PlummMeanGreen

Good grief, NCMeanGreen, what's up? Daniel Meager came back from an injury (hey, its football--they do happen) and led his Richardson Pearce 5A football team into the Texas UIL state play-offs. I don't think I would call that "sissy." I call that someone coming back from an injury and leading his football team. You've had some great posts until this one. If you're having a bad day, get the old Louisville slugger out, go to the back yard and knock the hell out of one of those North Carolina pine trees. You're fine, though, we are all allowed 1 or 2 "off" posts per week. PS: You only have 1 left for this week!

At what point of Fall practice do they put the red jersey on the QB? As I recall the story, Brandon Kennedy got a bit rough with Scott Hall in a similar pre-season practice and wasn't that when Hall tore a pectoral muscle (which caused him to have to sit out that entire season eventually)? Hey Mean Green "D" we love your intensity and don't won't you to panty-waist or play "two-below" in these workouts, but lets not injure our franchise type players who can mean the difference of us playing a game in December or staying home Christmas month. FWIW, Meager hit his head on the ground a bit too intense yesterday. He was taken out for precautions, but I'd bet if truth be known, he probably didn't want to sit out any of yesterday's practices, but (as always) our NT coaches have the last word in all that.

Glad to see Coach Leach and the Red Raiders have the, uh, "student-athlete's" welfare first and foremost in all this. I hope I live to see the day where Texas Tech wins some kind of conference football championship (outright) because this hasn't happened since I was born (1950); or at least it didn't in the Southwest Conference or the Big 12. I have no idea about the old Border Conference they were in at one time.

Fouts was built in the 1950's and should have been replaced about the time we built the Murchsion Performing Arts Center. The MPAC took the place of the College of Music's Main Auditorium on Ave. C which was also built in the 1950's as I recall reading in Dr. Jim Rodger's "The Story of North Texas)." IMO, we are behind on football facilities because we spent way too many years kidding ourselves about the use of Texas Stadium as some semblance of a home base. We are just now correcting the error of our ways on that. If those of you who have been around these parts a few years will recall, Texas Stadium wasn't even a good home base for SMU. We need to see expanded fan support this year so we can start building a good base of fans to take across I35-E to our new football stadium. I think that new facility will convince some of our toughest alummus critics in the Metroplex that NT expects to be a player in NCAA D1-A. Fouts Field is not a bad temporary home for us until we finish a new stadium, but to many NT Exes, it is still a symbol (and negative perception-creator) that we just need to put in NT's history book. GMG!

La Tech and Tulsa are wins. I just have no read for the LSU or Kansas State game as of yet. La Tech (on the road and their Homecoming game) will be a good hard fought game, but we'll wear them down in 3'rd quarter with our dynamic duo featured today on the cover of USA TODAY's Section 1/Page 1 AND then on page 1 of its sports page. I think Tulsa will be close until all our players get their Omni-Grass legs and then we will tuck it away by the end of the 3'rd quarter! Wait a minute! I said this "3'rd quarter" thing about La Tech, too, now didn't I!

I have counted "3" gold (yellow) Baylor T-shirts with the help of a magnifying glass pressed up against this photo.

Portability - Some have said that will will be able to move the new playing surface to another stadium or practice field. According to the guy's in the know this is never going to happen. They said that after the rubber is installed, the turf can not be moved. The weight of the rubber alone would make this impossible. Many parts of the field are glued and would tear upon removal. Even if you were able to get the glue to release the turf, the weight of the rubber will stretch and tear the turf beyond repair. The new turf was purchased to increase the saftey of the field and give Fouts a better look for a team gaining national attention. There is no intent to move the surface to the new stadium. Hope this info helps answer some of our nagging questions. GMG! P.S. I am interviewing for a part time job with the Mean Green Report. ←

Bump...I sure do like this disguise, MG61!

