KRAM1

Really a sad statement from someone who considers himself a supporter of UNT. If UNT played in Denton High's stadium I would expect our fans to show up and support the program. If you live in Houston, that might be a better understood reason why you don't come to games, but not coming because of Fouts? Really? You are kidding, right? This says something about a good many people who say they support the program, but seem to find reasons why actually to not do so. Really, Fouts, Fouts is the reason...the only reason, you don't support the team with your attendance? Please explain further, as on the surface of it, it really seems like just an excuse. I'll certaily be open to further review if you would care to explain further.

Could the season hurry up and get here PLEASE. The off-season is way too long as indicated by this never-ending conference this or that stuff. Folks, sit back, relax...believe it or not, you (nor I) have anything to say or do about it. Let the folks that make their living messing with this stuff handle it. They will do what they believe is in the very best interests of UNT and its programs, and we can then watch UNT beat whichever team from whichever conference UNT is playing that day. And, it will do wonders for you blood pressure. Please, God, let the season get here! GO MEAN GREEN! PS Yes, I realize I can just ignore it, but even in threads with different titles it seems to get back to conference realignment.

Lifer...you just make me smile. Tell me the sport with the brilliant referees, umpires, etc. that I can watch who never make "moronic" decisions. The NFL boys make some really stupid calls and they have instant replay and refs all over the field. Not just one in the middle. baseball has umps all over the field and they can't get a call right at first base, etc., etc. Volleyball refs call balls out when they are clearly in and "bad touches" when no...not bad. Please do tell me where I find those human refs who make no "moronic calls". Again, if you don't like soccer, that's really OK...no one says you have to enjoy the "beautiful game".

Note that is says what UNT doesn't have is "fans". Hmmmmmmmmmmm...I wonder who could help change that perception?

We also need supporters who do more than complain about everything that goes on, and we need students who actually support their fellow student-athletes by showing up for the games in much larger numbers than they do. Winning is about attitude as well as ability. Attidue from the entire Mean Green Nation! We have all seen teams with great athletes lose and teams win with athletes not considered so grand. If you believe you can do something and work hard good things seem to come your way even in sports. You absolutely have to think it and dream it. In my opinion, that goes for students and supporters as well. Football is the "bell cow", make no mistake about that, but to think that UNT is not committed to winning based on the last couple of year's record is a mistake. I think each and every member of the UNT football team is a "winner". If they were not, they would not be playing D1 football at UNT. Our facilities are excellent and getting better, and the university administration in recent years has been very supportive of athletics. Now UNT needs its fans, alumni, supporters and students to step up and match the efforts the administration, coaching staffs, AD, and players are making. I see too much lacking in the area of support as the number one challenge facing UNT athletics and the university in general these days. Too many people seem to think it is "someone else who bears the responsibility and they will simply ride the coattails after that "someone else" has done the heavy lifting. Amazing what a little help from one's friends can do. GO MEAN GREEN!

I like Gomez for the start over Findley, and I like Feilhaber as a sub as he tends to bring some new energy into the mix as a sub and tends to help control that midfield at times when the US is breaking down a bit in the midfield. Bornstein worries me a bit, but he held is own yesterday and as Onyewu is definitely not 100% fit, I'd go with Bornstein. Onyewu can come in late if needed. Bradley is having an absolutely fantastic World Cup and is developing into a real team leader. I'll be with the bride at the Ginger man and Idle Rich in Dallas watching the game and drinking some great beers. It is going to be a great day. Ghana scares me as they are so you and athletic. However, I like playing them in the round of 16 over Germany just for the psychological fact that Germany is, well, Germany and a traditional soccer power whereas Ghana is a bit of an unknown to the US squad so no reason to have any psychological disadvantage. Challenge for the US will be for them to not go down a goal early and to keep the pressure up in the midfield. The US back line just does not give me a great sense that they are "together" as yet, but a win over Ghana and a trip to the round of 8 could do a lot to bring the back line together. Dempsey "deserves" a goal after all his trials and tribulations. He is being beat up by the opposing teams and he is handling the misfortunes well. I hope he gets a goal Saturday (for several reasons). For me, he had definitely earned it! USA-USA-USA!!!!!!

CBL...nice explanation of the "stoppage time" situation. BTW...found this quote also in today's Wall Street Journal..."Remember June 23, 2010: the day the lame old "Soccer is boring" argument finally died in the U.S.". "If you weren't completely, utterly thrilled, exhausted and satisfied by Wednesday's 1-0 Team USA World Cup thriller over Algeria, you're a lifeless sports corpse. You are banned from all future U.S. World Cup matches and hereby ordered to spend the rest of the season watching the moribund Baltimore Orioles, eating cold oatmeal in a Slanket". Life, forevereagle, etc., etc. are you listening?????

