NT80

Denton hosts McKinney in game 2 of the Championship series (best of 3) at the Ballpark on Bonnie Brae tonight. Perhaps a League Championship their first season would help to raise funds for the proposed new Baseball Stadium with UNT. Denton beats McKinney in Series opener Friday

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As league champ, I'd still prefer us go to the Big Easy. If we finish less than first then Ft. Worth would be a great consolation prize. And Yes, it is usually too cold in DFW the end of December to be at an outdoor stadium. Just ask the Ft. Worth Bowl fans here last year.

Not catchy enough, too hard to remember for new Joe Wannabee Fan passing by on the freeway seeing a billboard.

From the look on the WebCam it appears all the main yard lines are in. I'm anxious to see the endzones and 50yd line logos. Fouts Field Cam

The NT poster schedule shows it will be on ESPN+Plus.

Good to hear that, thanks.

Florida State to Challenge Ban on Mascots By MICHAEL MAROT, AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS - Fed up with what it considers "hostile" and "abusive" American Indian nicknames, the NCAA announced Friday it would shut those words and images out of postseason tournaments, a move that left some school officials angry and threatening legal action. Starting in February, any school with a nickname or logo considered racially or ethnically "hostile" or "abusive" by the NCAA would be prohibited from using them in postseason events. Mascots will not be allowed to perform at tournament games, and band members and cheerleaders will also be barred from using American Indians on their uniforms beginning in 2008. Major college football teams are not subject to the ban because there is no official NCAA tournament. Affected schools were quick to complain, and Florida State — home of the Seminoles — threatened legal action. "That the NCAA would now label our close bond with the Seminole people as culturally 'hostile and abusive' is both outrageous and insulting," Florida State president T.K. Wetherell said in a statement. "I intend to pursue all legal avenues to ensure that this unacceptable decision is overturned, and that this university will forever be associated with the 'unconquered' spirit of the Seminole Tribe of Florida," he added. The committee also recommended that schools follow the examples of Wisconsin and Iowa by refusing to schedule contests against schools that use American Indian nicknames. While NCAA officials admit they still can't force schools to change nicknames or logos, they are making a statement they believe is long overdue. Eighteen mascots, including Florida State's Seminole and Illinois' Illini, were on the list of offenders. Those schools will not be permitted to host future NCAA tournament games, and if events have already been awarded to those sites, the school must cover any logos or nicknames that appear. "Certainly some things remain to be answered from today, and one of those things is the definition of what is 'hostile or abusive,'" said Tom Hardy, a spokesman at Illinois. The NCAA did not give a clear answer on that. President Myles Brand noted that some schools using the Warrior nickname will not face sanctions because they do not use Indian symbols. One school, North Carolina-Pembroke — which uses the nickname Braves — will also be exempted because Brand said the school has historically had a high percentage of students, more than 20 percent, who are American Indians. "We believe hostile or abusive nicknames are troubling to us and it can't continue," committee chairman Walter Harrison said. "We're trying to send a message, very strongly, saying that these mascots are not appropriate for NCAA championships." The decision, however, quickly evoked passions and complaints from both sides. At Florida State, Wetherell said the NCAA was trying to embarrass the school for using its nickname, even though the Seminole Tribe of Florida has given the university permission to continue using it. "Other Seminole tribes are not supportive," said Charlotte Westerhaus, the NCAA vice president for diversity and inclusion. Supporters also were unhappy. Vernon Bellecourt, president of the National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media and a member of the Anishinabe-Ojibwe Nation in Minnesota, approved of the ban but had hoped the NCAA would take even stronger action. "We're not so happy about the fact that they didn't make the decision to ban the use of Indian team names and mascots," he said. Harrison, president at the University of Hartford, said the executive committee does not have the authority to do that, and schools can still appeal their inclusion on the list. Brand and Harrison said they hoped school officials would pursue policy changes through the NCAA first, before going to court. "I suspect that some of those would like to having a ruling on that," Brand said. "But unless there is a change before Feb. 1, they will have to abide by it." Two years ago, the NCAA recommended schools determine for themselves whether Indian depictions were offensive. Among the schools to change nicknames in recent years were St. John's (from Redmen to Red Storm) and Marquette (from Warriors to Golden Eagles). But that hasn't changed opinions on either side. "They're not willing to give up this money," Bellecourt said, referring to merchandising revenue. "We would hope that it (the decision) was the handwriting on the wall that would urge them to drop these team names and mascots."

