Is the Todd Dodge honeymoon over?
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I have been wondering this for a long time and have been asked about it more than once, but tonight it seems like the time has finally come to ask the question: Is the honeymoon over for Todd Dodge at UNT? Ever since Dodge arrived before the beginning of last season, he seemed to be able to do no wrong. When the Mean Green struggled last season, it was because of that evil Darrell Dickey and the bad batch of players he left behind. I am not going to get into a debate over that one, but ever since the Mean Green fell to 0-4 after being shellacked by Rice 77-20 on Saturday, it seems like something has changed in the attitude among UNT fans. Not that I blame them. Judging from my e-mail and the comments on the blog, it seems like people are starting to question what is going on with the Mean Green, and they are not being blasted for it by a horde of torch-carrying Dodge supporters. Greg weighed in today with this gem: "To all those who thought hiring a high-school coach was a good idea, I hate to say it: 'Told you so.'" Travis asked: "I wonder if Todd Dodge is in over his head with things." The number of fans calling those people out for questioning Dodge has definitely dwindled. It seems like it was only a matter of time. UNT is 2-14 in the Dodge era and was blown out by a Texas rival. As a member of the Sun Belt, opportunities to face Rice and other in-state rivals don't come along all that often. In coaching, it all comes down to wins and losses, and Dodge has very few of the former and a whole lot of the latter in his first season and change. He may very well turn this around and has a good opportunity to take a step in the right direction in a game against Florida International this week. My feeling is most fans are still holding out hope that Dodge will turn it around this year. It appears as if the blind faith is gone, though. The honeymoon is over. Now the hard work, occasional bickering and reality of real life are settling in. Am I wrong? Is the honeymoon still on? Post your thoughts on the blog. |
Comments
Posted by William Manrihs @ 1:40 AM Mon, Sep 29, 2008
Dodge is a classy coach and I respect him but he has not had the answers for this problem. 2-22 will not be easy to support for another year.
Posted by Scott @ 11:18 AM Mon, Sep 29, 2008
Bloom off the rose? I can't say. I, also, had reservations about the high school to D1 jump by Todd. However, I was one that was asked an opinion before the contract was inked. I expressed the same reservations that I had in the Dennis Parker hire. Wasn't sure then. Not sure now. Before you blast Coach Dodge, remember that he's only had 1.5 recruiting classes - with the .5 being determined on how late he inked the contract to join the morass at UNT. My personal expectations were: bad in 2007, .500 in 2008 and be really solid and competitive in 2009. Now that I see the evidence that Darrell Dickey (another "history repeats itself UNT hire of an unqualified/underqualified; but, cheap, head coach") literally gave up on UNT and recruiting, the roster is challenged, talent-wise, on the defensive side of the ball. Let's not point fingers at the Head Coach, let's point fingers at the Athletic Director. If FAU can start from scratch with a "name with a past", develop a definitive plan and fulfill it; then why can't the athletic leadership at UNT do the same. Been a season ticket holder since returning to Dallas in 1987...that's a lot of really bad performances, too many image/graphic changes and too much turnover in senior management positions.
Posted by Fan @ 5:57 PM Mon, Sep 29, 2008
Let's give Coach Dodge 2 games into confernce before we start having such a negative reaction. UNT played a basic non-conference schedule that was harder thatn some BCS schools. And Rice will probably be going to a bowl game. I hope next yeat the AD give UNT a break on the non-conference schedlue.
Posted by Patrick @ 7:39 PM Mon, Sep 29, 2008
I don't know if the Todd Dodge honeymoon is over or not, but I do know that the way this team has played so far this season has most likely set back the push for a new stadium.
When Coach Dodge was hired I thought that he ought to get at least three years to prove he could make it as a D1 head coach and turn UNT around. Year One was expected to be bad. Year Two should not be as bad as Year One and there should be signs of improvement. By Year Three he should have enough players with enough experience to show what the Mean Green could do under his system.
No matter what his record is for the remainder of this season, he should be given until the end of the 2009 season to make it happen.
I am not supportive of a new stadium at this time. It already costs me an arm and a leg to go to graduate school; I do not want to add another $300-some-odd dollars a year to the bill until I see that this program is headed in the right direction.
Everyone else at UNT has to combine short-term performance with a long-term plan in order to get funding. It should be no different for the football team.
Posted by steve @ 10:12 PM Mon, Sep 29, 2008
Anyone else see some similarities to the 2001 LaMo loss?
Horrible start to a season. A loss to a team we thought we could steal. The masses questioning the coach.
Team gut check time. Lets see how they respond.
.........................
Also, Patrick:
The fee will not be implemented into your bill until the stadium is complete. I hope you understand that, and also that improvement on the field will go hand-in-hand with the student's support. Regardless of what we've seen thus far in the Dodge-era, Fouts is a severely out-dated facility that needs replacement.
Posted by yyz28 @ 10:15 AM Tue, Sep 30, 2008
Patrick,
Part of the reason we have this problem is as a result of facilities. It is VERY difficult to recruit the players we want and need to have the program headed in the right direction with the facilities we have. High School prospects come here and watch a game being played in a stadium that is most likely nowhere near as nice as their High School Stadium. We have proved we can succeed, with our run from 2001-2004, but we need the facilities to take it to the next level.
...and remember, the new fee won't go into effect until the Senior year of this year's freshman, so the increase in cost won't be immediate and you may never even see it.
Posted by Chad Williams @ 2:43 AM Fri, Oct 03, 2008
Listen people...I don't give a flip if we had Pete Carroll or Bob Stoops as our coach. The results would be the same. If we fire Dodge who in the world is going to come and coach at Fouts Middle School Stadium. Dodge was stupid for taking this job. This is defiantly a step down to Southlake Carroll. He might have committed career suicide taking this job. He needs two more years of recruiting. I will tell you something else....Ron Mendoza got a crappy deal. We should have never fired him. Our defense is worse this year than it was last year. I bet he is at Red Oak High School laughing hysterically. Nobody could win with the players we have. Nobody. They are horrible.
Posted by JD @ 4:44 PM Mon, Oct 06, 2008
My concern is I watched a North Texas team quite against Rice, or that is what it looked like from the stands, and that concerns me. Have they quite of Dodge?
Chad: With all due respect, Ron Mendoza took a defense with eight returning starters that was ranked around #60 nationally and turned it in to a defense that OU laughed at and ended up being ranked dead last. Mr. Mendoza was in over his head. Gary Deloach is a proven D1 coordinator working with a very young defense. He will turn it around if he can recruit his players and hire his defensive staff. Those are two "ifs" that must be done.
Also, UNT is not a step down from SLC. Being an alumni of North Texas I take offense to that comment. SLC is a "bubble of affluence" where the kids are brought up to be Dragons from the time they put their pads on. The high school players have run that system since grade school which results in their success. Very different from a college environment where you have 4 or 5 years to teach your system.
And thank you to yyz28 and Steve for pointing out why a new stadium is needed and should not be tied to the current performance
Posted by scott @ 2:04 PM Mon, Oct 20, 2008
Something needs to happen... Sorry, as well I am a season ticket holder and am tired of sitting through this. These players have quit and I personally think his time is over. New stadium? No, how about getting a new "big" name coach?