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It only took 118 posts to get to the bottom line.

posting opinions on this board probably isn't going to be heard or read by very many people, if any, that can do anything about it. If it really bothers you that bad, contact the people within the appropriate departments that can do something about it.

So, I had the opportunity to talk with the parent of a highly recruited DISD football player recently. During that conversation I asked why more Denton kids don't consider UNT. I asked was it that UNT coaches never contact them? The guy was very candid. Said that his son was, indeed, contacted by UNT early in the process, and the UNT coach was told basically not to waste their time as UNT would not be in the mix. Why" (in no specific order): 1) The kid has grown up in Denton and wants to "get away" from home for college; 2) The recent record of UNT is a factor, as is the lack of TV opportunities offered through the Sun belt; ;3) The lack of support the community gives UNT especially the lack of any community involvement/excitement on game days (remember, these kids grow up and Denton and see it week in and week out) 4) The attitude of UNT grads and alums around town who do not support the program, do not attend games, do not wear UNT gear and who seem to always be more negative than positive toward their own University; 5)The fact that many of their friends who attend UNT do so only after transferring from another school or who never have UNT on their list of colleges they are thinking of attending; 6) The opportunity to play for a "higher profile" program and be seen by pro scouts and their friends (remember, lots of these kids think they have the chance to be pro players at this stage in their "careers"); 7) The lack of persistence by UNT coaches once they hear the initial reaction; and 8) Yes, some kids are simply not contacted by UNT recruiters at all for whatever reason. Now, I asked would the coaching change perhaps help. The answer was definitely "yes" IF they start to turn the program around next season and IF the community and alums turn more positive in their support of the program and the university. OK, folks, this coming from a local kid's parent, and a kid who has grown up in Denton. Is it all negative? ABSOLUTELY NO! Is there no hope for local recruiting? ABSOLUTELY THERE IS! But, both coaches and fans need to be realistic in their expectations. And, it seems the "attitude" of the local community and the UNT fans and alums needs some work as well. It does seem to matter. The new coaching staff and how it does on the field and around town will help...and, I was told that new stadium will be a BIG factor in recruiting...not only locally in the Denton area, but across the state as well. This guy indicated that "people are noticing" what UNT is doing these days. Interesting conversation...yes, it was! BTW...parent asked that both he and his kid's name not be mentioned. I am assuming that meant that several local folks and coaches actually read this board! GO MEAN GREEN!

If you enjoy schmoozing and ignoring UNT football games... maybe I could introduce you to my girlfriend. You and her could mingle and socialize while I WATCH FOOTBALL.

There are plenty of people with kids buying club level seats. We are trying to pay-off a $78 million stadium. Alumni need to reach deeper into their pockets, just like we have asked the students to do. If you have a college degree and all you can afford is a $250 donation per year, you have bigger problems.

Most confusing 1st post.... ever?

I can't believe this is 9 pages.

...the National Chamber of Commerce? After TCU goes east, they will not be hosting a MWC bowl game--neither will CUSA member SMU. In this era of "green" UNT will most definitely have a "green" worthy stadium for the first time in our history with wind turbines in the distance showing all that American spirit of "can do" as most American cities Chamber's of Commerce all promote. Our bowl would be just as large as Boise's Humanitarian Bowl, too. UNT and city/county officials from Greater Denton/Denton County, respectively, meet with MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson and tell them we can get the right Texas-based Fortune 500 company to co-sponsor this along with the Nat'l C of C and our tremendous major airport access to our new football palace and with UNT as a "new" Mountain West Conference member/host school would be more than honored to take up the slack the Horned Frogs leave behind as they go Big East. (SMU's cracker box location with no access or legit parking will probably get them out of the bowl business sooner than later and what the heck......and, after all, Dallas already has the Cotton Bowl game). Why not? In 1986 if anyone would have told most of us that it would take TCU having to lose membership in a soon to be defunct Southwest Conference (with no Big 12 invite) and after all that would become a Top 10 ranked school who would also host a MWC bowl game in Fort Worth, Texas, and then they have a pending date in the Rose Bowl--most of us would have thought that as crazy & insane as most on this board will think the theme of this thread but............we cannot move up till we start thinking up. (Of course, MWC membership for UNT is the main hook for any of this to happen--but still look back at TCU and ask yourself the question: "What is it that cannot be done in the NCAA upper statusphere any longer by even a school that Frank Broyles called a "have not")? What the heck, the other threads were getting a bit worn the last few days and I still need some more red numbers to meet my goal. But let us not forget that this new stadium was instrumental in allowing us to schedule our first ever Big 10 school in UNT history this Fall before we start falling back into our pattern of thinking what cannot be done in Denton. Let's think forward and try to forget all the things that made us appear backwards. GMG! And new UNT HFC Bill McCarney used this in his opening speech to our constituency quoting a favorite of his which was: "I dream things that never were and say why not. ...(Robert Frances Kennedy) so....Why Not UNT? Why Not Greater Denton? Why Not Denton County? Why Not the MWC? Now it's time for the meds... GMG ! !

