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I hate it because it will lead to two more years of Pro-WAC/Anti-WAC discussions.

Except for before that in the 3rd paragraph he names them correctly. You're saying he forgot what schools he was talking about?? More realistically he probably thought the readers were smart enough to put 2 and 2 together. Maybe you should write him and tell him you're not so next time to spell out the school in it's entirety.

"The who and the what?"

People seem to forget all the positive publicity that NT was getting back when we were winning the Sunbelt in football in the early part of the decade. It was better/similar to the talk that Troy and MT get now for being "up and comers" & being attractive candidates to other conferences. All we need to do is focus on winning the games on our schedule, regardless of who they are against. The formula was working in the early part of the decade...now marry that with the $100 million in facilites upgrades, emerging as a power in SBC men's hoop, and marked improvement across the board in our non revenue sports, and suddenly UNT becomes a program that is very attractive to other conferences. SBC or WAC. It will make no difference.

Don't much care about them one way or the other. UNT is what matters to me. I'll leave SMU to the folks who give a care what they do or don't do. All I want to do is play them as often as we can in any sport that we can and beat the tar out of 'em on the field of play! The attention some UNT folks give SMU must make the folks that support SMU smile. It would me...if you don't like SMU, best to just ignore them unless we get them on the schedule. GO MEAN GREEN!

Technically, "future results" are guaranteed, regardless of past performance since the type of results aren't specified. I think you meant to say Past Performance Does Not Guarantee Future Success.

“I don’t think this conference will last long because there is too much disparity between all the teams,” Tuberville told host Bill King. “In the SEC, for instance, Vanderbilt makes as much money in the television contract as Florida. Everybody is good with it. Everybody is on the same page. Everyone gets the same votes. “That doesn’t happen here in the Big 12. We have some teams that get a little bit more money and have a little it more stroke than some of the other teams. And when that happens, you’re gonna have teams looking for better avenues to leave and reasons to leave. I like Tuberville. He's already coached in a tougher conference. He's already figured out the pettiness of UT, OU, and A&M and sees that they will eat the conference for the sake of money. Funny, the SEC gives everyone the same money - and, the competition is better. OU and Texas snare most of the Big 12 money - and, they can't beat SEC teams in big games. I don't think it's a stretch to say that Tuberville may have Tech winning the Big 12 South in his first season. The two defensive coordinators he sent over to Texas completely shut down OU's five year win streak and started delivering titles to Texas for a change. One is in line to replace Mack. Tuberville is a good coach. Stoops and Mack will hate the competition. Look for both to have lame excuses (officiating, wind, etc.) when Tech beats them.

Better than not rolling the dice and having it come up the equivalent of 1AA....again.

Gay

I was rocking along fine until they had the image come on with the words strong character...then I turned it off. Texas and strong character? Give me a break.

http://florida.scout.com/2/980435.html I'm sorry for the conferences that have been getting stuck in the play-in games. But that is the only fair way to do this. The teams determined to be teams 61-68 should be in the play-in games. If you do some kind of rotational crap...how fair is that? One year you might have say the 56th team playing a play-in game....while the 68th doesn't have to. If your league and teams are so bad...the onus is on your league/teams to get better and avoid play-in games that way. And I say this....even if a SBC team (like UNT) was to be considered 61-68. If we're rated that low...we should have to play in the play-in game.

http://cfn.scout.com/2/967185.html Not sure if the schedule has been posted yet. Hopefully the ESPN3 game will be picked up by TXA; too bad the Xbox 360 ESPN3 interface won't be made available until November. All times central. North Texas 9/4 @ Clemson, 2:30 pm ESPN3.com 9/18 @ Army, 11:00 am CBS College Sports Sun Belt 9/2 Minnesota at Middle Tennessee, 6:30 pm ESPNU 9/11 Michigan State vs. Florida Atlantic (in Detroit), 11:00 am ESPNU 10/5 Troy at Middle Tennessee, 7:00 pm ESPN 10/8 Oklahoma State at Louisiana, 8:00 pm ESPN2 11/2 Middle Tennessee at Arkansas State, 6:00 pm ESPN2 11/20 Arkansas State at Navy, 2:30 pm CBS College Sports 12/4 Troy at FAU, 12:00 PM ESPNU 12/18 R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, 8:00 pm ESPN 1/6 GMAC Bowl, 7:00 pm ESPN

Actually what you are saying is your vision of UNT is of being a tick that sucks the blood of the host to survive. Since the Sun Belt's growth is dependent on schools finally winning some non-conference games and not being one in done in the NCAA Tournament, you want to find a slightly fatter dog to live off of while not doing anything fundamentally required to be a dog rather than a tick.

If we're metaphorically speaking, then Sun Belt doesn't even have a ship. I would much rather take my chances of getting into the promise land with a ship that might sink, as opposed to being stuck on shore.

Yeah, that was a good call back then. We were never going to make it anywhere with the likes of Tulsa, Louisville, Cincinatti, and Memphis as our conference mates. Fry bet the farm and lost, but he wasn't around to pay the price for the ensuing 23 years. He moved on to bigger and better things while NT had its athletics set back a quarter of a century.

