PlummMeanGreen

I was not a math major, but I think I have counted..............."7" ? ! ? ! ?

KingDL1, do you have such stats; that is, the number of teams we beat in the last 9 years that did have winning records?

Good research, FFR...Didn't realize (or I had just forgotten) that many "close" scores by some SBC schools and some of those very recent. The Troy U Trojan win over #19 ranked Missouri to open their new (rebuilt from scratch) football stadium 3 yrs. ago is the one that I'm sure impressed many of us the most. This Fall UL-Monroe is having a tough luck sorta' year with some close losses. Notice after checking our schedule that our last game of this season just happens to be in Monroe, LA, too. The ULM coach seems to have a real attitude toward UNT for whatever the reason. Guess all that got jump-started with his comments on Super Jamario? IMO, the season-ending UNT/ULM game in Monroe will most likely have ramifications affecting the long-term future of NT football with those ramifications affecting 2 groups from within the UNT community, ie, those who want a new direction at a higher profile among our peers in NCAA D1-A or those of our constituency who are satisfied with what is going on right now with (only) SBC success being suffice for that group.

La Tech apparently graduated most of their studs last year. I think most on this forum are still duly impressed with their nationally televised win over Fresno State last year. I can't remember how high Fresno State was ranked when the La Tech Bullddogs beat them last Fall on ESPN but we all know they (FSU) would have been ranked light years ahead of any football member of the SBC. TRIVIA QUESTION: DURING THE LAST 25 YEARS, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME UNT BEAT OR EVEN PLAYED CLOSE (within 7 to 10 pts) A TOP 25 FOOTBALL TEAM? Much of this is really not even about Coach DD at all to a certain extent; it does boil down to just what level of NCAA D1-A football do NT Exes/MG fans want that fits well with our other Lone Star State comrades, ie, the other 9 Texas-based NCAA D1-A schools? And how well we know all of that group, right? You know, the ones that many of our MG Nation have to work with or around on any day of the week, for instance? DO WE WANT A HIGHER RANKED NCAA 1-A PROGRAM OR SHOULD WE JUST GO BACK TO D1-AA OR MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST PLAY INTRAMURAL FLAG FOOTBALL AND SAVE ALL THE BUCKS? It just seems odd to many how a hardy handful of our best seem happy with what no other Texas D1-A school's alum would be happy with. Need proof on that? Just ask any of those alums from Texas-based D1-A schools and they will be such proof. The 4 bowl years at UNT? IMO, if UNT had won 2 or 3 out of 4 of those, been ranked inside the Top 50 with any of those SBC championships and recruiting would have been better each succeeding year after each of those 4 bowl years then................. .................I don't think there would be any of the controversy we have now (if those wanting a higher ranking for their school's football programs standing among all of NCAA D1-A should even be called controversial at all); anyway, with such aforementioned successes in those 4 bowl years there probably would have not been such an outcry that began last season moving into this football season that has basically split the Mean Green Nation down the middle (and saying "down the middle" may be a generous percentage for those who think our present direction is just fine). NOTE: Noticed in my TV guide that the UNT vs ASU game will be televised this Saturday PM on KWRD Channel 52 beginning at 6:00 PM.

First of all, to separate most of our's toy section (Mean Green football) of each of our department stores that we call "Life" as it is compared to the real world we all have to live in every day, but anyway: My earnest and most fervent prayer for Coach Dickey with his latest health situation. I am not a doctor but I've had diabetes in my family, too, and heart problems is sometimes one of that diseases manifestations. I have to think (or I can at least hope) the large majority of us can separate the job from the man and right now the man, ie, one Darrell Dickey is much more important than any job.

