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NT 81 WKU 62

Ok. For those from Fort Worth or West (that's you FFR and Plumm). I am throwing together a watching Party at the Fox and Hound in downtown Ft Worth. Please PM me ASAP if you want to attend. If we can get over 10 people, we can get our own area with sOund for the game. So PM me ASAP and let's get this thing rolling!!!!!

People will just bitch it's the wrong color green.

The bus is here waiting to depart and is pretty much full!

Congratulations Mean Green. Next year we can start over with both of us having nice recruiting classes. Competing against each other for championships for four years and knocking each other out. I've got to disagree about those of you wishing for MTSU simply because I think the bye would really have paid off for them in the championship. I know you guys won four years ago without the bye but that is the exception and not the rule. By playing UALR that is completely neutralized. Good luck tomorrow and beyond.

Records are made to be set or broken, just not by NT. Better start praying for a NIT bid.

from a Hilltopper fan. You all certainly played a great game. Good luck tomorrow night!

Biggest Game in the history of Western Civilization.

Yes, a snowball's chance in hell that is. Josh, Tristan, George, etc... will be so overwhelmed by the sounds of "Dueling Banjos" echoing through the rafters of the Summitt Arena, and the site of incestual offspring in the oppossing team's section of the bleachers that we will be lucky to stay within 20 of UALR.

Win or lose tonight - it's been a helluva run. I'm gonna miss this Senior class so much. Starting the Watson and Davis's class in 2007, this has been such a fantastic time to follow NT basketball. That first run secured the beachhead, and the guys since have just kept pushing.

To continue the good vibe videos.

Reliving yesteryear.

I'm hoping we can maintain this bit for a while. Lifer, I'm getting married in a few weeks... Any thoughts on whether it's going to work out well for me?

Fixed* *Arkansas is a pretty state with fine people and anything said to the contrary is strictly in the spirit of trash-talk for this game.

Or diabetes, or quitters, or SMU, or Tune's run away dog, or Western Civilizations, or eating crow, or etc...........

Egenti has a career 2-1 point-to-minute ratio. The rest of the team could learn something from this kid.

--Not sure exactly what you mean by government restrictions... but a lot of government regulation was caused by oil comapanies.. Check out Texon (ghost-town) The ground is so poluted, weeds won't grow. There is a big lawsuit on the south edge of Midland now.... the water is so contaminated that it really isn't safe for people or even cows to drink (comtaminates the meat)... same chemical as appeared in "Erin Bronkovitch" movie. Even it the centre of town (now) there is an area near the hospital that the groundwater is so bad that it can't be pumped out for yard use. There are some streams out here that are damed up so the water coming down them doesn't reach lakes, they sit and evaporate. People get upset about government regulations.... but when you look at the past you begin to understand why they do this... now the playing field is somwhat level and the bad companies have to do what the responsible ones did. Not much of this is happening now but happened before government regulations were put into place. The same goes with federal safety regulations as well.... some companies just took short cuts and didn't care. They caused them to exist...

Can we bust two Trojans in four days? Not even an over-zealous freshman turned loose in Maple Hall, Crumley Hall and College Inn could do this. It is over.

I was really hoping to get MTSU in the final. Its tough beating a team three straight times this year and with their campus only a hour a way, i'm sure UALR will have a great crowd for the final.

The Channel 5 little guy who looks like the little guy on "Entourage" says we will be playing the "powerhouse" winner of the UALR vs MTSU game. Snub or compliment to our conference?

Dang it, I had a goat all picked out to bring as a guest, now I"ll just send a funeral spray for the NT fans.

We can't beat either one, so does it really matter who we play tomorrow night? Have fun tonight Mean Green fans, because it all comes tumbling down tomorrow.

I love JJ's season long conference rope a dope move. He certainly has roped this old dope into believing!!!

Dude, don't complain... that's a HUGE upgrade from what he used to link to.

I like all three but I'm just glad that our jerseys look like real basketball jerseys, not like sleeveless compression shirts and MC Hammer pants. ...Also if the ESPN3 play-by-play guy doesn't quit calling Odufuwa "Odofawu" I'm going to be insane!!!!

