DeepGreen

And I want to cry everytime someone brings up Helwig's name.

If that's the case, then our athletic department is in very serious trouble. Not to mention our Div.1A affiliation.

Noteworth- DEVELOPMENT RESULTS -Mean Green Club over 600 members and near $500,000 in annual giving -Corporate revenues at $1,000,000 and growing -Capital dollars pledged and raised near $7,000,000 and proposals consistently being presented -Completed facility projects provide additional opportunities for capital dollars -More donors identified and cultivated for future gifts Assuming these are, in fact, correct numbers, we have a long way to go, but at least we are showing improvement. What is dissappointing to me is the fact none of this development work was started when we became D1A again. Looks like we lost 8 years of development. Couple the 8 years with the 20+ years in D1AA purgatory....... It's easy to see what has/is going on at NT.

I witnessed it all. Me and half a dozen or so "road trip" veterans.

Was this directed at me? If it was, I'll accept an apology from you and let it be. If being a powerhouse in the Sun Belt Conference is all you aspire for NT, then we might as well forget about moving up in conferences and possibly drop to 1AA. Frankly, I want to move up in the food chain, and when you are next to last in recruiting funds in the worst D1A conference in the country then your chances of remaining the "powerhouse" of the SBC will be remote. God forbid we try to improve out conference affiliation.

GrayEagleOne, do you have the link to the DOE report? Those are some significant differences even by lowly Sun Belt standards. I'd like to see what other athletic depts. from SMU, Tulsa, La Tech, UTEP, So. Miss, Memphis, UAB, etc., budget for athletics. It would also be interesting how much is spent on just football, men and womens basketball.

Hard to disagree with you. Aside from a few questionable coaches, I question whether NT budgets enough funds for recruiting. Has anyone analyzed the data on recruiting from the recent post/news article that appeared here a week or so ago on revenues and expenses of D1 schools? It would be interesting to see how much NT spends, by sport and overall, compared to our peers from the Sun Belt, MAC, WAC, and CUSA conferences.

Seems Lamar Univ. has signed a 6-8, 280 pounder that turned away football offers at Texas and other 1A schools to play basketball. Texas was interested because the lad runs a 4.5 second in the 40. Can this be legit? Big Body

Least we get too excited, this will be Woody's first D1A game too. That's why we should start Phillips. Loosen them up with all types of passing plays-short routes, slants, long balls, etc. And do nothing but play tough the damn game. North Texas needs to somehow redeem themselves from the embarrassment of last years game with UT.

Nah. We could only afford to hire a tennis coach that would accept $8.50 an hour to coach womens tennis.

NT fans feel about football the way ASU fans feel about basketball. Your coach isn't very popular there is he?

Green Grenade, please take a deep breadth. Now relax.

Dylan Lineberry's brother perhaps.

PerryG2480, you da man!!!

Man, he must be something faaaaasssssssst>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

MeanGreen61, pardon me while I yawn. I know we can do better than that.

Yes, that is some funny stuff. But this is what I found interesting. Can someone come up with a pic like this of NT gals?

GOOD NEWS: BOUDREAUX AND THIBODEAUX FIXED THE LEVEE IN NEW ORLEANS. THEY PUT UP A HURRICANE FENCE! Forgive me, I couldn't help but post this!

Akron's first home game. Interesting to see who servives the first few games before NT/Akron meet.

Does anyone know or heard of Lee Jackson's vision for North Texas Athletics? Does he view athletics as the window through which the country views the University of North Texas? When does LJ take over for Dr. Pohl, arguably one of the most athletic friendly Presidents NT has ever had?

Those who want to re-kindle the North Texas ties with SFA, TSU-San Marcus, McNeese and the Southland will be happy to hear that Lamar could be returning football to Beaumont. We should add all of them to the Sun Belt Conference. The "serious donor money" is available in Beaumont with all of the trial lawyers in that city. From the Port Arthur News - Bob West column for Sunday, April 2, 2006 "For the first time, I'm starting to believe the return of football is more than a pipe dream at Lamar. LU president Dr. Jimmy Simmons told me two weeks ago he's strongly in favor and it appears raising money to bring football back is going to be the top priority for Billy Tubbs as a full time athletic director. Tubbs, in fact, said last week that he thinks Lamar's long-term goal should be playing Division 1 football. In a meeting before he left for the Final Four, Tubbs said, “I think we need football. Right now, football has the best chance it's ever had of being revived at Lamar.” The key, of course, will be selling heavy-hitter type donors to step up with some serious money."

