re: Johnny Jones

despite living 360 miles away, i'd buy season tickets if JJ came back.

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he would not be considered for a job at LSU from what I understand under no circumstances.

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I'm good with that. He and Dale's teams gave me some great memories...thanks, and let's leave it at that.

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IMO I think we should have kept Butch.

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For head coach? Couldn't we do better than a guy with 10 games HC experience?

Let's let Trent have a fair shot then we'll talk.

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How many years would be considered fair?

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Depends on how much progress we show IMHO. If by next year we're still losing to directional schools consistently and are still below .500 in the SEC, I think it would be fair to put Trent on notice.

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Next year, if there is not significant improvement, Trent should be fired IMO.

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I wouldn't argue that. I think there will be...we'll see.

Okay, let's take a step back and have an objective discussion about this. I know many of you are much closer to the program and have been for many years and have much more insight into the details of the Lester Earl scandal than I. However...

Jake, I have a hard time believing you as well since you keep changing your facts. That may be attributed to the amount of time that has passed, but while you can throw a bunch of names around, I can too go to lsusports.net and look at the rosters and their hometowns.

First, let's look at our present situation. This season we are currently 7-5. That's not a horrible record YET, except look at who our losses have come to. Memphis is the only one that could be considered a major program. We also did the unpardonable by losing to an in-state school. That hadn't been done since (correct me if I have the year wrong) 1988? Even Brady rebuilding under draconian sanctions didn't do that. Now we were 11-20 and 2-14 in the SEC last year. Subtract the record in the SEC and our nonconference record was 9-6, similar to the situation we are in now. If there isn't significant improvement in the program next year, then Trent needs to be let go.

Secondly, many of you on here point to the glory days from 78-90s under Coach Dale Brown. You long for those days when the PMAC was the Deaf Dome, when LSU was an elite basketball program, when he did so much for so many people, and could motivate average teams to great things. Now, you fell out of love for him when his last several teams were terrible and when he became mired in the Lester Earl scandal that ended with the virtual death penalty for the program.

However, all I hear is allegations made by those who can't get their stories straight, both Brown and Jones were cleared of wrongdoing by the NCAA, and we have,conveniently,ten years after the fact an apology letter by Lester Earl who admitted to lying about many of his claims, personally apologizing to both Dale and Johnny including the "supposed 'little things'" he said about Johnny. (Maybe his conscience was bothering him but perhaps there is more to why it took so long).

No one is saying that there were not infractions committed. However, NOTHING has been proven to be directly linked to Johnny Jones. In the thirteen years since the debacle, name me one story or whiff of a story of recruiting scandal surrounding him in his various coaching stints. Remember he was the recruiting genius who helped bring Shaq, Chris Jackson, and Randy Livingston to LSU. If Randy hadn't blown both his knees, we might not even be having this discussion today. The recruiting class that he was in (Class of '93) was the #1 class in the nation that year. Remember also, that he was the assistant under Dale from 1980-1997 (someone might correct me there if he became assistant a little later). So he was a part of much of the glory years that LSU men's basketball experienced.

Now, if he was a crook and as much of a screwball as many claim, so be it. However, if he was not PERSONALLY responsible for major infractions, or if was responsible for some minor infractions as part of dirty recruiting practices that went on during Dale's tenure and has since cleaned up his act, shouldn't he be given a fair second chance to restore his honor and through him maybe the hard feelings against Dale might get put to rest?

Perhaps, if Trent continues not to pan out, and Johnny in a few seasons is still available, why not give him a shot (perhaps 1 or 2 seasons) to bring major improvement to the program. If we would collectively take a deep breath and give him due consideration, the time might be right. If he is able to recruit as he once did, and halfway coach (he couldn't do a worse job than Trent currently is), could there be a sort of revival of LSU basketball of sorts? Surely if he can do what he is doing with talent in the Sun Belt, what can he do with SEC talent?

