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Editor’s note: I came across this post that I wrote in December of 2006 on my Toddler Top 10 site. I have since imported all of those posts into CollegeFootballTopTen.com v. 2.0 with the help of WordPress. Apparently, I never published the post. I guess I wasn’t quite ready to publish it. I think it is interesting to read this just a little over a year later. The post is about the hiring of Todd Dodge at the University of North Texas. Dodge certainly struggled in his first year, however a couple of other Sun Belt teams defeated teams from BCS conferences. Also, the two teams that I compared North Texas to, Nebraska and Texas A & M have since hired new coaches firing the successors of Frank Solich and R. C. Slocum. (April 16, 2008)

Original Post

A few weeks ago I was ready to write about how I thought the firing of Darrel Dickey at The University of North Texas was wrong. I was upset because Dickey led UNT to four Sun Belt Conferences Championships and four trips to the Sun Belt Conference’s New Orleans Bowl in a conference where member football teams do not have anyone following their recruiting news because their is nothing to follow. Members of the Sun Belt are terribly underfinanced, underbudgeted, under–you name it. They have to play nonconference schedules against top teams from the Big 12, SEC, and whoever else they can find to get the money to sustain their programs. Therefore, when many of those teams get to conference play, they usually have a losing record. Hence, many times the winner of the Sun Belt had a 6-5 record in years past. You see, it’s tough when your in the Sun Belt conference.

It would have been easier to criticize the decision if UNT would have made a dumb hiring move. But they didn’t. I see in this much of what I saw when Nebraska fired Frank Solich and Texas A&M fired R. C. Slocum. These programs fired what seemed to be good men who cared about their players and won games. Unfortunately, when the championships stopped coming, they were fired. However, those schools made good moves in who they hired to replace those men. It has worked out really well. Well I think that UNT did the same thing. They hired High School coach Todd Dodge. Todd Dodge has been the coach at Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, TX. What a job he has done. In the coming three to four years you will be hearing some names of his former players. In fact, you already have. Chase Daniel was the QB for Missouri this year and had a memorable first year as a starter.

With the recent success of former high school coaches in Division I A college football, it is possible that Dodge can do the job. Houston head coach Art Briles and Arkansas Offensive Coordinator Gus Malzahn have been successful this year. Houston won the Conference USA Championship. Arkansas won the SEC West Title with Malzahn helping make Darren McFadden a surprising 2nd for the Heisman Trophy by using McFadden at different positions including QB in the much publicized “Wildcat” formation. Briles, just a few years ago was coaching at Sephenville High School in Texas, and Malzahn was the head coach for the Springdale High School Bulldogs, AR, just one year ago.

Dodge might be better than both. It really is not a surprise that he has this opportunity. Dodge coached at a High School program that has more emphasis and pressure than most college football programs from the Division I-AA level down, and some at the Division I A level. Before he came to Southlake, the Dragons were already pretty good. They won in the 80’s and 90’s with a run oriented option attack. He changed how they played offense and continued the tradition of winning. He started using the spread offense. Now, one can go watch a high school football game in Texas, and chances are one of the two teams will be running an offense that is similar to Dodges’ at Southlake. The Dragons have won two Mythological National Titles. Dodge knows how to bring excitement and honor to a program.

Dodge’s success at UNT will not only benefit the Mean Green. It can benefit the entire Sun Belt Conference. If he is successful, not just in conference play but outside of it as well, then the other programs will have to keep up. The level of football being played in the Sun Belt will eventually rise. Then, someone might be talking about a Sun Belt team crashing the BCS Party someday. Sounds crazy? It might be. However, with the help of a high school football coach who coaches a team which has a mythological creature (the Dragons) for a mascot and two Mythological High School National Championships, something that seems so, well, mythological, just might become very non-mythological.

Instead of posting a final poll before bowl season, I am going to lay out my playoffs scenario. I believe that the only way to decide clearly who the champions are, there needs to be a playoff. I am not going to address the arguments here, only lay out my playoffs. Therefore, we shall proceed.

The playoffs have 16 teams. This should ensure that the teams who should have a shot at the national title actually is in the hunt. We will give the bids to a combination of teams who deserve a shot and those who have earned a shot. Therefore, the conference champions of the BCS Bowl conferences will receive automatic bids. The other automatic bids will be awarded to the two highest ranked conference champions from the remaining conferences and the independents. Here are our automatic bids.

Ohio State (Big Ten)
Florida (Southeastern)
Oklahoma (Big 12)
USC (Pac 10)
Louisville (Big East)
Wake Forest (ACC)
Notre Dame (Independent)
Boise State (Western Athletic Conference)

The remaining at-large bids will belong to the highest ranked teams remaining. Just like the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament, seeds will be set based on the selection committee’s ranking which should follow one of the polls, most likely the Associated Press.

The at-large bids belong to:

Michigan (Big Ten)
LSU (SEC)
Wisconsin (Big Ten)
Auburn (SEC)
Arkansas (SEC)
West Virginia (Big East)
Virginia Tech (ACC)
Rutgers (Big East)

Our seeds are as follows.

1) Ohio State
2) Florida
3) Michigan
4) LSU
5) Louisville
6) Wisconsin
7) Oklahoma
USC
9) Boise State
10) Auburn
11) Notre Dame
12) Arkansas
13) West Virginia
14) Virginia Tech
15) Wake Forest
16) Rutgers

First rounds to be played on the campus of the higher seed.

1) Ohio State vs. 16) Rutgers
2) Florida vs. 15) Wake Forest
3) Michigan vs. 14) Virginia Tech
4) LSU vs. 13) West Virginia
5) Louisville vs. 12) Arkansas
6) Wisconsin vs. 11) Notre Dame
7) Oklahoma vs. 10) Auburn
USC vs. 9) Boise State

We will address other issues during the next post.

