SMU mention in USA TODAY story on UNT RB's

[overcusser]

UNT got some front page ink from USA TODAY. SMU mentioned...

Neither Cobbs in 2003 nor Thomas in 2004 was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation's best running back by the Dallas-based SMU Athletic Forum....

[Ramon] Flanigan, a former Southern Methodist quarterback, suspects this all has to do with SMU, a traditional football school, looking down on North Texas. "It would not look good for (SMU officials) for a little, poor school up the road to win their prestigious award. But those are things which drive our kids and our coaches."


http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/sunbelt/2005-08-14-north-texas-sun-belt_x.htm

[Bocephus]

The fact that Thomas was not listed as a finalist last year was an abomination.

[Mustangs35SMU]

All I have to say is...

[huntnfish]

you can argue whether or not Thomas should have won the award or not, but there is not doubt he should have been a finalist---Thomas can flat out run the football

[DiamondM]

Our own alum is perpetuating the myth that SMU has some sort of control over who is a finalist and who is not for the Doak Walker Award? Pretty sad. Can't believe he's dissing the school that gave him a 12 year scholarship, or some where around there.

[BrianTinBigD]

It might have more to do that we turned him down as our Offensive Coordinator than anything else. Still think that it was a mistake on our part. Then again, these are common mistakes that we make around here thanks to our crappy AD.

[EastStang]

The head coach chooses the coordinators not the AD. The AD might require that you shake up your staff, but doesn't say who the coach has to select because that can create problems in the locker room. That said, Thomas was a decent running back last year, but its hard to argue with any of the finalists selected, and SJ gets another chance this year.

[GoRedGoBlue]

you can argue whether or not Thomas should have won the award or not, but there is not doubt he should have been a finalist---Thomas can flat out run the football

Ok, name one 'other' finalist that you would have taken off that list...

And tell me where this FRESHMAN RB from NTex would have been drafted relative to the other Doak Finalists...

Last I checked, he played in the Sun Belt and was only a freshman.

Now, I am not saying he isn't going to be great, but lets see him repeat his performance against Big10, or Big12, or SEC competition, week in and week out.

jeez

[LonghornFan68]

/\ The man speaketh the truth.

[overcusser]

Did you read the article?

"Thomas set a I-A freshman record with six 200-plus yards rushing games and tied a I-A record (for any class) of five 200-yard rushing games in a row. That record had been held by Southern California's Marcus Allen and Oklahoma State's Barry Sanders."

For that alone he should have been a finalist. and your argument about the competition he faced is moot.

" Because the Sun Belt competition isn't perceived as strong as the Big 12's might be one reason the North Texas players are bypassed. But Dickey noted that Thomas averaged 6.9 yards last year against three Big 12 teams and 6.6 against Sun Belt teams"

[SmooPower]

He wasn't a finalist because his name wasn't Adrian Peterson.