GrayEagle

I looked at last year's AState roster and found that there were only eight from Alabama as opposed to fourteen from Texas. So it doesn't seem that distance is that large a factor. In fact, if it were, wouldn't most of your out-of-state players be from Tennessee or Missouri? I believe that there were only four from Tennessee and a couple from Missouri. As the only other FSB university in Arkansas, your core base is (and should be) Arkansas. I didn't count them but you have a lot of players from your home state. Certainly more than Alabama, Texas or any other state by far. Location is not Arkansas State's forte. The only close FBS school is Memphis. Even the University of Arkansas is across the state with a detour through Little Rock. So, whatever conference you're in, many of your nearest opponents aren't going to be. Your attendance is good; seemingly regardless of the opponent. You seem capable of going either east or west. Unless interest wanes, I think that AState should just go with the flow. Transportation costs could be a strong factor should you consider realigning or changing conferences.

There are some differences this time. The biggest difference is there's a new AD. If it can be done, I'd put my money on him. He is far better connected to both our fans and to other members of the AAC. He also has full support from the UNT president. Becoming a Carnegie Tier 1 Research Facility has cracked open another door or two. SMU will play us for the foreseeable future anyway. A new series is scheduled with Houston. The series with the Mustangs is benefiting both parties in attendance and reduction of expenses. I believe that the same will be said of Houston. Our students have stepped in and our revenues will become par with AAC members. Not to rub it in but it appears that basketball may soon be competitive with at least the middle tier of American Conference. Academics continue to improve as does research funding. We've had a terrific fund-raising year. There are no guarantees but our chances have definitely improved.

He may not be able to win the Heisman but I believe that he's already on the watch list for the Sammy Baugh Award, which is pretty prestigious in itself.

I assume that this didn't happen. What about it jayD?

I'd have to disagree with the first part of your statement. Maybe not totally disagree but I do think that's where we could be headed. Part of my reasoning for this is that Commissioner Aresco and Wren Baker are friends. If you recall, the commissioner sent Wren a congratulatory message when he was approved as the athletic director at North Texas. I believe that if we can stay the course on financial, facility and attendance improvements that we might very well be either an addition or a replacement should a current member drop out. Not that I wouldn't take the MWC over what we've got in a heartbeat but I believe that for the MWC to accept us that we'd have to be included with UTEP or Rice. Actually, Rice would be good but UTEP would make for a distant travel partner. Air Force would be the closest existing member and we have little history with them (or any other member for that matter). At least, with Wren Baker, I believe that conference improvement is highly likely and something needs to be started now.

The only one that I've done much research on yet is Loren Easly, the SFA transfer. We may have caught some lightning in a bottle. Easly was one of the better running backs in the state during his time at Houston Westside. For his high school career he gained 3,700 yards and scored 48 touchdowns. He had always wanted to play in the FBS so those numbers got him an offer from Memphis and he decided to sign with them. As luck would have it, Easly tore his ACL during the playoffs. Of course, the offer was pulled. I don't remember the circumstances but SFA at least gave him some sort of a make good offer. I believe that he has gained over 1,700 yards there over the last two years so he's done some rehabbing. He has kin in the Metroplex so he thought he'd try again to see if he could play FBS here. He was about 15-20 pounds lighter in high school, and he ran track (sprints and relays) so I'd say that he's more of a speed back; although that could be subject to change. Edit: If Easly has half the vision that Bernard had and still has some speed and agility, opponents may not know what hit them.

Yes, I remember "Expect Miracles" and "Miracles Never Cease". My favorite Blakeley antics were when he'd grab his nose and tilt his head back to indicate a referee's call that stunk and grabbing his tie (if he was wearing one) and pulling it up in hangman's fashion to indicate that the referees choked.

This one could be scary but I would also vote yes. I base that on the fact that I believe that Wren Baker has established himself as more trustworthy than his predecessor and has communicated the need much better. If we can't pull our weight in CUSA then we certainly can't be considered for the AAC, MWC, or a P5 (maybe ever). The cost to attend UNT is/will still be less expensive than UT, Texas A&M, UTEP, UTSA, UTD, and Houston. Only Texas State and UT-Arlington will be a little cheaper and both are in the Sun Belt where the cost is a little cheaper. I view the University of Houston as our watermark that we must stay below and this increase would still keep us fairly well below that cost.

Thanks, Marty. Bill Blakeley was my favorite coach and even more so my favorite person. I was privileged on several occasions to sit for as much as an hour listening to Blakeley stories. Bill was entertaining, witty and had a real gift for gab. He and Dan Spika have been our best basketball coaches but we may have a new challenger on the horizon.

Wrong quarterback. Martin will be here for spring practice and on the roster this fall. I believe that the quarterback that will be gone for two years is named Fennegan. Edit: Yep; Cade Fennegan from Dallas Woodrow Wilson.

I'll admit that I'm ignorant when it comes to blueshirts but it is a new thing and maybe others are too. But, it is my understanding that you can't blueshirt a recruit that you offered. I'm pretty sure that we offered Jones although that offer may have been withdrawn after Ogunmakin accepted. I know that we have very good receivers on the squad now but this guy is apparently in the Guyton class and if we can blueshirt him I hope that we can jump on this assuming he's willing and eligible.

