FirefightnRick

Along with the above post I want to thank everyone with the constructive ideas. What else, keep them coming. Rick

THIS IS NOT A BITCH ONLY THREAD. IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT PLEASE INCLUDE A SOLUTION, OTHERWISE IT WILL NEVER GET CORRECTED If you were your chapter's director what would you suggest the chapter could do to improve or enlarge it's attendance? What activities would you like to see? What events(gatherings, socials etc) and how many times should the events occur(monthly, every two months). Maybe you would like to see a chapter started in your town? I'm curious to know what other alumni and future alumni would like to see to help our alumni association grow. Thoughts? Rick

It's been longer than a decade. We won the SLC in '88, hosted the post season tourney and won on ESPN in the SuperPit enroute to the Salt Lake City regional. Everyone remembered how exciting that tournement was so naturally when we won the SLC again in '89 and hosted the tournement, again, we had another fantastic, rowdy crowd for the championship game on ESPN. But we lost that game and Gales was replaced soon afterwards and I haven't seen much since. I will say that Jank's teams made more noise than we have seen recently though. Several of his ex players still feel that he was on the cusp of taking us to the next level when he was let go. This season was a huge opportunity to get our fanbase back in Denton and we blew it. But, had JJ done so in only his 4th season we all would have been talking about how it was one of the greatest turnaroundsin NT history or something to that fact? So I'll give JJ another year or two as I didn't expect him to rebuild one of the poorest basketball programs in Texas and take it to the NCAA tournament in 4 seasons. That's asking a bit much in my oppinion. Rick

http://www.noridershirts.com/ Check out today's front page of the Startlegram about the originator of the Jet Ranger Helicopter T used in the movie. He's from Grapevine and now sells the shirts online. Rick

This was supposed to have been in a Tampa news paper, but I got it in an email. It sums up very well how people feel these days about the PC Brotherhood. Rick Story in Tampa Newspaper Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice?????? Think about it . . All I have to say is, when will they do something about MY RIGHTS? I celebrate Christmas, but because it isn't celebrated by everyone! , we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings. It's not Christmas vacation, it's Winter Break Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday? We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that. This says it all! This is an editorial written by an American citizen, published in a Tampa newspaper He did quite a job; didn't he? Read on, please! "IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the "politically correct! ! " crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America. Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand. This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language! "In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan.. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture. If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle. Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag, our pledge, our national motto, or our way of life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great American freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE."

Excuse me for this please! But since I spent 80 @#$@%@! dollars on signs, then spent another $20 taxi fair and an hour and a half of my vacation in New Orleans trying to deliver them, and since another here on this board spent no telling how much having 1,000 instruction sheets printed up then having his daughters waste their vacation time in New Orleans passing them out an hour prior to the Southern Miss game, FOR NOTHING, then may I take a second to remind all how that chant was to suppose to go? My reason is that the North and Texas chant sounded great tonight, but there is more to it and by doing it the way we worked it out here on GMG.com prior to the bowl game it will have an ending instead of people wondering how many times to do it, and then it only ending in a faded hum? Between the two groups, Pit Crew and Talons, surely you folks can work this out? I believe it went like this: NORTH!....TEXAS! NORTH!.....TEXAS! LET'S! GO! MEAN! GREEN! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! Rick

I miss Chris Davis. What a great story and wonderful person. He was by far one of the top class-act represenatives for our university during his time here. I wish him all the best. Rick

Per the ticket office: Students get in with ID for free and will be assigned to a specific student section during NT's games. I asked if for some reason another large student group from another school were to show, would our students have to vacate their seats? Response is that they do not anticipate this to happen but if it did our students would only have to move to a general seating section. So, as I read this, if there is a large crowd for two separate opposing teams and our students want to watch them play they would just have to relocate to a general seating section. It should be a fun time as ticket sales are picking up and a good crowd is expected. Rick

Finally! The streak is over for the 6 straight 1 point losses. But it's hard to believe you can go 1-11 from the arch and still beat the #1 team in the west? This may be the one that get's this team in gear hopefully and ready for tournament time. Rick

Correct me if I'm wrong, but NAIA is non scholarship, or at least it is at some schools. Tarleton was when they were NAIA. So, if PB is non scholarship, they are NAIA, DivIII, DivII and DivI...three complete levels behind us, right? So taking your list of valentines day attendances, I'm curious how many of those home games were against opponents that were 3 levels below the host? Someone said earlier we lost our attendance momentum when we lost to TCU and I think this is dead on. If we make the tournament final we can get it back. Rick