EagleD, we will all take it from there. I think as of today we just sold a helluva' bunch more tickets to watch Mean Green football this Fall because this kind of front section/page 1 national pub for our guys just authenticates the hell as to what we have all been trying to do on a much smaller scale to those we all encounter here in the Metroplex and other parts of Texas. I mostly hope many, many, many from Denton County are being made aware of this special unique coverage that our Mean Green are giving to all of them up there, that is, all this promo from their only "home county college football team." I work with an LSU guy here at the office and even just this AM he gave me a "thumbs up" on the Mean Green coverage in today's USA Today which he heard about on KTCK 1310 The Ticket. (George Dunham made a comment on this article and nice color photos of our guys). GMG!

No smack from here...I have some nostalgic memories of ol' Fouts myself, stebo. That was a good post that I swear (on my relative's last resting places) even has me a bit misty-eyed and I didn't think that possible on this subject.

Can someone link the link?

I know where the reporter is coming from looking at Fout's exterior, but as you MG61, the entire Mean Green Nation and I would know, there is nothing high school'ish about the interior of the content of this photo and last I heard......they play football games inside the stadium. THe SMU guy's comments still continues to "bare to all" a few a$$es over on the Hilltop, though. I still know some from SMU who are not of that crowd, though; just happen to work with one of them matter of fact. GMG!

But PerryG2480, you left out the fabulous tennis complex under construction at the new Mean Green Athletic Village out of this group. Just joshin' ya, thanks for those links you did provide. GMG!

Someone want to link the series of photos of the NORTH TEXAS/Baylor game of 2 years ago to see if those scenes looks high school'ish? Maybe I'm wrong (again) but isn't another reason we are going to build a new football stadium is for the very purpose of upgrading from an older facility to a newer one? The same thing we did when we upgraded (for varsity basketball) from the Men's Gym to the Super Pit? Same thing the NT College of Music did from the Main Auditorium to the Murchison Performing Arts Center? Fouts is going to be just fine until we move into a new stadium; in fact, an ex SWC alum who sat with my group 3 years ago said "Fouts is not as bad as advertised." I told him it was probably many of us NT alums who want a new football stadium so bad who made Fouts Field seem worse than it is (and for the most part) we make such opinions known on these collegiate message boards. But did not the USA Today reporter check out NT's plans for a new stadium, too? A new stadium that now is projected to open in 2009-2010; and if a Big Donor comes thru between now and next Spring, how about the possibility of 2008? If this USA TODAY reporter is going to talk about lemons, he needs to discuss the lemonade part, too, a bit more than he did. Still, it was an overall positive for NORTH TEXAS to get this coverage because all some will see is that huge color photo of Cobbs/Thomas on the top page of the front section! Whoa, Nellie! <>*<> In conclusion............WHAT A GREEN LETTER DAY FOR SIR PATRICK COBBS, SUPER JAMARIO THOMAS, OUR NT STAFF, OUR NT FOOTBALL TEAM & THE MEAN GREEN NATION! (Did I miss anyone)? GMG!

