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This Thursday Johnny Jones' boys play ULL for what will be win #20. That's four straight years of twenty wins. The team is currently tied for the west division #1 spot and a win Thursday and then against ULM to end the season could give us the regular season title, assuring a NIT bid, and the #1 seed heading into the SBC tourney. Oh yeah, and it's the last time this group of seniors will play at the pit. In short they have EARNED your attendance. So brave the traffic people. Feel free to move this as technically it's not football related. Then again if Todd Dodge were on the verge of a fourth straight winning season we'd tailgate all day for this game and take the day off work. And SBC basketball isn't even rated as the worst conference in America.

I sent this to the Daily: The North Texas men’s basketball team is on a roll. The Mean Green have won six in a row, 8 of their last 9 games, and currently sit atop the Sun Belt West division. The team is tied for the #1 seed heading into the last two games of the season. Finishing the year as regular season champions will guarantee them a spot in the NIT tournament no matter how the conference championship shakes out. Winning the last two games of the season and the conference tournament will mean a season record of 24-8 and a spot in the NCAA basketball tournament for the 2nd time in 4 years. North Texas is also on the cusp of its 4th straight 20+ win season. A 20-win season is always the benchmark of a good team, and North Texas is about to make it four in a row. Head coach Johnny Jones was granted a contract extension Saturday night, ensuring the architect of this successful run will be around at least for a few more years. But, geez… you wouldn’t know the Mean Green were enjoying such success in a marquee college sport by the attendance of the students. For Saturday’s penultimate home game, I counted maybe 200 students in attendance, and most of them sat on their butts for the entire game. There were more elementary school students in attendance than UNT students, and they had to be herded onto buses to make the trip to the Super Pit. And quite frankly, I am puzzled by the students of North Texas for practically ignoring the tremendous achievement of Johnny Jones and the Mean Green basketball team. I don’t understand it. I read a Facebook comment the other night that 20 wins in a season is “all right” for North Texas, but wasn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Unbelievable. Let’s set the record straight. Four straight 20-win seasons is not extremely rare, but it is a significant accomplishment for any team. Doing it for 4 straight years places North Texas in great company. Kansas State is about to have their first 4-year run of 20-win seasons. Famed head coach Chuck Daly did it just once. In order for North Texas to make the move to a more prestigious conference, we need to do more than just win on the field or on the court. We need to win it in the stands as well. Fan attendance is a critical factor when conference commissioners look at potential schools to extend an invitation. The pieces are falling into place for North Texas athletics. The new athletic fee will generate desperately needed funding for all sports, the football stadium is 16 months from opening, and the athletic village when finished will be the envy of many universities. We need the students to start honoring the hard work and achievement of all the people who have worked hard to make this happen. So I challenge the students of North Texas to turn out this Thursday night for the final home game. Stand up, be loud, and send UNT into the tournament with the #1 seed and the momentum to win the Sun Belt Championship.

Another great article by Ed Wallace. http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/02/19/1981953/if-our-grandparents-could-see.html

I would think spending the money to promote the games tomorrow and Thursday would be better than early in the week. If I saw a flier on Monday for a Thursday game I might say, "well now, that's a ways away. I'll think on it." But if on Thursday I saw a massive influx of marketing materials and discovered it was in fact that very evening I'd say to myself, "How timely and relevant, that's maybe something I need to be a part of."

I assure you espn doesn't give a rats @$$ if y'all agree with them or not. They have paid their dues over the course of 31 years and they are going to give you their opinion. Save yourselves some trouble and move on if you don't agree with them !!

GO JAGUARS!

Some independent thoughts w/o jumping into anyone's personal battles: 1) I don't believe you have to have seen someone play to have an opinion on a team, player, or era. 2) They're exactly that - opinions - and we're going to have a lot of differing ones here or in any large group. In stuff like college sports, the toy department of life, no one is ever "right" or "wrong" (quotations copyright KRAM school of journalism) in these things, and even if they could be, it's sure as hell not that important. The fact that we're all here posting on a NT athletics forum alone makes us a rabid minority with more passion about an often insignificant entity than just about anyone else. 3)It seems to me that in most cases, people tend to favor the era they came of age with. Period. This is across the board in any sport, and is the source of many good natured Griffey Jr./Mays, Celtics/Bulls arguments I've had with my dad. In twenty years, those who are in their 20's or so right now will have a greater appreciation for the Johnny Jones (and.. gasp! Darrell Dickey) eras than those who are the students of the future. It's just the way things work, and no one is right or wrong, and no, you can't really compare eras.

