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Wow, went to the Kickoff Cookout tonight and it's like a dream world. I couldn't believe how awesome that place is. RV is the man! I've attended all of these and I swear this just had a different feel. It's like everybody was walking around with their chests out and their chins a little higher, And I mean that in the good way like so proud of their team and school that has such an awesome home. It's like you always hoped it could be and now that you know it's real, you believe anything is possible. This was by far the best attended. I would guess 4,000. Coach spoke and I don't know it sounds corny but in the past when the coaches did their pep talk the crowd would kind of cheer but it was always sort of muted and like, well maybe we will. This time the cheers were, I don't know different. We believe now. It really is happening. The Eagle Wing is genius. Whoever came up with that design is awesome. All through the evening people were making the trek up to those corners. I did it as well, and it's a hike. 47 rows. But an awesome view. On the way back to the lot we saw some folks with a tailgate tent. We went over and talked to them an gave the credit for first ever tailgate at the new stadium. They had arrived as students in 1971 so 40 years later they were celebrating. It will take some time before the rest of the world finds out but we are rising up. Go Mean Green! P.S. RV is the man! And so are the students and especially UNTFlyer for getting the athletic fee passed. I raise my glass to you sir.

+1, but just think of it: a college program becomes the best in the world in its field, and honors, talent, and money flow into it. You've got to hate that kind of thing.

Maybe we should encourage our music department to start sucking so people would quit contributing to it.

Sure looks nice....also, I think they used KingDL1's pictures. World Stadiums - Mean Green Stadium

The sun issue is no different for the students then it was at fouts...i dont know how many games the last 4 years while i was a student that i didnt fry...and it was still worth it to me to watch our team play (though we never won a game that i saw) i just drank LOTS AND LOTS.... of bottled water

Not disputing what Lifer posted as far as total people who came through, but if I was guessing, I would have put the number at around 3K or so. I talked to a staffer and asked point blank: "How's the turnout?" Her answer was "Fantastic. Much better than we expected. We had over a thousand RSVP, and the walkup has been amazing. Everybody wants to see the new place." Personally, I thought it was a great turnout, and the looks on faces shouted "Wow! First class!" It's terrific for UNT. Truly a first class facility, and the equal of any program in this part of the country. I asked my wife what she thought of the place--pointedly referencing Ford, and she said "Oh, it's nicer. No question." And, as I expected--the wing zone had more people crawling over it and perched atop it than probably many thought. I took a look at the number of rows, and to give a size comparison, the Wing Zone has 46 rows into the "points" at each end. The top row of the upper deck at DKR has 53. Obviously there are differences in size, but that gives a comparison, and it's pretty imposing. Terrific view up there, and could really provide home field advantage in that end. Here's a few photos from our visit.

Great event. The wing zone is crazy high with 137 steps from it's base at the mezzanine to the wing tip. Id guess it's 6 to 8 stories high? I like how the wind blew through the concourse on the south end keeping it rather cool in what had to be a good test for a hot day. And the press box is high enough that for a 6 pm kickoff half the field is shadowed so the home side will have plenty of shade for the September sun. I was impressed with the field and how soft it was to run on. The players are going to love it. I get the feeling with the size of the crowd that showed today that parking is going to be a nightmare on game day. Gonna have to get there early for sure. There's going to be some great spots to tailgate though, no doubt about it. The Club area is much larger than I thought it would be, and at 12,000 sqft will be able to host just about any event you want in there. Also, they laid out the bonfire pond and surrounding landscaping in such a way that is set to make the North Texas homecoming a very unique experience than any other that people will not want to miss. Very cool! Its still being hammered out but I'm looking forward to seeing where they place Boomer on game days. I've spent nearly 100 hours on him this summer getting him ready for his new home. Can't wait to hear what he sounds like in that sucker. Gonna be very very loud! Rick

It is VERY obvious that Coach Mac was brought in with a mandate that he will, regardless of W/L record, sell the hell out of this program. Now, let me take a moment to throw some kudos towards a guy that deserves them. I see a lot of "nit picking" about the selection in the team store, the shape of our end zone, the way seat selection is handled, etc etc etc. Let's sit back and ponder this one fact though...Rick V has put in place a REAL coaching staff in a football stadium that gets compliments from those outside of our ranks daily! The staff that answers to him...and to us...in that AD's office is far and away improved from what it was even five years ago. The game day experience has improved year to year. And I won't even start on how much better the basketball program is from five years ago...though half our fans and the Denton community don't get it. Basically what I'm saying is this...Mac may be selling the hell out of this program, but RV has given a pretty sweet product to sell.

Tie the tubes on welfare recipients and your problem is solved. Right now they have an incentive to reproduce rather than actually contribute to society.

Don't worry, nobody is listening. Before the -1's keep rolling in from KNTU's dedicated listeners (lol, really?), I think it's sad that the school's dedicated station picks up .1 or nothing at all in Arbitron, largely thanks to a format that guarantees almost no students listen to it. It should be turned into a college station instead of something that 0.7% of all DFW listens to.

