Side Show Joe

After spending $78 million on Apogee, moving to C-USA, and winning the HOD on New Years Day 2014, we shouldn't be in this position heading into the 2015 season. I know coach Mac doesn't appreciate that most sports writers, like Mr. MacMahon, place UNT very near the bottom in most polls, but that is the price we pay for coming off a 4-8 season at North Texas. I hope Mac hates it so much that he never fields another 4-8 team at North Texas again. I get the feeling that coach Mac and his staff believe this season's team is very capable of reaching a bowl game. If we can get acceptable QB and secondary play this season, I believe we will have a bowl team. This team must make the statement that last season's 4-8 record was only a minor blip and the Mean Green will be a program that cannot be ignored moving forward. If UNT ends up being able to offer one of the more competitive COA amounts in Texas and C-USA, then it will only help matters.

CBS Sports quoted the North Texas stipend at $3,982, which would place us 2nd in the conference behind FAU, and first among Texas C-USA program. But in 2016, FIU and UAB will offer more then UNT. Compared to all other Texas programs, here is how CBS Sports ranks them: Texas Tech $4,820 TCU $4,700 Houston $4,544 Texas $4,310 North Texas $3,982 Texas A&M $3,528 UTEP $3,216 Texas State $3,060 SMU $2,676 UTSA $2,506 Baylor NA Rice NA Here is the link... http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/jon-solomon/25275374/-16-cbs-sports-fbs-college-football-cost-of-attendance-database

I love to see our players taking pride in our university and football program. Andy is obviously a young man who understands and appreciates getting an opportunity. I'm sure he will go on to success after football.

Congratulations Mark! I am so happy for you. I don't believe most Mean Green fans or UNT students understand just how much you do for our university. Thank you for your extraordinary dedication to North Texas.

I enjoy watching these short videos of the QBs, although there isn't enough footage for us to draw any conclusions. But, I do appreciate the coaching staff sending them out. I think it helps generate interest in the upcoming season.

to fund the Cost of Attendance?

For years I've wondered why Haynes isn't in the Hall. I've heard the argument that his carrier was too short. I've also heard that he played all of his seasons in the AFL, and not against the stronger teams in the NFL. Both arguments seem weak to me. The man had a Hall of Fame carrier. He should be included.

I love reading great news like this. I'm glad our coaches old Florida connections paid off. Big congratulations to our coaching staff. Welcome to the Mean Green Nation Darrien!

Join President Smatresk and support North Texas on Twitter! C-USA had fans post "Work Like A Dog" photos of their pets. Go re-tweet ours if you like it. Conference USA ‏@Conference_USA 3h3 hours ago We sure are envious of this cutie! RT @silvamead: @Conference_USA Go Mean Green! #WorkLikeADog "Handsome Hank" hard at work following North Texas!!! Sorry, I don;t know how to copy and paste tweets. https://twitter.com/Conference_USA

Jamario had a great run at North Texas, even with the injuries. You are right. If he would have been able to stay healthy, he might have finished with over 6,000 yards. Thomas has the honor of being one of only three players to ever produce 5 consecutive 200 yards games. Marcus Allen and Barry Sanders are the other two. Not bad company.

Although I started following North Texas around 1997, I didn't get to Denton until 2004. I wish I would have seen that game. In your opinion, which RB had the better performance, if you had to pick one?

That sounds great! What time will the buses be leaving for SMU and when will they return?

Livability.com has named Denton one of the top College Towns in America, landing at #5 on their list, ahead of more famous college towns like Florida's Gainsville, Nebraska's Lincoln, and even Harvard's Cambridge . We should be selling this to recruits and using recognitions like this and the "Home Field Advantage" title to market our program. "Denton officials are always looking for ways to make their city stand out, like creating new verbs. Uniqueness, diversity and independence are embraced in Denton, a college town that is home to both the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University. The city’s organic, grassroots vibe mixes well with the youthful energy that nearly 50,000 college students bring and the innovations business owners continually bring forward, making Denton one of the Top 10 Best College Towns." "Fun Fact: A military airport tug purchased on eBay is used to carry the 1,600-pound bell that used at UNT football games and other events." http://www.livability.com/top-10/college/10-best-college-towns/2015/tx/denton

That was an amazing performance by Lance. I remember me and my friend Rick looking around and seeing no one in the stands, thinking most UNT fans were missing the greatest game by a running back in the history of North Texas. Then I looked over my shoulder and saw about 200 people huddled under the overhang of the club seats trying to stay dry. But you are right. I don't think I saw more then 300 actual people at that game. Sad too, because It was a lot of fun.

