FirefightnRick

My name is Ricky McKinney and I AM NORTH TEXAS!. I was born and raised in Burleson TX. Graduated from NT with a BBA in Strategic Management in 1990. I pledged Talons in the spring of '88. I was fortunate to get to travel with the Basket Ball team to Salt Lake City for NT's first and only appearance in the BIG DANCE in March of '88 and I've been a Greenblood ever since. I made most of the big games in that memorable '88 football season and it solidified my hunger for the Mean Green ever since. I was "Eppy" the mascot(now Scrappy) during basketball games after that year until I graduated. In 1990 I completed renovations on "Boomer", the artillery howitzer used at the football games. Through working on several projects for the athletic department for Talons I recieved my first job out of school working for Paramount Pictures performing as Rowdy the Armadillo mascot in the movie "Necessary Roughness". I also served as the liason between the wardrobe department and the AD dept which basically meant I was the equipment manager for the players and cast in the movie. I'm married with one child and reside in Weatherford TX. Of the 7 towns and cities across this state that I have at one time or another called my home, I would choose Denton over them all and feel for anyone who has to live in or near Dallas. I am a firefighter for the City of Fort Worth and work at Station 14 on Meadowbrook Dr. I am proud to be a part of this family called The Mean Green Nation. We are the true fans of this school and it's athletic program. We have been here during all the bad times and our patience are now being rewarded and it's only just begun. If your a new student or incoming student you couldn't have pick a more fun time to be attending school at this waking giant. Times have never been more exciting at North Texas than now. My fellow Greenbackers started cooking for the masses to try to encourage others to tailgate and enjoy themselves and it has just snowballed from there. What started out as a very small group put together by Mean Rob Black and others back in '98 has now become almost a way of life during football season. Good grief have the times changed for the better? We will be having a practice blowout cookout tailgate party on Saturday March 8th. I expect to see each and eveyone of you who can get to Fouts to be there. Go Mean Green Nation on the Rise, Baby!!!! Rick

According to the DMN she got to her sophomore year then hit the road for her tour. Rick

I've never even heard of her until tonight. My wife say's she really likes the song she sang tonight. I'm glad for her success even though North Texas will not get very much credit for any of it. I'm glad the DMN did the story on her or I would have never known she went to NT. I agreed with the young lady when she spoke into the mic and said, "I couldn't believe my type of music would be considered pop". Rick

hmmmm, didn't SWT beat UNO this season? Rick

I forgot to add that it was really awesome for you to come up and introduce yourself at the N.O. Bowl. It's always a thrill for me to get to put a face to a name. I'm looking so forward to seeing some softball next year. Rick

This makes sense now because the new commercials have not had him in them for a while and I wondered why? Rick

There was a basketball game last night? I was busy making out my vacation schedule for our three peat Football championship run next Fall. Rick

