NT80

Well, the rapport with UNT's alumni base in DFW is about as bad. For a school that wants to be the leading University of the Metroplex it falls short on communication with what would be some of it's best supporters. For the coaching staff to ignore the metroplex and it's own coaching connections is just poor and another reason changes must be made.

I received mine too. Very nice, high quality job.

The DMN said the Trinity QB orally committed to Texas State after his visit there this past weekend. It said he also had interest in/from UTEP. It may have been a case where even if he liked UNT he wanted to play QB and NT couldn't offer him that chance with 2 soph QB's, a JUCO QB signed, plus us going after a Missouri freshman QB too. Too much already at that position?

I agree the SMUt game is important to win, very important, but I wish our fans (and coaches) would set our expectations a little higher. Do you think Pony fans are proclaiming: "We can lose them all as long as we just beat UNT!" ?

I think one problem with attendance, that we really don't have much control over "yet", is who the opponent is. I doubt most students, or alums, have ever heard of Univ. of Denver, and surely not as a good D-1 basketball program unless they really follow SunBelt sports or college basketball. If we were in CUSA and had Houston, SMU, Rice, Tulsa, UTEP, etc. coming in for conference games I believe we'd double our home average.

Vic Trilli

Denver (10-6) at North Texas (9-5) The Sports Network DATE & TIME: Monday, January 16th, 8:00 p.m. (et). FACTS & STATS: Site: The Super Pit (10,032) -- Denton, Texas. Television: None. Home Record: Denver 6-0, North Texas 8-2. Away Record: Denver 1-5, North Texas 1-3. Neutral Record: Denver 3-1, North Texas 0-0. Conference Record: Denver 3-0, North Texas 2-1. Series Record: Series is tied, 6-6. GAME NOTES: Riding a season-high five-game win streak, the Denver Pioneers trek to Denton tonight where they will take on the North Texas Mean Green in Sun Belt Conference action from the Super Pit. On Saturday, Denver dismissed the Florida International Golden Panthers at home by a score of 80-55, marking their highest scoring total since a season-opening 80-66 decision over Kennesaw State during the Top of the World Classic. The victory also pushed the Pioneers to a perfect 3-0 in league play. Meanwhile, the Mean Green took the weekend off after posting a 90-81 decision over the same FIU squad on Thursday night at home. The victory was the fifth in the last six games for North Texas, which is now 2-1 in league play and 9-5 overall this season. Entering the 13th game all-time between these two schools, each of them has claimed six victories over the years. Steve Wetrich led four players in double figures as he dropped in a career- high 23 points, shooting 6-of-7 from three-point range, as the Pioneers took out FIU over the weekend. Yemi Nicholson added 16 points and seven rebounds, although he shot just 4-of-10 at the free-throw line, while David Kummer and Antonio Porch chipped in with 15 and 10 pints, respectively. Denver finished the contest shooting 53.1 percent from the field and a stellar 12-of-19 beyond the arc, although the squad did have issues at the charity stripe (16-of-30). Nicholson, who is shooting an impressive 58.7 percent from the field this season, is responsible for a team-high 19.2 ppg. His 11.1 rpg make him one of only a handful of Division I players able to make the claim that they are averaging a double-double at the moment. DaShawn Walker, who is shooting better from beyond the arc (.450) than he is the field (.399), is second on the unit with 13.7 ppg. Kendrick Davis led four players in double figures as he tallied a game-high 20 points in the win over FIU last week. Isaac Hines accounted for 19 points and Michael Sturns another 18 off the bench for the Mean Green. Jeffrey Simpson chipped in with 17 points as the North Texas starters combined to shoot 28- of-33 at the free-throw line, while the Golden Panthers were just 23-of-37 at the stripe as a team. The Mean Green also shot 47.1 percent from three-point range to help overcome 20 turnovers, not to mention winning the battle on the boards, 44-35. Davis, the leading scorer for North Texas over the last four games, is the top point producer overall with his 17.4 ppg. Simpson adds 12.3 ppg, in addition to his 6.3 rpg and 30 blocked shots to pace the group. However, the one glaring flaw with his game is that he has a mere three assists, against 26 turnovers, over the course of 14 starts. With 81.7 ppg, the Mean Green are one of the top scoring programs in the nation. Having to pick up and travel for this game after playing at home over the weekend, the Pioneers are certainly at a disadvantage from that aspect. Expect a well-rested North Texas group to seize the moment and the win at home. Sports Network Predicted Outcome: North Texas 83, Denver 73

