the real grad88

Assuming that all of the above is true, and we have no reason to think that it is not...I think UNT will be successful very soon in reaching our goal. There have got to be companies out there who want their name on a stadium or want access to our students and alums, who will fund this thing. Dallas/FW is headquarters to how many corporations? Someone(s) is going to step up to the plate and hit the home run. It is only a matter of time.

I can't for the life of me understand what's up with the WAC and La Tech. Do they want them in their conference or not. If they were trying to get rid of them, you would think they would just say so. Afterall, it means more travel for the Western schools as well. If not, then they need to accomodate them with an eastern division. I have never understood the arrangement.

LA Tech ougth to tell the WAC to go fly a kite if they aren't willing to make a legitimate Eastern division made up of 6-8 teams.

The state of UNT athletics is a complicated situation. I came to UNT in the mid 80s. We had just been dropped down to IAA. I got involved when we were in the Southland. I loved every minute of it...even with the inherent weaknesses of IAA ball. The main thing about UNT has always been one of perception, which I do believe has improved over the years. When I was at UNT, it was not cool to be a big football supporter. I did so anyway. In addition to making it to every home game during all those years, I made the trip to Austin in 88 when we beat the Horns...we really did beat them. I have always felt that the "UNT experience" is what you put into it. If you sit back on the sidelines and watch passively without getting involved, then you carry with you the mindset that it really isn't worth my time...it's not big-time enough to be exciting, which is all pathetically small-minded. While we have not truly turned the corner yet concerning perception, we are making strides. When this thing truly begins to build momentum, I do believe that it will surprise even the die-hards. We are ever so close to getting to that psychogical / self-perpetuating place of UNT football being the place to be...to it becoming really cool and exciting to be a part of the movement. If Dodge ball can be as exciting as we all think it will be, and if we can have the success over the next 4 or 5 years that we are all counting on, I do believe that this sleepy but awakening, lumbering giant will become a true beast on the college football scene. At that point sheer momentum will take over and people will jump on the bandwagon by the droves, including more and more money which we will need to climb to the next level. Here is the real truth to the matter. We don't really need 75% of the student body and alums on fire for UNT football. Most big time programs don't even have that. We need at least 20% of each class at UNT to have a really great experience with UNT football. We had that happen for several years in a row with our recent Bowl trips. As you add those classes together over the years, it equals a large number of people who passionalty support the movement. I firmly believe that we are going to see 10K season ticket holders OR MORE under Dodge. That will be a huge influx of cash, which results in an ever-climbing spiral of momentum that will result in really big things. With all of the above happening, it is only a matter of time before a CUSA comes calling or a revised WAC with a large eastern wing, OR a revived SWC. It will happen.

I agree that we are young in some areas. I agree that there will be a learning curve. No one is going to be upset if we don't have a banner year. However, I would not be surpised at all if we were to make a run for the Belt championship. The Spread offense is not a pure passer's/ Dan Marino offense. It is a mobile/run and sling offense. It is mainly a short yardage passing offense. It does not require a veteran QB! I don't think the learning curver will be as great as some think. I also look for this offense to really open up some major running paths for our speedster in the backfield. He could really light it up this year as well. The point is: I won't be disappointed either way, but I am really excited about the possibility of what I have a feeling is going to happen!

This is all a straw man argument. I don' think ANYONE wants to go into the existing WAC with no changes. It would only be if the 12 team WAC could happen...with a viable six-team Eastern division that would do away with all of the negatives you mention. If that can never happen, then we just stay in the Belt. I betcha one thing though. The minute the WAC gets a clue about that and puts forth that idea (which I think is a real possibility in the future), is the minute RV jumps on it!

I think a community/university wide promotional about the need to pack the stadium by kickoff including special prizes given away at exactly 10 minutes before kickoff. People can claim their prizes at half-time, but the ticket numbers should be announced before kickoff. There should be banners in the parking lot advertising the campaign, along with a big screen and sound system blaring it out in the parking lot before the game. It should also be promoted heavily with all of the student organizations and dorms. I think a promotional video should be created and given to each residence hall and student organization about this new direction that the football program is taking under Dodge. Maybe they could play it in the common areas and at their meetings to get the word out and build momentum. It could also be given to the Exes for their meetings and copies given to all faculty and staff. The thing is that once something like this catches on (as any tradition), it creates a life of its own. Once fans discover how exciting it is to be at the stadium early and start building the intensity for the game, they won't want to be anywhere else 30 minutes before kickoff.

