University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: Is The Confidence In The Air?
8/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, August 8 2009, 7:47 p.m.
"We will!" exclaims Todd Dodge. "Win!" Is the new cry from the North Texas team huddle as it breaks for drills. Day 2 is in the books for North Texas and a few more interesting items to talk about after two practices. We will continue on with our parlor game of what we know and what we need to know.
What we know after today is that Desmond Brigham is worth keeping an eye on. The young receiver from Caddo Mills, made a couple of spectacular grabs today and was singled out by Coach Dodge after practice as the player of the day.
"He's got all the physical tools that you want in a receiver, we just need to get him confidence."
I might argue after today that's not a problem. With the opportunity in front of him to crack the two-deep, Brigham was seen probably as a wild card coming out of the spring. He didn't really do much then, but through the first two-days, his confidence level seems to have caught up to his talent.
We also can safely agree that Nathan Tune is what you want and need in a back-up role at QB. He's big, strong, knows the offense, and looks more and more comfortable every day. And stop right there, he isn't going to challenge Riley for the starting job, and Tune will even admit to that.
What we still need to know, special teams. Will Atterberry has a lot of potential, but he's a true freshman and the job is his. As far as the coverage game goes a lot of starters and regulars are playing on those units, which leads you to deduct that will make it better. But nothing so far has been done yet to ease my fears.
I still can't say I know much about the defensive line yet. It's been a lot of individual technique teaching, the down and dirty stuff. Until the pads are on, it's going to be impossible to tell.
You wouldn't know that this team was 3-21 the last two years through the first two days of camp. Of course everyone has a rosy, optimistic view of the new year in August, hell every thinks they are going 12-0 right now.
The players are as motivated as ever. They know the doubters are there, watching under the trees, wanting doom and gloom, hoping, praying for failure. And instead of not caring like previous years, this team does. There is an air of confidence that hasn't been around this team in at least two years, maybe not since the start of the 2005 season.
During a water break in years past, it was your typical football grab....you know what....This year, its players screaming and yelling at each other. Motivating each other, picking each one up, making sure they all are together.
Pretty easy to do when your 0-0, but this team knows what losing feels like. It wants that feeling to be gone.
There is a ton of time between now and Ball State, but seeing is believing, so you don't need to believe what I'm telling you, but you need to come see it for yourself.
