KRAM1

Blatantly obvious to who? A few who scream the loudest on a message board, really? Tell me again...how many games did JJ win in his second year as head coach? Was he fired? It may be "blatantly obvious" to you...and that is fine, your opinion. Some folks just have a difference of opinion. Why is that so hard for some folks to understand and accept? Wouldn't this place ... meaning GMG.com ... be really dull if we all agreed?

Come on now...don't start this "all hat and no cattle" stuff again! Who said anything about "bad fans"? Fans are fans...that's the challenge at UNT...too many "fans", too few folks actually invested in their university. Big difference. Fans are not good or bad...they are fans...they come and go as the wagon rolls. It is what it is...can't build your program on those folks...all entertainment dollars to them and very fungible. A program can use all the fans it can get, but they cannot be counted on to be the base on which the program is built for the long term. When times are good, these folks pony up to support the program, when times are a bit more "challenging" well, off they go. They are fans after all. Cannot blame them but they cannot be counted on either for the long haul. Is what it is....personal decision. Not good...not bad...a decision none the less.

I will guarantee you one thing...I would have been as supportive of the UNM program as I am UNT. What some folks here do not want to understand, is that I am supportuing the program...so, who ever is playing or coaching or running the program I will support them and do all I can for MY UNIVERSITY as long as they are part of my university. As I have said time and time again, and what folks fail to comprehend...as evidenced by this post itself...is that it is not about the individual, it is about UNT with me. In football, I have been around since the Otis Mitchell, the Dan Spika and Miller days days and have had plenty of "opportunities" to get my panties in a wad over some coach or some staffer or some W/L record and use that for an excuse (because that would be what exactly what it is) to not support, to criticize and to just be negative about everything. It's a choice people...understand...a choice. If you don't like it, great...your choice and all the whining in the world is not going to change anything. YOU get to choose....because I choose to try my best to stay positive, and others want to stay negative should be of no concern to anyone else. You make your bed, you lie in it...I have no problems with that. So, want to do something to change the culture? Fine. But, if it is so bad, why take the time to get so worked up on a message board all the time when you could actually be doing something about it....if you actually want to do more than whine that is. If like some here, it is the whine that is important, then OK, this is your place...keep playing. As much as it might pain some folks to realize it...sometimes it is time to take your toys and go away if you are just so upset. That option often is appreciated by lots of folks who have had to put up with the whine for an extended period. And, I hate to break it to you...but as far as basketball attendance goes...UNT is 3rd in the "Belt behind WKY and MT. So, perhaps UNT is not focusing ALL its efforts just on the folks on this board...many of whom do not attend games, do not buy season tickets and don't donate to the Mean Green Club in the first place. But, who certainly do like to whine about everything Mean Green! And, as to being blind...there are none so blind as those who will not see! It's a CHOICE people. Me, I'll be in my seat for the remaining home games and I'll be in Hot Springs.

Oh, forgot....YES AND YES!

or a 911 cop?

None of the above...just plain dumb post. You need cookies!

Mike....UNT has 10 wins THIS year! Have you even been paying attention? I'll take that bet by the way...Benford will, indeed, be back next season, and in spite of the two JUCO's (which had ZERO to do with Benford or his staff) recruiting seems to be going OK. Plus...have you seen the classifications of the players currently on the roster? So, when I see you next...maybe at this week's game, we can set up that bet. You are on, compadre!

Just one question, Emmitt...do you have cheese with all your "whine"? Or, maybe just cookies? Funny, I recall in one post your claiming that you were a Mean Green Club Volunteer Rep...if that is really is so, isn't the job of a Volunteer Rep to help raise money for UNT athletic-scholarships? How insulting of you to do such a thing!!!! Brow beating folks to help and all that....such an insult.

Jim, appreciate your comments, but don't buy the "stuff" that several folks here are trying to sell you regarding what this Coach is and where this program can be in a couple of years. Remember, these are the same folks who have been telling everyone that attendance would drop to 500 per game. Yet, facts are, UNT has the 3rd highest attendance in the Sunbelt this year...behind only Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee. The majority of UNT fans and supporters are not buying what these few, loud and vocal that they may be, are trying to sell. There is a difference between ability and execution, youth and experience, willingness to learn and to be coached and stubbornness, athleticism and skill, etc. things are changing and changing for the better. Pre-season hype does not always equate to reality when play begins. This is not the same team that came one game from winning the tournament last season. Odufawa is not grabbing rebounds, UNT's two most skilled players, CJ and Brandon have been out most the year, Holman (arguably the best UNT player heading into last year's tournament is gone, etc., etc. Put a healthy CJ in, a healthy Walton in, have Holman back in uniform, etc., etc. and this is a very different team at this point in the season. All who refuse to see this possibility are simply not willing to admit the differences. Without these players, teams can sag down and pretty much negate TM knowing that UNT is not a good outside shooting team. Now that PJ has started to shoot and Jordan has found his stride, teams will no longer be able to focus on TM with two or more defenders. This also helps Roger Franklin. Defense has suffered as without the skill players and many playing out of position (ala Nikko) there is not the quickness/skill to stop other teams more skilled players. Get "our guys" back and healthy, give these players more time in the current system, and BINGO...this is a much different team. One might also recall that this is a very young team...sophomores and freshmen abound. Underclassmen often struggle at learning the more sophisticated college game. Anyway, don't let the vocal few get you down. No matter how much they played in HS and claim to be experts. Heck, some never even played HS ball, yet want all to believe tat they know all there is about coaching college level basketball. You know, it may be time to either support this team and Coach or not. The fact is that he and the majority of the team will be back next season. Some just need to either get over that fact or move on down the road if it is just too painful for them to bear. The facts are that this team has not won the number of games that anyone expected. But, the fact also remains that this team has much left to play for this season. Personally, I plan on being there to see how the season plays out...win or lose. Here's hoping there will be more wins left than losses.

