NT80

Go ask any local college football fan if they have EVER heard of Western Kentucky football. We are sinking deeper into the Twilight Zone of conferences.

UT 1st in merchandising revenue 02:35 PM CDT on Saturday, August 26, 2006 Associated Press AUSTIN – The University of Texas can add another national title – first in merchandising. Bolstered by a national football championship, UT led the nation in licensing revenue and set a record with $8.2 million in royalties from 2005-06, according to the company that handles merchandise licensing for 82 Division I-A schools. The record sales mark the first time UT has been first in royalties, knocking North Carolina from No. 1 for the first time in five years. "It's kind of that perfect storm, and we were able to capitalize on it," said Craig Westemeier, UT director of trademark licensing. "Everything had to go just right, and it did." Michigan held the previous record of $6.2 million in 1993-94, set during the school's "Fab Five" basketball era that included NBA star Chris Webber. Michigan finished second to Texas, according to Collegiate Licensing Co. Notre Dame, Georgia and North Carolina rounded out the top five. Schools that use other licensing companies or are independent include Ohio State, Southern California and Texas A&M. Revenues from those schools were not included in the rankings. Besides the Longhorns' first football title since 1969, a College World Series in 2003 also helped boost royalties by 103 percent. The money goes to entire university and not just the athletic department because the school owns the trademarks. T-shirts were the top-sellers for UT, followed by hats. After the Longhorns beat USC in the Rose Bowl, the school's 450 licensees sold everything from key chains to mini football helmets to a Waterford crystal football. Even coach Mack Brown's photo on the Wheaties cereal box brought in money. UT's standard royalty rate is 8 percent of each licensed item sold and 12 percent on national championship items. Derek Eiler, chief operating officer for the Collegiate Licensing Co., said pent-up demand fueled sales since UT hadn't won a football championship in more than 30 years. "The fan is the guy who'll buy six Longhorn shirts," said Eiler. "Then, there's fashion. Carolina had it with Carolina blue and the Michael Jordan thing. Texas happens to be experiencing that now, people think the Longhorn logo is cool."

I'd rather have La Tech. WKU football does nothing for the SBC except to reinforce it's image as a conference for 1-A newbies and orphans.

Sadly I just watched the scout team beat our main players in today's scrimmage. Granted these were mostly scripted plays and Jmo only played a series and JQuinn was missing and most of the scout team points were on kick returns and interceptions. But the 4th and 5th string QBs directed as many scores as the first and second units. It's going to be a long season......

You can come late and still see most of the scrimmage. The DRC said the main QB-play part wouldn't start until about 9:30ish.

UNT QB battle now in stretch run Wilson, Meager, Phillips all in contention 11:34 PM CDT on Friday, August 25, 2006 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer The battle for the right to start against Texas on Sept. 2 will enter its stretch run today with the same three North Texas quarterbacks still in the hunt. Woody Wilson and Matt Phillips will both play when the Mean Green conduct their final scrimmage of fall practice at approximately 9:30 a.m. Returning starter Daniel Meager could also play depending on his health. Meager has been battling nausea and headaches. “If they are all healthy and well, we are going to put all three of them out there and continue the evaluation process,” UNT head coach Darrell Dickey said. “It’s a big opportunity for all of them, but so was this morning’s practice and every practice we have.” Dickey said the Mean Green would begin preparing their top players for the chance to start against the Longhorns next week. UNT’s coaches have yet to decide on when they will name a starting quarterback for their season opener. Wilson missed the Mean Green’s first scrimmage of fall practice with a knee injury, but returned for the second last week. Dickey said after the scrimmage that Wilson helped his cause with a solid performance. “I wasn’t 100 percent healthy last week, but it was good to be out there with the team,” Wilson said. “I felt like I did all right out there. I am 100 percent now. My knee feels pretty good.” The opportunity to scrimmage just days before the Mean Green’s game against Texas will offer Wilson and UNT’s other quarterbacks perhaps their best chance to make a case to play against the Longhorns. The workout will also give the Mean Green a chance to work out a few kinks both offensively and defensively. “It’s important for us to play well,” Wilson said. “It’s more of a mental thing to go out there, correct mistakes and try to be as perfect as we can. We can build a little confidence and go out with a bang with that last scrimmage and get ready for next Saturday.” UNT is hoping that Meager will be able to take advantage of the opportunity after missing several days of practice. “We need Daniel back out there,” Dickey said. “Any practice you miss is important, but we also take into consideration what they have done over the long haul. We will have to see how healthy he is as we go along.” UNT’s quarterback competition will be just one of a few tight position battles that will continue in the scrimmage. The Mean Green are also sorting out their situations at cornerback and tight end. UNT will have two new starters at cornerback this season. Sophomore Dominique Green, redshirt freshmen Antoine Bush and Desmon Chatman and junior college transfer Roy Loren are all competing for starting jobs. “Every corner who is out there will be ready to step out there and play against Texas,” Green said. “We are solid and well-coached. Coach [Fred] Bleil has us ready to go.” UNT also has questions at tight end, where freshmen Bryant Seidle and Victor Gill are competing for playing time with returning starter Beau Davidson. Bomar released by OU, UNT has no contact Oklahoma spokesman Kenny Mossman said Friday that the school has granted a release to former quarterback Rhett Bomar. Bomar was dismissed from the team earlier this month for accepting improper benefits from a car dealership. Rhett Bomar’s father Jerry Bomar contacted UNT assistant head coach Kenny Evans to talk about his son’s future and the possibility of playing at UNT after his dismissal from OU. OU can restrict where Rhett Bomar may transfer after releasing him. UNT is scheduled to open the season against the Sooners in 2007. Mossman declined to comment on where OU would allow Rhett Bomar to transfer. Evans said he has not talked to Jerry Bomar since their initial conversation. Dickey also said he has not had any contact with the Bomars. Key players to miss scrimmage Wide receiver Johnny Quinn, linebacker Phillip Graves and tight end Robert Harmon will miss today’s scrimmage with injuries. UNT still expects Quinn, who had surgery on his left hand after breaking it in practice last week, to be back to practice next week. Graves injured his knee and will miss the Mean Green’s season opener. Quinn ran during the Mean Green’s afternoon workout on Monday for the first time since suffering his injury. Replay to undergo dry run today Sun Belt Conference officials will be at Fouts Field today to test the conference’s new replay system. The league will use five cameras at each conference venue. The NCAA approved the use of instant replay earlier this year. Dickey said UNT’s coaches would get a taste of how the replay process will work during the scrimmage. UNT’s players will also meet with a group of college officials this morning for a question-and-answer session regarding rules changes for the upcoming season. Dickey said the session will allow players to get a better grasp on how games will be called this season.

