NM Green

When can we begin booking trips to San Diego, Albuquerque, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Boise and Honolulu:) Seriously any information provided after the show will be great! Punk the panther. GMG

Wow that lineup does not excite me. I just don't have any desire to partner with Idaho and SJSU or Utah State in the future, unless it is USU in the Mountain West which they will head to eventually - it makes perfect sense for them to transition to that league. I just think programs like FIU, FAU, Troy, Middle and Arkie State have so much more upside than any of those WAC programs. I don't even think La Tech brings much to the table anymore. The SBC is a heck of a lot stronger than the new WAC and the modified WAC of the future. Even ULL in their down days gets me more excited than Seattle or any of the Montana schools. Mean Green Rising Up! GMG

I like UTA and our rivalry with them in basketball. I remember when we played them in football. If they ever become strong we can look at partnering in conference with them either in the WAC or SBC. The future is bright for the Mean Green and options are only going to grow richer. GMG

Gosh I want to, because I use to go to those big time games when the economy was raining money about 10 years ago. But now that games must be chosen with surgical precision I am not sure I could financially stomach the potential outcome. It would be great memories either way but we will just have to see. I want dreamland barbecue darn it! GMG

I don't ever want us to be locked into a situation like La Tech where we never say never, because everybody can see that it makes a ton of sense for La Tech to be in the Belt. However, they cannot come back without eating some major crow. But I just don't think the WAC will be strong enough for us in the future. We are much more likely to head to the Mountain West or become part of a new Southwest Conference than we do going to the WAC. The WAC would need to stabilize, which I anticipate it will now that it won't be hemorraging programs to another league. But those programs in the WAC would need to become very strong and look how long it has taken the Troy's and Middles of the world to garner some national respect. So the WAC in 10 years with a couple of solid programs like La Tech and Texas State might draw our attention, but by that time we would have multiple decades of affiliation with other programs like Arkie State, ULL, Middle, FIU, FAU and a new program in South Alabama that should rise. The WAC has major work ahead of itself and in ten years I believe we will already be sitting in a higher level conference or a Sun Belt that has passed CUSA and is rivaling the Mountain West for non BCS superiority. Will there even be a BCS in 10 years. GMG

Bring the friends even if they are not diehard fans or if the don't bleed green. I consistently drag people that would never go to a game to Denton every game and they don't go back unless I drag them again, but they are there and they count. They know about the Mean Green and after many trips look forward to that Saturday event in the falls. If you find friends like me to drag to a game, I would immediately be going back for more and probably donating time and money to the program that I would have no affiliation with. I do it everywhere I live. One trip, I am hooked, I go back for more. Welcome KSU Mean Green GMG

Don't forget Runts. That was our name in the big west days by Idaho, NMSU and Aggie fan. I changed my mind 3 times during this thread which is frightening. In the end the winner is: North Texas. Throw in North Texas Mean Green and it has a great ring. Throw the Eagle in as our mascot like the elephant for Alabama and we are good. Let the University use UNT. Most of my friends and prospective students who see my gear call us UNT or a kid the other day said, "I am going to UNT in the fall." So when they think of going to college they think UNT. For sports WE ARE NT or We are North Texas! Hawaii has bigger problems: Hawaii - mainland reference UH - local reference Warriors - football, warriors, baseball team Rainbow Warriors - men's basketball team Wahine - all women's team

