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Hats off to everyone involved and responsible for Saturday's scene. Legit. Finally. That was exactly what a Division I football experience should feel like and well worth flying out after work Friday and back in time for work Monday morning. Some observations... - This team will still win 4 or 5 games this season. I'll probably make some game observations in some of the existing threads, but I was very impressed with the team in the first half against a decidedly more talented team...especially considering the debacle in Miami. Obviously we're gonna get smacked next weekend, but I like our chances against a now 0-2 Indiana, and maybe even Tulsa, fresh off back-to-back games with top 10 teams. - The Alumni Pavilion is great. Once the landscaping is complete, I would be hard-pressed to find a lovelier venue outside of a college football stadium to sit back and have a beer than on the pavilion's patio. - Fabulous tailgate scene over next to the stadium. Props to the Greeks...and I imagine the actual Greek...for setting up not just a big time culinary scene, but also a few adding stages for some live tunes. That skinny, long-haired country singer with the lovely blonde was a nice treat. - Once (ok...it's still "if") this program gets the wheels back on the rails, and if we can pull a few big name opponents to help sell that place out, the Hill opposite the alumni side will be a great place to watch a sold out football game. - I can't believe people would actually complain about parking. We rolled up about 1:00, parked for free in a half-full lot opposite the Super Pit...fixed a cocktail and grabbed the 12-pack of Modelo and had an easy 15-20 minute walk over to the stadium, with a brief stop off at a friend's tailgate next to Fouts. If that walk is too much for anyone under about 70 you may want to consider a switch to a bit healthier life-style. Or simply toughen up. - Lastly, and most importantly...for the love of God, alumni side...please stand up at the very least on third down. If you can't get up for this game I don't have much faith that you'll get up for future games. We now have a decided home-field advantage...crowd noise forced false starts and timeouts from the Houston offense in the first half and Summelin even said the atmosphere had them out of sorts in the first half. The most frustrating part of the third quarter was not being picked apart by a Heisman candidate quarterback, rather it was the 5 or 6 key third downs while the game was still very much in doubt that somehow only managed about an 1/8 of the upper bowl to stand up and make noise. I don't expect everyone to imbibedly eschew decorum, jump up and down and yell until hoarse like I'm willing to, however I do expect you to stand up, clap, maybe give a nice outside voice "let's go D." It doesn't take much...if you stand, people around you will start to stand...it's like doing the wave, only less gay. The team was begging you...and the response I saw when I looked back at the crowd behind me from the front of 206 was near apathy. This can't continue. Worse, those sitting on their hands were also some of the ones bitching about scheme or execution or play-calling as if they were football experts...they're unwilling to do their part, but still feel the right to be so critical. Our fan-base has a long way to go to match the quality of our facilities now.

Big XII schools generally don't care how many opposing fans travel. You have to fill your own stadium. Most of the Big XII schools don't have large sections available for opposing fans. Why would you if you can sell out with your own fans which increases season ticket sales and allows for mandatory donations for seats? Worrying about how many opposing fans come to your stadium is the same mentality UH used to have. We used to complain that no one in CUSA (with the exception of UTEP) brought fans to UH. Now we're finally getting to the point where if the opposing team brings zero fans, it can still be a sell out. Hopefully UNT gets to that point too. The stadium will help. Winning will help some too. Once you get momentum, it starts snowballing. One sell out leads to another. That leads to games selling out early which leads to higher season ticket sales. But don't complain about the number of fans your opponents bring. That just makes your fan base look weaker because your attendance depends on something outside of your control.

Hate to say this, but after having seen it in person against Houston, and watching Tulsa last weekend: We've got what we've got. The debate about whether or not Dodge could recruit is over. We've got pretty average players all around. Average size, speed, and talent. I hate giving coaches excuses. But, it's hard to sit and watch Houston's 290/300+ pound linemen grind on a 260 pound DT like Boutwell all night. Eventually, the kid is going to get his ass worn out giving up that much weight all night long. I don't want to take anything away from these guys' effort. They fought like hell Saturday night. That part of the game isn't missing. What's missing is size, speed, and overall talent. While I wish Dodge well at Pitt as a position coach, he truly failed us in recruiting pretty much all the way around, with only a handful of exceptions. He left the program in no better position player-wise than when he arrived - and, may have left it in worse condition. Whatever the wait, the new seats are great. The kids had fun.

