TheFranchise

You are a great man, sir.

I'm freaking giddy. This is Christmas Day 2.0, except it's adult-ier. I missed the 2014 Bowl because I opted for overtime at work. I'm attending this time in the middle of my fellow Mean Green fans and can't wait to take in my first-ever Bowl Game experience. While I've been to a couple of NCAA tournament games when they were in the area in the past, those are going to pale in comparison . . . mainly because I wasn't rooting for a school I attended at those. I look forward to possibly meeting some of you guys/gals there and having a blast as we watch our boys represent us proudly. I'm going to get chills just entering this historic complex and am going to hopefully shed some happy "sports tears" before all is said and done. Now, I'm off to bed to try and at least rest a bit before the big day. Let's do this!!! GMG

Man, I knew this the moment she said, "yes." I don't know how I tricked her into it.

See? This is what I'm wanting to know. I'm curious which of the two drop-off points of the Green Rail are closer. Both look like there is a little bit of a walk but not by much difference.

It's a Ticket-ism.

I've seen this posted in the past and I liked it! Who got cool UNT stuff this year? Pics are certainly welcome and encouraged so that you can show off all your awesome UNT stuff. I got a sweet UNT alum coffee mug, which I am quite proud of and will use boldly and often. I also got a really nice dry-fit UNT pullover from my sweet, clean bride. But the coup de grâce are these bad boys in the pic below!! I was then informed by my wife that the new pullover was for wearing tomorrow to the game. It was pretty cool, she had this ruse going that her family had already planned for us all to be at their place because her grandmother is in town. I was told there would be lots of food, but that they'd have the game on and I could watch it however I see fit. Turns out, they were all in on it and they're watching the kiddos while the wife and I go to the game. YES!!! Side note -- anyone taking the DART Green rail, which station is closer to the stadium? The Fair Park station or the MLK station?

He's on third. We're not talking about him.

A backpack. I was a student on campus at the time and it was finals week. Not to mention, I was going to and from work that day to get sh** done. I walked the stage that following weekend and the rest is history, my friend.

I completely agree. I liked what Coach Littrell and company were trying to do, but our guys just didn't seem to be able to keep up or fully execute it. More practice and time working out the kinks will do our guys a lot of good. I also feel this was a respectable loss. By no means am I happy about it, but I also feel our guys didn't run out there and embarrass the school, either. They fought until the end and I felt until late in the game that we were still in it. As much as it hurts to say, I feel like SMU is going to be a pretty good team this season. For the sake of our schedule, I hope they are. Maybe it's the fact that I was born in SEC country talking, but I tend to like to see our opponents do well before and after we play them, because that ultimately makes us look better . . . especially if we beat them.

Man, that TD on 3rd and 45 was ridiculous. I was shocked at the complete failure of pass coverage on that play. I believe that play did more damage to us than anything else on Saturday.

So if we take the above photo, knowing that Fine is listed at 5'11", Coach is listed at 5'10, and Graham is 6'2", then we couple that with my own personal photo of Coach with a 5'09" self (yes, this is accurate according to the docs that gave me a physical in June), and we see that Mason is, indeed about 5'11". . . . pay no attention to the RV photobomb in the background.

He's a fantastic dude. Really talented RTVF guy, too.

I know Tony personally. He's graduating in the spring and won't use his final year of eligibility.

As many as it takes to make us a football powerhouse. I'll help fund 40 if we need them or I'll take down the 3 that are up there. It's all about wins, baby. Man, that's a tough order. So, considering I went on record as calling dibs first, I have to decline.

I just want to let everyone know that when I win the Powerball tomorrow night, I plan on becoming UNT's T Boone Pickens. It's gon' be fun, y'all.

I salute you for including a gif from "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad." I only recognize this gif because I watched the movie last night. One of my all-time favorites.

So sad. I didn't know Sara, but I have a couple of former classmates of mind that did. I hope these heartless scumbags are found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

I'll echo this. Yeah, we got our teeth kicked in 11 times this past season, but I still flew my Mean Green lawn flag every game day in my neighborhood. You know why? A fan base that will support its team through all the crap and idiocracy is still a lot more attractive than a fan base that completely shuts up and disappears when things get bad. Sure, a lot of people don't know who we are outside of Texas, but if we all just ran off now and quit donating, then nobody inside D/FW will know who we are. Sure, this means I will take it in the shorts every time I'm around my TCU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Texas and (holding back a vurp) SMU alumni friends/family. But every single one of them were LOUDLY supportive of their schools through the muck and mire, too. Times like this galvanize a fan base. Honestly, I don't care who the A. D. is. Yes, I believe R. V. has done a terrible job in the past with football and basketball. But frankly, I don't care who gets the credit if Coach Littrell turns this ship around. (And honestly, I'm all-in on the dude. I truly believe in him to do this and like what he brings to the table). I just care that this ship gets turned around. That's why you'll never see me whiz all over my own team. I'm going to support them regardless of what happens. However, that doesn't mean I'm "happy" with any shortcomings. And I can promise you that's more appealing to a recruit looking to come to UNT. If they know the fans have their backs even when wins are hard to come by, they will salivate over the thoughts of what that fanbase would look like when they're competing for a conference championship. If they treat the players like kings when they lose 11 games, the fans will treat them like gods when they win 11.

If I'm Graham Harrell on a recruiting visit to a QB, this is what I'd say . . . "You know, *insert player name*, I was once a high school senior like yourself and had aspirations to throw for a crap-ton of yards in college, set a bunch of NCAA records, go pro and win a Super Bowl. I had a coach that believed I could do that." Harrell then shows the kid his Super Bowl ring and a picture of his trophy case at home. "I know a thing or two about what that takes and I believe in you to do what I did. Come to UNT and let's make it happen." Boom, rinse, wash and repeat and start hauling in all the good local QB recruits.

I talked with a defensive player that will be returning next year. He seems pretty optimistic about Coach Littrell and that he's going to get the offense fired up. We both agreed that we're interested in seeing who he brings in to coach the defense. With this player in particular, that will really sell him.

Holy crap, I was so zoned in and didn't really look around much. That, and I don't know many faces from the board. Feel free to say hi next time you see me, though! That, and I've got a serious case of "McCarney Neck" going on. Man, I need to fix my posture.

I'll echo what Ben said, but there was a decent line to meet Coach Littrell. He was talking and laughing with a lot of us, so I thought that was pretty cool. He has to be exhausted, though. But man, he is a super approachable guy. I'd love to run into him at a local watering hole and just sit and have a drink with the dude. I could hear him talk X's and O's all day and have a blast.

Took a few pics this afternoon when Coach Seth Littrell came and met us in the new Union. Mr. and Mrs. Littrell laughing, having a good time! You can tell he doesn't like being talked about that much. I think he's a "Down to business" dude. Quality of this one is not nearly as good, but that's because it's a phone pic. I got to meet the dude. Coach Littrell is a really cool guy. I think fans are going to love him!

"Hahaha, Oh what a day!! We sittin' up here, look at this draft guru, Gil Brandt. The late, the great Gil Brandt. This man has seen more talent than anybody el . . . Oh! A phong is ringin'. Michael Crabtree, hello? They won't say who it is. I bet you wanna know also. I wanna know, who is that guy callin' Michael Trabtree? And when is he gon' go? We'll be back after these messages."