Jacie
6/11/2009, 07:17 AM
. . . up. Rivals preseason ranking pegs the (not so)Mean Green at #120. That is #120 out of 120 teams in the BCS. Let's look at some of the juicier bits from the Rivals write-up.
First, the head coach is former whorn quarterback, Todd Dodge (3-21 in two seasons).
FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: 119th.
Apparently, finishing #119 out of 120 was enough for one Mean Greenie:
KEEP AN EYE ON: Two-year starting QB Giovanni Vizza transferred, so a team that has struggled mightily in the past two seasons is breaking in a new starter at quarterback. The quarterback will be touted redshirt freshman Riley Dodge, the coach's son and a guy who originally committed to Texas.
So UNT will be another of those "coaches son at quarterback" teams, joining Colorado which enploys the services of the Hawkins family at coach and QB. Given the overwhelming success of this method, one wonders why other college coaches aren't playing their sons. Riley even gave up a commitment to sa*et for the opportunity to star at UNT. Coach Dad has the added distinction of being one those head coaches who made the transition from highschool coach to college coach without having to spend all those tedious years as an assistant
STAR POWER: LB Tobe Nwigwe is one of the best in the league at his position. He had 111 tackles and three interceptions last season, when he was a bright spot on a horrible unit.
You don't see the word horrible a lot in preseason descriptions.
THE BUZZ: The Mean Green have struggled mightily on defense under Todd Dodge. . . .the defense has to get a lot tougher overall. There is only one game against a "Big Six" opponent (Alabama), and two winnable non-conference games are at home (Ohio and Army). A four- or five-win season should be the goal, but it will be hard to get that many victories unless the defense plays a lot better under second-year coordinator Gary DeLoach.
Four or five wins is their goal? Be grateful, Sooner fans. That was us once.
First, the head coach is former whorn quarterback, Todd Dodge (3-21 in two seasons).
FINAL 2008 RIVALS.COM RANKING: 119th.
Apparently, finishing #119 out of 120 was enough for one Mean Greenie:
KEEP AN EYE ON: Two-year starting QB Giovanni Vizza transferred, so a team that has struggled mightily in the past two seasons is breaking in a new starter at quarterback. The quarterback will be touted redshirt freshman Riley Dodge, the coach's son and a guy who originally committed to Texas.
So UNT will be another of those "coaches son at quarterback" teams, joining Colorado which enploys the services of the Hawkins family at coach and QB. Given the overwhelming success of this method, one wonders why other college coaches aren't playing their sons. Riley even gave up a commitment to sa*et for the opportunity to star at UNT. Coach Dad has the added distinction of being one those head coaches who made the transition from highschool coach to college coach without having to spend all those tedious years as an assistant
STAR POWER: LB Tobe Nwigwe is one of the best in the league at his position. He had 111 tackles and three interceptions last season, when he was a bright spot on a horrible unit.
You don't see the word horrible a lot in preseason descriptions.
THE BUZZ: The Mean Green have struggled mightily on defense under Todd Dodge. . . .the defense has to get a lot tougher overall. There is only one game against a "Big Six" opponent (Alabama), and two winnable non-conference games are at home (Ohio and Army). A four- or five-win season should be the goal, but it will be hard to get that many victories unless the defense plays a lot better under second-year coordinator Gary DeLoach.
Four or five wins is their goal? Be grateful, Sooner fans. That was us once.