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Lauren will not be around, but you will find plenty of other talent around. I know there's a lot of talent in Texas, but I promise will not be disappointed on our campus. The best advice I can give you is to hire our President. PLEASE HIRE HIM!!!!! Won't even touch the last one. Folks in Texas hashing out racial sensitivity criticism is like Lane Kiffin giving a speach about running a clean program.

Stopped reading after this" UNT played their first fall football scrimmage Saturday morning. While I was unable to attend'"

At the end of last season, when we were on our winning streak... We DID get notably larger crowds. We pulled 4400 people to watch basketball in Denton on a Thursday night against ULL. We had just under 4700 here to see a DISMAL Arkansas-Little Rock team the Saturday before. Winning DOES boost attendance. In 2002, we hosted TCU for an early December midweek game. Both teams came in with a winning record. Attendance was just under 3150. In 2003, we hosted Baylor in an early December midweek game. Both teams came in with a winning record, and we won. The attendance was 2,173. In 2004, we had TCU at home on a Saturday during the first weekend of December. Again, both teams had winning records, and we had attendance just over 3,600. 2005, hosted Houston the week of Christmas. Not the best for a regular comparison, given the holiday, but we barely cracked 4100. 2006, our marquee OOC game was Tulsa, unfortunately the week of Thanksgiving. Not a great comparison given the holiday, but definitely our best home OOC game. Both winning records, attendance was under 1950. In 2007, we hosted Indiana State on a Saturday, right after our huge win against Oklahoma State. We were undefeated. Attendance was just 2,531. Now that winning isn't a novel thing... When we're wrapping up a 4th straight 20 win season and in the middle of an 11 game win streak... Our bottom feeder Hyphenate/Directional conference opponents are outdrawing most of our marquee OOC foes from the previous decade. NOBODY was coming to see an 8-22 Arkansas-Little Rock team. People turned out to see North Texas, because we were winning and they were games that mattered to NORTH TEXAS. Go back and look at what our final conference game attendance figures were like before the first NCAA bid. Even during that first 20 win year, we sure as heck weren't pulling 4500+ crowds. When we played Jackson State last Thanksgiving week, it outdrew what we brought in for TULSA the same time in 2006. It was NINE PEOPLE less than what we got for Baylor in 2003. When a SWAC team is outdrawing a CUSA team that we think will solve our interest and attendance woes in other sports, I'd say that's a pretty clear sign that the winning is bringing in new fans. Winning IS building our attendance. Winning IS building the overall interest in the basketball program. GrandGreen mentioned this elsewhere, but there were more NT fans in Oklahoma City (Ticket price: $66 compared to $90 for NT season tickets last year) than I've seen the past 4 years at SBC tournaments. And speaking of the SBC tournament... We keep bringing bigger and bigger crowds. Not just to finals, but people are driving and students are busing their way up for quarter and semifinal games. Every one of the bus kids from last March that saw us clinch that berth is probably an NT basketball fan for life now. Winning is already making a huge difference. With a very winnable game against Texas Tech as our first real home game, home games against UTA, Rice, Texas State... Coupled with the heat we've still got from last season and this year's early recruiting... This could be a huge jump in overall season attendance average.

If that were true we'd have nothing but a team of Dan Dickau clones.

I know stadiums aren't the be-all end-all of college athletics (see: Nevada-Reno), but that said, I had the chance to drive by the new Mansfield High School stadium and the recently renovated Texas St stadium on a recent road trip. Just about the same. Seriously. While Texas St. deos have very nice press box facilities, it is Tiny. Yes, with a capital T. The student side is about a quarter of the size of the student side at Fouts. The alum side is not much bigger. Looked like it could hold 14 or 15k. Zero parking facilities. And this is after recent renovations. Think about that the next time you really thing they are passing us by. Think about that the next time you consider existing in the same conference with them.

TigerPete...put the lotion in the basket Don't act like you're not comfortable with this. I'm sure you have a Jad Dean jersey or two lying around the house.

