oldguystudent

Well that's a significant change then, isn't it?

What do you expect? We were the worst team in the country last year. They don't research G5 teams, so we're still the worst team in the country until we prove otherwise with a win.

Huh. Maybe I'll come check that out next game I'm at. (Missing this week)

My best experiences in the Alumni Pavillion have always been on not game days. I've gone there a couple times to watch streams of away games, and they did some kind of Octoberfest thing there a couple years. The game day thing, I can see going there every once in a while, but a two hours before kickoff opening is a little odd, and I just always struggle to pay (last I remember) four bucks a beer when it's free flowing throughout the tailgate environment, be it stuff I brought or stuff I steal from @THOR. I've commented before that it would be considerably more attractive if they had maybe some less common craft beers or something. But honestly, I don't know who runs the beer sales or what the limitations/possibilities are on that. I've always liked the food offerings there, and have always found myself engaged in some pleasant conversation when I do make the trek up. Overall, I should consider re-joining one of these days. The one year I did join, I recall that there were some pretty cool events to attend. (The above is not permission for email/PM inundations of membership solicitation. If I find it a priority in my life, I'll get there)

The police thing -- I guess that's the price of having beer sales, although Fouts didn't do anything like that, and honestly, Fouts seemed to me like it was a much, much more inebriated environment. Nonetheless, I found it oddly threatening and Stephen Colbertesque wagging of the finger. Car Emblems? They had car emblems? How did I miss that? The PA sounded awful. Further, this is season SIX in Apogee, and I don't think I heard a ref announce a call one time. SIX YEARS! Can we please get a working mic on those refs? Finally, the survey asked about CSC employees. On this, I wish the survey had a N/A option available because I didn't encounter any this game. I could only comment on past experience. So I'm curious. Do we have kinder, gentler yellowjackets this year or should I get my jackboot bulk order for their Christmas bonuses in the works?

They fixed it.

National championship or GTFO.

When I still had a student ID, they did just scan at the door. When Apogee opened and Mac came in, they thought it would be a good idea to make students get physical tickets in the student union because it would be something they held in their hand, and be some sort of subconscious commitment to attend the game. It's 2016. At this point, they should just instagram their phones with a selfie at the gate or something. I doubt kids see physical tickets at any more of a commitment than a PDF on their phone.

We are 5-20 since the HOD Bowl. Which is still inexplicably 43% better than the Dodge era. We've got quite a ways to go before we are attractive to anybody. On the bright side, I think Wren Baker, backed by Smatresk will be considerably more aggressive should any opportunity arise. CUSA very quickly went from exciting to "Oh no! We suck again!" And I don't think that was UNT's fault. I think it was Britton Banowsky who had the backbone of a jellyfish.

Too soon?

Well, you know what they say about a catcher and the height of his pitcher...

This year's team beats last year's team at least 66-7. One wanted to quit, the other never gave up.

From my view it looked like he was gonna die right there on the field, and we thought we saw his leg bent all kinds of wrong. We were surprised to see him walk off the field. What happened, and did he get back in the game? Do they have bench refs in case one goes down like that?

That shouldn't have made me laugh, but that made me laugh.

Can't embed ESPN video, but go to the thirty-six second mark.

Man, he looks beat down already. Hope it gets better. Meanwhile, I'm not gonna forget this anytime soon.

I was afraid of this after suffering through it countless times with Dodge. I don't understand the stalwart refusal to have a small set of short yardage plays that don't give the defense a five yard head start.

Au contraire mon ami. There's a functioning soda machine on the patio behind club section 1.

Defense -- if 2013 Defense was a 10, and Dodge defense was a negative 11, this defense was a 4. We gave up big plays (3rd and forty-f'ing-five. Dammit! I got some dirty looks for the words that came out of my mouth on that play). We don't seem to have a secondary, and the front line can't tackle. I think this part of the game is just lack of horses. I do think that unlike the Sultan of Southlake that Littrell does care about defense. We just don't have the manpower yet. Offense -- There were several times throughout the game, particularly the first touchdown, where I found myself asking, "What the hell kind of route did that guy run to get THAT open?" Small passes turned into first downs. No running game, which I find weird because RB is one of the few spots we've got the players. I also have always hated that the spread effectively gives the defense a five-yard head start on running plays. Long passes, fuggedaboutit. Not gonna happen. Fine impressed me. 18-year-old kid out there wasn't scared of a damn thing. Coaching -- Execution was poor, but outside that pass on 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1 whatever it was, I didn't feel like Littrell was pissing the game away, and I liked that he didn't give up in the fourth with the (again, poorly executed) onside kick. Litrrell isn't a high school coach. He's not in over his head. I'll give him a pass on this year and see how recruiting goes. Attendance -- meangreensports says 24,718. Not bad, considering the thousands who've been driven away in past years. Can we maintain and build? Overall environment -- I had a brief chat with Ernie yesterday. The things he had to say surprised me a great deal. Suffice it to say, voices have been heard and acknowledged. No more complacency and ineptitude as the gold standard of the department. Beer -- Prices didn't go up. But I thought we were going to have a better variety this year. Still Metzler's, same offerings. Club level -- Coffee! They put coffee in the club! Finally! Now maybe I won't die in November! Nice touch, club dudes! The usual first game giant leg o' beef and some unrecognizable chicken slop. They haven't sent out the season menu since 2014 to my knowledge, so who knows how that's gonna go. Parking -- It's never taken me so long to get into the parking lot. Maybe that's a good thing. See attendance above. Overall -- I hate losing, and that seems to be all I've ever known with UNT. I especially hate losing to SMU. But something just felt -- different. Better. I walked away last night feeling optimistic.

Things are gonna get better, but I don't expect much in the way of wins this year. I do expect things to get more expensive, starting next year. Be ready for that.

I like it. I've always got a soft spot in my heart for UTEP thanks to all the time I used to spend out there for work. I know their fans get a little nutty at the games (Read: Physically violent), but the city was always so friendly and welcoming, and they do so love their Miners there.

It's been a rough week. Serious friction at work. My daughter fell ill yesterday. Like ER level ill. One of my high school classmates died yesterday. I gotta be honest. Gonna be hard for me to be fired up. But dammit, I'm gonna be there supporting my Mean Green. I need the diversion right now like never before. Win or lose. It's gonna be really good to see everyone.

Fortunately there was a cream for that. Cleared it right up. Kinda embarrassing getting the prescription filled though.