Come on now. Buses were running for the disabled. Saw them all afternoon. Also, you don't have to be a club seat holder to get a red/blue parking pass, just a member of the mean green club and a season ticket holder. Donor levels start at a pretty mOderate level ($150 or $250). That should be manageable for any person that is 60 years old. If not, they probably shouldnt be spending their money on college football, anyway. I, for one, am glad this program has finally reached a pre-Pubecent level. With that comes a little bit of acne. A minor price to pay.

You should ALL remember this piece of crap column the next time somebody decides they want to trash talk Brett Vito.

because people are selfish about things that cause them discomfort. it's a 'me' world...

i got their at 8... parked, set up my tailgate... it was possibly the most glorious day of my life

After buying the new stadium, I don't think we have enough money left in the athletic budget to afford any of their guys.

I agree. At least the fight is back and these kids are going to play their @ss off for this school. i respect the hell out of them

Terrell Brooks: He went 3-0 in Madden against a couple guys on his floor that forgot to reserve tickets to the game. He proceeded to bring home some Chicken Express and totally dominated it from chicken strip to the final corn nugget. I would say it was a good night for him.

I'd place as much or more of the blame on his lack of ability to DEVELOP the players he brought in. There's just too many upperclassman on this roster who seem to exhibit little or no growth in their skill/ability since arriving on campus. That's what's most frustrating to me.

Their attendance dropped by 26k to 31k for this week. They also became the first Div 1 team ever to be defeated by a Div 3 team.

I had no problem with the parking, but I also have a red lot parking pass. Next season we will have the pedestrian bridge and hopefully down the road, a parking garage between the super pit, murchison, and bridge to the village. I don't want to sound like I don't care. I really want fans to all have front row tickets and the best experience possible. I like having the green space and the village around the stadium and really wouldn't prefer all concrete parking lots. I also like that the athletic dept. has created incentive to give money. Anytime you crush 30,000 people into one place, it's just not possible for everyone to have the perfect parking situation. Also, it's game 1. Things will get better and more routine. I don't know why there isn't more understanding about the parking issue.

It got pretty loud last night. I don't know if anybody noticed, but the "Noise Meter" on the jumbotron broke or was pushed to the absolute limit multiple times.

I totally agree. I didn't get any freebies either! Plus I sat at my house all morning waiting for someone from the athletic dept to come to my house and drive me to the game...and when I got there...no one would personally read my parking pass (Which I had to pay EXTRA for!) or tickets to me. I may not be back. How DARE the athletic dept ask anyone to charge for anything. We need more free stuff and more hand holding if we are ever going to be big time.

I'm starting to think we don't need a fanbase. Maybe our team should play to an empty stadium on purpose. We have waaaay waaaay too many things that will "cause people not to come inside stadium at all." We get LITERALLY all day to drink, eat, and play during our tailgates. Hell, you can drink all Friday night if you want...I did. And we are, seriously, complaining that for three hours we're forced to endure the torture of college football...our Alma mater's football team by the way...without beer????!!! And here I was thinking it was the product on the field that needed fine tuning.

Andrew "Max" Power. The hardest working man on the team. Plays on every special teams package, blocks like an extra tackle, and scored on the prettiest redzone release route you've ever see.

The problems with Dodge's recruiting: -he spent more time coaching his high school team for 30 days after we hired him during the winter 2006/2007 timeframe, leaving him a short window. He filled the roster with guys who quit and/or never panned out. -he never got enough linemen on either side of the ball to build depth. That four and five year after he was hired we were and still are using DE recruits at DT is evidence. The bottom line is, he believed his press clippings. He signed a bunch of receivers. Receivers don't play on the line. He though he'd just sling it around like Southlake did and get results. It was a dream world scenario that I still can't believe Rick Villareal bought into after the first two terrible seasons. Also, we've got no true Fullback-Receiver hybrids colleges now call H-backs/U-backs. It's useless. There are so many holes and so little depth. All you have to do is watch the games. Some of us were holding out hope that McCarney could be kind of a miracle worker. Not so much. It would take a miracle to turn these guys into winners in one season. As it is, McCarney's recruits are showing well enough. Pleased with McNulty scoring the first TD. The DB Warner looks good even though he's raw. We'll do well with another class or two like McCarney signed this year.

