SCREAMING EAGLE-66

Which highlites the point I tried to make in another thread about how tragic the SMU vote and effort was to keep us out of the SWC. Our history and status would likely be much different today had we succeeded and we needed only one more vote for admission. ---SMU shot us down and convinced TCU and Baylor to join them. We needed 7 votes for us, we got 6. UT and Arkansas really supported our admission..

---It sounds to me that UNT athletics has it act together concerning trying to keep athletes eligible. The university can can only do so much (legally) and after that it rests on the student's shoulders. I have never thought that losing a student-athlete now and then is an insult to the university and it fact the opposite is true., It shows that the university has some standards and that athletes are held accountable to them and just aren't given grades as is likely done some places. Thank goodness we have never seemed to have had the problems such as at Ohio State or Colorado has had where tutors write term papers and do other unethical things. Those are the schools I have NO respect for. ---This is one area I have really been proud of UNT. Almost all of the old SWC schools had scandels in athletics (I can't remember any major ones at UT) and in fact SMU was so bad and thumbing their nose at the NCAA that they got kicked out of football and probably should have been in basketball as well under the now infamous Dave Bliss. When I was at UNT (NTSU), the MVC had higher academic standards than the SWC or the NCAA minimums. Since then the NCAA has really upgraded that area especially in admissions standards. ---Having said this, we really don't know much of anything about the student listed at the top of the thread. Maybe he is gone and maybe is isn't. Some students get in academic problems simply because they just don't have the ability or "personal drive" to stay in college. I have a lot of student in my college classes that expecting more of the same that they had in HS school and that comes as a shock to them how much more is expected. Some of them are there because of parental expectations but really don't want to be there. Most of them are soon gone but a few of them will be back in a few years when they mature more and can't get decent jobs. .

--It may the kid that dropped the ball..... He might not have kept himself eligible. the final responsibility is the student's, not the university or the athletic department. I hate the "It is not my fault attitude" in most cases.

--Your age is really showing..... I don't think Whiskey is not sold by the fifth anymore and has not been for years. The humor will lost those under 30 in fact maybe even 40......... it is now sold 750 ml or 1 litre instead of 5ths and quarts as in the old days. ... LOL... Don't even have to read the grandkid comment to guess age. --Maybe should check on "how much of us" 04girl is willing to paint....hahahaha... it would take a more paint for me now than in my UNT (NTSU) days.

--- I am 100% in agreement... that is largely the responsibly of the coaching staff to not tolerate that kind of non-sense. Our groups often seems to think it is funny or not meaningful..... it isn't... it costs us opportunities to win. Two huge factors that determine games are penalities and turnovers. Coach can't completely eliminate them but they can sure lower the numbers by their actions with the players involved. A lesser player can be the better player if he doesn't do that "stuff".

---After reading through "Texas Football", I am surprised how many players all the Sunbelt teams have returning and the same is true with most of the Texas I-A teams. It could be an interesting year and the Belt could show a lot of improvement against outside teams. I hope so. The bad news news there is it may be tough for us to win games this year, we need to get better, play smarter, and be very determined to win.

. ---I don't think you understand what I am saying. I don't blame SMU for "everything" and maybe we could have done better but at least we did better than UTA, West Texas and Lamar after being sentenced to I-AA. we survived. A SWC membership would have increased media and fan interest and increased attendence greatly. That would have changed everything and might have eventually put us in the Big-XII but it did not happen thanks largely to SMU. That opportunity to upgrade that much has NEVER happened again since. ---A comparison to UTEP is not valid. They are barely in Texas and far from any other university in Texas. They have always been a NCAA basketball contender but were awful in football. Their location with a large local population helps, no professsional teams nearby, plus they were in a rather recognized conference at that time (WAC) with BYU, Air Force, and even Ariz and Ariz St. until the late 70's. made their situation entirely diffenrence. For years they also excelled in NCAA track with many champonships as well. There was no chance of them becoming I-AA while in a conf with BYU etc. The WAC of that time was much better than what exists today, notice they left recently when given the chance. We were independent and just out of the MVC and SMU left us hung out to dry, then I-AA appeared at the worst possible time .. ---The entire situation has changed in the past ten years again... before then [1980-1996 approximately ] there was the SWC and UTEP in the WAC. We were in the Southland and being ignored ---and Lamar, UTA and West Texas were just throwing in the towel and giving up. We didn't. ---Doors open and close quickly and may never open again. SMU "slammed" that door in our face. If you don't understand that you are young and haven't seen much of life. When opportunites appear you need to grab them, the situation may never happen again. Ask anyone in business management, politics, or warfare... it is very obvious there. The same is true in football games as well.... it is often that a hole is wide open or a receiver is wide open.... you need to take advantage when it it available because it may never be there again. There is often little difference in success and failure ---one play, one vote (SMU), one decision, or even one second... Small details matter and even the last Presidential elections have been decided by less than 1% vote and each by one state and history has been changed..