I agree that our record is not what has been holding us back, per se. What's held us back has always been our culture.

I am amused by the delusional La Tech fans but also chagrined a bit at the number of fatalistic NT posters. There is a great chance that there will not be an opening in CUSA and there are numerous ways to fill it if one does occur. However, assuming it does come down to La Tech and NT. Outside of the intangibles, who likes who and who is afraid of who, if it comes down to the raw data; NT is an easy choice. Here are some quick comparisons of key factors taking from online sources inclusive of school websites. As an aside I am very skeptical of almost all university reported data, but that basically is the only source for most of the information. 1. football success, what everyone seems to consider first:, . No doubt, NT has been one of the worst programs in the nation, but La Tech is not exactly stellar. La Tech won 4 games last year over NMSU, Hawaii, San Jose State and Nicholls State. They lost to Idaho and Utah State; two old Belt mates. Over the last decade; NT has been 42-78 versus La Tech's 52-69. La Tech would get a small edge here, but both schools are in trouble based on this criterion. 2. Resources are I believe the biggest factors in a logical decision, that will ultimately define a school's progress. Last years reported operating expenses were $14,651,000 for La Tech versus NT's 16,449,000. NT with the recently approved increase of $7 per hour which will not come on stream till 2011 will give NT an enormous edge not only over La Tech but a lot of the non-AQ competition. Granted the majority of these funds will not immediately go into operational budgets, but they will go into athletic program. The fee can be increased by 10% without vote annually until it hits the state max of $20 per hour. La Tech currently has no student athletic fees, but with a student body of 10,564 compared to NT's 34,710; NT will always have a huge advantage. I have no numbers but I would imagine that La Tech does a much better job of getting direct contributions. It is hoped the new stadium and such will spur NT to much better results in an area that must be improved. With probably 4 times the alums of La Tech, this is an area that NT should expect to eclipse La Tech very quickly. NT has an advantage in resources which should expand greatly 3. Facilities are another area that La Tech IMO cannot compete. La Tech's football stadium was build in 1968 with several major renovations since then and now seats a reported 30.600. Their basketball arena was build in1987 and has a capacity of 7,720. I am sure La Tech has made improvements to their football stadium since I was there and they plan major improvements. Frankly, I thought their stadium other then not having a track was worse than Fouts last time I was there. The BB arena is ok but not close to the Super Pit. I have not seen their other facilities but I can't fathom that they would be on a par with NT. Facilities is a big plus for NT. 4. Attendance average reported for last years football games. La Tech had a miraculous 20,000 even last year versus NT's 18,228. I give NT a slight edge here as La Tech had at least one good draw Boise State at home and considering 5 wins in three years; NT has been better than expected. 5. Media Market, no matter how La Tech fan's want to spin this one, NT has a major advantage. From "Market Track" DFW is the fifth largest market in the nation with 2,544,000 households. La Tech believe that they are a big factor not only in their market; Monroe La/ El Dorado Ar (177,200 households) but Shreveport (386,180). Giving them that, their total market is 560,000 households. They claim they control much more of their market than NT does the DFW because they are the only fb division school and there is no pro competition. I can only guess they think the 80,000 that go to cowboy games on Sunday are hurting college attendance. The issue with pro teams is through TVs and other media dominance, not live attendance and as far as I know Shreveport can get televised Saints games as well as the Cowboys. Likewise LSU and SEC games versus UT and Big 12 games, are the same issue. As far as sharing DFW with two private FB division schools, my guess is that 2,000,000 extra households trumps that point. 6. Geography is a two edged sword. The only down side for NT is it to close to other CUSA members that they fear increased competition. I keep seeing a familar point on both NT and LT sites, SMU will block NT entrance to CUSA. Maybe, but they have signed a contract for long term football games. They could just come to their senses and realize that it would be good for the fans and the budget. As far as travel, I would think NT has an edge with two major airports 30 miles away and I doubt many are in a hurry to go to Ruston. 7. Academics are always bannered about, but I don't think it will be a factor. Actually La Tech and NT are not far apart. Some stats from "College Stats" are retainment LT 72%, NT 74%; Graduation rate: LT 47%, NT 44%, Acceptance rate; LT 66%, NT 65%: 75 percentile ACT; LT 20 (SAT not reported), NT 21(SAT 1200) and student to faculty ratio; LT 88 to 12, NT 91 to 9, From schools sites, NT's admission standards are higher. La Tech reguires incoming freshmen to have either a 2.5/4.0 hs GPA, top quarter of class, or 23 ACT or 1050 SAT. NT automatically admits top 10% of hs class compared to LT top 25%. Next 15% at NT require 950 SAT or 20 ACT and second quarter 1050 SAT or 23 ACT (Any student would gain admission to La Tech with these scores). As far as degrees offered bachelors; NT 97, LT 82; masters; NT 101, LT 57; Doctors; NT 48, LT 9. 8. Other sports with the exception of MBB will be minor points . La Tech has a good basketball program but not up to NT in last few years. I don't think the lack of baseball will hurt NT at all. If CUSA required it, NT would have one next year. 9. Potential is an intangible that should make the decision. La Tech is limited by size and location. They are a relatively small school in a relatively small market in a state with severe economic problems despite a lot of support from their fan base; it is tough to visualize them significantly improving. NT of course is loaded with potential but has failed to significantly improve over its history. I can see NT in the next decade having 45,000 students with an additional 20,000,000 dollars flowing in from student activity fees plus greatly increased outside fund raising. NT should have state of the art non-AQ facilities. I don't see how Louisiana Tech can come close. In summary, neither La Tech or NT may be chosen for anything or La Tech may be picked because they are not North Texas. But look at some of the stats and don't assume NT has nothing to offer or is not in a fairly good position.