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Jake, I have a hard time believing you as well since you keep changing your facts. That may be attributed to the amount of time that has passed, but while you can throw a bunch of names around, I can too go to lsusports.net and look at the rosters and their hometowns.

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There is another person who commented on this thread that worked for that company one summer and can vouch for what I am saying.

Everyone in Tiger country needs to step away from the crack pipe!!! Look at all the former allegations concerning Johnny Jones. Y'all don't need to look at UNT's coach Johnny Jones, just pass him over and go to the next qualified candidate on your list once everyone's tired of TJ's production. I'm sure he'll turn it around for Tiger country and y'all will be happy!!! My guess is you'll continue to get spanked by 20 when you come to our house next year!!!

On the serious side I don't want y'all to come calling on Johnny Jones because he's a great coach!!! UNT is blessed to have him. Before he came to UNT we were truly a directional school with good BB facilities (from Blakely (sp) era) but we'd might as well have been given the BB death penalty!!! 4-something loss seasons for years with our last NCAA tournament in 88 I believe.

It took JJ time (around 5yrs) to build us a program that was making progress, but won 20 games in fifth year. Difference between UNT and LSU, UNT has no SEC affiliation and school name recognition was and is squat compared to LSU. From my point of view TJ is a bust and LSU should throw him overboard as fast as possible. If it means LSU comes calling on Johnny Jones then my opinion changes and TJ is the best coach ever, on the level of John Wooden!!!

Johnny Jones is building UNT to be the next Butler, Gonzaga, or Xavier!!! I'd just a soon have everyone overlook Mr. Jones until he finishes that process and our BOR has no choice but to match any offer other big school's that come a calling on JJ offer!!! This is wishful think in my part to a point (a little Mean Green Kool aid drinking here).

LSU may kick UNT's arse at the swamp 69+ to 10 in football, but not in Basketball!!! I'd appreciate everyone on Tiger Rant not referring to us as a directional school. Johnny Jones an LSU alumni deserves that much respect from other LSU fans and Alumni's for what he's built at UNT.

I've watch our program over the years and Johnny Jones has had his share of difficult, but talented players and he's disciplined them accordingly, some stayed at UNT some left. To Johnny's credit I've never seen him or his staff do anything below board from a recruiting standpoint or any other while running our program!

I hope LSU never comes a calling, does Johnny Jones deserve the call, most defiantly!!! Mr. Jones and company earned it. Truthfully I thought LSU's AD was drawing up a contract at halftime when we were up 14!!!

Johnny Jones is the "MAN", our "MAN" so stay away!!! LSU had it's shot and blew it so put your money on TJ he's the way to go!!!

See you next year at the "PIT", our arena seats 10,000 Plus so call our ticket office early and get your tickets now!!! Here's to another 20 something spanking from UNT next year. We'll be reloading our team next year, but Johnny recruited the 31 best class in the country. The only 2 Texas school's to out recruit Johnny Jones were Baylor and Texas. Our returning players and freshmen class will play better fundamental basketball then we saw LSU's young class play against us a few days ago while getting schooled and spanked by UNT. Sorry for the continued references to UNT's spanking of LSU, but it was a form LSU alumni and assistant coach that made it happen!!!

Stay away from Johnny Jones he's our coach!!! All you LSU fans get on the TJ bandwagon now, the train's leaving the station.

:spank: :spank:

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the system is corrupt. johnny and dale just got caught up in the selective prosecution

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johnny was made the scape goat for the LE allegations

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TRUTH!

I'll be watching. UNT will go to the Dance from our Sunbelt auto bid. The SEC will have how many teams going??? Will LSU be one of them? Everyone on your board wonders if y'all will win 6 conference games. That would put y'all at 13 or 14 wins and something loses. Good enough to make the tournament?

We're concerned if we can win ever game in our conference this year...bank it. The belts pretty weak this year!!!

Bottom line...LSU dancing or in NIT...Big fat NO!!!

UNT...Dancing. Be sure to catch us playing as one of your own made it all possible.

time to bring him home.