Man I'm glad I don't have a handgun nearby right now. After reading all the negative posts about a great new stadium I might just blow my brains out. I find this whole line of thought amazing. It's part complaining about a brand new stadium before it ever gets built and before the first game is even played, its part about losing the deck when some of the complainers were rarely seen on the deck and from which one had a terrible line of sight to the games, and it's part about "class-warfare" where some want to pit those they deem the "have's" (those that are spending a good bit of cash to buy Club level seats) against those they see as the "have not's" (who will have great new seats in a great new stadium and who still support the program the way they choose ... which, by the way is 100% A-OK and appreciated). Folks, stop a second here and really give some thought to this. There will be no lack of places to have an "adult beverage" and a good pre-game meal at the new stadium. What one really loses is a ratty old wooden deck area with terrible sight lines and from which some folks never left to fill the stadium seats. My bride and I spent countless hours on the deck...her more than me as I hated to try to watch the game from the deck...bad bad place ...in my opinion only...to watch a game if you really were there to actually watch the game...and we will miss it. But, time to move on. Stop all this liberal "class warfare" crap and appreciate the fact that some are capable and willing to pony up some decent sized cash to help fund this great new stadium. My bride and I are lucky that the new stadium came after all three kids were out of school and out of the house and were able to help make that donation. Could not have done it when our kids were the age of FirefighterRick's, or when were were recently graduated and starting out in our careers. That time will come for many who cannot now afford or even want to afford if they can, Club level seating. Give it time and you may find yourself in a different situation. It is time the Mean Green Nation put this "stinkin' thinking'" to bed and came together as one in support of this project and in support of THEIR University. I really don't think anyone would say, "OK, I don't want that new stadium. I want to keep Fouts because they are doing way with the deck". Now, really folks, give that some thought for a second. Sounds a bit "odd" now, doesn't it? Again, the Alumni Pavilion may well turn into the nest "must" go place. No, Flyer, you can't sit in the Pavilion and see the game. But, one saw very little of the actual game from the Deck at Fouts.

While we're rolling out overused cliches, are you familiar with the one about assuming? I spent several seasons on the deck. I don't think we'll miss it with a brand new stadium. The sight lines from the deck completely sucked (just like the rest of Fouts) and the food, for the most part, wasn't any better than anything we cooked up in the parking lot before the game. I also happen to think $900-1400 isn't a bad price for Club seats... and I say that as someone who most definitely cannot afford them. If you can't swing the Club seats, the regular admission seats are STILL the best deal in the Metroplex- that's where I'll be. So we can hang out together and actually see what's going on in the game. I'll buy us a coke and a funnel cake. (wait, we're still going to have funnel cake, right? .............New thread?)

