I wasn’t close to UNT athletics for as long as you, but I’ve come to the conclusion that UNT will always be ‘little ole UNT’ forever. No where near enough of the alumni or local community care if North Texas wins or loses. That’s partly because the school itself doesn’t care if they win or lose and partly because it’s always been that way. Just watch, they’ll find a way to douchebag up a decent basketball program again.
For as nice as Apogee is, it’s not very big and is never full. Even with all the alumni within 90 minutes of Denton it’s never full. The school and the vast majority of it’s alumni simply do not care about Mean Green athletics. I used to think that eagle could change its colors, but after years of futility the Benford debacle was finally enough to get me to see that UNT will always be UNT. ‘Twas ever thus.
Should North Texas be more than it is? Maybe/probably. Will it ever really fulfill that potential? Almost certainly not. (I think that’s mostly it’s own damn fault, but outside forces will also act to help stop substantive advancements)
Ultimately you have to choose to take the sane and sensible course where you understand that nothing will ever really change or stay in the crazy house with hundreds of your fellows.