As Dickey looks out his office window in a new athletic complex toward busy I-35, he can only chuckle at his good fortune to have found these backs. He needed some luck. Coaching in a cash-strapped program that has had to play road games against Oklahoma, Texas, LSU, Kansas State, Alabama and Arkansas for a big-money guarantee hasn't been easy. ** RESPONSE: A quote about NT's new athletic complex in this USA TODAY article and somone says "poor, little NORTH TEXAS?" PS: Should we cancel our new 35-40,000 seat stadium, Wimbledon'esque tennis complex now under construction, upcoming new baseball stadium construction, etc, etc, etc, so we don't ruin our image with those who choose to constantly live in the past when discussing most anything relating to NORTH TEXAS? Poor? "meanjoe" ends each of his post with what we as NT alums & Mean Green fans can do about some of that, right meanjoe?................. Flanigan, a former Southern Methodist quarterback, suspects this all has to do with SMU, a traditional football school, looking down on North Texas. "It would not look good for (SMU officials) for a little, poor school up the road to win their prestigious award. But those are things which drive our kids and our coaches." ** RESPONSE: Hey SMU! The SWC is dead! The Times They Are A-changin'." (Sorry SMU Young Republicans, that was the title of a song from one of those liberal do-goodin' song writer types like you might see en mass at the 2'nd largest music school in the USA (in fact, probably as large as your SMU freshmen class), ie, the NT College of Music. ................. Chris Rentzel, chair of the SMU Athletic Forum board, said Thomas was considered just like the other freshmen for the 2004 Doak Walker Award, which was won by Texas senior Cedric Benson. KEY STATEMENT FROM MR. RENTZEL: "It honestly had nothing to do with anti-North Texas SMU bias," Rentzel said. "Jamario was turning up yards, but nobody was seeing it." ** RESPONSE: So you mean there really "IS' an anti-North Texas SMU bias, Mr. Rentzel? AND...."nobody was seeing it?" Uh, Mr Rentzel, there are almost 6 million citizens within 50 miles of Denton, Texas, USA. No, they are not all showing up at Fouts, but many of them watch ESPN, local TV sports, read that Dallas Morning News SportsPage, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and uh..........<>*<>USA TODAY<>*<> BUT NOBODY?!?! MISTER RENTZEL, how about in this new era of more TV coverage in the NCAA D1-A that more are seeing Sir Patrick Cobbs and Super Jamario Thomas on TV than who saw your beloved Pony Express when TV coverage back in that era was limited? NOBODY?

But Pati Haworth, who also lives near the former golf course, said she’s seen no real commitment from the university to planning an adequate greenbelt. “Without planning, funding and implementation of a dedicated green space, neighbors have no reason to believe the unplanned greenbelt shown on Sasaki’s proposal — which could really sparkle as an environmental sciences showpiece worthy of national envy — will ever be anything in administrators’ eyes but just a future construction site,” Haworth said. ........................................................................................... A question I would have is why would anyone buy property (a house) in any decade adjacent to a a state university (which in Texas are known for future growth and expansion)? Some of the Denia-ites closest to Eagle Point Campus should only look down the road in Arlington and see what Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys did with many, many home-owners where they will build the new JerryDome when the Cowboys exercised their power of eminent domain. One NT official in Zabel's article says that using that same power of eminent domain to claim land where many Denia houses now stand is not in NT's plan so at what point does this hardy handful of home-owerns become satisfied? AND.....at what point does NT tell some of these Denia-ites: "Sue us for having the audacity to grow and use our own land to accomodate that growth!" If my good neighbors out here in Parker County adjacent to the acreage where I live heard me complain about their land and my suggesting to them as to what they should be doing with said land they would probably have no problem telling me where to stick it. We still have so many of these unusual types left in Denton that have always symbolized to me why our school is behind in so many areas, especially in the turnstiles department. NORTH TEXAS to them is "what can that school do for us or just how much can we get out ot that school to benefit us?" So can we blame a handful of our NT officials for keeping their resumes updated and ready (at moments notice) to place on a fax machine for an outbound transmission?

How about doing the javelin, hammer-throw and discuss competitions "inside" the Denia neighborhood?

Heard that there might even be word on that in a Mean Green Report sometimes today. And might know more on Willie Ransom as well. Seems that their being out on the practice field may be a positive indicator, but guess we all have to just wait and see.

Hope Coach Jones is having some success with his recruiting. I look to make some Saturday games this year. Anyone know how many home games we have on Saturdays for this next season and against who? GMG!

And Patrick Cobbs proved to be a good example of how a medical redshirt off year can be a positive experience. It was encouraging to see Cobbs on the sidelines being a student coach last Fall.

I see an indoor facility as an advantage when it is raining cats and dogs, is too cold to effectively work out and the fact that in today's world, a school has to protects its players to the extent as to be concerned with lawsuits. NT doesn't need any lawsuits for carelessness with heat-related injuries. Global warmring (IMHO) is making for what seems to be hotter August and Septembers (unless middle age is causing some of that, too) Stebo is right, though, inasmuch as on the other side of the coin we can't pamper our players to the extent that they aren't ready for wet, humid-type weather they will encounter in Baton Rouge in a few weeks or very cold weather which is not as likely for a Sun Belt schedule. We do have many big fish to fry at NT, but we also sorta' need to keep up with the NCAA D1-A school's athletic venue's arms race, too, and indoor practice facilities seems to be the latest rage among that group in the NCAA. Wonder what some of our Texas largest high schools are spending on these facilities? Whatever the case, at NT we would need something that would look nice because 50,000 interstate travelers drive by the Mean Green Athletic Village every day of the year (according to state stats on that subject).

