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Next spring the University of North Texas will debut the first building of a 100-acre branch campus serving Frisco and the surrounding areas.It will be the first time Collin County has a Tier 1 Carnegie research institution, officials said, the top tier for a research-focused university.Frisco Landing, the first building of the new branch, will open for the spring semester next year at the southwest corner of Panther Creek Parkway and Preston Road. When it opens, it will not only showcase a design intended to promote collaboration and communication between students, but also provide a hub for growth opportunities through supporting programs and partnerships, officials said.“The purpose of the Frisco campus is to close the gap between higher education and employers,” UNT President Neal Smatresk said. “It was designed very intentionally to welcome employers in, to have employers be engaged not just in recruiting students but potentially engaged in helping to develop curriculum or teaching classes, or to be guiding students and helping in their professional development.” read more: https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/frisco/education/2022/10/03/unt-at-frisco-readies-to-open-collaborative-campus/

We previously discussed concerns over free speech on the campus of the University of North Texas, including the canceling of an event on child gender transitioning. Students and faculty were not content to protest such events but acted to prevent others from hearing opposing views. Now, the university itself has lost a critical motion in a free speech case brought by Mathematics Professor Nathaniel Hiers after his contract was not renewed due to his criticism of the school’s microaggression policies. Judge Sean Jordan ruled that Professor Hiers may proceed to trial on his free speech claim. Professor Hiers sued the Board of Regents of the University of North Texas after it told him that it did not renew his contract due to his criticism of the policy. Mathematics Department Chair Professor Ralf Schmidt expressly stated that “[m]y decision not to continue your employment in the spring semester was based on your actions in the grad lounge on 11/26 [2019], and your subsequent response.” That is a reference to a controversy when a copy of the school’s microaggression policy was called “garbage” on a blackboard in the graduate lounge. The court included the picture in its opinion: When Schmidt sent around a demand for the person responsible to step forward, Hiers publicly accepted responsibility. He was later canned. We have previously discussed microaggression policies and the concerns over free speech over their fluid definition and controversial examples. I have had debates over such policies and I am often struck by the difficulty of those on the other side to clearly define the scope of the term. That lack of clarity (and the subjectivity of some of the term) creates a chilling effect on free speech. Free speech demands bright lines to avoid self-censorship and coerced silence. read more: https://jonathanturley.org/2022/03/24/federal-court-rules-in-favor-of-unt-professor-fired-for-criticizing-microaggression-policy/amp/

