SUMG

Good question. I sort of hope that he got food poisoning instead of a stomach flu. (since the stomach flu is so darn contagious). Anyway, here's hoping that KD is back, and everyone else is feeling well, too.

Those of us old enough, have just had this experience once. But, let me tell you it's great. If we can win tonight, you won't believe the anticipation, when watching the NCAA Tournament Selection show on Sunday (to see WHO you play and WHERE you play). Trust me, that is greatness. I hope we all get to experience it this Sunday. GMG!

I just found a list of conference RPIs. We're ahead of 10-11 (the list of Independents doesn't count obviously). Check it out here: http://www.realtimerpi.com/rpi_conf_Men.html

And I'll tell you right now, they don't know what they're talking about. There's no way in Heck the Sun Belt is one of the two worst b-ball conferences in the country. So, believe ESPN if you want. We won't be in a Play In game, and we won't be a 16 seed is what I'm saying.

Jackpot now up to $370 million. Cash value option payout would now be $221 million. Those two figures will probably rise some more before the drawing tonight.

There's no way, that we'd be playing a #1 seed. Maybe a #2 or #3, but not a #1.

There's a Big East Women's Final game on at 6 p.m. on ESPN II. If that runs over, at all, our game will be joined in progress. Just a thought....if you're going to watch the game at a bar......you might want to take along a portable radio, in case this were to happen. Hopefully it won't, but we've had this happen to us before. GMG!

The last time on national TV would have been 1994, SLC Finals against SW Texas State. In 1996, we were in the SLC Finals, but that year the league's final was televised by Fox Sports SW, and wasn't a national TV game.

A & M played no NAIA or Division II teams. And, when they played them LSU and UCLA were ranked in the top 10 (UCLA was #1 at the time). We've not played anyone in the top 50 this year. At last count, the Aggies have played so far 6 teams ranked in the top 25. Not trying to get into an argument, just pointing out that A & M doesn't play nearly as "patsy" a schedule as we do.

I may be wrong, but I've always thought that you get your money, after taxes. So, if you won, and gave a huge amount to Athletics, you'd then have a huge write-off on your 2007 taxes. BTW......I encourage anyone who buys a ticket to do the Cash Value Option. (That way, you get a little less money, but you get it in a lump sum.Otherwise....you get your money in 25 payments.)

The drawing is Tuesday night. I think this jackpot is probably getting fairly close to the biggest lottery jackpot in U.S. history. I don't think there's ever been one for over $400 million. Perry....not trying to spend your money, buddy, but if you win $140 million, I think you can do a little better than $5-10 million for the stadium fund. Come on, man.

Yeah, and people said the same thing about the odds of me getting Anna Nicole Smith pregnant.

The Tuesday Mega Millions jackpot is $340 million. If you do, the cash value option, it's estimated your payout would be $202 million (before taxes). I'm just guessing, but after taxes....you'd probably get (if you were the only winner)......$135-140 million. That's how you and I....Joe Q. Pissant, can build the football stadium. And yes, I know our odds of winning are miniscule. But say, if you're at a convenient store anyway, and have a buck or two.....what the heck.... Someone's got to eventually win it....might as well be a UNT fan...huh?

I wasn't around during the Spika years so I can't comment on those. But, having followed UNT since 1975, I'd say the Blakely teams (75-76, 76-77, and 77-78) were the best I've seen. Back then, only 32 went to the NCAA and 16 went to the NIT. So, now there are 48 more spots available for postseason action, than there used to be. As for the next best (that I've seen): I'd say that the 87-88 team and this one are pretty close in talent. I may be wrong on this, but I think the 87-88 team only had to win two games in the SLC tournament to advance (we may have had a first round bye in the tournament). So, if this current team makes it, they will have had a tougher path to the Big Dance: They will have had to win 4 SBC tourney games (with only one of those at home), while the 87-88 team had to only win two SLC tourney games, with both of those at home. The 88-89 team of Jimmy Gales also hosted the SLC tourney, and lost in the championship game at home, to McNeese State.

