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My trip to Denton today was almost like a trip to the Holy Land (of which I've only seen in photos). I'll try not to be so melodramatic than the title of this thread suggests I might be but let me start from the beginning..... Firstly, I met up with SUMG at his beautiful home in Argle early this AM, got to see all his latest Mean Green memorabilia and of course, his 2 girls (dogs). I first insulted John by calling him the 2'nd Coming of Mr. Clean and then I took my own cap off to show him I had gone retro, ie, back in time to my days as a student on Fry Street, circa 1970's and was (in fact) on my way to growing an eagle-tail (strike "pony"tail) as my hair in the back had become longer than its been since I was a youth. (Of course, some of my hair toward the front had become, uh..........a bit thinner, too. So SUMG & I visited a bit more at his Argyle hacienda then got in his car and headed to Denton, Texas, America with our destination being the Mean Green Village. The towering new stadium construction was becoming quite visible from Interstate 35-W so I began to get excited about this trip northward from Parker County, Texas, and what I would soon see firsthand. John, ie, SUMG had been telling me for weeks that I just had to come up to Denton and see the stadium construction in person. He had been telling me that the photos we see on Harry's GMG.com did not do it justice--so we then crossed over inside the Denton City Limits and headed toward the Mean Green Village. SUMG had to park across Bonnie Brae as the Visitor's Parking had been roped off but that was OK. And then it happened...I began looking at the construction of our future new football palace and honest-to-goodness really could not believe what I was seeing. The photos from Tony and GMG.com (in deed) didn't compare to seeing this magnificent edifice in person. As I waited for SUMG to park and join me, Drex and friend, Mike, drove up. Our former MG athletics promo man looked at me almost 3 times and said...."Jim Plummer?" I pled innocent to all charges! As SUMG arrived, Drex, Mike and myself simply marveled at our look over into the Mean Green Promise Land! We could see the shackles of Fouts Field would soon be loosed from us all and what that (alone) would mean for the University of North Texas. TOTALLY AMAZING! The depth of the Press Box side blew me away as photos only showed the front of the press box side. Ladies & Gentlemen! There is a massive bunch of steel and concrete all over the place and I told Drex I felt like I was going to tear up looking what was before our eyes. I felt the 4 of us were literally on some semblance of a UNT version of Holy Ground (you know, kinda' like Ground Zero) and that we might eventually want to take our shoes off the closer to the construction site we got. Folks, if you have not seen all this in person--do so. I was blown away and you will be to once you see all this up close. Some of you had already posted that the photos didn't do justice to the real thing and you were all right. First time visitors will be amazed with the progress of this Mean Green Village construction you can't see in photos and if you close your eyes, you can only dream how the final product will be when it will also be full of Mean Green fans. (I hope Chuck Neinas will encourage our UNt powers to consider more seating even in this Phase 1 because the top schools we will now be able to get into Denton will require this to happen sooner than later and construction cost will not get any cheaper later on). ANYhoooooooo......afer we left the Mean Green Promised Land site, SUMG and I went over to New York Sub Hub(?) where I had the same sandwhich I've been eating for 30 plus years at this eatery which is the #3 pressed ham on white bread, cut the cheese but load it down with everything else with some Lays classic potato chips and a dill pickle (sliced in half) on the side. Afer we finished our early lunch we then met up with our longtime friend Rick Spears at Voertmans where the 3 of us had a great reunion of laughter, a few old jokes and our giggling like young teens over what is happening at our alma mater with this new stadium in the Mean Green Village. On a sad note, many of us can list a few pages of fellow alums & friends now passed on who had dreamed of this happening one day in Denton long before many of us; that is, this group who who didn't get to have the same experience as my own "mountain top" look today over in the Promised Land located at the Mean Green Village between those 2 major Texas Interstates as it rises like the Phoenix on the rolling Texas prairie--for all commuters driving north and south to see (and to be more than impressed). A special thank you--thank you-thank you to all those on the UNT staff who have made this their own personal labor of love for the entire UNT community & what they know--in fact, what we all know will be long term benefits for the University of North Texas--both athletically and even more important, academically. Our time has finally come, fellow alums & fans & for what its worth--we have long deserved every bit of this exciting new chapter at the Mean Green Village. GMG!

http://www.meangreensports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1800&ATCLID=204972546

Oh, sorry...I rarely look at the reader comments for just the reason you state. Thanks.

Because we have a lot of alumni, and many who visit this board, who do not comprehend the good done by the Mean Green Club. I think anyone who loves North Texas sports, and takes the time to watch this video, will want to give to help our student-athletes. As well, it lets those of us who already give know that our contributions are well-placed.

i think it's stupid and greedy on the owners part. if they were concerned about the health of their players, they would just cut a couple of preseason games and keep the normal 16 game season. there is NO reason to increase the number of games in the season, but plenty of reasons to cut the games in the preseason.