Doesn't Cubes want a stadium? He wants a baseball team? Mark Park, The Cube

Will there be opening weekend events for the new stadium? I know we are having a movie night but that weekend which will draw in alumni from all over the country could and be maximized. During that time the University could make a monster push for the Alumni Association and Mean Green Club since good feelings a lot of pride will be swirling around Denton, Texas. Also there should be a community outreach where the city gets involved and excited about this incredible gem in their backyard. I know I have been in Las Vegas too long but when we open a casino or blow up a casino out here we have major celebrations. Heck we have celebrations when Gatorade puts out a new flavor, but I digress. Seriously, cocktail parties for the alumni, keg parties for the legal students, ice cream parties at the Union, fireworks on Friday night at midnight - 9.10.11. It could be a really special fun-fulfilled weekend and the cappper would be a win over the U of Houston, but either way it should be MEMORABLE! Lastly, also I hope a lot of gear and memorable with our beaching new stadium logo is available. Play off our cool design and create some swag gear. How about a shirt with the Logo and it reads "Yeah OURS has wings! Some in your face this is a freaking cool looking mean and fierce stadium to play in. "Fierce Football Played Here" any number of cool in your face slogans with that awesome stadium design - the Wings need to be maximized! It is a differentiator and I can't wait til others around the country start chatting about that cool looking stadium at North Texas. Awesome for UTA to the WAC. I am glad we are right where we are - soaring to the MWC, CUSA or Big 12 in the coming years. GMG

Rick, I live in Las Vegas and have already bought four tickets for the first four home games. Would have purchased the last two but needed to pace myself. I love what you and the team have done and are doing for our great UNT. I am so thrilled to have you as part of the Mean Green family. I look forward to experiencing the New Mean Green on 9.10.11. Question: will there be opening weekend festivities? I would like to see a full weekend of celebration with planned events for the opening of our next generation home. I am seeing firework extravaganzas, pre opening and post opening parties. A celebration of the best new stadium in the country. We have one shot and one weekend to make this an incredibly special weekend. GMG

If they make the Tulsa game an EVENT with some pre and post activities I think they can really get a good draw - easy drive from the Metroplex. Kind of sounds like it could be like Rice a few years ago with fun festivities - tragic outcome but definitely a memorable well planned event with meeting place - pep rally... GMG

I did the same thing when I was on travel in February in North Miami Beach. I was equally impressed with FAU and FIU. I found FIU's spirit strong around campus in the bookstore. It will be a war on 8.31 because they have their eyes on New Orleans. I March I actually ran into students at a bar in Savannah from FAU and they were equally excited about their programs. Now the fan support is still growing, but I like both of those programs and don't mind a trip to South Beach every year. They are cosmopolitan based campuses with new digs - sounds like that program on the way back in North Texas. GMG

I still don't have to like them. Down with the cartoons! Rick - I want a roadie to South Texas. GMG

I do find myself craving listening to more Mean Green talk after the games. I always stay to listen to You'll never walk Alone so I literally get 5-10 minutes of debrief and analysis. What about a gathering place after the games where everyone can gather and celebrate like the crazies do outside of Staples Center or the AAC. Get a few broadcasters and guests having a live aftertalk show and people might show up to remingle - the post tailgate if you will. GMG

The bottom line is we must continue to beat this drum. If we get 76 at the next one then great. But we cannot have an event every 8 months or few years and expect to keep momentum rolling. Frequency is the key and we must get in peoples faces about UNT and the Mean Green every single day. I went to the FIU site to check out their gear and now I get FIU promotional emails almost every 10 days. Promoting a new shirt, a new cap, their baseball gear, their new tailgating glasses. Frequency frequency even at the cost of making people sick. Our program has been under-marketed for the 25 years I have been following our great and poor teams. So let's not moan about a tragic turnout. Make people sick talking up the Mean Green, recruiting them to get season tickets, planning the tailgate against Houston...Get to the next one and make a difference. We are all so incredibly powerful! e4 GMG

The ultimate brand = Mean Green! When I wear my Mean Green gear or somehow NT comes into the conversation - lots of people know Mean Green here in Las Vegas. Rebels remember our games against them which is shocking to me. That is why if we we ever get an invite to the MWC we won't be strangers when we line up against UNLV, Reno, Boise, Colorado State, Air Force, Utah State (they will be there soon as well), and even Hawaii from all the WAC talk. I think our only future conference strangers might be Fresno, SJSU and New Mexico. GMG