There been some talk on this board about UNT vs SMU when it came to attendence. I'd thought I'd post the weekly attendence for home games for UNT and for SMU this past season. UNT Rice: 23,743 La-La: 17,015 Ark St: 14,589 Fl Int: 14,718 Troy: 14,289 Kan St: 21,952 Total: 106,306 Average: 17,718 SMU UAB: 16,612 Wash St: 18,184 TCU: 35,481 Tulsa: 19,329 Houston: 20,741 Marshall: 17,513 Total: 127,860 Average: 21,310 So SMU averaged 3,592 more than UNT this past season. However, SMU had one home game with TCU that completely busts the bell curve. If you remove this game their average drops to 18,476 (758 more than us). In other words, SMU ... with a new stadium ... in a better conference ... playing better "name" home opponents ... with a high profile head coach ... coming off a winning season and bowl victory ... had basically the same number of fans attend their home games as UNT when you remove all the TCU fans who came over from Ft. Worth. I don't need to state all the negatives UNT faced coming into the season and during the season. Considering all the benefits we have coming into 2011 (new coaching staff, new stadium, better "name" home opponents) I would hope we would see a significant bump in attendance next year and pass SMU. Honestly, I wasn't expecting SMU's attendance to be so low this past season until I looked at the numbers. If we can get things turned around on the field we could race right by SMU very shortly. In a couple of years we could be the team in the area conferences are wanting to have. I'm excited to see just how big this "sleeping giant" really is.

Why is it surprising to anyone that we aren't going to have a deck? If you want to stay on the deck - it is still there. Go to Fouts on Opening day next year and drink your beer. Otherwise, face the facts of reality. Things will change. Change is good. Prices will go up. No one cares about a few people who want to stand on the deck at the athletic center as if that's the only place they could possibly enjoy themselves during a football game.

In that first game we played like we did against. A lot of huff and puff but little to show for it. athletic pants

maybe the clamp-on chairbacks can be the thing they offer the lower donation levels instead of having the option to go to the deck?

And when we have a enough of those students.... Students who are willing to leave Th tailgating arena, and be that rowdy proud amd loud presence, thanks mark Cuban, then we move the band away. I love the student support that we have seen recently but it isn't that rabid fan base that you seem to be envisioning. Until we have that, I like the idea of the band being right there blasting trumpets into the skulls of those who oppose us.

Are you guys really arguing about where to put the band??? I think we should be focusing on getting the students to fill the stands first and then we can discuss the band situation...

Merry Christmas 2010 to the GMG Board – the Angel of Mean Green Christmas is here! I’ve been a member of this board since June of 2004. In that time I have never set a profile picture. Why? I don’t know. I just never got around to it. However, that all changed last week. It Friday, December 10th 2010, when I noticed that a girl’s picture was appearing in my posts. She was originally called Cutie Girl. I had no idea who she was or where she came from. I attempted to change my profile picture to something else but it would not change. I finally contacted board admin Harry who was able to remove her. Now I realize that wasn’t the best decision. Although her origin is mysterious she was well received by board members. Others posted hoping she would appear for them but to no avail. Cutie Girl only appeared for me. It was suggest by one poster that she was a stalker. If true then I can only hope to be stalked by someone like her. I now believe she was a gift from heaven to this board and I am simply the conduit for her. She is the Angel of Mean Green Christmas. They say good things happen in three and I think this proves it: McCarney hired, Canales retained, and the Angel of Mean Green Christmas appeared. Fortunately I saved the picture and she has now returned to my profile. How long she remains is a question I cannot answer. I suppose she could choose to leave us at any time. Until that time she shall remain with us. This is my present to the GMG board.

Rick, I tend to stop the discussion when the debate devolves into one-line sarcastic retorts. But what you put in post 143 totally misrepresents (to be kind) the intent of my post on the "VIP" board (it used to be called the PRIVATE board, I believe). I fully realized that I couldn't AFFORD to buy four seats on the Club level before I bought them. I bought the two that I could afford, really as a perk add-on for the level of support I wanted to provide for the stadium. I also can't afford to buy 20 seats up there for the friends and family that often join me at the game. So we, along with those 3-4 other families, will continue to buy tickets in the family section and enjoy the game from our seats. I have absolutely no regrets about supporting a stadium that I have been asking for since 1982, give or take a year, with my donation. So really, I wasn't trying to "rearrange out of" my predicament. I asked if any other fans who had bought a couple of seats would be interested in "pooling" their seats, giving up their access for some games in exchange for having more seats to some games. Thought it was a reasonable idea...guess not. GMG

I love you Jessyj.