Ok, this is off subject, but I'll say right now that if your an Anti-War protester just stop reading any further. But since this is a football board, and football can be a violent activity, one of taking ground and giving it up, I thought some of you might find this a bit interesting at least to the extent that this country truly is made up of all kinds. Most of you are aware of the tragedy of 9-11-01. It affected this country greatly and we will never live the same as we did before. It affected my job professionally and personally as well. There is not a single person on my department, or in most of the large departments around the country that didn't know someone who was directly or indirectly affected by the 9-11-01 event in some way. They may know someone who works for FDNY, attended a class with them at the National Fire Academy in Baltimore, MD or someone who served on a national USAR team that helped in the following weeks to try to dig out those who lost their lives in the "Pile" and so on. We had several members of our department serve on the Texas Task Force USAR team who on their return shared their experiences of the horrors they saw. I personally built a memorial that is up in my station overlooking the massive Trucks that are parked, waiting for action in our truck bay. The memorial honors the men who served my station for a certain amount of years since it was first housed in a different location in 1922. On that memorial I placed a collection of debris given to me by a civilian friend and ex New York Native who brought it back for display. It serves as a reminder to us all of those who gave their lives that day so others may live. Then we went to war with Afghanistan, to take the fight to those who delivered that cheap shot on that fateful day. Now we are gearing up for war again against someone who seems vowed to help in any way to deliver another cheap shot at America. I'm not saying I know the rights and wrongs of Irag and the stakes that lie ahead in that venture, but I do know on a personall level we as a country, even overseas from that place, are going to be forever guarded against another attack. Personally I wished Bush Sr made a large crater of that place back in '91. This past week our Haz Mat teams are being briefed on the possible use of the toxin "Ricin" and it's potential use as a terrorist attack because an untold amount of it was recently found in a London apartment. How far is London from Ft. Worth? However far, that bit of news is HERE and is being given some interest. With this all being said, we have seen the War protesters on TV. I never give them much thought as they are usually the ones who want all the freedoms but refuse to help pay for it or honor those who did already. They are insignificant to me. But.... It just so happens that over 40 years ago, the men who laid their lives on the line for the citizens of East Ft. Worth from my station decided to name their Fire Engine. Firefighters are traditional. They are of the offensive mindset, at least until the defensive is all that is left. But Firefighters want to help in anyway, regardless of the emergency or danger. It's just their nature. And the men from my station decided to name their Engine "War Wagon" after the heavily iron-built stage coach in the 1950's John Wayne movie, "The War Wagon". Well, today we are on our 5th or 6th "War Wagon". The name can mean whatever you want it to mean. But I think back then over 40 years ago they meant for it to mean...."regardless of the danger that confronts us, we are going to get the job done"... The Iron Stage coach in the movie was specifically designed to do just that, get it's shipment through regardless of how many bandits and robbers it encountered along it's delivery line. We are proud of this piece of equipment as it's known throughout Ft. Worth always being present at many of the fires and emergencys in town and that it was used for many years as the burial coach for many of our FF's who past away or were killed in the line of duty. But here's the kicker and the point of this rant. Yesterday we were informed that a woman came into our fire station and demanded that we change the 40+ year old name of our engine to something else "less WAR LIKE such as Helper Wagon or something to that fact because the U.S. was preparing for an unjust war and it's just not right". Where.......................do these people come from? Rick

LOL! AA is going to be such a major BAD A$$ for this school. He's writing his own legacy for the hall of fame some day. I'm so proud of him. Rick

I'm not sure if this has been posted anywhere so I'll post it here again. And of COURSE!!!!....I have a couples baby shower in PLANO for my brother and sister in law to attend and have no way in hell to get out of it, so I can't take advantage of this deal so ya'll YELL FOR FFR! Rick Here's the ticket deal: On Saturday the game times have been changed to Men at 1:00 pm and women at approximately 3:30 pm. As a special treat, the North Texas Athletic Department will be honoring great from the basketball past. Those include Bill Blakeley, the 1987-88 NCAA tournament men's team, the 1985-86 NCAA tournament women's team, and the nine 1,000 point scorers in Lady Eagles history. The men will be honored at halftime of the men's game and the women will be honored at halftime of the women's game. Tickets for both games are $5 and $3. Season ticket holders are welcome to remain in their seats for both games except in Floor Seats, where we will work to accommodate everyone. Both games are televised on ESPN Regional as well. Thanks and Go Mean Green!

I agree, we should play UT Almost. We had a lot of fun taking over the SUPER PIT on the Stage during the late 80's, but a regional tournement just makes good sense and I would imagine JJ would agree to it. Remember though that when NT was in the SLC, we went to the big dance so we had our days in the sun in the SLC. But it will be even tougher to do that now in the Belt as it's had several teams represent in the big dance in the past including Western Kentucky making it to the sweet 16 at least twice. The SunBelt is no bottom feeder basketball or baseball league by no means. Rick

