FirefightnRick

Niether was Kassel. He wasn't a D 1 college or an NFL guy, as were countless other "TOO" guys. You gotta love the naysayers. Rick

Wow. Where did that picture come from? Rick

I agree, although Purple is close to Blue. Now that I think of it, another hideous color scheme that involves Orange is that brownish maroon Virginia Tech uses. I forgot about that one. Rick

I thought the best part about Snowboard Cross is that there is no clock, no judging, just simply, the first one down the hill wins. Great stuff. Rick

...due to nothing else interesting, sports wise on tv, you know it's Football offseason when you find yourself actually trying to figure out the new scoring system in ice skating in the Olympics. Of course it doesn't hurt the fact that there's probably nothing more easier on the eyes than the U.S.'s Tanith Belbin to watch right now. That chic is smokin hot! I've enjoyed the Olympics so far. Best story to date is U.S's Ted Ligety making up 3 full seconds in the final two events of the down hill combined to win gold. I've been skiing since I was 6 but I've never snowboarded. But I'm starting to really like the new event, Snowboard Cross. It was hard to watch Lindsey Jacobelis, with a massive lead, blow it for the gold by showing off and causing her to fall. That will be talked about for years to come. Rick

And then drive like hell regardless if there's actually ice or not. stupidity=job security Rick

The only athletic color scheme more ugly than Orange and Blue(See Boise St and Utep) is Orange and Brown, Yellow and Sky Blue and Yellow and Brown. Yuk! Rick

Sorry y'all, I should have known not to throw that hook out there on Plumm's side of the boat. Rick

Yup, as long as you get rid of that puke orange outline on it. Rick

I thought our coaches never move up to higher programs? Rick

I could have sworn that your president or someone(Chancelor maybe?) took the tuition increase that the students voted for to start up a new football program and instead decided to direct that towards the new basketball gym. Is that correct? Rick

IF, we were to have to add another womens' sport I would like to see a women's Mean Green rifle shooting/target team. TCU has one and would give us a natural cross town rival to help gain support, plus the expense would be minimal? Plus, one of this area's top rifle marksman just happens to be an NT alumnus who competes internationally as well as throughout the U.S. He works with me and it wouldn't take a lot to talk him into asst coach for the cause. Just a thought. Rick

Yeah, that's been a fairly successful hat, possibly the most successful for NT the past several years. 4 years ago this past January, I emailed Zephyr Hats and included a photo of an all hunter green hat with white top button and vent holes that I did myself with the NT Exes logo on it, and asked if they would consider doing one like it? I then asked that since they had an "X LINE" version for several Texas schools, including one for Stephen F, that would they consider doing one for North Texas for their "X Line"? I also included phone numbers and email to RV and the athletic department in order to speed things up a bit. 3 days later the president of the company called me at home and asked if I had seen the designs they had sent me the day before and what I had thought about them? I checked them out and they included the hat above with the Eagle-with-teeth and a second hat with the Exes logo on it, without the word "Exes" on it of course. I told him I loved them and that I would take 4 of each. Several days later I got another email thanking me for the heads up and stating that they would be going forward with the Eagle-with-teeth logo for their "X Line" version for North Texas, but for whatever reason the athletic department couldn't give them the OK to do the Exes logo at the time? It took about 4 months for the "X Line" version to come out and I've seen more of them than any other hat. They have since come out with several versions of it, one with the Eagle head on a "UNT" bar, and one on a "trucker" style hat. It's always amazed me what you can get done these days with a simple phone call or email? Rick

Not sure about that. "They" picked a color that has been a part of our tradition for many years before and one that is used by other schools such as Michigan St and Marshall with great success. There is no excuse in my oppinion not to be able to get it out. If other producers such as Champion, Russell, Team Edition Apparell(Footlocker) and others want our business, then so be it. Jenzen and who ever else wants to throw excuses out there can go somewhere else? Rick

The photo of our newsest recruit(more than likely HAVING TO) wear a 3 year out-of-date Daffy hat along with a home-made T shirt at his signing speaks volumes of how poor of a job we are doing at improving our image and getting ou new look out there. But, as long as it only bothers me and a hand full of others and not anyone else on campus I suspect we will see more of the same? Rick

