[Louisiana Tech (2/16/23)]

Also was it just me or did the guys look a little ragged tonight. They looked like they were breathing hard and winded in the 2nd half. Short bench didn't help I guess, no Martinez.

[Louisiana Tech (2/16/23)]

[Louisiana Tech (2/16/23)]

24 minutes ago, MeanGreen22 said:

Abou and Rubin playing up to their skill level has been the clear turning point of the season. In stride at the perfect time. 

That and I also think Huntsberry is really hitting his stride now. He's figured out where he fits on the floor, and what he can do that other can't. He has been driving so much to the lane and looking very good doing it. 

[SMU potentially to the PAC-12]

1 hour ago, DentonStang said:

Aww shucks, you're right. It might turn out badly so we had better not even try. Much better to sit around playing Charlotte and UAB waiting to be relegated to the new version of FCS.  At least then nobody could laugh at us for trying and failing. 

 

We'd laugh at you either way. 

[Louisiana Tech (2/16/23)]

It's always tough to play in Ruston, we got out to a big lead last time and let Tech get back in the game. Let's hope we do the same thing but keep our foot on their throats. 

[Attendance Sucks. What to do about it!!]

1 hour ago, NorthTexasWeLove said:

Maybe. But, as others have pointed out, there are some winners that transfer in. Most are still losers with UNT on their future degree and a closet full of maroon or orange. If you can't buy in to who you are as a person and get behind it then you are a loser and a self loathing person. I pity the mentality. 

I think we can all just be glad you aren't making any decisions at any level. 

[New Basketball Arena proposed on Light the Tower Masterplan update]

Is this about the athletic center? I fail to see how this has anything to do with a new basketball arena. 

[Attendance Sucks. What to do about it!!]

I can't remember who in the BB thread was saying they should give out 4 free tickets for any game to every household in the city of Denton. Just get people there and build a connection. Something like that might be a nice thing for football as well. 

[Attendance Sucks. What to do about it!!]

1 hour ago, untphd said:

The problem is the Dorms. We don't have them like at other schools. Unt did not want to put money into them. They have apartments all around denton, but it is not the same. After your freshman year, you are kicked out because there are not enough rooms. I have family going here, but they are told you cannot live in the dorms next year. It is just not the same. You don't build the same experiences because of lthis. 

 

Is this true? I didn't know you were forced to move out after freshman year. They've built several new dorms since I graduated, I would have thought they had a good handle on the on campus housing side of things. 

[Attendance Sucks. What to do about it!!]

30 minutes ago, DentonLurker said:

For the casual sports fan in Denton and probably even some students, the other piece that I don’t think gets talked about enough are the non-conference games our teams schedule. Look at softball attendance when we have played UT and OU vs MBB when we play Paul Quinn and Omaha. And The Stadium Formerly Known as Apogee has yet to host a truly marquee opponent. And with that said, we need to win against one of those teams every now and then.

+1 for "The Stadium Formerly Known as Apogee." Really clever 😂

[Attendance Sucks. What to do about it!!]

2 hours ago, Matt from A700 said:

Although we have over 40,000 students, the sad truth is that too many kids who actually aspire to go to UNT when applying for colleges are attending for programs in art, music, film, etc. -- I don't what to stereotype, but most of these kids aren't interested in sports.

We need to raise our profile around the area and state. Winning will help that. Make more high school kids see UNT as more than a cheap back-up. Too many P5 school gear on UNT's campus.

I think the problem is deeper rooted than just "art kids don't like sports." If that were true and they make up maybe 8k of the student population we would have 36k other students clamoring to get into games. There is a large apathy across the board that doesn't see UNT athletics as a worthwhile investment. The AD really needs to hire a firm and do some in depth analysis as to why students do attend and what it would take them to. 

[Attendance Sucks. What to do about it!!]

2 hours ago, Tom McKrackin said:

Basketball got hurt by Tony era.  Women sports struggle at UT and big schools.

We are 5 years away from Benford, with a fantastic coach, an NCAA upset over Purdue, and multiple seasons of wins in the 20s. Winning is doing nothing for attendance on the BB side. 

[Who will Replace SMU in the AAC?]

2 hours ago, NT80 said:

That is all just fake asset value, based on a conference name, not membership or real power.   We have the 20th version of the WAC now, and soon the 10th version of CUSA.  At some point this conference ranking system by name alone, or past P5 and G5 references, must be updated.  There is too much movement now to assign a conference food chain based on old memberships.

