Green Mean

I'd rather be in ND's position and lose 9 straight bowls with their own TV contract and national/international exposure rather than be in NT's position and barely draw 15k-20k per game and most people have never even heard of the school.

I think playing schools like Texas, Oklahoma, LSU and etc are very important for a program thats in our situation. Boise State historically has been a very sucessful fb program even dating back to division 1aa. To generate backing from all of Denton/Dallas is asking a lot because this is big 12 country all throughout the state and not to far from UNT is SMU and TCU...which both of them on the whole have better programs than NT. These money games are important because I think that we do get some kind of national exposure even if we lose 56-7 or 65-0 etc. Maybe that can be motivation to the team playing better and with more of a heart....we need to play our arses off against these schools and not to get blown out this much. No one is expecting us beating these teams....not even the coach I bet. However I dont think its out of the possibility that we can atleast somewhat compete with them. Instead losing 56-7.....doesnt 38-14 or 28-10 sound better? It gives us a barometer of how bad or good our team is and we get exposure and most importantly we get a check from them that will go toward funding things in the program. Its almost a win win situation if you ask me. Troy almost beat FSU this season, they did beat Mizzou a few years back. I think we need to set the bar high right now because thats the only way we are going to get out of the rut we are in right now. Once we get into lets say the WAC, MWC or CUSA then we can think like BSU I think. Remember we are lucky to get 15k people in the seats for a game at Fouts....thats not going to generate money so where will it come from?

Eagle1855: Yeah I totally agree with you in that sense that what the Yanks do is absolutely terrible for the MLB...but thats just the structure of that league. I'm not saying I agree with everything I said but people in this country want to see high profile teams and/or high profile cities. When the Mavs went to the finals last year it was clear and obvious that the NBA wanted the heat to win cuz of shaq and the fact that they are in Miami. If you saw all those broadcasts on TV you would totally understand. Look at when the NBA changed their first round playoff format from 5-7 games. They changed it during mid season cuz they knew the lakers would be like a 4th or 5th seed and there was that possibility that their opponent could catch lightning in a bottle and upset them. But afcourse in a 7 game series with oneal, bryant, and the lakers...that probably aint gonna happen. Why did the NBA do that? Cuz its the Lakers and they are in LA and its all those glamorous things that are involved. They dont want hardcore fans like us cuz they know that regardless the hardcore die hard fans will always be there....they want to appeal to the frows, foreigners not very involved in the sport, the non sports fan, casual fan and etc. They knew they would make more money if they went to the finals rather than the twolves, kings, mavs etc. Its just the way the world is. That is why the system in College FB is messed up...its all about the big time schools and money and ND is one of them. I dont agree with all this but this is what I have seen that makes me believe all this. What do you guys think?

Thats an interesting fact but at the same time its not a good measuring stick cuz there are lot of 3rd rate bowls and more and more bowls seem to be added. Notre Dame hasnt won in 9 straight bowls but they are still the Fighting Irish and if they are good and dominant then its good for college football....just how the Cowboys are to the NFL, Yanks are to the MLB, Lakers to the NBA etc. Troy and NT's wins were nice for the sunbelt but lets face it that those are 3rd rate bowls that really dont mean a dang. I think the the bowl in New Mexico payout was like 350,000. Thats pretty bad so it just goes to show you that winning a bowl game these days really doesnt mean anything like it used to unless you play in the older bowls. Afcourse all of this is my opinion.

I honestly think that Stoops is a FANTASTIC coach....definitely one of the best in college football and i think he would make for a great NFL coach. Sure he lost the Fiesta Bowl to Boise State but look what he's done with the OU program after their down years in the mid to late 90's. With Parcell's future very short and uncertain with the Cowboys I hope Jerry Jones brings in a guy like Stoops. I think that would totally energize the fan base more and the organization.

You definitely have to change with the times. All sports have pretty much changed compared to 10, 20, and 30 years ago. That powerhouse running game wont get you that far for long unless maybe perhaps you have an offensive line like the mid 90's cowboys....then I can say that you may have a shot. Sports these days has all come down to schemes, preperation and all that other stuff. Sure you have to have some talent as well but thats already understood. If you have all those things and you have the heart and will like BSU had the other night against OU or what VY had last year against USC you have a shot to go places.

