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After reading Brett Vito's piece in today's Denton-Record Chronicle, it dawned on me that what we have is a fan base in a big time funk! For whatever reason, we are there. All of us...not just the banner boys led by UNT90 or the flyonthewall boys, but rather all of us. We are down and we are grumpy. We have friends here fighting against each other for no other reason than we have differences of opinion. We have long time fans saying they will no longer support the program. We have football fanatics saying they will fly their flags upside down, wear black or simply stay home. We have folks calling those who disagree with them childish names and, at times, being downright hateful. Brett got it right when he said that the fanbase is "demoralized". And that "demoralized" thing is showing itself in some pretty distasteful ways among the faithful. And, folks, that is not good, and it is worse than just being unhappy over a won-loss record, a coach or AD or whatever else. Brett is right. We need someone to rally the troops. But, before that, we need the fans we have left to stop fighting among themselves over different opinions of what needs to be done. No one...no one...is going to change anyone else's mind on how/what needs to be done to right this ship. Opinions are pretty much set by now. Don't believe that? Check out this site over the last few week's postings. Every thread becomes the same either immediately or soon thereafter. Same people pretty much saying the same thing over and over and over and over. And, yet, here we are...even deeper in that funk. The lines of difference dug deeper and deeper as if it were WWI trench warfare all over again. So, what's to do? Well, hire a great new coach for one thing, but I have no power or influence over that and I dare say few others here do either. So, what can we do to ease the funk? Well, for me, and perhaps for you as well, tone it down, step back a bit and realize we all want the best for UNT (yes, I make that assumption). Realize that in the grand scheme of things arguing a position to the point of getting childish and nasty does no one any good and certainly does nothing to improve the situation for UNT. In fact, it probably worsens it as long time UNT friends build walls that may or may not be able to be tumbled down once all this funk has past...and it will pass. It will. So, I am stepping back from the fray. No, I am not leaving GMG.Com, and I'll still be posting from time to time. I am just going to try to step back from the funk in the hopes others might see the emptiness of carrying forward so much bitterness toward other members of the same great Mean Green Nation. Sure, have your differences, do what you think you should do, but tone it down. Not every thread is an invitation for conflict. Not every thread needs to delve into the same subject. Not every thread needs to be a "my way or the highway" thread. We have long ago lost the ability to have great discussions without all the drama and conflict. I think it is time we returned to our respectful dialogues about the Mean Green. And, yes, it's time for humor to return to GMG.Com. Hopfully, I am not the only one to believe that we can once again be a united and great fan base. No, not united in the same opinions, of course, but at least respectful of those other opinions and our friends who hold differing opinions. We can either stand together in support of UNT or we will fall alone. It is time to get out of the funk as a fan base and realize that things can change, and that together we will and can overcome this malaise we are currently suffering through. I pledge to try. Hard? Sure. Anyone else care to at least try? Thanks, Brett Vito, for an insightful column this morning. Pretty much nailed the need. Someone must emerge as a HC to help bring this fan base hope for a better tomorrow. Because right now, it's in pretty much a big time funk.