GMG_Dallas

If UNT can become like Boise State, I see no reason why he leaves. Short of being like Boise State though, I hope he stays a few more years and gets an offer elsewhere so ludicrous he can't refuse. The flip side of that is, if UNT gets to the point where they are paying him low to mid P5 money, what does it take for him to leave considering how close he is here to family? I've always been one who believed it's ok to take less money if it means being happier in your personal life. If he builds this thing up the right way and we become like a well oiled machine, he could have the stability most coaches never find and be close to family. This season will be very telling of SL because he only stayed at Arizona, Indiana, and UNC for 2 years each. If he's here for yesr 3, I think chances are pretty good he'll stay unless he gets a big time offer. Otherwise, I can see him leaving for almost any P5 offer.

It might just be that I never really looked for it but I don't remember seeing as many North Texas billboards in/around Dallas as I have since president S took over a few years ago. He's done wonderful things to increase our presence in my opinion.

I don't drive that route usually but had to go from oak cliff to northeast dallas and there was heavy traffic on 35.

Just saw this at the corner of Pearl and Main. No SMU boards in sight. GMG.

Good for him for doing what he feels is best. If he balls, he'll get opportunities at the next level. I wish him the best against every team not from Denton.

The golden state warriors didn't lay the foundation for their team around 7 footers. They started with 3 point shooters, one of which was viewed to be undersized *cough* Smart *cough*. I like our team.

Also very true. These are 2 legit ball players. If a team has the need for two and they arent filled by the time the first signing period comes around, you'll see some p5s offer both. It's up to UNT to keep dating them throughout what needs to be a strong season.

Good point. As we get closer to signing periods, schools get more desperate and there might be one or two out there to offer both. Question is will they be big enough to sway two players. Nothing kept Ed Oliver, a 5 star DT, from playing with his brother at UH. Hopefully the same happens with these guys.

@GMG24 is there any concern that they are a package deal so if we lose 1 we lose both? Loving this class though. If we beat Arkansas this thing will somehow get better.

I don't think Tony Mitchell was half as productive as this offense was last year if you can compare basketball to football. Mitchell may have been more talented though and the impact on the team was about the same. Considering there's no coaching change either, I wouldn't be nervous.

No but I've heard of UTSA and they went 11-0 once.

Torn. I won't be able to watch the end of the game since I have to leave for work at about 11 pm. Hopefully it's a blow out (in our favor).

Honest question, what do the kids you work with say about it?

I think the #MGM at the end of the tweet definitely confirms your suspicions. #MeanGreenMean

1) I know Wilson didn't have the accolades but as an RB, I think his stats compared yet he wasn't heavily recruited and played 2A ball in Texas. Size was not an issue. Oklahoma teams knew about Fine but were deterred by size and where he played. 2) the problem with speed or an arm is, it still depends on opposition. It isn't always hard to look good as a QB when you're playing opposing secondaries that look like some Texas middle school secondaries. Overall the talent levels aren't as spread out throughout the roster which is what creates concerns. Doesn't matter if it's the trenches or skill positions, you need to be flat out dominant and have the size if you want to be taken seriously from a smaller state/classification.

Agreed. I only brought up Murray to show that Fine's recruitment would have been different if he played for a Texas power regardless of size. There are two things that players can't control that greatly impact recruitment and Fine lost in those two areas: size and high school state/classification. People have been downplaying his pro chances due to his size and using his high school recruitment as an example when really UNT will likely play the same role as Locust Grove: small program in a weaker conference that will end up being used against him. If he played for a P5 his size wouldn't matter. Hopefully I'm proven wrong! GMG!

Probably. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2322488-the-best-football-prospect-nobodys-ever-heard-of Kid above was 6'3" 200 pounds, went 13-0 his senior year 6A New Mexico with 49/6 TD/Int. If Fine or the kid above played for 5A or 6A in Texas with those stats, they would have probably gotten into any P5. That's the difference between Kyler Murray of Allen and Fine. Same goes for smaller guys in other football rich states such as Florida and California. The examples are out there. If you play in a less football rich state it seems like you need better measurements and even that isn't always enough.

There's also a bunch of stories of high school players from small programs with huge stats and good size who get zero college attention because they play in small ball New Mexico or wherever else. Mason's size didn't help but I have no doubt if he put up those numbers in 5A or 6A Texas ball, he would have gotten many offers. Kyler Murray, former nunber 1 Dual Threat Qb, is listed at 5'11" and 190 lbs on OU's page and was about the same size as Mason out of high school. Difference is he played at Allen.

ESPN not showing UNT any respect. Switched over to college baseball without showing the trophy ceremony.

15000 Will say they were there.

I'll say this as a recent graduate (December 2014). First year I went to almost every game baring any prior commitments. Sometimes I even went alone. The student side was usually pretty well attended... By freshmen and the same uperclassmen. The majority of students who showed up were always the same faces. Rewind to freshmen orientation: my very attractive orientation leader hyped up basketball big time as did others. These were students who had witnessed 20 win seasons, conference tournament runs, and an NCAA birth (veteran students might have seen 2). They also spoke highly about our hopeful one and done, Tony Mitchell. They had experienced excitement in the Pit and were passing it a along. We also had a brand new business leadership center right across from Kerr. Fast forward to now. Students have seen nothing but decline at the Pit. There's been no Pit excitement, no tourney runs, no 20 win seasons. The students haven't changed. The generation is the same, I'm only 24, those who are on campus daily are mostly 18-24. The students are still mostly artsy but I wouldn't be surprised to see more business majors due to the Business building. Business majors have a tendancy to care more about sports in my student experience. So, if anything, we should have a student body who cares more about sports. Why don't they? Production. When you have late classes, early classes, studying, and a million other free things to attend, students are not bored. This CBI run will help next year's attendance. Guaranteed. But this year's attendance and having to "bribe" students to show up is on the previous admin. Due to us being mostly an artsy school, it'll take longer to get back to where we were. We'll get there though. The students do care though. We just need the games to keep being entertaining.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22437323/grand-canyon-only-profit-team-division-is-building-monster-desert

Grand Canyon is up and coming. NBA quality practice gym, massive university support, former NBA player as a coach. I'll post an article from ESPN I read a few weeks ago...

If some of these "low end" bowl games want to stick around, they need to stop giving a crap what the conferences want. The schools will take whatever bowl games helps them sell tickets and hopefully get a win and more often than not will pick a bowl game over no bowl game. You bring in two nearby programs such as Arkansas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Houston, UNT, Oklahoma state, Texas a&m, LaTech, LSU etc..., and the bowl/city won't have problems making money. All of those programs have built in fan bases in DFW as well as fan bases who are willing to make the short drive to Dallas even to play a UNT, LaTech, Houston. I don't care how well a fan base travels, your only chance of getting good showings for a "low end" P5 bowl game is to pick programs close enough to where the fans won't have to unreasonably inconvenience themselves to attend a game that doesn't matter at the end of an 8-4 campaign. Hotels will suffer but that's what the City of Dallas gets for letting Arlington get Cowboys Stadium.

Worst because our fans didn't need hotels. Attendance is much better with UNT in the game though so concession and ticket sales are much better. I'm assuming that also translates to other things such as tailgating costs that do go to the local stores and post game celebrations (restaurants and bars) pumping some money in as well. While I'm not sure you can quantify all of that, I would like to see all the numbers indicating it was "worst." Certainly the only area it was worst in was in regards to housing. I would think the solution is a local team (g5 or p5) against a regional P5. A combo of teams like UNT, Texas Tech, Arkansas would probably garner great returns. It's not bringing in UNT that hurts, its UNLV on the other side that does.