As for 2008, it was in the paper a few weeks ago....that we go to Kansas State. And as for the MAC....I think our Navy game this year may fulfill that contract, since we took the place of Navy going to Bowling Green. (Originally the MAC deal was four games, but I wouldn't be surprised if the final two are cancelled by agreement from both sides). And as to your 3/4 thought that this is so we break up the Florida games.....why should we be penalized by this league, which shouldn't have been sending to Miami twice in the same year....anyway.

No, Brian is right. Our WKU game (the final home game) is the Saturday after Thanksgiving (which is on Nov. 22 this year). So, the FIU away game is a week later...or 9 days after Turkey Day.

I agree with a lot of the sentiments already expressed. We shouldn't get the 3 conference home games/4 conference away games TWO YEARS IN A ROW. Also, playing on Thanksgiving Saturday sucks for attendance. By the way....how in the heck can the SBC make it up to us (this 3/4 conference home game stuff), if next year WKU joins? From then on, everyone will be playing a 4/4 conference schedule. So there will be no way, at that point to have back to back years with 4 conference home games, and 3 on the road. On the plus side.....I think we're avoiding playing a home game on the weekend of the 2nd NASCAR race (isn't that usually the first Saturday in November?)

Well, I'll be honest with you guys. Since we are playing SMU........I'll be pulling for them to beat TTech. That'll make our victory over them....that much sweeter.

To be on national TV, the Ponies are playing TTech on ESPN on Labor Day (Sept. 3) at 3 p.m. Then, just five days later.....they play us. So, we'll have 7 days between games....they'll just have five. That's a big advantage for us (even though we probably didn't need it).

I'm glad our league is getting national exposure, but that sure seems like a rather weak game, to be the first televised college football game of the year.

A couple of points: 1) Just because a lot of other schools listed there, have more 3* and 4* signees than we do....that doesn't mean that they are all qualified. I remember former Baylor coach Kevin Steele used to sign some great classes. But, a lot of good it did them, when half of his recruits didn't qualify. All of our kids are qualified. 2) I hope that our SBC brethren did sign some great players, because we need the Belt to continue to get better. So, if other schools did do well in recruiting, that will just make us all better in the long run.

I read somewhere, that our first home game will now be a conference game against FIU. (even though we played them in Denton last year, the word is that the league is splitting up the Florida games, so that we will no longer go to Miami (for FAU and FIU) in the same year. If this is the case....the FIU game would probably be Sept. 15th.

Buford Julep posted this on the other board a while back (re: where some of our former players are): "Len Hopkins is playing in Japan and Bryan Lucas is playing in Germany. Chris Davis is leading the Finland league in scoring and Germaine Green is a team mate." As to how to get a hold of Leonard....maybe the Letterman's Association would have a current address?

There have been a few college football games played in Ireland before. (N Dame and Boston College I think have both played there). I'm not sure that we will owe Navy a return trip (by playing in Annapolis). I think that Navy is playing us.....to satisfy our agreement with the MAC conference. (The MAC owed us a home game...and now Navy is not playing MAC member Bowling Green, and is playing us). Just speculation there, but it makes sense.

College basketball, has for years now, had an early signing period (November), as well the tradional signing period (April). Anyway, Mack Brown was quoted as saying that football might one day have an early signing period, too. He figured that it might take place in July (before the high school player's senior season). I'm guessing the February signing period would be kept, too. (so that schools could fill out their classes). If that happened, would you like it? The cool thing about early signing periods....if we sign a kid in basketball (in November), and he lives in your vicinity, you can go watch him play during his senior year. (I did that, with past basketball signees Robert Washington and Chris Davis). I guess the down side to it......if the signee bombs out his senior year.....you've already given him a scholarship. (that doesn't seem to happen often in hoops though. Usually the good players come through.) We've got all these kids now committing as juniors....an early signing period for football seems inevitable. Any thoughts?