University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: Catching Up With an Old Friend
7/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Eric Capper, July 21, 2009, 2:19 p.m.
Despite what some might think, I don’t spend every weekend during the summer on the golf course. Last weekend, however, an old friend flew in from out of town and he and I were on the links most of Saturday and Sunday spanking that little white ball all over the course.
That friend has a schedule similar to mine and we have to get as much golf in as we can before August, because once football starts, my clubs are relegated to the attic where they remain until the next spring. During our two rounds of golf over the weekend, he and I talked a lot about North Texas football. You see, he has a special place in his heart for the Mean Green and is always interested in the state of the program. He has two degrees from North Texas that he may one day put to good use. For now, he is making a living off of the credentials he earned on the football field.
Patrick Cobbs led the nation in rushing as a junior in 2003 and left North Texas as the school’s all-time leading rusher. He is about to begin his fourth year with the Miami Dolphins, where he has earned the respect of coaches with his work ethic, humility and his willingness to play special teams.
His talent has had a little something to do with his ability to make it in the NFL, but it is those other character traits that will always make him a one of the most likeable players in Mean Green history. And Patrick cares about this university and this football program! He is at the team hotel every time we go to Miami to play Florida International or Florida Atlantic. He wears Mean Green apparel around the training facilities in Miami and all of his NFL teammates are well aware of his allegiance to his alma mater. He sends numerous text messages to me throughout every game during the season to find out the score. He donates items and signs autographs for athletic department fundraisers. He wears his pride on his sleeve and he wants nothing more than to see this program be successful.
During his five years here, he was the type of player, student-athlete and member of society that we could all be proud of. Now that he has moved on, he is the type of alum and ambassador to this university that everyone should emulate. If in my role as a public relations practitioner for North Texas football I could work with people like him every year, my job would be a piece of cake. He was always the old stand-by. You need a player to attend a charity event? Send Patrick. You need a player to speak to elementary kids? Send Patrick. You need a player to player to show prospective recruits around campus? Send Patrick. You need a player to speak on behalf of the team to the media following a tough loss? Send Patrick. I know my guy Harvey Greene with the Dolphins PR staff must feel the same way.
Patrick was a player at North Texas during the heyday, being a part of four straight conference championship teams and four bowl appearances. We had a lot of great players during those years and it might be coincidence, but I believe good things happen to good people. Patrick Cobbs was one of many “good people” we had during that run. He believes that we still have good people around the program and that good things are bound to happen.
While he was in town, Patrick sat down with current defensive coordinator Gary DeLoach and reminisced about the good old days and talked about what it will take to get the program back to its winning ways. DeLoach summed it up by telling him we need players who are passionate about football and passionate about North Texas just like he was (and still is).
Cobbs is watching and waiting for the excitement to return and he feels confident that it will. Just before leaving town Sunday, Patrick caught up with offensive line coach Spencer Leftwich and the two parted with simple words that illustrate his commitment.
“Good luck this year,” Leftwich said. “We’ll be watching you.”
“Thanks,” Cobbs replied. “I’ll be watching you too.”
He will… and I will have the cell phone bill to prove it.
