PlummMeanGreen

That would be WBAP's Mark Davis who during his show this AM told his large radio audience how "stoked" he was about coming up to Fouts Field to see his freshmen daughter's new school's football team play the Rice Owls. How many of us would tell Mark that he'll be even more "stoked" when he sees what his Freshman daughter's new school is building right behind the Fouts Field Press Box side across the interstate? GMG! PS: Like his politics are not and on GMG.com it would be about 50/50, but Mark Davis also fills in for another guy from time to time who is said to have 7 to 9 million daily listeners in his national radio talk show. HINT: That fellow just recently had Elton John sing at his Wedding Reception.

Has the Sun Belt ever been above the MAC in this guy's poll? Maybe so, but above anyone else besides the MAC? I realize we're stuck in the SBC for however long & some on this board are trying to equate hanging in or being loyal to the rest of our league as something tantamount to good and valiant, but what good did it do the captain of the Titanic for hanging in there with his ship no matter what? NOTE: Remember how just a few short weeks ago how loyal Texas A&M U was going to be toward their bobbsy-twin fellow PUF school, ie, the University of Texas (Austin) with their SEC flirtation? Keep your eyes on that situation still happening in the future. I realize our choices are slim or none for this moment in time, but many just don't see this league ever busting thru to a BCS bowl a la Boise State or TCU--especially some of the media who have stated such. Surely the SBC may one day have a lights out football program (hopefully ours very soon) but the usual state of SBC lower division opponents will keep that presently ''got it going on" SBC school from getting significant votes from the Coaches Poll. It's like we're stuck in a quagmire that we are going to have to have some special friends to help us get out. Before the WAC dissolved and "only" with an eastern division comprised of UNT, U of L, Ark. St and La Tech that might have been our ticket out but--that all disappeared permanently when Boise left and we knew all the other SBC aforementioned schools were not intereseted in a WAC w/o Boise, Fresno or Nevada. That WAC would have been as impotent as the league we're in as far as getting key votes from the Coach's Poll, ie, the poll that determines the Big 4 BCS bowl opponents. In fact, the SBC may soon have bragging rights but I don't know how much bragging there should be over a league that has disappeared or disbanded off the NCAA radar. Back On Subject: UNT should be inside the 100 or at least 100, but (still) at those nosebleed numbers, why even count other than to measure progress I suppose. We did make it out of the Bottom 10, right? When this program gets inside the Top 50 programs in the NCAA that's when we know we are doing the kinds of things we haven't done for decades and for those of you born after the mid-1970's you would only be able to read about what I'm talking about here. UNT in the Top 50? We were never going to do that with Fouts Field as home in today's NCAA no matter how many times you painted that ol' t&rd of a facility with every shade of green known to man; that is, this venue that has held us back on at least 1 or 2 upwardly bound opportunties. As long as we had Fouts--no one ever took us serious about our commitment to the higher echelons of the NCAA and that goes all the way back to the Fry era, too. Ask UNT consultant Chuck Neinas about Fout's past affects on this athletic program. Ask every UNT AD and/or head football coach prior and up to our present ones. Yet I'm sure Chuck Neinas would not sugar coat our 50 plus year loveless marriage with Fouts Field just to tickle our ears at all but would tell it like it is and.............whatever he would tell us would not be a revelation to most on this board, either but what the hell......... ...........I suppose that is why we are now building one helluva' football palace over at our Mean Green Village, right? AND........10 months before completion we are already reaping benefits from all that I'm hearing, too; albeit I think a few decades ago many still on this board said such things like that would happen by replacing Fouts Field, right? GMG!

I was wondering who would be the first! Way to go, Censored by Laurie! IMHO and as a member of the Monday morning QB club, Derek has a promising future at UNT and in the past at UNT, we have always had a need for a formidable 2'nd string QB of whom many stepped up numerous times to win games when our #1 QB had an off day. Also, I hesitiate to use the "I" word or, that is, when a team is forced to go to the #2 QB. (That's when you better have a decent #3 QB). It seems several years ago TCU won a bowl game with a 5'th year QB who did not start for the Frogs until his.........5'th year. I remember admiring that 5'th year TCU QB for hanging around that long to reap his personal and team rewards. GMG!

