University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: Who Didn't Get In
7/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Steven Bartolotta, July 30, 2010, 12:06 p.m.
The names Cobbs, Galbreath, Hagler, and Moturi are now forever immortalized in North Texas Athletic history with their induction this year into the Hall of Fame. All four will be celebrated and honored, but with these types of announcements there are often times bigger debates about who didn't get in. Who got snubbed?
With each passing year, I can say that the bar has been raised to get into the Hall of Fame. I sit in the room; I hear the talk and expectations that the committee wants to see.
For the younger football generation, the two names that jump off the sheet are Scott Hall and Brandon Kennedy. I certainly don't speak for the other nine voting members but here's my opinion on the two.
Hall was a natural leader who didn't put up the big stats but reminds me so much of a Phil Simms type quarterback. Huge stats? Not there. Overwhelming talent? Nope. Speed? Afraid not. Great arm? Uh no.
But what he did do more than anything else was win. Hall was a winner, plain and simple. The argument against Hall goes something like this. He didn't put up great numbers, the teams he played on had much more worthy individuals and Hall was just one of many pieces.
Hall can be painted into the corner as the guy who played Bernie in Weekend at Bernies. Nobody knows his name, but everyone knows the movie wouldn't have been any good without him.
The argument to make against that is that would those teams have been so successful without a guy like Hall? Well 2002 with Andrew Smith makes you believe so, but I don't.
Hall was a tough as nails quarterback who led North Texas to a stretch of success that's going to be hard to equal. He made the plays when they had to be made. Mistakes were rare. Success is a hard measuring stick to overlook.
I think Hall gets into the Hall eventually, but it might be a few more years.
Kennedy should be in the Hall of Fame very soon. His credentials stand alone as one of the best defensive lineman to play at North Texas since Mean Joe. His time is coming, he will get in.
There are also arguments to be made for Cody Spencer, Andy Brewster, Nick Zuniga, and maybe even Taylor Casey. But of that group, I don't think more than one ever makes it in.
For old-timers, Marcus Camper, John Lott, and a few others are frequently brought up. They are still on a lot of radars, but in my opinion Camper is the only one who stands a chance.
Other sports you have the likes of Melinda Pina, Leonard Hopkins, Anaka Clark, and D.T. Woodson.
Kendrick Davis and Calvin Watson are coming up as well. Are they HOF worth? Ahhh maybe.
There will also be new names added to the mix every year and I'm sure some I can't remember right now.
But the enshrinement of the 2010 class will add another layer of greatness to the NT Athletic Hall of Fame. And as you can see, there are plenty of others who will be added that will do just that in years to come.