Here are some numbers behind the 3 highest and 3 lowest attended games at Apogee. 3 Highest Attended Games 1.Houston in 2011. 28,075 came to see the first game at Apogee. Houston brought a good sized crowd with them. 7pm Saturday kickoff. North Texas was 0-1 heading into the game. The weather was hot at kickoff but not terrible. 2. UTEP in 2013. 26,119, and UTEP brought a good sized crowd with them. 2:30pm Saturday kickoff. North Texas was 6-3 heading into the game. I don't remember the weather being too cold for this game. 3. Rice in 2013. 22,835 on a Thurday night Halloween game. 6pm kickoff. North Texas was 5-3 heading into the game and playing for bowl eligibility. I remember the weather being great for football. 3 Lowest Attended Games 1. FAU in 2011. Only 13,142 came for the 6:30 pm Saturday kickoff. North Texas was 1-4 heading into the game. This is the only game I've missed since UNT started playing at Apogee. My 94 year old grandmother had a heart attack, and I was out of town, so I have no idea what the weather was doing at the game. 2. Ball State in 2013. Only 14,747 came for the 3pm Saturday kickoff. North Texas was 1-1 heading into the game. I think the weather was bad for this game. 3. FIU in 2014. Only 14,824 came for the 2:30 Saturday kickoff. North Texas was 3-6 heading into the game. I believe it was a cold day in late November. I predict playing Rice at 1:30 will hurt our attendance for that game. It's just too hot in early September for 1:30 kickoffs. And hosting UTEP the last week of the season after Thanksgiving will also hurt attendance. Not the ideal dates and times for hosting the those Texas programs. I believe the 6pm kickoff against UTSA on Halloween will be our highest attended game this season.

I think the data clearly supports several facts posters on this board already know.... 1. Playing on at 6pm on Saturdays against other Texas programs yields the best attendance numbers. 2. Playing at 6pm on Saturdays is optimal for all games. 3. 2pm Saturday kickoffs draw fewer people then 6pm. kickoffs. 4. 11am kickoffs draw fewer people then 2pm kickoffs. 5. Weather, be it too hot or too cold, hurts attendance. 6. Weekday games hurt attendance. 7. If we are having a bad season, attendance drops. 8. FAU and FIU are the kiss of death for attendance. 9. When any combination of 4,5, 6, 7, or 8 occur together, attendance becomes embarrassing.

I have no problem with people taking exception with Coach Mac's tweet, but some seem to be belittling McNulty. McNulty is a member of our team. When he takes the field he is doing his best and representing our university. I think he deserves a little more respect from some on this board. I'd like to believe we can all agree to keep the discussion civil, without diminishing a player on our team.

This is great news. Big +1 to RV for making this happen for the students!

The only thing surprising to me is the number of red-shirt freshmen in the two deep. I guess there are a couple of ways of looking at that.

I don't see the logic behind coach Mac tweeting this. Everyone already knows McNulty is the starter heading into the season. I think there are better ways for him to publicly support McNulty, like taking him to media day. After four seasons in the system, I have no doubt McNulty has a great understanding of the offense. I believe he has probably learned how to check off to the correct play after reading defenses. He seems like a sharp young man. My concern is does he have enough arm strength, and is he athletic enough to buy extra time, should our rebuilt O-line struggle, because we have very good talent at RB, WR, and the TE positions. But, I agree with coach Mac. I can't wait to get the season started.

Can't see that happening. The P5 conferences would get a lot fewer teams into bowl and lose money if they only played themselves. P5 conferences have no interest in leaving money on the table. If more P5 conferences move to stop playing FCS teams, it should be good for G5 conferences.

We have all seen his talent. If Smith loves spending time in the film room, North Texas should certainly see the benefits on the field at some point.

I agree. Add in the advantages (TV, money, & schedule) C-USA offers over the old Sun Belt and FIU and FAU have some big advantages in C-USA East. I think the $6,000 stipend will affect Marshall's recruiting much more then ours.

Here is the link to the Miami Herald story. http://miamiherald.typepad.com/fiusports/2015/07/cost-of-attendancebenefit-ratio.html

Sadly, it has begun. Found this on the csnbbs board. Apparently, FIU is paying $6K.