oldguystudent

I get it to a point, but then how many threads are on this board about people trying to bring friends from work with no association to UNT to games in hopes of turning them into fans? If those t-shirt alumni wore green, I doubt there'd be much of a problem. While I smirk at the near religious zealousness with which people follow the Longhorns, you've got to give their marketing department at least some credit for creating the brand that allows a $400 million annual budget.

I want to work for the companies that convince people that four years of potential with zero production and laurels of accomplishment in a completely different environment years ago is enough to keep a six-figure job. Todd Dodge must have one hell of a personality for the reaches that people go to to justify keeping him on year after year.

Crap. My math sucks today. Nevermind. Nothing to see here. Wait. No it doesn't. It's $408 per game, or $204 per seat per game for 5 years. From my starving student point of view, that seems prohibitively expensive. Maybe it won't if I ever become gainfully employed again.

I have never in my life given a fraction of a thought to homecoming kings, but I took the time to vote for him on this one.

Where's the link? I went to rivals and didn't see any mention.

Riley got hit hard tonight and the arm strength is clearly not there. But I'll admit this much. The sheen off the Southlake glamboy has worn off and I'm starting to see a little grit under the surface.

I was on campus working on a research project through the first half. I almost thought of sneaking into the student section all incognito-like. It's probably a good thing I decided against it.

One of my most traumatic childhood memories is that of watching the wooly manliness that was Doug Flutie's midriff scurrying around the Orange Bowl. Please do not bring a return of this jersey style and subject me to such things again.

Not at all football related, but since you mentioned it, I had to take a class at UCD and another at Wakeland High School in Frisco last spring. I was and am befuddled as to why I've signed up to go to school in Denton, but there are required classes that I'm forced to take in completely different locations. Then I get surveys from some university research team asking me why I don't feel connected to the Denton campus. The system-wide administration in this place is a true enigma to me.

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Mean Green Nation, The last time I attended a UNT football game, I made a drunken ass of myself. I drew the ire of donors and alumni alike, and I deserved it. Since then I've been listening and watching online away from the fray. UNT now finds itself in a crossroads, and this is where I find myself. I am a student in the #9 ranked program in the nation for graduate accounting in taxation, and they are trying to systematically kill me appropriately. I'm surviving with a good GPA, and I've got a couple really good interviews lined up. I've appreciated what the university has done for me. Really I want to support this university. Now I've got to be honest. I stay at home listening to and watching this football program and I say things that would certainly get me thrown out of Fouts. For this reason, and my complete embarrassment for my behavior the last time I attended a game, I cannot attend another game during the Dodge era. For this I somewhat apologize, but I feel the way I feel. That said, when I see the criticisms towards Rick, I cringe. I know Rick well, and he has done very well by this university. I will make no apologies for his hire in the football program, but nobody is more dedicated to its success that he is. I would cite this beautiful $68 million stadium that's starting to dominate the Denton skyline. When a change in coaching staff is made, I'd like to experience the gameday atmosphere at UNT again. If you'll have me, I'll be there. If not, I understand. Sincerely, Tony

I'm disgusted by this whole Dr. Bataille situation. Whether we agree or disagree on matters of the athletic department, I think we can all agree that she was a great president for this university. From where I sit, she was simply a square, progressive peg trying to fit into a round, good ole' boy network of regents. I make this promise. When I receive my diploma, I'm going to find her, and demand that she sign it.

