gangrene

February 9, 2008 is a loooong time away. I still have this sneaky feeling that one of three things will happen: 1. Riley will give more thought to riding the pine at UT vs. starting at QB for UNT, decommit from Texas and commit to UNT. 2. UT will have second thoughts about Riley's value as an "athlete" and, having interest in more recruits than they have available scholarships, will withdraw Riley's offer so they can fulfill a real need. (I don't think Mack would really do this, but it is a possiblity nonetheless.) 3. Riley will spend one or two years at UT, grow tired of playing scout team waterboy, and transfer to UNT.

I hope Mattress Mac isn't reading this.

What is that...some sort of German transportation?? I'm glad I read this thread because I would have only given myself a 30-minute cushion to find parking and get seated.

I agree. Good post! I'll take full responsibility for the actions of those I bring to the games and not having the foresight to get them sufficiently inebriated prior to kick-off!

I hear ya...one of my non-UNT friends made fun of the eagle cry and our announcer saying, "Caught....by the MIIIGGGHHHTY Johnny Quinn." And my mother hates the "Firrrrrrrrst Down!" To be fair, that non-UNT friend does cheer for the Mean Green (so he's certainly not a UNT hater) and he also makes fun of the Penn State lion roar.

Ditto!

Why give SMU the satisfaction of thinking we feel they are our biggest game of the season?? I refuse to contribute to their arrogance. I'll be at the SMU game but I'm really looking forward to the OU and Arkansas games more because of the awesome atmosphere in which those games will be played. The Navy game should also have a great atmosphere and it's a bonus because it's a home game. SMU should be nothing more than our second consecutive victory against a sub-par, mid-major CUSA program. In fact, I don't really know why we're playing them, it's a lose-lose situation for us...if we beat them, we're just doing what's expected of us and if we lose to them, we're losing to one of the worst teams in DI-A football!

Ok, I was going to post a response to the commuter vs. residential stats but I decided why bother? The stats don't really make any sense and I'm sure everyone agrees. However, I think the bigger question is how does being labeled a commuter school affect UNT? Whether or not we are still a commuter school, that perception and label is still firmly attached to North Texas. If we are a commuter school, what are the implications on our football program? The theory is that our student attendance is substantially less than it would be if we had more students living on campus. So, according to that theory, we'll never be able to increase our student attendance without additional campus housing and attracting more students that want to live on campus. I just don't buy that. Maybe that would happen if we increased campus housing AND moved the entire university to some isolated location like Lufkin or San Angelo. In that scenario, our student body would be too far to go home for the weekend, too far from the entertainment options of a large city and thus, stuck with nothing to do except attend the football game on Saturday. Our student enrollment is a direct reflection of the university's location. If we were located in some remote town, our enrollment would be no where close to what it is today. Many of our students attend UNT because they don't want to stray too far from home or are simply unable to do so because of employment commitments. I've heard stupid comments like "UNT students are just too scared to move too far from Mom and Dad" and "UNT is like high school because most students still live at home" etc, etc. Every student has his/her own reasons for attending UNT, but the close proximity to DFW is a factor for almost everyone. If UNT was not so close to DFW, our enrollment would likely be comparable to Texas State or SFA, regardless of our on campus housing capacity. Our student attendance at football games is poor simply because the DFW metroplex has so many entertainment options and becaue the product and (Fouts Field) competition have not been stellar. But our predicament is not so dissimilar from UT. There are many, many things to do in and around the Austin/San Antonio/San Marcos area, especially in September when it's still warm. UT sells out football games every year because UT football is THE thing to do on Saturdays. Alumni and casual fans routinely drive from Houston, Dallas and San Antonio to attend UT football games. Fans are willing to drive the distance because the product is top-notch. UNT will never duplicate the supply and demand that exists at UT, but we don't have to do that. We're not located 2 1/2 hours from DFW and we don't have 80K+ seats to sell. We need to give UNT alumni and casual fans a reason to spend their Saturdays in Denton. A 45 to 60-minute drive should not be a factor, but we have to give people a good reason to invest their time and make that drive if we expect to sell out a 30-40K stadium on a consistent basis. It all starts with the product and everything else must be built around that. If we have a winning football program (and against quality opponents in Denton), the rest of the cards should fall into place. A new stadium and marketing program to create ticket demand are both essential ingredients to getting our football program where we all want it to be. If we continue to create a fun and exciting environment for students and alumni, coupled with on-field success, this program will soar to new heights. Still, I think it's silly to think we'll ever be invited to join the Big XII in the next 20 years, certainly not a direct leap from the SBC.

