NT80

I think The Daily was responsible for much of the controversy last semester. They gave inaccurate facts and reports about the Athletic Fee and in columns tried to stir up students by saying they had no representation for their money. It's a sad day when a paper has to invent it's own news to have enough to write about.

Tim MacMahon: UNT’s on the rise, but so is rest of Belt 10/24/2002 By Tim MacMahon NEW ORLEANS — Ask Johnny Jones about expectations entering his second season as the men’s basketball coach at North Texas and he launches into a canned speech. He talks about how the team never set specific goals last season, simply trying to "get better each practice and each game." An 11-victory turnaround — and the team’s first winning season since 1995-96 — won’t change that basic approach. "That will also be the goal and motivation this year," Jones said in his usual guarded manner. He won’t say it, but I will: The Mean Green has a chance to be pretty dang good. Senior swingman Chris Davis, who will likely break the school’s career scoring record late in the season, is one of four returning starters. That number doesn’t include guard Leonard Hopkins, who will eventually replace Davis as UNT’s go-to guy. Forward Michael DeGrate, a junior college transfer, will have an immediate impact. He probably won’t start though, which is a testament to the Mean Green’s depth and talent. Add it all up and UNT is picked to finish ... fourth in the Western Division? That’s what the Sun Belt coaches forecast for the Mean Green in a poll released at the conference’s media days Wednesday in the Big Easy. As much as I believe in the Mean Green, I can’t make much of an argument that UNT should be predicted to place any higher. Louisiana-Lafayette, New Mexico State and New Orleans were picked to return to their spots of first, second and third, respectively, in the division standings. All three schools also have a wealth of talent returning and a top-notch newcomer or two. That’s the thing about the Sun Belt this season: There are a lot of teams in the league that have a chance to be pretty dang good. "People ask me about this league after I’ve been in the SEC and Conference USA," Jones said. "I don’t see much difference. One thing is for certain: Every night that you suit up — and I don’t care where you are — you have to be ready to play." That will be particularly true this season, when nine of 11 teams in the conference have at least four starters coming back. Six of those teams are coming off winning campaigns. "You can’t just assume that because you have guys back that you’re going to be good," Arkansas-Little Rock coach Porter Moser said. You also can’t just assume that the Sun Belt will only get one bid to the NCAA Tournament, as has been the case every year since 1994. Western Kentucky, the two-time defending champion and a team that will be ranked to start the season, will have to fall flat on its face not to be back in the Big Dance. The league’s best shot at another bid is to have the Hilltoppers lose in the conference tournament, but a couple of other teams might have credentials to be considered for an at-large selection. Louisiana-Lafayette, which won 20 games and played in the NIT last season, tops that list. Arkansas-Little Rock and New Mexico State would need to make some noise in non-conference play, but they both have schedules that should lead to impressive records while still including a couple of chances to beat name-brand schools. What about UNT? The NCAAs are probably out of the Mean Green’s reach. Of course, I would have said the same about a winning season a year ago.

UNT exploring possibility of buying area law school 10/24/2002 By Matthew Zabel / Staff Writer University of North Texas officials want to open a law school in the area, and that may mean buying one. UNT officials recently entered preliminary discussions with officials at Texas Wesleyan University to purchase that law school in downtown Fort Worth, UNT Chancellor Lee Jackson said Wednesday. Texas Wesleyan spokeswoman Lisa Fellers said UNT, among others, have asked for information about the law school, and Texas Wesleyan officials have simply responded to those inquiries. They are "not actively trying to sell the law school," she said. Kelli Horst, a spokeswoman at Texas Christian University, said officials from that school spent about a year in discussion with Texas Wesleyan officials regarding the law school. Ms. Horst said TCU officials last May sent Texas Wesleyan an estimate on what they thought the law school was worth, but she would not say what that amount was. Discussions between the two schools ended this summer, she said. Mr. Jackson said if UNT’s discussions lead to an agreement between the two schools, UNT would operate that law school there, about three miles away from its Health Science Center. "Our interest clearly would be to keep it in downtown Fort Worth," Mr. Jackson said, because "that is a prime location" for a law school. Even if the discussions with Texas Wesleyan do not lead to UNT buying the law school, UNT still wants to open a law school, Mr. Jackson said. "The University of North Texas will be interested in offering a public law school when the time is appropriate, sometime in the next decade," Mr. Jackson said. If UNT opens a new law school, he said, the university would have to conduct a space survey to determine where the right place would be. So far, that type of study has not been done, but anywhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Denton area would be possible, he said. UNT officials began collecting law library materials in the early 1980s, he said, anticipating that one day the university would open a law school. A public law school, coupled with the College of Engineering that is scheduled to open next fall, would help round out UNT’s academic offerings as it strives to be the premier state university in the region, Mr. Jackson said. A public law school also could benefit the region by making a legal degree more accessible and affordable, Mr. Jackson said, and that’s what UNT wants to provide. "UNT is committed to developing a law school in North Texas, regardless whether we work out an agreement with Texas Wesleyan or not," Mr. Jackson said. About 700 students, including about 470 full-time and 230 part-time students, study at Texas Wesleyan’s law school. The school, which occupies a basement and first floor of a two-story building in downtown Fort Worth, opened in 1989 as the D-FW School of Law. In 1992, Texas Wesleyan acquired the law school and in 1997 moved it to its present location. Twenty-nine full-time professors and 36 adjunct professors teach in the school, a university official said. The Dallas-Fort Worth area does not have a public university law school, Mr. Jackson said. Texas Wesleyan and Southern Methodist University, both private universities, have law schools. Mr. Jackson stressed that the discussions with Texas Wesleyan are in the preliminary stages. Before talks could be formal, governing boards of both universities would have to vote to enter formal negotiations. He did not know how long discussions might continue. "If our boards were to agree in the coming months that we have enough in common to enter into negotiations, I’m sure that action would include a time table, but right now it’s too early to say," Mr. Jackson said.