I know the first rule of the “Fight Club” movie starring Brad Pitt was you were never to talk about Fight Club. But when it comes to #F19HTCLUB, the official social media moniker for North Texas Football’s 2019 signing class, I feel compelled to break the rule. Not only is this class off to great start with fourteen 3-star ranked commitments in just early July, but potentially looking like it could be one of the best in program history. Perhaps it could even be in the running for one of the top G5 classes in the country. This is new territory for a North Texas program who has struggled at times to land higher ranked players, despite being in a hot bed of Texas high school talent in past years. The 2019 class not only has high rankings, but also many hold quality offers from G5 and, yes even *gasp* P5 programs with significant more funding and resources. One of the only knocks on Seth Littrell in his tenure thus far at North Texas is the perception he has not recruited at a high enough level, certainly in the eyes of the recruiting services. One argument was Littrell’s signing classes did not have enough 3 star ranked players. Another would be that his recruits did not have enough P5 school offers. Here’s the real story, in just over two years Littrell and company has done a remarkable job completely rebuilding the roster and culture of a program that had been decimated after a string of bad hires. You don’t take a 1-win team to a C-USA conference championship game in 2 seasons without upgrading the talent on the roster. Over 50% of the starting line up in the 2017 C-USA conference championship were brought in after Seth Littrell took over. The good news is that the proportion of Littrell recruits will only increase in the 2018 season and there were some good players who redshirted last season making their debut in 2018. And no one has ever questioned Littrell and his staff’s ability to identify and develop talent. One need only look to starting junior quarterback Mason Fine who most every division I program thought was too small to play. Fine passed for 4,052 yards in 2017 with 31 touchdowns making him the #6 ranked passing leader in the entire NCAA. In fact, he sat just one chair behind #5 ranked Sam Darnold of USC (4,143) who just signed with the NY Jets as the 3rd pick in the draft. As North Texas has improved in the win column (9-5 in 2017; 2 consecutive bowls) there are also encouraging signs the recruiting efforts have trended upward each cycle since Littrell’s hiring. That said, the 2019 class – thus far – appears to be the cycle where everything seems to be falling into place. Winning helps for sure, as top players want to join a program that is winning consistently and going to bowl games. In retrospect, the key difference may well be Littrell’s hiring director of recruiting, Luke Walerius. Walerius’ most recent stop was at Kentucky in the SEC and is primarily responsible for North Texas’ recruiting program including organization and talent evaluation. The social media efforts and communication have taken took huge steps since his arrival. When talking to both prospect and commits a common theme is that North Texas is the team showing the most love and the best family culture to them. Another key impact that Walerius has made has been to take the natural resources North Texas has, in terms of staff, location, facilities, academics and communicate it effectively in language that the prospects and their respective coaches understand. Twitter has become the king of football recruiting and North Texas has embraced communicating it’s strengths in that medium under Walerius’ lead. Two positions they may be set in terms of numbers in this class are WR and LB. Littrell and his staff have had great success at the wide receiver position since coming on board. They are returning Jalen Guyton, Rico Bussey, Michael Lawrence and Jaelon Darden, all guys brought in by current staff. They also have some exciting freshman and transfers that could contribute this fall including redshirt Greg White from Georgia and Kansas transfer Keegan Brewer. There are currently 3 receivers committed to North Texas this cycle including Damon Ward and Deonte Simpson both from West Brook as well as Kealon “Action” Jackson from Shadow Creek. All three have two things in common, speed and versatility. All three will contribute and be exciting in this spread offense. North Texas has had great success at LB in recent history including sending Craig Robertson (Saints) and Zach Orr (Ravens/Retired) to the NFL. In 2018 North Texas will have a very veteran LB Squad led by seniors EJ Ejiya and Brandon Garner. The quartet of 2019 LB recruits could be the most talented group of commits as whole by position. Twins Gabriel and Grayson Murphy (Bishop Lynch) and Taylor Jacobs (South Grand Prairie) all listed at 6-2, 215 and have versatility to play both linebacker positions and the potential to move down to defensive end. The fourth linebacker commit Kevin Wood (Judson) is listed at 6-0 200, and on film is a tackling machine with a nose for the ball. Watching his highlight film is exciting. He also has versatility and speed to not only play linebacker but also slide back to a safety position in the 3-3-5. The quarterback commit position is in good hands as well. North Texas went back to familiar territory and went back to Oklahoma landing the commitment of State Champion Owasso QB Will Kuehne. Kuehne is a very good QB prospect with a very bright future and a ton of potential. He held offers from Maryland, Arkansas State and several Ivy League schools. Defensive back is one of the most important position groups in the 3-3-5 defense. Mean Green added 4 safeties in the last class. I project they will add close to the same number this class. Currently they just have one committed but that one is a BIG one. Jevin Murray (Shadow Creek) is one of the top defensive backs in the state. He can be an instant contributor for defensive coordinator Troy Reffett’s defense. He held 13 offers including multiple P5 offers. Jevin’s main recruiter is special teams coach Marty Biagi who is having a great recruiting season so far. Marty’s covers the critical Houston-area region which many believe has more prospects than any other region in Texas and possibly the nation. North Texas is having great success in Houston this year. including two of the top-rated recruits running back Garrison Johnson (Manvel) and tight end Asher Alberding (Clear Lake). Garrison choose to commit to North Texas over P5 offers including Syracuse and Nebraska. He has the talent to fall right in North Texas run of talented running backs. Asher (6-4, 235) is an intriguing combination of old school blocking and new age receiving tight end. Coach Littrell success with Rob Gronkowski at Arizona played a big part in Asher decision. It will be fun to watch him develop. The hardest position groups for G5 and even P5 teams to recruit consistently on both sides of the ball is the offensive and defensive lines. In the 2019 cycle, North Texas has done a great job finding big athletic guys that you can develop. They currently have two offensive linemen in John Brunner (6-5, 300 / Brock) and Chris Cassidy (6-4, 280 /Angleton). Both fit the build of athletic/people movers that can develop for offensive line coach Chuck Langston. Look for UNT to try and add at least one more offensive lineman this class. On the defensive side of the ball they have one defensive lineman committed in Demeco Roland (6-3, 275 / Broken Arrow, OK). He comes from the same school as Derrick Shaw a defensive tackle signee from last year class that the staff is very excited about. Demeco is another guy with a lot of potential. Look for him to have big senior season. With 14 commits so far, I figure the staff has around 9 to 10 more scholarships to fill out. I would expect 2 to 3 more commits before the season starts. Don’t be surprised if North Texas doesn’t save the rest of the scholarships for the frenzy that happens as signing day nears and prospects realize they can’t all go to Texas and A&M. With coaching changes and stuff, it is a mad dash as national signing day gets near. And in Seth’s time at North Texas they have really capitalized on some of these later commitments. There is also the opportunity to add some junior college transfers at positions of need. Of course, when you sign the best, you better be prepared when bigger schools lose their commits and decide to start poaching. In prior regimes, North Texas seemed ill prepared for this annual ritual. With Walerius managing the process, it appears that the program is doing everything you have to do to circle the wagons, maintain strong relationships and keep these committed players in place. Time will tell. This is an exciting time to be a North Texas fan. There can be no doubt that North Texas is trending upward in the college football ranks. Back to back bowl games and a trip to the conference championship is potentially just the tip of the iceberg. Between the talent added last class and the talent currently committed this could be the boost needed to push North Texas to the top of G5 rankings and beyond. For a long time UNT has been referred to as the “sleeping giant” due to great location, and school size. But now all the necessary pieces seem to finally be in place to take that next step. North Texas is benefiting from great leadership starting with university president Neal Smatresk and athletic director Wren Baker. North Texas made a phenomenal coaching hire in Seth Littrell and with the aid of director of recruiting Luke Waleruis. #F19HTCLUB could be the signing class that finally woke the sleeping giant.