So, FFR, what got you fired up to write this diatribe was a excerpt from Vito's story claiming Chris Davis and not Kenneth Lyons was tje greatest player in NT's history? Seems to me that is one man's opinion over the other's opinion. Heck, a poster later in the thread thinks Joe Hamilton was the greatest. It is an opinion, nothing more. Lyons is in the Hall of Fame and has been for almost twenty years. What do you want them to do? Retire his jersey? Seems to me there could be a number of players that would need to have their jerseys retired, so what are the prerequisites for this? Scoring record? Professional success? Mean Joe is an NFL Hallof Famer and one of the greatest to ever play the game anywhere. The other players in football with retired numbers seem to have achieved some level of success professionally. Wendell Barnhouse, how many people actually read this article or were aware? I'd never heard of it until now and I do a preety good job of keeping up with the DFW media. Did you point this out to our SID or Mr. Barnhouse? I realize NT could do more to honor its former players, coaches, etc... From time to time, but are they really that bad or are they just not doing what you think they should?

Of course, we want everyone IN Hot Springs for this game, but if your wife won't let you go, your driver's license is suspended, or if you just can't make it... The UNT Alumni Association (Denton Chapter) will be having a watching party at Fox & Hound in Lewisville. Tip off is 6 PM. Fun starts at 5:00 PM!

This is for everybody that was telling me they would take anybody who had a bye over UNT in the tourney.

seriously, this is a dull game... which is why I will entertain you with more quotes from one of my favorites... Look... me and the McDonald's people got this little misunderstanding. See, they're McDonald's... I'm McDowell's. They got the Golden Arches, mine is the Golden Arcs. They got the Big Mac, I got the Big Mick. We both got two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions, but their buns have sesame seeds. My buns have no seeds.

They need to get on the dedicated-game-thread bandwagon. ..unless I missed it. Otherwise, made me appreciate gmg.com

i agree, but the boys seem to be on a revenge tour, so the muts should win

Our big 3 seniors all played great tonight.

There is no Belt feed.. it is on ESPN3 and it is black'd out in certain areas.

I prefer the Green ones, but yeah.

Oh, don't mention it Harry. Many other people contribute to those threads, no need to single me out.

I know this game will be a challenge, but they too run 8 men a game. Our depth may not be an issue tonight, especially considering they are also coming off 2 games in 2 days. If we can rest up, stay healthy and tristan can go off like he did last night UNT will come out victorious. We really need to get off to a quick start though. And if Alonzo can put up 5 points and 7 rebounds off the bench.... damn! I love it. I knew he had it in him

No, lack of attendance is pretty far down the list of reasons to devalue your opinions.

Why are you posting information regarding a watching party for a non-NT event?

http://www.dentonrc.com/s/dws/img/drc/03-11/0304johnnyjonesteam.pdf Not to distract or take away from the fine men on this JJ All Decade Team list, but in regards to Brett's quote above, I wanted to point that this is what you get when an apathetic university culture evolves to the point where an alumni/fan base allow a school's History, Traditions and Accomplishments to be dismissed or forgotten by new arrivals and outsiders. Chris Davis was a great player and I'm honored to have been able to see him play, and it's not been enough time for the full affect of his career here to be felt. But Kenny Lyons is our all time points leader. Kenny Lyons helped the Mean Green take on, and nearly pull out a win over Top Ranked Depaul who was led by NBA All Star Mark Acquire. During his amazing career here he also scorched another NBA All Star and NBA Hall of Famer Karl Malone for 47 points in a single game against La Tech. Kenny Lyons is our greatest player of all time and there is no arguing this point and it shouldn't have to be pointed out to the local press by a poster on a message board. Kenny's accomplishments have never been honored by this school visually in the same way that others' have been by having his jersey number retired and no one seems to give a crap about it. What kind of message does this send to Josh White and George Odufuwa, or worst, to Tony Mitchell, or the men who recruited him or the men who will go to battle with him here next year? This is why I think our culture at NT hurts this university the absolute most and it must change. To me, our culture has been devastating over the years. Just the other night RV mistakenly stated on regional television that for the first time in our history(and during his tenure) we are now just experiencing nationally ranked teams, which isn't true at all? This isn't Coach V's fault, it's our fault. This past year, one of our greatest basketball coaches, including the coach of Kenny Lyons, Bill Blakeley died and all he got from North Texas was a moment of silence before a home game, as far as I recall? Nothing visual like his initials on our unis was worn during the season, or an empty seat at the end of the bench to honor a coach that brought some of the most exciting basketball ever to the Super Pit. And no one hardly said a thing about it. What message does this send to the great Johnny Jones? Is this how we will honor him when he's gone? I damn sure hope not. Johnny Jones' family will have deserved more than this and so did Bill Blakeley's. Two or three years ago Wendall Barnhouse stated and gave credit to Houston for being the first school in Texas to employee the first black Head Coach in major college football, when it was North Texas that did that. Same holds with constant referencing in the press about Jerry Levias over Abner Haynes. But this school and it's fan and alumni base doesn't respect that, therefore it's never promoted or defended, nor is the AD Dept demanded to defend it either. Again, it's not the AD's fault, it's our fault. Our apathetic culture is why we had a woman sideline reporter during a regionally/nationally televised football game on ESPN a few years ago, REPEAT that our nickname, "Mean Green" gets it's derivation from NFL Hall of Famer "Mean" Joe Greene, which isn't true AT ALL!!!!. One of the last, or in fact, it may have been the very last time I listened to Dunham and Miller, it was back in the 90's, I hear Miller ruthlessly bag on North Texas as(I'm paraphrasing) a spare, sad whatever program because all we can sadly hang on and claim to is that "Mean" Joe Greene played here, and that we are so sad that we had to name our team after him? To hell with the fact that Joe Greene was known as "Big Joe" when he played here. But this and instances like it is allowed to continue every year, in the press and on this board. But let me be clear, it's not the press' fault. It's our fault. We allow it. We allow our AD dept to allow it because there's only a few who actually care to speak up to AD officials and say anything to them about it. And when we do, or mention it here, regardless of what it has cost many of us in time and money to promote or defend these accomplishments and traditions ourselves, we're mocked by a few anonymous posters, at zero effort or cost to themselves, as being whiners, incapable of being happy about anything North Texas ever does. The fact is that as a collective fan/alumni base, we regularly lay down and roll over and continue to take it and let the outside world decide what our history and traditions are. What is the most damning price of all of this apathy towards our Traditions, History and Accomplishments? Look no further than the pitiful amount of money we have raised for our endowment over the years, or even the amount of money donated for the new stadium. For a university of this size that has, at times made it's mark and carved out many unique accomplishments through 121 years, it's beyond belief that we struggle in this area. Every year that we allow a cap and gown to cross the stage WITHOUT any heartfelt strings of pride attached to North Texas because they never learned our Traditions, History and Accomplishments, regardless if its us the fans and alumni, RV or Dr. Finley of the Business Dept, Coach McCarney or Dr. Scott of the Music Dept, Dr. Rawlins or coach Johnny Jones and everyone in between. Every time it happens, it hurts us all, BIG TIME. Rick

