KRAM1

I'll give Coach Mac the benefit of his experience here in hiring the "right" guy for UNT. As we have all seen, past performance or lack thereof in certain program, is no guarantee of future success or failure. The guys Coach Mac hires are the guys he thinks can help him turn the program at UNT into a winning one ASAP. So, he gets an "A-OK" from me at this point. I'll see how the defense performs and responds before I get too excited or too depressed over this hire. For now, great to see the position filled for the Mean green. I sure hope the guy also recruits as the Mean green needs to get going and firm up that recruiting class. GO MEAN GREEN! WELCOME COACH BOWEN. The Mean green nation isbehind you 100% as you work to bring the Mean Green back to WINNING!!!! Way to go Coach McCarney!

Ok, like UNTGirl, I am a bit "uncertain" about this post. Did UNT hire this guy or did W. Ky...was he on the Kansas staff or WKY's...I am sooooooo confused. I'll just have to do the "hrad work" myself and look it up...ha! Thanks for the lead anyway....

Really? More than UNT is now in baseball? I do think that what you are seeing is some "conceptual" work that probably has little to do with what would actually be built after further study and review. It is way too early in this process to get overly worried about what a baseball stadium complex may or may not look like when actually built. Heck, we all saw several renditions of the new football stadium before it was finalized. That seems to have worked out pretty well in my opinion that is. I would imagine that when and IF UNT reinstates baseball it will be done with a very nice baseball complex that we can all be very proud of for the team and program. Now, about those baseball specific cash donations.....

So you are professor and want free seats, right? Just kidding. I'd be down for a 2 for 1 deal. Or, an organized UNT Staff (professors, admins, etc., etc.) and family night at the Pit where deeply discounted tickets are provided for seating in a special UNT staff section. The section could be recognized during the game and perhaps a drawing or two for some athletic related "stuff" for the section. Good idea....now, where is the UNT promotions staff on this one? Of course, my only concern would be that 5-6 people show up! There has been a significant lack of support from UNT staff for UNT athletics except from a very loyal and very dedicated group of UNT staffers you see at most every game, who hold season tickets and who donate to the program and to other areas at UNT. While there numbers may be small given the size of the UNT staff in total, they are loyal and they are big time supporters. For this group I am greatly thankful. You know who you are! Well done!

Most of those "stupid" decisions are deemed so after the fact and after results are in. They are also deemed "stupid" by people who don't agree with them. That being said, as an outsider, I cannot imagine why Pitt let Wannstedt go. There will be no lack of schools and probably some pro teams offering him any number of various opportunities. I think Wannatedt did wonders for the Pitt program, but what do I know anyway. Just an outsider looking in.

I do think you are correct, Sir! Thanks. I knew it was one of those Enterprise Captains. Mean green fans all!

Always so positive...thanks for your input. So, what actual data tells you that the law school will be a disaster? I am just curious as I have not seen any data on that point. If so, that means everyone involved with trying to start the UNT Law School is an idiot and have their heads up their rear ends, right? They must have done absolutely ZERO pre-planning and pre-study and the approving boards all fell asleep and just rubber-stamped the thing, right? Really, I don't know, but this sort of thinking leads to the idea that UNT is "second rate" in its leadership and is looking to "fail". It is also the sort of comments that I refer to when I state that way too many people want to only see the negative and bad in everything UNT does. While no expert on law schools, I would think that a public law school in the north Texas area would have a better than average chance of being successful as there is no other public law school in the area. You might want to ask schools like Notre Dame, USC, Penn State, OSU, OU, Texas, etc., etc. what a winning football and athletic program does for their endowments. And, perhaps you might want to chat with President Rawlins about that as well. I am not that familiar with the engineering school at UNT, but I would guess that it takes a bit of time to sort things out and find where your strengths and weaknesses are before one settles into a solid program. Heck, programs even in the social sciences have seen funding cuts and staff turn over and those programs have been around a lot longer than engineering on the UNT campus. If you want the endowments to grow and grow in the areas you discuss, then start donating yourself and start building the program and UNT up to everyone you come in contact with...starting perhaps by looking into the closest mirror you can find...and stop being so quick to criticize and bitch about everything that is UNT. There are lots of things you cannot do anything about, but you CAN do something about your own attitude. It starts there..... GO MEAN GREEN!

What exactly is awful about the drawings?

Today's Wall Street Journal has a back page article with the title "Holloywood's Guide to the Bowl Games" where they reaname and comment on various bowl games. Really funny...to quote just a couple: The "Brokeback Mountain Bowl" (Las Vegas Bowl: Bosise St. vs Utah). "Two lonely and misunderstood Westerners find acceptance and fullfillment in a quiet rendevous." The "Dawn of the Dead" Bowl" (Armed Forces Bowl: Army vs SMU) "A classic zombie tale. SMU was once "killed" by the NCAA and Army was...well they were just awful at football." The "Mullholland Dr." Bowl (Miami -Ohio vs Middle Tennessee St.) "What is this? What am I watching? We challenge you to figure it out. And, sit through the whole thing." OK, too many to quote all of them, and I have no clue how to post a link to it, but look it up, buy a copy, some funny and priceless stuff here. Too funny!

