KRAM1

Poland? Who knew they played American football in Poland? That would be something to watch. Good luck to Eddrick.

But, how many of those play for UNT?????

My bride and I went. It was a very nice event with some food and drinks being provided. The walls of the room were set up with easels and various drawings and photos of the stadium. "Final" images were not changed from what we have seen previously. I was told that the stadium would "open" with seating near the 35,000 range. I think that's been bantered about enough. Talked to RV for a good bit of time. He said he is very very busy with the construction and that things are progressing very well. Cooper was there doing his thing to sell seats and get folks revved up about the stadium and all it means to UNT and the community. Hank was there, but I failed to notice any coaches around while we were in the room but we were there early...around 5:45-6:30PM and then we took off for the Square across the street to enjoy a bit of the "Music on the Square" Thursday night event. Saw several fellow GMG.com folks at the event. All in all it was very nice and well done. I am very glad to see UNT getting "out and about" with this sort of thing. It was a very nice way to let the Denton Community (those perhaps not so close to the program) see what the new stadium is all about. We had a great chat with RV and Cooper. If you can't get excited about what this new stadium means for UNT and Denton, then you must have a very hard time getting excited about anything. Anyway, nice event. Thanks to RV and the dept. for getting it set up. Oh, BTW, there were UNT cheerleaders manning (or should I say "lady'ing") the door to UNT on the Square. I thought that was a nice touch. Thanks to the Cheer squad members for turning out and helping as well. GO MEAN GREEN!

So, where are folks planning on watching the game? Should we try to get a GMG.com watch group together...say at the Pourhouse or some other location for the USA-England game? It is a Saturday and I believe the "kick-off" is at 1:30PM CST. Good Saturday beer drinking time! What could be better than that? Any thoughts on a gathering spot? I am sure there will be places all over the metroplex for viewing, but it might be fun to get a few GMG.com "soccer" fans together for a meet and watch! Thoughts?

I like the way you think! To put it simply..."it ain't THAT hard" to come up with some ideas. Giving two tickets (upper section seats I would think) is a great idea. What in the world would it hurt? As you say, maybe you gain some new season basketball ticket buyers or at least some folks might return for a future game or two. Plus...more concession sales. That counts for something. Love the idea of a "game day sponsor" and lighting the place up for the game...maybe green lights????

Agree 100%. I am often amazed at how little people know about Memorial Day and what it signifies, and how little they care to know about it other than it's a "day off".

I think I'll wait and see how the season plays out on the field and in the classroom. I'm thinking good things for the Mean Green this year!

Pretty much like athletes and fans in general...go figure!

All the players now criticizing the ball have had plenty of opportunity to get used to the ball. It has been in play for several months and many of the players have had the opportunity to use it is game situations and at practice. Plenty of warning and plenty of opportunity to see how it reacts in various situations and under various conditions. If those now criticizing the ball didn't take advantage of the opportunity, well, shame on them. GAME ON! Guess what...every team will be using the same ball. Get over it, shut up and play. One thing that may be causing a bit of a challenge is the altitude of may of the venues and how a ball...any ball...reacts differently at different altitudes. Ever hit a golf ball in Denver as opposed to Dallas? Same things happen to soccer balls at varying altitudes. Everyone will get used to the new ball and the wins and/or losses will not be due to the ball itself, but how and where the teams kick the ball. With it being much cooler in South Africa than in many of the recent World Cup locations this time of year, it might make for an even more exciting Cup as players may not "wear down" as fast in the cooler temps. We'll see soon enough. USA...USA...USA...USA...USA......GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!

YES

Should this be filed under the category of "any pr is good pr"? I really have no problem with the ranking at 120. Given the past couple of years it is hard to see how UNT could be rated much higher going into the season. However, my concern lies only with the ranking coming OUT of the season! Every team is 0-0 right now, and everything is simple speculation. My personal speculation is that UNT will surprise a lot of people this year, even some of its more loyal and positive fans with a winning season. I have renewed our season tickets, of course, and am really excited to see the season get underway. It should be fun to watch a much improved Mean Green squad, and to be witness to the last season at Fouts Field. Memories to be made this season. BE THERE...be part of the history! GO MEAN GREEN!

Agree. Just think what could happen with even a bit of publicity. Thus, the thought that plans might should be in the works already. Not only for this game, but for the entire season. JJ has built a great team and the schedule is looking much better than last season's for some interesting and exciting match ups. It would be a shame if the students and fans didn't turn out to support this team. However, sometimes a program actually needs to let folks know about the great match ups and do what it can to build some anticipation and excitement ahead of time. This could be another trip to the NCAA's for the Mean Green. Sure would like to see the Mean Green average at least 3500-4000 for each home game. Could happen with improved student support, alumni interest, a push to educate the local community and some good old fashioned publicity...a promo or two wouldn't hurt either. You just got to love those "Little Dribblers", but they really don't do much to sell tickets or keep the fans in attendance glued to their seats at half time. My bride and I will be in our usual seats, but UNT could use several more and new season ticket holders to help "Pack the Pit" this season. GO MEAN GREEN. I thinks its time the Mean Green faithful "re-pay" JJ for all the work he has done in building a solid program by attending the games in much larger numbers. Want to keep the program on track? Support it!