"CUSA should be the first goal, but a WAC division with NMSU, La Tech, ASU, ULL, UNT would be next best over the hodge-podge we're in, IMHO." Again as NT80 said (see qoutes above), the WAC would work with this Eastern Division. No one is proposing a WAC that spans from Hawaii to Florida.

I sense a real "woe is me" vs "working man hero" argument coming here, so let me get it started. The problem at UNT has always been one of perception. People always make perceptions about schools based upon who they are associated with. It is our conference that causes the low percentage of interest relative to the large student/alumni body we have. When Baylor came to town a couple of years ago, you would have thought we were in the old Southwest Conference. There was a big-time excitement in the air. When we play Belt games and are not in the running for a championship, we go back to the die-hards only. Like it or not, we stand in the shadow of the BigXII schools. Most people in our geographic region just don't think it is worth their effort, time and money if it is anything less. We just are not going to erase the 70 years of collegiate sports history in this region with a few years of winning. It is going to take sustained winning. It is going to take moving into a new conference-which I think will happen. It is going to take a new stadium. I think we are on the path to all of the above. To be honest, we are damn lucky to have a program and be where we are with our IAA purgatory that lasted 10 plus years. I am grateful. We have a program that is on the rise and a leader who is giving us major momentum to get there. Just give it time.

Exactly. I look for us to at least make the game interesting...which will be a switch.

Not if the Eastern/Western WAC could be created as someone above mentioned. That is what I would work for behind the scenes.

I'm not counting us out of the fight for the Belt championship this year. I agree with the above W-L record except for Troy.

I would be absolutely thrilled with such a conference configuration. I agree. Float the idea out there to see what happens. They might just bite on it.

In addition to all the regular stuff (fight song, fly like an eagle, etc), I think the first down tradition is a great one. It helps to build momentum for the fans and team as the offense marches down the field to finally punch it in. I love to wait for the announcer to set the que and then to stand up and yell "first down" while making the arm motion of the referee. That really got on the SMU fans nerves last year that were sitting in front of me. Pure greatness. I also think that the alternating stands yelling the chant "North" and "Texas" is tremendous. I think we could do it a little more often...like after every touch down, and at critical times in the game-like when the opponent is close to scoring and we are trying to give the defense a lift to make a stand. I think we already have some good traditions. We just need to teach them to all the newbies that are going to be at FOUTS this year! When we have 25 to 30K fans in the stands all doing the traditions we have in place, it will be more than enough game day atmosphere! Atmosphere will take care of itself.

What was Tech's travel cost? If it is less than 500k, they are in much better shape than any Belt school. What could we have done with that conference revenue? A bunch! More of a down payment on the stadium for one. Plus the fact that the WAC actually has a team in the conference that played in a BCS game! Let's just admit it. That fact really is a feather in the WAC's cap. I would really love to hear the opinion of Dodge on this. I have to believe that Dickey talked up the Belt as opposed to the WAC because he knew the Belt was easier to win-which was all he was ever concerned with...not moving up the food chain.

These write-ups don't concern me in the least. None of them take into account the awesome recruiting that we have seen that will make an immediate impact. They also don't take into account the "burn-out" factor of last season in the coaching department. I say this team has the weapons and now the coaching to make an immediate run for the championship. I don't think that is being overly optimistic in saying so either. In the words of Gomer Pyle, I think it's going to be a case for..."surprise...surprise...surprise!" Get ready.

I sat behind an SMU alum at the game. It was so funny. I heard him talking to his buddy sitting beside him. He said these exact words: "How much money do I have to give just to have a winning season and not get beat by North Texas State." It was freak'n beautiful. It was so funny that I had to ask God to forgive me for laughing so hard. Good grief that was funny.