I would love and hope to think that but Stanford is a very reputable football team/school and they are in the PAC 10 as well. Convincing a guy not commiting to Virginia to go to Stanford is not that a big a deal. NT is not in that position yet where they can just easily snag away recruits from other schools....if that were to happen I would honestly be shocked. I think a lot is being expected from TD this quickly....He still needs to get his feet wet and get a feel of whats already on this roster and them combine it with what kind of players can we recruit with the situation we are in. Dont expect any big news like what Jim Harbaugh is doing this season or maybe even a couple of years because if that is really the expectation level then I think you guys could in for a heartbreaker.

I agree with you and thats why I really dont have a problem with these hirings TD is making. However I am also expecting the coaching staff to have a lot of hurdles, obstacles and be totally outcoached and lost during several games this season. We all have to realize that this is a huge promotion and step for TD and I think we need to expect the worst but hope for the best. What do you guys think?

With all these things about the NT Exes and MG club being talked about I definitely think we need to send both of them complaints that the communication is awful and something needs to be done about it. We also need to tell them that this is the reason that UNT endowments is very small compared to most major universities out there whether its public or private. What say you guys?

SMU has selected programs that are very nice but so does UNT. And they call themselves the Harvard of the south? What a joke. The Harvard of the south is actually Rice University which is ALWAYS ranked top 5 or 10 overall schools in the country...give me a break. Heck even Emory University in Atlanta is a higher ranked school than SMU. The one thing I give SMU props is the fact that when they want too they can raise money for the school in a heartbeat. Thats what gives them a lot of prestige and a lot of very good programs, buildings, museums, libraries(e.g. new Bush library), and etc. UNT on the other hand has a difficult time but i'm hoping with the improvements on our athletics program and the fact that the school pride within the school is starting to grow and be shown and plus all the UNT programs are starting to be known nationally UNT i hope wont have a problem with that eventually. What do you guys think? GO MEAN GREEN!

Well I think our Dr. Bataille will definitely be very interested in coming to the basketball games cuz afcourse she is new and wants to gel with the NT community. Also the basketball team is playing some very nice ball right now. But lets not forget she's coming from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill....I mean thats a pure basketball school so i'm sure there was quite abit of basketball influence while she was there. What say you guys?

Adler, I think first and foremost we need to create a buzz on the field rather than off the field like we have been since november. If that can improve then perhaps we can win 5-7 games this year which certainly wouldnt be a down year in my opinion. If that can happen then more people will want to attend the games....thats key and that will bring in revenue and will look good to opposing teams and conferences. Once that happens maybe there will be more buzz and inclination to attend games in other NT sports and perhaps create some push to bring baseball. The key here is fan attendence and revenue sharing but all this has to be shown on the field. Football I believe is the most influential sport in college sports and if they excel on the field it will be a domino effect of everything else falling to place which will ultimately be a conference move to CUSA, WAC, MWC etc. In the meanwhile of all this happening I think it will only be natural that the stadium planning and construction will be facilitated and expedited but thats not something you can bank on right now because its not a reality at this point.

You may be right but football is the measuring stick practically majority of the universities out there....especially in Texas. The face of a school is usually a football program and with not having a stadium that probably doesnt even compete with several big hs football stadiums and the fact that the football program is still a baby in competing I think thats the biggest factor going into a conference move.

I have just one name and one name only.....THE GREAT RUSY GREER aka THE RED BARON! He would be perfect for this position.

Good question Adler, After thinking about it I think the one drawback that NT has is the fact that we have a very 3rd rate football stadium. If i'm not mistaken a few years back CUSA rejected NT's bid to get in the conference because the lack of quality facilities. Tho that has changed in almost every sports we have, the most important one football is still the same. If NT had two winning seasons these last two years under DD then I think we would have to be a shoe in to move up because the number of schools to move up is getting watered down so you would automatically think NT would have a decent shot. I think moving to any conference would be a boost and a good thing but all we can do is wait and see what happens to BSU and other schools that would be possible in the hunt for switching conferences. What do you guys think?

That would be nice but realistically we have a long long way to go. Tho the WAC is not anything special but they are definitely more of an elite conference than the Sunbelt. Plus BSU has been winning and have beaten teams with credibility even before the Fiesta Bowl. No doubt this gives Mean Green fans hope but lets not get ahead of ourselves here. As Much as i loved the hiring of TD, he has not coached the collegiate level in a LONG LONG time....sure he did in 92-93 but heck that was not even division 1a. He has not recruited anybody yet and we dont have a full coaching staff yet. Lets all tap the brakes here and think from our heads and not our arse. Before we even think BCS bowls or EVEN top 25 rankings lets first consistently beat mid major teams a little higher than the sunbelt totem pole and lets atleast try to compete with the UT's and OU's of the world.