It was a long, tough stretch with no football, but now it's over! Atlanta vs. Indianapolis NFL Pre-season, live from Tokoyo 4am ESPN-2 repeated Saturday afternoon at 5pm on ESPN

Put them in Dorms and around campus Apartments.

"Question: How important is the home opener this year for the Blue Raiders football squad and Coach McCollum? Massaro Response: It is a very important game and one we are very excited about. North Texas has won 25 straight conference games and all four Sun Belt Conference titles. We are hosting the best team in the Sun Belt. We have a lot of experience on our football team with 17 starters returning and historically the game with North Texas has always been close. It should be a great game and I hope we have a full house with an electric atmosphere. Buy your tickets NOW! It should be great!" The MUTS are really promoting this game as "Big" to their fans. I do expect they will have a near full-house, but it will seem quiet compared to LSU. I do disagree with their AD wanting weeknight games. It does affect attendance if it's not a name opponent.

Agree. It's time to take another step. We can start with some OOC wins this year and getting the Stadium Fund rolling!

Former Aggie Cooley named to all-time Sun Belt team From Staff Reports, The Utah Statesman August 5, 2005 (U-WIRE) LOGAN, Utah -- Despite playing just one season in the Sun Belt Conference, former Utah State tight end Chris Cooley made a big enough impression to be named to the league's 30-year anniversary all-time team. The conference is celebrating its 30th year of competition and is naming 30-player all-time teams in its sponsored sports. The Sun Belt has played football for just four seasons, but current members were allowed to nominate players from anytime in their history, while former league members were allowed to nominate only players that played during their time in the conference. Utah State was a member of the league in 2003 and 2004. Cooley was a senior in 2003 and produced one of the best seasons by a tight end in school history. That year Cooley earned honorable mention All-America honors as well as being named a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation's top tight end. He caught 62 passes for 732 yards and six touchdowns. His 6.2 receptions per game led the nation's tight ends, which included Kellen Winslow, Heath Miller, Kris Wilson and Ben Troupe. The first team All-Sun Belt Conference selection then played in the Senior Bowl and was a third-round draft pick by the Washington Redskins, where he started nine games as a rookie last year. Cooley pulled in 37 balls for 314 yards in his first NFL season. "Mean" Joe Greene, who was a standout at North Texas, was named the all-time best player, while current North Texas coach Darrell Dickey was named the top coach. ALL-TIME SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TEAM Bill Bergey LB Arkansas State (1965-68) Ken Jones OL Arkansas State (1972-75) Maurice Carthon RB Arkansas State, 1979-82) Fred Barnett WR Arkansas State (1986-89) Carlos Emmons DE Arkansas State (1992-95) Ray Brown OL Arkansas State (1983-85) Rashod Smith RB Florida International (2002-04) Brian Lindgren QB Idaho (2002-03) Brian Mitchell RB Louisiana-Lafayette (1986-89) Jake Delhomme QB Louisiana-Lafayette (1993-96) Brandon Stokley WR Louisiana-Lafayette (1995-98) Orlando Thomas DB Louisiana-Lafayette (1991-94) Keener Cagle QB/K Louisiana-Lafayette (1922-25) Alvin Dark QB/TB/K Louisiana-Lafayette (1943) Stan Humphries QB Louisiana-Monroe (1986-87) Joe Profit RB Louisiana-Monroe (1967-70) Steven Jyles QB Louisiana-Monroe (2002-pres.) Wes Counts QB Middle Tennessee (1998-2001) Don Griffin DB Middle Tennessee (1982-85) Dwone Hicks RB Middle Tennessee (1999-2002) Steve Subia OL New Mexico State (2001-04) Siddeeq Shabazz SS New Mexico State (2002-04) Dario Aguiniga K New Mexico State (2001-03) Joe Greene DE North Texas (1966-68) Abner Haynes RB North Texas (1957-59) Brandon Kennedy DL North Texas (2000-03) DeWhitt Betterson RB Troy (2001-04) Demarcus Ware DE Troy (2001-04) Brock Nutter QB Troy (1998-2001) Chris Cooley TE Utah State (2003) ALL-TIME SUN BELT FOOTBALL PLAYER: Joe Greene, North Texas A first team All-American defensive end in 1968, Greene was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984. As a professional, Greene was a 10-time Pro Bowl Selection and helped the Pittsburgh Steelers capture four Super Bowl championships. He was a NFL Hall of Fame inductee in 1987. ALL-TIME SUN BELT FOOTBALL COACH: Darrell Dickey, North Texas Dickey has been named the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year every year the league has sponsored football, compiling a Sun Belt record of 25-1. His program has won 25 straight Sun Belt games, marking the second-longest current streak in the nation. Dickey has coached 36 first team All-Sun Belt Conference performers, more than any other coach. Additionally, North Texas is one of only 11 schools in NCAA history to win four consecutive conference football titles.