That was un-warranted jab against me. My intent was never to dis-respect the past. I have been to pretty much every home games since the Trilli era so I would say that i have a little pride in my school. All I did was list the facts. It has been bothering me that people were complaining about JJ considering this hasnt really ever been a powerhouse but that doesnt discount the past teams. I was just calling a spade a spade. And as far as you go FFR, i dont know why you dont have the same pride for our current team, head coach and program as you do about the past teams and players. Just this year you have said that we play no defense and that is all coaching. You have said that JJ has figured out a formula that has him schedule just enough patsies in 29 game schedule to keep his job until 2025. After a big win at WKU your first comments were "we stole that game." Instead of saying what a big victory it was and giving the team credit. JJ gets an extension and your first comments are "i dont understand the timing." Which to me made it sound like you didnt agree. Then you say when Thomas leaves, "how in the hell can a coaching staff let a kid leave with 3 weeks left." Come to find out he had a serious situation. I consider you one of the biggest fans of UNT and i didnt understand why you werent more enthusiastic about what the b-ball program has going.

OK, final home game this Thursday evening with UNT on a roll and looking good for the tournament. But, this game will be the 20th win for the team, so....what is going on around campus to publicize the game and get a big turnout? The guys on this team have played some great ball this season and seem to be peaking at just the right time. It would be great to have the season's biggest attendance to go along with the 20th win. I assume this will be "Senior Night" as well...Antwone, Dom, Eric...have I missed any seniors? Anyone know of any plans to get the alums and "townies" out such as the "school kids" at last Saturday's game? How about the other teams (football, soccer, softball, tennis, swimming, golf, volleyball, etc., etc.) showing up (with some of their coaches) to support the team and seniors as they try to win number 20??? Come on...what can we do to help the turnout Thursday??? OK, my wife will be out of town...so I have an extra ticket...as is usually the case...you can sit elsewhere if you please once the game gets going so if you need or want a ticket I have an extra...happy to share...if no one steps up, I'll have them scan it in when I get to the game so it will count as a rear in the seats, but would be more happy if someone could use it...first come first serve...send me a PM and we'll figure out how to get it to you... GO MEAN GREEN!!!! NUMBER 20!!!!!! Congratulations Seniors and "thanks for the memories"!

Just goes to show how little people around here give a bleep about our history.

There just might be...

If I am not mistaken we did play Akron in 2006, in their Rubber Bowl. I believe they have now a new stadium.

Everyone on this board wants NT to be big time...are you big time enough to show up?

I'm not going to swear, but I am going to kick this dog house down.

I'd take a bullet for Ben Knoxx this team.

I expect a near repeat of last year. Some REAL moments of brilliance, some solid slumps. Things that make you feel like things are starting to go in the right direction, but not enough to get over the hump. I expect a winning season, but not enough to make the playoffs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgTyXaRN3NU

#15 UNT vs #2 Kansas State @ Oklahoma City http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

fully aware that this is not in line with Lunardi's current placements. What does that guy know anyways? 95+% success rate picking at-large bids? I smell failblog.

Is hoping for the winner of the play-in game selfish of me? I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility that they take care of their shit and we whoop the 4 seed for a S16 matchup between us two tweeners. Calipari can suck it. Kentucky should accept now that any efforts to make the F4 and beyond will be vacated about 10 years from now by the NCAA.

I hope your joking because they are talking about the locations where they live.

Put it in a bunch of paper bags, place it on porches, light it, rirn the doorbell and run...problem solved. Geeze, do I have to solve all of the world's problms?

Under Johnny Jones, we're 4-1 vs. MVC competition. The only loss came against Missouri State, and we beat them twice (home and away). So... Creighton. Not SWC, not Power 7, not what you mentioned as wins you missed in your original post. But if you want to talk MVC teams... We're doing pretty swell against that conference under JJ, too.

I don't think it's unfair to say that if we win this game the WMD's will be found and Obama won't win re-election.

Hmmm, not a bad idea.

You know, personally, I feel "global warming" is a myth. We had an actual white christmas, and had snowfall 3 weeks in a row, then last week had a legit 12 inches of snow in DALLAS. This is the coldest winter worldwide in several years. I believe the golbal temps are actually cooling. So, yeah, "golbal warming" is a myth and propaganda by some of the left. However, you right, we need to be mindful of our resoures, and pollution which can cause other problems. The two just don't have to be linked for scare tactics.

