Side Show Joe

I'm excited about the number of games we might have on Fox 1 or Fox Southwest. Looks like every match-up between the Texas teams will at least be avalible on Fox Southwest. It makes me wonder if RV and the other Texas AD's were able to sell Fox on a traveling trophy. As for the SMU game, I have no problem with an 11a.m. kickoff, especially if that is the difference between having the game aired on T.V. or not having it on T.V. Yes, I like 6 and 7p.m. kickoffs too, but 11a.m. will allow fans to see the game before the hottest part of the day. A 3p.m. kickoff would much hotter. Lets focus on the positives here, because there are several.

That is a terrible day for the HOD. Many fans and students wouldn't even be able to get back from Christmas in time to go to the game. I guess ESPN and the HOD didn't like seeing 35,000 Mean Green fans at the HOD. What the hell are the HOD and C-USA thinking?

Here is a photo of the reel. After looking more closely, it appears to be the 2nd of 4 reels. Probably contains the second quarter. Sadly, they didn't have the other 3 reels at the sale. The lady running it told me this was the only one. This post has been promoted to an article

Today at an estate sale my wife found me an amazing North Texas football relic... the original film of the North Texas @ Wichita State game from Nov. 23, 1968. The last game from one of our greatest seasons, which we won 44-6. I don't know if it is the entire game or just part of the game. I looked at the very beginning of the film and think the film might need to be rewound. It shows the teams on the 20, and looks like we are in victory formation, but I can't be sure. Formations were very different back then. I'm going to get a projector and watch it and then have it converted to DVD. I'll have to post a photo of the film later this afternoon after my digital camera is recharged. I have to give my wife all the credit. She found it. I had walked right by it. Best wife ever, for saving a very important piece of Mean Green history. I know 5 of our All-Century players were on this team (Joe Greene, Steve Ramsey, Cedrick Hardman, Ron Shanklin, and Glen Holloway). Go Mean Green!

I don't think C-USA needs any more teams. I like the Texas teams in the west. We don't need Texas State. I like having Southern Miss in the west. They have historically been a strong program, and I believe they will turn it around in the near future. I'm fine with UAB moving to the west. I really like the rivalries UNT, Rice, UTEP, and UTSA can build together. North Texas, Rice, and UTSA had a great race for the western title last season. We need to do more to generate regional media interest in these games. I wish the idea for a traveling Texas throphy would have been adopted last season. It would have provided a running storyline for the sports media in DFW, Houston, and San Antonio. I hope something gets put in place for the upcoming season.

Just my thoughts... Offense I don't think either QB took a lead in the battle for the starting job. Both had good and bad plays. Means looks like he will develop into a solid QB down the road. I thought he did a fine job today. Jimmerson looked good today. Evans is something special. In the very limited time he got today, he made every carry count. The WRs looked very solid. Harris and Kidsey seem very reliable. Terrell looked great over the middle. Smiley was a very nice surprise. Y'Barbo was out today, so the O-line was thin. I'm confident they will be a strength again next season. Defense They sure can get to the QB. It was nice to see they can still force turn overs. They really did control most of the game. Like on offense, many of the defensive starters were out today. Didn't see Lee, and Jones is probably still recovering from his surgery. Sed Ellis looked very good. I also like the way Fred Scott plays. I think our LBs will again be a strength for this team. Whitfield probably could have been the player of the game, but dropped a few pick 6s.

From what I saw today, this has become a two man race. I'm not saying Williams can't get back into it in the Fall, but I think he will need to really gain a better understanding of the system. He has the most talent. McNulty and Greer both looked better today. McNulty was a little better then Greer in my opinion, but don't read too much into that statement. There is still plenty of time before the season starts in Austin. Other observations from today... Sid Ellis, Fred Scott, and Erick Evans all made impressive plays today. Our defense is still good and forcing turnovers. This team is not a full strength, but shows flashes of last seasons team. That is encouraging. Should be a fun Spring Game next Saturday.

Glad to read Williams is having a strong showing. I just hope we have a good QB battle and come out of it with a real field general when we take the field in Austin. Best of luck to all the QBs.

I like detective shows, but dropped my HBO a few months back. Any timeline for it being available on Netflix, Hulu, or another site?

Harry- Great topics and information MeanGreenTexan- Fun and rational responses, plus fun to watch games with KRAM1- Always positive Cerebus- Knowledgeable and logical, both qualities I admire UNT 90 & FirefightnRick- because I generally agree with their posts

I agree. This is great news. I too hope that our assistant coaches will be among the highest paid in C-USA.