Do I sense sarcasm in your response?

3/31/2006 Boosters go proactive to keep Kragthorpe The e-mail screamed its message to followers of University of Tulsa athletics. Keep Kragthorpe Campaign! Those three words probably brought fear to TU backers. Worrisome fans could have thought successful football coach Steve Kragthorpe was debating a job change. Instead, a group of boosters is being proactive instead of reactive by raising and earmarking funds for Kragthorpe and his assistant coaches. The money is planned to be a reward and incentive for success. "People are very supportive both financially and emotionally," said Bubba Cunningham, TU's director of athletics. "It's a good idea. Steve and his staff are valuable members of the Tulsa community and retaining good people is what everyone tries to do." NCAA regulations mandate that TU oversees fundraising efforts like the Keep Kragthorpe Campaign, which has raised a "significant" amount during the past month. Kragthorpe isn't planning on leaving. His focus is on the upcoming 2006 football season. He is aware of the campaign, which has asked for a three-year financial commitment from fans to boost annual salaries for the coach and his assistants. "I'm very flattered with the fact that people are recognizing the progress that we've made," Kragthorpe said this week. "It's not just a one-man show. We have a great staff that's done a super job. We have a great administration and a great support staff. "We think we're on the cusp of doing something very special here." Kragthorpe's name is red-hot in the football world. He surfaced as a possible candidate for Colorado's vacant job before he extinguished the rumor. He was also courted by the Dallas Cowboys when the NFL team's passing game coordinator job opened earlier this year. But he stayed true to the college game instead of working with former pupil and Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe. Basically, Kragthorpe bypassed America's team for Tulsa's team. "He enjoys the community and he believes in the university and he believes in the student-athletes and the coaching staff," Cunningham said. "He's working hard every day to be successful and he has an awful lot of people believing in him and buying into that concept." It's believed Kragthorpe earns between $350,000-400,000 a year. Since TU is a private institution, the school isn't required to release his salary. Kragthorpe signed two contract extensions. In 2004, he inked a one-year deal and prior to last season he agreed to a six-year contract that runs through the 2010-11 academic year. When Kragthorpe has been given heftier contracts and raises, he's made sure everyone's involved in the windfalls. "When I came here, I ended up taking less money so I could have more for my assistants," said Kragthorpe. "Every time I've gotten a piece of the pie, they've gotten a big chunk of it too. "As a head coach, you're only as successful as the guys you have around you." College football is a business and there's little doubt that schools from power conferences will chase Kragthorpe, who resurrected a struggling TU program over the past three years. Among those spearheading the Keep Kragthorpe Campaign is Mike Case, who oversaw a similar campaign a few years ago to keep former basketball coach Bill Self at Tulsa. Case deferred questions for this story to Cunningham. The Tulsa businessman has been a friend to the university and recently showed his commitment to TU athletics with a large donation for the Case Athletic Complex, being built behind Skelly Stadium's north end zone. "Every day when we come out to practice, we see the Case Athletic Complex being built brick by brick," Kragthorpe said. "That's exciting. The future for us is very bright and we're excited to be a part of it." But will Kragthorpe have an office there for years to come? TU fan Doyt Duncan hopes so. The 34-year-old is an avid TU fan. On Friday, he'll take his pledge to the school to become part of the fundraising campaign. Duncan said Kragthorpe has earned his support. "I think he'll be able to maintain this success and I think keeping him will bring more fans to games," Duncan said. "I know several fans and friends that are going to be season ticket holders next year, especially since he didn't go anywhere." The Colorado or Dallas jobs would have vaulted Kragthorpe into the millionaire club. But he'd rather chase TU victories than dollar signs. "I've always had enough money," he said. "The Lord has always blessed me with enough to make a house payment and keep my kids in clothes. Whether I was making $27,000 a year or what I make now, we've never needed anything. "Money is not a big object to me. It's important that I support my family in a quality lifestyle and that's easy to do in Tulsa."

I won't be there, only because I want to give the rest of you a chance at winning the golf tourny.