Of course, the (most strangely) omitted part of this thread is who Idaho hired in the first place that has given the Vandals a successful season no matter how they finish at this juncture. FWIW, how long has it been since Idaho had such a W/L record this time of year? The thing is, with the success Idaho has had thus far (and again, no matter how they finish out) BUT............. with the high profile hire Dennis Erickson this will give the Vandal football program (even moreso) the undivided and iimmediate attention (no 5 to 9 year plan at Idaho for Coach Erickson) in their recruiting region and with who they have as coach will most likely be able to build onto their recruiting classes' successes each of the next few years. Don't look for Erickson to have one good recruiting class and try to coast along with it. But..........I know, in Denton, we have this 25 year tradition and a method of madness with our head football coach hiring procedures that seems to have kept us toward the bottom quadrant of NCAA D1-A and that even during 4 recent bowl years. Just our merely having a head football coaches position open at UNT only takes care of half the problem; the other half of the equation at UNT is who we hire to replace Dickey when his position becomes open whatever that time-table turns out to be. To put it bluntly, we really cannot afford to screw up our next head football coaches hire in Denton, Texas, America and hope a wide cross-section of people from the UNT community who really know what the hell is going on at the upper level of NCAA D1-A football and have knowledge as to what has happened (and mostl quickly) at outposts such as UTEP and Idaho will play an integral part with UNT's decision-making process for a new head football coach in the future.

These following were actually compiled from various church bulletins. Obviously the church secretaries who typed these "bulletin announcements" must have been thinkin' about an upcoming Game Day (or whatever) and (sometimes) misspelled words, left out key letters in some of the words or mis-worded some of the phrases you might say? Uh...........enjoy.... ....................................................... ** Due to the rector's illness, Monday's healing services will be discontinued until further notice. ** The 8'th graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet on Friday. The congregation is invited to attend the tragedy. ** The audience is asked to remain seated until the end of the recession. ** Low Self -Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7:00 PM. Please use the back door. ** Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community. ** A songfest was hell at the Methodist church Tuesday. ** Don't let worry kill you. Let the church help you. ** Thursday night potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow. ** Pastor is on vacation. Massages can be given to church secretary. ** Ushers will eat latecomers. ** The Rev. Adams spoke briefly, much to the delight of his audience. ** The Senior Choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir. ** Today--Christian Youth Fellowship House Sexuality Course. 1 p.m.--8 p.m. Please use the rear parking lot for this activity. ** Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you. ** The Outreach Committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church. ** Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children. ** Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m. Please use large double door at the side entrance. ** Will the last person to leave please make sure that the perpetual light is extinguished.

I defer to a, uh, senior moment? Guess I've had "Top 25" on the brain a bit much, lately? Wonder why bowling is so damn popular at either locale to be honest about it, though?

And I believe Bowling Green has been one of the MAC's Top 25'ers in football in recent years, too. And with that in mind, BG would be a good program for every football school in the Sun Belt to emulate since we've not had any of our own football champions anywhere near a Top 25 ranking and FWIW.............. if we're not shooting for Top 25 with all our SBC football programs, then why are we even trying to swim with the rest of the NCAA D1-A sharks? ArlingtonMeanGreen would love Bowling Green because he is the owner of a classic Corvette and BW, KY is where they make that special Cheverlet as many of you would know.

Well, I'm an "oldie" who (like Coach Blakely used to say) "I've seen everything at UNT except childbirth." Anyone ever think that all those who have been wanting to hang onto all this annual bottom of the NCAA D1-A football barrell trends (even during bowl years when we were ranked low) that even a college football novice with the most recent edition of an NT football media guide would be able to peruse & easily determine for themselves that in MG Country such trends (annual low rankings after all bowls are played) do exists and have for quite awhile now; in fact, could those who want the same o same o for NT football be called negative as to prevent some very positive things that could happen (again) for Mean Green football at a level we've not seen for over 25 years? Anyone remember the last time we beat a Top 25 school? As an Independent I can say this but some of what you get on this board is almost like the Republican vs Democratic party thing presently going on that suggests that if you vote for Democrats then you coudn't possibly be a Christian? I mostly vote moderate to conservative on most things but would not go as far as to call Democrats infidels. But for damn sure don't get me started on the subjects of Rosie O'Donnell and Barbara Streisand. Just looking at our new woman presidents background and where she's from makes some wonder if she can suddenly become a big college football supporter here in the great Southwest who will committ enough budget to Mean Green athletics to not only just give it life support (we've been there--done that in the past), but with such a budget for NT athletics will give it chance to get in the NCAA's top division's Top 50 football schools; who knows, we may luck out like UTEP and get a future new coach who can get us in the Top 25 his 2'nd year in Denton! But, yes, TIgreen01, I (as well as many others) who have similar doubts do need to at least let our new president have her honeymoon time at UNT and give her the benefit of the doubt. I believe she has probably already listened to some fairily wise counsel already about what may be the very thing that helps her even reach all her academic goals for UNT-Denton. If she would very wisely consider doing as Bill Gates did with MicroSoft and Mark Cuban presently does with the Mavericks, it might even be a good idea for her to frequent this forum, ie, GoMeanGreen.com so she can get cull thru the good, the bad and the ugly HSO's and just get the general pulse of the kinds of NT Exes/MG fans she will most likely need to meet many of her personal goals at UNT. Still amazes many of us how so few Texans we actually hire at UNT to help us get out of this Tier 4 (according to US News & World Report) academic rankings quagmire we seem to be forever stuck, though.

