NT80

Do you realize this is a 4"x5" ad for North Texas and North Texas Athletics on the FRONT page of a NATIONAL paper displayed in every town and newsstand in the U.S.? Do you realize what that would cost if you could even BUY that kind of ad space? Has the University ever been on the front page of a National paper? Has the Music Dept. ever? Has Denton ever? I showed the front page to some people at work and I never saw so many mouths drop open. A few asked if I had the cover "made", as in a gag. The time is now to find that BIG donor!!

Nicholls State

The answer is in today's Mean Green Report =

Maybe they could use temporary paint for a center logo also for just the Troy ESPN-2 game?

"The Mean Green play at 30,500-seat Fouts Field, which resembles an overgrown high school facility. Their only I-A consensus All-American is Mean Joe Greene (1968), whose photo hangs on the side of the small press box." That part is not good media. It may be true but they could have mentioned the new AC, practice fields, and future site for new facilities to balance the Fouts slam. His pick of UNT behind MUTS and ULM also hurts.

Great writeup and pics. Thanks.

8/14 = 8/15 =

When will we know if T.J. "Big Cat" Raymond made his grades?

Great report, thanks for the updates. I had an appt. in Denton today and stopped by practice just as they were finishing and running sprints. The practice fields look very nice. That whole Athletic Complex is going to be very special when all is complete. We are so lucky the Raddison returned the Golf Course lease when they did. Otherwise our AC would now be over in the old Print Services Bldg and we'd be talking about renovating Fouts. There's not many schools that get 160 acres handed to Athletics to build something on by their BOR. I also visited the turf work at Fouts. Very impressive field. They were starting to put "North Texas" in one endzone. I snared a piece of scrap new turf to go with my piece of old Fouts turf. Wow, what a difference!

At one time I read that the City wanted to make a park out of it and maybe add a couple tennis courts and a bike path in exchange for upkeep or some kind of agreement with NT.

I'd switch it around to: Be Loud, Be Proud, Be GREEN

OU indoor football practice facility

Jun. 28, 2005 - A&M to build indoor practice facility A&M plans to build indoor practice facility -- and Franchione will help pay for it Aggies coach to make $1 million gift to A&M to help build new football facility By Olin Buchanan AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Saturday, June 25, 2005 Texas A&M officials are expected to announce today plans to construct an indoor practice facility for football, and Coach Dennis Franchione -- who said A&M would be the final stop in his coaching career when he accepted the position three years ago -- is making a $1 million gift toward its construction. Franchione's nomadic track record as a coach -- seven head coaching jobs in 22 years -- might have caused some to be skeptical about his future plans. But he said that his $1 million gift to help build the facility should end any doubts. "Does that sound like anybody that intends to leave?" said Franchione, who also is having a new home built in the exclusive Miramont Country Club development in Bryan. Texas A&M Athletic Director Bill Byrne, with Franchione in Colorado for a meeting with the 12th Man Foundation advisory board, said Franchione's gift to the university puts the coach in select company. "When I learned of this gift, two names jumped to mind: Joe Paterno and Bear Bryant," said Byrne, who will tell 12th Man Foundation members today about the plans to build the facility. "As far as I know, they're the only two other coaches to make a major gift back to their universities to help their own programs and respective institutions," Byrne said. "That's rarified company, and Dennis Franchione belongs in that group." Paterno funded a library at Penn State University and Bryant started a scholarship fund for the children of former Alabama football players. Three years ago, the University of Texas constructed its $4 million, 69,750-square foot practice bubble for the Longhorns' football team to practice indoors. Located on the northwest corner of Interstate 35 and 26th Street, Texas' facility helps the Longhorns escape the heat of August two-a-days and other extreme weather conditions, and its 55-foot ceiling is tall enough for kickers and punters to work out. Texas' facility took approximately six months to build. Though there has been speculation that A&M would follow Texas' suit -- even perhaps with an indoor facility that could be big enough to house two football fields and an indoor track -- the size and expense of the indoor facility has not yet been determined. A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma State and Colorado are the only Big 12 Conference schools that don't have an indoor football practice facility. A&M's new facility is expected to be built in an area on campus that is now a parking lot, just north of the current football practice fields. Franchione, who led A&M to a 7-5 record and a Cotton Bowl appearance last season, earns $2 million annually on a contract that extends through 2012.

What was wrong with the SnakePit? Wasn't it a volleyball-only facility now too? It seems larger than anything they have to renovate at Liberty Christian.

"Sales of the University of North Texas specialty license plate have generated more than $64,000 for scholarships since 1994. A new version of the plate, featuring UNT’s new logo, will be manufactured in about four months." I'm curious to see what new design they come up with. Hint: keep it simple and large to be the most visible!