I missed a week, and a few things have happened. So, now I am trying to catch up. Here goes.

1. Ohio State–The Buckeyes await whomever the BCS sends their way after surviving the Michigan game in Columbus.
2. USC–The Trojans took out Notre Dame at home, and they have looked good since the loss to Oregon State.
3. Florida–The Gators beat rival Florida State and have Arkansas in the SEC Title Game.
4. Michigan–The Wolverines should not fall far after their gutsy showing at Ohio State. They showed that they would be a tough playoff team.
5. LSU–The Tigers are playing their best ball, and I am sure they would like to have back Auburn and Florida. LSU beat a good Arkansas team in Little Rock Saturday. They await the bowl selections.
6. Wisconsin–The Badgers are heading to the Capital One Bowl, and they have a 11-1 record to show for it.
7. Arkansas–The Razorbacks may have lost to a more talented team in LSU, but they get to play in Atlanta and could be the SEC Champs. Much of this can be attributed to one of the best backs in the country in Darren McFadden and his back up Felix Jones. When Arkansas can throw the ball, they are dangerous.
8. Louisville–The Cardinals still have a shot at a BCS Bowl. If they beat UConn and Rutgers loses at West Virginia, Louisville will be Big East Champions.
9. Oklahoma–The Sooners were not even on my radar two weeks ago, but my how things change. They won out, and Texas lost two. Now, the Sooners are headed to the Big 12 Title Game. They have to play a tough Nebraska team.
10. Boise State–The Broncos went 12-0 with new coach. Undefeated in any conference where the teams play each other every year and rivalries are established is very difficult to do. The Broncos have earned a spot in the BCS, and it remains to be seen if they will take advantage of it like Utah did two years ago.

Games to Watch

Arkansas vs. Florida–The Gators are hoping for a Bruin miracle, but they better be ready for Arkansas. The Razorback ground game is at its best, scorching LSU for over 300 yards. The Hogs just need to be able to complete a few passes (like more than three) to close out the best Razorback season since 1988 with a birth in the BCS.
Oklahoma vs. Nebraska–Gone are the days of Switzer and Osborne. These are new days, and the option has left each program. Oklahoma gets my vote of Resilient Team of the Year. Nebraska finished the way people thought they would.
Rutgers vs. West Virginia–This one is for the Big East’s representative to the BCS. Rutgers goes if it wins. If the Mountaineers win, it’s Louisville. There should be electricity in Morgantown, WV Saturday Night.

The obvious choice here is Michigan at Ohio State. But there are three other games involving ranked teams. My advice is to order a couple of large pizzas, have some soda ready, and maybe some chicken wings.

Michigan vs. Ohio State–So many storylines are involved in this one. Both teams have perfect records, the Big Ten Title is at stake, these two teams have one of the biggest rivalries in college football, Jim Tressel has had a lot of success against Michigan’s Lloyd Carr, there are four or five legitimate Heisman candidates between the two teams including Ohio State QB Troy Smith, and, oh yeah, the winner gets a spot in the BCS National Championship Game. Any questions?

California vs. USC–The Pac 10 Championship is at stake in LA, and if USC wins it still has a chance to go to the BCS National Championship Game.

Maryland vs. Boston College–Maryland continues its march toward the ACC Title Game, but they have to win at Boston College which is tough to do. A win by Boston College can make things interesting in the Atlantic Division of the ACC.

Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest–The Demon Deacons have to win to set up a showdown with Maryland next week for the Atlantic Division Title in the ACC. Both Wake Forest and Virginia Tech are hot and this should make for some good football in November.

1. Ohio State–The new “Game of the Century” is this week when the Buckeyes host the Michigan Wolverines. The two teams have been screaming toward each other on a collision course since Michigan blasted Notre Dame earlier this season.
2. Michigan–See above.
3. Florida–The Gators have passed another major test. Saturday they beat the shadow of Steve Spurier. There is that one loss at Auburn.
4. USC–The Trojans played really well Saturday, and their loss to Oregon State may have been the wake up call that Pete Carroll’s team needed.
5. Arkansas–The Hogs dominated Tennessee Saturday. Darren McFadden was, in fact, unstoppable. The Vols had no answers for him and the rest of the Razorbacks. One more win for the Hogs, and they play in Atlanta for the SEC Title.
6. West Virginia–The Mountaineers still have a chance to win the Big East. Rutgers has to come to Morgantown.
7. Notre Dame–The Irish have been winning, and they stay alive in their quest for a BCS Bowl.
8. LSU–The Tigers won’t go away. They took care of business beating Alabama on Saturday. QB JaMarcus Russell was 18 for 21 passing against the Crimson Tide.
9. Rutgers–It is hard to ignore what the Scarlet Knights did to Louisville Thursday night. This is truly a magical season for Rutgers, but they have to go to Morgantown, WV in three weeks.
10. Wake Forest–The “Fighting Baptists” have had an impressive run in the ACC. They knocked off then ranked Boston College and have beaten everybody else except Clemson. They just seem to get better. Anyone who can beat a Bobby Bowden team in Tallahassee 30-0 is becoming a good football team.

Teams that Are Close

Wisconsin–The Badgers are going to be 11-1 when they beat Buffalo Saturday. That is an amazing feat in the Big Ten. Unfortunately, they are going to accomplish that without beating a single ranked team.
Texas–The Longhorns are still a good team. QB Colt McCoy suffered an injury in the first quarter. He should probably return by the A&M game or the Big 12 Title game.
Louisville–The Cardinals still have a lot to play for. If they win out and West Virginia beats Rutgers, they can tie for the Big East Title.