Yes, the Union Bldg is still there but you would not recognize it as you last saw it. Back when I arrived at NT in January of 1972, the Union was undergoing a dramatic re-make and expansion using the shell of the Union you knew as the main part of what would become (basically) the new NT Union. Inside the new and improved 4 stories Union is also a runnning stream of which the water moves rapidly over polished rocks, a post office, a very large bookstore which includes Mean Green Gear/NT CD's from many College of Music ensembles including the NT Green Brigade marching band, UNT stuff/school supplies/graduation supplies/class rings can be ordered there, too, etc, etc, etc. On the 3'rd floor is the Silver Eagle Suite where many banquets relating to campus and athletic activities have been held in the past. Many of those have now been moved to the newer Gateway Center near Fouts Field. Ken14, most of our Mean Green Nation might be curious about what is happening now with you and family? The Mean Green Nation welcome all of you back to campus, but you'll need a map of the NT campus--I all but need a map of campus as it has changed very much since I was a student in the 1970's; but you would still see many familiar sights on campus, too. Anyway, load up the family and show them where your NT Ex dad did his graduate work. If yall are able to come to Denton, this September 17'th might be a great day because that is our home football season opening Game Day as the Mean Green will play the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Fouts Field. Ken14, you can get NT football tickets and Game Day info by calling 1-800-UNT-2366. They will also put you on their mailing list if you so request.

2 Reasons NT Needs An Indoor Practice Facility: (1) Its the latest trend to keep up with the Joneses in the NCAA D1-A facilities arms race. (2) Its the latest trend to keep up with the Joneses in the NCAA D1-A facilities arms race. Of course, NT is a unique situation inasmuch as we are building a whole new athletic complex consisting of numerous venues in as quick a period of time as possible and a project that will be capped off with our new 35-40,000 seat football stadium. I don't think many Texas HS's have similar projects nor any other Texas colleges or universities for that matter. IMHO, we may need to build our indoor facility at NT before we start on our new football stadium but.............I also don't think we need to put a hideous looking piece of junk out at Eagle Point Campus. We (somewhat) already have that with a facility near the Murchison Performing Arts Center, although that facility has had many interior improvements the last 5 years. (If we could have just done something in the past with its exterior--the part people see). But just like the Denton Outlaws owner, we need to wait as long as we need to wait to get the necessary funds to buld a first class looking facility. ***** With 50,000 interstate commuters who pass our Eagle Point Campus every day, all those passengers in all those cars need to see something pretty impressive that they can tell their Texas high school blue chip athlete sons and daughters about. It's just way too hot in Texas in August and we don't need any more tragedies relating to the heat. Can probably get more work done when your not having to worry about any of your football players having heat related problems. I think the City of Arlington and the Texas Rangers royally screwed up by not building a baseball stadium with a retractable roof as we speak about the hot Texas weather which I think global warming has been some influence. GMG! PS: Weatherford HS has an indoor practice facility? Guess I better go check that out this weekend. I do know they named their huge auditorium at their new HS after NT alum (and big Mean Green Club contributor) Jerry Durant of "JERRY'S AUTO-COMPLEX" fame.

The TAMU volleyball facility looks like their men's former varsity basketball faciliy, ie, G. Rollie White Coliseum. Is UT's their former men's BB facility whose name escapes me at the moment? Come to think of it, NT' old Snake Pit BB faciliyt now named after Coach Ken Bahnsen would have made a very nice volleyball venue, but I think NT is going to have a nice one AND in the new Mean Green Athletic Village.