Don't most new president's at UNT get de-briefings in their first days on campus as to what they need to say concerning Mean Green athletics? What new president who would come to a major Texas university and in "her" first few weeks say: "Well, first and foremost, we are going to study very closely our athletics and then most likely cut some of its budget? Many of us who've been around the Mean Green scene for awhile (20, 30 or 40 plus years) would tell you who have just begun your new adventure with all this that actions do speak much louder than words. On behalf of the new UNT president, at least she has said some positive things about the role of NT Athletics, but many of us have from past experience still have that "I'm from Missouri" attitude as in: SHOW ME?

Wonder where ya' been, emmitt. Hope all is ok... Alone with the beer in the endzone how about the Tropicana Girls as all the ushers at Fouts Field dressed out in their best thong bikinis? (Can I say that on this board, Harry)?

Based on the last 25 or so years at UNT, you for darn sure ain't alone with that concern, Mr. Fisher.

I got in trouble in the 4'th grade playing marbles for keeps (which I was told by my teacher was gambling?) Well, I haven't, uh, gambled ever since! (OK, I told my first GMG.com lie! Sue me)! BUT............if your talking about Rick Neuheisel, he has no NCAA violations attributed to him and was exonnerated of his "personal" situation that had nothing to do with the school he was employed. Now at UNT, I know we have to have coaches who are next to perfect or, uh, have nail scars in the palms of of their hands which we've had a dime-a-dozen in Denton; yet hasn't it been that group who all made some pretty nice salaries while they were crucifying our football program at the same time? For certain, we all want integrity with our football program yet there have been coaches who have stubbed their toes with the NCAA in the past but who wanted to continue their college coaching career and found ways to avoid future controversies. UNT officials at some time in the future are going to have to show some real bonafide gonads with who they hire OR they can be "extremely" safe, hire a Sunday School teacher who has been a journeyman assisstant coach with one BIG YEAR as an offensive coordinator at Southern Presbeterian University (no one tjat anyone on GMG.com would know, of course) but won't we probably get just another 25 years of what we've had the last 25 years which can best be described as life as one of the NCAA D1-A bottom-feeders? It amazes many of us how that has been so acceptable by our flock of green-wooled sheep who could be led anywhere by just about anyone. FWIW, SCREAMING EAGLE-66, there are those at other NCAA D1-A outposts (including the one located in the western part of Denton, Texas, America) who hired those who had prior brushes with the NCAA and they were cleared of any wrong-doing just like Rick Neuheisel was. Most hardly think UTEP's Mike Price arrived in El Paso with an alter boy image and he (like Neuheisel) was not officially charged with any of the allegations charged to him and UTEP seems to be running a clean ship now. UNT's hiring of Rick Neuheisel (or someone of similar scope because it doesn't really have to be R.N.); but wouldn't such a hiring at UNT and the immediate impact it would have in MG Country across the board while touching almost every part of our campus cause many even on GMG.com to wonder why we didn't do something like this much, much sooner. Anyone think UTEP alums have thought that very same thing post-Mike Price hire? But we have been busy making sure we didn't upset some of our low-achieving career athletic staffer's plans as to cause any of them to lose those state of Texas retirements now haven't we? UNT has been one helluva' dream job for many of those who can't seem to get jobs anywhere else larger or smaller than our alma mater. Don't any of you also feel we have so many times thru the years by our upper echelon UNT leaders been so screwed as NT Exes with who we are force-fed to accept as those who would lead us without our NT upper eltie even giving us the traditional goodnight kiss? We have wasted so much time in Denton because we won't break our own bad hiring habits or study our own trends one would think we would eventually learn from?