We do have a history before this regime and all before it. If you are a true fan of the Mean Green, athletic directors and head coaches will come and go but you are the constant that will still be here. I can go even further back to the MVC and seeing John Savage matched against Oscar Robertson in the old pit. North Texas Basketball in the MVC made the SWC a joke. We beat A$M by 20 points at home when I was a student. The local privates wanted no part of the NT FB teams of the mid to late 60's . The University of Arkansas stole a game in Fayetteville from the Mean Green in 1967 on a called trap of a Steve Ramsey to Ron Shanklin pass. Later Chuck Dicus, the DB for Arkansas admitted it was a clean catch and the refs were protecting the SWC from what would be viewed by the "great unwashed" as a terrific upset. In those teams of the 60's not only Joe Greene, but Cedric Hardeman, Willie Parker, Steve Ramsey, Ron Shanklin, Chuck Beatty, and others would distinguish themselves for years in the NFL, many more than the local privates sent at that time. Even Dandy Don Meredith admitted on MNF that "he was sure glad when he was at SMU that they never had to play North Texas State". This statement was made while he viewed Joe Greene, Ron Shanklin, and Chuck Beatty all playing in the starting line up of the Pittsburg Steelers. We have always had an inferiority complex at NT. This must change now. Denton must change now---all its previous excuses for non-support are lame. Growth is coming up I-35 E and W at a staggering pace and Denton is drawn into the metroplex like it or not. Get with the program "little d" you have had a gold mine of a university in your back yard for decades--Act like you appreciate now and ongoing.

