drex

While the Hogs are obviously unhappy with their coach, isn't it nice to read an opponent's board that is civil?

Sure, we were hoping for a quicker start, but we have some things going against us that is just the luck of the draw ( or should that be schedule)? We probably will be 0-4 by Saturday night, but will have played two pro franchises, a team that has five years of continuity and a league leading opening conference opponent. All in all I think that we are doing OK. Now, if we end up 0-7 or so, let's then start to cry. Until then, let's enjoy the games and sit back and take a deep breath. Life is good and life is better than last year.

I need a little help. Does anyone know how to get in touch with Joe Hubbard? He has reserved seats next to me at Fouts and I need to contact him. Thanks.

Have you ever noticed that there is not a school in America that doesn't have an alum show up for one of our games. Can you say job market?

Pittsburgh Paints in Denton is located at 4127 Mesa Drive. As previously mentioned, it is located on the street just behind Denny's. Give Eddie a call at 940-383-1090, I'm sure he will enjoy hearing from you.

Here is a bit of an update on the story of the stadium painting. First, it is my understanding that plans were made by the athletic dept. to paint the stadium before the donation of paint by Pittsburg Paints of Denton. This summer I was talking with an old fraternity brother ( Lambda Chi Alpha) and he said that his company was looking for a paint project for advertising purposes. His name is Eddie Hardin and he is the manager of Pittsburgh Paints of Denton. I suggested that there is no better project than Fouts Field, due to its location and the need for the project. He and I visited with Rick Villareal and Hank Dickenson and Brian Bethea in July. An agreement was reached, and all the new paint that you will see at Fouts was donated by Eddie and Pittsburg Paints. The bathrooms were not a part of the deal, it was already bid out before the offer from Pittsburgh Paints. Of note is the fact that one of the executives of Pittsburgh Paints in Houston is also an alumnus of North Texas. He was excited about Todd Dodge and the new direction of the football program and helped secure the deal. It is my understanding that this only the second time the paint company has ever done such a project...I think the other one is the stadium at Penn State. Anyway, those are some of the particulars. It is a significant contribution, as it allowed the athletic department to spend the money that they would have spent on paint for other things. While some are laughing at putting lipstick on the pig, I congratulate all parties for making the Fouts Field visits a little nicer.

The new gate location panels sponsored by Dodge are in black and the new kelly green. The chairbacks are almost the old Hayden Fry green.

When Blakeley first took the North Texas job a sportswriter asked him what we could expect from his team. He said everything but child birth. He was great.

I believe they start the student side tomorrow.

A news release will go out on the stadium painting in the next couple of days. Once it is out, I will post the inside story that might not be covered in the release.

If someone is close to Coach Jones and likes my idea please pass it on to him. I believe that he and former coach Bill Blakeley have established a good rapport and I would like a part of the Blakeley era to return. Every year Blakeley would have the "theme of the year" put on the back of his chair at the SuperPit. His first year, he posted "Don't expect miracles," and when he won about 20 games that year, next year he put "Wonders never cease." What about Johnny picking a theme and bringing Bill Blakeley up for the first game to unveil the back of the chair? Blakeley realized what many coaches do not....he was in the entertainment business, not just the college basketball business.

Over the years NT has taken its lumps athletically, but I think we should be proud we have never been on NCAA probation. Sure, the 79 to 0 hurts, but at least we know we are doing things the right way. On another front, has NT ever gotten its props for integrating its athletic teams long before the 'wonderful' Southwest Conference even thought about it?

And herein lies the problem. Can either school look you square in the eye and tell you that they have an upcoming opponent who will bring fans to the game like SMU and UNT could do for each other? One of the problems of our 'series' with SMU is the gap in the scheduling. If both schools want to create a rivalry they need to play each other for a few year consecutively. I doubt that SMU has more that one team a year at home that will bring the 7.000 fans like we did this year, and conversely, I doubt that UNT has very many home opponents that would cause the stir that the SMU team would cause for a home game.

My degree is in advertising art, but I just think it is so funny to read all the bs people say about branding and logo and color ambiance, etc. If the universities would spend the money they waste on these branding efforts on real educational endeavors we tax payers would be a lot better off. Graphic artists can be the biggest con artists sometimes and they really start to believe in all the bs they say.

The three university presidents could do it with the stroke of a pen. Unfortunately, it will probably never happen.

Thanks for the comments....I need your help BIG TIME....please downplay the painting for now. I want the company involved to get their just deserts for stepping up and doing this. The university is committed to doing the promotion and news release, etc. about the paint job. So, for now, please just kinda ignore the project. I will post further info with the inside story in the next couple of weeks. Thanks again for kinda keeping this downplayed for now. OK????

I doubt that NTSU will ever schedule SMU again, since there is no NTSU to do so. Maybe they might want to start calling us by our real name and might want to not degrade us constantly by calling us the Eagles. Sure, we are the Eagles, but Mean Green might have been nice to hear a few times. I still hate them and hope only the worst for them in the upcoming season. Never forget and never surrender when it comes to SMUT.

App State better thank the gods of football that their mascot is not an Indian or they would never be considered for a top 25 spot. The NCAA would see to it they were never given such attention.

Miller was a peevish and sad young man as a student....time has not been good to him, as he is still a sad somewhat young man who now has developed a chip on his shoulder about the university that gave him the training to do what he wants for a living. Every Miller there are a lot more Debbie Denmons and Rebecca Lopezs, Dave Barnetts, etc. They are loyal to their alma mater and they are the ones we want to embrace as fellow alumni, not the dissidents.

Apparently Diet Coke boy must have held a seminar and taught the SMU guys those devastating preppy moves.

The Denton chapter of the North Texas Exes are patiently waiting for the official men's schedule so we can print basketball shirts. I won't divulge the image on the front, but the back will have the men's and women's home schedule printed. The shirts should be available from the Exes Center around November 7th. We are into our third printing of the Sink Navy shirts.

Scrappy ( I think he was Eppy then ) was blindside tackled by a K-State student at the Kansas State game back in the late 80's...it blew up his knee. Scrappy or Eppy had secret service protection for the next game, which was at home. He arrived at the stadium by ambulance and had guys dressed as secret service attend him during the game....by the way we beat Kansas State that year.

Congrats to former NT coach Jerry Moore and the Mountaineers.

It is my understanding that the game will be on Fox Sports Southwest, but will be televised nationally. Kickoff is set for 6pm. Hope this helps. I don't know where you are located, but here in Denton it is on Charter cable channel 47.

Someone needs to warn the Utah State posters not to ride Dickey too hard or the next thing they know the Aggies will show up for a game wearing all black uniforms and Dickey will be doing his Johnny Cash impersonation.