Basketball: UNT men, women aiming for third conference victory 07:43 AM CST on Monday, January 16, 2006 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer North Texas coach Johnny Jones didn’t have to look too hard for an example of what he wanted his team to accomplish this season after the Mean Green were picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt Conference’s West Division in the preseason coaches poll. Denver was tabbed to finish sixth a year ago before UNT’s Sun Belt rival burst onto the scene, won the division title and earned a berth in the NIT. UNT will get a first-hand look at its model for success today when the Mean Green face the Pioneers at 7 p.m. in the Super Pit. The game will wrap up a doubleheader that will begin at 5 p.m. with the UNT women looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Denver in a game against Florida International. “Denver is a perfect example of what we want to do,” UNT forward Quincy Williams said. “They were picked to finish sixth and won it last year. Coach Jones told us about them at the beginning of the year.” The Pioneers were picked second in this season’s coaches poll and appear as if they might exceed that projection as well after winning their last five games, including their first three in conference play. Denver (10-6, 3-0) and South Alabama enter the week tied atop the league standings, one game ahead of the Mean Green (9-5, 2-1). Yemi Nicholson has been the driving force behind Denver’s success over the last two seasons and has been one of the Sun Belt’s most effective players so far this year. The 6-11 center leads the league with an average of 19.2 points a game and also ranks second with 11.1 rebounds a game. “Denver has a very good nucleus of players back who were part of their championship team,” Jones said. “The most important thing is finding a way to contain Yemi and try not to have the rest of their players have career days against you.” UNT split with Denver last year, when the Mean Green had some success in slowing down Nicholson. Nicholson had 14 points and 12 rebounds in the Pioneers’ 79-52 blowout win in Denver. He went on to score 17 points and grab six rebounds in UNT’s dramatic 68-66 win at the Super Pit, a game former Mean Green standout Leo-nard Hopkins capped with a game-winning jumper from the baseline at the buzzer. UNT center Jeffrey Simpson drew the primary assignment against Nicholson last season and will team with Williams and backup centers Justin Barnett and Justin Howerton today when the Mean Green will look to extend their recent hot streak. UNT has won seven of its last nine, including a victory over FIU on Thursday. While the UNT men will look to build on a win, the UNT women will try to bounce back from a loss to Denver. The Mean Green won their first two games in Sun Belt play on the road, but quickly squandered a one-game lead in the standings with a loss at home to Denver, a key conference rival. UNT (12-3, 2-1) had a seven-point lead late, but struggled offensively down the stretch and saw its five-game winning streak come to an end in a 56-54 loss. Junior post Mia Ajekwu scored 14 points, but was the only player who finished in double figures for UNT, which had 21 turnovers. “It’s very important that we bounce back,” UNT freshman forward Amber Jackson said. “This game will decide whether we are defeated or if we are going to take that loss and move on. We still have a good record and a good chance to win conference.” UNT will have to find a way to slow down one of the biggest teams in the Sun Belt in FIU (9-6, 2-1) to get back on track. Lasma Jekabsone, a 6-3 center, comes into the game averaging 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds a game. The junior from Latvia is one of three players on FIU’s roster who are at least 6-2. “FIU is big and different,” UNT coach Tina Slinker said. “They are an international type of team that plays a little different style of game. They like to shoot from the outside and are not as physical. We have to make sure that we use our speed and are physical with them.”

NT should have such a problem.

Have you heard any update on when ours are coming? It looks like some other makers are finding the new logos too. I mainly want the helmet shell color to look correct, do you know if he used Riddell or the other brand's shell?

You paid too much.... another NT mini

So, does this recruiting service serve as a way to find kids a program is looking for or just to provide text messaging to them?

Yes, that's it Thailand. I think the Development Office stole him from Athletics after he bought that large block of tickets. They hate it when donors give $$ to Athletics instead of Music or Academics.

We still have Talons at the games? I thought they left along with the cheerleaders?

We had to show 17K average "tickets sold" in 1994 to be able to move up to 1-A in 1995. An alum from Malayasia bought 10,000. Plus, we had a good team in 1994 with Mitch Maher and Co.

L. J. didn't want an "NT" logo on the helmet because he didn't think it stood for North Texas. We had NT on the helmets almost as long as he's been L. J.

Thank you Darrell.

Me too. With Dr. Pohl being forced out and LJ selecting his own I expect a decline of emphasis in Athletics. Not good times ahead I fear.

Well, you will also note our best 4 consecutive years record-wise were 01-04. Yes DD years, but they also happen to be the start of SBC conference play (7-38 OOC). Keep it in perspective.

Hey, I have a good memory, it's just short!

If DD ever achieves a National Championship or Orange Bowl win for NT I'm sure we'll be happy to honor him too, until then...

Can he coach the football team too?

Very nice. I'm anxious to see the ones we ordered.

It was a great game, not just because who was in it, but it was back and forth and a lot of tension. NT was ranked #1 in 1-AA at the time and had already beaten Rice and Texas Tech that season. Scott Davis had over 400+ yards passing against UT. Marcus Camper as receiver and returner was unbelievable.