normack9

Logged onto kntu.com in time to hear ODU's touchdown. 31-24 UNT, end 3rd.

Maybe they'll change the kick-off time to something sooner... and then invite everybody to watch the Rangers on the big-screen afterwards.

I think Cincinnati was in C-USA that year... and joined the Big East in 2005. If I remember correctly, Rick Minter was fired as Cincy's head football coach shortly after the loss to NT.

No offense taken to the responses, and I see the criticisms of my points as valid. I suppose my larger point is that North Texas needs to be really creative as it moves forward in college football... since (with this C-USA/MWC announcement) we're not being invited to any big parties at the moment. UNT has a lot of work to do... and it's not going to be easy. Nothing worthwhile ever is. Looking forward to being in Apogee in December... in the meantime, glued to ESPN GamePlan & kntu.fm.

I don't post often, and I can't imagine that this particular comment is going to be popular, given what I'm reading. I'm amazed reading how some are so optimistic/hopeful that North Texas is going to be picked up by C-USA or some big conference. I have a hard time figuring out why a big conference would want North Texas to begin with. I also have a hard time figuring out why some on this forum look down on schools like UTSA or Texas State. What's so wrong with creating a regional conference with up-and-coming programs like those? I attended, and graduated from, North Texas at a time when it was in I-AA... and there were some good, well-attended rivalry (yes, rivalry) games when NT was in the Southland Conference. I remember in Matt Simon's first-year, a Southland Conference championship and playoff year, bringing in Montana (I think it was)... which was a highly-ranked team in I-AA that year, a game North Texas lost at the very end. I seem to remember a big and boisterous crowd at that game, too. That was a fun game that meant something in terms of national rankings. The new stadium's great, I'm sure... we won't be traveling to Denton until the December 3 game against MTSU... I'm sure it's first class. But the program needs to take baby-steps and set realistic goals. Jumping from the Sun Belt to a big conference after nearly a decade of poor seasons ain't gonna' happen. Why not set up a Texas-style version of the Mid-America Conference, which has away games that can be made by a relatively short car drive? Who wouldn't mind going to San Antonio every other year? I wouldn't be surprised, either, if UT-Arlington brings football back in the not-too-distant future. That could be a natural rival. I love North Texas football... but guys, we're not going to be competing for a national championship anytime soon. I hope the powers that be would create a regional conference that makes sense. This spread out Sun Belt thing is a drag... and so would us joining any one of the others some are wishing for. Just one man's thoughts.

I watched the game on ESPN3 while listening to George & Hank on kntu.com because I don't live anywhere near Denton. Let's be real... and it's been repeated in this thread: the only thing that will get people in the stands is a winning football program. You can't demand loyalty from students or alumni... you have to earn it. The way you earn people's loyalty in college football is by winning. Why should we be surprised that there were so many empty seats on a weekend when Texas & O.U. played and the Rangers are in the ALCS (and bad weather to boot)? How can we criticize those who chose not to attend a game featuring Florida Atlantic? Furthermore, why is the athletic department scheduling home games on Texas/O.U. weekend? We can beg everybody to attend through letters and other gimmicks all we want... but why try to fight that tradition head-to-head? It didn't work for the USFL trying to beat the NFL... it's not going to work for North Texas at this stage of the game. People will start being more than mildly interested once the program starts winning consistently... and last night's win over FAU gives us hope that the winning program is a lot closer than it's been in recent years.

Thank you. I just noticed that, too.

On DISH, I've seen ads all week that the North Texas vs. Alabama game would be on Fox Sports Southwest (416)... now they are saying it's the Rangers-Mariners who will be on. There's a pay-per-view channel that says I can watch NT/Bama for $25.

It's a challenge to say something 'meaningful' about a football program, like yours, that will forever be stuck in mediocrity... never to be invited to an AQ conference, losing championship games to underdogs like East Carolina. Schools like North Texas (rebuilding from a disaster) and UTSA (starting from scratch) stand a greater chance of climbing the ranks of college football than does a school that's known throughout this great state as Cougar High. Enjoy your time at Apogee Stadium. You won't see anything that nice on your campus.

As the old saying goes, 'I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.' I finished college at North Texas, having grown up in North Carolina. My first exposure to Cougar High School was when North Carolina State, a huge underdog, beat said high school in the 1983 NCAA basketball championship game. I'm not saying (necessarily) that North Texas, a huge underdog, will come out on top, although I hope we will. But that's why you play the game. So, I associate Cougar High with losing big games. Also, there's something about a school that lacks class. I seem to remember Cougar High beating a post-death-penalty SMU 95-21 in the early 90s. Wow. Cougar High can pile up points on a depleted team that didn't play D1 football for consecutive seasons. So, not only does this school have a history of losing big games it's supposed to win, it lacks class... as evidenced by the initial pathetic post in this thread. Go Mean Green!

That's a good piece. We'll have a good year. We have a great future.

What Vegas thinks is all well and good. But I'm going to root for North Texas to win.

I am having a hard time looking at the Todd Dodge era and seeing how anybody could defend his work. It is time for him to go. The experiment of a high school coach on the I-A level has failed. Either he should man up and submit his resignation upon returning from West Point, or RV should call Dodge into his office first thing Monday morning. This is ridiculous.

TD could take over for Dennis Parker at Texas Lutheran!

Bower would be great! I hope he and RV have already had talks. Also, if RV knew Bower from Southern Miss and C-USA... then another name to throw into the mix should be Steve Logan, formerly of East Carolina. Now that the new stadium is going up, UNT can get a good coach. Don't even keep Todd Dodge around for recruiting or OC... he's a good high school coach... there's no shame in being a good high school coach... just send him back to high school.

I agree. Bring in a new coach to open the new stadium. Todd Dodge just cannot win on the college level.

As much as I'd like to see UNT win... there's no evidence this football team can beat an opponent that is, no doubt, disciplined.