 

My other post was getting long so I wanted to create a 2nd one about the bolded quote about the 6 ACC schools remaining. Here is a map of the ACC:

 

Let's say the SEC takes FSU, Clemson, UNC, Virginia, and the Big10 takes Syracuse, Louisville, Pitt, and ND (if they say no it could be anyone but I'll say BC to make things easy. That still leaves Miami, GT, NC State, Duke, WF, and VT. Can you really say those team names don't hold power? There's just no way those teams get absorbed by the AAC. They will take Temple, Memphis, USF, Navy, and whoever else has made a name for themselves in the G5. 

[Who will Replace SMU in the AAC?]

3 hours ago, NT80 said:

That is all just fake asset value, based on a conference name, not membership or real power.   We have the 20th version of the WAC now, and soon the 10th version of CUSA.  At some point this conference ranking system by name alone, or past P5 and G5 references, must be updated.  There is too much movement now to assign a conference food chain based on old memberships.

Part of it is name, but part of it is also media contracts and bowl tie ins. As long as those conferences can keep those above others then they will hold the power at the negotiating table. Pac12 has these tie-ins. That's a very solid bowl lineup and all on linear cable.

 

• 1. Rose Bowl: Jan. 2, 2 p.m. Pacific time, Pasadena, Calif., ESPN – Pac-12 vs. Big Ten.
• 2. Alamo Bowl: Dec. 29, 6 p.m. Pacific time, San Antonio, Texas, ESPN – Pac-12 vs. Big 12.
• 3. Holiday Bowl: Dec. 28, 5 p.m. Pacific time, San Diego, FOX/FS1 – Pac-12 vs. ACC
• 4. Las Vegas Bowl: Dec. 17, 4:30 p.m. Pacific time, Las Vegas, ABC – Pac-12 vs. SEC
• 5. Sun Bowl: Dec. 30, 11 a.m. Pacific time, El Paso, Texas, CBS – Pac-12 vs. Notre Dame/ACC
• 6. LA Bowl: Dec. 17, 12:30 p.m. Pacific time, Inglewood, Calif., ABC – Pac-12 vs. Mountain West.
• First Responder Bowl -- The Pac-12 might occupy a spot in this Dec. 27 bowl in University Park, Texas, against a team from the ACC, American Athletic or Big 12.

 

 Compared to MWC:

 

• – Famous Idaho Potato Bowl vs MAC
• – Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl vs Pac-12
• – New Mexico Bowl vs Conference USA
• – Barstool Arizona Bowl vs MAC
• – EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl vs Conference USA

 

AAC fairs a little bit better:

• – Fenway Bowl vs ACC
• – Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl vs Conference USA
• – Military Bowl Presented by Peraton vs ACC
• – Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl vs Army

The American Athletic Conference will get a chance at putting four teams in these bowls …

– PUBG MOBILE New Mexico Bowl vs Mountain West
– RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five or Army
– SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs ACC, Big 12, or Pac-12
– Tailgreeter Cure Bowl vs Group of Five or Army
– TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl vs SEC
– Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five or Army
– Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl vs ACC, Pac-12, or SEC

 

All that to say it comes down to money. They have it and we don't, so until they lose those contracts they will have the leverage in negotiating. 

 

 

 

6C

[Who will Replace SMU in the AAC?]

1 hour ago, NT80 said:

Last fall the Big10 Commish and several writers speculated that the Big10 and SEC would create 20-team Super Conferences.  I think the Big12 would like the same with expansion adding PAC schools.   Would a poached ACC in 2035 align with the AAC?  

More than likely the ACC poaches the AAC, even if those two conferences took all 8 from the ACC they would still have 6 schools and would have enough power and name recognition to make the AAC schools jump. Even in the scenarios we are seeing for the PAC12, if WSU/OSU are the only ones left they will take on the entire MWC and continue as the Pac12/14. We have never seen a smaller conference eat a bigger one, or align itself with one, so unless something truly unexpected happens that's the order of things. 

[Who will Replace SMU in the AAC?]

3 hours ago, DeepGreen said:

I just don't see the ACC groveling after USF or Memphis.

 

Everyone is talking about the SEC wanting Florida St. and Clemson. in 2035 their GOR expires and many are speculating that the SEC is going to come knocking. 

[SMU potentially to the PAC-12]

2 hours ago, NT80 said:

NT has experience going into conferences that look like sunshine and turn to rain...  Southland, Sunbelt, Big West, CUSA...  Going into the AAC it will not be the same AAC it is today, the best programs are leaving.   Same with the PAC12, it will not be the same when Smut joins in two years as it is today.  We all know it, but most would take the chance anyway....only to get rained on again.

It's the sad life of the G5. The only way to break the cycle is to make yourself big enough so you can't be ignored and hope you get a golden ticket. We've been climbing little by little, and we have finally reached a conference with a track record of helping teams grow and take the next step. It's up to us now to be as successful as the 3 that are leaving. 

