ForneyGreen

The upcoming conference shake-ups are a chance for us to move up in the college sports world. The article about a meaner greener WAC is an interesting view, but from a UNT point of view, it is based on the flawed view that WAC membership brings more prestige than Sun Belt membership. I really don't think that folks in DFW (or Texas for that matter) really care any more about the WAC than the Sun Belt. We need to think bigger... what if the newest PAC-10 rumors are true and between 4-6 Big 12 teams end up moving? What does the Big 12 do at that point to survive (or does it survive at all)? I'm not suggesting that we would end up in a weakened Big 12, but the potential domino effect is incredible. I really think we are very close to CUSA membership if the domino effect takes any CUSA members. If that member was SMU, then I think we're in. At this point, I would view the WAC as a survival-only move - we can and should do better.

As much as I hate to say it, the Dallas / Ft. Worth market is basically a Big 12 market for college football (mostly Texas, A&M, and OU with some TTech) with a smattering of TCU, SMU, and UNT publicity. Ft. Worth does give TCU some decent love. SMU gets a little pub for actually being in the city of Dallas. But really, when it comes to football, it is Dallas Cowboys, Big 12, then others. I don't like it that way, but it is the reality of DFW sports. Could UNT become the "darling of DFW"? Yes, but that would come through a long period of winning and getting some national pub - because the DFW market is interested in big winners. When we were I-AA, we did get quite a bit of publicity from the DFW media during the year that we were ranked #1 nationally and beat TTech and Rice. But in following years, it was like we didn't exist. So if you want media attention in DFW - winning is the name of the game.

Thanks to Kram, UNT Flyer, and all of the sponsors (and to our 2 esteemed former players for coming out). I had a great time and enjoyed meeting lots of folks. Congrats to the Green Team -- next year *will* be a different story... Now time for Alleve and bed ...

Cooley's list is excellent. I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Ronnie Morgan. While his dunks were not necessarily "pretty", he had one of those great power dunks ala Charles Barkley that would just about shake the SuperPit.

Quote from Vito's last blog entry: "This is a UNT blog. We immediately disavow knowledge of anyone in any way associated with SMU." I like it

+1 for using The Great One's voice during your rant.

Man, TFLF is getting me fired up with all the positivity lately - and a Todd Dodge quote at the end of the postings? I am most certain now that The RealLonnie Finch has abducted TFLF

Name - ForneyGreen Size - M Height - 5'6" Weight - 160 Age - 42 40 - Actually, I'm a little over 40 (see above) Scouting Report: Although I have no real athletic ability, I am a true steal for that team that is looking to achieve GMG.com Bowl glory. Don't let my 5'6" frame mislead you - I play like I'm 5'7". This will be my first GMG.com Bowl - I've been in training the past 10 years.

This is awesome. Our BB program has finally surpassed UCLA, Indiana, and UConn

Man, I've aged 50 years during this Sun Belt Tourny... Very proud of Coach Jones and our entire team. GMG!!!!

1) Good for UTA - about time that they stop playing BB on a stage. Looks like seating capacity is about 6,500 for this new facility - which is pretty nice for a Div I school in the SLC. We have a capacity of over 10,000 in the SUPERPIT :-) 2) Maverick Stadium is a fine Div I FCS (or large High School) stadium. I've been there and it's not too bad. Not sure that UTA will ever get back into the football game, but I'm sure the SLC woudl love to see that happen. 3) Thank God we're getting our new football stadium!!!

Wow - both UT and Ohio St made the Top 10 - twice each!! I know they are so proud.

My only gripe is that my eyes have trouble scanning the thread subjects because there is no clear delimiter between threads (or between the pinned vs. unpinned subjects) - but otherwise it works for me. I'll have to play around to see all the new features. Plus I want to beat all y'all with more of Harry's reputation points.

Thinking of the QB situation at UNT... I believe we have 4 QB's returning next year (unless someone knows something that I don't know - which isn't unusual). 3 sophomores: Chase Baine, Riley Dodge, Derek Thompson (hopefully he will be classified as a freshman) 1 senior: Nathan Tune I would love to bring in a really good QB recruit - maybe the kid from Denison will decide playing QB and being closer to home would be nice. But... maybe I wouldn't be too disappointed either if that scholarship went to a defensive lineman.

Definitely 2002 was the best season in my book. 1994 was fun because we won the SLC in our last year as I-AA and were good again after some lean post-Corky years. 1988 is probably the most bittersweet year. It was a sweet year versus UT, TTech, and Rice, but it was also bitter because we lost the SLC race (never should have lost the conference that year) and then got beat in the 1st round of the playoffs - all after being ranked #1 in I-AA for much of the year. Also, I'm still partial to the 1988 uni's and helmet - probably my favorites.

Not a tu fan, but that really sucks for them and McCoy who I think is really a good person. And sucks for us because this is now an el sucko game.

UT-Austin 26 UA-Tuscaloosa 20 Because Nick Saban is an evil man Boise State = National Champion

I was also surprised they didn't spot the ball at the 1 ft. line after reviewing the replay. But - good Lord that was a nice catch! All in all - a very fun game to watch.

Fixed it for ya...

I also felt all the same emotions watching little BSU play (sorry, should say Win) their second BCS Bowl Game. What happened? The only thing I can really figure is that "our success early this decade was the real blip in the radar", and our long-term reality really was never as good as we thought earlier this decade. If you think about it, these other programs for which we were competing/beating either on the field or in recruiting were way ahead of us in building their foundation. TCU already had the facilities and that Committee of 100 (I think that's what it was called) was pouring big money and time into the program. BSU got their very nice stadium and great backing from the City of Boise. SMU got their very nice stadium and alumni that "ponied-up" for a multi-million dollar head coach. But for UNT, we had the promise of the Athletic Center (and later reality) but no other real foundation. Actually, I can't really say "no real foundation" - because I truly believe that we did grow our core base of fans during those Sun Belt Championship years - so that was a nice outcome from earlier this decade. So... in reality, we may be about where BSU was in the late '90's / early '00's as far as our real growth and program foundation.

I voted PC/JMo back-to-back rushing titles as the biggest story, because I think that created a lot of nice pub for the school, both locally and nationally. But... the stadium vote was the most significant event, because it sets the program up for much more success in the future. I also thought the poll entry below was interesting: "Dd fired , TD fired"

I was also surprised when I first heard that Weatherbie would be fired at ULM. Heck, I thought he did a pretty good job over his tenure, including that big win over 'Bama.

Pelini's hand gesture at the end of the game said it all - he knew what was going on.... I really think Colt McCoy was confused about the time left in the game. He mentioned in the after-game interview that he thought there was more time on the clock than 7 seconds (he was looking at the play clock instead of the game clock). UT is very lucky to be in the title game. But I'm glad they are - wouldn't want to see Cincy in that spot. Didn't we beat Cincy in a bowl game this decade?

True Dat about Nevada - I am a Wolfpack fan for that game :-) That Humaniatrian Bowl is kind of silly - Idaho vs. Bowling Green playing in freakin' Boise, Idaho. Good grief....

Yup - was also rooting for the Horns because I didn't really want to see Cincy being considered for a National Title since I also knew Cincy would leap frog TCU (no pun intented). Texas vs. Alabama will be a hell of a game. So will Boise vs TCU.