KRAM1

Does UNT have the need for a "mainly" JUCO recruiter? Are the current coaches looking to "stock up" on JUCO's and try to build a winning program with JUCO guys? Just wondering. Some of you basketball gurus can helkp me out with this I'm sure. I really am asking.....

I'll take 7-5. That would be a very nice iomprovement. And, the good news it that it is very "doable" and possible for Coach Mac and Company. Can they? YES! Should they? Yes! Will they? Remains to be seens but signs are positive!

Well, interesting. And, the kid and his family, seem to me, to be making a quality decision. UNT, if it keeps up with him during this next year, may well have a shot after he gets his 2-yr degree from Scottsdale. His reported grades while at Kansas seem plenty good enough. Now, the question is...what happened to the compliance folks at Kansas to let this sort of thing happen? Don't they monitor hours and course loads? Hmmm...maybe he left the program (however or whatever) and that let his academics up to him...I have no clue about that. But, as Vito pointed out...seems like a good kid. UNT would perhaps be a nice spot for him after JuCo. It may be that the folks at UNT knew this all along and were just hoping he's sit out a year and sign with UNT and get the class thing in order. Who knows. BUT, make no mistake about it. UNT is going into the season with a fine QB in young Mr. Thompson. I have no worries (other than injuries) regarding the QB spot. Yep, Coach Mac and company can now look elsewhere to sign a QB for UNT. Appreciate the "rest of the story" from Brett.

Yes, much. :-)

Excellent schedule...early games should well prepare the Mean Green for the Conference race. Of course, the Mean Green will depart the Sunbelt after winning the conference crown. Bring on CUSA!!!!

I was waiting for somone to mention this. This IS NOT a compliance issue. never has been. It's in HR's ballpark.

An interesting ruling, in my opinion, and one which could have an effect on the outcome of the trial is that the judge just ruled that all the "victims" must use their real names in court. This fact alone could see several of the "victims" decide not to testify. If they do, the whole world will know who they are and what they went through. Much like what rape victims are often subjected to in open court. A really tough thing to handle for most folks. I wonder how this will play out in the trial? I can only see it helping the defense, and I am now not so sure that Sandusky will be convicted of all that he may have done. While the prosecution has a pretty strong case, from all reports that is, this cannot help. I'll bet the prosecution is talking to the "victims" really seriously right now in the hopes of getting them to still come forward and testify in open court. Bears watching as to how this plays out. That "strong case" may have just weakened a good bit due to this ruling...a bad one for the victims who will be "attacked" anyway in the courtroom by the defense and to now know their real names will be used might just give a few pause to reconsider their appearance.

Appreciate your adding such a thoughtful and in depth analysis to the discussion. Somehow, I don't hear the noise of which you speak...it's the Internet, right? No "real" sound on GMG.Com or have I missed a link to the GMG.Com sound system? But, now that you mention it...a growing US debt burden is worthy of loud noises as way too many people either are not paying attention or have no clue as to the dire consequences should the US not get this under control very soon. However, I do see you have a firm grasp of what's important in the dicussion.

Wow...interesting thought processes you have.

Is One Percent Really Too Much To Ask? Sixty-eight years ago today, the people of the United States came together as one to make a stand against tyranny and to do what everyone knew needed to be done. It was called D-Day, the Invasion of Normandy. More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported over 100,000 American troops as they established a beachhead in Europe that eventually led to the end of World War II with the forces of Nazism being driven from Europe and into the annals of evil. Meanwhile, at home, almost the entire U.S. economy was leveraged toward generating whatever materials were necessary in order to support this urgent national priority. We call that generation the “Greatest Generation” because we honor them for stepping up to tasks and missions that they would not have chosen, but which they accepted as necessary. It’s thus disheartening to fast-forward to the present and find that somehow we can’t muster enough courage to balance the budget and fix our economy, which by any measure should be a much easier lift. To win World War II, tremendous sacrifice of life and treasure was necessary. To fix our budget problems, it only requires cutting spending by one percent for five years. Seriously. That’s all it takes. Hasn’t your family probably cut your discretionary spending over the last couple of years by at least one percent in order to deal with the bad economy? Haven’t most families? Haven’t most businesses? Meanwhile the government keeps rolling along fat and happy, refusing to make even a one percent reduction in spending in order to set its house in order, and in fact demanding more. If the federal government would reduce its spending by only one penny out of every dollar—by one percent—in the fifth year of doing so the budget would be balanced. But it’s even better than that. The budget would be balanced with federal spending at about 18% of GDP, which is right in line with the post-World War II level of government spending. That’s in contrast with the almost 25% of GDP that the federal government is spending today, with the trajectory of federal spending pointing up toward 30 percent in the near future. The “Penny Plan” has been introduced by Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming and Congressman Connie Mack of Florida. It does what everyone knows needs to be done—sets the federal government’s fiscal house in order and restrains government to a reasonable share of GDP. It requires our elected officials to make hard choices, yes. But it doesn’t require a Greatest Generation level of commitment. It only requires cutting one penny out of every dollar of spending. Is that too much to ask? Edit: This comes from The Institute for Policy Innovation in Lewisville, Texas. www.ipi.org