Best way for UNT to "get noticed" and earn respect is to keep doing what it is doing...getting better. With the upgraded facilities for athletics overall, with teams in most sports doing quite well and with solid and improving academic standards and programs and with an improving football team, UNT is on the correct path. This stuff takes time. To get all fired up and disappointed over what some "talking heads" on message boards and radio talk shows have to say is of no real consequence and matters not to what and how UNT is doing about its own house. The stuff that does bother me is the continuing "bad mouthing" of UNT by its grads and so-called "fans". The fastest way to lose some one's respect is to bad mouth your own program on a consistent basis and to show continued lack of support. UNT's "supporters" do seem to have a penchant for first looking for something they don't like and only if they can't find something they don't like will they decide that not all is wrong at UNT. You might be surprised how your attitude might change if you first looked for the "good stuff" (yes, I remind you that there is plenty of good "stuff" to be found if you will simply open your eyes to it). Life is too short to go around complaining about everything all the time. The "younger" crowd on the board will realize that soon enough and everyone, of any age, should realize that being known as a university whose "fans" do not support it does absolutely no good. Whining and complaining constantly does no good. Want to help UNT improve? Easy, support the university. That's what you CAN do. Don't give that lame old excuse (because that's exactly what it is...an excuse) that you won't support UNT until......or the lame old excuse that you were somehow "dissed" or "wronged" some long years ago. What to see UNT improve...be part of the solution not part of the problem. UNT is a GREAT university any way you want to judge it. I am extremely proud to say I am a two-time graduate of UNT and I take a back seat to no person in that regard. It is a privilege to support UNT in the small ways that I can and wish only that I had the resources to provide enough funds to add both baseball and men's soccer to the program. If I had that kind of $$$$ UNT would have baseball and soccer right now. Alas, my name is not Gates. But, whatever is possible is enough...do what you can. But, everyone can be positive and supportive. It does not cost a dime to let people know how great UNT is these days. GO MEAN GREEN!

King...the goal was scored in the 91st minute. Yes, a game is 90 min. plus time added for game stoppage (injury, subs, etc.). Yesterday's game had 3 min. of stoppage or extra time. Let me quote an article in today's (6-24-10) Wall Street Journal...P. A3: "The US soccer team Wednesday prompted Americans to forget the problems besetting their country and embrace a sport that they usually ignore...". the article goes on to say "At 11:46 Eastern time, America suddenly looked as if it were becoming a soccer nation. In a terminal at New York's LaGuardia Aiport, a loud cheer arose from long-delayed passengers watching the game. On the other side of the country, in downtown San Francisco, a car full of soccer fans drove down California Street waving American flags from the windows and cheering. In Washington cheers arose from legislators who had paused to watch the game amid deliberations over the financial-overhaul bill". it continues..."Within moments of the goal, Twitter - the online social networking site-became so over-loaded with traffic and ceased working for hours". As to the comment about the refs...agree...however, show me a sport anywhere where the refs are always consistent and wonderful. Seems a No-No was "lost" due to a pretty bad call in MLB recently. I recall that UNT lost a pretty good game in Austin a few years ago on a late blown TD call. Ask Nebraska about some calls against Texas, check out what Team USA basketball still says about the Olympic gold medal game against the Russians a few years back. Soccer does not have a lock on inconsistent refereeing. Anyway, you like it, you don't, no problem. But, you might give it a few more tries...you probably didn't like beer the first time you took a sip either! Soccer might just grow on you as it seems to be doing the rest of the nation. USA-USA-USA-USA!!!!! Saturday...9:30AM...USA vs Ghana in the round of 16. Can they? Will they? Yes, they will (maybe, I hope!).

Travis, this may be true, but what a sad comment on the attitudes of current UNT students. There should be something more than winning that brings a student out for a game...maybe to support their university or the guys working their tails off to represent their university on the field, or all the band members who practice night and day in good weather and bad to represent their university, the cheerleaders perhaps or maybe just some plain old fashioned school spirit. If today's students cannot find a way to enjoy a Saturday afternoon or evening at a UNT football game then we have a very un-creative and dull bunch of students. What you say may be 100% true, but it's a sad attitude. If winning is the key, as you allude...and the ONLY key to student attendance, then tell me why student attendance at basketball games where UNT is the SBC tournament champ and an NCAA tourney team, is so poor as well????????? Has to be something more.

That...and I'll give you a BIG +1 for it as well! In a nutshell, that about says it!

At what point will you and your administration stop blaming everything on the Bush administration and actually start taking responsibility for your own decisions and actions?

Yes, I have heard that, but still wonder if it is actually an ultimatum and a "drop dead" requirement. I have heard such things many times before (in several athletic and non-athletic settings) which always seemed to have a way of changing. I really think UNT has a great shot at a 7+ win season in 2010, but I am wondering why improvement to 5-6 wins would not be enough to get another year after the struggles the last few years and the massive improvement in classroom performance and decrease in "off-field" troubles by the team? Just wondering if there really isn't a decent amount of wiggle room in the "7 win" thing as I have never heard RV say directly "If Coach Dodge does not win 7 or more games in 2010 he will not be UNT's head coach in 2011". I do understand, however, how the comment captured in the podcast mentioned could be seen as a concrete ultimatum, just personally don't see it that way...too much wiggle room with the "what I was saying was......". Personally, I hope for a 7+ win season and then it will be a mute point/question. GO MEAN GREEN!