I'm as big a Cowboy fan as there is I suppose. I entered and won a crazy contest to win NFC semi final tickets against Greenbay, and paid $200 a piece for two other tickets for the NFC championship game against the niners for the '03 season. But I wouldn't mind seeing them lose a couple of more seasons and then TCU hit a slump so that it leaves the Mean Green as the only winning up and coming program in football in the metroplex. I'll sacrifice em all for the Mean Green. Rick

Why didn't Barnett get on the floor? Rick

The new floor great. I like the emblem in the center of the court as well and the Lady Eagles thing gives them something to hang their hat on too. They deserve it. I like the new lights too. It seemed more bright for sure. I did notice the lighter shade of green, but hey, it's not Blue or Burnt Orange. Rick

Coach, I'm looking forward to seeing Softball return to the home of the Mean Green. I hope we can get the Talons out in force with the Massive "Victory" Bell to chime in that first win. Good luck, Rick

I'll just say this, Silver Eagle was with me that weekend, and we were in Lafeyette as well, but we were not the only ones on this list who were:) Rick

TCU is going to be tough inside, but they don't seem to have the three point range, at least not tonight they didn't. Do we have the horses to beat this team at home this year? And the best part of the game was watching THE EMBEZZLER do his commercials for dog and cat products. You gotta hand it to tech. They are using his name and face to market their program and that's what you gotta do. I like the fact that you'll watch him do all these different commercials all in the same plaid sweater, meaning, they did them all the same day I suppose. NT could use some of their marketing techniques for sure. Sell Sell Sell!!! Rick

MEANGREENTACOBEAN Yeah, I agree. In the 20 months Rick has been on campus at North Texas, he should have AT LEAST had us playing in the Rose Bowl, with a 45,000 seat stadium near completion at the end of this semester, 15,000 season ticket holders, a 20,000 seat baseball stadium underway, our volleyball team ranked first in the NCAA's, our basketball teams both with NIT preseason invitations let along millions of dollars of endorsements to go with it all. I can't believe Dr. Pohl hired such a lazy slug? In seriousness, why in hell do we keep posting and putting this moronic thread back to the top? Rick

I know three personally. All are working and have good jobs. One works for the Dallas Morning News, and two for the Star Telegram. One of them in particular is considered by many in his specialty of choice to be, if not THE best, ONE of the best in the Nation. None of these three gentlemen have degrees. Just more proof that it's not where you get your degree or skill, but what you do with it. Rick

I attended three universities and this happens to nearly everyone unless it's a private school, and that's a major waste of your money. Hang in there. Remember, the squeeky wheel gets the grease. You made the right choice and it will pay dividends down the road. Rick

Silver will be there. Just like he was there in the Monsoon at Cajun Field last week. Rain or shine, Silver will fly like an Eagle. Rick

This does not surprise me in the least. And I don't have a problem with it either. Whenever you have gatherings with alcohol there's a good chance that things can get out of hand. But the groups who do this and are associated with the university have been expected to monitor themselves since their membership includes those who are not of age. However, their efforts to keep a handle on it has failed leaving officials who are responsible to end it. They have a responsibility to provide a safe environment and are the ones who get sued by the parents every time a kid gets drunk and falls off of a balcony or dies of alcohol poisoning. Same thing with the hazing. It gets out of hand leaving those who are in charge no other options but to step in and apply the strong arm. The groups who are affected have no one to blame but themselves. Surely this doesn't surprise anyone? Rick

The stupid shall be punished! Rick

Dave I completely agree. But if this happens, and it's left in Ft. Worth, I'm going to take up a collection of Mean Green gear from all of you(flags, schedules, posters etc...) take them by there and make sure they know who they represent every week. Rick

Did ya'll see channel five's preview of tomorrow's Star report about NT's interest in purchasing Texas Weslayan University's School of Law? I learned last spring that Weslayan had contacted NT about it in the past but we were not interested. Sounds like something has changed someone's mind. University president and current Judge Jackson maybe? Man, how does that bumper sticker go? " Sit down, Shut up and Hang on!", This ship is taken off! Rick