No where do I state in any of those threads that "I am better than you". If that is what you read into it, fine. My participation and support for NT basketball was questioned. I answered by listing what I had done as a student and as an alumnus. Somehow this gets twisted into me saying "I'm better than you"? Just like when Plumm answered JayDub why he didn't come to basketball games, by doing so he became the example of why our fanbase is in the situation it's in? It's stupid, just like this whole thread. And the liar part still stands as there is NOTHING in there that states I dislike basketball. Twist this into whatever you want to, I'm done. But just like I stated about the attack on Plummer by some of our current students, we'll see how fired up you are in 2037. Rick

Our tickets go in the mail in two days. If you haven't ordered your Sun Belt Conference post season basketball tournament tickets yet do so. It's not too late. 1-800-868-2366. Rick

MeanRob Easy Rob, your treading on thin ice. Rick

John, I have to agree with you here. They are trying to encourage fans to come to the games and that is great, but let me remind you this entire thing with me and the others started by JayDub's post on the FOOTBALL board about how sick he is of all the other topics we were all discussing..ON THE FOOTBALL BOARD other than what JayDub wanted us to talk about. Then the same thread turned into a personal attack on Jim Plummer and why or why not can he make the basketball games and that is when I stepped in to defend him and other alumni like you and myself who live more than an hour away from Denton. I would have loved to have seen some of your more witty remarks back at them had they attacked you instead. That would have made for some funny shiz! Rick

This is a damn lie and just as I thought, you cannot show where I have said I don't like basketball or held anything over anyone's head. And yes, I'm glad there are a few passionate students that love our program but your generalizing, taking what I have typed and placed it as you want to in order to argue with me. You don't know my level of support for the basketball team as you don't know anyone elses. You and a couple of the others took my tongue in cheek remark two months ago about "It's not basketball season yet?", which GreenBat had to freakin point out to you as being sarcastic, and turned everything I have posted into "FFR hates basketball", which couldn't be further from the truth. And get this,... get this. Anytime you criticise someone on this board about anything, they are more than likely going to defend themselves. It doesn't mean they don't like basketball or football or softball or soccer, and it doesn't mean they dislike you or anyone else! Does that read plain enough for you? Rick

Ticket boothes, songs played at the games(I love Fly Like An Eagle because it reminds me of our win on ESPN back in my day to qualify for the tournement) has zero bearing on why or why not people are getting out of the dorms and over to the games. Winning is what matters most to people, and who have we beaten that someone would know about? New Mexico State is all that comes to mind as a recent known name win. Losing to TCU I think hurt more than most realize. Also, what's on campus right now that tells people there is a game on regional TV this thursday night? Anything? Any signs or banners in the union? Anything? Rick

Coach, What the...? I don't see what my activities in the past have to do with this thread and don't believe I have held it over anyone's head either? And it's confusing how those alumni who regularly post, but do not post as often on the bb board, can be lumped into the "not supportive of basketball crowd", but then when I mention our current students not showing up I'm then holding it over everyone's head? Did I describe that right? Show me where I said it didn't have great relevance and show me where I said I didn't like Men's basketball? Again, what the...? Show me where I said I don't like basketball? Where are you coming up with this? Try some Cuervo, it takes the edge off. Again, I have no idea what in hell your talking about. I've only defended myself and other alumni when people generalize and criticise some stupid idea that we do not support our university as others think we should because we do not attend every home basketball game? Who in hell gives you or the others the right to judge me or any other alumn in how we support the program? Besides, I didn't even start it. Surely if I started to criticise you or someone you have known for years about your level of support, you would defend yourself and them as well? And your idea that I'm "sitting it out" is dillusional at best. Again, where do you come up with this? And I can't speak for all of what WIFE stated, just that he asked a question about how does our facility match up with our opponents and he gets jumped on that he doesn't even know what ours looks like? He should support as best he can. He didn't go to games that much in the past while he was in school, he's admitted to that but now he does? Who in hell cares which games he goes to just as long as he's going to the ones he can, is all I'm saying. Your preaching to the wrong choir! ebone Again, another generalization. I have brought it up twice now, not "ALWAYS". And I have done so in defense of current students criciticizing supportive, money donating alumni for not attending basketball games. And how do you know how many basketball games I have attended? I didn't realize there was an FFR meter at the SuperPit? I'm honored. Speaking of meters, one of my last projects before I graduated was to build a giant, lighted noise meter. Back then, the Super Pit got pretty damn loud at times. Some of the other programs such as New Mexico and UNLV at the time had these and it encouraged their crowds pretty good. I had the plans and material but lost contact with the EE from Dallas that was to build it. I had Super Pit officials ready to agree that we could hang it off to the side in the southeast corner over the Talon section. Like the scoreboard that was located in the center over the floor at the time, it could be raised or lowered as needed. It's not too late for this as I see there is a need now and I don't think there is one in Texas still? Possibly at Tech? We just need to find someone good with wiring up the circuitry as the materials were fairly inexpensive? Seriously though, not that I owe anyone here an explaination nor does anyone else for that matter, but if there was anyway I could convince my wife into moving to Denton then I'd be there every night the doors were open. Of course, she say's that would be the exact problem and that I would never be home if that were to happen so we're staying put for now. What's a Mean Green fanatic to do? Rick