We do agree on this! OUCH....my heart will definitely skip a beat or two!

And, why do folks on GMG.com need to be coming up with this sort of idea? You would think the AD's crack promo staff would already have something like this in the works. Oh, I forgot...but, let me say this also, I am not at all certain there is not a "Pack the Pit" night being developed within the athletic department. I am just a bit skeptical having seen the lack of any such real effort in recent years to stage events surrounding basketball (and football) games. Obviously, I like this idea. In fact, i would be willing to put in some "man hours" to help it be as successful as possible. Count me in as "labor" if something like this gets going. Just PM me with what I can do to help and I'll do all I can to help make it happen. It is possible to "Pack the Pit". And, it can be done....you can also PM drex as he has always had some great promo ideas centered around basketball games. In fact, rumor has it that he even discussed several with department personnel prior to the season. Don't know what came of that or what plans are developing, but drex made the effort. GO MEAN GREEN

There will be a sort of "pick-a-seat" day. That has been announced for some time. Seats will be "picked" based on Mean Green Club Priority Points. The higher your point total the earlier you get to pick your seats. I do not know of any other plans for a "pick-a-seat" day, but that would be a GREAT idea for those that are new season ticket buyers and Mean Green Club donors after all current season ticket holders are allowed to select seats based on their Mean green Club Priority Point totals. The department could make a big promo day out of the event and make it a "must attend" event. Maybe during the Spring Game activities...Spring Game at Fouts, [probably, but what a "combo" event day it could be. Super idea...and easy to pull off in my opinion.

+1 for you, sir. Thank you for having the vision and the capacity to think forward and positively about your university. This is, in fact, the thing, more than any other, that will force people to stand up and take notice of UNT. When the alumni, students, faculty and staff start believing and start spreading the word...the positive word...about UNT others will take notice. As long as UNT is its own worst enemy when it comes to public perception endowments, respect, etc. will continue to lag. The "good news" is that this old and tired perception of UNT is beginning to change. And, it will change for the better because of the attitude you display in your post. Too many tend to look for the "bad" in UNT first and if they cannot find any they think positive thoughts and say positive things. When one expects "bad" and "negative" one can definitely find "bad" and "negative". This "good" and "positive" and you will find "good" and "positive" and you will find the "good and positive" far outweigh the "negative" and "bad". Amazing now that happens in everything that goes on in one's life. I had a UNT staffer tell me the other day that he gets tired of people...UNT's own people and students...running the university down. he said, "you know, not every decision made on this campus is a bad one. We have some very bright and very intelligent people working hard to make this a premier institution, and it's way past time that others started taking notice and giving UNT some credit for all the good that is going on here these days." I tend to agree. Way too often UNT's own do more to further a "negative" perception of UNT than any outsider ever could. Things are changing in a good way at UNT. Time to be proud, talk positive and spread the good news. Thanks, Dr. Seuss, for getting it! And...yes, GO MEAN GREEN!

Now, for all those "conspiracy theorists" out there who thought RV was going to "jack up" ticket prices in the new stadium,you can rest easy and perhaps "believe" that RV and Company are all trying to do the best they can for the Mean Green Nation. This is really a "home run" for all the Mean Green nation and I am glad to see the release so another "challenge" can be put to rest concerning the purchase of season tickets. It would be a good thing to go ahead now and place that deposit down for next year's seats so the AD can have some base from which to start planning sales campaigns, promos, budgets, etc., etc. Not that this hasn't been going on for some months, but it would be nice for those who know they are going to purchase season tickets to go ahead and place that deposit. Thanks, RV, for keeping yet another promise...that you would not "jack up" season ticket prices on the Mean Green faithful with the opening of the new stadium. I heard you loud and clear on that from the very beginning, and so did most others, but now it is a "reality" for all to see and ponder. Great news...good things just keep happening for the Mean Green Nation. Now, Mean Green Nation, lets all get busy and sign up for those season tickets. My bride and I have done so, and I hope to see many many more season tickets sold this season. Wouldn't it be great if at least 25-30% of the new stadium was sold to season ticket holders? I have no clue what percentage is sold now at Fouts, but I would guess no where near 30% of the stadium seats are "covered" by season ticket holders. Does anyone have any info on this subject? If 10,000+ seats could be sold to season ticket holders for the new stadium that would really give UNT a great start, but, yes, just a start. One day I believe that a ticket to a Mean green home game will be a "must have" and that students will also line up early to make sure they can get a seat. Yes, Virginia, that can become a reality, but it is up to the AD, the HC, staff and team, the university population, the community, the alumni, the students and Mean Green faithful everywhere to make that happen. In the immortal words of Captain Kirk, "make it so"! Well, if it wasn't Captain Kirk, it was someone......

