NM Green

No presence in Tennessee is almost like having no presence in Florida - its a big hole in the footprint. If ODU falls out I think MTSU should be an immediate grab. Now thats a footprint: Texas 4, Louisiana 2, Alabama 1, Mississippi 1, Tennessee 1, North Carolina 2, West Virgina 1, Florida 1, Oklahoma 1. GMG

My hope is that T-Shirts are already being made to be sold in droves at the bookstores and football games. It took TCU two minutes to print a TCU Big XII shirt that I saw in their bookstores. GMG

I asked myself one question - who do i despise most - only one school came to mind and their mascot is an ugly bird. Further their little entitlement demeanor and meteoric rise has left a disgusting taste in my mouth. I respect Tulsa. I respect La Tech almost as much. Rice is Rice. UTEP is going to be fun. Tulane lives near delicious beignets. So there is only one program left:) GMG

Agree. I started following NT in '86 and SWT and NTSU had some battles back then. UTSA is living a dream but those do come to an end as well. Things will not always be that easy. Texas State is getting a raw deal indeed. I already want to beat down UTSA effective 4.30.12. GMG

Lots of emotion over there. They are about to feel like what UNT has felt like being the odd program out at least for awhile. Further neither UTSA nor TSU realizes just how hard they are going to get beat down in the early going. The Bobcats can plan on getting shallacked by Troy, drilled by an angry MTSU, crushed by Arkie State and thumped by Louisiana Monroe! Throw in the drubbing by ULL and they will quickly realize that they need to set their sights on competing in the Belt and then going bowling in the Belt. UTSA is going to be a delicious treat for all of us long timers who have paid our football dues. The ugly bird is going down hard and often in the coming years. GMG

They can try to run it up on us but we are bringing it this year! Take that whole day off! GMG

I will say that at the Fiesta parade last night the UTSA band blew away the Texas Longhorn band. The crowd also went into a frenzy doing the roadrunner sign as the band roared by. This really is about UNT and I am beyond thinking they needed to marinate in the SBC. We need to come into CUSA and do our part to make the conference a national force. Like the MWC was national power over the last decade, it is time for CUSA to step up. Lets make this our decade! I think you rotate bball conference tournaments between New Orleans and San Antonio. We need a secondary Alamo bowl in SAT for the league. This will replace the Memphis presence. We should also have a secondary bowl game in Dallas or Houston. I am glad UTEP is staying if they do because they have alums in Houston, Dallas and SAT. We have alums in Houston and SAT. It is time to bolster these chapters so every trip to these markets has a party and strong Mean Green presence. GMG

Can you imagine the condition of the fans at 11:00am in New Orleans? That is a hideous start time for the game. Further that is 9:00am on the west coast! So much for any left side of the country viewership. With the evening kickoff you had all time zones watching. I remember being in the Aria sportsbook watching that monumental finish last year. San Diego State fan went from a Hangover high to a sad low all in one minute. GMG

There in lies the reason that we cannot turn down any invite whether it comes from CUSA or MWC. I think when SDSU and Boise return to the MWC you are going to have a league that is much stronger than CUSA. I know geographically CUSA looks more appealing and the Texas ties would be great, but a very strong bball and solid fball league out west that wants some DFW presence has to be considered. Lets just get an invite, any invite, preferably before December 20, 2012. GMG

I am down with MTSU being invited to CUSA along with us and La Tech. GMG

Living in Las Vegas I was devastated when OU took coach Kruger. I fell in love with Running Rebel basketball under Kruger and was sad when he moved to the Big 12. I am glad for Johnny and know he will do well. It is not the end of the world. We have a setup and just like UNLV was loaded with talent they lured Coach Rice from BYU to lead the Rebels into the top 15 this year. The #11 ranking at one point this season was their highest since the championship year and Final Four runs. So it can be done. We have a lot of talent coming back and are on the cusp of moving to an elevated league. We need to shoot high and sell the promise that is UNT 2012. Our future is bright and I am excited that I will see the New Mean Green continue to soar. Can we get the Butler Coach? The Witchita State Coach? Rick Majerus? Go to a basketball factory like Memphis, Kansas, UCONN, Arizona, Duke, Michigan State, Gonzaga and get a high powered assistant who wants to live in one of the most dynamic metro areas in the country. The goal is simple: bring UNT its first big dance win! You have first round pick to take you into next season - tell me this isn't a delicious opportunity for someone. Good luck Rick - go get us our next big team leader and outfit them in Mean Green!!!!! GMG

I find it hard to believe that UTEP wants to leave the Texas Metro markets. I am really surprised they want to head west again if that happens with the realignment. GMG

How long before UTA to the Sun Belt talk? Can we beat them down already? I am still using smelling salts from that horror show in Arlington last fall! GMG

You are allowed to stretch the thought as much as you like. Feel free to jump to emotional conclusions. I am all of a sudden a conspiracy theorist when it works to our benefit. GMG

That is really awesome! GO OKST

I have never seen so many dunks as I did in that first game! I have to admit that I have not watched much of Kentucky this year. However, that team is unbelievable! I am not sure I've seen a team that intense and athletic in the Final Four before! Talk about a great first game. GMG

You know it stinks Mean Green fans - 5 games this fall is terrible. But nutt it up! No whining on this board. Spring has just sprung and we must take this Mean Green mission and passion on the road. We will be battling for bowl position beginning this year so join an awesome Mean Green tailgate in H-town or Manhattan or Knoxville or Baton Rouge. Just get out and support. It will not be fun reading about the moaning and groaning of only 5 football games at home. I can't stand it but plans are in motion to get to Houston, Southern LA and Boca Fort Lauderdale. It is goint to be an incredible year! GMG

I simply do not take in many UNT beatings and arse whippings anymore. However, the LSU experience is the best in college football and the time is now to secure a Mean Green hotel and pre-party venue for the battle on the Bayou. Is there a designated Mean Green hotel at this point? Sorry if this has already been posted in the past. Booking the Accommodation this week. GMG P.S. - for those who have not been brushed up against and called Tiger Bait - I promise, it is like no other venue in CFB.