If I could cuss on this board, right now I think I would! The Fake Whoever You Are what the hell you mean we're almost there?!?! Surely you are jesting with that statement, right? Has UNT (who is seemedly now in the midst of being the NCAA's first to pioneer a 10 year plan for success; anyway, what has all the shit and shinola of DD Ball (who was hired by basically a one or two man KSU-oriented self appointed committee to give those good (insert sumblimeal "naive') folks of Denton what they've been missing out on for years AND this KSU Konnection who did not consult or ask anyone connected with those they would have liked to support what they were fixin' put in our directin with their purple shrouded bloodless coaches hiring coup on us, ie, the entire Mean Green Nation--those on or off campus) . Nevertheless, forget the Top 10 schools on our schedule (which BTW was happening on NT football schedules well B4 Darrell Dickey came to town) but what you are actually saying is: Give DD even more time as to where his leadership and coaching will allow us to beat such schools as Air Force, Memphis, Southern Miss, Tulsa, La Tech, Akron, etc, etc, etc,? Fellow NT Exes, how do you do you like this continued reaming we are all getting in the lower quadrant of an NCAA D1-A co-existance; that is, do you prefer with or without Vaseline? UNT leadership hasn't had a definite plan for success at the D1-A level for almost a quarter of a century now. At UNT, we have not had the luxury of having leaders like many of our former Missouri Valley Conference-mates obviously had and possbily that the very reason that here in my 55'th year that we are still suckin' hind teat as a football program? And such a football program that has lulled many of you into thinking we are not good or worthy enough to even talk to or hire coaches just like UTEP and Idaho did recently to help them get out of their own college football quagmire of a freakin' cesspool? ..................................................................... QUESTION: Does anyone think the Idaho Vandals will have a much better opportunity to upscale their football fortunes with Dennis Erickson or the kind of coaching hires we've had at UNT most of the last 25 years? ..................................................................... You know, I remember when I was 25 (really I do) and thinking: "Man, my alma mater's football program by the time I'm in my 50's or more is going to be one helluva' program that most Texas D1-A schools will come to envy." Well...............any of you notice any other Texas D1-A schools (and well beyond the Lone Star State) using UNT as their college football model of late? Don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen, either, because it ain't going to happen. Who you hire to advance your football program is not rocket science, folks. But we've had too many egos in the past on our campus that makes many of us feel today that we could go yet another year with DD Ball and even another 25 years of just enough that make some of you just wanting to keep drinking more green Koolaide and still some of your thinking you are a getting one helluva' a top shelf margarita.

Baby Arm! Is this the real YOU? If so, you're many of our's new Mean Green friend! BUILD IT.........HIRE RICK NEUHEISEL (or someone of similar scope & notoriety..........AND THEY WILL COME IN DROVES!

Good grief! WT and Midwestern State, folks! F I R E H I M ! (& STOP! a 25 yr. tradition of less than inspiring, good ol' boy, longtime buddy & just "basically" poor hires in Denton) A N D THEY WILL COME!

