Generous boosters have UNT headed in right direction

Harry · July 30, 2013

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is the final installment in a three-part series on the 100th anniversary of the North Texas football program. Today’s story examines the program’s potential for growth.

Mistaking Ernie Kuehne for a coach would be easy on a summer afternoon as the North Texas men’s basketball team works out in a gym on the fringe of campus.

Kuehne, a stocky man with gray hair and a vibrant smile, stalks the sidelines and chats with assistant coaches and players, who treat him like a member of the team as they go through drills.

“The godfather’s here,” UNT head coach Tony Benford yells as he crosses the court to greet Kuehne, whose name is plastered on the entrance sign outside the gym.

UNT opened the Ernie Kuehne Basketball Practice Facility this spring. The former UNT track athlete, who is now a prominent Dallas lawyer and businessman, donated $1 million toward the project. He then led a campaign that raised a total of $3 million in 30 days that covered construction costs.

UNT officials see the story of how Kuehne’s name ended up on the building as an example of growing support from boosters and fans. They say that growth must continue if the school is to advance during a key period in its history that will coincide with the 100 anniversary of its football program this fall.

Less than five years ago, Kuehne was a disconnected alumnus with no confidence in the direction of UNT’s athletic program.

“To say that I was not interested and apathetic toward athletics at North Texas would be an understatement,” Kuehne said. “That changed when I drove up here and saw Eagle Point, the stadium coming up out of the ground and the athletic center. The first words that came to my brain were, ‘This isn’t the same North Texas.’”

UNT officials believe that is the case. They see the investments the school has made as a key step toward UNT athletics becoming nationally prominent and a more important part of campus life.

UNT has dramatically upgraded its facilities over the last decade, a process that reached a pinnacle in 2011 when the school opened Apogee Stadium, its $79 million football venue.

UNT also joined Conference USA this summer, giving the Mean Green three Texas rivals — Rice, UTEP and UTSA — after spending 12 years as the lone Texas school in the Sun Belt Conference.

Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20130729-football-big-potential.ece

Harry · July 30, 2013

Great article. So many reasons for spirits to be lifted around here.

Stan R · July 30, 2013

Dig the green belt. :thumbsu:

oldguystudent · July 30, 2013

Ernie's a a great guy. There are quite a few others who went unnamed in that article that have taken it upon themselves to make some substantial gifts, most for the first time within the last 2-3 years. There is a core group of people out there selling this program, bringing in new fans and new money, and it's all growing.

But me? I'm gonna focus on fraternity couches and UTSA, because those are the real issues.

Incidentally, I sold three season tickets and a mean green club donation to a co-worker whose daughter is going in as a freshman to UNT this season. This is both good and bad news. I'm gonna have to watch the beer consumption now. Dammit!

Travis · July 30, 2013

I remember how big of a deal it was when mattress mac gave us a million dollars. We all peed in our pants.... Had a big celebration. Since then, I wonder how much we have raised from both individuals and businesses. It seems like we have improved on that front to bring slightly more normalcy to it. Am I wrong?

CMJ · July 30, 2013

Very interesting article. Wish we had more high dollar alumni giving like that.

Legend500 · July 30, 2013

There's a lot more than $3 million waiting to be announced :ninja: , but it's mostly gifts to the academic side. Still, when our university gets donations from anywhere it helps out everyone, athletics included.

Christopher Walker · July 30, 2013

Kuehne convinced his accountant, Brint Ryan, a fellow UNT graduate, to contribute to the fundraising campaign he led for the school’s basketball program.

I would hope that Brint would have already been contributing, considering he's the Vice-Chairman of the freakin' Board of Regents.

oldguystudent · July 30, 2013

I would hope that Brint would have already been contributing, considering he's the Vice-Chairman of the freakin' Board of Regents.

He enjoys some mighty fine seats at Apogee, so...yeah.

tylermeangreen · July 30, 2013

I would hope that Brint would have already been contributing, considering he's the Vice-Chairman of the freakin' Board of Regents.

We would hope so.

But understanding that a political appointee to a board of regents does not necessarily have a great affinity for the institution itself makes this totally understandable.

While such institutionally detached appointments have occurred throughout the history of this state, this is especially true of political appointees over the past 12 years or so - and especially to boards of regents of Texas public universities.

Of course, our assumption in this case is that the story told by Kuehne to Vito is completely true as stated.

meangreenacct · July 30, 2013

I would hope that Brint would have already been contributing, considering he's the Vice-Chairman of the freakin' Board of Regents.

I think at one point he already donated $1M to business school, so not like he was just sitting on sideline.

Christopher Walker · July 30, 2013

We would hope so.

But understanding that a political appointee to a board of regents does not necessarily have a great affinity for the institution itself makes this totally understandable.

While such institutionally detached appointments have occurred throughout the history of this state, this is especially true of political appointees over the past 12 years or so - and especially to boards of regents of Texas public universities.

Of course, our assumption in this case is that the story told by Kuehne to Vito is completely true as stated.