untjim1995

This is a great idea. 1. Definitely see a new stadium that is legitimate (in other words, no aluminum seating or facade) 2. Join a better conference with teams that people have heard of and what to come see play at home, as well as to travel to see. 3. See more students and alumni care about the athletic department and show it through attendance (avg. 30K+ for all games in football, 10K for hoops) 4. Develop a bitter rivalry (hello, SMU, TCU, UTEP, UH, etc.) 5. Finish in The Top 25 and go to bowls regularly 6. Beat a BCS big name in a game' 7. Host BCS teams from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana at the new stadium 8. Keep Todd Dodge for 20+ years because he becomes the next Bobby Bowden that builds a program from the ashes to become big-time 9. See GameDay visit Denton for a big game 10. Go undefeated and play in a BCS bowl 11. Win BCS game 12. Finish in The Top 10 13. Finish in the Top 5 14. Win the National Championship 15. Enjoy stories about Hell Freezing Over many times 16. Die with a smile 17. Leave millions to athletic department 18. Have my name on a field or facility because of significant support (not because my millionaire buddy gets pissed and holds my alma mater hostage until they name the field/facility after me even though I was below .500 for my enitre career and crapped on said university by wearing Hutch black jerseys in my finale) Enjoy!!

What PSL envy are you talking about? If they can get folks to shell out the funds, more power to them. I realize that they have a much smaller enrollment, but they also have had the benefit of all of those SWC years to build what they have (and no drop down to I-AA purgatory like we had). Plus, as mentioned earlier, the city of Ft. Worth and its paper do a terrific job of marketing to the citizens about rooting for the "hometown" team, unlike Denton. And yet with all of their winning over the last 10 years, many programs across the country would sellout ALL of their games, regardless of the team on the schedule--not TCU. Why is that? You seem locked in pretty good down there, so I am interested to hear why. My personal opinion is that no matter how good they have been and will continue to be, there is only so much interest in watching teams from the western time zones that can't travel many fans to good ol' Amon Carter. Not PSL envy that I suffer from--really just mad that TCU, SMU, and UNT aren't in the same conference with other folks that would help fill up their great stadium, especially if it does get expanded in the end zones.

I don't think it would be a stretch to say that we at UNT would draw a helluva a lot more folks to come watch BYU/Utah/ New Mexico, Air Force, etc., than our SBC mates, so yeah, I can criticize them. They can't fill up Amon Carter unless a big name state school comes to town--like Tech. Otherwise, a typical MWC game gets between 25-33K depending on TCU's team and how the opponent is doing. Expanding the seating is not necessary. That be like us expanding Fouts with our current SBC schedule--not necessary. Now if they are expanding private box seating for big money at Amon carter, then that is a smart move ont heir part--and that is probably what they are doing.

Just curious, do we know that Dodge is worrying about journalists? If so, how do we know this?

I was a manager during his first 2 years at UNT. Simon was a different guy--trust me, coming from someone who had to work with him everyday, he was mentally unstable. One moment, he would be very genial, almost paternal. In the very next moment, he would turn on you, like someone with paranoia issues would. As a matter of fact, one day at practice, on a beautiful fall afternoon at Fouts, he made me go into the stands and ask a female student who was studying in her psychology text book and taking notes, to leave immediately. He was certain she was a spy. During the LSU game in 1995, he was on the sideline screaming at the ref, saying that the white official wanted him to call him, "Massah" since he was certain that the ref was racist and hated him. He got called for an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty and just as the half ends, he turns around to me, who was carrying the cord to his headset, and just throws it right into my face, busting my lip open. Doesn't say a word about it until I go up to him on Monday afternoon at practice to say that this was just crazy. His response was, "I heard that happened--very unfortunate." Like I said, he was just unstable. Never was one to apologize. Ahh the stories that could be told from that time frame.... I feel no sympathy for the man getting fired--absolutely none.

I finished 15th--damn Boise State.

I picked KU in this one because I felt that they did have a great team, and although VT has a better reputation, KU got to hear how they didn't belong in this game for a month. The surprise was that KU's defense and special teams more than held their own against Va Tech. Maybe it is a fluke and OU, Texas, and Tech will kill them next year, but I don't know that for sure. I think KU has a chance to beat both Texas and Tech next year in Lawrence, but the OU game in Norman is still too high for them, I think. I do know this, if they had gotten texas or tech this year, I feel that they would have beaten them both. As far as building a program and getting the most from his players, Mangino has been doing that for a long time now up there. Its just that this year was finally a break-through for them. This whole scenario is my dream for us here at UNT with Dodge--and I believe it will happen here too!!

I agree with your assessment--it is getting awfully expensive to run a Division-I football program, though. When the other metroplex teams will pay millions for a coach and even more millions for superb stadium/facilities, I just hope that we don't say that this game is too expensive for our university. Unfortunately, with the last 30 years being our history, if certain mindsets get put back into place, I could see that being discussed in Denton.

I cannot agree more. If KU had done anything right in the first half of that game or if there was about 2 more minutes to go in that game when KU got the ball back, I think they would have won that game. Reesing is a gamer, and although the schedule was not great, they won at K-State, A&M, and OSU. By the way Texas lost to two of those three, and Tech lost to one of those two, so just because KU didn't play Texas or Tech, doesn't mean they got all the breaks on their schedule. Kansas has to play those two teams next year in Lawrence, but they could have beaten either of them this year--road or away.

What do they worry about right now in regards to the system?

