GreenEggs&Ham™

Any Topper fans in the DFW area that read this board? If interested, I will trade (by mail) a WKU Football pocket schedule for a UNT FB pocket schedule. I wanted a UNT one for my desk at home. Thanks !

Did the team stay in the area after the WKU game? MTSU is only about 1½ hour drive from WKU so it would make sense to stay here 2 nights. The reason I am asking is because we are getting about 10 inches of snow tonight and the Nashville airport is pretty much shutdown. It would be almost impossible to get into Nashville if the team returned to Denton after the WKU game.

Attendance was only 4,500. More people attended the KY HS FB championship games (all six played back to back over 2 days) which were also played at WKU's stadium the following Friday and Saturday.

Thanks OldTimer. I am always looking for online NT gear merchants. I live way up here in Kentucky and I can't just pop into Veortmans to buy stuff. I wish some one would list up other links as well.

WKU AD Selig noted that Elson's terminaton was a business decision as season ticket sales had declined 17% and walk up sales were off 50% this year. It was also mentioned that WKU was more successfull 3 years ago against Sunbelt opponents than this year. I personally think Elson should have been given 1 more year. WKU's offense executed very well this year at times and it is diffiult to recruit in a state where football is secondary to basketball and in a state with a population of roughly half of the DFW metroplex. Sharing those few recruits with Louisville, UK and Vandy makes for slim pickens. And yes WKU does compete for fans against NFL venues (Titans 1 hour, Bengals 3 hours). Losing hurt the attendance a whole lot and the awful game day experience at WKU doesn't help matters with the relentless AC/DC "THUNDER!" and annoying PA announcments at full volume.

I agree with your post 100% and I have felt that moving to 1AA has almost permmanently damaged the program and the University. It is as if it were intentionally done to undermine the whole University. That's how bad i think the decision was. We were the largest 1AA University in the country for years and before we moved down had decent name recognition (North Texas State). Corky was awesome though and still my favorite UNT coach. I was the only fan who showed up to his Sunday morning TV show on more than one occassion. 1AA FB just didn't attract a big fan base at NTSU. Just imagine how good Corky would have been if he had laid off the sauce.

I actually visted Big Bone Lick State Park. It was kinda neat but way out in the middle of nowhere. Some wooly mammoths got stuck in some tar pits and their remains were found here. Full size replicas in the pits and that was about it. Gift shop was closed or else I would have some killer shirts and hats.

Up here in Bowling Green, we have a local newspaper and local Bowling Green TV station so WKU gets a lot of local media attention. I rather enjoy watching WKU's HC (Elson) squirm on the local sportscast (ABC WBKO) trying to explain the previous weeks loss etc. I am wondering if Dodge doesn't have it made compared to Elson in the media pressure catagory. Don't get me wrong, I think that the DRC can exact a certain amount of pressure on Dodge, but it seems that the DFW media, including the TV media, largely ignores UNT football and lays off Dodge accordingly. Meanwhile, WKU football, including interviews with Elson, appear nightly in Bowling Green and believe me the pressure is on him to win. WKU has a 1AA National title and their fans can be brutal and expect a winning program from Elson. There is even a "Fire Elson Now" website. I think Saturday's game will be close as it is likely WKU's last opportunity to win a game this season and they can score. Too bad the game overlaps trick or treat time because this game will be televised in Bowling Green and I will miss most of it. If UNT loses against WKU, there should be enormous pressure on Dodge's failures; but I wonder if there is any pressure on Dodge as there seems to me there is no outlet for it outside of the DRC and this board.

Slow start killed North Texas tonight. I admire the fight in this team and there are dramatic improvements versus last years team, especially on "D".

Dodge fumbles on MTSU 10. Dangit! Riley has leg cramp. Did they announce the attendance?

What was the official attendance number ?