I agree it would be huge. I heard they were looking for a buyer but I didn't see the NT reports....please post if you see it! We could produce Mean, Green, Lawyers!

UTEP basketball coach resigns By CHRIS ROBERTS Associated Press Writer October 21, 2002 EL PASO, Texas (AP) -- UTEP basketball coach Jason Rabedeaux resigned Monday, saying he has lost the motivation to coach. Rabedeaux succeeded Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins in 1999 and led the Miners to a 46-46 record in three seasons. UTEP went 23-9 in 2000-01, their best record in nine years, but slipped to 10-22 last season. The decision comes just more than a month before the start of the season, but Rabedeaux said it was in the best interest of UTEP, himself and his family. He declined to elaborate on specific reasons. ``I wanted to see where my heart was, what my drive was, what my focus was, and it wasn't what it needs to be,'' the 37-year-old coach said at a news conference. ``This is not a decision that was forced on me,'' he added. ``This is not a fired kind of thing.'' Last November, Rabedeaux received a two-year contract extension running through 2007. UTEP athletic director Bob Stull said Rabedeaux informed him of his decision Monday morning. Stull said he gave Rabedeaux a chance to reconsider. He added that he hadn't had time to choose an interim coach but would not rule out asking Haskins to come back temporarily. He also mentioned former Chicago Bulls coach Tim Floyd and former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson. Floyd is a former assistant to Haskins and Richardson played for Haskins at UTEP. ``All three would probably be somewhat of a long shot,'' Stull said. UTEP opens its regular season Nov. 23 against New Mexico Highlands, with the first exhibition is Nov. 9. Stull and Rabedeaux said the team has a solid crew of assistants and they don't believe any players will leave because of the change. Stull said he informed Haskins of the coaching change Monday afternoon. Neither Haskins nor Richardson immediately returned telephone messages left at their homes by The Associated Press. Rabedeaux was an aide to current Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson for 10 years. He worked on Sampson's staff at Washington State from 1989-94, then followed Sampson to Norman, Okla.

I'd like to see a BIG interlocked NT on our football helmets and basketball shorts too. NT has been a part of every era and in every change of the school's name.

I don't see how UTA, SWT, ULM, many SLC schools, and most Texas junior colleges can fund and have baseball, and a major university with 30,000 students can't. I know the Title IX and $$ arguments, but so many of these other schools have it somehow, why not UNT?

I think our cheerleaders are fine. They look good and perform normal cheers. I saw them split into two groups (pep squad?) and half went to other side then they combined sometimes. I think most cheer squads (except crazy a$m aggies) have about the same impact on fans at games...little. Unless they're throwing free stuff. I see TV games with sideline cameras on cheerleaders trying to get the crowd going and a few fans close by participate but most are just watching the game. Perhaps if the cheerleaders were up in the stands they'd get a better response?

I'm anxious to see how the new players push the vets. The first exhibition game is Nov. 8 so it should be about time to start the practices. Anyone know?

Try this link, although I had trouble with the volume on it: UNT Fight Song

I really like what JJ has done with the team in trying to build team unity and that they go to the football games. I'm anxious to see this years team in action.

I didn't notice if the flags were spinning or not, but I can "guarantee" you they are not non-school colors; and on TV, that's all that matters.

I saw the Texas Tech band on ABC at halftime...they had red/black flags...wonder why they did that?????