Please don't let yourselves fall into the trap that if only we had been winning the last four years in football, UNT would be a better candidate for CUSA, MWC or in the BIG 8 or whatever. The success of most teams on the field rise and fall over the years. Look at how Texas after Darrel Royal and before the Mac Brown years struggled. Look at the top twenty over the last forty years and see the schools that have fallen. Some have come back, others are not to be found listed anymore. In 2004 the excuse was our facilities. Mainly, our football stadium. That is being fixed. Lets look at Southern Miss. They seem to be the most critical of UNT on the CUSA board. They are a small school, in a small town, in a state that no one cares about. Ingress and egress to Hattisburg is aweful. This school has peaked. Their success will never warrant building a stadium larger than what they have. They can never generate the income that UNT can. If they raise ticket prices they price themselves out of the market. It is a poor state. The best they can do is feed off of a high profile conference like Houston, TCU, Rice, Baylor and SMU did while in the Southwest Conference. And as was pointed out by Arkstfan, the leeches listed above aren't rebuilding, they are building and in that respect UNT is is ahead of some of them and equal with the others. The New World Order of College football will demand that each school supports themselves. UNT with 36,000 students, 175,000 alumni in a 3 hours driving distance, located in a metro area with 7 million, projected to double in size by 2030, three major airports and plenty of entertainment in the area is by far a better candidate than Southern Miss and many of the current CUSA members. It's FEAR by the other schools that we will one day dominate their conference because we are a large, public University in a large metro area whose logistics are the best in the nation and we are located in a hotbed of high school talent in all sports! Go Mean Green!

We've got two lakes and a train across 35W, so screw TSU-SM.

MGB gave it 4 stars...Rivals gave it 2 stars... Max Emfinger yet to weigh in...but if he goes over 4 stars I'd say he's right. If not, Brett.

Looks like a Walmart Cowboys jersey.

