ForneyGreen

Yes, I was also transfere impressed with the video - very nice indeed. Was cool to see Coach Jones out there - he really loves UNT. Brave Combo Rocks

Old man syndrome? Just kidding KRAM I agree that Coach Mac is doing a terrific job - I'm really proud to have him as our Head Coach. Students seem to be interested in attending a "big event". I think in most of their minds, a home UNT Football Game is a "big event" if one of the following is true: 1) We are playing a name opponent (e.g. Baylor, Houston, etc.). 2) We have a good record and have recently beaten a name opponent 3) We are playing a game that means something significant (example: game to decide a Conf championship) At some other schools (Texas, Texas A&M, etc.), a home Football Game is a big event in and of itself without any other criteria. We're just not at that point yet. A great tailgating environment does help as does great weather. Anything else that can be done to promote the games as a "big event" would help to get students to the games. Once there, if we have a product on the field that catches their attention, we have a chance to get them hooked.

I definitely don't have a problem with half the fans being in covered areas for this past game - the weather was crappy. I'm proud of all Mean Green fans that made it to the game, period. It is good to know that our "core" attending base of fans is in the 13-15 thousand range. Progress can be slow - but that my friends is true progress. I can remember times when we wouldn't have 2,000 show up to watch a 4-win team in the cold rain. Enjoyed that game very much - our guys really wanted to end the season right, and that shows a lot of pride and character by the players and coaches for getting them prepared.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwL5xmhJejQ

I think the benefits (at least perceived) are 1) the possibility of arranging the winner of the MWC/CUSA as as BCS invitee and 2) relieve the pressure of either conference having to make a quick decision on adding new members I also feared that this merger would at least slow the process of UNT getting a CUSA (or MWC) invite, and I think that was one of the goals for the merger - produce stability without adding new schools. Without further change, the Sun Belt would have 10 football schools in 2013 once U of South Alabama becomes a full football member - which is a nice number for scheduling purposes. I really don't understand the Sun Belt hate threads lately... every school wants to get into a better conference, but I disagree that Sun Belt membership somehow holds us back from being very successful. Boise St. didn't need MWC membership to become a perennial Top 10 program - they just took care of themselves. Best thing for us to do is just take care of ourselves and win games. I'm sure our leadership is touting all the positives of UNT to both the MWC and CUSA at every opportunity.

I was hoping for better attendance by students, but not too bad considering our record. The students that were at the stadium were loud and into the game, which is great to see. I was thinking the official attendance would be about 15k just from the eyeball test - but I'll take 17k

Thanks guys for getting me pissed-off all over again! BTW... is it just me, or did our team look pretty sharp in those 1988 Uniforms?

Maybe a death row hanging at half time - the Half Time Hanging. Crowds love that stuff.

We're 364 students smaller this year, but we're evidently smarter... Brighter Students

This is an outrage and an obvious case of insensitivity. I think the students should hold an Occupy Apogee protest.

Ok - I feel better now...

I was kinda thinking along these same lines... lots of good tailgating before *and* after the game (celebrating a Mean Green victory of course!). Is there typically any rule/regulation as to when tailgating has to stop after a game? After some games at Fouts, we would go back and hang out for maybe 30 minutes, but I don't remember seeing folks stick around much longer.

I agree with this post

We really have no passing offense... and our lack of a running QB just kills the RB option play. Do we miss Rodge that much? Chico's offense seemed to work much better with Rodge (and an occasional Hamilton) running the offense. Maybe McNulty can eventually be that type of QB and also bring a real passing threat that we never had last year. We're 2-5 and basically out of the conference race - so I think its time to shake up the offense, because it is just bad at this point.

So you're telling me there's a chance?

The more I drink, the better I'm feeling about this whole thing. We've got to get butts in the stadium the rest of this year - and also make sure our BB attendance is great. Our academics and facilities are in order - we need to show that people really care about the programs and will support them with attendance.

The MAC is already a big conference (13 schools) - and looks like Temple will have to stay in the MAC. I think our best hope is to somehow squeeze into this MWC-CUSA agreement. If having a balanced number of football schools in this super-merger is important, then we may have a chance. Of course... there are other factors: Big 12 may not be done expanding. Let's hope Rawlins is on the horn talking-up UNT.

I think that even this scenario provides options for UNT, because we could be a potential candidate for either CUSA (if they can be convinced to reload in Texas) OR MWC (after losing Air Force). I know that MWC might seem far-fetched based on where we are at this time (attendance, etc.), but if I were Rick V., I would be keeping close contact with our old friends at Nevada and Boise St. in hopes of convincing them that UNT would be a great addition to the MWC.