I spoke to the person in charge of purchasing for the NT Bookstore a couple of weeks back and said they are experiencing a problem getting suppliers who can produce orders in the correct "Kelly" green. Said they have not had a problem with "Champion" producing shirts and sweatshirts in the correct color, but that "Jenzen" is claiming they cannot? I told her there shouldn't be a problem in finding qualified textile producers who can supply material in the appropriate "Kelly" green because the URCM department actually set out to answer this problem, before it became one back in 2004. The URCM department sent out information to all college gear manufacturers(Nike,Rebock, Champion...etc) to find out what the average color they all use that is closest to our "Kelly". I too have seen some shitty light colored greens out there so far, but rest assure most of that stuff was not correct. The "North Texas Mean Green" T shirts that "The Footlocker" had at Hulen Mall during the Christmas holidays were spot on accurate to the correct "Kelly". I also suggested to the purchaser at the bookstore that she may also consider the fact that "Kelly" green accents much better with Black than with White. I think after the "Kelly" is out there for a while and all the manufacturers get on the same page(I hope) with the AD dept, URCM and the local stores that we will start to see a more unified scheme for our logos and gear. P.S. The very fact that there are different greens out there being "OKed" by CLC rather than being "Policed" like they promised they would do is just another reason for North Texas to get out of bed with them and go with another option. Rick

Bio: Played 9 seasons on the bench, very slow but I could cut a rug fairly well during the after game dances in High School. My two stepping abilities earned me a partial grey-to-black-shirt ship to play for the Ima Tellin' You Univeristy Battlin Worms, but I turned that down to pursue my degree in Business Undecided at North Texas. I have quick reflexes with a pick ax, certified in CPR and can always remember to keep the tank-to-pump lever open so that water actually comes out the other end when needed. FirefightnRick...........Large Rick

If your still needing a sponsor, Majestic Graphics out of Denton is willing to donate the T shirst. Whoever is in charge of the T Shirts give me a call at home. 817-999-9335. I told them we will need upwards of 35 shirts, or more? I'll need the artwork ASAP if we decide to go with these folks. Rick

I have a white XL #20 "Thomas" 2005 game jersey that also has the 30th Anniversery Sun Belt Conference logo on it that I am willing to part with for $125. Also, I plan on heading up the annual GMG.com game jersey order again this spring as long as our rep is still willing. Rick

If your still needing a sponsor, Majestic Graphics out of Denton is willing to donate the T shirst. Whoever is in charge of the T Shirts give me a call at home. 817-999-9335. I told them we will need upwards of 35 shirts, or more? I'll need the artwork ASAP if we decide to go with these folks. Rick

The 2004 Issue of DCTF ranks North Texas' 1999 class #4 in Texas behind Texas(76.2), Texas Tech(65.1) and TCU(58.8) and states the following: #4 NORTH TEXAS 1999 coach: Darrell Dickey Players signed: 28 (24 high school, four junior college). At the time: Dickey's first class didn't draw much attention, particularly in comparison to the standout classes at Texas, Texas a&m and TCU. At best, it was viewed as a promisiong first step in DIckey's attempt to rebuild the Mean Green. At the Finish: Let's hear it for a few good men. Eleven players failed to earn a single letter for the MEan Green, but those who contributed, contributed mightily. DB's Don McGee, and Crag Jones and TE Jeff Muenchow earned all-conference honors three times each, which, coincindentally, matches the number of Sun Belt Conference titles the Mean Green has captured under Dickey. Fifth Year Seniors: None Four-Year lettermen (6): Marcu Degrate, CHris McIver, Craig Jones, Don McGee, Jeff Muenchow, Matt Turney. Top Starters: Jones(four years); McIver, Muenchow, Turney(three years each). Original Texas Football ranking(on a 10 point scale): Not rated Final grade(on a 100 point scale): 53. I believe Turney started 4 years, not 3(2000 thru 2003). I'm still searching around for my '05 issue because it will have the 2000 class in it. Rick

UNBELIEVABLE! Boy, I feel the love. For the third straight year you guys picked "C" shift(April 15th) to have this on. What the ? Luckily I changed to "A" shift last month so count me in. Rick