Global Warming may or may not exist, however if you go to Houston, LA, W Memphis AR, Chicagoland IL, Newark NJ, Fresno CA.... What is that haze and smell. That is not Global Warming! That is Carbon in the air and it cannot be good for the citizens. So whatever News organization you are quoting please please go live there and see if you think we need to cap carbon?

So you're saying there's a chance!

Please don't give him any ideas......

I think they're pretty cool.

I'm sure there were provisions put in for an "easy" out, unlike what was given here.

Riley is helluva player and will develop into a good QB at this level, if he's guided by good coaches. If he leaves with his dad, I wouldn't fault him for it. The kid obviously lives his dad, he did follow him here to NT. With that said, most high schools and most college teams run some sort of spread offense. Transitioning to another coach won't be as difficult, IMO, since the chances of hiring one of these coaches is pretty high. I'm confident Riley would thrive in a Pro Style offense. Bootlegs/waggles would fit him well. They'll adapt the offense to him, his height will force the pocket to move and limit the 3 step drop.

Riley is a good QB. If he can stay healthy, we could see a great one develop. With that said, it doesn't hide the fact this team is really bad and probably won't win another game this year. Teflon Todd should be on the hot seat.

Lol funny topic. Fire Dodge and take out the source of the problem.

I don't think anyone knocks the kId so mch for his potential and ability. It's his durability that's been questioned by most on this board. Riley is gong to be a helluva QB if hecan stay healthy, everyone agrees.

Defense stepped it up in crunch time. Offense was a machine tonight. How close is Run-Far Dunbar from 1000yds?? He's a freakin' stud. Great win, guys.

Defense is worse without Tobe. I just can't imagine it being this bad. How can this staff get away with these performances week in & week out?

I think we're going to see a very similar game to last year. I'm giving NT a slight edge since the game is at Fouts. NT - 49 WKU - 45

Why not compare apples to apples???? Deloach was ridiculously more qualified to be the HC here than Dodge 3 years ago and STILL is. Now, with that said..... Yes if he were in the EXACT same spot. I highly doubt Deloach would have this bad a start had he been the HC from day 1. Dodge's admitted 2 year learning curve early on really threw the program into an abyss.

Last year Dickey was listed as Offensive Coordinator and Running Backs Coach. I can't find their coaching roster but I also haven't seen any new hiring of a running backs coach. However, that doesn't mean that reassignments weren't, or won't be, made. I'll periodically watch the UNM official athletic site for changes.

Seams fine to I.

Every screen on campus should be playing JJ's invitation video on a constant loop. I hate this school's basketball hating ways.

You did see the full section (and more) of elementary kids and their families on Saturday, right?

Great job Flyer and Bostonsports....now, let's hope the word gets out. Simply amazing to me that a bunch of GMG.com posters are the ones promoting a big turnout for JJ and Co.'s 20th win night and SENIOR NIGHT. Just where in the heck is the athletic dept's. promotions staff in this? Again, i ask, does UNT athletics HAVE a promotions staff? If senior night and a win 20 night cannot elicit some sort of effort to "Pack the Pit", I really don't know what does. SO, if the ath. dept. is going to sit on their hands for this one, let's do our part to support the Mean Green. Should be a great time at the Pit Thursday as we cheer the team on to number 20 and on to Hot Springs! GO MEAN GREEN! See you at the Super Pit for Thursday's action.

Right, but still, I was pointing out just one example where we beat a solid team on the road to which you may not have known about. Creighton was a powerhouse Independent in '75. Our win over them that year was against a very tough program on the road during one of their highest-point decades in history, I assume? And yes, we're doing pretty well and are on a good run. Hopefully things will turn out for us to win our first outright conference championship in the Sunbelt. Then, maybe we can take that next step, a win in the first round of the NCAA? Rick

than 9 count them 9 other teams playing in division 1 football. If that isnt the respect that you have been looking for, I dont know what is... http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news...s&type=lgns

Global warming is true because Al Gore said so!!!! Oh, and I live in Houston and the air is not that bad down here. The Metroplex may be even worse.

Why not. Then the posters on here that criticize every recruit before they have a chance to prove themselves would really have a reason to do so.

. . . . I love George Odufuwa and think he's very deserving of 1st team player of the year. But with that said.... ....Ronnie Morgan? Whose that? Never heard of him. But I have seen George Odufuwa play, definately the greatest big man in North Texas history of all time!!!!.

When OSU came to town a couple of years ago, I printed maybe 30 flyers that I made and taped them to doors around campus. I consider that the reason why we had such good attendance. People notice flyers posted right in front of their face, little signs at shin-level don't tend to catch the average person's attention