Many of us for most of the last 2, 3 or 4 decades have been putting our money (and even some volunteer service) to UNT, UNT Athletics, etc, etc, etc; "where our mouths are" but now some of us who were NTSU students even back in the 70's would sorta' like UNT leaders to explain why we are forever going backwards with NT football with its hiring habits and with some of that group they have hired being public relation jack-a-lopes of which most of whom the last 25 years have never gone higher in their careers than UNT once NT officials are finally able to make a decision to get them off the UNT payroll (which their lack of moving their careers above UNT is a pretty strong indicator that they were poor hires or choices for UNT in the first place). Some educators are like politicians inasmuch as too many times they will only tell their constituency what they think their constituency wants to hear so we can rarely expect a real viable answer to questions NT alums might ask on hot topics (expecially if those questions make them squirm just a bit about their own jobs)? SHOW ME THE MONEY? Why waste time on GMG.com with $100 donors; but instead, why shouldn't we expect some of our UNT leaders to cease their stalling and hesitations in wanting to pull the triggers on employees who have long since served out their talents in Denton and have already taken early retirements (while still being on the UNT payroll year in and year out)............BUT FWIW............NT leaders could probably get at least $100,000 easy in just a few hours for such a "play like" fund suggested on this thread by doing what is done out here in the real world and thats to merely down-size positions that have proven to be un-productive for years to get this "play-like" fund. WHAT MAKES CENT$ ABOUT THIS? For an NCAA D1-A program that operates almost annually toward the bottom of the level we compete (as compared to the the other 118 schools), just looking at photos of NT athletic staffers in souvenir programs, it looks to be about 4 X's larger than some of our prior athletic staffs of years past at UNT and those staffs being part of much higher profile successes than the present (with far less clerical manpower to do it with). In essence, wouldn't a few agree that UNT having larger athletic ancillery staffs across the board have not made us any more successful as an NCAA D1-A athletic program compared to even a most recent past? YET................for those who get all tensed up about 75% (+/-) of those of the MG Nation who really want to get back to having a much higher ranked/profile football program that DD has (for whatever the "insert subleminal lack of overall recruiting" reason) and has not been able to produce even during 4 bowl years with the upstart Sun Belt Conference & its collection of just out of 1-AA football schools; anyway, many feel that not only our alma mater deserves better with its football program, but the many of us who have actually been $upporters of this program for most of the latter part of last century into most of this new millineum might pose this question to a hardy handful of you: Just what is the hook that keeps you wanting to hold onto all this with a Darrell Dickey-led football program? Most will listen to your answers with a very open mind maybe even more open than some of you are listening to facts and data that others have been presenting to you with our annual low football rankings as the proof in the pudding; but most would still really like to know the answer to the question because who knows, you might just get yourself a few new converts to the level of NT football you all feel most comfortable with?

We were too far gone when we got beat by Tulsa and La Tech last Fall. I just hope when the so-called "short list" of prospects for a new head football coach for UNT is put together that that list of names comes from the top shelf rather than the bottom shelf. We can't afford to blow another head football coach's hiring in Denton and I defer (for the 100'th time) to any UNT football media guide that suggests we have done just that for about 2 1/2 decades now. We must do the un-North Texas thing this next time around just like UTEP did the un-UTEP thing with Price and Idaho did their own un-Idaho thing with Erickson.

First of all, I would think how we do against FIU should not change anyone's mind about our future one way or the other. I hope we have a bit more progressive UNT leadership now than those of our last 25 years who showed that they knew nothing about hiring coaches who would get us (somewhat) back to some of the success of the Mean Joe Greene and Hayden Fry eras had given us. We have to stop using any SBC school's football program as our measure of success because just merely using the SBC for our baromter is the very thing that will probably have Darrell Dickey out looking for a new job soon enough. Would not most agree that DD had no career at UNT until the fledgling SBC came along for him. It was like shooting fish in the bottom of the NCAA D1-A barrell for DD. Guess thats why he seemed to lavish praise on Wright Waters so much at those Big Easy/SBC/Love-In sessions on the, uh, Mean Green Radio Network--all 3 stations. SBC Commissioner Wright Waters (basically) put together a consortium of schools most of whom just out of 1-AA who all said they wanted to be in 1-A but no established D1-A leagues wanted any of them (save the WAC for just 2 or 3 SBC'ers). UNT had about a 5 or 6 year head start on most of the SBC football schools once the SBC football portion of the conference formed in 2001. IMHO, the #1 missing ingrediant of those 4 SBC championships is just how gol-darned low we were ranked at the end of bowl season as the SBC football champion among all the other 117 (then) schools in NCAA D1-A; all this, while the WAC and MAC football champions were mostly getting Top 25 billing and consideration. Had UNT even been ranked anywhere between the Top 25 thru Top 50 during any of those 4 years I believe 2 things would be happening today: (1) Our recruiting would have gotten even better after such rankings during that 4 bowl year run and....... (2) No one would be posting about a need for a new head football coach at UNT who could take us to the next level, you know, Top 25 thru Top 50 at least?