Excellent ideas.

Are Longhorns ready for the big screen? 12:22 PM CDT on Friday, August 25, 2006 This season will have everything, including a Godzillatron! Against North Texas on Sept. 2, Texas will not only unveil the team attempting to repeat as national champion, but the Longhorns also will debut Godzillatron, a 7,370-square foot, high-definition Daktronics LED scoreboard. For some reason, an upgrade to the old JumboTron at Texas wasn't sufficient unless it was the LARGEST FULL-SCREEN VIDEO BOARD IN THE WORLD. It sits above 4,000 portable bleachers Texas has added to help meet demand for tickets at Royal-Memorial Stadium this season. (Texas has sold out its allotment of 74,000 season tickets and could have sold at least 2,000 more). The number of portable bleachers will grow to 7,000 next season as Texas rebuilds its north end zone. Players have jokingly said they want to hold their Madden video-game tournament on the new board. They’ve also said they will need time to get used to Godzillatron. “It’s so big, hopefully I won’t get knocked out looking at it and trying to run,” said running back Selvin Young.

The Ticketmaster site has some bugs in it, or rather some lack of certain options. I would call or visit the NT ticket office direct and talk to them about what you want and where and mail it to them or give a card# over the phone.

I like the sound of it, now if we just see some action towards it.....

umm...not good. I hope to see mucho improvement tomorrow from Wilson and Phillips and Co.

It was on page 11 of the 2005 media guide. Same info or something new?

Why would that even ever come up in a coach talk?

I had some ticket issues too earlier in the summer, but most were finally corrected. I also asked for seat location changes but could tell it was not a priority with them so I didn't. The ticket giveouts at the cookout seemed a little unorganized and unannounced to many there. Maybe another 10,000 season ticket holders would help get the system up to speed?

Maybe Montana will be ready by then to move up.

What happened to the MAC invite they were waiting on? Nine (9) is a better number for conference scheduling (4 home and 4 away games) but I'd rather have La Tech in the conference.

*tenative future scheduled games 9-1-2007 @ Oklahoma 9-8-2007 @ SMU 9-20-2008 @ Miami 9-5-2009 @ LSU TBA-2010 @ Clemson

I'm not sure if that is accurate. I know in the past we had South American FishHawks posing as Eagles for our mascot, but I've never heard or read we had actual Bald Eagles before.

I'll never understand that call. They had all the momentum to win the game and he killed it, then they lose in OT. The expressions of his own players on the sidelines said it all.

So, he signed in May with UNT. If he goes to a JC could he then sign with another school after that or would it require a release from UNT?

Jaguars August 15: Re-signed tight end Greg Estandia and wide receiver Felton Huggins; released punter Toby Gowin and wide receiver Kahlil Hill.

We know how old you act, but how old are you really?

He should improve as he gets used to the college game, balls, and tees. The speed of the defensive rush in college is such a big change for a lot of high school kickers. It makes them tend to hurry kicks and not follow form.

This is like a repeat of Cobbs with a hand cast on taking handoffs and trying to catch a swing pass vs uT last time we played there...not good results.

Yes, when did she say anything about the quality of athletics other then she's heard of Mean Joe? I do think we want to know how she feels about athletics at North Texas; perhaps an interview with GMG.com reporters??