Senior LB Early out for season 11:20 PM CDT on Thursday, August 11, 2005 DENTON – Linebacker Shawn Early will sit out the season as a redshirt to continue his recovery from a knee injury he suffered during spring practice. Early didn't report for the beginning of fall workouts but will return to school for the beginning of classes. The senior started 11 of 12 games last season and finished fourth on the team with 60 tackles. Early's loss leaves UNT with three returning defensive starters. Brett Vito Briefly ... UNT coach Darrell Dickey said freshmen Matt Phillips and Steve Warren will have a chance to compete for the starting and backup quarterback roles.

L. J. disabled it?; web-cam gate? Seriously, someone march out there with a flashlight and see what logo is on the field!

That cannot be true. It is a group of fans wanting to give $ to another fan. It has no connection to the school or the player or any direct benefit to either. How can the NCAA be involved?

NT Athletics article about today's practices Sidenote: what is the tent used for in the photo background?

Nice reports and interviews, thanks.

Football: Back on the field North Texas begins practice at new training facility 08:40 AM CDT on Thursday, August 11, 2005 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer A freshman recruiting class that includes multiple athletes with the ability to play more than one position gave North Texas coach Darrell Dickey plenty of options during the opening day of fall practice on Wednesday. DRC/Gary Payne North Texas wide receiver Johnny Quinn attempts to catch a pass during drills while Deavin Cox (11) tries to break up the play at Wednesday’s practice. Due to the Mean Green’s needs, Dickey decided to load up in his defensive backfield. Korey Washington, Dominique Green and Desmond Chatman all worked with the rest of UNT’s defensive backs during the opening day of practice at the Mean Green Athletic Complex. Each played another position at least part time in high school. “They are where they are at for the time being,” Dickey said. “As we progress, if we feel like a guy can play another position better or get on the field quicker we will take a look at that. We have some needs at defensive back and want to take a look at those guys.” Washington was one of the top quarterbacks in the Austin area last season, while Chatman rushed for 1,096 yards at Conroe. Green was a Class 6A all-state wide receiver in Lawton (Okla.) Eisenhower, where he also earned all-state honors as a defensive back. “I will play anywhere I can help the team,” Green said. “They are looking at me as a cornerback.” UNT returns just one starter from its defensive backfield in cornerback T.J. Covington. Ja’Mel Branch, who played wide receiver in his first three years with the Mean Green, is expected to start at the other cornerback spot. UNT lost both of its starting safeties after last season and could look to its incoming freshmen to push sophomores Cliff Higgs and Roderick Cotton, who enter the fall atop the depth chart. Junior college transfer Aaron Weathers is also expected to push for playing time at safety. UNT has a history of playing freshmen in its defensive backfield. Former UNT standout Jonas Buckles was named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference as a freshman before finishing his career last season. Craig Jones was also a four-year starter at safety for the Mean Green before finishing his career in 2003. Dickey impressed with freshmen class North Texas’ newest recruits had their first chance to make an impression on the Mean Green’s coaching staff on Wednesday For the most part, they reached that goal. UNT’s freshmen went through a series of drills in their first practice that gave the team’s coaches a chance to find out which players were in shape for the beginning of fall camp. The drills also gave UNT’s coaches a chance to get a better idea of where each player might fit in this season. “I was very pleased with the attitude and effort,” Dickey said. “I was also very pleased with the athletic ability of the entire group. None of them are in good enough condition to play a four-quarter game, but if they take care of their bodies and continue working, we will bring them along to where they can. If they can handle the physical part of the game and pick up what we do, there are a few who might help us this year.” Green relished the opportunity to get back out on the field after waiting all summer in anticipation of starting his college career. “I enjoyed the first day,” Green said. “I have been real anxious to get out here since I signed. There are a lot of good players here who are working hard and want to get on the field.” Meager takes light reps North Texas’ coaches are easing redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Meager back into the Mean Green’s practice routine. Meager tore a tendon in his shoulder during spring practice and missed most of the Mean Green’s workouts. The injury required surgery. Meager resumed throwing over the summer and participated in UNT’s first workout of fall practice. UNT offensive coordinator Ramon Flanigan said the coaching staff wants to limit the number of passes Meager throws as he works his way back into playing condition. Meager enters fall practice atop UNT’s depth chart at quarterback. Briefly … Former Sanger standout Chris Higgs has joined the UNT football team as a walk-on. Chris Higgs’ older brother, Cliff, entered fall practice listed as the Mean Green’s starter at strong safety.

You would have to get fans to sponsor it by either paying for the retro unis and helmets upfront or agree to after the game. How much would a whole uniform set and helmet cost?

I read in the DMN where UT will be in "throwback" uniforms for their opening game against ULL, much like OU did vs. NT. Would NT ever do this and which former uniforms would they honor....Flying Worm, Joe Greene's, Steve Ramsey's, Scott Davis' ?

We opened a Florida Office instead. (Sidenote: Rocky Mountains are closer to NT than Miami).