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...to ask a few questions about Boomer. The nice gentleman who called is an NT alumn working as a fact checker for Texas Monthly. They are going to include Boomer in the Traditions section of their annual football issue. And this morning after I got home from work I took several new hi-res photos of him to send to their photog department. The Texas Monthly staff down in Austin seem like a bunch of really nice folks. I only wished I had taken the photos in the evening, or had a cloudy day, just to eliminate the shadows. In answering the questions to Texas Monthly I made sure they knew specifics of Boomer as a Tradition that separates North Texas from any other BCS program in the nation. I especially included how proud I am of the fact that unlike tU's cap gun or A&M's WWI breach loader, Boomer is not only one of the last remaining muzzle loaded black powder cannons used in BCS college athletics today, but more importantly was designed, hand crafted and assembled on our campus by North Texas students, faculty and alumni. Here below are a couple of photos since the new face lift this summer. In the second photo, everything you see other than the barrel, is brand new. New Barrel Cheeks, new Steel Banding, Locks, Hinges and Pins. All bigger and better than before. I want to say thank you to those who have given me the honor and pleasure to work on this project once again for the Mean Green. I love working with this material, especially the hand crafted solid red oak. That is why Boomer(unlike most of your authentic and replica 19th century cannon) is natural clear-coated wood grain, rather than painted Olive Drab Green. In 1988 I just couldn't paint over the wood because I was so impressed with it's beauty. And finally, let me just say that I know the upgrades completed this summer will not be obvious to most who see and HEAR Boomer this fall. But they are there and they make him and his Limber just about as close and accurate to an original M1841 6 pounder as I think he will ever get. I hope you, the students, alumni and faculty of Mean Green Nation like them. Rick

I just wished my wife of 28 years would be able to be at the games.....she'll be there in spirit. Her last game before her death was the Navy game and the flyover....damn, I miss her terribly! Can't wait to hear the games and be there.....I hate living so far away! GO MEAN GREEN !!!!!!

Since Don Vito is always giving us reasons why we won't be any better this year, how about a list of the reasons why we might be. Here's a first one I haven't seen mentioned yet. Even though we have an all-new coaching staff, both our offensive and defensive coordinators were coaching in the Sun Belt last year. They've already scouted the teams in the Belt and know what they need to do to be successful. Plus both improved their teams unit from the previous year.

No Booger Kennedy??? I was also hoping to see Hall get a nod...but understand there is debate...a stupid debate in my book, but Kennedy...where is the debate there??? Should be in there w/out a doubt! Quinn is also a no doubter, and could not be happier to see him in there!

As many as they freaking want.

Rick...it wouldn't be the tradition it is without your dedication and work. The entire Mean green nation owes you a boatload of gratitude and thanks for all you do with and & for "Boomer". It would not be Mean Green football without Boomer...In some corners of my mind I am hopeful that you will have to do a bunch more work on Boomer after this season due to the number of times Boomer roared after Mean green scores. I won't say i would like to see the barrel melt due to all the firing, but maybe just enough to overheat Boomer a time or two this season...When the Mean green scores...Boomer Roars...let's hope Boomer roars a lot! Thanks, Rick. GO MEAN GREEN! Speak loud and often, Boomer!

Maybe BK stole RV's backpack and that's why he didn't get in.

Not surprising they'd be impressed. It's bigger than most of their mobile homes.

I am still waiting for Walter Chapman to be recognized, arguable the best player of the Fry era. Had much better stats than Booger, but seems destined to be the forgotten man. Not saying he was better than Kennedy but I would put him as one of best defensive linemen ever at NT. Greene is in a class all his own, but in my years of following the team I would rate Chapman, Hardman, and Kennedy the next three. Excuse my annual rant. I just do not understand how he is never included, there is no question he was much better than many of the honorees.

He just keeps on doing the right things, talking UNT football. My link

Oh, I've quoted this board on my movie board just the same as I've quoted them here. It's great theater.

De...fense? What is this strange and foreign topic of which you speak?

I heard he hates music so he signed elsewhere. Bruce Hall effs UNT once again.

What a great way to piss on donors willing to give to our university when they don't have too. Last I checked this univeristy needs all the donors and the reconnecting of all alumni past present and future that it can get.

That's obviously not the point here bro. I wanna know why this small time AD is not reminding us every year that Kenny's already in. It's like they don't even care about the past.

Please don't give this advice to the peoples on this board.

I was kinda hoping it was regarding Boone Pickens...

Well, if you're superstitious, here's a couple: 1) F'ing GREEN helmets! 2) The new "lucky" Eagle statue Legit reasons for optimism: we'll actually be tackling in practice. That HAS to lead to improvement considering that while Dodge was HC, we were consistently one of the worst tackling teams in football. The spring game, alone, showed vast improvement in that department over just last year. We were more physical in the spring game than in any single game all of the last 4 years. We will continue to get better leading into the season.

Beer will be sold inside the stadium!!! that is definitely a reason for optimism

If you think A to B, B to C, etc... Last year we were decimated by the injury bug. We had below average coaching. We played in Fouts Field. We fire Todd and have Canales as the interim and everything looks like a new ballclub. Pull off 2 wins on the road and take Troy and Kansas State to the wire with a "Mash" unit for a roster. Okay, fast forward to this season: Starting out, everyone is healthy. We have the best coaching staff and most experieced by far in the league. Canales is hear as Offensive Coordinator now to provide continuity. We have a proven Defensive Coordinator, and a head coach who places an emphasis on defense. We have a Special Teams coach from Boise State and Colorado. We have an incredible new facility. Now, the schedule is very difficult out of the gate, but I think with all of these above factors into play that 4 of the first 5 games are winnable (at least we have a chance to compete with this staff) and then I believe as we saw in the last 5 games last year that we could have some wonderful success in conference play and end up with a solid record to end the 2011 campaign.

