Side.Show.Joe

SMU will end up in the PAC. But, it probably won't look much like the PAC at that point. Colorado is within weeks if not days for bolting to the Big12. Once they officially announce, things are going to get interesting.

It will be much easier for the offense to continue to have success, or even build on what Littrell has done, than it will be for Caponi to turn around our defense that has struggled for years. I like Caponi, and I like his defense. I just worry that we haven't added enough talent through the portal to give his defense a real chance this season. Plus, I worry about our defensive depth. Especially with an upgrade in conference strength. I just think the odds are that we will have growing pains on defense this season. But, I hope I'm wrong.

I asked when they were looking for podcast questions, but it wasn't addressed. I took that to mean the numbers are not where we'd like them to be.

Thanks for doing this interview! Great insight into the factors that led Cash to commit to UNT. I could certainly see him helping to selling other recruits on playing for UNT.

I don't know if you're seen this interview Sanoe did with Brophy, but I was quite impressed with this guy. I think Morris has a real gem here, and I think this coach will do wonders with a QB like Cash. Personally, between the WR's we've got committed and Cash, I'm very excited about the future of our offense.

jayD, Are you and Sanoe going to have Cash on for an interview? I'd really like to hear his take on UNT's program and what sold him on the Mean green. Thanks.

When Lugo committed to UTSA I was mad. At the time, I said we had to land McCollum, who I think is actually better than Lugo. McCollum has it all. This guy reminds me of Jackson Arnold. This is a great day to be a Meean Green fan. Welcome aboard Cash! Now let's go get some linemen to protect him.

1. Any updates on the athletic center expansion? 2. Will the athletic department be releasing season ticket numbers? Thanks.

It could be worse, Middle Tennessee has 3 OOC away games scheduled for 2024 and zero home games. UTEP also has 3 OOC away games scheduled for 2024. That sucks. If I had to guess, I think we pick up a home & home series with New Mexico. In Denton in 2024 & at New Mexico in 2025. They lost their home & home with NMSU, since the Aggies are joining C-USA and had to purge their schedules.

San Diego State will be in the PAC at some point. If the PAC decides they want Vegas and adds UNLV too, then the MWC's media deal is in real danger of being significantly reduced. At that point, I would not be too surprised to see Air force, Colorado State, and/or Boise looking to escape the MWC. These are strange times.

Yeah, I don't think it will take too many seasons under the new 12-team playoff structure before Army makes the call to join a conference, especially with the triple option being regulated out by the NCAA. And the AAC makes the most sense for them. It will be a win/win for both.

While Army isn't a football power anymore, they are not really the same as a G5 program. Army does not reside in the AAC, MWC, MAC, C-USA, or Sun Belt. Army also isn't subjected to being selected by one of the ESPN bargain bowls. They have a tie to the Independence, Armed Forces, & Military bowls, which generally feature P5 opponents. Plus, all of Army's games are nationally televised. Army's situation is just very different from teams in G5 conferences. As for the 6 versus 7 game home schedule... we just disagree. I think the 7 home game schedule provides UNT with the best opportunity to post more wins and earn a better AAC bowl game.

Army is a special situation. They are a national brand military academy and independent. I can't see a series with Houston happening like that. Technically, UNT still owes Houston a road game since we didn't play down there during COVID. I'd personally prefer it if the AAC went to a 9-game conference schedule, and the '28 & '29 OOC schedules were set.

Some of you on here are far too pessimistic. I remember being on this board 15 years ago and discussing how we might someday catch a program like Boise State. Some on here thought it was a bit, but I was serious. Now UNT pays our coaches as much or more than Boise. Last season, UNT came within 4 points of beating Boise in a bowl game. And, UNT is in the AAC, which is arguably a better conference situation than Boise State has. Things are changing for the better for UNT. Let's enjoy the fact that we are moving in the right direction, and our fortunes are improving.

Exactly. Mosley is quietly upgrading to more favorable situations and making UNT's OOC schedules more like those of power programs. 7 homes games. Only home & home series with P5's. No road games at G5 programs. And, maybe no FCS home games weakening our schedule strength.

Personally, I think our marketing needs to be fought on two fronts. We have to generate Dallas media interest, so we can drive up our rating on ESPN. But we also need to target the cities and towns east, west, & north of Denton with local billboards and community involvement. Our alums in Decatur & Sherman and every small town within a 75-mile radius could really help fill our stadium on game days. Personally, I think we are more likely to draw them to our games, since they have fewer entertainment options than our alums in Dallas and Fort Worth. And, when people are watching our games they don't care where the fans came from, just that they are loud and making the game atmosphere exciting.

Yeah, well Morris is new, so maybe we're due to improve.

UNT Doesn't have any more money games scheduled. All of our P5 games (Texas Tech, Baylor, Missouri, & Colorado) are all home and home series.

And if that is the case, those 4th games would be home games against FCS programs. Which gives us 7 home games a season. That is a big change from what we usually do.

Yes, but there is more going on than just replacing the SMU, Tulane, and Memphis games. As of now, beginning in 2027, UNT isn't scheduled to play at any G5 programs on the road. That is a major change. Meaning we will be seeing 7 homes games every season. That's what the bigtime programs like Texas, USC, Bama, & Notre Dame do.

Under Wren it seemed like UNT was set on playing OOC schedules consisting of one P5 (home&home series), two G5's (home&away series), & buying a home game against an FCS program. But looking at our future OOC schedules that philosophy seems to be changing. Beginning around 2027 or 28, UNT is only scheduling 1 away game per season, no FCS games, and has no more than 3 OOC games scheduled for any season. 2027 09/11 - Texas Tech 09/18 - Wyoming 2028 09/02 - at Baylor 09/09 - Louisiana Tech 09/16 - Army 2029 09/01 - Baylor 09/15 - FIU 09/29 - at Army 2030 08/31 - Texas State 09/14 - Missouri https://fbschedules.com/ncaa/north-texas/ Is UNT expecting the AAC to move to a 3 OOC game structure in '27 or '28? Or is UNT expecting to be in a different conference that only plays 3 OOC games a year? Are you happy that the FCS games seem to be going away?

It's simple.... Win and every few weeks, generate interesting press for the program. In C-USA it wasn't so simple. C-USA had no real media exposure. But now with ESPN behind us, if we can win and generate interesting press, the fans will show up and tune in. UNT has a great opportunity to beat Cal in Week 1. If we do beat Cal, I think Morris should sing the North Texas Fight song, while the players shave his head at the post-game press conference. That would generate the extra kind of media exposure UNT needs early in the season. I know ESPN would put that on College Game Day Finally.

Thanks for responding. I agree, not landing Lugo isn't the worst thing that could happen. But, we still don't have a QB committed, and we need to be pulling in better QB's than UTSA. If we can land that kid out of China Springs, I'll be over the moon. Personally, I don't view the Alamodome as a positive for recruiting. I'd think recruits would place a higher value on the atmosphere of an on-campus stadium. Please tell me Morris is going to place a higher emphasis on signing some quality beef and getting us a better QB than Lugo. We have to pull that kind of talent. X's and O's can only carry a team so far. Our WR recruits look great, but if we are serious about competing in the AAC, we have to pull top AAC quality talent at all the positions.