Eagle-96

Then next up is:

That is something that affects not only athletes but the general student population as well. Might be able to pull money from general funds to fix that. But you're right. We're talking about peoples health and well being.

That's the scenario that makes me the most depressed. Just imaging UNT in the Big12 now and going to games at a 50-60 thousand seat stadium. It's maddening but enduring the past 23 seasons of losing will make the consistent winning that much sweeter.

Ok, so the report is out. We've had time to look at it and it is bad. REAL BAD. The question is. What is the most pressing need at this point. Where should Wren start. My opinion is that we need to start with taking care of the athletes we have currently. The issue with athletes not having their own lockers? Having to pay for their own uniform? That's shameful and needs to be addressed like yesterday. I think Wren needs to do two things. He needs to put the new ADA for External Affairs to work raising the funds needed for the indoor practice facility because that will take time and is down the road so get him on it and get the funds needed. The funds can be raised and used to add the project on to the new track facility. Let's just build them in one fell swoop. The track facility is scheduled to begin construction next year. Just do it all at once. But the most pressing need is that we need to take care of the current athletes and make sure EVERYONE has at least the basics they need to compete(uniforms, lockers, supplements, weights, access to trainers, access to strength staff) That is the part of the report that got my blood boiling. We don't even have the bare bones minimums for some athletes. RV and the old staff are pathetic for allowing this to happen. It's shameful and sad.

I thought the report stated that these schools wanted to come to Denton. I think his fear was that there would be too many fans from the opposition. God forbid we have a fun festive game atmosphere and make more money in ticket sales, parking, concessions, etc... SMDH

I agree that we could probably be competitive in baseball in relatively short order but it is evident that we have A LOT of money that needs to be dedicated elsewhere first. Wren is drinking from a fire-hose right now There is no doubt that there is PLENTY of blame to go around but the lions share of blame lies squarely at the feet of RV(and his staff). I guess I am still in shock that it is THIS bad.

People(many of them on this board) have screamed about the incompetence of the AD until they were blue in the face. It had always fallen on deaf ears until Smatresk came along. The problem is that the old regime in the positions of power at this university simply DIDN'T CARE. Athletics were an afterthought and a somewhat necessary evil. RV was able to let this ship almost sink because he did ONE thing, and that was staying in budget. THAT is the only thing the old guard cared about. STAY IN BUDGET AT ALL COST. RV parlayed that into 15 sweet years of coasting and cashing paychecks. It is evident that he did not care to do even a competent average job because his bosses didn't require him to. As long as RV stayed in budget then they didn't bother to peek behind the curtain to see the shambles(literally) that this department was in. Hiring Smatresk was the catalyst to this renaissance we are seeing now. He gets it and is starting to put the right people in place to right this ship. Now you no why so many on here are so jaded(CougarQueen - jaded means tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically after having had too much of something).

Wow transparency is an amazing(and new) thing around here. To actually ask for our input. Publish the survey. AND draw up a battle plan to address concerns. I have had to pinch myself a few times since Smatty, Seth, and The Wren have been here(that would make a great buddy cop movie BTW) at the changes that are being implemented.

I know you have taken heat in the past for being a part of the AD(in what capacity I cannot recall) but I would appreciate any insight you have to your take on the report and what you saw in your time there. Not trolling BTW. Serious question.

1. My issue is not with the money we are paying RV for the contract it is in how the "mutual decision" was portrayed. UNT fired him and should have said so. The announcement last spring made it seem like good 'ol RV is gonna ride into the sunset as a hero. This report reinforces the fact that RV got sacked because he did a monumentally awful job and we are in the hole described in the report because of his actions, or rather inaction. 2. The big donor's personal relationships are part of the problem and why RV was allowed to stick around for so long.

This report can also put to bed the notion that RV left of his own volition(CougarQueen, that word means the act of willing, choosing, or resolving; exercise of willing). The admin can call it whatever it wants but you don't pay people to "retire" he was $hit-canned and for some strange reason the Board decided to throw RV a bone and make it seem like it was a mutual decision.

The report is kinda like going to the doctor and the doctor tells you that if you don't start exercising, eating better, and quit smoking you are going to have a heart attack and die. You've thought about your mortality before. Hell, you might have even talked about it with your spouse or friends. But when your doctor has that "come to Jesus" discussion with you it hits home and the reality sinks in. Change everything about what you do or simply fade away. You feel terrible at the state your life is in. People never want to hear that kind of admonishment but it can also save your life and take you to new heights you thought were impossible and not achievable. This report is the doctor having that meeting with us. We all thought it was bad but few really ever believed it was THIS BAD. This was the best $20K ever spent by this university. However, the doctor can tell us all day every day about the sorry state of our program but if we don't act upon it we are doomed. We CANNOT let this report gather dust in some backroom file cabinet like the Stallings report. Quite frankly it feels like we have already had the heart attack and are on life support. There are signs of life though: 1. Re-furbishing the football locker room. 2. Re-furbishing the football team meeting room 3. Re-furbishing the coaches offices 4. Hiring a real AD and additional key staff to right this ship.

Great comeback last week that showed a lot of grit and heart but MUTS is a different animal. We simply cannot afford another slow start against an offense like theirs. The good news is that their defense is not great so we could be in for a shootout. I just don't think we will have enough this week though. MUTS 37 UNT 27

eff that. someone MUST pay!

We are 15.5 point dogs to MTSU at home.

The Rice win was the perfect scenario for the team. It makes it easier for Littrell to give halftime speeches to the team now because the team will believe that they are never out of a game. They now have faith in the game-plan and each other that ANYTHING is possible. Last years team would have mailed it in and lost by 40. I keep hearing the team repeat Littrell's mantras about accountability, preparation in practice translating to game day, and getting one week better. They seem to be buying into the system and that makes me excited about the diredtion of the program. This season is starting to look like 2000. Scott Hall was a lightly recruited QB that didn't have measurables that fit the QB mold. Most schools wanted him as a DB. UNT gave him a chance at QB and he entered the year as a back-up. He got his first start against a D1AA(Samford) and won going away as Fine did against BC. We didn't win much that season but Hall got the much needed experience that started our bowl run the next season. This is where I think this season will pay dividends even if we don't win another game. Fine will get the experience he needs at QB and we can go into next season with an experienced FBS QB at the helm. I also think Cade will give him some competition to boot.

Ban me if you must but. GO EFF YOURSELF COUGAR QUEEN!!!!!!

They DID NOT QUIT. So effing proud of this team. We have already achieved kaizen.

I believe that editors usually choose the article title after it is submitted. Can someone confirm.

He was 8 for 11 against SMU and 11 for 22 against BC. He's done it twice but way to ignore facts. We get it, you're a contrarian.

Pony player with a WAAAAAAAY late hit out of bounds then our players stomped a mudhole in 'em. That's what they get.

win win win win win and the other issue will take care of itself.

Del Rio's surgery to repair the damage didn't go exactly as planned. Trick plays will undoubtedly be interesting in the future.