While I agree that tuition costs and fees are the responsibility of the Board of Regents (or equivalent) the student's voice should be heard. In this case they have spoken to what is essential mismanagement. UTSA's annual cost is already higher than UNT's and they pay higher athletic fees with far less facilities. They have no stadium that they are paying for and they did (and I believe still do) have to bus their football team to a practice facility. I have no information on the amount they pay to rent the Alamodome but if it's a major part of their annual costs for six times a year then they should renegotiate. Maybe if the UTSA administration had explained the need to the degree that UNT is doing then they might have gotten different results. Except for being in the same conference this is still largely apples and oranges.

I can only say that he is listed on the spring roster and that would lead me to believe that he is eligible to compete for playing time. At one point last year I believe that he was listed as the backup center behind Carr. However, Carr had problems and was replaced by Sosaia Mose. Even if Pahinui is eligible could he contribute ahead of either Mose or Carr? Furthermore, Dakoda Newman bumped a higher rated center that was committed to us early. So he would also be a strong candidate. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't see Pahinui making much of a contribution.

I don't believe that Brett would have printed the article if he didn't have it on good authority. This recruit is dead meat as far as I am concerned. I wouldn't have minded if he had turned us down but to accept and then back out to me is disgraceful. He wasn't committing only promising to come. I'm like EPE; I don't wish him bad luck. In fact I don't wish him anything at all.

He is such a tremendous athlete that I doubt that all of his offers have dried up but I'm sure glad that he's still open to be able to consider us. If Williams is able to play corner this could become a 'wow' defensive backfield. Or, if both should become safeties, what a strong duo that would be. Morris could also be a great Jack linebacker or even a terrific receiver. All we can do is hope and pray that we are pleasantly surprised this Wednesday.

Right there with you on money going to scholarships. I will also have outdated polo shirts, decals, license plate frames, etc. So, while Mean Green Scholarship Fund may be a little long and awkward, I propose that we simply call the donors to that fund...Greenbacker$ and start a new trend for selling/giving away new advertising and merchandising items. Hopefully, seeing others who have given will spur new membership.

First, let me say that I agree that the Scholarship Fund needs considerable help if we are ever to rise above where we are now and I intend to support based on my long retired status and a fixed income. But, the figures quoted above from the DRC are outdated and somewhat inaccurate to the whole picture. Here are the revenue totals for each university for the period 7/1/16 through 6/30/17 to the Department of Education. I have rounded the dollars to a tenth of a million. The report includes Rice who, while not required to report to the NCAA, is required to report to the DOE for Title IX purposes. Old Dominion $42.1 Rice $39.1 Florida International $35.3 North Texas $33.4 Charlotte $32.9 UTEP $30.9 Middle Tennessee $30.5 Marshall $29.4 Western Kentucky $29.2 UAB $28.9 UTSA $27.8 Florida Atlantic $26.1 Southern Miss $22.2 Louisiana Tech $18.0 I believe that these totals include revenues from all sources. The source is the Title IX Gender Equity Report to the Department of Education. My point is that while revenue from season ticket sales is still anemic in regards to total revenue, donations and student fees do help our conference standing considerably. Now, personally the change will cost me about the same. I have two seats (down from four) in premium Section 206. I had been paying about $300 or so for the two plus a $500 donation or a total of $800 give or take. I still plan to give the same $500 donation and my seats will now be $400. That's $150 per month under the six months plan. I could cut my donation to $200 per seat and save $100 if I so choose but not this year, if ever. If I survive the coming economy I may even increase my donation. If we want to be known as a first class university we must pay the price. The new AD administration has more than paid for itself in increased donations but there is still a major amount that must be underwritten by the university and they need the help of students, alumni and friends.

I also don't understand the need for so many offensive linemen. The OL is one of the least substituted areas. If we have 3+ to 4 teams of we must have missed on some of the recruits and, if that happened, there's not much talent left to catch up this year. We will have nine or ten freshmen.

Are you sure that you weren't looking at his retweets of other players?

It sunk in but it didn't register. We've had seven bowl appearances in the last 17 years. Although two of those were with five win teams, the other five winning seasons would correlate to 50 years by your statistic and that's with our most anemic record. If you want to go back further, our record gets better. We've been far from a powerhouse lately but not quite that bad.

Because he had an offer from each. He even had a recruitment sheet created by Notre Dame. So, in addition to some ability, he also has intelligence since all have academic excellence. I question the degree of talent by a few of our signees/commitments but not this one. And, I certainly don't question his size. If he should choose UTEP over us keep this in mind. It may not always be which is the better university but where he feels he has the best opportunity to play. At the FBS level any player worth his salt does not want to simply be on the squad (except for the top P5 programs) but be able to get playing time.

Why was the Mean Green "Club" a misnomer? Because any club that I've been a part of had officers and meetings.

I doubt that LaTech has a recruiter in the area. Last year's roster only had one from Rowlett and one from Burleson. This year I recall that they have three? commitments from Mesquite Horn and West Mesquite. Furthermore, LaTech operates on less revenue than anyone in the conference.

I really like this. With the recent success of Fine, Bussey, Moore, Preston and soon to be Shaw, we are becoming more highly thought of in Oklahoma. And, as long as Littrell is our coach, we should continue that success.

It will take more years of success to match all of the regional peers except UTSA and UTEP. Houston, SMU and Rice are better known and respected from their years in the old Southwest Conference. Louisiana Tech has always seemed to attract good athletes due to previous success on the field and movement with SMU, TCU and Rice to the WAC. The Holtz name in coaching could be another draw. If we can get Hallett, Faison and Shaw with our last available scholarships we should end up above all of our regional peers except for Houston. Our chances of getting all three are rather slim but still possible. But, if that happens (or maybe even in part) it will improve our chances in next years recruiting.