The last five games last year for this no-talent team was like watching an entirely different program. The kids clearly want to win and just need some direction to get over that hump. Better game plans, actual college schemes, and much, much better snap decision making will get those 2-4 points that the program has been missing.

I don't think coach would appreciate being called a cheerleader lol I think he would prefer spokesmen or advocate.

This is just off the top of my head. We were only able to pay him well enough to keep him as long as we did by combining his head coaching position with athletic director, and it was stipulated that not be the case at Iowa. It was mentioned after the death of the great basketball coach in that era, Bill Blakely (sp?), that Fry hired him. I thin at one time head football coach and AD were more commonly combined positions than in recent years, but it wasn't a good situation, even in the1970's. Also, I'm wondering if it isn't a little too early to start the "how do we keep "coaches name here" after they start winning big. Maybe it's a situation that could remedy itself if things go well.

Kenny Lyons went into the HOF a long time ago. Class of 1993

Congrats to Johnny. I'm puzzled about Booger also, what's up with that? Chapman not being in the HOF is a travesty, he was a player that other teams gameplanned for.

*From the 11-05-1973 Sports Illustrated "Scorecard" section. Football coaches place a lot of faith, or at least interest, in polls (We're No. 1, and so forth), and head Coach T. W. Alley of the University of Louisville was therefore a bit miffed earlier this season when his star senior defensive back, Lonnie Schuler, was beaten out for Defensive Player of the Week in the Missouri Valley Conference by an unknown from North Texas State named Walter Chapman. "Who's Chapman?" Alley asked. "A freshman. Defensive tackle. Five feet, 10 inches. Weighs 244." "A freshman?" Alley said with some irritation. "What did he do?" "Well, he had 22 tackles and knocked down a pass." There was a moment of silence. Then Alley said, "Where can I go vote for him?" *From the "Wings" Yearbook of 1977. http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61044/m1/10/

Everyone knows the wave is the worst.

I hate the wave. It distracts from the game on the field. I understand people will do it, and if that's how they want to spend precious gametime, ok... but I won't participate.

If he played RB for the horns he certainly would be.

Wow! I turn around and I get a negative points firestorm directed in my general location. Well maybe I deserved it. I don't think people really got the point. If it is for the music department, whoopee - the got a huge amount of money, the one department that continually gets dumped cash by willing alums. I even said - you take it. But ask yourself. Would you rather have this money directed toward athletics or toward the Music dept. I think the answer is clear.

No, I am not kidding. Two examples of the general tone.

90, why spoil their fun? And for that matter, some of our own fans who think it is the equipment truck. LOL

Well, let me just say, the "bonus" was all mine, my bride's and the other GMG.com Bowl fans who stopped by to tailgate with you guys. It made the wait until the stadium opened pass very quickly indeed...want to say many thanks for cold beer as well! GMG.Com Bowl folks and cold beer...before the Kickoff Cookout...doesn't get much better than that...thanks for making a great evening even greater!!!! GO MEAN GREEN!!!!!

It's really fun to read on one messageboard I read (that leans as far left as this one does right - if not further) that the Democrats caved. I think the fact that both sides are bitching so much means this was a good deal.

We had a fantastic time! That climb to the top of the wing is brutal. I ran halfway up and took two steps at a time. Definitely a nice workout. We already had season tickets but ended up donating more money on Saturday to upgrade our seats. And then went and bought a bunch of stuff from the spirit shop. I'd be curious to know how much they sold on Saturday. There was a long line the entire time we were there. It was a blast and so exciting to see everyone there. It was an added bonus to tailgate before hand with some of our GMG.com bowl game friends too. We are bringing several TCU alumni and fans with us on opening day. They are pretty excited to see the new stadium.

It's all there, you just have to use the internet to connect the dots.

Hmm.. Any chance Pat Boone lives... In Thailand?

Kinda sounding like the stereotypical high school meatheaded jock here. If it is the music department that got the gift, good for them. Maybe Coach Mac can build the football program to the point of the music program and then we can see those donations coming the AD's way. Remember, our music department is ranked in the top 10 nationally. While that may not mean much to you, it means a lot to the people in the music community. Not everyone lives the same life you do.

Problem is all the spending cuts are backloaded to future years when another congress will be seated and they can do what they have always done, just vote to ignore the cuts. This is a loss by both parties, who continue to refuse to address the problem. Not only that, I doubt this bill gets out of the house. This isn't exactly what the tea party branch of the Republican party had in mind. It's more politics as usual from a bunch of guys and gals who should be unemployeed.

I swear somewhere it has to be written down that it IS the AD's job to improve things. Seems like some have forgotten it is his job to do so and continue to do so.

Maybe we should encourage our music department to start sucking so people would quit contributing to it.

Huh? Really?

I believe LeFrance was wearing red shorts with a black top last night and if that's indeed him, he was an absolute specimen. I was visiting with Coach Mac and pointed at that player, and Mac says "that's what they looked like in Gainesville." Huge get, and I'd believe those Rivals measurements to be accurate

He's from the same high school as Darius Carey.

I don't follow.

I think that picture of the Superdome was a bit misleading. Here it is during a Tulane game:

Are you in favor of repealing ALL of the GWB tax cuts or just the tax brackets above the one you are currently in now?

We should experience a recruiting boon for our T&F teams because of this awesome facility. I mean, the sight-lines for the track events... it's like you're right on top of the action!

Okay, I don't get the idea of the deposit. It says "It guarantees your spot at the new Football Stadium", but it says the seat selection process begins in the Spring and will be based on MG points. So, what's the point of this?

---Surprise---- It is possible to say 'Russian" and "hot" in the same phrase.