UNT GOAL! 76th minute. Julie Lackey scores on an assist from Ellen Scarfone. Scarfone lobbed a pass over the MSU back line. The ball bounced pretty high and lackey headed it right over the head of the out charging keeper into the back of the net.

Silver Eagle is correct..it is the culture. Much of that culture was caused by university presidents who had no real idea or vision of where they wanted NT to go athletically. Essentially, they treated athletics as a somewhat necessary evil. This went on for decades. Now, since the beginning of this decade, we are finally getting athletics taken more seriously by senior administration. The fan base in the past never really got behind the teams, as there was no real vision presented to them for the maximization of NT's potential. Yes, I am talking about Hurley, Matthews, etc. Nolen was the exception and his vision brought us Blakeley and Fry.

There's a difference between saying it on this msg board and saying it on theirs. When we post over there, it looks like we are seeking out confrontation and actually care about what they are saying about us.

Demont Buice Fizzgig?

Phillip Fajgenbaum Brock Henderson Chuck Norris Donny McElveen Michael Phelps

Don't disagree with the premise that logic often takes back seat to politics, that is why there were many qualifications in that post. I do disagree with you that NT has virtually no clout. Just by virtue of size and location, NT does compare well versus the rest of the Belt and most non-AQ universites. NT is currently not competing with Notre Dame for a spot or even a SMU for that matter. As far as money, no NT certainly can not get the conference funds from tv contracts and other funds generated at the AQ conferences or CUSA or MWC. It does not get the massive donations of the established privates or the schools that are perceived as the states' teams such as Alabama, Tennessee, UT, A&M, Michigan, etc. However, compared to the teams in the MAC, Belt, whats left of the WAC and a lot of the MWC, NT is going to be in very good financial shape. What programs in the middle of nowhere are you referring to, my guess most are AQ schools that have been playing football at the highest level for decades (A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Mississippi, etc.). The focus of my post above was that NT does have a lot to offer and hopefully counter the many pessimistic comments from many NT fans. It just seems ridiculous to me to assume that schools that to do not have near the potential of NT, are always going to do better. IMO, NT is in a lot better position than they were when they were considered for CUSA . Many who only look at football, may think otherwise; but look at the big picture. The long team factors are looking better than ever and will be tough to match by other non-AQ programs.

When did SMU start delivering 100% of the north Dallas market?

Plus, the extra excitement of a train or two rumbling by during the game.

Lance for 237 yards. Nathan Thompson throws to the tune of 3 Dodge Fords. UNT 17 Clemson -2

Williams didn't play for the Mustangs, he played for Team Texas Elite. Rivals is very imprecise on many of the AAU teams for big local talent, for some reason.

Agree...However, if we do not start getting rears in the seats at the Pit for our home games there is not enough $$$$$ in the world to keep JJ at UNT. If you want to help JJ stay at UNT, buy season tickets and bring friends to the games...at least buy single game tickets when you can and bring friends. If we keep having 2500-300 in attendance it's probably over for JJ at UNT given the great job he is doing in having some great teams and great wins! Think it over...want to help...well, you can.....

Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt (since I couldn't buy a jersey).

Oh, I think you'll be pleased with Quoner's looks. Quoner has nice hams. That's what South Carolinians are into right? Hogs? I think I speak for most of us here when I predict at least a 28 point halftime deficit for Clemson to crawl out of. Final Score somewhere around 52-20: North Texas. After putting the KoolAid down, it will probably be somewhere around 49-10 Clemson. Clemson starters should be out by the 4th.

Those weren't hard-hitting, just asinine. Just wait for Sept 4 if you want to see real hard hitting. We'll see what you think about the "kitty-cats" around 7:00 Saturday.

Maybe we would spend it if the item was offered. We are offered a sub standard product that isn't accurate to our actual jersey and asked to spend the same amount of money as someone getting an accurate replica at the University of Delaware bookstore. That is what frustrates me. I have pride in this University and when I'm offered something I'm supposed to walk around wearing to show that pride that has been compare to something from Walmart you are right I'm going to hold on to my George Washingtons. The University of Delaware is able to do it there is no reason we can't, after all we are THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS!