If it's all the same, I'd prefer we distance ourselves from all things relating to Rutgers at the moment.

Apologies if this has already been posted (I've been away from GMG for a few weeks now). http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...ef.39c0f33.html Minnesota coach's son commits to Longhorns 01:27 AM CDT on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 By TODD WILLS / The Dallas Morning News Denver Mullen strong safety Nolan Brewster said he has orally committed to Texas. Brewster has ties to the Texas program. His father, Tim Brewster, is a former UT assistant under Mack Brown who was named the head coach at Minnesota in mid-January.

Wow, that's not encouraging...we have to get every break just to struggle??

My point is (dumbass) that UNT is missing out hundreds of thousands of corporate dollars that are just there for the taking. If UNT isn't actively selling sponsorships then how in the hell can we expect anyone to sponsor anything?? Is that clear enough for you??

I just wanted to post a quick update on recruiting since current Juniors are giving the verbals by the droves. According to DCTF, TAMU leads the 2008 football recruiting class with 19 verbals from Texas athletes. Texas is second with 15, followed by OSU (5), OU (3), Baylor (2) and Texas Tech and UTEP, each with one commitment. Eight of the DMN 2008 Area Top 50 have already verbally committed: Here are a few more players of key schools (aka pipelines) with TD "connections" or team mates of '07 UNT class, whom have already committed: Luke Poehlmann 6-6, 290 N/A OL Brenham - COMMITTED to UT Ryan Roberson 6-0, 210 N/A RB/LB Brenham - COMMITTED to UT Kyle Mangan 6-2, 225 N/A LB Brenham - COMMITTED to UT Dravannti Johnson 6-2, 205 4.8 LB Nederland - COMMITTED to UT Josh Ayers 6-5, 260 5.0 TE/OL Euless Trinity - COMMITTED to TAMU Justin Tucker 6-1, 172 4.65 K Austin Westlake - COMMITTED to UT I know it's the new trend, but I can't believe how many kids are committing this early. Still, I don't think it's any reason to panic. We still have plenty of time to change the mind of any recruit we target, and that will be possible with a lot of success and excitement in the 2007 season. To put an even more positive spin on this, UT and TAMU may soon complete their '08 class, which will translate to less competition for those recruits who are still undecided.

Excellent!!

I'll fill out two brackets (both at a cost) and I just can't bring myself to pick UNT in either bracket, especially since it's projected we'll face a one or two seed.

Then what's the excuse for the low blows by TAMU on Texas Ags?? They are having a stellar season and might even face us in the first round. While there are a few good comments, several had to resort to the same tired, old insults.

Since we're talking about what other area schools think about our invitation to the Big Dance, lots of kind words are being written in the Killer Frogs forum.

The latest NCAA power rankings were just released on USA Today. Of interest: 131 Niagara 132 South Alabama 133 Central Conn. 135 Oral Roberts 136 TAMU CC 144 Ohio (MAC #5 seed) 145 Weber St 149 Louisiana Monroe 151 Sam Houston State 152 Boise St (6th seed in WAC) 153 Delaware St (MEAC #1 seed) 155 Western Kentucky 159 Florida Atlantic 160 Western Michigan (MAC #6 seed) 161 Eastern Kentucky 177 Belmont 187 Sacred Heart 189 North Texas 200 Northern Arizona 208 Central Michigan (MAC #7 seed) 232 Florida A&M (MEAC #2 seed) 233 UTA 252 Mississippi Valley State (SWAC #1 seed) 241 UC Irvine (5th seed in Big West) 257 Idaho (9th seed in WAC) 259 CSU Northridge (6th seed in Big West) 295 South Carolina State (MEAC #4 seed) 304 North Carolina A&T (MEAC #3) I'm going to go ahead and make the call right now...I'm predicting a SWAC vs MEAC play-in game on Tuesday.

Ok, I feel like I'm going crazy here ...everyone else on this thread saw that ULL was posted as a home game when I started this thread, right??? Me thinks someone is playing games with us!!!