Crayongirl, thanks for this information. This is what fans needed to hear...that there is a reason for the different colors, and green flags DO exist. Many potential problems are simply the lack of information or communication. The color of the flags, and the flagcorp in general, are not the problem. The fans want other schools to see our football program as fully 1-A and likewise the supporting groups too. If Green is our school color and Mean Green is our nickname, then we should flood the place with Green. Go to the TCU game and see if you can find any other color besides purple in anything officially TCU...you won't. Keep up the good performances!!

"but I never remember seeing a band with school colored flags" The UT band had large, shiney Orange flags with a stylish White T that went across the top. No purple flags in that band.

Maybe the Band Director or Flag Director don't see the flag color as the problem that we see from the stands. I've seen high school bands use non-school colored flags or uniform accents just for "another" color in the presentation. If it's a money issue or equipment-life problem, then we're here to help replace them. Does anyone really think the TCU band will be waving GREEN flags next Saturday? Good Grief! Sometimes, you just can't help people that don't want help.

Collin County C.C. (25,000 students) also has a concurrent enrollment agreement with UNT and I read a couple years ago where "UNT athletic events" were a benefit of this. But I have never known UNT athletics to pursue students there as fans. This could be a good untapped source of potential fans since they have no football team (like TWU).

Monday, December 30, NT's Lady Eagles play at Baylor at 6pm, then at 8pm the Mean Green Men play the Bears.

I heard UT football fans say the same about them vs. NT this past Saturday.

08/27/2002 For release: Regents rename UNT Administration Building in honor of Alfred F. and Johanna H. Hurley DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Last weekend, at Dr. Alfred F. Hurley's final University of North Texas System Board of Regents meeting as system chancellor, the regents honored him and his wife, Johanna, by renaming the university Administration Building in their honor. Hurley, who became the system's first full-time chancellor in October 2000 and prior to that held the university presidency longer than any other chief executive in UNT's history, announced plans in January to leave the chancellorship at the end of the 2001-2002 academic year. When he steps down on Aug. 31, Hurley, 73, will have served as the UNT System's chief executive officer for more than 20 years. Hurley joined the university as vice president for administrative affairs on September 1, 1980. Less than 17 months after his arrival, in February 1982, he became UNT's 12th president and the second chancellor of the informal UNT System. Many credit Hurley as a major factor in the rise of the university and the system to educational leadership in the North Texas region, but Hurley always shared the credit for the amazing progress during his presidency and chancellorship. He acknowledges Mrs. Hurley as his full-time partner in fulfilling the responsibilities of his offices with the university and the system. "It is fitting that the Administration Building, which stands at the center of the UNT campus and since 1956 has symbolized the seat of administrative leadership, should be named for Dr. and Mrs. Hurley," said UNT Board of Regents Chairman Bobby Ray. "The building overlooks a campus benefiting from nearly $200 million raised in two capital campaigns and transformed by more than $260 million in construction and renovation to expand and update its facilities during Dr. Hurley's tenure. Accordingly, renaming the building the ‘Alfred F. and Johanna H. Hurley Administration Building' will be a lasting symbol of the Hurleys' accomplishments on behalf of the university and the system," Ray said. In other action, the regents took steps to keep Hurley in the university and system communities by appointing him chancellor, emeritus, of the UNT System and president, emeritus, of the university. In 1981, the regents approved his appointment as professor of history, with tenure. A nationally recognized military historian, Hurley is the author of the first scholarly biography of General "Billy" Mitchell and a contributor to other works on the history of air power. During his 30-year career in the U.S. Air Force, he headed the History Department at the Air Force Academy from 1966‑1980 and served as chairman of its Humanities Division. He also led the development of the Air Force Academy Symposia in Military History; won a Guggenheim Fellowship in the Humanities in 1971-72; held an appointment as a Fellow in the Eisenhower Institute of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. in 1976‑77; and often lectured at the National Army and Navy War Colleges as well as various Air Force service schools between 1966 and 1980.

Jim, where did you get that figure of 30,265 from? I couldn't find an article about it. I think 30K is a milestone to celebrate. It's hard to deny that any enrollment growth will eventually lead to more growth for athletics and attendance!!

Someone posted Baylor will come to Denton next season, along with Smu and Indiana...mucho better home schedule next year! I agree about trying to get some SLC teams to Denton, but as someone else pointed out, 100 teams wanted to play us last year, but once other coaches realize what good progress is being made they hesitate to come.

2002-03 Men's Basketball Schedule

The DMN schedule had more game times on it...SWMoSt game is at 7pm, and Indiana game is at 1pm. A fine fan road trip is possible by going to the BB opener Friday, Nov.22 at 7pm in Springfield, Mo. Then going early the next morning to M'boro, Tenn. for the 2pm football game between NT vs. MTSU.

The new web site has the correct Friday date/time for the alum soccer game on the front page but not the team-schedule page. It also makes reference to the Mean Green Soccer Complex. Where is this, have they moved the field from last year? New official UNT Athletics web site