No I know its been around since the 60's...but i'm talking about OFFICIALLY. A&M has always been known for the 12th man...lets just call them the Texas A&M 12th men? I think the Mean Green is a perfect side nickname. Maybe its just me and i'm thinking too much of this but I think when you alter some kind of history and/or tradition like this it needs to be discussed as to why and what was the thought process behind this.

Its obvious why its there. We were always officially the North Texas Eagles. Our nickname and mascot were the eagles. But all of a sudden it got changed because of some marketing reason or campaign? If you ask me thats pretty sorry and you're kind of going against the schools history and tradition. The tigers is pretty common at LSU...why dont we change that name? KState wildcats? Texas A&M Aggies? Those are all common names dude. But hey since they are common lets just change it right? If its for marketing purposes then trust me it aint gonna last long if the product on the field/court is sorry....thats a fact. Marketing is something that people can do if people just think about it...heck almost every school out there has a marketing program.

I'm glad and excited to be reading this news however I will say this.....I will only believe it until I start seeing it happen and getting it done.

Hey guys...I'm a UNT student (almost to be an alum) but I was just wondering why and how did we go from the North Texas Eagles to the North Texas Mean Green? I believe it was somewhat recent but growing up my whole life in the DFW area I always knew it to be the North Texas Eagles. I thought keeping it as the eagles seemed and sounded better....not to mention its what the school has been known for its whole life. Sure we're known as the mean green as well but wouldnt it have been better if it was like a side nickname? Kinda like the 12th man(or even these days i see maroon out) at A&M, the steeler's terrible towl, the cowboys doomsday defense, or maybe like UT's hook em horns. I dont know but i think we should go back to the North Texas Eagles but another side cool nickname can be the mean green. What do you guys think?

Plumm you are definitely right on the importance of this new stadium. My next question is how big do you build it? 30K? 35K? 40k? Even as of this year i think the biggest crowd was against SMU that still only generated about 25k people(even thats not a sellout at fouts field). I want this stadium badly for NT but I am not surprised that the donations for the stadium are moving that far because frankly people dont go to the games. Its free for ALL students but not even they can fill the thing up even though there are almost 35k students attending. The only way the stadium will be a necessity is if we can consistently have 20k-30k attendance every home game no matter what. Maybe the hiring of TD will be the answer but for how long? One season? Two seasons? All I can say is that the mean green nation need to come together now and fill up the seats for all the football and basketball games. Only then will get start getting respect for our competing schools in the area, state, region, and then nationally. What do you guys think?

I would love to see ANY of those guys come to NT but realistically why would they? These programs are in big and/or bigger conferences and you know they will get more exposure with those schools. The only exposure NT gets is when they lose to UT, OU etc like 56-7, 65-0 etc. Thats not good exposure. These days its not always if you can play me or not but where is a a more prestigous program and how much is a school willing to pay me to come there. Bottom line is that a players must be a complete moron to pass up the opportunity to play at UT, TT, OU etc etc to come to play at NT. I'm a UNT alum and a die hard fan but we ALL need to be realistic and think that these players wont be coming here anytime soon. Even Boise State as of right now arent getting primo recruits and they've had a fabulous run here the last few years and are playing in the Fiesta Bowl this year. If they are not getting primo recruits then how and why will NT get high end recruits? Please explain.

No I am not saying that...however I am saying that the players around him at NT probably will not be as good as most of their competition. You need to have a good players around you to excel....especialliy a QB.

Its certain Riley will get full scholarship to a lot of bigger and better athletic programs out there. Will he take those over NT? I wouldnt be surprised and frankly he probably should. However the one thing he has going for him if he decided to come to NT is the system. Just look at Chase Daniel at Mizzou. He did so well this year because Mizzou changed their offense to TD's style. Riley wont miss a beat in the offense other than the fact that the players around him may not be as good. I dont know much about Riley other than he's TD's son and he just won a state title but i'm thinking if he's somewhat similar to Chase Daniel wouldnt Mizzou be in the hunt to recruit Riley? If i'm not mistaken Daniel will be a Junior next year and the offense will remain the same.