0One of the aspects of Todd Dodge's coaching philosophy that one has to respect is you will never hear him talk about a game as one UNT is just playing for money, no matter how hopeless it may seem.
The paper pays reporters to ask these types of questions, so I asked Dodge this week if UNT really could get anything out of a game against LSU on Saturday that it is expected to lose by more than 40 points. Dodge left no doubt that he thought UNT could come out of its game against the Tigers better than it goes into it.
Dodge is right, UNT could end up better after its game against the Tigers, but it could also end up being worse in the long run. If you ask me, it all depends on how many people UNT loses to injury. Players can get hurt any time, but the risk is always there when a team takes on an opponent as physically talented as LSU.
If former Denton native Herman Johnson falls on a few of UNT's players, his 370 some odd pounds could break them in half.
UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal likes to call contests like this one "opportunity games." And he isn't talking about the opportunity to collect that $700,000 pay check.
He's talking about the type of opportunity Arkansas State cashed in on when it beat Texas A&M.
If you look at UNT's schedule, it's nice that opportunity is coming right before a bye week. The Mean Green will have time to lick whatever wounds it might have after this game.
That extra time will give UNT an opportunity to keep going for broke like it did to open last season at Oklahoma, which didn't work out so well. UNT could also go conservative and try to run the clock if the game starts to get out of hand.
What approach would you like to see UNT take? Post your thoughts on the blog.
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I'd like to see some good defense, hard tackling, and the offense pull out all the stops.
If UNT is going down just to run clock and get the check then it might as well stay home. However UNT could use it as a positive experience. If the guys are up for the challenge and perform better than everyone expects including the opponent, then they will feel rewarded even in a loss. Yes a 70-10 game would not be good, but a 35-20 game would gain respect and make future games winable.
If UNT is going down just to run clock it might as well stay home. However UNT could use it as a positive experience. If the guys are up for the challenge and perform better than everyone expects including the opponent, then they will feel rewarded even in a loss. Yes a 70-10 game would not be good, but a 35-20 game would gain respect and make future games winable.
If UNT is going down just to run clock it might as well stay home. However UNT could use it as a positive experience if the guys are up for the challenge. Yes a 70-10 game would not be good, but a 35-20 game would gain respect and make future games winable.
If UNT is going down just to run clock it might as well stay home. However UNT could use it as a positive experience if the guys are up for the challenge. Yes a 70-10 game would not be good, but a 35-20 game would gain respect.
Hopefully, this will not turn out to be a body bag game.
This is somewhat irrelevant, but I wanted to add this. I looked at the pre-season rankings for all of the teams that UNT plays this year (from SI.com), and here they are in order (UNT is ranked 112 out of a total of 119):
1. K-State - 58
2. Tulsa - 35
3. LSU - 9
4. Rice - 99
5. Florida International - 118
6. LA-Lafayette - 116
7. LA-Monroe - 105
8. Troy - 61
9. W. Kentucky - Unranked
10. Florida Atlantic - 56
11. Middle Tennessee - 90
12. Arkansas State - 100
Anyway, I know that preseason rankings aren't a perfect measurement, but I think they adequately show that things might improve for UNT once we get away from these first few games and into conference play.
I'm not sure I understand the entire "pay to play" idea. How did that thing get started, and who decides which teams get paid? and how much? Does UNT pay people to pay us? Anyone know the answers?
By the way, I think UNT looks much faster this year, compared to years past. I'm looking forward to conference play!