The CBO (Congressional Budget Office) released new projections of a worsening U.S. fiscal outlook....the CBO reports that by the end of this year (2012) cumulative federal debt will be roughly 70% , that's SEVENTY PERCENT, of the gross national product. That is up from 40% in 2008! Projections are, that if something drastic does not happen to change it, that federal debt will be 200% of GDP in just 25 years! Folks, if that doesn't scare you, nothing will. Hello Europe debt crisis...hello Greece, hello Spain, hello Italy.... Good grief......

Today is D-day folks. Take a moment and stop and think about just what this day in our history means. Many young soldiers (on both sides) fought and died on this day. Lots of families and friends lost loved ones never to return home. I have been to Normandy and I have walked those beaches...Omaha, Juno, Red, Gold, etc. I have seen the cliffs and I have walked down in the bomb craters and peered out of the gun emplacements. Let me tell you, it is impossible to do that with a dry eye. Take a stroll through the American cemetery, the British cemetery, etc. at Normandy and you get a feel for the scope of this invasion, and the great loss of life as a result. People, we owe a big debt to these brave young soldiers....at least take a moment today to remember, to thank them and to thank all our veterans and soldiers where ever they may be. Mat God bless and keep them one and all.

Big win for sanity in Wisconsin last night. Regardless of Coffee & Tea's hyperbole, and his obviously out of sync view with the majority of those in Wisconsin, public sector employees in Wisconsin will not be standing in bread lines. They will still be some of the highest paid public employees in the nation and class sizes will not skyrocket upward. Local school boards still have the same controls they have had over this from the get-go. So, let's try to be at least somewhat factual when the claim of the "sky is falling" goes out. Madison, the ever very liberal Madison, was once again shocked...shocked...that the vast majority of the state does not share it's very liberal views. Amazing how these folks never learn. This election is very easily the second most important election in 2012, and in this case and in my opinion, the good guys won this one...a blow for fiscal sanity! We should now watch what happens in a few other states facing this same situation. Anyone want to guess that the public union big wigs will be a tad more interested in negotiating in good faith right now????? Me thinks so..... Now, does this put Wisc. in Romney's win column...not on your life at this point, but it does put Wisconsin in play for the first time in a long long time. While I personally think Obama holds on to Wisc. in Nov., this election will mean that the dems must spend big time in Wisc. and O will have to spend much more time and dollars in Wisc. to hold on to the state. What that does for the R's is to "free up" other battleground states for much easier "picking" in November. Make no mistake about it...this was also a big win for Romney and the R's, but it does not...no way...mean that "always dem" Wisc. will turn red in Nov. But, for the first time in a long time, the jury is out and the dems have much work to do and many dollars to spend. Anyone notice that Obama was nowhere near this election and campaign? Gee, anyone want to speculate on why? Pretty obvious. It was a great win for fiscal sanity everywhere last night and the win will have far reaching repercussions across the entire nation. SCORE ONE FOR THE "GOOD GUYS"!

My main and personal concern here is that he lied! Why? Seems to me that he would have no reason to do so. The guy has a bachelor's degree and can coach basketball. Seems to me that's what matters in coaching. So, where is the motivation to lie about a Master's Degree? My guess....it started as being listed that he was working on a Master's and over time got "changed" to reflect completion of that degree and he never changed it even after he saw it...may have happened when posted to some web site...who the heck knows. But, lying is still a BIG DEAL to me....yes, i know...even in this day and age. But, when I see lying about something, I wonder what else is being hidden. Not a good thing. I do think he will find another coaching job fairly quickly as the guy can coach basketball. A role model in honesty he may not be, but he can coach basketball. The next school will know what they are getting and he'll probably not make this mistake a gain. I am sure JJ was not happy.

