DentonLurker

Fair point as well

Meh, I wouldn't read too much into the USA Today rankings. Anyone actually think they're paying much attention to CUSA?

I want FAU again. Would love to see this team have another shot at them!

I don't think Learfield's deal has anything to do with licensing/merchandising. Last I checked, UNT uses CLC to handle that stuff. I think this is a separate deal for just the stadium signage, coaches shows, radio ads, etc.

The part I would be curious to see and wonder why Vito didn't cover it is to see what our total sponsorship money looked like before they signed this deal. I'm assuming it must have been close to $1M if Learfield was willing to guarantee what they did. If that's the case, I guess the proof will be in the pudding for where this thing ends up down the line. I'll be interested to see what the incremental increase looks like.

I think Vito didn't really explain the guaranteed rights fee very well. That number increases in this model too (I'm assuming by half the threshold amount). This deal is basically a 50/50 split, as long as Learfield hits the threshold. UNT gets the first $1.15M, Learfield gets the next $1.15M, and anything over $2.3M gets split 50/50. In a scenario where Learfield does not exceed the threshold, UNT gets the $1.15M no matter what. Learfield only gets whatever they exceed $1.15M by. I know there was a sponsorship sales position that reported to Hank that I don't think got rehired, at least as a sponsorship sales position. I think that was Matt Phillips' old position.

Meh, the old regime did free ticket giveaways to MGC members on multiple occasions. It's a cool offer for MGC members, but I'm not sure it does much to build ticket-buying fans.

If a message board or social media can derail your team, you have a huge coaching problem. Fans overlooking a team has zero to do with the outcome on the field.

UTEP doesn’t even have an AD at the moment. I wouldn’t think HC gets hired before AD. Who knows who they land and what that AD would be interested in?!?!

Wouldn't be a Brett Vito article without a reference to a player UNT lost out on in recruiting.

This is big news. Also, if memory serves me well, stadium contributions for suite and club seat holders were initially payable over 5 years so this increase in fundraising is despite some of those income streams dropping off. Ryan Peck & Co. are getting stuff done. I like it!

From the Play-by-Play

Also, that FAU QB's stats from last week appear to be an anomaly when looking at other games this year. He may be coming into his own as a runner or ODU's defense was just terrible. Hard to tell.

You've got to give props to the work Joel Filani has done with this receiving corp. These receivers are night and day from what SL & Co. inherited. It's amazing to watch them mature and grow into what they have grown into.

Apparently Jeffrey Wilson is electron-charged too

If it takes a quote from the visiting team's AD to get your team motivated for a game like this, it's going to be a long day.

I can't specifically name an instance, but I promise it has happened. You have to keep in mind the audience of this. It was at the president's sack lunch, an event held for faculty and staff members of UNT. It's not like he said it during a press conference or anything. I would imagine there are plenty of events like this for faculty, staff, donors, and alumni where comments like this are made in jest at schools all over the country. When comments like this are made we don't hear about it, because it's not newsworthy. It's just good-natured fun.

When did everyone start getting so hurt by words directed at a conference opponent? I can’t imagine how you would feel about some of the things said between some of the major rivals in CFB like Miami-Florida State, Texas-OU, Michigan-Mich St, etc. At the end of the day, it’s just a little fun jab at an opponent. Happens all the time at every level of sport.

Good work, WB! Trademarks and copyrights are worthless if you don’t defend them! Or at least get paid for their use.

Unless their attendance has dropped off from a few years ago when I went, you are guaranteed to sit by USM fans. Order through UNT’s ticket office and you will at least be with player families and other UNT fans. Enjoy the trip. It’s a fun place to see a game.

The Battle Flag is undefeated!

Why the text instead of just the flag? Kind of lessens the appeal to me.

Do you think the writer realizes the difference between trainers (aka health issues) and strength coaches? That paragraph about Josh Woods, a strength coach, has a quote from Wilson about "trainers"?

I wonder if he thought they caught it and we snagged a fumble?

Wow