No, we won't get in the Top 25 with those but we should get some votes at least.

with Bowling Green, Wyoming, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Miami-Ohio, and UAB; yes, why not?

2005 Top 25 Coaches' Poll Coaches' Top 25 College Football Poll The USA TODAY Top 25 college football coaches' poll, with number of first-place votes and last year's record in parentheses, total points and last year's final ranking: College Football Coaches' Top 25 Team Record Points Prev 1. USC (60) 13-0 1,547 1 2. TEXAS (2) 11-1 1,405 4 3. TENNESSEE 10-3 1,259 15 4. MICHIGAN 9-3 1,242 12 5. OKLAHOMA 12-1 1,223 3 6. LSU 9-3 1,109 16 7. VIRGINIA TECH 10-3 1,090 10 8. MIAMI FL 9-3 1,080 11 9. OHIO ST 8-4 1,033 19 10. IOWA 10-2 1,014 8 11. FLORIDA 7-5 910 25 12. FLORIDA ST 9-3 879 14 13. GEORGIA 10-2 838 6 14. LOUISVILLE 11-1 758 7 15. AUBURN 13-0 723 2 16. PURDUE 7-5 616 -- 17. TEXAS A&M 7-5 366 -- 18. ARIZONA ST 9-3 304 20 19. BOISE ST 11-1 303 13 20. CALIFORNIA 10-2 293 9 21. TEXAS TECH 8-4 247 17 22. BOSTON COLLEGE 9-3 237 21 23. VIRGINIA 8-4 210 23 24. ALABAMA 6-6 194 -- 25. PITTSBURGH 8-4 193 -- Others Receiving Votes: FRESNO ST 188, OREGON 145, UTAH 103, GEORGIA TECH 88, WISCONSIN 79, NC STATE 69, BOWLING GREEN 63, PENN ST 44, COLORADO 40, MINNESOTA 34, UCLA 24, UTEP 22, NEBRASKA 21, KANSAS ST 20, SOUTH CAROLINA 16, NOTRE DAME 13, WEST VIRGINIA 12, WYOMING 12, CLEMSON 9, NEW MEXICO 9, ARIZONA 8, NORTHN ILLINOIS 8, SOUTHERN MISS 7, TOLEDO 7, WASHINGTON ST 7, IOWA ST 6, MICHIGAN ST 6, MEMPHIS 5, WASHINGTON 4, MIAMI OH 3, MARYLAND 2, UAB 1, DUKE 1, KANSAS 1

