Vito: Unt-smu Series In The Works

[Mean Green 93-98]

Deal to continue UNT-SMU football series could be on way

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UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal confirmed today that he is in talks with SMU about the Mean Green renewing its football series with the Mustangs.

Villarreal said UNT and SMU are comparing open dates and hammering out the details. More and more, it sounds like the schools could have something done within a matter of weeks.

It will be great for both schools to keep the series going. SMU and UNT played on a semi-regular basis until 1992 and then picked up their series again in 2006 when the Mean Green beat the Mustangs at Fouts Field. SMU got its revenge last season at Ford Stadium.

The Mustangs have dominated the series and lead 28-4-1.

After covering UNT football for the last few years, I think a good yearly rivalry is something the Mean Green could really use. Having a hated rival or two boosts interest, the crowds at games and just makes everything more interesting.

A few years ago, I could have made a pretty good argument that New Mexico State was the closest thing UNT had to a real rival. NMSU was in the Sun Belt, was close enough geographically for fans to travel to games and the schools had some great showdowns throughout a long history of playing on a regular basis. When NMSU left the Sun Belt, UNT was left without a rival other than maybe Middle Tennessee, and to me even that is a stretch.

Feel free to weigh in on the blog. Is SMU the Mean Green's biggest rival and how would you feel about the schools continuing their football series?