Sigh......

Got it...thanks. I am hopeful that the athletic dept. staff will see the "low hanging fruit" for this game and get out in front of it with some "Pack the Pit" promotions. If they need help, I am sure the great drex would be able to provide lots of tried and true suggestions. It is not too early for there to be some planning going on surrounding this home game. I don't think it necessary to "wait" until football is over to start getting the word and excitement out about this game. Thanks for helping to get the crowd out for the OK State game. Maybe someone else on campus might come up with an innovative way or two or three to help get the students to turn out. While the student turnout for the OK State game was OK, it was not nearly what should/could have been in the Pit that evening. Just think what might have happened to attendance if you had not put up all those signs? GO MEAN GREEN...BEAT TTECH!!!!!

Now that would be interesting...and revolutionary for college football.

Are you saying that printing flyers and taping to doors is the only idea one can come up with as to how to help drive attendance or are you saying there is nothing going on as it is "expected" that 5,000+ will show up "just because"? I didn't even know you would be asked to print flyers and tape them to doors. Wow...who knew? Surely you jest?

I hope your "expectations" are correct. It would help if there was some good hype and PR ahead of the event.

Legacy in this case meaning a position passed down from father to son. Sorry i didn't make myself clear on that.

OK, this is a perfect game for a "PACK THE PIT" night. If the dept. cannot do something to get fans out for this game it will be a real shame. I hope there are plans being developed right now to promote this game BIG TIME! It is early season enough, a name team, a Texas team, a recognizable team, a legacy coach, etc., etc. There is everything to like about this match-up. It could be a big win for the Mean green both on and off the court. IF, it is promoted early and often. This will be great. I can't wait to be there on the 16th to see the Mean green beat Texas Tech as they did Oklahoma State a couple of seasons ago. As Mean Green nation members let's do our part to get the word out and to help promote this game...early and often...and with any support from the athletic dept's PR and promotions dept. it is very possible that we could see in excess of 6,000 in the Pit for this game. I would say "sell-out", but i don't want to get too far ahead of myself here. Let's make sure we do all we can to "PACK THE PIT" on the 16th!~ can't wait. Question. Will the students come out for this game in LARGE numbers???? GO MEAN GREEN...Go JJ and Company!!!

Here's a little interesting "factoid" about the World Cup that was in today's Wall Street Journal. I was not aware that no team with a foreign- born head coach has EVER won the World Cup! Team with foreign-born coaches have made the finals in only three World Cups and have won NONE! This is pretty amazing when you think of all the teams having had foreign-born coaches over the years. In the current World Cup England is coached by Fabio Capella from Italy and South Africa is coached by a Brazilian with Ivory Coast being coached by a Swede. Ten other teams are coached by foreign-born coaches. But, England is the only "power" team going with a foreign-born coach. I wonder what the England fans think of this little bit of "factoid"? Probably not that much, but it will be interesting to see how teams fare with foreign-born coaches in this World Cup. The overall World Cup record of foreign-born coaches according to the Wall Street Journal article is: 76-110-46. USA...USA...USA...USA!!!!!

Mat God Bless all who served and may we all remember why men serve and why they stand ready to pay the ultimate price for our freedom.

True enough, but Arlington hold the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a special area for those who served and lost their lives in the current conflict. The significance of Arlington should not be missed by anyone. It is not just any national cemetery. If you have ever been there and walked on the hallowed ground you will know exactly what I mean. The only other cemetery where I have felt the same emotion was when I had the honor of visiting the American cemetery in Normandy, France. My Dad is buried in Dallas' National cemetery and I will, one day...hopefully not to soon, join him there. My family, as are many others, is well aware of the significance of each and every national cemetery including the very special significance of Arlington. One would think our president would know that as well. However, as a veteran, and the son and grandson and great grandson of a veteran, I am not overly concerned that the president felt it OK to go home for a short vacation with his family rather than spend time at Arlington national cemetery. He will honor Memorial Day at a national cemetery convenient for him.

I'm loving this futbol talk! Nice to see the US beat Turkey 2-1 yesterday in a tune-up game. The only challenge with Argentina's Messi is his history of playing great for his club and then disappearing for national team play. Probably has a lot to do with the current coach, Maradona, and how he uses Messi. For my money Messi is #1. Let's see, however, if he "shows up" for this World Cup. Hope so. If he does Argentina could make a go of it. I think the US has an excellent chance of getting out of group play. And, being #1 in their group is not out of the question after watching England play a couple of tune-ups. England beat japan today 2-1 but all three goals were scored by Japanese players. Very odd game for England. GO USA!!!! If they tie or beat England it will be on to the next round for the USA.

Wouldn't know...he wasn't there. Too bad, we missed him. Hope the schedule works out better next year! Speed kills!

The folks you are staying with in the beach house will be happy to provide you with an education.