For the casual fan who may not have his Dave Campbell's Texas football handy or UNT online media guide, any of you who might respond to this please describe the positions that each player you hope steps up plays? Thanks in advance. GMG!

Yes, "Coach Dodge" surely did. I'm sure Canales would like to contribute his part to the entire coaching staff getting to come back next year, too, in the new stadium Todd Dodge told North Texas almost the day he was hired we had to have to even breathe in the Sun Belt (a conference which had passed us by quite effectively in wins & recruiting 2 years before Dodge's hiring). GMG!

We are getting beat up too early with some defensive injuries. Who do we have that can possibly step up the next few weeks? GMG! ADDENDUM: You can add jucos or transfers to the list of possible step-ups, also.

U of Houston from the Bill Yeoman era was the model I'd hoped UNT would follow during and right after Fry era ended. Boise State was who I hoped we would model our program after we parted ways as conference-mates. Frankly, I think Fouts Field was the main reason we were never able to use either model and having spoken to many of you veterans on this board through the decades, I think you'd probably still agree. Wonder when Chuck Neinas was on our campus a few years ago representing CUSA as he scouted us out what the real skinny was on their real thoughts for UNT at that time? Wonder if they'd be different today if and when there is another shuffle? GMG!

UNT 49 Rice U 35 Obviously, not much defense from either team.

Good God Almighty, I cannot fathom a loss to Rice (although we know all things are possible), 2 teams with a "must win" game just about anything can happen. I am pulling for TDodge because I think with wins (and a new contract) we will get the complete HFC package with this guy. Many from Denton have told me he is more than willing to do the PR things. The other thing I like about the guy is he knows his 4'th year expectations and doesn't gripe about them; you know, saying things like expectation for others aren't as high in the athletic dept. as they are for him. He has made no excuses that I have heard on either radio or TV; you know, how we at North Texas always have our backs against the wall and its always the "us versus the world" mentality?" If TDodge has to leave this Fall for not reaching stated goals, he will leave graciously and UNT will just go out and hire another coach--plain and simple. GMG!

Well, I sorta' suggested I was the one "dia'tribing" and my business is doing well even without a hand-down stimulus package taken from the rich coupled with yours and my tax monies. Being a white anglo-saxon protestant, I would probably not be elgible anyway if I were even interested (of which I am not). Initial Fall 2010 enrollment numbers of Texas public universities, anyone?

Jeez, all I was requesting were Fall 2010 initial enrollment numbers, not a shameless plug for TSU (San Marcos)! GMG!

Rice U is calling their game with North Texas a "MUST WIN" game, too. Just like we are saying the same. Sounds like a close game to me with that in mind. GMG!

NT91, many of us would have agreed with you at one time--but many of us would probably not agree at this stage of development of our football program. Why (or for example)? ? ? Let's say TAMU brings in an SFASU (like they did this last weekend) and gets beat by the Lumberjacks? Well, the Ag' faithul would have a royal caniption fit but they would re-group for their conference season and they would still keep 70,000 or so of their fans continue coming through the turnstiles of Kyle Field. OK now SFU versus UNT? Lets say the Mean Green got beat in a home season opener against SFASU (or similar). Cost Factor? UNT would lose way too many of our 25,000 (give or take) crowd we see at home season openers and we would lose them for way too much of the season--especially if the losing continued. Game Day walk-up tickets sales among the nominal local fans would go south because of the way our fans have looked at such losses in the past. History will teach us much at North Texas if we will go back to examine certain cause & effects for different scenarios when it involves fan support; that is, what keeps our fans or what loses our fans. Just my 02. GMG!

Never quite seen that daffy'nition of fanatic but I guess it sorta' works. Yes, before we annoint the new king, lets get through the season. Still don't think our Holy Tribunal of the prez', our AD & a few suggestion from our hired hand consultant (Chuck Neinas) would think it PR stroke of genius to hire any assistant coach from a staff that had a losing year (of which said "any" assistant would have had a part)? New Football Stadium @ The Mean Green Village ='s A Higher Profile Name Head Football Coach but..... I don't think any new head coach search committees will be needed after Todd Dodge's 4'th year. 7(minimum)

Congrats on the Red Raiders win over SMU yesterday. The 'Stangs did give it the good ol' college try, though. TTU had to amost feel like LSU did in their last gasp win over North Carolina. But a win....is a win. Unfound Rumor: June Jones will go back to UHawaii after they go Indy'. NThomas (or anyone) Has University of Houston counted all their satellite campuses in their enrollment totals of years past. Anyone know what UH's first initial enrollment numbers were this Fall? And Texas Tech's initial enrollment numbers? GMG!