---You just hit one of my two biggest complaints... #1. we have often not adjusted to what the opposition is doing very well [which might meant we need to pass more in some games] and... #2 cut out these stupid useless penalities (especially unsportsmanslike) and show some discipline, these kill our drives and just keep our opponent's drives going. ---I can accept losing when we are the inferior team but not losng because of stupidity.

---We need tradition, tradition, tradition. Two colors of green isn't a problem [as this web-page shows] but the the artsy guys need to quit messing with the colors. Green (and blue)-- unlike red or burnt orange, or maroon come in many variations but we need to stick with only a couple. I too like the darker green but the bright verstion shows up better in public.

---I am not sure what you meant by statement #2. Fry won 62.9% of his games at UNT despite a rough first year or two before he got the program (back) in shape. I agree the dropping of the UNT to I-AA was like sending us to "purgatory" but that would have never happened without SMU shooting us down and keeping us out of the SWC---so they get a lot of credit for that as well. We would be entirely different had we become a SWC member... I don't even think it is a stretch that we would be in the Big-XII instead of Baylor. We would be greatly different had we become a SWC member and upgraded everything including fan interest and attendence. Fortunately we survived the I-AA "drop" in status... Lamer, UT-Arlington, and West Texas did not. With a SWC membership the BOR would have come around to make us competitive and we would have had much better attendence and media interest. ---You seem to forget that we were doing well in basketball as well at that time with 20+ wins per year and had recently left the MVC which was the best basketball conference in American with Lousiville, Cincinnatti, Memphis, et al. At one time during my senior year (before conference games started) 5 of the top ten teams were MVC members. The SEC was well known but not that good since they were just becoming integrated and the SWC was rather lousy except Arkansas. UCLA had been the best basketball team but not from a great conference which was getting better with they added Ariz and Ariz State to become 10 teams. Some SWC teams wanted a 10-team SWC also but SMU did not it want it to be us.. --I do not feel the same about TCU or Baylor, they voted against us but haven't constatntly trashed us and weren't so insanely against us then either. They might have eventually agreed to admit us but Fry left and as you said the program went down and we then sentenced to purgatoty, I-AA. ---Again, I would not feel bad if we defeated SMU by 100, unfortunately it isn't likely. SMU has gained my hatred the old-fashioned way-- they earned it." .

---Most of the SWC supported our entry or at least voted to admit us, especially UT and Arkansas. SMU did not want metroplex competition from a state school and convinced TCU and Baylor that we were as threat to them and their programs. SMU absolutely did not want Fry to succeed at UNT after they had released him either. SMU deserves a lot of "credit" or blame for the situation we are now in. Some on the board want some of we older guys to let by-gones be bygones..... and I might have forgiven them if our "history" had not been changed by their act and we are still struggling to become a athletic power. We have also put up with snide remarks and insults from them for decades.... that doesn't go away. This is far more than traditional athletic rivalries that many schools have.... there is a multitude of reasons to dislike them. ---Florida State was independent and in about the same situation at that time as we were and we know how they have turned out. ---It will not likely happen but I would really enjoy a game like we dished out to Baylor about 3 years ago. They have earned it and deserve it.

---The track was still there in 1966 when I graduated but was gone by 1971 when I was working on a masters, the new library was open and finished.. There was still a partial rock ticket booth between the ad building and the music building as late as 1975 near a driveway.

---I was "out and about " today and just realized how many devils there are now-days. I think this is a funny idea and thought about it every time I noticed one of those Satan shirts or caps. West Texas is not only is "Hot as Hell", it appears to have " Gone to Hell" as well with all the devils everywhere. Winning changes everything. Even Tech shirts and caps are less visible in West Texas than the Devils now. --- Beat Texas !!! ---

---Hire an attorney from the North Texas Law School.... Oh yeah, the State Legislature approved it then did not provide any funding......

---Perhaps half (or more) of the States should change their names. Most have an Indian tribe name or Indian word name. PC can only go so far. ---Who knows, the next target may those with violet animal names such as Wolves, Lions, Eagles, Cougars, etc.