I haven't read all nine pages of this monstrosity of a thread, but near as I can tell, it has to do with using the terrace/deck at the AC in the same manner as "the deck" at Fouts. I've been eligible to go to "the deck" for several years. I've never gone there during the game (and rarely any other time) because I just don't relate to that kind of football game experience. I drink and socialize before the game at the tailgating event. When it's time to go in and watch the game, I go and sit in the stands and WATCH THE FOOTBALL GAME THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE WATCHED. Besides, as bad as the sight lines are in the stands, they are way worse on the deck. IMHO most people go to the deck for reasons other than to attend/watch a football game....and I'm not one of those people. I like the be outside, hear the sounds of the game, and get a real feel of the game experience. I'd rather stay at home and watch a football game on TV than sit in an enclosed suite at a stadium. All this sitting on the deck, sitting in a suite, stuff is just not me. It reminds me of this latest trend of Movie Taverns where people sit at tables in a theater and have meals served to them while they are watching a movie. If I go out to eat, I want to enjoy my meal and enjoy the company of the people who are with me. When I go to a movie, and the movie is worth watching, then I WANT TO WATCH THE DAMN MOVIE. I don't know what that AC deck is going to be used for on game day. But if it's not used for something, it would seem to be a real waste of a nice structure IMHO.

What he said.

More Throwbacks

Jaquizz Rodgers at Oregon.

I think we have been saying this for 50 years now.

The two patterns I'd like to see: Small "North Texas" wordmark, like previous UA jersey (second uni set messed up)Number font should be the Athletic Font developed with the new branding, like the 05-06 jerseyAdd SOW to the hip opposite of the Swoosh, like previous UA pantsMaybe add the SOW to the center of the collar and above the rear nameplateMaybe/probably get rid of the belly piping on the second optionAlso, the second option uses the dark green from the bowl years next to the black side panels and for the cuffs/collar

You might want to take up drinking.

Silence! There shall be no common sense used on this board.

Did you go to Krum?

I stopped by the Student Union at the Galleria yesterday to do some shopping wearing my UNT warm-ups and a UNT Green fleece pullover....needless to say I did it to make a point to the owner. Well sure enough it got his attention. He came over and introduced himself to me and to let me know that come March, they will have UNT mechandise for us to buy!!! He also asked me if I would be interested in helping to suggest shirts and other merchandise that people from the Mean Green world would like....I must say I was impressed. I told him I would post on here and ask for people that are interested in helping to suggest items that we would buy and even come up with designs. If you are seriously interested in having a design, theme, etc for Mean Green merchandise, email me here and I will give you his contact information. Thanks, Bundy

already posted

Count me in the crowd that wants to piss off the opposing team and make it as difficult as humanly possible for them to communicate or be comfortable in our home stadium. Putting the band directly behind them is F'ing genius. I can envision that this move could have the potential to finally push our band over the edge to finally being a great college football band. It'll be that much easier for them to see the impact that they actually have on the game....hopefully that translates into them playing louder and more often.

Band members are students, they will pay the fee just like all other students.

UNT Enrollment: About 36K SMU Enrollment: About 11K Big difference there.

Yeah, the numbers scream Oregon. Block numbering probably would've been better.

If Coach Dan wants the band at the 50 yard line then that's where they need to be. Shoot, if Coach Dan wants them to sit them in my lap then I will trust his opinion even though it might be a little awkward. It's his football program so I think it's his call. Those seats are already paid for so it's not a revenue issue.

Survival of the fittest. If the SWC could die, any conference can die.

Why the objection to the band being behind the opposing bench? I've been to games where the band equalled the size of the crowd that remained. They deserve to be in the center of attention. They devote a lot more hours to the football games than other students. Sounds like a win/win situation to me.

Sigh...enjoy your half-empty drink. If you think you have been around the program and disappointed a few times, you really are just a babe in the woods. You have lots of "catchin' up" to do in that regard. Try having the program that had the best winning percentage at UNT and had NCAA appearances under its belt dumped in favor of Title IX if you want disappointment. Get with me sometime and I'll tell you how all of us in the meeting where our then AD announced the killing of the program were lied to right to our faces! I can tell you stories that you have never even imagined...you are too young to know about them. Ha! Look, this sort of thing happens...and happens in every University and in every business and in every governmental organization, school system, military unit, etc. and in every place where humans are making decisions. Crap happens. Crap that should have been anticipated ahead of time, often was, and was simply ignored. Ask the Space Shuttle program about those heat tiles. One can either dwell on the negatives or can work through them and find the "light at the end of the tunnel". No one I know is sticking their collective heads in the sand and singing "kumbaya as they hold hands and dance around the campfire" when it comes to UNT and its athletic program, but its a lot more enjoyable and a lot more enjoyable to the people around you if you try to see the glass as half full and work on the things YOU can help to make better. Sitting back and complaining and pointing out others failings in public all the time really doesn't solve much. Again, folks, we have a great new stadium going up, and not everyone associated with is trying to make bad decisions. Heck, some items I may think are bad decisions, others think are great decisions...imagine that! There are some pretty bright engineers, design folks and UNT staffers working on this project to try to make it the best they can. Will there need to be a few changes as things progress, sure,...get ready for them. I can think of NO construction project this big that went from start to finish without some challenges, modifications and compromises along the way. case in point...Jerry World!

