NM Green

yeah met this cool guy who was a UTEP grad and monster Miner bball fan. he followed the miners but was a huge ND fan and every saturday him, the kid and the family get up and dawn their Irish gear. He asked me what other team I root for and I said, uhhhh I don't, not on game day - he couldn't believe my Mean Green fandom. I wear other University gear to work out but not on game day and dressing up the team in another teams gear every Saturday is kind of creepy to be honest. was an interesting conversation. GMG

It does not make sense for us. If we were sitting here dominating the Belt and missing BCS bowls because a lack of schedule strength, sure. However, it makes a lot more sense for TCU to go Indy than for us to. Been wondering if the Frogs are entertaining this because their conference is about to blow. Boise nice program but everyone else is rough - Lose Utah and BYU and pick up Boise = dropoff. On a seperate note Jones has to be considering going back to Hawaii to take them the route of independance. It was always his dream and now it makes pure sense. Hawaii indy with the rest of their games in the Big West. GMG

Houston will not join the MWC without BYU. TCU has to be looking for the exit. TCU may very well go back to CUSA. I would enjoy a home in the MWC playing the Nevada schools, the Colorado schools, SDSU, WY, NM and Fresno. Maybe we can join with La Tech to create an Eastern swing. GMG

I know people have been down on BYU for their selfish interests but the Cougars had to do something. I was in Salt Lake earlier this summer and Utah's move to the Pac 10 was seismic! I mean there is no way BYU can sit there and not do something. They are the most popular program in the state with a national following and their annoying little brother just got invited to the coolest party. Their fanbase was insensed and they knew they couldn't stay pat. There is no way BYU will survive with UNM and UNLV rolling into Provo and USC and Oregon playing up the street. So I applaud them for saying to their fanbase they understand and are going to make efforts to ensure they stay on par with the big boys. While we would enjoy a conference with some of those MWC powers do you think BYU has an interest (TCU for that matter) of playing in Reno and Fresno? The MWC is not so scarey anymore even with Boise. Further what if Boise comes in and starts dominating BYU - can't happen to the Cougs. They let the Utes too close and they stole their glory at the right time. Not that BYU would have ever been invited to the Pac 10 but BYU has a lot of cards they hold. They will run their show much like Texas does in whatever league they claim to be a part of. So BYU being a big fish in a smaller pond like the WAC is not too far of a stretch. Further if you move BYU to WAC I am confident you would have Hawaii stay, could lure UNM for basketball and ABQ market, could probably lure UTEP back and could grab the DFW presence with UNT. Now all of a sudden you have: SJSU Idaho Hawaii BYU UNM UNT La Tech NMSU UTEP Natural rivals and a recognizable 9 team league with a good basketball tradition and solid football presence - that presence BYU in the drivers seat leading the national charge competing for BCS bids and everybody else trying to knock them off just like the good ole days. The challenge is that we could see the Southwest Conference re-emerge in a couple of years that could look like this: Texas Texas A&M BYU TCU Oklahoma Oklahoma State Texas Tech Houston #9? (UNM, Kansas, UNT, Memphis) GMG GMG

I would. If they don't want it they don't have to accept, kind of like us and the WAC. Two known programs with easy travel options - absolutely! GMG

This is a very cool logo. Also makes you realize how young our league is and yet how many strides we have made. Some don't see any but I see plenty. FAU, Troy and UNT have all had moments in the sun. MTSU has had some strong wins and who can forget Arkie States close game at Iowa last year. ULL's win over KSU, which we WILL replicate in Denton in November and Troy's big win over OSU. Got to give our baby conference some props when they are due. I like the idea of bringing in the WAC leftovers to form 2 divisions. Hawaii has been to BCS, Idaho was a bowl team last year, SJSU has been a bowl team recently and NMSU is a natural rival. Bring on the Big Belt! GMG

Are we a stretch for the Big East? You would think TCU would be a natural fit but if they are married to the MWC certainly we could compete offering our lucrative position to UCONN, Cincinnati, Rutgers...I too think FAU presents an attractive expansion for CUSA. If CUSA goes with the Owls and the Frogs stay with the Mountain then we should utilize our attractive offerings to get into a stronger league. If TCU decides to fly East to the BE then we need to be ready to present ourselves to the MWC. I strongly believe we are a stronger more attractive option than SMU for DFW. There will be opportunities for us. Meanwhile Beat the Belt!!!!!

that is gruesome. Keep football GREEN! GMG

Rick, Godspeed to your Mom, and my prayers are with you and your family for a peaceful healing. Know that she walks with you always. God bless, BMV

It sure was nice to be 1-0 last season beyond Labor Day! GMG

Pac 10 - Cal and ASU - all that yellow in the AZ desert at night was cool back in the Jake the Snake days MWC - BYU WAC - Hawaii Big 12 - Oklahoma, K State, Tech's black CUSA - UTEP SBC - UNT, Middle Big 10 - Michigan Big East - WV ACC - Miami, FSU, MAC - Akron SEC - LSU, Arkansas

The dreaded fall wedding! blasphemy!

