Side Show Joe

I think the total cost of the stadium will be somewhere between $80 - $95 million, but if it's more, even better. I don't mind the stadium only seating 30,000 for now, as long as the thing is done top of the line. People should see the best of everything when they walk in any part of the place. I want the lighting to be so good, you can't find a shadow during night games. This stadium is expandable, so we won't be building another to replace it, at least not in our lifetimes. We need to make sure it is done to the highest standards of today. Not to do this would be one of our programs greatest mistakes ever. I want a stadium that people leave saying, "Wow, I didn't realize UNT built such a great stadium!", and "Their stadium is alot nicer then ours". When ESPN finally comes back to broadcast one of our home games, their people should leave saying, "Wow, this place has the best of everything!". I want to here the guys on Gameday say that they want to work a game from UNT, and say how great the facilities are. I hope I never have to see ESPN bring in extra lighting again, like they did for the Troy game a few years ago. That was sad and embarrassing! I don't care what it cost. Build the best expandable stadium in the country!

It's a long season, and I believe JJ will get this turned around. Although, I am worried about trying to turn it around on the road.

Bill Snyder to Kansas State

Marquis Franklin is a 3 star, 6'7", 318 pound, offensive tackle out of Blinn. So far the only offer listed on Rivals is from Troy. If he's the real deal, I'd hate to lose a guy from our backyard to Troy. Does anyone know anything about this guy, or his situation? Has UNT looked at him?

Rivals has Boswell ranked as there 5th best kicker. He's a 3 star recruit, and I think we are the only offer he has right now. So, if he signs, he should be pretty good.

This guy needs to remember that no team stays on top forever, just like no team stays at the bottom forever (even if it feels like it to some of us). Some day Patterson will leave for his well deserved payday, and TCU will probably fall from grace, again. When that day comes, I hope he doesn't try crawling back to our program, even if we're still terrible.

No. I said FIU has been a doormat in the Belt, and feel that our conference SHOULD be stronger then the Southland. I am well aware that it is not. Implying that we take them off the schedule was me being sarcastic. I'd never want UNT to back down from any school in any sport. To lose to them again, and on our home court, is unacceptable, and these loses could hurt us in recruiting.

I know they went to the dance last year, and that the Southland has an edge over the Belt this year. That doesn't make my opinion a joke. It only points out that we should have seen this coming and improved to a point where we wouldn't have to sit here and wonder why we didn't win tonight! They should not be able to play with us, and what it is, is unacceptable. If we can't beat ut-a, then don't schedule them until we can. It's embarrassing, and only helps their recruiting, while hurting ours.

I'm really getting sick of losing to ut-a!!! What's the deal? This is more embarrassing then watching our football team get the crap kicked out of it by a Sun Belt doormat. At least FIU is in our conference. ut-a shouldn't even be able to recruit players talented enough to compete with ours!!!

I haven't liked the Boys sense they fired Landry. Jones is a idiot. The team will never win another Super Bowl while he is the owner, because no decent coach will touch that job thanks to him. When you can't win with the "Tuna" as your coach, it's time to look at the man holding the strings. The sad thing is people should have seen this when Bill left. Instead everyone was ready to say the game had passed him by. How 'bout them Dolphins!

I can't think of any positions that we don't need to upgrade. The guy is still working toward his degree, and still wants to play football. I like a player that doesn't quit. I've heard nothing of him getting into trouble, and I can't say anything about his personal work ethic, so I'll wait until he's on campus and working with our team, before I form my opinion of the man. 'Til then I wish him the best of luck. Although I do agree, should he never arrive at UNT, it will be regretful.

How about Gary Barnett. He's not doing much these day. Is he? Maybe he'd like another chance at coaching. Winning was never really his problem, though he might have a little trouble selling a recruit's family on trusting him with their kid.

Yeah, We need more speed, on the offense and the defense, but our offense don't use a fullback and Kill's does. Using a tight end is a great start, but we must add fullback sets also. At some point every team needs to be able to line up and run with power (especially inside the 10 yard line). The threat is needed to keep defenses honest. Without more balance, NT will have a harder time getting where we all want it to be.

I really like Kill. He's only 47, but has 15 years of college experience, wins almost 65% of his games, and makes $300,000 a season. Maybe not out of our range? If next season doesn't work out, I'd like our school to take a good look at him.

I know. I'm quit upset that I've been reduced to concerning myself with another team's marching band, because our program is so far removed from the action. How have we fallen so far? Where did it all go wrong? How will we turn it around?

I see your point, but Notre Dame is not in the same position as schools in the Sun Belt. They are not trying to climb up in the ranks of public perception, in the way we are. As a conference, I feel our opportunities on the national stage are too few. When given the chance, we should do everything possible to exceed expectations. You could be right. Perhaps FAU will not be seen as small time, but I feel if the band was there to play after the win, our conference would have been better served.

I wanted FAU to lose too. I only want the other Belt teams to be good when we are dominating the conference. Too bad when we were good nobody else was.

1. Am I the only one who was upset that they showed FAU had to hire a local high school band to play as their band for them? How bad does that make our conference look? Like we can't even scrap up enough dough to send our bands, or our conference's bands were like, " Nah, we're going to pass on the trip". Either way, I think it stinks, and makes the Belt look like amateurs. If a university from the Sun Belt can't send a respectable amount of representation to a bowl game, then that university needs to reconsider the idea of playing at the bowl subdivision. And I give ESPN the finger for pointing out FAU's laps in judgment. Thet didn't have to tell the world (or at least the viewing audience).Is anyone else upset? 2. The on-sides kick with 3 minutes to go, was the dumbest coaching decision I think I've seen all year. What was that guy thinking?

Merry Christmas everyone. Lets all be thankful for the things we have this Holiday Season, and look forward to a wonderful New Year.

I was looking at some of our players from the NFL, and came across Cedrick Hardman. He played in the NFL from 1970-1981. Now, I don't consider myself a young person on this board, but that is mostly before the time when I first started watching. He was an All Pro in 71 and 75. I never read about him on the board, and with all the in-fighting over our current situation, I thought it would be nice to hear any stories the older folks might remember about him from when he played at North Texas. Anyone have some good stories about him?

Any chance this guy is homesick, and wants to take a pay cut?

I agree. I've talked to Brett a few times, while watching practices, and I got the same feeling. I feel he views the program without the emotional attachment many of us on the board have. I don't know if that is what people want or don't want, but that's my observation. I will say, he was always willing to give me his honest opinion of our program, where he thought it was, and where he thought it was going.

Can we get a speed coach too?

Merry Christmas. Me and Serg are going to a basketball game after the holidays. You guys want to go? Jordan might like it.

We got OT in New Orleans.