Seems to me that if there is that much interest in starting baseball at UNT that someone would step forward and start a financial campaign to help get it started and rolling. Is there no one with any "deep pockets" in the entire DFW metroplex interested enough to do this? What about a corporate sponsor for a baseball park? I know UNT is working on naming rights for the football stadium, but seems the cost for a baseball stadium named in one's honor would be much less. If there truly is a good bit6 of interest in seeing baseball "re-ignited" at UNT, why is there nothing more than talk at this time? Just wondering. It seems baseball is "on the agenda", but when will there actually be any movement in that direction? Seems the department could work on more than one thing at a time. I know most, if not all, of us "poor working stiffs" are required to multi-task on a very regular basis. Any baseball fans out there with corporate contacts or "deep pocketed" friends/relatives? Really, what's holding up the show?

Nicely done ladies. Very clearly reflects that one can be a division one athlete AND a fine student at the same time. Not easy, but it can be done. You represent the Mean green extremely well, both on and off the pitch. Go Mean green Soccer. You ladies are the greatest! Good things are happening at UNT. GO MEAN GREEN!

Go for it. let us know how it works out for you. Good luck.

Dandy Don was always a favorite of mine even back when he played for SMU. You just had to like that guy. He had a way about him that was just classic cowboy and lived the lifestyle he wanted to live. Ran into him several years ago in Santa Fe, New Mexico...specifically in the bar at the LaFonda Hotel on the Plaza in Santa Fe (Dandy Don liked to hang out at that bar), and he was kind enough to give my daughter his autograph on a napkin. We still have that napkin. I, for one, am sorry to see Dandy Don pass into the great huddle in the sky, but if they were ever a guy who lived life to the fullest and seemed to enjoy every min. of it...it was Dandy Don. Still one of the best Dallas Cowboys QB's and Monday Night Football staffers there ever has been. Meredith and Cosell and Gifford...CLASSIC and GREATNESS! Rest in Peace Don Meredith and thanks for all the great times and great memories. You will be missed. Viya Con Dios!

I have been researching this question for our staff for some time. It seems many of the "known" carriers are not writing new individual policies at this time due to uncertainty with the new so-call health insurance reform bill. In addition, many companies, our little non-profit included, has had to pass along a bigger chunk of the cost to our employees this year as premiums have skyrocketed on our renewal policy. How you liking that new health care bill now folks????? Not trying to get political, but it has been a disaster for many more folks than ever thought. Many bigger forms (can you say AT&T and Lockheed???) are even looking at dropping certain coverages and/or passing along increased costs to their employees. Joy of joys! That being said...$600/month for family coverage...wife and three kids...two with special needs...seems reasonable to me based on what our employees are paying this year. PM me and I can give you the name of a couple of folks to call about individual coverage possibilities. Our very own harry may can be of a big help as well...you might want to PM him as well. happy to help if I can...I share your pain!

For the same reson that so many on this board seem to care about Mike Leach?

Yes...well stated!

Hopefully, pretty easy...next season! GO MEAN GREEN!

Sort of blows a hole right in that theory of "all you need to do is win and the fans will show up", doesn't it? When a "Christmas lighting on the square" is the reason there are so few fans at a BB game for a university with over 37,000 students (who some here have said they can't come because they are studying) and a community with close to or just over 100,000 (including students), well it pretty much points out the need for some marketing and promotions work, doesn't it? It's really hard to sell even as good a product as UNT basketball when you don't do anything in the way of marketing and/or promotions. Oh, well, there are folks on the board who think UNT does all it can and has a great staff (I'll give you the "great staff" as far as personnel are concerned), but is that "great staff" actually charged with marketing and promotions or held in any way accountable as most folks are in their job duties and responsibilities? Is there a marketing/promotions budget centered around basketball? I really have no clue, but based on what I have seen and the effort made, I would say "no". Maybe attendance is really pretty good considering that even the athletic dept. is doing a good job of keeping it a secret from the public. OK, pound away, but I get more info on Denton HS, Guyer HS and Ryan HS sports activities (I am not talking about game reports here but rather pre-game news, events, etc.) locally than I do UNT. Jump on my case if you will for pointing out the obvious, but facts are facts. If we want to keep JJ as UNT's head coach, there definitely needs to be a change in attitude around here to help bring rears into the seats at the Super Pit. JJ has done his job, the players have done their job, but the athletic department is lacking as are in the fans in "doing their part".

Priceless! The kid is a competitor and has a heart as big as Texas. He is a champion. He is our champion and I hope to see him on the field next season...give, of course, that he gets a clean bill of health with no "but's or if's" from the medical folks. Thanks, Riley, for being the competitor that you are and for being a member of and leader on of UNT's team!

Good things are happening for UNT's football and overall athletic programs!