Folks, this is a BIG deal today in Wisconsin. No matter which side of the recall vote petition regarding Gov. Scott Walker you are on, the outcome will have far reaching significance well outside the state of Wisconsin. If Walker wins, watch other states move quickly to limit the power of public sector unions (this vote has nothing to do with private sector unions) in order to try to reign in costly benefits. And watch public sector union membership decline not only in Wisconsin but across the nation as well if Walker wins. If Walker loses, watch the clout of public sector unions climb. And, watch states be very cautious about trying to reign in public sector employment costs to help balance budgets, etc.Some see this as a proxy on Obama and big union. I am not so sure about that, but Obama has definitely steered clear of this fight and the national democratic party pulled money out of the race several weeks ago. Wisconsin, once a sure thing as any sure thing could be for the dems is now seen in play for the November elections...no matter who wins this recall vote, but even more so if the Walker folks win today. Hard to imagine Wisconsin being anything but a blue state, but even if it does stay blue in Nov. the fact that it is "in play" will cause Obama and the dems to spend time and money in a state that in the past was a sure "lock" for the Dems and saw little funds and energy spent there during a national race. Anyway...this IS A BIG DEAL. If you are in any shape or form a political junkie, you don't want to miss seeing the returns tonight on TV. Personally, I will be glued to the TV watching as soon as the polls close in Wisconsin and they can start announcing the early voting returns. It is going to be close...very close, I think and should come down to which side can turn out the vote in the greatest numbers. Everyone should be watching Wisconsin this evening...you can bet your bottom dollar that the White House is.....

Happiest guy in town right now must be Dez Bryant! What's with these OSU wide outs??????

It just has to be tough to be a smoker these days in the face of all the health info that has shown it to be so deadly. And to continually to try to come up with ways to justify smoking as a "right" just makes it even more laughable. The one problem I have with trying to limit smoking is the economic one that involves such a large industry...including morticians everywhere....from the growers, to the producers, to the middle men, to the sellers, to owners of tobacco company stocks and bonds (hey, check those mutual funds you own folks), to the cleaners who try so hard to get that stink out of smokers clothing, to the stop-smoking product firms, to the cancer and lung disease pharmaceutical firms, to the match and lighter firms, to the medical professionals, to the morticians and the memorial park owners. If no one smoked, think about all the jobs that would be lost, and all the population overcrowding that might develop. Seriously......OK, tongue planted firmly in cheek here folks in case you missed it.

Move to NY City...they are already pretty much on their way for you! Today they announced that the current Mayor wants to cut out "Super-Sized" drinks and coffees starting in March of 2013! STUPID!

Helping to host another pre-game tailgate mixer............."The devil made me say it".

Well, weren't you the little devil back in the day! Great idea, however...do it again!

When I see co-eds in short shorts, white shirts and cowboy boots at UNT games, my thoughts NEVER, and I mean NEVER, turn to stinky feet! I do wonder about you!

Such an old tired supposed justification for smoking....either come up with something original and at least half-way logical or just stop parroting all the same old "I want to smoke stuff"...sorry Flyer, on this one you are going to lose...and so is your health, by the way, if you don't stop puffing away. But, I do appreciate yopur concern for "liberty" here...on that issue we can find lots of room for agreement.

I would not disagree with you at all, but are you sure they didn't get those tickets from a UNT season ticket holder who didn't show up and sold his/her tickets? I know this has happened in the past. I guess UNT could just not sell those higher priced tickets on game days or to non-season ticket holders. Is that what you want? You do get additional "perks" such as parking, a Mean green Club gift, football program recognition, invitations to Mean green Club events, Mean green Club hospitality room access, etc. So, the walk-up guy or gal is not getting the same perks as you are through your season ticket purchase and Mean Green Club donations. I do, however, very much understand your feelings as I feel somewhat the same way when i see folks in the Club area who bought Club tickets the day of the game or just before the game. I guess for me, I am of the opinion that it is better to sell the remaining higher priced tickets and get the additional attendees. But, that's just me.

I was in no way advocating for higher pricing....cannot see how you got that from what I wrote. The point was that we should look at everything when we compare UNT to other programs...including the availability of resources and the willingness of fan and alums to financially support the program.

WOW...let's play some football! Can't wait for the season to get here...awesome!