If RV is using specific time frame numbers, then one of two things is true: (1) we have a donor(s) to make it happen or (2) we are going to bond it out with student fees. RV would not be speaking in specifics like that if that weren't the case. No wise administrator would. I am actually getting hopeful now!

Exactly, close rivalries within driving distance is what we want. MWC is not a real option anyway-just a dream. CUSA is our real opportunity, seeing how we were actually evaluated for membership. After building a new stadium (whenever that actually happens), a CUSA invite will be a done deal. Why? A bigger and nicer stadium will result in better OOC opponents which will help us to raise our attendance...which will raise revenue. Taken all together, it will be the new stadium that will be the falling dominoe for everything we want to happen.

Yes this truly is a dumb thread and counter productive. I have at times talked about the realities of fundraising and the difficulties of a project of this kind at a place like UNT, but never one that degrades the effort or persons involved. RV is a class act all the way and has done more for athletics at UNT than all of the ADs combined before him. They are working on it. It is going to be a long haul. It may not happen when we want it to happen, but grow up and get over it. He does not owe anyone a quarterly meeting, especially if there is NOTHING NEW to talk about. To do so would only start gossip of how "nothing is happening." AD and staff work hard. The fundraising firm is working hard. Just occupy your mind on other things and get ready for FOOTBALL.

Man, if they built it brick by brick the exact replica of that stadium and then put green accents in it and North Texas in the endzone, I would be deliriously happy! It is the perfect size for us, and the seats are right next to the action. Someone please give us the money so that we can build it! I do fear it will be a long time coming.

I agree totally with the person who said that we need to make fans of students when they are freshmen. That is where a fan is made. Is it brainwashing? You bet. We need to learn a little from the Aggies and the Horns. They are doing some things right. I think we are doing more than ever in that department. We just need to keep doing it. I don't know how to explain basketball, but football has definitely improved...throw last season out...we stunk. When Dodgeball gets going we are going to see a packed house for many home games. There just needs to be a sustained effort in the basketball department. Spirit contests in the dorms with promotions for prizes or whatever. The main thing is that it needs to be POSITIVE. Chastizing people for not being interested IS NOT the way to improve interest. On hiring someone who handles spirit...we have had that position for years. There was a woman who was coordinating all of that...can't remember her name. She was from OU, I remember. Is she not still in her position?

You really expect a personal visit and a handshake from RV? Seriously? I am about to laugh myself out of my chair. "Being a part of the athletic family!"...you want to be invited to RV's house for a B'BQUE? Give me a break. The athletic staff roaming around with a "scowl" is what it looks like when you are working behind the scenes. They have jobs to do, not entertain company. The product on the field/court is what you are there for...and to be a fan. I can't ever recall even thinking about what the athletic staff were doing when I am at the games...even RV himself. If RV personally greets ANYONE (other than big donors), it is to his credit.

I am actually commenting on the original post...not the above comment. Can I throw a little psychology in the mix? This kind of rant does nothing for attendance. Coming down on people for noone being interested in the games is COUNTER PRODUCTIVE. I ask you a simple question. When you were younger and invited to a party, would you go if you KNEW that noone was going to be there? No. You went if you thought it was a great party with a lot of people...in other words, if it were the happening place to be...outdated language, I know. It's no different than attendance at the games. If people perceive that noone is interested, then no one will go to the games. If they PERCEIVE that everyone is going and that IT IS THE PLACE to be, then more people will go. It's the same reason that UT and OU have the following they do...because people have a herd mentality. They don't want to be where the herd is not. Get it? The way to increase attendance is to approach people in a positive way and portray it as the place to be. Negativity NEVER encourages attendance or interest...it does the opposite.

The gap is enormous. We talk sometimes about future conference reoganizations. I think the one that is really going to be "earth shattering" is when the "haves" decide they could HAVE even more if all the "haves" would get together to form a couple of "mega conferences". They then would negotiate for their own media packages that would go up exponentially. Don't get me wrong, they would still throw the "have nots' a bone by playing them in nonconference games...just to allow us to be in their glorious presence...and guarantee their own bowl elgibility. When that happens, the Baylors and Vandys can kiss it goodbye because they will join our ranks. Maybe THEN we can actually have common-sense REGIONAL conferences...among the "have nots"