the real grad88

No, I think we climbed to the 60s once.

I was waiting for someone to bring that up. Finding one difference maker is much easier than finding 60 one million dollar donors....much easier! Once that difference maker is found, then others will come piling in!

They still have to find that one big donor...our T-Bone Pickens who will actually kick off the campaign with a minimum of a 1/3rd-of-the-cost gift. That will be the single largest gift that UNT has EVER received. That will take some doing I am afraid.

I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but have we actually started a campaign? The last I heard, they were doing a feasibility study...which means there is no campaign as of yet. Folks, we could still be 5 to 8 years away...and that's if we return to our winning ways and keep a decent fan base going. I am counting on our new coach for that and think he's the man for the job. We need to be prepared for a long wait in terms of any hopes of a new stadium though.

This is my last post on the topic I started. For the life of me, I can not understand how programs rate each other, which determines who they want to be aligned with. Is there really any major difference in any of the programs in the WAC, CUSA or Belt? Why wouldn't the so called mid-tier schools want to align themselves according to geography? Why does Marshall want to be with SMU over Troy and Middle Tennessee? Why does SMU want to be with Marshall more than North Texas? None of it makes any logical sense. Regional conferences are much better for developing rivalries and keeping costs at a minimum. Are schools really that afraid of each other? It's down-right illogical, and I think ultimately costly to all involved. It makes no logical sense for North Texas to be in the same conference as Florida school...no sense at all. As the arms race continues in college athletics, and coaches and facilities costs and travel continue to grow exponentially, I have to think at some point the above conferences are going to get together and work out a more rational approach. The arrangment ought to be: If you can't take a bus to the game against your opponent, it's too far.

Give us a real post...give us your thoughts man.

I'll tell you what I do want, and that is out of a conference with schools we have nothing in common with and no one around here even cares about...namely FAU and FIU and La Monroe that is struggling to stay IA in football.

Let's just include them too and have a 12 member southern conference. That would be a great conference!

Sorry about the misspelling in the topic line...I can't find a way to correct it. It should say: "Forget CUSA and the WAC!"

I still have to believe that eventually the southern schools of the WAC, CUSA and Belt will all get together to form a revived Southwest Conference. Just what would it take to get the following schools together to talk about it...North Texas, SMU, Rice, Houston, LaTech, La La, Ark State, and Tulsa. Tell me why that conference couldn't become the top mid-major (I hate that term) conference in the country? Why...why...why will those schools not discuss the possibilities? Talk about the ease of travel and great recruiting ground. Every game would be a recruiter's dream. The entire conference is right in the middle of the greatest football recruiting territory in the country. Every game would be possible for fans to travel-by car! I think they should get a conference call together tomorrow!

I would take a smaller stadium with first-class sound and electronics and score board in addition to a nice club/restaurant overlooking the field and such than to build a larger stadium without the bells and whistles...if we don't have funds to have both. A state-of-the-art 32-35K stadium would do wonders for our program.

I like that Kansas stadium, but is that a track? I want the stand so close to the action that you can shake hands with the players and coach from the sidelines!

I am not saying that the WAC is the best place for us to be...clearly C-USA is the place we all want to be eventually...unless we could get a new southern conference as some have touted...plucking the southern teams from the WAC, C-USA and SBC. BUT, until something like that happens, the WAC is a good stepping stone THAT WILL HELP US GET TO THE NEXT STEP. The SBC is going no where fast. I even question our ability to get donors to pay for a new stadium while we stay in this conference.

I am for doing anything that gets us out of Fouts and sitting in Sanger to watch the game. A place like Ford Stadium (SMU) would even be nice. It's not big, but it gives you something to build on in order to take the next step. If anyone really thinks that OU or UT are going to give us a home game in Denton, they are smoking something. We CAN get programs like Houston, SMU, TCU, OK State, Missou, Air Force, and so forth with a nice 30-32K seat stadium with modern amenitities.

It all kind of works together doesn't it? More conference revenue sharing+higher profile teams+more bowl game ties+more attractive home schedule+increased home attendance+better recruiting+more donor interest. I think that travel dollars would covered with the added revenue. It all works together to equal more money which will help us get the stadium. Let's be honest. After how many years in the SBC, it ain't taking us any higher than we are right now. I say new coach and new conference. Plus the fact that I am sure that the WAC would eventually invite more eastern teams, creating east/west divisions.

