untcampbell

@Cowboy Up Love the state. Do you live in Laramie? Wyoming treated us well during our COVID vacation up to Cody. We thought about buying in Star Ranch (we have a lot up at Bear Lake/Fish Haven, ID) and I ran my Wyoming half in Cokeville. GMG

IYKYK (I do, but it was a long time before I knew what IYKYK was) GMG

Let me count those re's. I think you included Sanger. The great thing is that the taste has remained consistent, right down to that tangy sauce they use in the deep dish. GMG

You order at the window. Wait is about 15 minutes. Go into East Side and grab that new NT beer (or beverage of choice) while you are waiting. They have a individual sized deep dish, one pizza type each day (Sunday it was a cheese and basil that was pretty awesome) or you can get their traditional rectangle slice with ingredient options. GMG

Just re-opened. It remains magical. GMG

Tempting. I'm doing S Alabama, and will likely do a second away game. I'll probably decide where based on how games 1-5 go. GMG

Mixed feelings here: Clearly, the team is different. The uniform is the same. Regardless of how this plays out, none of the players, coaches or department employees will be here longer than I will. They won't love the school or team more than I do. That theory has held up pretty well since about 1985, four or five years after I got here. The system will continue to change. We are being toxic shocked currently, kind of like when free agency came to baseball (Curt Flood, I believe, was the first). My biggest gripe is I see no sign that the stakeholders of the schools most adversely impacted are fighting to right the game so that the "minor league" teams can still provide their fans something to cheer about. On the other hand, if memory serves, we were a below .500 team last year. We lost, then replaced, about 50% of our players last year, maybe a bit more. Is it possible we improved the talent enough, using this new system to do so, that we are better than last year's team? If so, does that make the system good (No, it doesn't)? Would it infer our coaches figured out the new rules well enough to put together a better team in the new system? Being able to pull for the same guys is like meat loaf at lunch....comfort food. It's easier, more comfortable and familiar, when you have experienced the player's ups and downs for a few years, to see or meet his parents at the game, to hear said player praise the team and school. For me, that's usually 5-7 players a year that I follow. Maybe 2-3 this year. I will have reloaded by the end of game one. Enjoy what you got. Pull for who you have. GMG

I self-identify as a down vote for any post that suggests doing away with the down vote. Flame away, lads but... GMG

If it was at Scotty B's, I would be there. Talking to you Marty. GMG

Age old marketing pursuit: how do you build ownership into the product? Ownership that you want to continue to own, love, take care of, use regularly. Not easy. It became mine on January 19, 1980. Owned it, loved it, and kicked and cussed it a few times, but also invested in it, and used regularly ever since. Simply no other program I care about like this. GMG

Not sure UNT86, but I have gone to a golf course before and been unable to play. All the tee times were "sold out." Or full, taken, unavailable. Night is a bitch on a golf course, though I wouldn't object to a fundraiser at Lake Parks par 3 late into the night. Maybe next year. GMG

Based on the 50 or so stadiums I have seen North Texas play, L$U is the leader by far. Have no desire to return, but I loved seeing NT hoops beat L$U this last post-season. Oklahoma would be a distant second. Best visitor reception: Nebraska by far. GMG

I saw it promoted months ago. I believe it was postponed for weather a month or so back, then rescheduled. I am guessing it was sold out. GMG

Grateful to SUMG and Matt for the detailed reports. GMG

That's how I recall it. And in the unfriendly confines of Mack Park. GMG

That NIL is better than what our baseball players got back in the days when the team split 2 full scholarships across 15+ players. Basically, coupons to McDonalds (University location only) and a Big Chief tablet. GMG

Carson Woods - Hudl GMG

What do you mean IF...???? Seriously, right on. Big win. GMG

It isn't unusual for the doomsayers to dominate a discussion. Kind of like some are more likely to complain out loud about bad food or service than reflecting it in a tip. That said, the general trend is that CFB is changing, and not for the better. Especially for fans of less esteemed (rich) teams. If it is inevitable that the smaller schools will have to find a way to stay/become relevant, consider this (and by the way, I subscribe to the "there are no original thoughts remaining" so this isn't likely the first time you have seen this): Adapt a major league baseball, farm system model. The 50 or so elites can contract with 3 lessers to be their farm teams. Lessers might be considered A, AA, AAA. The current G5s, perhaps not all, could negotiate with the 50 to be their AAA team, hopefully with a regional bias. Current FCS teams might be AA, and whoever is left can negotiate their way into the A spots. Championships could be played at each level. Each "farm" team would run their programs independent of their Major League team. Clearly the Major would want some influence but their would also be organic back and forth discussions about recruits, and it might even be part of the Major's recruiting strategy. "We really like you but we are stocked at RB and we would like to get you on the field in the Minors for a year, then bring you up. Here is an extra $150k to supplement what the Minor program will offer while you are there." But the Major would be given, for the contracted price, the right to "call up" any player on the farm teams. Players could go up and down in the system. Some Major signees may be sent down if they don't perform to the value of their NIL, some Minor players would move up. The Major could elect to continue to pay the Major NIL price that those sent down signed up for, to keep them in the system or not. Each minor level could offer its own NIL, and some of that funding could come from the revenue generated by its relationship with the Major. To make it a bit more challenging, the minors could agree to run the same offense and defense as the major. It may be part of the negotiation amongst G5s as to who they may line up with. Even in-season call ups would be more natural if the player is in the same system as the Major team calling him up. Players might get called up for the bowl game when a Major player opts out of its bowl game. UTSA would likely line up with UT, as an example, and adopt similar playing styles. Free agency would be restricted to certain times, just like the transfer portal is now. And money is going to play a big part in that. But maybe teams might offer more money for a longer commitment to stay, that either player or team could get out of for a price (say part of the NIL payment is escrowed for a period of time to be clawed back if the player opts to leave, or a separation payment is paid by the team to get rid of a kid it no longer wants). To me, the upside for the minors is their place in the sport has more relevance, and likely more revenue (the two are related) through their relationship to the Major. There are likely many issues to make this impossible. I'd like to hear them, and there is likely more to add on the positive side. Flame away, friends. GMG

Please bump this post. When it actually happens. No offense. GMG

Perhaps the staff cooled off on him at NT? GMG

non-Power 4s are the athletic equivalent of the GOP. They learn about it after the deal is done. Then vote for it. GMG

https://www.troymessenger.com/2023/12/28/troy-lands-commitment-from-juco-all-american-derek-burns/ Mods, remove if I have done something wrong here. GMG

Wow, started playing football at 17. Still learning. GMG

Where's our NIT bid?!? GMG