Based on what I learned from you guys last year, we're at least 2 shady AAU coach hirings and a short-term fling with one of the biggest scumbag coaches of all time short of an Elite 8 run. Don't give up on us though!

Brandon Maye George Clinton

I need about 5 years worth

You may be right....but that mentions coaches EMPLOYED and grad assistants. How about volunteer coaches...who are working for no pay and no scholarship? I think we have a guy doing just that...for the O line (that guy who had played with Tampa Bay). Anyway, Rick isn't talking about one of these people being added to the staff...nor is he talking about someone being out there with them every day. (As I'm sure these aforementioned people don't have time for that). But a kicker (like these mentioned) might be able to observe a practice (or two) and help correct some technique problem which our coaches are overlooking.

Awesome. It's time to bring men's soccer to UNT.

So me and my wife headed up to campus today to move my niece into her dorm for her first year at UNT. Needless to say she was excited to to start her Mean Green life. As a side trip the better half let me take a drive over to the AC to see Valhalla, Nirvana, Eden if you will. I just about wanted to weep green tears of joy and happiness. I have tad time and again on the board that, "you just have to see it in person", " pictures don't do it justice", " wait until you see it up close" etc... Well I can' stress enough how true those words are. The new stadium will make Fouts look like the turd it is. I was absolutely blown away by the stadium even in it's current state. The field level is wayyyyyy below grade and the sight lines are simply amazing. Keep in mind that the portion we see from ground level will amount to the 2nd tier of seating. We will be practically be on top of the field in the lower bowl. Please take some extra time before the Rice game to d over to the AC to see the progress. It will be well worth the extra time. WOW Just WOW!

UNT takes the win 2-1!

If Wilson, Meager, Vizza or Dodge had had the same defense Hall and Smith had to play behind our QB situation would have never been an issue these past 5 years. Rick

After what some might agree was a bit of a shake'y start at UNT, I really believe Rick V has found his nitch in Denton. Even where we are right now in light of recent losing seasons, I think our future is very much more interesting than some of those schools now in CUSA who will never compete with our enrollment/alumnus numbers (and yes) still our unlimited potential. Folks, we can't change our past (of which we can learn much from I hope) but I think the University of North Texas has one helluva' future which can now be jumpstarted and all but put in warp speed because of a new Mean Green football palace presently being built between those 2 major Texas Interstates in the northern part of the (almost) 8 million populated Metroplex. What a location for a college football stadium! GMG!

True, but it's not apples to apples. What the hell do you do in El Paso or Boise for entertainment? True we are located in a larger metro area, but the standard for appeasing one's entertainment fix is a lot higher as well!

So I can't tell someone they were wrong on the internet, but you can tell me I am wrong....That makes sense....

I care about SMU basketball like I care about UTSA football. Meaning: I don't give a flying intercourse until they start competing on the D-1 level. They can all have fun in fantasy land. Meanwhile, we'll be over here racking up more 20 win seasons, NCAA berths, and National Top 150 commits.

Why is this such a secret that it isn't posted?

You can't lay this at the feet of the coaches. Olen was a highly rated and recruited coming out of high school.

You're right. The NCAA appearances and being the best team within a couple hundred miles will.

Circle the date - February 12 will be scheduled as a Denton Chapter-sponsored watching party.

You just can't drop it can you?

Put out a call to the men's soccer team...uhm, nevermind. GMG

Dawson Zimmerman O-Face

Wow, it's hard to top that - but here goes: Spencer Benton: Rod Stewart:

Larry Coker's hosting one. He said it's going to have 2 billion people and be bigger than the Super Bowl and World Cup combined.

culture is changing... I took my son to meet the teacher the other night at his school. His teacher is a 2010 NT grad. She had 4 or 5 NT items up on the wall in her class. My son likes her already.