Kentucky by and large is far from the way most people are led to believe from the TV media. Kentucky actually has about the same HS graduation rate as Texas and roughly the same poverty levels. The toothless thing is isolated to the Appalachian region where most people lose there teeth due to non fluorinated well water, Mt. Dew and lack of dental hygiene. In fact most everything bad about KY is isolated to the mountain region. Hillbilly bashing is funny, I have to admit. But these people are easy targets and Appalachian Americans face the last accepted form of bigotry that remains in this country. GEH is now off his soapbox. Cheers! HS Grad Rates: KY: 80.1% TX: 79.1% Poverty Rate (US Census): KY:17.2% TX:16.3% Mean Annual Houshould Income: KY:$39K TX:$44K (both states are very inexpensive places to live)

I appreciate the executive summary Longjim. Who has time to read long posts? You would work well in corporate Japan.

Yeah... Rice over WKU is a no brainer from the academic end. Not to mention the limited oportunities that the Bowling Green Region has compared to Houston which is kind of important after a kid graduates. Sometimes wish I lived down in Texas instead of here. Very narrow job sector here and shrinking with the auto industry situation.

"They (WKU) are just getting out there and working." "They are very diligent recruiters" "Western Kentucky is starting to have a presence here in the DFW metroplex" .....quoted from Rob Davies (HC of South Prairie HS) after WKU signed ( DE Will Adams Rivals 3 star) What gives? I can understand losing out to SMU or Rice for this kid...but WKU ? Did we recruit Adams or is this kid over rated? I am not a football Xs and Os guy but Adams was a 3 star recruit as listed on Rivals.com and lord knows NT could use another DE. Just griping out load ...sorry.

First time to see the Mean Green this year. My take. Positives for this game: • 88.9% FT % (Dang! NT can hit FTs) • NT made smart fouls sending poor WKU FT shooters to the line instead of giving up easy buckets. • Ramiel is a very good player and gave WKU fits. Negatives: • NT got out rebounded and allowed 9 offensive rebounds for the toppers. Killer! • Lack of intensity on defense late in the game. Tired? • poor shot selection late (long 3 with 15 seconds to go for example) AJ Slaughter was tough in the second half, but I disagree with JJ that a lot of Slaughter's shots were contested. Some of them were and he is a real good player no doubt. Overall I thought NT played well at a tough venue. EA Diddle Arena can get pretty loud and WKU always brings a big crowd to NT games. Collin Dennis may have been fould on the last shot he made. No replay to confirm though. Again, WKU announcers are the kings of homersville. Good grief it is annoying to listen to these clowns. Don't get me started on the WKU football experience with anoying announcers.

SCORE UPDATE UH: 75 UNT: 46

5 Rush TDs : 2nd highest MTSU history 301 yrds all purpose 3rd highest MTSU history 6 TDs : Sets Sunbelt record (most TDs in a game) Breaks Fitzgerald's record against Navy 17.5 yrds/carry WOW! For those who keep using the excuse that UNT is young, MTSU has only 9 seniors and plays a lot of redhirts and true freshman. ALSO !!!! MOST LEAGUE WINS (SUNBELT) as of 11/22/2008 #1 MTSU 31 #2 UNT 30

You are correct UNTcmpbell. I was in attendance that day as well in (1991?) and the OU crowd went wild on their first score. You could here a pin drop though after the 96 yrd safety from the blocked PAT. The name of the UNT player that ran it back in 91 escapes my memory.

A lot of WKU's homecoming crowd left after the homecoming queen was crowned. The crowd was a bit of a factor at times but never loud. But the PA announcer really took over this game at times IMHO. I think the high watt system made it similar to 35~40K screaming fans at times even though most WKU fans were sitting on their hands. Does anyone know the NCAA rules on PA announcing. It sems unfair and unsportsmanlike to yell . THIIIIIIRD DOOOOOOWN THUUUUUUUUNDER !! after your opponent's center has the ball in his hands. I have WKU season tickets and they do this to every opponent.