Lesa Benton Roe’s mother discouraged her from going to college. No one in the Benton family — not even Lesa’s older brother and sister — had made it past high school. And her mother, a switchboard operator in Gainesville, Fla., feared that her youngest couldn’t cut it, even though Lesa was a straight-A student. “She was trying to brace me for failure,” Roe says. “But I had an internal drive to be something more.” Fortunately, Roe listened to her father, a groundskeeper for the Veterans Administration who had always regretted not having a college degree and expected her get one. She got two — an undergraduate degree and a master’s of science in electrical engineering. She didn’t really know what engineers did until she got a co-op job at NASA while studying at the University of Florida. During Roe’s 33-year meteoric career at NASA, she broke gender barriers and reshaped the way things got done at the $19.6 billion agency — making operations run smoother and more efficiently. She rose to second in command as acting deputy administrator when she retired in October and headed to Dallas. Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2018/04/27/lesa-benton-roe-nasa-superstar-first-woman-unt-chancellor

The Dallas Cowboys may have no bigger fans than Mean Green nation. With every home game, with every win, the premier football franchise and its magical season bring more support and attention to the team’s exclusive new higher education partner — the University of North Texas. “Obviously we are all rooting for the Cowboys to go all the way this year,” said Neal Smatresk, president of UNT. Earlier this year, UNT officials signed a contract to pay $1.725 million over the next year and a half, and as much as $7.5 million over the next eight years, to be a “proud partner of the Dallas Cowboys.” Through this agreement, the university gains marketing and exposure on a nationwide level, as UNT is promoted everywhere from the Dallas Cowboys website and stadium to the team’s radio and TV shows on game day. It couldn’t have come at a better time for the university than now, as the Cowboys hold the best record in the NFL and rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has led the team to eight consecutive wins. Officials say the goal of the partnership is not just to boost awareness of UNT, but also to bring students unique academic and athletic job opportunities with the world-renowned team. “We are like the biggest university people have never heard of,” Smatresk said. “We clearly have to change that. “And this is one of the ways we are going to do that.” UNT made the first payment of $425,000 for the sponsorship agreement and is gearing up for the second payment, which is due Dec. 1. read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/education/article115505368.html

http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/football/article41992233.html Read the part about "I never take credit" then go read the Hattiesburg Hustler's online bio/resume on gomeangreen.com Ya, whatever you freaking con artist. Read this article again, folks. Look how it says Littrell was purely a Smatresk and Villarreal hire. Hold BOTH men accountable when the inevitable occurs.