On that, TFLF, we will agree.............to agree! STADIUM ON THE BRAIN & I JUST CAN'T GET IT OFF THE BRAIN: This new stadium will also give us our long awaited opportunity to finally get this program jump-started to new heights and to legitimately allow UNT to continue the big dreams of those from the Abner Haynes era, Joe Greene era & Hayden Fry era when our possibilities seemed within reach except for a broken down ol' Lady of a stadium on our campus that cost us more than we'll ever really know--even a probable CUSA membership just a few years ago. Former UNT BOR, ie, the late Winn Brown once told me at a gathering years ago that UNT really missed its true opportunity to move up the NCAA ladder to even the level of some schools in the old SWC and that during the Abner Haynes era. Not sure I believed that since our infrastucture & on-campus stadium would not have even fit the criteria of SWC stadia of the mid 1950's but..........that was yesterday.......and yesterday's gone. Scarlet O'Hara said it best in the ruins of Tara Plantation on her view of the future, especially....her famous cinematic line about "tomorrow". GMG!

Brief Memories of a 10 Year Old Kid It would be Jess Neely's Rice Owls versus John Bridger's Baylor Bears at Rice Stadium. It was navy & white versus the green and gold. I was 10 years old and my eyes were wide open walking inside Rice Stadium on what I remember was a beautiful, Fall day in Houston off South Main. I was a guest of 2 of my pals whose dad was Superintendent of the Danbury (Tx) ISD--my school from the 1'st grade thru the 12'th. My friend's dad had some great tickets provided to him by a local Humble (Get A Tiger In Your Tank) Oil & Refinery employee. Humble Oil Refinery (later Exxon) was the main sponsor of Southwest Conference football back in that era and would be years later. My school's superintendent and my dad were good friends, fellow deacons at the local church and his 2 sons (as stated above) were 2 of my best friends. THAT SPECIAL AROMA YOU CANNOT FORGET: Can you recall that special aroma that you smelled at college football stadiums, especially underneath in the concessions area? I can still smell it; you know, the cigar smoke (when you could smoke at a stadium), the aroma of cotton candy, popcorn popping at each vendor station, roasted peanuts, etc, etc, etc. It was a smell I would even detect at our venerable Fouts Field, Denton, Texas, America. THE FAN'S PRE-GAME WALK THROUGH: I remember watching old men (35 years old & above when you're a 10 old) walking under the stadium along with their sons with binoculars wrapped around their necks, ie, Mr. Joe College Football Fan. Many of the gents of that day were still even wearing suits, for hat wear they wore fedoras or stetsons and that depending on if you were a businesman or a rancher (or both). I believe Texas and SWC broadcasting legend Kern Tips may have even been in the huge Rice Stadium press box calling this SWC classic. (I would find out later that all SWC football games were considered classics). I can still close my eyes and see vendors underneath that cavernous stadium who were trying to rent out to fan heading to their seats those old almost worn out stadium seats which went for .75 each as I recall. At Rice Stadium you almost needed those for protection against those weather worn splintered wooden bleacher seats which we had even at our 30 yard line seats. (Because I was on a kid's budget allowance from my parents, I didn't rent one of those stadium seats and I paid dearly with a nice splinter in my derrier--just another one of my memories that took place at my first college football game and at the Home of the Fighting Owls). Duly Impressed Was I: Continuing the pre-game walk through under the stadium I was impressed with how host Rice U were being good SWC neighbors to their Waco guests by allowing a kiost of Baylor gear being made available for their Baptist friends. This would be a nice assortment of Baylor Bear pennnants, green/gold pom-poms, baseball caps with BU in giant letters with a grizzle-looking bear on the front, too. I didnt' realize that visiting team's gear kiosts was a tradition at all college stadiums across the USA but again.......it was my first college football game. The End of the Innocense? 1961 was a most innocent time in America for all of us Baby Boomers who lacked for nothing, but we as "boomers" were smart enough not to ask for much, either. Most of our dads (my own at Dow Chemical/Freeport) had good paying jobs but were seldom considered rich although most of us kids thought they were. Our moms were mostly all stay-home moms, too, raising their kids while our dads brought home the bacon. John Kennedy was President--Lyndon Baines Johnson, Vice President--Price Daniel I believe was our Governor; and some guy up in Austin with the initials DKR was well on his way of building a real Lone Star "Giant" (but one that wouldn't have Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean and Rock Hudson in its cast). DKR's school even changed their colors from halloween orange to a most unique shade of orange you might see in a nicely laid (yet quite smelly) pile in the pastures of any Texas ranch. (I Don't Know Why I even brought this UT thing up in the first place other than the fact that that was my dad's favorite SWC school and so--I honor you, Dad & like most all of us Baby Boomers at this juncture of our life experience... you are sorely missed). Yet here it was, Game Day & Kick-Off time at the stadium home of Rice University--Texas' own Ivy League'esque "Harvard on the Bayou" which Houston sportscasting legend Morris Frank would call it many times on his Saturday radio football roundup show which I believe was on KPRC radio. Rites of Passage: College football game watching for those of us country kids who got lucky in 1961 would become important to yet another generation of young boys all across the great state of Texas. Once as a grown-up, you can ignore it or even avoid it for awhile due to life's circumstances or a Saturday work schedule, but you can never completely shake it once you've truly been exposed. At age 10, I caught my own personal fever for college football in Houston, Texas, America @......Rice Stadium--Home of the Fighting Owls and the Marching Owl Band, ie, the MOB. GMG!

