Side.Show.Joe

Is the MWC better for UNT? That depends on what you value.... Overall, the MWC is comprised of higher ranking universities than C-USA. Their athletic programs are regularly ranked in national polls. Their media deal is a lot better than C-USA's. Their athletic departments have larger budgets than C-USA. In many ways conferencing in the MWC would elevate UNT on the national stage. On the flip side, UNT would have no regional rivals in the MWC. But, that didn't stop TCU. In my opinion, if the MWC extended UNT an invitation, we will jump at it.

It never should have come to this. The sane fans on this board knew this program was going down the toilet for the past two or three years. We are not going to beat LA Tech next week, or Missouri, or Marshall, or Liberty. The Mean Green will be 1-6 when we head to Rice on October 30th, with our only win against an FCS program. We are in the middle of a slow train wreck. What is Wren's plan to avert total disaster? We didn't even draw 18K for the game tonight. That number isn't going to get any better as this season continues. Plus conference realignment is underway. Had we properly addressed our football program two or three years ago, we'd probably be in a better position to improve conferences today.

1. The team lost their intensity in the second half. 2. SMU made halftime adjustments and our coaches were not able to adjust. 3. UNT suffered too many injuries to major contributors (Torrey & Bush... hopefully none are too serious). 4. UNT can contend for the C-USA West Title this season. 5. Dykes owns Littrell.

If our defense was worn out, is it is on the coaches. SMU's defense wasn't worn out and they were on the field longer. SMU's offense only held the ball for 23 minutes. UNT's offense had the ball for almost 36 minutes (that means our defense wasn;t on the field as long as SMU's). Both teams put up over 500 yards of offense, but SMU's defense didn't wear out. The UNT defense is improved, but not massively. You're going to have to peddle that spin to someone else. I watched the game.

While I don't agree with Tom, I respect his right to choose. Every fan gets to decide when they've had their fill. Remember, When a sizable portion of our fan base quit on the team RV was replaced with Wren. I'm not going to debate whether of not Littrell should remain our coach. It is very early in the season and we have more important things to occupy our attention. The simple truth is... if our team could have finished with a closer loss (maybe 34-21), most of this arguing (sky is falling talk) wouldn't be occurring. Winning solves everything, and that responsibility falls on the coaches. On the bright side, I do think we have a solid chance of beating UAB at home next Saturday and competing for the C-USA West title. We should move on and focus on that.

Yeah, and the defense also gave up scoring plays (not drives) of .... 62 yards 58 yards 29 yards 19 yards & 85 yards I don't call that massive improvement.

SMU didn't open up their playbook in the first half. Once they did, our offense and defense didn't look nearly as good. The issue isn't how UNT will look for the rest of this season. I'm sure we will compete just fine in C-USA. The issue is that the program should be much further along in Littrell's 6th year as head coach.

Mose was like SMU's "12th Man" tonight. I felt like I was watching Eddie Cicotte in "Eight Men Out". But to the point of the thread, UNT caught some bad breaks tonight, starting with Bush going down early. Losing Torrey in an already thin backfield was another terrible blow. But even so, this offense should still be able to put up more points.

Everything UNT needed to do to become a candidate has been done already. And, thanks to Smatresk, Wren, and his staff, it is enough to be on their radar. Maybe we make the cut.... "Though Aresco declined to reveal potential new members, the top options are likely to start with UAB, a rising power in the G5 located in the heart of the Deep South. Football success is an important piece to any new additions, as well as fan support and school resources. Several others may fit that mold, including Air Force, Army, Colorado State, Boise State, North Texas, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina and Arkansas State." https://www.si.com/college/2021/09/08/big-12-expansion-aac-mike-aresco-reaction And don't forget, thanks to Wren, ESPN has a favorable opinion of UNT.

Will this be a conference game between 2026 through 2029?

95.3 The Range isn't playing the coaches show on their website.

With Adaway out for the season (Prayers are with you Oscar, and I can't wait for you to be back on the field), I'm having to adopt a new player. If no one has him from last season... I think I have identified a guy that will very likely be an impact player in Bennett's defense..... Larry Nixon III. I think he's ready for an all-conference type season.

One trip every other year isn't a bad trade off for the regional rivals UAB, Southern Miss, and LA Tech would add. It would be the smart move.

If the choice was made by fans, you'd be absolutely right. Thank goodness the university presidents make these types of decisions. While fans at Southern Miss and UAB lean towards playing eastern programs, their presidents understand that the east lacks the opportunities that the west features. There is a reason the better C-USA bowl ties and conference basketball tournament are located in the western region of the C-USA. C-USA has an annual bowl tie located in the western region of the conference every season through this bowl cycle (New Orleans Bowl) & two in the west or further west on a rotating basis (Hawaii '22 & '24 and Independence Bowl '21 & '25). The eastern region has no guaranteed bowl ties at all during this bowl cycle. The closest guaranteed bowl tie in the east is the Bahamas Bowl. The money and the opportunities are in the west, and the presidents at UAB and Southern Miss know it.

If the western programs were to realign, I think the current C-USA West (UNT, Rice, LA Tech, UAB, Southern Miss, UTSA, and UTEP) might have a shot at adding Arkansas State and ULL as a package deal. But only if we can keep all of non-Texas C-USA west members (LA Tech, Southern Miss, and UAB) in this configuration. Those programs would make some nice regional rivalries for ULL and Ark State.

Despite the weather, I had a great time today. It always feels good to be back at Apogee. I agree the intensity level was high today. I really like that.

No. Like them or not, UT has always been a flagship in their conferences. And everyone in college football knows who UT is. Sure ODU has cash, but only a few million more than UNT. ODU is just a below average newbie in C-USA, pretending to be a power player. If we could get enough members to vote them out we should.

Their $46 million budget gives them even less reason to whine about C-USA. LA Tech, and Southern Miss manage to win with food stamp budgets.

ODU rubs me the wrong way. They have been FBS for about half a minute, done nothing, and are trying to dictate conference realignment. It won't hurt C-USA to lose those two. 12 teams would be a better number for a better C-USA anyway.

I'd be happy with that too.

Enoch Jackson.... 6' 298 pounds and a strong motor. I saw his tape. That dude looks like a legit SEC player, and I think Novil will take up a lot of attention in the new D-Line scheme. That should create even more opportunities for Enoch to shine.

I love that Aune threw up an Eagle Claw! I wish the Claw was the go to move after every big play on the field, court, and course.

Since UNT alum Senator Jane Nelson is chairing the committee, maybe fans on this board should reach out to her and ask that she advocate for UNT's inclusion in the conversation. I know we have the Big12 universities stating their cases for how they stand to lose financially and competitively with the separation occurring. UNT and the other public universities that have been outside of the Big12 have been at disadvantages for years. If our alums call her and Senator Springer, maybe they can advocate for North Texas in all of this. I saw the Texas monthly article calling for an all Texas conference. That might be something they could discuss at the hearing. Just a thought.

So I guess this means our SMU series is finished.... 2026 @ Wyoming UNLV @ Texas State Houston Baptist There are no openings left to continue the SMU series. Does Wren have us in the same conference by 2026?

Why would I want to hand you the game plan? That would be like scripting our first 20 offensive plays and giving you a copy. Better SMU has to guess where the next shot is coming from.