RIVALS Gave verbal to coach Mac last night. Pretty impressive beating out Arizona & Southern Miss Click here to view the article

Like Cooley posted earlier, I too, just sat in my seats looking at the kids playing in the turf. It was hard to believe I was at NT. This place is like that really great place you've visited in the past. The difference of course is that I was at MY home stadium. There were so many people there yesterday, we had to wait in line to get in the elevators. And once I got up to the Club Level, I was reluctant to wait in line to go back down. Thereby, I didn't get to hear Coach Mac or Rick V. But I did hear the cheers that came up from those that were able to hear the speeches. If I could critize anything about yesterday, it would be that the speeches be broadcast on the PA system. And perhaps show the speech on the Mean Green-a-tron. A great day. I took 3 guests and they were all astounded. "I had no idea that North Texas had anything like this." Great job Rick V. You've really given us something to be proud of. Now Coach Mac, it's your turn. If you haven't, Make a contribution to the Mean Green Club Make a contribution to the new stadium fund Buy season tickets and of course, GO MEAN GREEN

Bull. More people across the world are aware of the UNT College of Music than anything else the school does. And if athletics is a "window to the university," so is music, though largely to a different set of people. But do you know what? Some of those people have money, and donate to the College of Music who wouldn't be donating anything to the university. Is that so bad? Kind of like how you obviously only care about yours? Music major here, and I know plenty of others who care about our university as a whole. And you will certainly never find me complaining about a contribution that another program received. Your ignorance is really showing--the College of Music is a whole lot more than the marching band. But it is interesting that you choose to single out a group whose school spirit could be compared to any other on campus.

The Kickoff was fantastic. At 7PM, when it ended, there was still several hundred people there. It was exciting. Great facility. I bought 6 season tickets and had limited options...which is a good thing. Many season tickets were being fought for and sold. Great time, indeed.

Exactly. When I went to UNT I wanted KNTU to be college rock too. But over time I've come to appreciate the fact that the school and the radio station are known for jazz.

KNTU has a great track record for producing professional broadcasters. Instead of being yet another college rock station, they've become well-established for jazz at a university that's known for its College of Music. UNT fans often complain about the lack of traditions. Jazz is a UNT tradition and you're crapping on it.

Harry, great post and thanks for the review. I wanted to go so badly but had prior commitments. My wife did go to the Ladies Clinic and had a blast. She's a sports nerd (like me) so she soaked it all up. I was down in Keller and had several conversations with people about the stadium. The cool thing was is that they brought it up. I simply mentioned that I was ready for college football and several said, "Ya, I really want to see that new stadium up in Denton." They didn't even know I was a UNT alum so that made me feel really excited. GO MEAN GREEN

Good review Harry! Don't think they can pave lot across street as that is where baseball facilities will go

Absolutely! IMHO, too much credit going to RV, and not enough credit going to Flyer and his fellow SGA officers.

You're going to see a vast improvement on Defense and some of the same solid play on Offense this year. Adjustments have to be made, but they are being made. You guys think this is Mac's first rodeo. Dickey couldn't carry this guy's clipboard. He has coached a National Championship Defense, RECENTLY! As far as Vito goes, maybe he's intimidated because Mac's used to talking to big time sports columnists or maybe Mac and his staff aren't big talkers, just guys that walk the walk.

Sorry, but anyone complaining about the new stadium/ticket office/team store will never be happy. Good Lord, they've just opened, so give them a little time. There isn't one thing to be upset about with the new facility, not one!

I took some more pics. Here's what I said in the other thread. Didn't know if we'd start a new one: Also a couple goofing off vids from the wingzone. If you view them on YouTube instead of embedded here, they're available in 720p. Still taken with a cell phone, though.

No posts yet? The stadium is positively amazing. At no point walking through it did I ever have the thought of "I wish they did X instead." Every last detail of it feels professional, and far exceeded my expectations. Take someone to Rangers Ballpark and then to Mean Green Stadium, and they'd feel no drop in quality. Have to admit, I am very jealous of you guys who can afford the club seating. Maybe next year for me, nice to have dreams, though.

Huh? Really?

Coach said at the women's clinic today that the show will be at Rudy's BBQ. GMG!

good, let's have it at a place that the workers don't wear UT shirts.

Actually it looks like a drive thru Beer Barn to me.........

There is an abundant amount of nice hooters on campus

My biggest grip with Vito is him wanting to nominate Dickey for sainthood. That is just an insane, stupid, indefensible position. Maybe he just does it just to stir things up but it's already old.

Tell the truth. You photoshopped out "Jiffy Lube" and put in "Alumni Pavillion". Kidding aside, fantastic facility for us to have now!

2/3rds of a very interesting three-bedroom in the sky...who will join Amy Winehouse and Hideki Irabu?