What? maybe we'll find out more during Coach Mac's radio show this evening. I don't understand this, but maybe their is a family or school issue that is pressing enough that it needs his full attention. I wish young Mr. Brooks well, and thank him for his service to the Mean green. I do, however, hope that we see him back with the Mean Green. You never know. I hope, whatever the reason is, that he is OK. God speed, Terrel. The Mean green nation both thanks you and will miss your contribution.

Saturday was an eye opening experience for me. I expected the stadium to be great...but the entire Athletic Village just blew me away. The red/blue parking lots that look to have been cut to perfectly run alongside an old par 5 from the golf course was just brilliant. The view, from just the parking lot, of the hill and all the various spots for people to tailgate/picnic is awesome. The circle drive cut into the hill to provide an epicenter for the whole scene...this place is just absolutely phenomenal. The AD left no stone unturned, and got so many "little" things right when planning this place. Unbelievable job by the AD when you look at the whole scene, stadium:village:tailgating. This place is a program changer, folks.

For your Monday morning entertainment...check out the bottom of the stairs at Sec. 207. And no...I wasn't "perving"....just happened upon it! Looks like an innocent kiss to me!

As I sat in the stadium and looked at the UH crowd I thought, perhaps, I was observing a really significant reason it will be difficult for UH to be invited to the Big 12 (should the Big 12 survive). I was surprised by the relatively dismal UH turnout for the game. Denton, Texas/UNT - about a 4 1/2 - 5 hour drive from Houston. UH - former Southwest Conference member; a Conference-USA member; a relatively large alumni base in the DFW area; a helluva exciting football team;; whipped UCLA in their first game of the season; and they bring only 4,000 fans to Denton. So, if you are the Big 12 Conference, are you going to take that heavily into consideration when considering which universities to ask to join the Big 12? Is that also true if you the Mountain West conference?

Found this on FB this morning: Comment attached: It's no Gary Payne EaglePan, but here's my half-assed panoramic from Apogee. Since I was busting my ass shooting for us, the DMN, AP and the Houston Chronicle, I didn't get a chance to go over to the student side to shoot a proper panoramic. Plus the fans started pouring out in the 3rd quarter. This was my first attempt at this: I promise I'm gonna get better.

We're not big enough yet. But, the home games are more fun now.

I parked on campus like always, made the fifteen to twenty minute walk, and could not have been happier. It baffles me how pleased I was with every aspect of the experience, just to log on and see all the complaining. Some people will never be happy. Probably the same people who complained when Dickey was winning championships, but didn't like his boring offense.

Once Coach McCarney & Staff get some more talent with the talent we have, North Texas is going to be an athletic program that will be able to rise up the NCAA athletic totem pole. We now have our vehicle that will help all that we all want to finally have a real chance of happening. Norm Hitzghes of KTCK "The Ticket" said this the week we hired Coach McCarney: "Why not North Texas being the next Boise State?" GMG!

Easy answer: plastic megaphones. These are very inexpensive, especially if ordered without custom printing. Buy 8000 of these and place them on every student section seat. The students will quickly realize that their involvement can alter the games. They're much more effective than free pom-poms or bandanas.

Keep in mind Thompson only has what , 3 career starts ? I know it seems like he's been here for awhile , but he's still basically a freshman out there. We are just going to have to do a trail and error until someone or something stands out

The ignorance of our fanbase never ceases to amaze me. They will always look for something to complain about. I suppose you preferred Fouts to Apogee?

Years of futility + a non-competitive ass whipping by FIU in week 1 + a strong opponent coming off a win over a name program = this. Still, it felt a heck of a lot bigger than some of those Fouts crowds. I know the capacity is about the same, but Fouts felt so much more cavernous. I wish we could have opened against a cupcake (or even a conference foe), but it was still an awesome time - head stomping aside.