I think following Mean Green football a few decades has made some of us abnormal. Maybe a few of us more than others? More students means more athletic fee$ or am I missing something here? UNT will one day be a Tier 1 university. Mark that in 3 inch headlines! GMG!

Oh, it will probably have to be the magic 7 and I understand the reasons why (I think), but maybe this is all a moot point as it is because with defense improvement 7 now becomes very do-able? I am worried about our defense as others on GMG.com seem to also be, but I guess that is why they should have been recruiting for the DL all these years rather than all those defensive backs and receivers we seemed to get more than our quota, right? Tony, where will yalls tailgate be setting up this Saturday for the Rice game?

Please don't circle the wagon just yet. Offense has not really been our problems most of the last "3" years, now has it? Any kind of formidable defense the last 3 years and we wouldn't be talking about an Offensive Coord. being a future possible coach at UNT. Quite frankly, defense concerns most of us for this year. YET.........if Canales is part of a losing staff this year, you really think UNT moves up an assistant coach from that kind of scenario? I don't see the Holy Tribunal of our Prez', AD and hired hand consultant (Neinas'coaching suggestions) allowing that to happen. Our new stadium probably means a bigger name coach (how about UNT reviving "insert sublimenal a recent former TTech coach's" career--just like we did a fired from SMU Hayden Fry's); yet, I can see a possible new HFC in Denton retaining Canales if his presence continues to impress this Fall. But you don't hire a new HFC from a losing coaching staff unless just possibly you're.........well, nevermind, I'll just bite my tongue. GMG! PS: If Dodge wins 6 I really think he will be back although 7 has been said to be the magic number. I think more on this board want Todd Dodge back than those who do not. He did bring discipline, sobriety and other things back to this program that I think coupled with 6 wins this Fall would get him a new contract. PS2: Look for a future game versus Clemson at UNT's New Stadium @ The Mean Green Village in the future. We have an AD who can make such things as that happen.

Yall have a great time, Harry! I've got to DJ a Wedding Reception at Granbury's OW Ranch this evening. I will have my radio set on the Mean Green Radio Network, though. GMG!

OK, UNT's initial Fall enrollment w/o late registration was 36,000+ or so. How do we find out what UH's, TTU's etc, etc, etc; anyway how do we find out what all our sister Texas public univerisities "initial" numbers were? Thanks in advance to whoever finds these numbers. GMG!

Just curious to see how we compare with our Fall 2010 enrollment, especially versus UH, TTU and the rest. GMG!

GREEN!

Glad to be here, PRR! GMG!