You, know, I don't know if this is possible, but I have wondered out loud for years why the non-automatic BCS leagues don't just break away and do a playoff system of their own. It would be really fun to see the top 8 teams form the 5 non-BCS leagues play in a three-week playoff. I think it would generate alot of revenue, especially if the games are played on campus. Then have a championship game in a neutral site. Basically, its a glorified copy of the I-AA playoffs (sorry, FCS playoffs). Why not? I mean the BCS isn't going to let anyone else in anytime soon. I am sure that the money is the reason why this wouldn't work, but it takes a miracle for our leagues just to get a bigger piece of the pie as it stnads now. And, in the end, it could force the BCS leagues to come up with a playoff system. Any thoughts?

If I were you, and I had become so jaded about UNT as you have become, I would probably stop following the team. I mean, really, what good does it do for you to point out that you aren't happy about getting a new stadium anytime soon? Guess what? EVERYONE HERE FEELS THE SAME WAY!! We all get that you hate the results from last season--and most of the seasons from the last 30 years--guess what? EVERYONE FEELS THE SAME WAY!!! We get that you hate the SBC--again, bingo, WE ALL WANT OUT TOO!! At least answer the question of why you have become so bitter about UNT? If it is for any of the reasons just mentioned, you aren't alone--talk to someone about it. If it something else, state it to us all. Otherwise, for your own peace of mind, find another team to follow. We aren't on the same level as SFA or Texas State. If you think we should be on the same level as UT, Tech, or even TCU, then go pick up the tab on the other $20-50 million or so that we need to become competitive with those programs. All I know is that the AC and the stadium plans have been in the works for many years--trust me, no one is lying to you about any of it. Beating.

No offense, but he will never recruit the talent there to compete week-in-week-out with Texas, OU, A&M, Tech, or OSU. Don't get me wrong--his BCS talent that he will get at Baylor will be better than his UH talent, but it should be, especially if you are getting $1.8 Million. It is just too much to ask Baylor to run the gauntlet of the Big XII South as a private school. The coaches at these schools make more, use the "Baylor can't compete" tagline against them in recruiting, and use history to show that. His OOC schedule is not exactly easy over the next few years, either. They get Wake Forest and Washington St in Waco next year, while playing at UConn. In '09, they go to WF and play UConn in Waco. 2010=@ TCU and I believe this is when they will play Notre Dame at Jerry World. I just don't see him ever getting better than 6-6. If he does get to 7-5 and goes to a bowl, another BCS Public University will snap him so fast, it won't be funny. I still think he ends up in Lubbock before it is all said and done--and maybe sooner than anyone can imagine.

It was in 1991 and said FUGAR--Gene Richter, if ZI remember correctly. I was on the field, since I was a Equipment guy, and didn't get it until I got back to Denton and read the NT Daily. Yes, the whole drumline was suspended--and should have been. Very stupid move--and beneath the level of class the Green Brigade is known for.

EXACTLY!!!

How about this one YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY U N T MEAN GREEN YAAAAAAAAY!!

This post is right on the money. This guy stirs the pot just to get off on the debate that will follow. Anyone that gets suckered in is just making his day.

TFLF, I have yet to understand why you post here. If you know how much everyone looks at most of your opinions as BS or ridiculous, and folks PM you to tell you this and you flaunt the fact that you don't answer, why do you waste your time? Its obvious that you should look at other endeavors for your internet postings. I actually am telling you this because I think you are hitting your head against a wall that, quite frankly, wouldn't be worth it too most. Maybe you like being a contrarian, but it says alot about someone who comes around when pretty much no one agrees with or defends your posts.

What do you think happens if the university decides that it will not impose the stadium fees on the students? Would we just stay status quo and continue in Fouts at a D-I level or would it eventually be the end of the program? Would UNT ever go without football or would it recognize that we need to have it in some form or fashion to keep some of its alumni happy? I often get asked these questions by others when talking about our program. These questions aren't just directed at Rick, but to anyone who has any thoughts on the subject.

Just out of curiosity, what was running through your mind when you were watching this game with 700 other people in a 30K stadium? I ask this ebcause I always enjoy your responses and your knowledge of UNT. Also, did you ever get close to the point of thinking that we weren't gonna make it at the D-IA level back then? I had heard it was gonna be real close for the univesrity to keep the program going if our move up failed--but that was under Hurley's reign.

I will always remember seeing JaQuay set the school rushing record... in front of 800 people. I literally had to run down a few bleachers, and another fan had to run up a few rows, for us to high five each other. I have to admit, that this made me laugh a little bit at just how hard it was for you to get a high-five from another fan!! That must have been one sparse crowd. What game was this and why was there such a small crowd?

You know what? This is the single best post I have ever read on an internet board that deals with college sports. Nothing can explain my feeling about UNT any better. Bravo, because you just hit one outta the park. I, too, got thru school on my own hard work, and am the only college-degreed member of my family. I now have a son and another on the way, and they will understand just what UNT did for me--and for them, too. When I see us get killed by a big-name school (tonight) or just lose a game to a school that most people have never even heard of (i.e. FAU), it just kills me because I want us all to enjoy for just a moment what it must feel like to have a team that we can brag about because of true success. (BTW, It must have been so amazing to be a UNT fan back during the Fry years.) And, I often think that it may not be in the cards for us to ever reach those heights again, as we really just don't have the resources that so many of our more-noticed brethren (i.e., Texas, A&M, Tech) have. But, to me, UNT represents a fresh start--a place that represents opportunities-for everybody. That's why.

UNTFan23, Another major thank you for showing us how to ignore a poster. It ahs been so great not to have to read this person's idiotic posts. You are my hero. untjim1995

I just wanted to give you a much needed thank you for putting up that ignore link on your replies. That has made life much sweeter by not having to read the diatribes of certain posters that change their mind as the wind blows.

I couldn't agree more after watching the game in person tonight.