http://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/editorials/article69313582.html You see, the captain doesn't change the oil, but the military recognizes he is responsible for those that do. That's why he was relieved of command. But if the current BOR or Presdent of UNT had been his boss, he would have been given 14 more years to "prove himself."

Since it's going to be tough getting more than 500 warm bodies in the pit for games next year, and since Rick Villarreal couldn't promote the 1988 dream team, I thought we could offer our own promotional ideas. I'll go first: Tony Benford Unused Suit Night - there will be a drawing at halftime to give away one of the unused suits Benford bought to each conference tournament in which he coached. I mean, he doesn't need them, right? This will also have the side benefit of increased concession sales for those showing up to hopefully win the suit. The other advantage is, by my count, Benford has 11 unused suits. That means you could have Benford Unused Suit Night for every conference home game plus 2 OOC home games. It's the gift the keeps on giving and can even be combined with other promotional ideas because, well, there are almost as many unused suits as home games. And it's not like Benford will have any future use for these suits. This is only semi-tongue-in-cheek. If you are going to choose to be awful, embrace the suck. Poke fun at your failings. It's not like anyone at UNT would care, and you just might generate a gate from those who come for the humor.

With UNT students having the student fee increased while UNT fails at every major athletic sport, how long until the students demand not to pay for athletics anymore? A bad football season this year and I think you see a student led campaign to discontinue the athletics fee. I may be mistaken, but I think since it was voted in place by students, it can be voted out. Maybe @UNTflyer can shed some light. That will kill UNT athletics, and will be the legacy of Neal Smatresk and Rick Villarreal. Watch and see.

http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2016/03/benford-confirms-his-return.html/ Posted in the basketball forum, but this huge chunk of abdicating responsibility by RV and silent endorsement by Neal Smatresk, who at this point is just another in the long line of presidents at UNT who is all talk, deserves to be posted on the most active forum. This is all about protecting RV, a coward who can't even announce this to the press. Enablers like @flyonthewall care more about Rick Villarreal staying employed than they do about UNT athletics. Never more evident than with this idiotic retainmemt. Enjoy 13 wins next season and zero recruits because NO ONE is going to sign for a coach simply playing out the last year of his contract. Also, expect THE most watered down out of conference schedule in UNT basketball history next season as Benford schedules Patsy after Patsy in an attempt to keep his job. Remember, coaches do the scheduling in basketball. North Texas has once again publicly told its alumni "we don't give a shit about athletics." I'm going to start accepting their actions and stop donating one dime of my own to athletics. I will also encourage any other UNT alum to do the same if I'm asked. I will warn alums to stay away from something that so clearly hates itself. Rick Villarreal should be fired for allowing this to occur. He won't, because he has people like @flyonthewall manipulated to the point of literally drinking the poisoned Kool Aid. Enjoy losing, North Texas.

Rick Villarreal said there would be accountability if Benford failed this season. That message was echoed by his shills on this board, most notoriously by @flyonthewall. I guess we now know what both their words mean. Absolutely zero. We also know that protecting RV is job one for Ernie, Fly and the like. It isn't about providing a chance to be competitive for student athletes, it's about protecting a man they consider a close, personal friend. Have fun losing, North Texas. Then again, it is what you do.

I am posting my 2016 Club Seats for sale. The cost is simply my cost for this year. $1350 for two seats and a blue lot parking space, a pre-game meal in the club level, and your choice of sitting inside or outside to watch the game. Try out club seats without the terrible investment/commitment of expense and long term "stadium donation," which is really a seat license. This is on a year to year basis. I can choose not to sell them next year and you can choose not to buy them. Like I said, no long term commitment. If you are considering buying club seats, this is your chance to do a full year test run. PM me if you are interested.