The key to drawing the students will always be winning and atmosphere. Apogee is a great place to watch a game. It is very convenient and affordable for the students. As we continue to get more home games televised, it is important that all the fans (including students) feel the game day experience is more entertaining then staying home and watching the game from their recliners. I believe watching the games at Apogee is far more fun then watching them on T.V. Getting a retractable net in front of the video board is the only suggestion I'd make.

Can't stand Piers, but will watch for Johnny.

If Walters left and was able to more than double what UNT was paying him, then I can't be mad at the guy. He has to take care of his family too. Did we get to make a counter offer? If he left because Memphis pays that much better then North Texas, then we have a major problem, and will continue to have issues engaging are sizable alumni base, gaining respect from local media outlets, and challenging for the upper level recruits in DFW. We can't afford to lose our football coaches to Memphis or any other non-BCS program. It sends a bad message to recruits, our alums, and everyone else that follows college football. Do we want to be perceived as a serious college football program, or a farm team for the AAC? It's that simple.

The Belt had a nice season, but they were really a 3 team league. ULL, Arkansas State, and WKU were good. No other team in the Sun Belt finished above .500. Even though they finished 1st, I'm still glad we got our of there. I love being in C-USA. Next season, it will be interesting to see how conferences preform with their new additions. I don't believe the Belt will can produce another season like this year, and I think C-USA is much closer to the AAC and MWC then either of those conferences want to believe. North Texas just needs to keep winning.

Any news yet on yesterdays recruits?

If we finish next season bowl eligible, and the champ comes out of the east, UNT should go to the HOD again. No other team in C-USA can put 35,000 fans into the Cotton Bowl. UTSA could bring a good crowd, but I doubt they could travel 35,000. There are other bowls that would make sense for the other teams in the west. UTEP or UTSA would be the most likely to head to the New Mexico Bowl, and Rice, LA Tech, UTSA or Southern Miss could play in the New Orleans Bowl. Just my take on it. ULL in the Cotton also made me laugh. BYU in the HOD? This site doesn't seem to have a clue.

Not a fan of the sweaterbomb. Leave the statues alone. Let them make sweaters for the local shelters or something. I think what we really have here are people looking for attention. The problem is, by leaching onto the sculptures on campus and altering their appearance, they devalue the artwork. If the artists or the university administration wanted sweaters on the statues, they would have had them when they were purchased. What's next?... Super-gluing fake wieners onto the statues?

SMU doesn't put a burr in my side. I could care less if they choose to call us by our old name. They only do it out of fear. Truth is, there is nothing SMU can do to stop North Texas from becoming a more dominate college football program in the DFW area. This season, UNT was able to undo everything June Jones has done since he first set foot on the hill top. We produced more wins, better home attendance numbers, a more energized fan base, and won a bowl game at the Cotton Bowl in front of 35,000+ Mean Green fans. Beating SMU next season will be an acknowledgment of what many on this board all ready know... The North Texas football program has passed by SMU. Go Mean Green!!!

Yes, the HOD should be our goal every season, if we can get it. If we, B.B., and the HOD have their way, I think we will be there every season we are bowl eligible. Our problems will come from the other C-USA members that will want a chance to play the Big 10/12. As for the HOD Kickoff Classic, I only want us playing in that game if we can get an opponent willing to count it as their home game (UAB would jump at that opportunity, they only averaged 10,548 this past season). I like playing at Apogee. We need to worry about selling the place out before we start thinking of moving home games to Dallas. We need to play 6 games a season at Apogee. We have a great atmosphere their and a real home field advantage. The only way I would want to play in the HOD Kickoff as the home team, is if we also had Hawaii on the schedule as an away game, allowing us to schedule an extra home game.

They should be glad North Texas was the C-USA team in this bowl. Any other C-USA team, and the HOD attendance would have been around 18,000. The other HOD bowls had a BIG 10 opponent. UNLV brought maybe 4,000 fan to the game. If we would have played a Big 10 team on New Years day, we would have set a new attendance record for this bowl. I'm sure the people at the HOD know it too.

What a great day. Very proud of the team. A great end to a great season. Congratulations all around. Now lets get coach Mac's extension signed.

I watched the Armed Forces Bowl today. Rice wore ugly Oregon type feathers on their helmets. I hope we don't do that. I'm good with the SOW or North Texas script.