I’m done with UNT athletics. Now I know some of you will jump right off the bat and say I don’t have any patience with the Dodge regime, or that there is a certain crevasse in which I should not let the proverbial door hit me. I cannot deny my disdain for this coaching administration. The last game I attended, I was a drunken asshole (too much to drink on an empty stomach), and openly mocked Todd Dodge from the stands. I accept full responsibility for my actions and admit freely that I was not only out of line, but lucky to avoid prosecution for public intoxication (I didn’t drive that day. I was given a ride and crashed on someone’s couch that night). The bottom line is that beer, Oldguystudent, and Todd Dodge don’t mix. There is certainly an amount of shame that prevents me from returning. Now let me get to other reasons why I’m done. First, no matter how much money I spend, whatever attire I’ve bought in attempt to show UNT spirit has either had the wrong logo or the wrong shade of green. This had been explicitly pointed out to me on every article I own. To this day, I have no idea what the correct logo/shade of green combination is. Next, I’m a student. Other than mandatory fees, I have yet to donate any money to the athletic department. Some have made clear to me that any opinions I may have are therefore null and void. Finally, in my admittedly very wrongful drunken rants from the stands, I was physically threatened by someone. It turned out to be a seven-figure donor. I essentially ejected myself from the stadium in favor of elevating the altercation. The issue was brought to my attention a couple days later. It had nothing to do with the fact that I was a disheveled drunk and shouldn’t have been in public. It was that I had offended a donor. The message I received was that I am not worthy of disagreeing with the major contributors to the program. I have come to the following conclusions. First, although I’m not an active donor, I am spending money to attend games, and I’m not having fun. Next, I find the culture of UNT to be one of “I’m a better fan than you.” Next, as a grad student, UNT will never be my school like it is your school. I have my undergrad allegiance, and it has been made very clear to me that this is a trivial matter of no importance, if not an attack on Mean Green Athletics. It is a new dawn on the Mean Green Nation tomorrow. Be it 28,000 or 30,000 seats, there needs to be a serious expansion of fan base to fill the new digs. If people come, curious about the program, I advise you celebrate their presence, even if they are wearing a USC jersey. Welcome the bewildered face to your tailgate. Ask the Texas douche what brings him to the game. Strike up friendly conversation. In conclusion, I really do wish the program the best. My advice to the Mean Green Nation is this: be a little more welcoming to newcomers to your program. They are the potential donors of the future. I do have to thank several members of the board for taking me in to their tailgating group and my boss who has been nothing but overly beneficial to me. My experiences have not been all bad. My own inappropriate behavior is a major contributing factor to my decision. I say this now from a distance, and I really do mean it, Go Mean Green!

No worries. It's just a case of a bare cupboard. My shelves seem to be devoid of kool-aid packets.

But we play on Saturday.

Just came in for my Monday night class, and there are green shirts everywhere. So, either the game was exciting enough to bring in some new fans without alienating the older students, or it's laundry with nothing else to wear day. I'm voting for C, all of the above.

Bad link.

You beat me to it. I was going to use that exact same quote. The argument I always hear in the pros that I like is that it's your JOB to score touchdowns. If you don't, then you've FAILED at your job. If you do, then you've merely earned your paycheck. Get up, walk to the sideline, and let the field goal unit do their JOB in getting the extra point. I wonder how we would all do at work if we flexed our muscles every time we succeeded in performing one of our basic job responsibilities. Grrr!! Yeah, baby! I'm Mr. Red Tie in a Blue Suit Man, and you're gonna' see me here all day! Now THAT'S how you format a TPS report! RowwrR!! Or how bout those of us in the classroom? How's about I hold up my scantron with the big, bad A on it, do a little jig on the front table, and flex my muscles at the poor saps who came out with low Cs? Leave the gesticulating to the fans. That's OUR job! Edit: One of the reasons I hated the New York Yankees teams of the 90s with such a passion is that they never taunted. They quietly went about their business as if it were their birthright to win the world series every year. Man, that used to piss me off. It wasn't taunting, arm flexing or dancing. It was "swagger." In my opinion, it has a much greater adverse effect on opponents.

C'mon dude. That was freaking Metzler's! Five bucks would be selling that stuff at a loss. I know I haven't been around all that long, but how long has that five dollar price been around? I wouldn't want to cater that joint if I knew that every sale was going to cost me money! The price of beer, on the other hand, per ounce, actually stayed the same, and they brought Shiner into the mix at domestic prices. Yay them!

Thing is, as I understand it, is that apparel agreements between someone such as UA and the athletic program are in no way related to apparel agreements between the bookstore and whoever supplies them. It's a fairly recent thing that professional sports have figured out the whole "official outfitters of your Anycity Anyteam!" marketing ploy. A handful of BCS schools have figured it out, but most college programs haven't caught up yet. I'm sure UA would do well to move its stuff into the book store, but that would probably violate some no compete clause in the existing contract the book store has with whoever makes the stuff that's in there now.

If foul language is the concern that we take away from this game, then I'm cool with that.

Great to meet Johndenver and Longjim. The tailgating was fairly sparse, but of the usual great quality. I'll see all of you in two weeks! Next up on the menu is Korean short ribs.

Tobe, I have still never seen a UNT win, but I believe I will see several this year. Keep the faith and keep tweeting my good man! Tony

I've still never seen a *&(*&ing UNT win. I seriously thought tonight was going to be the night up through the last play. I'm pretty GD frustrated right now, but if Tobe's reading this, I want him to know that he needs to keep up the tweets and I believe I will see my first ever win sometime this year.

Ouch! Mitch, I only laugh because I know you're one of the most beloved quarterbacks in UNT history, but everybody has those days!