The current divorce rate is over 50 %. This cookout will 100% happen. Go with the odds

it wouldn't, necessarily. but believe or not, preparing RTVF students for careers in broadcasting isn't the sole function of a college radio station. if that was all they were concerned with why bother even having one at all? they can just get graded on recordings they make of themselves in a mock studio. you're the second person to compare some periodical (i.e. national enquirer, people magazine, etc.) to rock/rhythm and blues in an analogy. i think you're missing my point completely. first of all, i don't know how it was for you when you went to UNT, but when i did the faculty was kind enough to actually teach me that there's a difference between literature and journalism. reading people magazine in english lit wouldn't make any sense, but neither would it to read hemingway in a journalism class. as an aside in defense of journalistic periodicals: ANY historian would tell you that if you really want to learn about what regular life was like in, say, the 1860s for example, you would read the newspapers and magazines of the day LONG before you'd pick up a book written in the same time. my point is that it's same sad reduction you make of journalism when compared to literature as you do rock/rhythm and blues when compared to jazz or classical music. i'm also always a little bemused and amused by this prevailing notion in some people that "more complex=better, simple=bad". if it's so easy, why doesn't everyone do it? you make rock n' roll sound like blinking or something. the fact of the matter is, in 500 years, rock/rhythm and blues is going to be just as valid in the minds of music historians as classical and jazz. in 500 years from now it'll all be thought of as antiquated forms of music. but you tell me, if you were going to really try to learn about the life struggles of common people in history through music, which would you listen to, a folk song, or frederick chopin? keep in mind, folk music and spirituals were the rock/pop (what you would've probably turned your nose up at) of the 19th century. i rest my case.

I'm not sure what the intended message was from this post. It says you listen, which I inferred to mean you listen on a regular basis, but you call out one night where there were stories about other universities, but not UNT. I'm assuming you are talking about the sports segment. One night isn't really a trend, though it looks like other posters are dog piling with the assumption that this is normal coverage. I listen to KNTU periodically on the way home, but not every night of the week. I've never had a problem with their coverage of UNT athletics. Yes, they do cover sports news outside of UNT, but when there is something newsworthy with UNT athletics, I've found it's usually covered too. It's a daily news show. The statue story didn't really break yesterday. The movie night story, from what I can tell, can only be validated through someone's recount of a twitter posting and isn't a sports story, though I suppose could have been reported in another segment if an unknown movie being shown in two months at the stadium is newsworthy right now. The Mitchell story came out on Monday, not yesterday. It wouldn't surprise me if it was covered on Monday. My two cents.

Maybe while we're doing construction....we can borrow a crane to remove those giant chips on your shoulders. Just because some of us are encouraging fans to give....does not mean we're ridiculing those who don't. We all know that in any life, most of us go through various economic class levels. Speaking as someone who is buying club seats.....I couldn't have bought those most years of my adult life. Now I can. For now, anyway. Who knows in five years....I may be sitting in the V section. You as a fan, should be thrilled that folks are buying club seats. Hey I'm thrilled that the really big money people are buying suites. Hallelujah! The program does need money you know. So whatever you or anyone else does....if that's all you can...that's all we expect.

--But could you imagine a talk program with Bush as host. ??? It would be funny without intending to be. I will admit that the way he left the economy is not funny though.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8668906/NHS-delays-operations-as-it-waits-for-patients-to-die-or-go-private.html Thought those of you who favor government controlled healthcare might like to take a look at the article associated with the link I have posted above. Pretty interesting "stuff", and this is how it works in reality, not in some styleized politicians dreams of the greatness of government rationing and redistribution of healthcare services.

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that just because most seats didn't have 8 1/2" x 11" sheets of paper on them that they're sold. I'm sure there's plenty more seats available.

best in the world that very few people know even exists. I have never had one person mention our music dept in water cooler conversations. Either they aren't aware or just don't care.

Wish I could have gone but I was at a wedding. Any discussion on uniforms?

Much kudos, Harry! Especially for those like myself who couldn't attend today!

Harry, thanks for the GRAND review! Sorry, I couldn't make it...but, after reading your thoughts, I felt I was at the event! Wow!

Yeah -- those are like 2-3 years old. I bet Todd Dodge would sell you one if you called and asked nicely.

Maybe it's a bribe to get the Green Brigade to begin playing the Imperial Death March after 3rd down stands again. Negative points for this? Really? LOL

More Darrell Dickey guys sign? Shocking! We had NFL talent on the roster all this time, and...nevermind.

That's not the book store? Ugh. The problem isn't the merchandise its the layout & decorum. We should close the fashion merchandising program if this is the best we can do.

I don't follow.

Just stating my opinion, fella. I think a 10-15 year moratorium on births and people 70-75 years old and up should have to prove their value to society. By about 2025 we could bring the world's population back down to a manageable 5 or so billion people. No more health care debate...no more significant concerns over non-renewable resources...think of it, man! It'd be great!

Good...too many people in this world anyway. Now that we've got the back end covered, if we can get ahead of all these pregnancies and new-borns the world will be a much better place.

sorry dude, i'm just not following your visual. me no get your funny funny.