I agree with virtually everything that Rick said, especially about Kenneth Lyons. Kenneth has been in the North Texas HOF since 1993 so he hasn't been ignored but, in truth, none of our HOF members have been really placed on a pedestal but Joe Greene. Well deserved for Joe because he is arguably the best defensive lineman in the history of the game. Our failure to continue traditions is largely the fault of prior administrations. Envolvement beyond the school years wasn't encouraged; in fact, it was discouraged. Nearly all of the gifts to the AD prior to Hayden Fry was in the form of advertising, goods or services. So, while we had some rudiments of a program of giving, that pretty much went south when we were forced to drop to 1-AA in 1982. Those 12 years ran off many who had supported North Texas after graduation. I suppose that we could be blamed for not having the alumni leadership to strongly encourage an alumni-giving program but the wind had been taken out of those sails by prior administrations. Denton had few wealthy residents and Hayden had tapped the two most noteworthy, Newton Rayzor and Rex Cauble, so that the list of affluent donors was depleted. Another major factor working against us was the city of Denton. They enjoyed the benefits of being a college town but contributed little. Their excuse seemed to be that North Texas added nothing to their tax base and required additional police and fire protection. Little did they realize that the UNT administration, faculty and auxillary personnel were large contributors to their property tax base. I question why our administration did little to establish any rapport with the city. The University of North Texas community needs to reach out to Denton and Denton County and get them involved. That is why I'm encouraged about having Coach Mac and his staff. It's almost as if we are getting the citizens involved for the first time. Past history can't be changed but our future course can. Traditions and recognition can be restored but it can't rest on the shoulders of a few.

Some good points FFR, I have always wondered why NT didn't empathize more their record of diversity. I would have a prominent picture of Mr. King and Mr. Haynes with a plague stating the date and historically nature of that picture. I would place this in such a location that every recruit could not miss it. The amount of publicity that SMU has gotten for Jerry Levias and the almost total lack of such for Abner Haynes as always gotten me. As far as RV's statement it is just bluster. He is as aware as anyone of NT's past. NT was not only multiple national champion in golf but was also a track power for many years. In addition to having ranked basketball and football teams in the mid seventies. As far as the best basketball player, I would give that to Joe Hamilton. He was a great player in the best conference in the land at the time. However, he was a juco transfer and only had two years, so on a NT career basis: I will go with Lyons. Not to discount Chris too much but there are a lot others I would rate close or equal besides Lyons and Hamilton: Leroy Winfield, Crest Whitaker, Al Shumate, Fred Mitchell, Melvin Davis, Bobby Iverson, Jessie Ratliff, etc.

You have a lot of good points in here. But its not just our fault, but also the surrounding area (City of Denton, Denton County) that have also helped to create the apathy. Unless the AD can get a big name here for a game, the local residents don't show up. When we try to build a new stadium to replace the decrepit piece of *&^% that we foolishly played in for decades beyond what any other school would do, we have a whole section of town (Denia) fight it out in every way imaginable. When the time comes to build a new stadium that could help both the major university in town and the high schools in said town, the city looks its largest employer in the face and says, "Too Bad--we'll do it on our own. We ain't helping you." We have to recognize that this doesn't help our cause at all. A lot of what you write may not be fixable. I mean, really, this has gone on for 100 years in Denton. The two times that we have a winner at the FBS or I-A level didn't really increase attendance or support (Fry years and 2001-2004). It could very well be that this university is so disconnected with athletics that nothing can change it, even building a new stadium. I really believe that the only thing we haven't ever had that I believe could change some of this is to win in a league with old SWC teams. The media, fans, alums, and faculty don't feel any connection or hatred with schools in the SBC or the old Big West, and they just laughed at the thought that our university would allow itself to be in a conference with such academic juggernauts as SFA, SHSU, Southwest Texas State, and UTSA for over a decade, especially since we had tried so hard to finally get accepted into the SWC just a few years earlier. You can say that a student, alum, local resident, or faculty member shouldn't care who we play or what league we play in, that we should only care about UNT, but that has as much chance of occurring as me going over to the local gas station and buying the winning lotto ticket. It does matter who you play, just as it has mattered to the leftovers from the SWC, of whom see attendance figures that are nothing compared to when Arky, UT, and A&M came to town. This is why when a terrible Baylor football team gets scheduled to play in Denton that we set our attendance record, even though Troy or MTSU has been a much better program for a long time. Our problem is that we are lucky we get ONE Texas team on the schedule, then we go back to podunk schools from Louisiana (sorry if you aren't LSU, few fans care about any other school over there), Airport schools from Miami, and other tiny schools from the South, which leads the collective fanbase to take a huge nap. Its my belief that until we can get in a conference with teams people care about, the apathy will continue toward our teams, history, and traditions.

Well said, Rick. However, the press is lazy and has to be spoon fed. This athletic administration, like so many before it, only recognize accomplishments made while on their watch. Remember, all athletic administration at NT are either vandals or interlopers with very little green blood in them. The vexing thing is that participation by the alums who know or care is thwarted by most athletic administrations--senior administration as well.

Agreed. But just saying, whoever supports the helmet with the penis on it is a moron.

So you want us to read 2 outwardly conservative blogs and then read the website from the International Centre for Islamic Information? What the hell are you smoking? Are you serious?