This is not the same Sun Belt they didn't want to join a few years ago. New stadiums under construction, consistent multiple bowl appearances by league members and wins. Still no top 25 team but that has to end sometime, right! They might be able to sell to their fans that the startup league is indeed a league on the rise. Really how much difference is there in CUSA and the SBC right now? It is still a notch below but not the gap it use to be. Throw in CUSA instability with Memphis, UCF targets for Big East and continually disgruntled East Carolina and Marshall and I think the gap creeps closer. I predict CUSA to make some moves in the coming years to stay ahead of an emerging Sun Belt. This is the next MWC/WAC shuffle, just watch. Back to La Tech, not a bad place to hang out for awhile and compete for the CUSA reconfiguration to come. GMG

Adler's scenario below would also make me think twice about a Mountain West invite. We would have a regional league to build upon and might not be so quick to join a far-flung Western Conference. I've got to be honest this might not be a bad group to move forward with. It is fan friendly, offers natural rivalries, would eliminate the WAC, and could compete with an MWC when a Troy, North Texas, La Tech and FIU emerge from the pack. You get a couple of programs to separate from the pack and beat up CUSA and MAC teams and now you have some credibility. The MWC is going to fall back perception wise without a WAC. It will be way behind the Pac 12. The conference that should be worried of a strong SBC is CUSA, especially with their internal strife. They could cherry pick for sure, but they would have to get their house in order first. What we don't have in the SBC are programs that fight over expanding East and West (yet). Be smart about these moves and we could align ourselves into a very nice position. My only thing is I would want joining programs to bring their entire portfolio. Don't want to be a disjointed Big East. West Arkansas State New Mexico St Louisiana North Texas UTSA Texas St La Tech East MTSU Troy Florida Atlantic Florida International UL-Monroe South Alabama Western Kentucky GMG

The fact that Butler has scored 6 points this half and we have a little over 10 minutes to play is CRAZY! GMG

Agreed. The announcers hated the game but I found it entertaining. My roomie said its low scoring and ugly because they are both good! I would love UNLV to go after Brad Stevens but he is good for Butler and probably wouldn't leave. You could always ask though. The Rebels will probably end up with Reggie Theus or Rice from BYU. I think they should go bring the fat man Majerus back to the Mountain West. GMG

Open the mind Eppy. Ladies sports are not as thrilling all of the time, but those 2 games yesterday were really good. Hearing the Aggie coach say, "this is what woman's basketball needs" is absolutely correct. The domination by UCONN and TN was not good for the game. I still believe it is a different game and don't equate UCONN's run to UCLA's back in the day, but the athletes put in just as much work as the men do. I also believe cheerleaders are athletes with the amount of work they put in. Very proud of my neice from San Antonio O'Connor who received a scholarship to Penn State for Women's Volleyball. She starts PSU in the fall, and I will be tuning into the Big 10 Network to see her play. What is really cool is that if the defending national champion Nittany Lions can get back to the final four later this year, she would get to play in front of tons of family and friends in the Alamodome. My cousin is tall, strong, smart and athletic and her hard work is going to reap some benefits. So go TAMU! Even if it is only to see the female Charles Barkley on the court, it is worth a tune in. She is a beast! Bring back another championship to Texas! GMG

Excellent article about how Butler's runs have brought them a heck of a lot of free publicity over the past 2 years. I am so glad our administration has changed it's tune towards athletics over the past 20 years. We use to be known only as a music school. Can you imagine how much pub will come our way when we make that magical run all of us Mean Green fans dream of. A dream I know the teams are working on each and every year. http://www.butlersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/2010-11/releases/040111aab Go Bulldogs! GMG

Sweet victory for the Aggies and they have chance with that monster upset in game 2. Way to go TAMU! GMG

They basically doubled his salary. He also has roots in the KS, OK area. He will be missed here in Las Vegas that is for sure - bummer day in Sin City. GMG

Still no MWC team past the sweet 16. Let's join the league and break the streak! I had AZ playing for the NC! Go Wildcats!!!!! GMG