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What many students now have to understand about the alumni who do not normally come to games is there is a reason they aren't coming and it's not just that it is Halloween. The people who normally come but had kid obligations, work etc. aren't the ones I'm talking about either. I'm talking about the alumni who never went to games as students, and there are a ton of them. There was no reason for them to get hooked. There was no reason to make it part of their routine during football season. I work with a ton of UNT alumns. Most all of the UNT alumns I work with have graduate degrees from somewhere other than North Texas. Mostly from TCU. These people have season tickets to TCU. I've been trying to get them to UNT games, but it is difficult. Their routine is now loyalty to another school. It's going to take more than 5-6 wins. It will take longer than a couple years to get people like that to come. It might take more than 9-10 wins for a couple of years for some. Some might just be lost all together. It will be hard to ask someone that age with those obligations already mentioned to start a new routine. Some will. It's not a lost cause, and I will continue to offer. What happened in the early 2000's has kept a lot of alumni my age around. What is happening now with the students is the best thing that could happen to a program. The best advice I can give to students is to take advantage of the fun that this season is. Ask friends to come to the games and go to the bowl game. Good god, go to the bowl game as a student. Sleep 5 to a room. Squeeze into cars, pick up an extra shift. Do whatever it is you have to do to go to a bowl game as a student and take your friends with you. You will make lifelong memories that will include North Texas Football, and that is tougher to forget for alumni in the future. I give them crap for it, but It is the reason that the alumni older than me on this board still talk about Hayden Fry and Tennessee and Texas in '88. Do not worry about alumni attendance, worry about having fun as a student at the games. That pays off bigger for the future of a program than worrying about alumni attendance.

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I noticed that UNT's football has been playing well this year so I made it a point to watch the game last night because I used to live in Denton for about 6 months. This team that North Texas has is special. We all need to be rooting for Tulane to get a loss because this team deserves a shot to go head to head for the championship of CUSA. I am very happy about that. I got to see the awesome defense last night. I knew from the Georgia game that this team was good but I had no idea how good. Excited for you guys and I am definently cheering you guys to always win the CUSA title.

I have been watching football for 75 years including an era where defense ruled and scoreless ties were not uncommon and I have never...repeat never...seen a goal line stand to equal tonights. First and goal at the one and eight plays later turn the ball over on downs at the eleven is incredible, fantastic and amazing all rolled into one. Terrific job defense

Navy fan here who drove up from Fort Worth to check out the game. Congrats, Rice is a good team with a talented QB and receiver corps, your defense really won that game for you. I was impressed by the size and volume of your student section, very good showing for a weeknight. Enjoyed your band too, certainly one of the best. Best of luck the rest of the season.

We had the #3 and #2 plays for the night. 3 was Chancellor's punt return and 2 was the twice batted pick that Trice ended up with.

My god, what defense on that Redzone drive by Rice. Wow!

Just like the Ball St. game these guys were spot on. Great coverage, great knowledge of the game, fantastic breakdown of the plays with full analysis, top notch crew, scrimmage and first down markers on the field, just a top quality production. I'm hoping we get more games on here.

That was college football history, not just North Texas history. I have never seen anything like it in all my years of watching this sport. Wow!

I saw some of the replay last night, and the absolute best part of the stand was that after the final tackle Fox Sports zoomed in on the the Rice HC and you can clearly see him say "Well... S**T" with a totally defeated look on his face and you can see an assistant directly behind him tear up a play sheet and throw the pieces in the air. When I get a chance I'll make a GIF of it.

NT video Dept... whoever you are... make that series a youtube vid on it's own... similar to the hit... that stand needs to be available to everyone, whenever they need a pick me up at work

The top redzone offense in C-USA vs the top redzone defense. The defense won out on eight downs. Incredible.

I think many of us feel the same way you guys do right now. Awesome win! http://cyclonefanatic.com/forum/general-college-sports/178225-danny-macs-mean-green.html

That chant gets people fired up like never before. So loud. People always et involved. Thanks to the people who run the video board who clearly read this. So loud.

Quite simply the far and away best goalline stand I and many others have ever seen at ANY level. That was historic and could be what vaults us to national recognition. Even people who don't care about North Texas are talking about that stand and this defense. Remember this night y'all this was historic.

I'm trying to bring in an extra 30-40 from work. Got about 15 definites so far

My favorite Rice postgame reaction:

Imagine the t-shirt sales for a shirt that reads, "I was at THE STAND" 22K in attendance last night. Eventually 50K will say they were they.

I saw it at Georgia. I saw something in these guys I haven't seen since '02. They just play pissed off and take every inch gained by an offense personally. The beautiful part is, the younger dudes are getting into the act too. Future! Rick

We know that you have had a really rough week and we feel real bad about that. It would make you feel so much better if you took all of that frustration out on your game this week. Beat the spit out of Tulane. For all of us. Sincerely, CUSA WEST

That was fun to read, especially when they say our defense is nothing special. I always thought Rice was supposed to have the smart guys.

It's not Denton State, it's the University of North Texas. It is not Denton's responsibility to fill up a stadium. Real programs have alumni and fans come from all over the area, state and even nation for a game, as well as opponents who bring fans to fill the seats.

All apologies to Lance... Greatest thing ever seen in the new stadium. RICE JUST GOT THE LIVING S&@# APOGEE'D OUT OF THEM!!

They say defenses win championships.