Here's who I'm rooting for: MEAC - Coppin State (#8 seed, 12-19) and Hampton (#7 seed, 15-15) - both of these teams have a recent history of faring well in tournament play, so maybe one of them can win their conference tourney. I think our record easily gives us a higher NCAA seed than either of these two. Southland - UTA (#5 seed, 13-16) Ok, the real reason I'm pulling for UTA is because I have several friends who are alumni...but also because it seems we are in strong comptetition with the Southland Conference for that third 16 seed. We should get the nod over ANY Southland team this year, but I think if any team besides TAMU-CC or SHSU wins the tourney, it's not even a question. SWAC - almost the same scenario as the Southland. Most are projecting the SWAC #1 seed, Miss. Valley State, to be in the play-in game already...anyone else wins that tourney and they can definitely expect to play on Tuesday. I think we have a fair shot to jump seeds of either Eastern Kentucky, the Ohio Valley champ, Central Conn/Sacred Heart, Northeast Conference semifinalists, or Northern Arizona/Weber State, Big Sky semifinalists and a slight chance at jumping Belmont, Atlantic Sun champs, who lost to SBC conference-mate, MTSU. We'd also have a slight chance to be seeded higher if a BIG surprise winner emerges from the Big West, Mid-American or Western Athlethic confernces.

Boy, I'm amazed at the confusion on this. As already stated, the NCAA field is 65 teams now. All 65 teams either win their tournament to receive an automatic bid or they receive an at-large bid from the selection committee this Sunday. Since at-large bid teams will be ranked much higher than most champions of the smaller conference automatice bids, it's highly doubtful an at-large bid will be in the play-in game. The play-in game will feature two teams that both worked just as hard as UNT to win their conference tournament and will have to play their hearts out just for the opportunity to get to play a #1 seed. Is it fair? No, not really but that's all we have to work with right now. The NCAA had to make a decision a few years ago to allow one additional team/conference, eliminate an at-large bid or completely rearrange the whole bracket formula. Their simple solution was to create the play-in game. I hope we're not in that game but, if we are, I'll be happy just the same...at least we'll have a very good chance of being 1-0 in NCAA tournament play.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I've worked in the DFW advertising and marketing industry for the last 15 years. During those 15 years I've been a part of the American Airlines Center name entitlement deal and I've worked with my clients to secure sponsorship agreements with UT, LSU, OkSU, Southern Miss, Carolina Panthers, several concert venues, etc. I've been pitched name entitlement proposals for what is now Pizza Hut Park, Smirnoff Music Center and advertising proposals for the Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, NO Saints, KC Chiefs and Royals, Frisco Rouhgriders and Round Rock Express (I'm sure there are others I'm not recalling, but you get the idea). In addition, I've reviewed many, many college proposals that haven't been efficient, such as Texas A&M, OU, Arkansas, Memphis, Tulane, SMU and Tulsa. But not ONCE...in 15 years....have I EVER received a proposal for any level of a sponsorship from the University of North Texas or even the Mean Green Radio Network.

Awesome!! Way to go team!!!

Without looking...Monmouth won last year's play-in game in very exciting fashion with lots of three pointers. Aside from that, what I remember most was that the records of the two play-in teams were much less than stellar. They played Winthrop or Hampton...can't remember but I do recall they had a sub-500 or .500 record. That's why I have faith that our 23-10 record (if we win tonight) earns us a better opportunity than the play-in game. Now, I can recall Monmouth was in the play-in game but I can't remember any of the four 16 seeds that lost to the ones. Still, you can't discount the media exposure we'd receive simply because YOU didn't watch it. Aside from those we're actively recruiting, how many area basketball recruits saw a UNT basketball game this year?? How many from outside the area?? Well, every one of them will now have the opportunity to see a game and decide whether our style of play suits his skill set. If we gain interest from just ONE recruit who otherwise had not considered UNT, that's a HUGE accomplishment. And...here's a different perspective than ESPN. He may be predicting ASU to win tonight, but he's not predicting the SBC winner to be in the play-in game (of course that could change if we win): Projecting the Seeds 15: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Niagara, Belmont, Eastern Kentucky 16: Arkansas State, Weber State, Delaware State Play-in: Central Connecticut State vs. Mississippi Valley State

Well, until the selection committee reveals their seeds, I'll hold out hope that we won't be in the play-in game...it's such a kick in the nuts to have to play another game just for the right to get pummeled by a #1 seed. That being said, we would still have a LOT to gain from appearing in the play-in game with the national attention we would garner from being the first and only NCAA tourney game on at the time. First things first though, we have to win tonight before any of these scenarios can be realized.