---If my memory is correct, SMU, TCU and Baylor voted against us on the SWC issue with Texas and Arkansas being our biggest supporters. SMU led the fight against us and convinced the other two that it would be in their best interest to keep us out based on two issues.....1. we would be another state supported school and they weren't, plus-- 2. we were located in the same area and would likely eventually take attention from them and might hurt their fan base. These two issues I really understand. ---My problem with SMU has been their attitude toward us and the insulting remarks that they constantly make toward us in the media such as claiming they have the only "whatever" program in the Dallas area when we have a far better and bigger one. We are treated by them as if we do not exist. Their administration and student really have an attitude problem toward us. My problem with them has been their attitude and lack of respect toward us. I think TCU even feels the same way about SMU somewhat, the diffference is they have overcome lots of SMU's arrogance toward them by being rather successful in the athletic programs.. ---I really don't think it matters much if we "bury the hacket" or not. They perceive us as a threat (we are larger and state-supported) and they are not going to accept us in any case.....until we become a successful 2000 lb. gorilla that just can't be ignored. The interesting fact to me is how big we may soon become. ---Texas and A&M are trying to hold down enrollment now (at 50,000+) by raising admission standards which mean other state schools will get students not admitted there. The obvious choices are North Texas, TxTech, TxState, and maybe Houston. Most students don't like TxTech location. Houston doesn't seem to have much appeal to many. I see us getting much larger, as well as TexState which pulls a lot of students from Austin/San Antonio and area. The way "Dallas" is growing north we are getting much closer to a huge population.. Many of our students are now transfers from local JC's now. I would like to see UNT reach out to the JC students even sports-wise to get support because a lot of them will become our Jr and Sr. students. Two year students usually have less loyality than 4-year ones, involve these students earlier somehow. ---Personally I believe that the key to better attendence is more in-state universitys and well-known colleges to play in Denton.. There is a huge populatiion base nearby, SMU appeals mostly to their grads only, not the Dallas masses which have no connection with SMU and can't afford their tuition. --- If we don't change conferences, I would have love to have Tex-State in the Sunbelt. They are huge (25,000+) and have potential of being well recognized as well. It would be are likely big rival for us by being a cross-state rival.. plus we have played each other about 40 games -- just not lately. This is the only I-AA team that I would not object to playing. This game would help both of us attendence-wise in my oppinion. They are suffering growing pains (athletic-wise) just as we were. We have been in conferences with them several times, the latest being the Southland. They are not some tiny unknown school, even LBJ went there. I don't think we should look down on them for being I-AA, we should be able to help each other by scheduling them in several sports.. Last-shot ---As I have gotten older, I have really taken note of the Scout Motto, "Be Prepared". You never know what will happen next and it is really meaningful.

Last season was the most unremarkable we have had in several years as well....thus.....

I agree we really hae no established rival. -- Rivals develop with time and both teams have to to consider it to be one. MTSU is my best guess at the moment.. They probably hate us the worse since we have defeated them several times which took them out of the New Orleans bowl. The best rivals are either because of location or because of championships on the line to the winner.....the best are both. Tex/OU is both neighboring states and often national (now conference) championships are at stake. If we defeat SMU several times then their attitude will change and local rivalry would be established because their alums have to deal with our alums on a daily basis.

Interesting note: We have lost one only once (1990 by 7) to SMU in Denton.!!! We have only played them once in Denton. 22 times at SMU, 8 at TxStadium. Perhaps we should insist they visit us in Denton the next 20 games.. LOL

---This sounds bad. Our QB Hall and Cobb had degrees there final year so what is keeping some place like UT or OU that needed a RB or QB for one year from getting them. The player might consider it especially if they thought it would increase their "draftability" by being in a high profile program. Nothing was mentioned about being a bench player, it could be a very good starter.. That rule could actually bite us.

As dry and hot as it is this year they would likely feel at home. Plus there are smelly oil fields nearby as well.

Yeah and distence is safety... only the best of us can actually hit the coaches with rotten fruit at that distence from the stands. just kidding...

Hmmmmm... OXatUNT-OXatUNT-OXatUNTunt or if I capitalize only the sixth letter and do exactly three of them I get 666 or oxatuNt-oxatUnt-uxaTunt ----and if I take only those letters I get NUT. I get amused at what nonsense people try to prove....(not you). This beats the Devil out of what I am doing ...mowing a big lawn and yardwork in 100+ degree weather... I am taking a break having a big glass of ice water and trying to make sense of this world... LOL...no offense intended....just having fun trying to stay cool for a min a two.. I hope Dallas is cooler than West Texas since I am heading there tommorrow. (I am sure it is....not.... just sweatier and more humid) That explains why yardwork today in the heat. I do not suffer from "hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia" — fear of the numbers 666 but do have a French phobia ---" Meaux-da-laun-o-phobia" . You will likely have to say it to figure it out. This break helped!!!!!... Back to the Inferno for more punishment!!!

I learned something yesterday about 666. Six is considered a bad number in Hebrew (I have no idea why) and early Hebrew had no words such as "very, extremely" etc. so they used 666 meaning: bad, bad, bad.....ie. very bad. I guess religion is in conflict with mathematics/science again... in mathematics six is considered a "perfect number". It is so called because all the numbers that divide six, (except itself) add to be six. 1+2+3 = 6 Now you know more "worthless" information if you did not already know it. I know one thing, it is hot as Hell in West Texas today. _____________________ This may explains why I am a "troublemaker. I am from the class of 66--- and we are BAD, BAD people. ......

You may be confused.... SMU was or is. ....LOL... Does Bill Clements still exist?? He hasn't got a lot of bang for his bucks lately.