Who the person with no sense of humor who gave me a -1 for that post? Geeeeeeeezzzzzz!

Update...we will have Rick V as a special guest at the Mixer. he should arrive between 6:30 and 7PM, so that is great. You'll have a chance to talk with RV about the stadium or anything else you would like to speak with him about. He has always been great to chat with and is always available to the Mean green nation. Come on out...whether you are an Alumni member or not...and enjoy the company of your fellow Mean green nation members. heck, if you aren't a member you might discover that it would be a good thing to join. All members, friends of UNT and family are welcome. Hope to see you there!

Donovan comes through with a GREAT goal in stoppage time to put the US through to the quarterfinals! Not only is the US through to the quarters, but they are Group winners over England! How sweet is that? It has been since the 1930's I think the announcers said since the US won a group in the World Cup! man, oh, man! These guys never seem to make it easy, but winners they are today! The US deserved to win this game as they were the best team on the pitch all day and certainly so in the second half. Why the Algerians were playing for the draw it seemed when a draw would knock the out of the Cup is beyond me, but Donovan hits again late and the US is through to the quarters! WOW...WOW!!!!! USA-USA-USA-USA!!!!!!!! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!!!!!

I know this "7 win" thing has been debated and kicked around a good bit. But, I can find no actually comment from RV that TD has...HAS...to win 7 games or UNT will have a new head coach. I have heard reference to the "6 wins isn't good enough" thing, but that can be spun several different ways. Is there any real and verifiable evidence that it is 7 wins or gone? I mean is there solid evidence and/or verifiable material where RV has said"Coach Dodge you have to win seven games next season no matter what the circumstances or you will not be returning as head coach in 2011"...or something close to that??? I tend to believe that TD will be evaluated after the season on the whole of the season...on and off the field...and a decision will be made as it is after every season. The number of wins being VERY important but not the only factor in the equation. Anyway, win 7 or more and it's a mute point. Win less than 7 and we'll all find out.

Todd Dodge

Yep, it's all about spelling. Forget that dumb stuff about what a guy is trying to say, it's the spelling that counts. Pretty funny. You know, none of this would have happened if teachers in high school and college actually counted off for spelling mistakes in history, science, econ, etc. classes. We should all realize that spelling only counts in English class, and, of course, on the GMG.com website. Now, let me hit spellcheck before I post this!

WOW! Another perfectly good goal disallowed for the US in the first half against Algeria! I simply cannot believe it. Is the US squad "snake bit"? We'll see. Their fate is still in their own hands. With England up 1-0 on Slovenia the US needs a win against Algeria to advance. Jozey missed an open (well almost open) net near the end of the half. Just tap the darn thing in the net, instead he blasts it well over the goal post! UGH! Cannot do that and advance. We'll just keep watching. It will be a fast and furious second half for both squads, but the Algerians will probably play for the tie and hope the England score holds. The US must push forward. Donovan needs to step up and lead his team to victory...something he is very capable of doing and something he has done time and time again. GO USA!!!!!

Just remember, some said there was no way a "quality" candidate would want the UNT job after what happened to Dr. B and the "control" that Jackson would wield. I think that our interim prez is just that, and that he is not looking for a long term gig. Too bad as I too think this guy is a quality guy. However, the pressures on an interim are not the same as the pressures on a long term president. It is a bit "easier" to be well liked when you know you will not be around all that long. That being said, I still believe the UNT prez job is a great one and that UNT will attract any number of excellent, experienced and well-qualified candidates.

Way too early to be counting the Mean Green out! I think the Mean Green will surprise (in a good way) quite a few people this season. Looking for some great times and some great wins during the last season at Fouts. Go Mean Green.

I just cannot, for the life of me, see whay UNT would consider the WAC. Way too many issues with travel, game times, etc. Hate that west coast time!

I'm with you there CBL...you just have to pull for Greece if for no other reason than to support the Mean Green's own Tasty! Go Kickin' Greek Tasty's....GOOOOOOOOOOOALS!!!!!!!!

The next Denton Alumni Chapter Mixer is set for Thursday, July 8th at Fox and Hounds in Lewisville. The event starts at 6pm and runs until.......... It's a great time to mix and mingle with other members of the Mean Green nation and to get your UNT "fix". Alumni Chapter officers and board members will be there to answer your questions as will members of the Alumni staff. Hopefully, a special guest or two will be able to make it as well. Hope to see you there. Come relax after work and enjoy the company of the Mean Green Nation.