Sweeeeet! We sue the Denia group for $78 million, pay off the stadium costs, and take the funds raised so far to begin expansion to 50K thus creating an even bigger parking/traffic problem in their neighborhood. Sounds like a win/win for the good guys.

I wouldn't have a problem if they made those bubble teams, the last ones in the tourney....have to play play-in games. As a matter of fact--I would love that. Make them earn it. But I don't think that will ever happen. Because those bubble teams....are often teams from the power conferences.....AND they are usually better than the typical 64th or 65th teams (or the 61-68 in the new field). Therefore, the #1 seeds will still want opening round games against Prairie View, Coppin State or whatever....instead of say an opening round game against Mississippi State.

Those jerks in Denia hate fun. I was hotrodding my old minibike up and down the streets near my girlfriend's house when a guy who claimed to be from the neighborhood association flagged me down and told me I had to quit cause it was loud, illegal, and smoked too much. Needless to say I flipped him the bird, did a couple figure 8s in his yard and tore outta there.

I see no reason to do anything other than congratulate Tech on their new facility. I see nothing that impacts the Mean Green either way, and so why would anyone knock Tech for trying to upgrade facilities? What Tech does or does not do with their facilities really has nothing to do with UNT. I am pleased for their fans and their students. I hope they fill the joint up! But, to something that matters to the Mean Green...I hope UNT fills its new joint up as well. It is time for the UNT fan base and UNT students to get behind this program by putting their "behinds" in the seats. GO MEAN GREEN! Buy Season Tickets, join the Alumni Association and join the Mean Green Club. What you do and what you don't do makes a difference. YOU can help or you can stand around.

Die.

Is this about the World Cup?

Don't see why anyone is bagging on their new facility. The renderings look nice. Good upgrade for La. Tech.

Yes, that is it exactly. A school is always going to get a bump in attendance with certain opponents. But you can't depend on filling your stadium with those fair weather fans, you need to build a base that wants to come see your team. Make the games fun to attend first and competitive. Then promote, promote and promote some more.

The article talked about North Texas being able to build rivalries in the Sun Belt. After a decade in the Belt, I don't see it happening. If it ever does, it could take 20 or 30 years, because the average UNT fan doesn't care about the other teams in the Belt. Dismissing the WAC and trying to label it a bad option for North Texas will not change that.

What is it about the WAC that makes some people feel there is a reward to go with the risk? I think those that get all enamored with the WAC need to consider the following statement: Past Performance Does Not Guarantee Future Results. There is nothing that says that just because Boise was a BCS buster will make any other school in the WAC one as well. Boise was a BCS buster cause they swept through the WAC and then took whatever non-conference opponent they faced to task and beat them. No other school in the WAC is even close to that level of dominance. If the top WAC schools (Hawaii, Nevada, & Fresno) are saddled with budget concerns, how are they going get themselves to the level Boise was at in the next couple years?

Yeah, that "perception" thing again. La Tech spends $1 million a YEAR more than ULM on travel. As for getting into CUSA, as a Fresno fan put it on the Wac board, the Wac has certainly NOT helped La Tech get into CUSA. Counting the founding of CUSA, La Tech has be passed over three times by CUSA.

The bottom line is that here in about 5 years, there's going to be a playoff system in place. This may be the last realignment until then. So we need to evaluate our conference affiliation really closely. And that means not just about what's going on today, but also for the future. So the WAC may not be as financially stable as the Sun Belt, but personally I believe they more potential for the future. Why? If you win in the WAC, you get the respect you deserve and people notice. Period. I cannot say the same for the Sun Belt. If somehow we can make it work financially, then I say we do it. Even if we come out a little more behind then what we are now. Prior to the last year or so, North Texas has never been a university that takes chances when it comes to athletics. We always look at others (Cincinnati, Louisville, Boise) who pass us by and say to ourselves, "that coulda been us." I don't want that to happen to us again. Finally we have started showing our commitment to athletics by increasing the athletic fee, passing the new stadium, and hiring a high risk coach that may or may not prove to be successful. The point is, we are starting to finally take some risks. I was not a North Texas fan when the Big West was around, nor do I care. I will refuse to put my head in the sand just because of the past. Whether you like it or not, change is happening. We either jump on the bandwagon and rock the boat, or we get left in the dust.

Except that Utah and New Mexico are not in the WAC.

That's a stretch. Move it out of Ruston and then maybe... It would also look better in the SunBelt.

Point is that there is a ceiling to how successful a school can be in the Sun Belt. It's a dead end.

Actually the build up was exactly was described.

Why should we be pissed? $20MM project with over $9MM already in the bank that will totally change the look and feel of Tech Athletics and it is all privately funded - no taxpayer dollars and no student fees....