[SMU potentially to the PAC-12]

26 minutes ago, ADLER said:

"Wait!!! Can I Still Buy A Ticket!!!"

 

No G5 is turning down an invitation as it stands right now. Even as someone who thinks there is a very real risk of losing the 4 corners schools if the media deal is bad, any school would roll the dice and hope it works out. It's just the reality of things. 

 

[SMU potentially to the PAC-12]

43 minutes ago, NT80 said:

Depends on what the purpose is.   To gain a P5 conference?   That designation is soon going away and the makeup of the PAC will be greatly changing too.   So, after all that, why go there?  

Because you go until it isn't. Right now those 10 teams are in the PAC, and it is a P5. The moment it isn't, and it hits the threshold of what you aren't willing to tolerate you change plans. 

[Charlotte (2/11/23)]

1 minute ago, NorthTexasSportsNetwork said:

More full from students, there were definitely more alumni/fans on Saturday.

Student turnout on Saturdays this year has been horrible. Not sure why other than going home, which is the dumbest thing ever especially older kids lol.

But still the fact we haven’t hit over 5K for a 20+ win team is horrible. Absolutely horrible. Students are, for the most part, doing their part. There is 0 advertising, very little promos, and not much energy from the athletic department and overall campus to push going to games. No ads on digital billboards, websites, anywhere.

Like I’ve said before, marketing and that overall area SUCKS!!

 

We've always argued on this board that winning will bring fans, but it's clear we have a deeper rooted problem when a 20-5 team can't get more than 4k fans to a game when we have 44k students. There needs to be some real effort into building the fanbase up. 

[SMU potentially to the PAC-12]

4 hours ago, El Paso Eagle said:

This. It amazes me people are saying we would not join a P5. We just joined a conference that lost its best teams in hopes that we can be part of rebuilding it. So sorry but with all due respect those that are saying they would turn down an invitation to a P5 conference are letting their emotions getting the way of reality.

This needs to be posted again. No way UNT would turn the same invite down. You plan and have contingencies if things go south, but you don't give up the chance . 

Let's look at it this way, the AAC said they were losing 3, then they lose SMU, then they lose USF, Memphis, and Tulane. Are we going back to CUSA? Yeah, I don't think so either. 

[Who will Replace SMU in the AAC?]

3 hours ago, Matt from A700 said:

The reality is we already need to be planning our next move. Of course, we also need to make sure we're competitive across the board, but I'm sure Memphis, USF and others are probably wanting out too. The MWC teams we'd like in the AAC, as mentioned here and the other SMU thread, will probably take an invite to fill up the decimated Pac-12. I am seriously worried we will be looking at a CUSA 2.0 in a few years.

Interesting place to be in for administrators, as it looks like there will just be 3-4 superconferences in a few years. I honestly hope we can position ourselves to be taken a look at when/if the Big XII needs to expand again.

For Memphis that's an understatement, you can practically smell the desperation to join a P5 from the Memphis fans. 

This is why we need to invest like crazy and build ourselves up like UCF/Cincy/Houston. Once the ACC GOR expires all hell might break loose and we need to make ourselves attractive to whatever possible opportunity opens. The ACC might be torn apart by the SEC/Big10, and USF/Memphis would be prime candidates. We need to be ready for whatever happens. 

[SMU potentially to the PAC-12]

Our friends from the hilltop seem to be pretty quiet lately. You're not getting nervous are you? 

[SMU potentially to the PAC-12]

2 hours ago, El Paso Eagle said:

Not sure. The only thing that might be similar (maybe), is that the WAC is claiming that the FBS charter they have is still valid, even though they have not played FBS football in years. I did find this in reference when people were saying with UT and OU leaving the Big 12 was finished -  the study states, “The B12 A-5 status will be fully assured through at least any big reorganization of NCAA models.” Then goes on to state, “fans can stop worrying if the new-look Big 12 will remain a ‘Power Five’ conference. 

As I said in the other thread I don't think P5 is an official designation, it is an old hold over from the Automatic Qualifier (AQ) status of the BCS. Those conferences had contractual agreements with the BCS bowls for their champion to be in those bowls, and while conferences still have tie-ins to those bowl, there is no automatic qualification to the playoff. It was a way to distinguish haves and the have-nots. Even as we go forward the 6 highest champs from any conference are eligible for the playoff, with no conference guaranteed an automatic bid. 

[Charlotte (2/11/23)]

3 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

That was my thought watching on television. Thursday appeared much more crowded. 

I can only guess that they are going by tickets sold and not butts in seats?