I've read a lot of the comments but the best one I've heard was from my wife when I got home. It went like this. Me: So Nathan Tune is your QB. Her: OK Me: That not a big deal to you? Her: I want to know who my kicker is? Now that is a good question.

I was personally pulling for Thompson to show something extra, but only because I thought he had more upside. And, we might need a lot of upside in this very important season coming up. But, TD sees these guys every day and knows who is best for the job right now. Plus, Dodge has an awful lot riding on this decision. I am sure it was not taken lightly. Congrat's Nathan !! You can do it.

The reasons for Thompson playing against Arkansas State are well documented and far from self-serving.

Larry Coker's hosting one. He said it's going to have 2 billion people and be bigger than the Super Bowl and World Cup combined.

See how fantastic GMG.com can be when the politically charged threads are no longer ruining the PIE forum? I would like to thank each and every one of you, regardless of political leanings, for your unwavering support to keep GMG.com clean and wonderful for us all, and for holstering your opinions for the sake of the Mean Green! HUGS!! - MeanGreenTexan

When people say we are a commuter school they are being ignorant beyond belief. We have around 7,000 students living ON campus. Take away the graduate students, and that is about 25% of the student body. New dorms are being planned, and are on the way, as the current ones are filled to capacity. There are 7-8 MASSIVE student apartment complexes within 0-2 miles of campus, and ALL of these are served by the UNT bus system, so these students really are not even commuters. There are also an even greater number of medium and small complexes. Also, students are a MAJOR player in the house rental business in Denton. We do not have to sugar coat the numbers, we simply are NOT a commuter school anymore.

Only if the NCAA cripples them with sanctions.

No. Texas Tech knows how to win more than 6-8 games in a season. Clemson is sort of like a public school version of SMU, without the death penalty excuse to explain away their last 20 years.

Gotta play your best unless they could hamper the recovery from injury. It's Clemson...it's not the San Diego Chargers for God's sake...it's not like they are that much bigger and faster and our players have to worry about eating through a straw for the rest of their lives.

It doesn't matter to me who they stand at tight end and U-back as long as they bloody use them for a change!

I think he was using a metaphor...and likely without a prescription to boot!

Hey, it's all ball bearings these days!

Are they selling parts of the stadium and various pieces of equipment and memorabilia on-line yet? I'd like to see that day and become one of the active purchasers using my U.S. cash dollars as quickly as I can before Obama turns our whole economy over to China, Mexico, Burkina Faso, Europe and the nether regions of Uranus.

If they can play I hope not. That mentality is a part of what has caused the lack of success by TD. The Clemson game should be the Super Bowl for North Texas. Now, I agree being smart with personnel and not sacrificing the season just to have a shot a Clemson as that's a given. But, we need to go into Clemson with the 'renegade' mindset of having nothing to lose and and a chance to make noise. In these games the past few years, Dodge has conceded the game before the whistle ever blew; and that cannot send a positive message to your team, so they just lay down and try to get out healthy, shorten the game by running Cam Mongtomery into the middle of the Bama Defense for 3 downs and punt, etc. It's a shame. Go in there and try to win the thing. Pin your ears back and give them your best shot. If we're ever going to make headway that type of mentality Dodge has (thus trickles down to his players) has got to change. I hope Dodge can grasp that because this year's bunch has talent, but if he doesn't this team will not live up to it's potential and he'll be shown the door come December, and we'll start off by getting blown out at Clemson.

i guess they didn't base this ranking on facebook profiles.

Yeah, well... The Soviet Union was pretty intimidating back in the 60's and 80's, too. At least the godless commies are self-aware enough not to run around screaming "scoreboard" in the here-and-now. As for that national championship from 30 years ago... Congrats. I wish we had one in football. Lafayette College has three, but I don't exactly think it makes them relevant today. And I'd dig those 13 conference championships more if they hadn't all come before most Clemson undergrads were born. You wanna impress us? When's the last time you people beat Western Kentucky? Huh? Yeah, that's what I thought. Point- NORTH TEXAS.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Man-convicted-in-death-of-former-UNT-player--101495919.html

"The Beatles were so high they let Ringo sing a couple of tunes." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LwyCHhbxOM

Justice is served but it is sad when two young lives are wasted. Jermaine had a bright soul and a bright future. Now neither one of them have a future. Rest in peace Jermaine. I miss you brother.

Feel free to make your own prediction pace and post reminders as often as you would like, It's called an internet message board. Got any constructive baseball comments?