Last night's crowd of 22835 was the 14th largest crowd in NT history. It was the 4th largest crowd to see us win. We are averaging 20,182 for our four home games. Our best home attendance ever is 19,512 in 1994. We need to average 19,636 over our last two to hit 20,000 for the first time. A crowd of 25,000 for homecoming (I hope) would mean we need 14,272 at the last one. Also, 25,000 would be our 9th largest crowd. See all of you next Saturday. Wear Green. Be loud.

Before getting too down on attendance last night, here are the attendance numbers for games played this week: Tuesday Cincinnati @ Memphis - 22,571 Thursday South Florida @ Houston - 22,707 Louisiana Monroe @ Troy - 17,013 Rice @ North Texas - 22,835 Arizona State @ Washington - 20,617 I was very pleased with our crowd and the energy we had. Being able to stand on the alumni side the majority of the 2nd half without feeling out of place or rude for blocking the view of those behind me was very encouraging. Also, being part of the herd of people making our way across the pedestrian bridge AFTER the game (including an impromptu "north..texas" chant) was a great change from recent years.

Had a chance to meet all three of them at Carthage HS today. I first saw Bogenshultz and congratulated him on his UTSA commitment, and told him I was looking forward to beating him for the next 4-5 years. He laughed, and mentioned that he had been hoping for a UNT offer, but had good things to say about Connor Means. Next, Rutherford came up to the table,and I immediately knew who he was. At 6'5"' he is easy to spot and looks like a CB's nightmare. He seemed excited about his offer and we talked a little about the Rice game. He was wearing a Cougar High Tshirt, so I had to give him a little bit of a hard time, but was good natured at the ribbing. A short while later Goree came up to the table and was surprised that I knew his name. He told me that UNT was his top choice still... could we beat Colorado for the Goree sweep stakes! It would be nice, I hope we can hang on to him! Rutherford came back up and we talked some about Apogee, I talked up the Rice game some more, and even talked about our current #3, and of his NFL chances! Got a pic of them both flashing the claw. (They may need to work on that) On another note, the OL Goodacre chatted with me as well, very impressive frame! Again I extended my congratulations for his LaLa commit, and told him what a great fan base and program they have. But I sincerely got the impression, he would come if offered.

My wife, who never watches sports, was so excited as this was going on she said "my heart is doing loops." I think that after all my years of trying, our defense has turned her from a casual observer into a Mean Green SuperFan. We are incredibly proud of how the team played and she even asked me if we could get the 'UNT Game Bibs' from the team shop.

I love how it was hard hitting, all around badass, Lee drilling MacHaruge at the end of that crazy 4th down.

This will go down in UNT folklore. That was simply incredible and really turned things around. Our D is sick!

George's calls sound sweet as sugar on this reel This post has been promoted to an article

SMU overall record 3-4 / 2-1 in conference. TCU overall record 3-5 / 1-4 in conference. Now, wouldnt that be something if the MEAN GREEN was the only D1 program to go BOWLING this year.

In a slightly different twist, what I saw last night was a rowdy group of several thousand students who were actively engaged in the game through the ENTIRE FOUR QUARTERS. Those several thousand students formed memories last night that will last a lifetime, an opportunity not provided to students for nigh a decade. Those several thousand students are not going to go back to class on Monday with Tech shirts on saying, "I think we suck, so I left in the second quarter and totally got into Lou's with my fake ID." Those several thousand students are going to spin fish tales for years to come, saying with bravado, "I was at THE STAND." Those several thousand students are the next generation of check writing, ticket buying alumni, and they got a product worth supporting last night.

This is my first time witnessing a non-losing UNT football season. After this victory, I officially shed my first football tear. I am just so happy for these seniors who have put so much sweat and blood into this university and have seen so little in return. Until this year. I couldn't be happier for those guys.

For whatever reason, CUSA refs hate us. Rice had every advantage tonight, and we still beat the white off of them.

That's all.

True. The Fox announcers didn say they had never seen a goal line stance like that on ANY level. It was glorious. Rice had so many chances and our defense said, " We are the Mean Green. This is our house." And that final sack was the exclamation mark in front of a national audience. Proud to be a member of the Mean Green Nation.

I love this team so much.

22k was my hoped for attendence if the students showed up. And boy did they, CONGRATS STUDENTS!

Nice that at least we're 1-1 when playing against the refs.

Payback! This goes a long way for me in erasing the nightmare that was the last time UNT played Rice! So very happy for the guys on the team who were there the last time. That is done and over...payback completed! Super win! Do not know how long it will be before I can even think of going to bed! Will be heading to the UNT basketball game tomorrow, but I am thinking that a lot of tomorrow night's discussions will center around tonight's win and that goal line stand!

One of the greatest goal line stands in NCAA history. So happy I got to witness that live and in person! Part of UNT lore from this day forward! Seeing it live and in person = greatness = priceless! This does not happen last year! Such a different attitude this year! So very happy for this team!

And to think that's the same offense that put up 31 on the Aggies. Rick

This is great! Longtime UNT fans who've suffered all these years, you deserve this

That was the greatest series I have witnessed... ever

I agree with you. They are top notch. Unlike other crews, these guys are excited about the game, know both teams, and say interesting things. Also, the big Greek guy is hilarious. He is my favorite part of the crew. ETA - I was watching the UH games while UNT was on commrical. You can really tell a difference. The ESPN crew calling the UH game sucked and could care less about the UH/USF game going on right in front of them.

So proud of our team. We were all screaming at the TV.