Knight says in testimony that NCAA wants to eliminate NIT By LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press Writer August 5, 2005 NEW YORK (AP) -- Texas Tech coach Bob Knight criticized the NCAA during videotaped testimony at an antitrust trial, contending the governing body wants to get rid of the NIT. His testimony was considered a key part of a case brought against the NCAA by five New York schools that sponsor the preseason and postseason National Invitation Tournament, which has long been eclipsed by the NCAA's championship event. The semifinals and final of the NIT are played annually at Madison Square Garden. ``I have felt as long as I have been in coaching that the NCAA has wanted to eliminate the NIT,'' Knight said in a deposition played in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Thursday. As for the NCAA, he added, ``it's a monopoly.'' Knight was the first of several coaches, college presidents, athletic directors and economists scheduled to testify before a jury of eight women and four men who will decide whether the NCAA has violated antitrust laws. The schools maintain that the NCAA violated the laws with a long-standing rule requiring schools to accept a bid to its postseason basketball tournament over a bid to all others. Knight, sitting in an office in a purple sweater and at times gulping from a large plastic cup, sparred with NCAA lawyer David Grand, who asked if the Hall of Fame coach had read the entire NCAA rules manual. ``I read ``War and Peace'' once. I don't need to read it again,'' he said, drawing chuckles from the jury and the judge at one point. ``I doubt there's a coach in existence that has read all the provisions for basketball in the NCAA manual.'' If the rule were not in place, Knight said, he might choose to sometimes take his team to the NIT rather than the NCAA, because an inexperienced team might benefit more from NIT competition and advance further in the postseason tournament. ``The NIT is simply limited because of this rule. I see no problem with us having four tournaments,'' he said. ``There's a lot of different ways to play for the national championship,'' he said, suggesting the tournament winners could compete in a final bracket. Knight coached at Indiana for 29 years until he was fired in 2000 by the school's president, Myles Brand, now the NCAA president. He said he was as excited when his Indiana team won the NIT in 1979 -- before the rule was in place -- as when the Hoosiers won the NCAA championship three times. ``That was as good a thrill as I've had in college basketball,'' he said. He also disputed the NCAA's contention during opening statements that it came to the rescue of the NIT in the mid-1980s when it permitted the NIT to stage a preseason tournament to bolster its finances. Knight said that tournament began because of the support of the nation's coaches. ``There wasn't a single coach in America who didn't want it to happen,'' he said. Knight has long supported the NIT, even taking his 1968 team, Army, there after turning down an NCAA invitation. He said that for college basketball, it has been ``an unbelievable asset against unbelievable odds, many of which were put forth by the NCAA.''

Back in the 90's the Athletic Department used to have yearly auctions. They would have athletic equipment and uniform stuff along with autographed and donated sports items, plus I think some fan trips, all to raise money for the department. There was some really neat stuff at those. 4 first-year Stars tickets, autographed puck and parking went for about $40.

How long is the SBC's contract with the New Orleans Bowl? I know this is mostly rumor but I'm concerned we're shopping our league champ around for a new host location, doesn't sound good.

30 minutes old, off Yahoo national sports ticker

NCAA Bans Indian Mascots During Postseason INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA banned the use of American Indian mascots by sports teams during its postseason tournaments, but will not prohibit them otherwise. The NCAA's executive committee decided this week the organization did not have the authority to bar Indian mascots by individual schools, committee chairman Walter Harrison said Friday. Nicknames or mascots deemed "hostile or abusive" would not be allowed by teams on their uniforms or other clothing beginning with any NCAA tournament after Feb. 1, said Harrison, the University of Hartford's president. "What each institution decides to do is really its own business" outside NCAA championship events, he said. Guidelines were not immediately available on which logos and nicknames would be considered "hostile or abusive." The NCAA two years ago recommended that schools determine for themselves whether the Indian depictions were offensive. Among the schools to change nicknames in recent years over such concerns were St. John's (from Redmen to Red Storm) and Marquette (from Warriors to Golden Eagles). The NCAA plans to ban schools using Indian nicknames from hosting postseason events. Harrison said schools with such mascots that have already been selected as tournament sites would be asked to cover any offensive logos. Such logos also would be prohibited at postseason games on cheerleader and band uniforms starting in 2008.

I'm more concerned about the OL pass-blocking for our new QB who has never thrown a college pass.

Quotes from Marshall players about their new surface like ours.... ........................................................................................................ One of the problems the players and coaches faced at practice was the new playing surface at the stadium. "It's not done yet obviously," Snyder said. "Their [players] feet are burning hot because the rubber and the sand are not all the way in it. This is what we have to go with so that's what we have to go with." The field still needs the bags of sand and rubber infill to be placed and ground into the field. Senior safety Chris Royal said the field will be much better than the old turf. "For years guys have been complaining about the old turf," he said. "It wears down your body a bit more, but this season the smooth surface will speed things up a little bit. Guys won't be afraid to dive after balls and then get turf burns."

The Sunbelt official page shows all the SBC school logos, including our new one. Only ours and UALR's don't have names or initials, just a logo. SBC official page

"To reserve a seat in Floyd Stadium, please call the Blue Raider Ticket Office at ...... 1-888-YES-MTSU." ............................................................................................. We need a National Phone Number like theirs that's easier to remember. Find out who has any of the following and let's buy them out... 1-800 (or 888)-Mean-Green 1-800-NT-Tickets 1-800-UNT-Game 1-800-UNT-Sports etc.