Coach, how many die hard fans do you think we have? Not everyone that likes football likes basketball? I'll guess we have 3,000 die hard fans. Your idea of a die hard fan and mine may differ. But I would imagine many of those 3,000 football die hards who can show up for the bb games do? I'm guessing though but so what? That's not the problem. The problem is the same as for football. Until we win on a consistent basis and make some noise in the press people around Denton will find something else to do on game nights during the bb season. I saw much larger crowds at the SP when I was in school against far lesser known teams because our product was exciting and we were winning in conference. And if my memory serves me right two or maybe three of those seasons in the late 80's the team would start out 0-7 or something crazy like that. But there was just something that brought the crowds out once January got there because we all knew we had a chance. I'll never forget Rob Coffey's...DEION HUNNNNNTTTEEERR FOR THREEEEEEE!!!!. This arguement is rediculous. It can be made for our softball team and girls soccer as well. But I again ask those pointing(and yes, your pointing) to point to yourselves or rather our new generation of future alumni. How many road games have the current basketball student diehards been to? Very few if any. If you can't get behind your team and travel to an away game once in a while while your in school you certainly won't do it once you live away from Denton later on in life? By the way, I told NTfan23 in the chat that the blowout tonight won't even get a whisper on the local news. I watched 5 and 8 at 10 p.m. and nothing. Not even a score. Rick

WIFE, I fully understood what you meant about our facilities, and I am grateful that alumni like yourself and others are coming around. Our alumni have been crapped on for years so it is a wonderful time to see some coming back again regardless of when or for what. Do what you can, where you can and when you can. Not every alumn can make all events. That's for those 10 to 15,000 students within a mile or two of campus to do. Anyone who thinks differently has a larger, personal problem than simply our attendance issues. Rick

That's wild. I was thinking Randy White as well but wasn't sure. Wasn't it four years ago(2001) that channel 8 sports news reporter Jen Olsen brought Randy White up for a BB game while they too were dating? I talked to him outside the Green room for a bit and he said he had not been back since the filming of NR. The Manster has played the field I'd say. Rick

Ok, just remember Plummer can be shy at times so some coaxing may be required. Rick

True 92'. JayDub, it didn't sound like light ribbing to me and if so it doesn't make it right. Jim has paid his dues. And I'll still support the Pit Crew regardless but take into account what those who came before you have done. There are a lot of people on this board that live out of town that busted it when they were in school and I see many of them at home and away games from time to time. Bashing us, "who called who stupid?" isn't the way to raise money. Many don't like the fact that they cannot come to all games because it's so badly needed. We don't want to come here and see someone minimize our concerns for your own. Just take that into consideration next time. Rick

Per the Pit Crew website. Before I give another dime to the Pit Crew I want Mr. Strange to ask for it by shaving the hair off of Plummers back and for forgiveness for being rude. '92, thank you for your response without a smart@ss remark. That is all I wanted. Surely you can see with so few responses from current students how unfair it is to criticise those who came before you, then come back with plans on a separate website to ask those alumni for money? Rick

I figured you would have nothing left but a desparate smartass post. Got nothing to back up your great supportive claims and accusations but to dog alumni you know nothing about. It's a$$holes like yourself, pointing fingers at others and other generations instead of worrying about your own is what brings a program down. Not alumni, at least not Plumm or me or any others on this board. There are thousands of students in and around the pit. Worry about them, not those who came before them. When you get out of school, if you get out and off of mommy's meal ticket and have to do something other than play with yourself or your playstation we will see how much effort you put into supporting your school. Like I said before, in 2037? If you want to be mad at someone, be mad at JayDub for starting this. Not at me. I'm still waiting for that road trip memory by the way. Rick

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! Kids these days. They just can't hang. Rick