What is wrong with the owners being greedy? Welcome to the world of business. It's all about the money and there is nothing wrong with that. The players are just as greedy if not more. They want a piece of the pie as well and they will get it.

I think this is the 1st time I've ever agreed with you;)

Winning is being a 7-5 team on the year. Losing is a 2-10 or 3-9 squad. Poor management of a program is what this was. There were a few options, like running our version of the wildcat to end the game. Not a great option, but an option. So you have a kid, who wants to be here, who's not an academic risk, who looks more like a Division I QB than I have ever seen suit up for the Mean Green, burn an entire year of eligibility, on one series, in a game we needed a miracle to win, when there was another option. Think of all the recruits we give scholarships to who never make it to campus, get homesick, get injured, don't have Division I talent, don't make their grades, don't really want to be here, get in trouble, etc. etc. That is my anger at "burning the redshirt". I am angry because I was thinking about the long term benefit of the Mean Green, not hoping for some miracle and have 3 wins on the year instead of 2. I just think it is a bad idea for ANY 2-9 team to burn any 'ship the last game of the year, much less this kids.

The new logo looks like something a middle school kid made with Microsoft paint.

the reg. SBC logo is the best of the three!

same...i have been in denton all summer....the vibe from everyone, students, denton residents, everyone....is that the first game will be a sellout and that everyone is excited to see the stadium.

Hey....I just realized that Nathan's initials are NT!!!

I don't understand the anger at "burning his redshirt." He was on the travel squad. He is a viable player, since he made the trip. Dodge only had three QBs on the trip and two of them were knocked *out* of the game with injuries. Who plays? The next QB on the list. Who would have he put out there? Scrappy?

Hurrah!!! We have a starting QB. I would love to see Nathan bring home the wins from the O side and keep their D on the field a long time. And would like our D to force a 3 and out on our opponents O. Go Mean Green FB Team. Look forward to our first win of the season at Clemson.

This was the safe route for the coaching staff to take. You have to wonder if Dodge stands by the no QB change statement if the first 3 games don't go well. Good luck to Nathan and congrats.

Problem is this would only net them roughly $2.50, since their women would have to pay to perform said unprintable acts.

I don't think anyone is changing their opinion on what happened last year with Thompson and the last game. Bringing it up isn't accomplishing anything and nobody is going to see it any way but the way they already see it.

Hope to See #11 take about 5 to 10 snaps per game at QB as Tune gives absolutely zero running threat to the defense.

Don't forget the two scoops!

Preview of next year's logo:

I wish this thought would just die. I would be so much angrier if Dodge admitted that he intentionally did not put the best available QB in to save a redshirt. It's all about WINNING. You put the best options on the field. 10 games or 60 seconds. If you have a chance to win the game (and we did), try your hardest to win it. Dodge did. Thompson did. There's nothing wrong there. Dodge down. Tune down. Baine didn't travel. Thompson is next in line. Yes, Hamilton, Carey, etc... played QB in high school, but they were not the ones Dodge chose to use in order to win the game. Is it unfortunate that his redshirt was burned with only a few plays? Absolutely. Was it the right choice? Absolutley! Ask Thompson himself. I don't think there would be a QB competition (which made both of them better IMO) this offseason if Thompson did not play those minutes in Jonesboro.

Congrats to Tune, and Thompson you will be a great starter next year.

I wish the Tune the best of course. But I'll feel bad for Thompson if he sits out a good chunk of the season only to play a game or two and then has burn yet another year of edibility for minimal play time. I think Dodge playing him last season for a few minutes in that one game was atrocious and self-serving.

Nathan is our quarterback. We're not going to win or lose solely because of him. We're going to win or lose with him.

At least our logo isn't a liar:

Quote from Vito's DRC Mean Green Blog Tune will now begin preparing to open the season at Clemson. Dodge said that UNT won't rotate quarterbacks and that Tune won't have to look over his shoulder while taking snaps this season. "We are not going to waiver any more," Dodge said, "Nate will be our starter.

Very happy for Nathan. He has been through a lot and shown us how mean his green is. Let us return the favor and support our new starting qb.

Glad to see the quarterback decision is over. I hope Tune has a great season, but also feel confident that Thompson can come in and take the reigns if need be. Seems to me like both young men have proven themselves with flashes of greatness during the pre-season. I think the important thing is to SUPPORT WHOEVER our starting QB is. Can't wait for the season opener next week! Go Mean Green!!!

Good list but I take exception with Legion Field, off campus home of the UAB 'Blazers. A better list would be "on-campus" stadiums only. Also, I don't think we give enough credit to Ford Stadium at SMU. That is one fine, classic looking stadium. I'd put it up there in the top five, certainly ahead of UCF's erector set of a stadium.

Lambull leap?