Suggestion at the bottom. I went into our new Hibbets Sports store here in Weatherford yesterday and as usual it was an orange-out throughout the store including many many hats. Very little of anything else, especially TCU, who dollar for dollar, pound for pound had a much better season than most. And zero NT gear. The place was empty and the mgr asked me if he could help? I asked if he had anything for North Texas and he immediately stated: "No, we don't currently have anything for North Texas, the licensing is just too difficult for us to get ahold of any of their stuff". I said, "so............, you don't handle anything licensed by Collegiate Licensing Company?" He said "No". As he's saying that, I'm picking up a Longhorn hat and turning it over to show him CLC's hologram. He then got that confused look on his face. I politely told him there shouldn't be any problem getting NT's stuff, that NT is currently in it's 11th year contract with CLC out of Atlanta and currently has a complete new line of licensed product designs which will have been on their data sheets a year this coming April. I then asked him if he could get me their licensing rep's number so I could call and ask a few questions, and he did. As I was walking out I noticed half a wall near the door that was dedicated fully to youth Lacrosse gear: Helmets, Shoulderpads, Balls, Pads, Jersey's, Sticks and a progessional Lacrosse Magezine. I asked the guy, "Hey, is Weatherford High School now playing Lacrosse? He came over and said, no, not that I heard of. I asked: "Is there a Weatherfod Lacrosse Youth program now available?". He said "No, not that I heard of". I asked, "Is there a Lacrosse program anywhere in Texas?". Again, he got that confused look on his face and said, "No, not that I know of, but our buyer said he had heard of some clubs playing in Fort Worth(30 Miles to the east) so I suppose that's why we are carrying this stuff?". I walked out thinking they damn sure would sell more TCU and NT stuff before they sell a youth Lacrosse helmet. In Weatherford in fact, they would have a better shot at selling a horse bridle and bit before they sell one of those magezines, but that's just my oppinion. So I call Hibbits Sports. They are out of Birmingham Alabama and I get ahold of the guy and asked him what kind of problems they are having getting North Texas gear. He laughed and said that's not the case at all, that they just have not recieved any interest for that store yet. That the demand right now in this region is for UT stuff(As if I coudn't tell). He said they have recently opened a store in/near Denton on I-35E and that they should have NT gear. I told him that's fine, but that's over an hour drive for me. I also told him stores in Fort Worth do not seem to have a problem selling NT merchandise and that I suggest he contact the buyer for the Weatherfod store and ask if they could send them some gear as well, as the store seemed to have plenty of shelf space for it. He said he would. He said he's a graduate of Troy and is fully aware of the concerns for the smaller programs and is quite aware of the Mean Green and saw this years past game in Denton. He invited me to come to Troy next season and reiterated that he would ask the regional buyer about North Texas gear in their stores. I spoke to the NT athletic department about this as well yesterday afternoon. It's their job to contact these folks in around the metroplex and as we can tell, the stuff is showing up more and more, but they haven't been able to get ahold of everyone. They are also not currently showing Hibbets Sports as a dealer for North Texas gear, although I imagine the one near Denton is probably handling our gear now. If they are not, they need to be of course. Let me reiterate: STORES, RETAIL STORES, SPORTS STORES AND ALL RETAIL SUPPLIERS IN BETWEEN......DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE TO ORDER AND SELL NORTH TEXAS MERCHANDISE. It's only if the person is manufacturing the product for them to have to be licensed by CLC. Only if they are manufacturing the products! Any thing else told to you when/if you ask for these progucts is only a convenient excuse by someone who does not know what they are talking about, and as my dear friend HUFF alway say's........"AND THAT'S OK". Take the chane to educate them while helping our cause in getting these products out. The AD dept's suggestion is that the above situation is the very best thing we as the Mean Green Nation can do to help, and that is to ASK FOR NORTH TEXAS MERCHANDISE WHEN SHOPPING IN STORES. Most people simply walk in, don't see anything for North Texas, and then walk out. Don't do that. Be polite, and ask for it as if you expect them to walk you over to it because you simply did not see it. If they don't have it, ask when it's coming as if you expected them to have ordered it and it just has not come in yet. Everytime you walk by the store, ask again, and again. If the store has any interest in it's customers, their management and buyers will get the word. Rick

I hope I can move that well when I'm 63. Regardless, good show with a classic rock theme by a classic rock band. Rick