Yeah, but they got good in the early 90s when Phil Knight and Nike made Oregon their unofficial team to support the most. That funding and the attention they have gotten from the Nike support really jump-started them to a place where they are today. I hate Nike and when I become the czar of the NCAA, they will have no place at the table, but I recognize their power and influence. Its gigantic.

that looks bad... no thanks

SOW looks amazing, and has a classic (and classy) look to it. IMHO, it needs to be featured more. Otherwise, I agree that Nike should have some freedom. Even if you don't like the Oregon uniforms, you have to admit they have given the school tons of exposure, helped with merchandise sales, and helped with recruiting (players know they will be seen because of them).

I think you are all just a bunch of drunks

Bottom line...as close as you seem to be to the program, I cannot believe that you did not know that the Deck would be gone. It was never a surprise to me or really anyone else that I have asked about it in the last few days. However, on the other hand, I had never heard that the deck at the Athletic Facility would be a replacement. In fact, early on I asked department personnel about that and was told "no" it would not be serving as a replacement.

Amateur sketches can go a long way like this one.....

I have been told 30 x 50.

Off season debates: it's wide open!

F yer, why so negative all of a sudden? None of this is recent news. You act like it is some clandestine plot to price out folks and take away benefits. In fact, the Mean Green Club is reviewing benefits and will definitely be adding some in the near future. Your post almost sounds like the kind of "class warfare" and "class envy" being touted by the democratic party day in and day out. Look, when my wife and I had three kids at home and we were starting out in our careers, I certainly couldn't afford Club Level seating. But, I wouldn't blast the university and administration for trying to upgrade facilities and sell seats and work on donation levels. It's not "class warfare". It's no problem if one cannot purchase Club Level seating or stadium seating between the 40's due to circumstances or simply because they don't want to do so, and I have not heard anyone jumping any one's case for opting to not purchase or participate in the Mean Green Club's efforts to increase membership. That effort is voluntary just like it is voluntary to purchase Club level seating or not. Yes, some folks get more benefits because they are in a position to donate more at this time of their life. Heck, I wish I could afford the Boxes at the new stadium. I can't and even if I could I doubt that I would purchase in that level. BUT, I do not begrudge those that can pay that price or choose (it is voluntary you know) to pay that price the extra benefits they will receive. The stadium hasn't even hosted it's first game and folks are starting to complain already about this or that. It is all voluntary. Let me say that again...it is all voluntary. You get to pick what you want to do and what you don't want to do. There will be alternatives to the deck...such as the Alumni Pavilion and great tailgating before and after the games. Sales are going well by the way. When one compares the support the program has been receiving the past few years with the demand for the Club Level and box seating one can surmise that sales are, indeed, going well. Will they be sold out before the stadium opens, I doubt it. Heck, if you counted all the current season ticket holders UNT has they probably wouldn't account for all the Club level and Box seating. Having sold 1/3 of the Club level seating and, as I am told, a majority of the box seating already isn't bad in my book for UNT given its record of past non-support. The glass is either half-full or it's half-empty. You get to choose which it is.....Smile, Flyer, it's not like you to be so gloomy! GO MEAN GREEN!

Somebody get Johnny Jones on the phone quick!!! Clearly, he hasn't received the "no black unis or death" memo. http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/fmafLLZ7-Ny/NCAA+Basketball+Tournament+First+Round+Oklahoma/u4O6ycad6O0/Josh+White

Well...I mean...we did just have a Rangers/Giants World Series.