Very exciting game to watch and the last 21 seconds of this game were truly inspiring to watch. The goal line stand will be remembered for a long time by this die hard Mean Green fan. I think the turning point in the game where the NT sideline really could smell a win was with Hill’s interception. My 8 year old son was easily the rowdiest Mean Green fan in attendance and I think the team could here him out on the field. Game lasted 4 hours though..Geez! No chippy play but the WKU PA announcer would wait until NT had the ball under center and then yell… ….”THIIIRD DOOOWN THUUUUUNDER… into a 50,000 watt PA system. WKU is easily the most annoying college football venue as they make up for lack of crowd noise with PA system noise that will just blow your mind. Never heard anything like this and I have attended a lot of football games.

Yes, I will attend the UNT@ WKU game. 2 years ago I had luxury box seats with food and snacks and private bathroom included. The sightlines were fantasticc and UNT won.

Will I be the lone Mean Green fan in attendance Saturday at WKU? I hope not! I really can’t blame anyone for not coming to Bowling Green to watch this team, so I fully expect to see NO NT fans at the game considering the long distance to Kentucky. I live 5 minutes from WKU’s stadium, so of course I will be there to support. I have WKU season tickets so let me give you the run down in executive summary fashion as I see it: • WKU has played against good competition 1. Indiana: 31-13 L 2. #2 Bama: 47-7 L 3. KY: 41-3 L 4. VT: 27-13 L 5. #18 Ball State: 24-7 L @ WKU • Bobby Rainey RB (124.3 yds/gm) is very very good and WKU has height/weight advantage on OL. • QB starter K.J. Black left team and was replaced by David Wolke (Notre Dame Trans.) Wolke is solid and tested. (6’2” 205 lb Senior) • WKU has a very speedy back-up QB • WKU has tendency to fumble in key possessions • 2008 Avg. Attendance: 17,596 (3 games) (Newly renovated stadium) • 79th Homecoming • WKU talent level is low but they play with a lot of intensity. • WKU has been accused of “chippy” play by Ball State HC. • VT players claimed WKU grabbed crouches in the pile. • If UNT can stop big plays on Special Teams and contain Rainey and make almost no turnovers, we have a chance to win this game. Forecast: Sunny 66°F/36°F Weight Advantages WKU vs. UNT Advantage (Ht.; Wt.) Off. Line (6-3, 290) Def. Line (6-2, 258½) WKU — 1”; WKU — 10½ lbs. Receivers (6-0, 205) Def. Backs (5-10, 182½) WKU — 2”; WKU — 22½ lbs. Off. Backs (6-0, 210) Linebackers (6-1, 230) UNT — 1”; UNT — 20 lbs. Def. Line (6-4, 270) Off. Line (6-3, 299) WKU — 1”; UNT — 29 lbs. Def. Backs (5-11, 184) Receivers (6-2, 207) UNT — 3”; UNT — 23 lbs. Linebackers (6-1½, 236) Off. Backs (6-1, 207) WKU — ½; WKU — 29 lbs. WKU HC David Elson on North Texas “North Texas is a much better football team than their record indicates. They have made strides in all three phases of the game in their second season under Coach Dodge, and it’s evident on film that they are a team to be reckoned with. This is another chance for us to line up against a Sun Belt Conference team, and we’ll be able to see how our work during the bye week translates into game day.” WKU Very Basic Summary Basic Offense: Spread Basic Defense: 3-4 Lettermen Returning/Lost: 41/19 Starters Returning/Lost: 14/10

Once again JayDub, you have crystallized my thoughts eloquently.

I read this in the Bowling Green Daily News Sports yesterday, but the story did not appear on-line for me to post. Anyway here is the excecutive summary: Virginia Tech Players claimed that WKU was the dirtiest team they had ever played against.VT players claimed that WKU players grabbed VT players crotches at the pile-upBall State's HC, WKU's opponent this Saturaday, claimed that WKU's play is "chippy". This leads one to believe that the UNT at WKU game might get ugly, considering what happened last year and just when I was looking for a good reason to go to this game. Also, KJ Black, WKU starting QB has left the team. Sorry to look ahead so far into the future.