Not particularly

I was thinking the same thing...character? Yeah, teaming up with OU and A&M to strong arm Colorado and Nebraska's lunch money off of the likes of Iowa State, Mizzou, the Kansas twins, and Baylor. I guess an OUStorm and A&MStorm site would also claim character. F'ing cowards. All of them. Hijack the game for the sake of money then pretend to have some sort of high moral character and goal. Baloney. OU, A&M, Texas...everytime they try to pick on someone their own size in the SEC, they get their sh*t kicked in. And, so then, the lemmings in their fanbases come out with these masterbatory websites. Give me a break. I feel sorry for people who live 110% of their lives based on whether a group of 18-22 year old men win a game. No, I don't. I take that back. People who do this kind of thing are douchebags - especially if they're doing it for OU, Texas, or A&M.

This cut happened more than a year ago. It must have really affected everyone for this delayed outrage to just be setting in right about now.

He should have named MTSU as runner-up just on principle. They're really good at it.

I doubt if Tech could afford the shipping cost.

After guiding UTA to a 16-0 season and 2 trips to the NCAA, how did Donna Capps NOT get the NT job ? Too much money ? Too many demands ? Corner office with a window ? Oh what might have...nevermind.

I would take him in a heartbeat, the second he passed the NCAA clearinghouse.

ask any person on the street. try the unt campus. ask which is a better conference wac or suckbelt. want to guess the answer bubba?

So the Sun Belt has grown a little. Who cares?...It hasn't grown enough and I don't believe it will have by the next realignment/superconferences/playoff system. Staying in the Sun Belt is a guaranteed death wish, but you would rather stay here? I forget, we're North Texas....we never take risks. We only sit, hope, and wait for good things to happen yet we whine cause we don't get respect.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100629/D9GKTGRO0.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-06-28/greeks-stage-national-strike-to-protest-overhaul-to-pensions-labor-laws.html this is your update ttg.....yes, it really happens. the greeks have serious problems financial problems.

I suspect that if the Big XII eventually loses UT, TAMU and OU that Kansas would rather align with schools from the Big East. If they have the opportunity to be travel buddy with those three they'll take it but that is out of their hands. What people fail to grasp with the Big XII is that UT, TAMU, OU and NU all ought to be making money like Big 10 and SEC schools because that is their peer group in support and national audience. Unbalanced sharing allows UT, TAMU, and OU to make the sort of money they would make if they were to leave. Since the share is unbalanced, the economic incentive to leave is removed or dampened. Tommy may not think it is fair, but I suspect his bosses like that option better than the option of TAMU and OU going to the SEC and UT going to the Big 10 and leaving Texas Tech and Baylor to survive on what they are capable of generating on their own while losing attractive home games against UT, TAMU, and OU.

Unfortunately, if smu's grease money still counts for anything, LA Tech is still in line for that position ahead of us.

Very true. I could see us losing Middle and Western to the MAC (or possibly USA), and San Marcos/San Antonio eventually heading to the WAC. Where would we be then? Entrenched in entry level land if we don't get proactive real quick!

"Difference one; North Texas fans can travel to almost all their Sun Belt conference away games. As a member in the WAC they would only be able to travel easily to LaTech and maybe New Mexico. Difference two; With the Sun Belt teams closer to each other, there is a better chance North Texas will be able to build rivalries. Difference three, the Sun Belt is more fan friendly for North Texas." I found the article mostly factual and accurate. I would not rate the SBC as fan friendly for NT fans to travel. Many games require long, long road trips or an airplane ride. The WAC would too but the statement we can travel to almost all away games is misleading if including Denver, Troy, the FU's and a majority of the other schools, most all further than 8 hours away. A 3-time-zone conference does not build rivalries anymore than the WAC would. The WAC may not be financially beneficial to NT at this time but other factors are in play. The perception is La Tech is at a level above us right now. It may cost them more to be there, but they are there. I hope that doesn't come to cost us in the long run when CUSA forms it's expansion list and gives points based on image factors.

Correct. There comes a time in the life cycle of everything when it's time to roll the dice. Now is our time. Unless of course we want our future to consist of that wonderful regional low travel cost conference of San Marcos, San Antonio, Beaumont, Huntsville, Arlington, Nacogdoches, and a couple of FUs for good measure. Haven't I heard of a similar conference like that somewhere before?

"The thing that sticks out about the Sun Belt Conference is almost all the games are within easy reach of North Texas fans." He cannot quite get that one right either. It's not exactly like I went out for some Trojans last night and just stumbled into Troy. Just add us and Arky State and give us a mini eastern division. Sure beats the Hell out of visiting the neighboring "FU who's" and such.

Tuberville is the new kid on the block, right? Seems he would want to make his 1'st official year at TTech as a "silence is golden" sort of year to me. Some of his collegues may even resent his "very early" opinion-making knowing how these things go. And lest he forget, Lubbock will never be confused for having the kind of TV market the truly Big Boy Conference gurus want when they start putting all their Super Cookie Cutter This One Will Be The Perfect Marriage Conferences together (once again). Tech will have to coat-tail it with UT and/or Texas A&M whether they like that scenario or not. Just my own speculation...

The toilet? A bush?