Neal Smatresk, president of the University of North Texas, hit two pedestrians with his Toyota Highlander on the night of Thursday, Dec. 10, according to a police report obtained by the Denton Record-Chronicle. The Denton Fire Department took both pedestrians to Denton Regional Medical Center. Police allowed Smatresk to leave the scene in his vehicle. Neither he nor the pedestrians were charged with a traffic violation. The accident happened as Smatresk was leaving a shopping center at 1776 Teasley Lane at 9:19 p.m., according to the report. He was alone in the car. The intersection is two blocks south of Teasley’s intersection with South Interstate 35E. Smatresk, 64, was turning left onto Teasley after the light turned green at the shopping center’s private driveway. As he made the turn, he hit the two pedestrians as they were crossing Teasley Lane, the police report states. read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20151222-smatresk-involved-in-accident.ece

UNT president Neal Smatresk described the school’s search for a new football coach as a vital task on Tuesday, when he vowed to make the resources available to ensure the right coach takes over the program. “Our new coach will be the most highly compensated individual at the university,” Smatresk said. “When you expend a high level of money you want a high level of production. You want athletics to develop a sense of community at the university and produce revenue.” read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2015/11/coach-search-notes-smatresks-take.html/

After Saturday, I am considering asking for additional donations. Several have brought up billboards in Denton as a better and longer duration for the money option. Id like thoughts on this. Banner or billboards? The amount of posts indicating support will determine what happens.

For those with Twitter accounts, spread the word via Twitter about the banner flying tomorrow. Hit up local media. Link the go fund me account. That is all.

After 18 hours, we sit at $1300. $600 to go. Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/qd6qjzk8#

I think we need some levity today. I previously said that RV could ********* and keep his job, so I guess I'm gonna have to raise the bar. We all know CJK5H at SMU. And never suffered conciquences. I think if RV murdered 5 co-eds, he MIGHT be fired. Thoughts? #RVK5CE?

One of those people confirmed what was reported earlier today. UNT has moved on from the committee concept. UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal will lead the search. University president Neal Smatresk said today that he has a deep interest in how the search progresses and will also be involved. Villarreal indicated early on that Smatresk would be involved, so there is no real change there. read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2015/10/coach-search-tidbits-recruiting-note.html/

I told you mofos that scheduling FCS opponents terrified me because of the possibility of a loss and how crippling that would be to UNT? Remember when you told me not to worry because RV would never schedule an FBS capable of beating us? Remember when I said he is RV, don't over/underestimate him? And then we suffered the worst loss in college football history to an FCS RV scheduled. Those were good times, weren't they?

I find it VERY interesting that there was just about zero opposition to the banner until it was funded.I think a lot of people thought that no one cared. Guess what. You were wrong. And that's simply a fact. Nothing more. I kind of chuckle at posters who normally don't post who are now all over the board trying to stop this from happening. Commitments have been made to people who want this to happen. That isn't taken lightly. My question is: where the hell were you when we suffered the worst loss in college football history?

A conference foe. An equal. And they are favored like they are a P5. Yet the guy that put us here is going to pick the new coach. If this happens, it's the last straw for me. I'm sure no one cares at UNT, because they don't care if the football team loses 12 games a year, anyway. But that will do it. How a man can fail so long and keep a paycheck is just simply unbelievable. It's like it's a union job.

So, we have an anonymous hiring committee with RV also a member? If the whispers are true, this is a disaster in the making. The whispers also say RV will have no roll in the hire. How perfect for a man that takes accountability for nothing. Disaster. Only at UNT would such a dysfunctional situation be allowed to occur. Wonder why others laugh at us? Look no further than this. Our own non-giving alums are laughing and shaking their heads, I'm sure. Whats clear is that no one at this university is interested in fixing any of the problems with athletics. Will be be in the bottom 10 for the next 4 years if this occurs, then we will buy out another coach. Mark it.

PM me if you are interested in contributing and if you can help me set up a go fund me thing for contributions. I'll take the lead here. Harry, lock this if you will, but the arrogance of saying "I'll leave when I want to" warrants this thread.