I was visiting with a former asst basketball coach during Fry's time. We work together at Paris Junior College. He was telling me about the days when UNT played as an independent and literally played all over the place. He said that the recruits loved seeing the schedule back then when they played Hawaii and programs out west. He said that he believed that the WAC schedule would be great for recruits...particularly if you could add some solid nonconference opponents that people care about. What about this for a home schedule, just for an example? SMU, Ark State (both non-conf) followed by La Tech, Boise State, Hawaii, New Mexico State? Sounds a lot better than our current schedule and it would attract a heck of a lot better crowds.

Good topic. I have to say for an old stadium, the TCU stadium is as good of a mid-size stadium as I have visited...and it has kept its appeal inspite of its age. The size is perfect. The sound really stays captured around the field. Some of my best "stadium experiences" have been at TCU.

I know that there are many who disagree on this board and want to stay in the SBC for the long haul. I used to be one of them. I trashed the WAC on this board several years ago when we were invited. I now think that was an error in judgment. The WAC was heads and tails above the SBC this year...no comparison. We could certainly get a lot more respect and a look from even better recruits if we were in the WAC, in my opinion. I doubt seriously that the SBC is ever going to be the league that we wanted it to be. It has served its purpose as for as UNT is concerned. I just think it is time to move on, if the WAC still wants us.

Well, I sure don't see them leaving the WAC to join the SBC. I think the BCS Bowl payout...along with their other bowls create enough revenue sharing to more than make up for travel costs. How much revenue sharing is there in the SBC? Not much...compared to any other conference. I'd like to know Todd Dodge's take on this. How much pub did the WAC get with Boise State's victory? Every program benefits from that. Is any SBC school going to do that? I don't think so any time soon. If UNT could get more money from bowl revenue and play in a better conference, we would get even better recruits. THEN, maybe we could pull a Boise State. In the SBC, I don't think so...as good as Dodge is.

And why did we not take a WAC invite? It was a no brainer. Don't give me the travel argument. I would love to have Boise State coming to town and other WAC schools. The Sunbelt has got a long way to go to get to where the WAC is. We were stupid not to take them up on the offer. Our leaving would have started another reorganization. The WAC would have eventually let Ark St and La La come along for the ride. We should have gone West. The travel and time issue sure hasn't hurt TCU.

Amen to everything that FFR said. There isn't a close second. This was not a 60 million dollar budget against another 60 million dollar budget. This was truly David vs Goliath, and David just would not quit or be beaten. It was absolutely incredible...every minute of it. Boise State did something for all of the lower budget programs. They showed what can happen if you have great coaching and develop undeveloped talent. No doubt, they had some players that can play anywhere, but the greatness of it was all of the players who rose to the challenge and played absolutely to the best of their God-given abilities. That was great coaching that made that happen...great coaching and a lot of heart.

With my wife still at home with young kids (started late), and me juggling three jobs (see post on "what we do for a livin'), we have not had a lot of extra cash over the last few years, but I am going to buy season tickets for my family this year. Living in Greenville and pastoring a church gets in the way of some of the late games, but what the heck, I want to be a part of this sleeping giant coming alive once and for all! Here's to hoping that there are thousands more like me around Mean Green Land.

Don't know how it happened, but I wear several hats. I guess I love getting involved in a variety of things. I am an educational adivisor at Paris Junior College (Greenville campus). I also adjunct (Psychology) at PJC and I am a pastor of a small Christian Church (Disciple of Christ) in Greenville, TX. How is that for putting a degree to work? I get tired just thinking about this great balancing act!

I am amazed as well, but let's not forget the Dickey did give us something to build upon...something with which to attract a coach like Dodge. He did win 4 championships, which helped get the funds and support needed to upgrade the facilities around here. We wouldn't have Dodge if Dickey had not come first. That said, I am sooooo glad to have Dodge take us to the next level. He is the one to do it. I don't think Dickey could.

I was just thinking last night about all of the publicity and hoopla the hiring of TD is creating. The thing that excites me is that it isn't going to go away...it will subside some during the winter, but will pick back up full steam again early summer. And...think about all the coverage we are going to get during the season. Usually, the Dallas TV stations do a quick little mention of the North Texas game after they have covered the Big XII and TCU extensively. I don't think it will be the case this season. They will have microphones in his face all year. The Sports news will be: How is Dodge doing up in Denton? And...if he succeeds his first season in taking us to a bowl, look out for some major pub! Think about the upward spiraling cycle this could create! Better recruits, more fans and donors. It will only be a matter of time before a BIG DONOR comes along to write the check to make the stadium happen....that is if TD will just stay long enough to see it through. If he does, he could make the jump from UNT to any top program in the country--the one down in Austin included.