Thanks Oldguy....your support is both appreciated and needed. Thank you!

I see Mr. Sunshine has brought his personal rant to the football board. But, since you are here, are the ladies of 911 going to give you time off to play in either or both the Flag Football game or basketball game this year? Does someone need to give you a note or would an extra batch of cookies get you some parole time? You need to defend your streak...what's a GMG.Com flag football or basketball game with the one and only Emmitt01? Seriously...you really can't break your streak, can you?

We have another player for the game and one of our former players....CHARLIE SMITH...is in the house! Welcome aboard, Charlie, glad you are part of the game this year! Thanks for your support!

Just wanted to give a HAPPY BIRTHDAY shout out to both unt88 and Adman!!!! It is your day guys...make it a great one. I hope you both have BIG plans for the day and that it is a birthday to remember! Thanks for all you do for the great Mean Green Nation!

Excellent, Keith7, welcome aboard! Glad you are playing...and, great...bring on that other player as well. let us know and we'll get him/her signed up as well. Thanks for the support...and thanks for thinking to help with other player invites as well! Bring 'em on!

NOPE...You are good to go...welcome to the game...appreciate your support. Looking forward to having you this year! Thank you!

Yes, folks, THOR is back in the game!!!!! Great news! Welcome back, THOR!!!!!

Announcing that FloMoGrad has agreed to return to play again this year...you may know FloMoGrad from the photo above...he's the one sprawled out on the floor! Welcome back FloMoGrad! Glad to have you with us!

OOPS! My bad...I forgot this was the basketball game we were talking about here...thanks, harry for saving me....

There is a link for donations already up and running. Appreciate your support. Take a look right at the top of the game thread. It has a link to the donations site...or if it is better for you, you can mail a check payable to "uNT Athletics", and it can be mailed to me. PM me for te address...or check out the link. Many many thanks...much appreciated!

You are beginning to get in your own way...being hyped as the best and actually being so are two different things. Do you always buy into the hype? In all fairness here....most of us did, but not everyone blames the hype.

Wrong...UT did not fire the coach prior to Aston. But, thanks for playing! Ha! :-)

Like BYU?

It it fits your agenda to say so...fine with me. Lots of parallels and I have a nephew who is a big time UT booster...the info I have comes from his "inside sources". I have tried hard to tell him to pass the word to back off and let Aston have a couple of years before they go bonkers. I am convinced that she will do great in Austin...given time...but so far quite a few of the burnt orange faithful that actually follow women's BB are more than a little unhappy with to date results. And, so far, the AD and staff are backing Aston as are several other boosters who are close to the situation. Like I said...quite a few parallels, but it';s OK if you don't want to see them. But, since we were talking about other programs thought I'd mention how things are going in Austin with another of our ex-head coaches who took their "dream job". It is a thread dedicated to trying to make folks see how well our other coaches are doing as opposed to our current one, right?

All...so far we have 42 players signed up...we need a bunch more to make this work best...here is who we have playing so far...if you are "missing from this list" and would like to play, please let us know...still plenty of time. Thanks to all who have made the commitment so far: Medpilot21 smoothfresh THOR NT03 meangreenacct Texas Stranger B. Futrell J. Attaway R. Morley Rudy MDH L. White K. Chapman Harry ArmyofDad Rela'mpago Blanco (The Fake Lonnie Smith) R. Archie Marshall P. D. Dean C. Corley MeanGreenTexan YIPYKIA Keith7 C. Smith Emmitt01 forevereagle Jared vaughn M. Maggard A. Maggard J. Case Rico AstroMike V. Davidson G. Davidson Dru untcampbell Ian meangreendrew UNT90 Deadman Solis And one returning Ref from last season...UNTFlyer And two new refs are joining us this year...Kyle Atterberry and Will Atterberry! Welcome Atterberry's! As you can see, this is shaping up to be a great event. Talk to your friends and neighbors and let's get these rosters filled. You really do not want to miss out! Thanks so much to all who have signed up already. Need more info? Just PM me or call me: 940-382-7871.

Excellent...got you down! And...I need lots of other things...Ha! You should never leave yourself THAT wide open...any help would be appreciated in getting donors, sponsors, auction items, other folks who want to play, etc. Anything and/or everything or nothing more is GREAT! Appreciate your support for this event. Thanks!