU so we can have their Big-XII spot?, but Baylor wont mind. Their games with SMU are SOOOO exciting, and both sets of fans can wager on getting at least one win in-conference each year? My requests: If Todd Dodge has any fire left in him, he will call Mack Brown and negotiate a vote for joining the Big XII South. I doubt that TD's badgering would be enough to get it done, but we could offer to hire Cedrick Benson as an offensive coach to sway the deal. Mac loves CB, and since Patrick Cobbs is still in the NFL, Cedrick Benson is the next best option for RB coach. Also, not so fast on building a new stadium... we could have Texas Stadium moved Brick-by-brick onto the old Golf Course. I'm not so sure we want a 65K seat stadium with a hole in the roof, but we could get it dirt cheap... leaving money to paint it with our changing shades of green each year. Oh, and for those keeping score...Oprah (the world's largest Tom Cruise fan) now reccomends a book called "The Taming of the Shrew", which she mistakenly thinks is a Nicole Kidman Biography. GMG!!!

Congrats man!!! If it's a girl, buy your shotgun now. If she has red hair???, give the shotgun to her first boyfriend and wish him good luck!!! GMG!!!

I hope you're right on just one of those possibilities??? I have been professing the greatness of Isaac Thomas since I saw him play in the Oil Bowl a few years ago. In that game, he was un-blockable. Since then, his days at NT have been injury or illness riddled? Isaac could be a huge difference maker on the D-line if he can just stay healthy? I hope this is that year. I also found it interesting that all the publications I've seen predict we will have a 235 lb. starting left tackle? I dont know how accurate those things are, but 235 lbs at OT???? Has to be a screw up. Of course, last year those same publications said we would have a terrible run defense and no pass rush... maybe I should check to see if its Tobe Nwigwe playing left tackle??? GMG!!!

Good one Harry... positive posts this time of year work for me. I have us 6-6, but the defense is greatly improved. Impact players: Offense - Giovanni Vizza/ Casey Fitgerald/ Sam Roberson Defense - Eddie Gilmore/ Craig Robertson/ Kylie Hill Special team - Truman Spencer (likely a pro prospect punter) I still have questions about the DL, but we will know soon enough. GMG!!!

I like your optimism and also think we go 6-6. As for being proud about last year?, I am. We found our starting QB and he is something special, our new head coach proved his offense works, and an All-American wide receiver wore a North Texas Jersey. Some positives there I think? No one expected North Texas to win the Belt in TD's first year. We knew the over-haul would take time. I look at last season as a year of lessons, and we learned a lot. Lesson 1 - fix the defensive weaknesses. Mendoza is gone, Deloach is back. (Done) Lesson 2 - Find a reliable kicker (Pending, but promising) Lesson 3 - Install a high powered offense and score points (Done) Lesson 4 - Find a pass rush. Hopefully grades will hold out on Gilmore, but he has really started to show up. (pending) Lesson 5 - Fans and Alums step up and buy season tickets. Lots more were sold last year. (improved) Lesson 6 - We were all a little spoiled, going to a bowl game and winning the conference every year. (I think we will appreciate it more now) Yes, we have step or two left to take, but we are moving forward. Even in those horrible losses, the games were more exciting because that offense scored points. I never felt like we were out of the game until the gun sounded. Let's see what happens when the defense improves? I dont know if we go all the way to New Orleans this year, but we will be closer than we were last year. Deloach's defense gives us that. Most of us remember what it looks like with blitzes coming form everywhere. (Chris Simms could sure tell you) I am proud of last season. It was year one in the Todd Dodge system and we did improve on offense. Now comes a tougher year two, and Coach D. gets to fix the defense. I have no doubt he will... GMG!!!

Blue lot I think this year... and that Python bit is still one of my all-time fav's. That one and the monster rabbit flying around killing people...hahaha. GMG!!!