Our db's did better than I thought...its our d-line that did us in tonight. No pressure except fo about 6-8 plays.

how was the tailgating scene at fouts? the red/blue lot was fabulous...open spaces, green space, plenty of room, no nazis...perfect time! i talked to one of the workers in a golf cart and he said it was the easiest/best tailgating day that he had been a part of since starting with north texas 5 years ago. everything went great, according to him.

Came to the game with the wife and parents(who came from an hour away). Even though the team lost, everyone is making plans to come to the next game. Things are changing in the attitude towards NT football. We just need to start winning games.

That's great to hear. Hats off to Sumlin and Keenum for having class. By the way, I have no voice today. Which is pretty bad, because part of my job is doing voice overs. : O JRock

The Hill looked awesome from I35. It had a lot of people but had room to hold a lot more. We should let the Students move their tailgate location there and fill every corner of it. I was really impressed with how easy it was to get to my parking spot 3 hours before kickoff. I was thinking by how the map looked that it was going to be a disaster. Not at all, and got out of the stadium easily too. There are so many great places to tailgate it's just unreal. I'm looking forward to a game in which I can get there in time and set up to do some of it. Yesterday we spent our time walking around and taking it all in. Great experience all the way. Rick

I don't think I fully appreciated their halftime show when sitting on the student side (recent grad, first time sitting on alumni side last night). While I think they need more variety for in-game music, the halftime performance was awesome. My brother (UT tshirt alum 04-present) wouldn't stop talking about how impressed he was. He was blown away by everything yesterday and can't wait to come back again. He bought a UNT shirt and hat last night too, our tshirt alumni base grew by one yesterday.

I hate the no re-entry rule. The halftime beer jog is an important tradition being thrown by the wayside. Stupid.

The first half had our guys look competitive with, and probably better than UH. Honestly, I think our guys outplayed them and were shafted by more than a few bad calls from the officials. That first half is a pretty good indicator of where our program is headed - and that's where it's competitive with the big boys. I'm anxious to see where Coach Mac can take the team after this, more than ever. Coach Mac made Houston think twice about their gameplan in just his first handful of months here. If he can keep the trend going with recruits and practices, we'll have a monster of a program. The second half showed the weak point of our team right now, which is depth and conditioning. UH's fast paced gameplan was a bit too much for our D, and our guys got worn out. Again, our D was up to speed with them for the first half, so the potential is there, but football is won in all 4 quarters. Same thing for the offense - they looked great in the first half, but they weren't as sharp in the second. They've gotta be conditioned better than this, and both sides of the ball need depth. As for the stadium - I'm more impressed every time I set foot in there. I love the way the field gives you a great view of the action, even at the concession stands. I love how the noise is really magnified in there - to the point it drowns out the PA. It's a top-notch stadium, and I love that we can get really close to packing it full. I'm being an optimist, but if Mac can make great improvements to the team in the next year or two, we can expect Apogee to be at or near capacity every game. More positives than negatives after last night.

I think Vito could tell you.

The DMN is no friend of UNT's. The best thing you can do is not buy their paper and cancel your subscription to them if you have one. Only then when people stop paying them for poor coverage will they want to know why! Don't feed the trolls!

Anyone making the trip down to Austin for the Texas game?

I wonder what the two Houston Cougars watch? Old VHS of the Tia Carrere scenes in High School High?

GWTOGMT -- who knew it was so regional?

I actually lost track of your analogy when you picked a tabloid target who hasn't been relevant for 5 years, but I doubt they're watching much of either network. If you're lucky, they may pick up a stray Alec Baldwin comment or Family Guy joke and call it a day. I just hate the idea that a good and bad network exists.

Wait... so everyone who watches FOX News chooses it because they're educated and put everything they say under a critical eye? Why hasn't the lamestream media been reporting this!? If that's true, I officially have no problems with FOX News.

According to Texas State, 456.

What about the BC point-shaving thing? Or is this football only?

Awesome, great recruit and I get to dust off the inaminate carbon rod material.

There's a whole message board full of people who knew about it. I didn't see many of you there.

TAPPS to TCIL to UIL to WAC. It makes sense and shows they've kept an aggressive expansion plan.