A retro game would be fun! It would also be a marketing opportunity because who wouldn't for just one game want to dawn that hideous shade of green and buy a souvenier T or cap! Market the heck out of it in advance and treat it like the Mavs do when they first started wearing their green and blue again. In fact, every year we could have a Retro game and if possible bring in an opponent who we played during that era - such as Florida State or Mississippi State or an old Southland foe like Sam Houston or Texas State. GMG

Now that is some tradition! Actually kind of fun taking a journey over the past few years. GMG

The plates of the West are shifting and it was kind of interesting to hear the reaction of Ute and Cougar fans over the weekend. I visited both campuses and listened to Utah sports radio and the Ute move to the Pac 10 is causing some concerns. BYU is actively looking to upgrade its position by making itself attractive to the Big 10 (Big XII). Some people don't think Utah's move to the Pac 10 will much affect because BYU will always be BYU, packing 62,000 in every weekend, winning 10 games and making themselves relevant on the national stage. Others say over time Utah will surpass the beast of the state even though BYU has a bigger fanbase, better facilities and more long-term tradition. Utah has basically rolled down the window and waved buh bye while speeding away with laughter. Commercials even say "See ya Sam Boyd (UNLV) hello Rose Bowl!" Some Cougar fans are furious because they are and have been the pre-eminent power in the state. But talk about seizing opportunities - Utah did just that over the past 6 years. It will be interesting to watch these 2 programs separated by 45 minutes change over the next 5 years - Utah playing a Pac 10 schedule and as radio hosts say - BYU lining up against Wyoming, New Mexico and UNLV. They conveniently leave off BSU and TCU but it just seems the MWC has lost all luster in Salt Lake now that USC, Oregon, Arizona State and Washington will be rolling into town. The MWC can always pluck from the WAC but overnight the MWC has become noticeably "weaker" in the eyes of the powers of that conference. On a sidenote I liked the Utah campus a lot! SLC proper was actually pretty cool. The visit to BYU was kind of weird. You can feel the difference in the people around the campus. I haven't roamed around Baylor much but maybe it feels the same. Also strange to be around a campus and not see bars or college restaurant/bars dotting the streets leading into and out of the campus. I went to buy a pilsner souvenir glass but realized I wasn't going to find that in their bookstore. GMG

The difference with the WAC now is that the Texas schools will be out West for the Pac 10, so we are more likely to get coverage by going West this time. We were on a island out there last time. TCU's coverage should pick up too with the big boys headed to the left coast. GMG

I say A&M should say goodbye to the Texas schools. Filling your schedule with LSU, Bama, Florida, TN and Ark would be downright tasty. Texas A&M actually has some power here and could find themselves out of the shadows of OK and TX with this move. Gig'em!

It's weird that I feel like the WAC may be the way to go because I have always been a Sun Belt fan, but the lack of Sun Belt prominence and growth is making me change my tune. Also did you know that the WAC is moving it's basketball tournament to Las Vegas beginning next year I believe. That is an easy destination to get in and out of. El Paso (NMSU) is easy to get in and out of. La Tech would be an easy drive. Hawaii would be a vacation every other year. Reno not too hard to get in and out of. Fresno and Idaho the only tough destinations to get to and though the power rankings may not be significant with a Boiseless WAC, the perception is HUGE. If offered again I would think we would have to consider it in full. GMG

with how slow the bowls and ncaa roll that seems like 80 years in the future! GMG

BYU is not your typical small private school. They bring in 60K in football and fill arenas and bowl game stadiums wherever they go. They almost double the following of Baylor and travel en mass even at away games during a regular season. If they were in the Big 12 it would go something like this: Texas OU Nebraska Texas A&M BYU K State OSU Texas Tech Missouri Kansas Baylor Iowa State I also think UNT needs to begin formulating a multitude of plans, 1 expanding the SBC another a trip into CUSA, another a trip into MWC. If BSU leaves for the MWC does La Tech begin to toy with the SBC? If the MWC gets gutted does a UNM become and or NMSU become available. What if UNM, UTEP, La Tech and NMSU be lured to an SBC West. I think UTEP to MWC and NT into CUSA would be ideal. If TCU leaves why not make a ploy to continue to MWC footprint in the Metro by adding NT? Hey you have to believe it before you can be it. You also need to be prepared for anything. GMG

How about a Pit Alumni row? Keep the energy folks! GMG

I think Baylor is incredibly talented. I think UNLV felt lucky to UNI. Kansas had to feel a bit lucky getting UNI and not UNLV and the rest is history! I do think UNT has run into beasts in the tourney in the last 2 visits. BYU is a solid team great team when they click! Today KSU took them to the woodshed and that was a top 20 team! GMG

I'm very encouraged about the future. K-State was a beast that dismantled UNLV this year in Las Vegas worse than what I saw them do to us today. They are a top 10 team for a reason. This article is right on the money with trying to move up the chain. We could work for years to get up to an 8 seed and still lose like the Rebels did today. So we need to schedule decent/good teams like Baylor, Houston, UTEP, any of the top MWC 4. Let's get NMSU on the schedule again, Gonzaga, St. Mary's... Congrats Mean Green team and fans! Great year ahead!!! GMG

You know when we went dancing in 2007 it was a nice surprise to many, even some Mean Green faithful. However, building a program that has now won 2 tournament championships in 3 years is a statement. UNT has the ability to become a force in bball and the Superpit could fill up and rock next season. Now is the time to enjoy this moment and national recognition, and beginning in April we need to push our phenomenal team and accomplishment to build the fanbase to a strong level! I watch a lot of Mountain West basketball and what I saw from the Mean Green on Tuesday was special. Our team can compete with some bigger boys and we could make the Superpit a house of horror for visitors like the Pit in Albuquerque is or the Marriott Center or the Thomas & Mack. Talk about exciting times! Also beating Troy was sweet because we definitely need to compete with the Trojans in the Belt. We already have a nice rivalry with MTSU and WKU but Troy has become a bit of the BYU of the Belt - solid across the board, nationally recognized, perennial post season participants. We wrestled some of that mojo from the Trojans on Tuesday and we need to begin to plant our presence all over the Belt again. I reflect back at this Decade of Excellence and smile: Four Bowl Games 1 Bowl Win 2 NCAA Big Dance appearances All over the past 10 years - that is a nice body of work for any institution! So proud to be Mean Green! Excited about the future! GMG