Side Show Joe

If that is true, and it isn't, then most programs outside of the P5 conferences are playing in glorified high school stadiums, including SMU. Apogee is one of the nicest football venues outside of the power conferences. As for the responses to the topic... what is the best possible solution to our current situation? Is conferencing in a C-USA that earns no media money the best option for North Texas? Is there a better option right now?

According to this article from the Charleston Gazette, Fox didn't even put in a bid for the new C-USA contract. Cord cutters are forcing sports networks like Fox and ESPN to tighten their belts. It appears C-USA's contract is up for renewal at the worst possible time. I guess we better get ready for more game on the ASN and streamed over the C-USA Digital Network. "The number of bidders is dwindling. Fox didn’t even bid on Conference USA football. Fox 1 has been a marginal success. Fox 2 is a disaster. ESPN is looking for every way to contain costs." http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20160308/GZ02/160309501#sthash.VnawFEdB.dpuf

First, I'm not a fan of Smatresk's extension either. I think our president has yet to adequately address the failings within our athletic department. Having said that... I have never known KRAM to be anything other then an honest positive supporter of our university. I have never heard him speak a single negative word about any current or former member of our administration. I think you are wrong to attack his character.

The president and BOR should have cleaned house when they fired Mac. We all knew how this basketball season would end. Right now, we could be one season into a rebuilding project, instead of talking about the future employment of our basketball coach and possibly others within the athletic department. I'm tired of excuses and tired of watching us stink at the most prominent sports. Somebody in the UNT administration, please do your job.

Be careful when you speak of RV. Someone might come along and start using bad language, or start name calling just to get the thread locked. I think it's becoming a trend.

I get angry every time I see that article. Yes we have hired a new football coach, but overall, more can and should be done. As fans, do you really believe enough of our issues have been adequately addressed? Men's basketball is averaging 2,006 per game so far in our 11-16 campaign. That's down 600 fans per game over last season. But for some reason Smatresk stays quiet and we stay the course. At this point, I don't have much faith in Smatresk.

LOL! Now that's funny. It'd be even funnier if it wasn't regarding our program.

Interesting numbers. Thanks for posting them. Denton is a much bigger city then Burkburnett, and as a result, Denton has more reported crimes. When comparing the number of crimes to the overall population, things do get closer in some categories. But Denton seems to have more violet crime, especially murders. Burkburnett hasn't had any murders.

No. I didn't mix two problems into one. They were mixed into one by our leadership. I'm simply pointing out the natural cause and effect of some bad decisions. Because Mac wasn't able to develop our program, and the athletic department scheduled a strong FCS program for our homecoming, the result was a historic embarrassment.

Burkburnett. right on the Red River, just north of Wichita Falls. It's a really nice small town. I tell people it's like living in Mayberry. It's an hour and a half drive from Denton, and a very easy drive for games.

I get that the growth has outpaced the infrastructure, but did they have to start construction on every road at the same time. It is a nightmare getting around Denton right now. Drivers seems ruder and angrier. Also, there seems to be more crime in Denton. I don't remember there being this much violent crime in the city.

I'm sure if we knew a team was going to come to Denton and kick our rear 66-7, we'd prefer it had been any one of the FBS opponents listed above.... not Portland State. The simple truth is we need to schedule better. Much better.

My family has recently moved away from Denton. I've always wanted to get some land in the country. We have been returning on the weekend and getting our house ready to sell. I still keep track of things happening around Denton, as I still read the DRC. To me it seems like crime is getting worse. It seems like every road is under construction, and too many drivers are angry. Do any of y'all around Denton, or any that return to visit, sense this too?

In the end this class is better then it was looking a week ago. For having to build a coaching staff and slap together this class quickly, I think he did a decent job. Littrell managed to out recruit the 3 other Texas teams in C-USA, but next February with a full season under his belt, we need to place higher in the recruiting rankings.

That isn't a fair assessment of his role this past season. He started several games for our team. Lets be fair, especially with a player that was a major contributor on our defense.

Are you trying to throw gas on our recruiting situation?

Brown is certainly a great addition. He should be a great recruiter in North Texas and Louisiana. He was in Wichita Falls the other day looking at the talent. Not sure what players.

I've been following this program for some time. For the past decade I've lived about 2 miles from the athletic department, and have attended more practices then many on this board (I'll admit Silver, Harry, and maybe a few others have been there more then me). I know people within the program. I have a fairly good understanding of how bad Mac left our program. I just refuse to let that be an excuse anymore. We need to see some results, not hear more excuses. I'm not asking for the top recruiting class in C-USA this season, but we should be able to do better then last place. Believe me, I'm very happy about adding transfers like Morris and English, but we need to start seeing some wins against other conference rivals, and regional G5 programs at the high school recruiting level. We can't build a contender around recruiting classes that are loaded down with undersized sleepers, that no or few other programs were interested in. We need to be winning battles against other G5 programs for some 3 star and maybe even a few 4 star players.

Bingo. You are absolutely right. The original post reads like a "cup is half full" approach to our current position in recruiting. We need to be more realistic about our situation. UTSA fired Coker around the first of the year, and by most accounts, UTSA is still holding a better recruiting class then us. According to Rivals, we have the worst recruiting class in Texas. And by Rivals standards, only Akron and Kent have worse classes right now. Eastern Michigan's class is more higher regarded then ours. I kid you not. I know we only won 1 game last season, but come on, I'm not asking Littrell to pull in a top 25 class. Our new high powered offense and coaching staff should be able generate some excitement and land a middle-of-the-conference class. Not landing better talent was one of our biggest issues with Mac. Littrell and the staff needs to get this thing rolling. I don't think I'm asking too much.

Glad to have a high school QB committed. Fine isn't the prototypical QB, and if he doesn't get much bigger, I worry that he could become prone to injuries like Dodge.

Seems like right now we're taking one step forward and two steps back. I hope our fortune on the recruiting trail changes soon. We need to win these battles against programs like Tulsa, and we need to start stealing a few 3 star guys from some of the P5 programs. If we plan to win on the field, we have to start winning on the recruiting trail. We are about a week out from signing day. This staff needs to be pulling in some big fish.

I really like that we are starting to see our team win more recruiting battles against regional C-USA programs like LA Tech. I hope we begin to see more stars in their recruiting grades too.

I agree, and love the idea of using our greats and current NFL players in recruiting. I think some of the newer posters would embrace the idea more if our brand was more stable. Think of all the different uniforms and helmet combinations we have had since Fry coached here. I'm not trying to hijack this thread and turn it into a uniform debate. I just think we need to stick with a look. Earl wore the horns on his helmet just like everyone since. I wish we could enjoy that kind of stability with our brand. We probably never should have dropped "the Worm".

Not a lot going on around here lately, and I got to thinking about how UNT has fared in relation to other former conference-mates since our return to FBS/ D1 football in the old Big West. 16 years ago Big West football shut down FBS/D1 operations. Here are the final rankings from the final season of the Big West. 2000 Big West Standings Boise State 5-0 10-2 Utah State 4-1 5-6 Idaho 3-2 5-6 NMSU 1-4 3-8 North Texas 1-4 3-8 Arkansas St. 1-4 1-10 Since leaving the incubator of the Big West which programs have improved their overall situation the most (wins, bowls, facilities, conference affiliation, perception,...)? Rank them. And, which of these former conference-mates do you believe have the most potential moving forward?

I totally agree with you. No it doesn't. In fact, it happens to very few people, in very few places, and usually after most people have called it a night. This wasn't an accident and the young man isn't blameless.