Some scattershooting... 1) Attendance was pathetic. Winning will certainly help, but when the student side is that empty (and I mean Empty), we have to think of ways to get students excited in the mean time. 2) Green Brigade is AWESOME this year (ok - they are great every year, but their sound this year is huge). Love the fact that we have a big-time band. 3) Defense was flying all over the field - great to see that aggressiveness. 4) Seems we haven't figured out what kind of Offense we want to run. The whole thing just looks disjoint. I wish we would have run the Wildcat a few times with Hamilton last night to jump start the running game. 5) Derek Thompson was throwing harder than I've seen him to this point - a good sign because he was zipping the ball to his receivers (unfortunately not all were caught). 6) Alfred Morris - very good running back on a pretty bad team. That guy brings it - he's a load to tackle. 7) Winning >> Losing

I was thinking the same :-) But the video was cool - got my blood pumping for sure.

Ok - I see the overall point from Silver Eagle that we need to keep overall expectations high for our program (and I agree), but I think there's more to these listed results than realistic expectations. REALISTICALLY[/i], North Texas should never have thought that it even had a prayer against Tennessee...final score..NT 21 vols 14. AND in the same year (1975) REALISTICALLY North Texas shouldn't have had any expectation that they could beat Houston, (who would end up being the SWC champs in 1976) final score, NT 28 UH 0. That was a talented 1975 NT Team that was in its 3rd year under one of the greatest college coaches (IMHO). REALISTICALLY, A 1-AA North Texas shouldn't have had any expectations that they could beat Texas Tech in 1988....especially after spotting them 21 points in the first half...final score NT 29...TT 24. REALISTICALLY, A 1-AA North Texas shouldn't have had any expectations that they could beat UT.....we all know the results of that. REALISTICALLY, A 1-AA North Texas shouldn't have had any expectations that they could beat RICE, another SWC school, in 1988....final score NT 33- Rice 17. The 1988 NT Team had some really good skill position players and a head coach in his 7th year of building a program. I probably wouldn't include Rice on this list because I expected NT to win that game - Rice didn't win a game in 1988. REALISTICALLY, A 1-AA North Texas shouldn't have had any expectations that they could beat SWC member SMU in 1990. Final score NT 14- SMU 7 The 1990 NT Team again had some really good skill position players and a head coach in his 9th year of building a program. SMU was horrible in 1990 coming off of the death penalty. I'm also not going to be happy with getting beaten badly by FIU and I won't be happy with the program until we are winning conference championships again, but let's give this thing some time to grow. Maybe Coach Mac will be winning games against SEC teams in Year 3. Well, maybe we'll win against an SEC team in 2 weeks

I will say this... we need to decide exactly what type of offense we are going to be. Are we going to be the offense of last year with zone reads/options and mostly a short passing game? Are we going to be a smashmouth/grinding offense? In Game 1, our scheme looked like we weren't exactly sure what we wanted to be. If we are going to be the offense of last year, then we need a QB that can run that offense. Thompson made some pretty good throws - that one improvised throw to Outlaw in the corner of the end zone (the touchdown that wasn't ruled a touchdown) was a very nice throw. Some of his other throws looked slow. Those quick outs need to have a lot more zip on the ball - it seemed like it took forever for the ball to get to the receiver sometimes. And then when receivers drop balls and mistime jumps... that is just a killer. Osborn also made a few good throws but scares me with a couple of his decisions. I think 2 of his throws would have been a pick-6 against a better secondary (e.g. Houston and Alabama).

I like this analogy - and dare I even say this (because I may get slammed), but Dickey basically did the same thing too: came into a situation where he didn't have the horses to compete, simplified things, recruited, improved schemes over time as he brought in more talent, and we became a competitive team. It really sucks that we're in Year 7 of a big downturn and wasted 4 years of this program's life. It will get better under Mac and Staff - just don't expect miracles in Year 1. I love our guys and our team - but if you watched the game against FIU, the discrepancy in speed and strength was just so obvious. That doesn't mean that we can't win games this year - there will be some good times this year for sure - but we need to realize where we are as a program right now. If it helps (if you saw the game)... look at FIU's stadium and attendance. Granted, the weather likely played a factor in attendance, but that is just truly sad to see a really good defending conference champion team with one of the best players in college football (Hilton) draw such a pathetic crowd. That doesn't really show a very strong foundation for their program. Finally, I believe our program has a strong foundation.

I-AA? Naw, they should just drop the entire football program after the Baylor debacle. Maybe Amon Carter can be used as a new rodeo grounds. Week 1 of college football is not yet over, and my knees are already hurting...

Slow Slow Slow - and Small, Small Small. Some of those FIU guys look like SEC guys standing next to our players. We're just not very competitive up front on either side of the ball. They're pushing us around all over the field. That being said... we also don't look ready for this game. Their defense looks like they are very ready - ours looks completely lost. I have to kinda agree with Emmitt - if we are really that slow and small, then our cupboard really was left bare. Anyway, I love our guys and know we'll get better eventually - but it's going to be tough to watch for a while.....