Dr. James Roger's "The Story of North Texas" can be found at even some Border's Book Stores. One might "Google" it up and find a way to order it online. It is a good read from day one of our school's beginnings in 1890 and I found that Dr. Rogers did cover a bunch about Mean Green athletics with much on Hayden Fry. You will also read where some campus types backin the late 1960's/early 1970's never wanted a 10,000 seat Super Pit but one that seated about 6,000. Well..........as we all know that would have sufficed for our basketball program much of the time the Super Pit has been around, but we must also remember that it was first built and was actually first called a multi-purpose facility and has served the region well for not just varsity basketball games but many other regional functions as well. 3 NCAA Regionals would have never come to Denton had some of our "teacher's college/short-sighted" types had gotten their way. The fear of many is that our new football stadium's capacity will be down-sized as to keep us from ever getting some true Big 12 Top 10 schools into Denton. You don't just build stadiums big enough for whats happening today, but what can happen in the future if we somehow get out of this quarter century long slump of hiring head football coaches who can never take us to the next level.

4 minutes left in 3'rd quarter: U of L 30 MTSU 10 Louisville has superior speed (as would be expected--remember Southern Miss vs UNT in the Big EZ)? MT's receivers cannot get open due to UL's defensive back's superiour speed but.......................MTSU is giving it a good efftort.

[Huff,Oct 6 2006, 12:28 PM]When Hayden Fry went to Iowa his offensive line coach, Andy Everest was named as Athletic Director. Andy was a good person but I am not sure what his credentials were for being named Athletic Director. Andy hired Jerry Moore from Nebraska to be the head football coach. Moore's title at Nebraska was Offensive Coordinator but most people believed that their head coach was really in charge of the offense. Under Hayden Fry, North Texas had a finesse type offense that worked pretty well. Hayden recruited players to fit that system. He left town with some good athletes still on campus in Denton. Jerry Moore came from a power I formation attack at Nebraska. They ran the ball down people's throats, ran the option some, and were very successful at doing it. Moore tried to put in the Nebraska power offense with North Texas players who were not recruited to play the power game. The result was that Jerry Moore took the best talent I have ever seen at North Texas and went 11-11 over a two year period. Lots of folks were surprised (and delighted) when he was hired to be the head football coach at Texas Tech. ←

According to my UNT football media guide and past recollection as well, no Hayden Fry-coached Mean Green team ever played McNeese State. Easy mistake as Memphis State may have sounded like McNeese State on the MGRN. Here are all our games (Win or Lose) during Hayden Fry's career at UNT that involved "0" in the score. 9/29/73..........UNT versus Long Beach State A 0/0 tie game at Fouts**It was Fry's 4'th game to coach as the new MG head football coach 10-/26/74........Memphis State 41 UNT 0 ****At Fouts and then the next week at Fouts as I recall the Mean Green would beat a Top 20 ranked San Diego State at Fouts 10/11/75.........UNT 28 University of Houston 0 ****This Mean Green win at Texas Stadium; UH would go to the Cotton Bowl the next year in their SWC inaugural year. 9/3/77.............Mississippi St. 7 UNT 0 (This game was later forfeited in favor for UNT because of some stringent NCAA violations by "Bob Tyler's" Miss. State Bulldog football program 9/2/79............UNT 49 UTEP 0 Amazing which program has now gone foward and the other football program that has remained stagnant and toward the bottom of the heap on the NCAA's top division. Again, there was no McNeese State on any UNT football schedule during the Hayden Fry era. In addition, there were probably not very many of us in MG Country during that era who knew much about D-II schools many of whom are now either in the Sun Belt or the Southland Conferences.

...and I know all would wish a speedy recovery for RV. There is no kind of surgery that no one should take lightly.