New smoker for the tailgate on the hill and this year it is all about the parking pass:) Mean Green diehards on the hill ready for some football! GMG

I will say that I have visited both campuses and FIU seems to have more school spirit than FAU, but the Owls have the new palace. I say bring in FIU so we can eat on Calle Ocho every other year and party on South Beach. This year we need to get a big contingent of GREEN to visit Fort Lauderdale and Boca this fall. That is a sweet destination as well so we need to go see them once at their new place and do a Western Kentucky and beat them down with a big Green pigskin. GMG

THe reason the Big WAC failed was because of the egos of some of the programs. SMU and TCU thought the western foes needed to think more like them. Utah and BYU wanted to control the conference. I can honestly say that the egos in the Alliance are much tamer. I don't see a monster bevo type control battle with the new conference. I think everyone wants the conference to succeed. You grab Honolulu, San Jose, Salt Lake City, DFW, Houston Miami, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Tulsa, New Orleans and El Paso with a rotation of bball and football events between the destination cities of New Orleans and Las Vegas and you have some opportunity. You keep the headquarters in the center of the country in Dallas and you secure a big coast to coast TV package and you have a darn good league. You could have ESPN big Monday within the conference every Monday! With all due respect, SMU and TCU never fully committed to the old Big WAC. TCU was always an outliner program. Utah and BYU never wanted to mingle with Air Force, CSU, AF...I just don't see arrogance in the new Alliance program. GMG

I think the Alliance is great. You grab markets while they are available and secure a coast to coast tv deal. Only the Big East can claim a coast to coast conference. You regionalize the rivalries and make sure all players grow their commitment to all sports. I think it is a great fresh start. TA all the way, GMG

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. The DJ I speak about is a local DJ from one of the stations in Las Vegas. He bleeds Rebel bball and simply conducts the timeout activities and promos. He introduces the kids who do the dress and shoot for the McDonalds meal promo. He introduces the shooting contest - layup, free throw, three point line and mid court shot for 500. However, after the Rebels cause the opponent to take a TO before introducing the activity he states - "HOW ABOUT THAT REBEL DEFENSE!!!!!!" At times he will say, "REBEL FANS ON YOUR FEEEEEET!" He calls out THE REBELLION (student section) and fires them into a frenzy. His consistent voice and energy fits nicely into the game experience. He doesn't overtalk and the band still plays, the Rebel Girls still dance, the Cheerleaders still break the arena into four and shout U-N-L-V. It is just GAME ATMOSPHERE ON - an excellent coreographed event from beginning to end (Power Intro and indoor fireworks at the front - Sinatra closing song at the end). I was a season ticket holder for the first time and it sure was an incredible entertainment value. Now GO BAYLOR!!!!! Darn CU took out the Rebels too early this year! GMG

College hoops can be a BLAST! But it is all about wins and environment! Atmosphere doesn't just exist, it has to be created - especially in a basketball second state like Texas. However, some of the most amazing sports environment I have ever been in are basketball arenas - The Pit and UNLV to be exact. It's all about rowdy, choreographed entertainment and exciting bball. We have an exciting style of bball. We will win in 2012 - 2013. We need choreographed entertainment, prize giveaways, DJ host to get the crowd going, Pit Crew Camp to get that group crazy fired up and organized. An awesome pre and post tailgate party. Okay let the planning begin now. GMG

Smastrek is a mover and shaker and will play a key role in the development of The Alliance. I have met the gentleman before and he is an incredibly nice and effective leader. He was at Hawaii before moving to Las Vegas and the guy just breathes enthusiasm and positivity for college athletics. He was the gentleman who talked about the expansion being very methodical in nature and is happy that The Alliance will be made up of programs that truly want to be together. Of course when big leagues call that makes it tough, but The Alliance will not be assembled in a haphazard format. Their goal is to capture some power and make and call shots. That is why they are having full and rich discussions about who is invited. They are waiting on the TV deal which is looking very nice. They are building for the future, and the fact that we stand a great chance at being invited and part of this excellent future league is freaking outstanding! We have earned it Mean Green and now we need to get invited and feed it. UNLV does its part with basketball and a commitment to football (on campus stadium plans drawn). Hawaii will bring solid football, we bring market, improving football and solid basketball. I too like FAU in that facilities are important to this league. FAU has proven it is committed on that front. Is FIU a flash in the pan? If you only bring market I don't think that is enough. That is why UTSA needs to commit to facilities if they want to be considered for future expansion. I think FAU and MTSU could both be strong contenders. North Texas needs to focus on strong attendance numbers this fall. No schedule excuses either. Our marketing team and event committee teams need to be meeting weekly now on how to average 25,000 at Apogee and 5,000 at the Superpit in the coming seasons. These should be starting points for us. GMG