I'm glad Willis got his academic issues straightened out, but it wont matter in the fall. Willis will never be okay with sitting on the bench while Turner takes that offense over. June Jones is a percentage guy, and wants a QB to stand in the pocket and deliver the ball. (Timmy Chang and Colt Brennen are very good examples of what JJ wants in his starting QB) Anyone who has seen Willis play, as we have, knows he gets excited and either takes off with the ball or throws an errant pass? Turner (a red-shirt freshman) was recruited by SMU to throw the ball, and did so very well in the spring. He is picking up JJ's system quickly, and will wait that extra second in the pocket for a receiver to break free. June Jones wants a guy to be patient and put the ball on the target. Well, if Spring ball is any indication... Turner is that guy. I truly wish the best for Willis, and hope he gets a chance to compete for the QB job. However, I'm not sure it will be a fair chance? The fans and Alums at SMU have seen what Turner can do. The writing may already be on the wall for Justin Willis, and unless he is willing to change positions........ tell Woody we said hello. GMG!!!

Great pics Rick! Eagles are amazing birds, and apparently very good hunters. That small bird was owned. I wonder if I could convice an Eagle to go after a few Grackles in Irving? GMG!!!

Emmitt has the right idea here... and we have all said this since looking at Texas Tech's last few years schedule. The Red Raiders open with a fluff team or two, play a Big-XII schedule down the stretch, and still get nationally ranked. The plan is simple... Have your team lead the season off with a winable game and get your team some game-day confidence and the fans fired up. Sometimes that mentality backfires, (as in the Michigan-Appalachian State game last year) but the plan works 99% of the time. Now dont mis-understand the intent here? There is nothing wrong with playing the OU's and LSU's hoping for an upset? My question has been.. "What does it really benefit North Texas to play an un-winnable game to start the season?" The slight chance of an upset and a big paycheck?....okay, I'm in for that at game 3 or 4 on our schedule. I, like most on this board, believe we have just as much chance as Appalachian State in getting an upset over a powerhouse program. I think Emmitt's point seems to be to play the "money game" after our team has already played a winnable game. Team confidence can never be under-estimated, and a win is a win. Also think about the positive effect an opening-day victory at home would have on the fan base? I personally would rather be 1-0 or maybe even 2-0 going into LSU or K-State. Of course nothing is guaranteed, and we could be beat by a Samford or Nichols State. BUT, the odds are in our favor. If the big boys do it, and there is no back-lash from anyone for it, then why would there be any back-lash if we do it? Schedules dont lie, and looking at what the big boys are doing this year tells the story. Look at the ACC and Big-XII first game opponents as an example? By the way, here is the Helmet schedule from orangeandbluehue.com for those who do not have it yet. http://www.orangeandbluehue.com/wp-content...FBSSchedule.xls For the record, I'll take the Mean Green Schedule any way it comes out... as we on this board love NT Football that much. BUT, starting the season off 1-0 or 2-0 would sure be a nice change. GMG!!!

It's the off-season... this is what the board is like this time of year. On the good side, Emmitt has a baby coming, Johnny Quinn is a Green Bay Packer, and the Desparados are winning. There are some good things to talk about, and we will talk about most of those things too. We just have to survive these things. Personally, I'm glad Stebo (and others) post articles this way. Takes less time to read them, and ANY Mean Green news is important during the non-football months. Just an opinion... GMG!!!

97 Carrizal,Paul- OL -6'5, 370 - Missouri - R Are you kidding me?. That guy is a freakin monster! I wonder why he is not in the NFL, even as a backup? Must be an intersting story there... GMG!!!

I can see why Evan avoids the boards during the off-season. This stuff is just brutal. Time for a change of direction.... "Let's go live now to Ollie Williams for a Sky-Copter traffic report...what's it like up there Ollie?" "EVERYBODY LOOK LIKE ANTS!!!!" "Thanks Ollie......." GMG!!!

Great pics! Thanks King. I will try to have mine up this afternoon. GMG!!!