I-35 Rivalry

brooks91 · February 7, 2016

So while I'm twiddling my thumbs waiting for the Superbowl to start, I was reading through the threads about increasing interest through regional opponents in a regional conference. I think another way of doing this are rivalries and the lack thereof at UNT. We have SMU for however long that will last, and UTSA is slowly emerging as a conference rival but I think another option could be Texas State. TS and UTSA are reviving their "I-35" rivalry in 2017 and I was thinking why not hop on board. With the amount of alumni the schools are pumping out I think it could work. The 3 teams could play each other each year and hell, let's go all out and throw in a trophy naming the King (or prince. UT, Baylor, and TCU would attest) of 35. I think that would spark more interest than our FCS games and the drives would make nice weekend trips for the alumni. I've done it once for UTSA and also for the UT game, which I was pleasantly surprised at the mean green turnout, and enjoyed it both times.

Christopher Walker · February 7, 2016

Gross.

brooks91 · February 7, 2016

Well this was received well...

The feeling against them is mutual but I didn't think we were above playing them. I'm just being realistic. They have Houston, UTSA, SMU, and baylor on their future non-conference schedule. Why not us? It's going to be awhile before we have a boise state story or even a houston season where we beat FSU in a new year's day bowl. In the mean time, another in-state rival would be more relevant than us complaining about our FCS game each year.

Edited February 8, 2016 by brooks91

MeanGreen13 · February 7, 2016

IDK bout TS but we should do something for our within conference schools. I like the highways thing and I think it's 10, 35,45 that connect all 4 CUSA schools to each other.... We should do that!

SilverEagle · February 7, 2016

You know, if we could trade UTSA for Texas State I would do it in less than a second. I would much rather have Texas State in our conference. To me they would make a more "natural" rival than UTSA. But I do agree that we need a rival. As I've pointed out many times, we haven't had a real one since we were in the same conference with TAMU Commerce. THEY were our big rivalry game.

We can pretend that we've started a rivalry with SMU, but as my dear departed mother used to say "It takes two to Tango", and I don't think that SMU regards us as a suitable long term dance partner. Besides, they have the cash on hand to buy us out of our series with them any time they want.........sudden end to our fantasy rivalry.

Rivalries happen between schools that are part of the same conference and are required to play one another every year. They are the best chance to increase interest of students and alumni of both schools, and at the same time increase attendance......at least for those games.

We better get over ourselves, attitude wise, regarding some of our conference mates. Our best possibilities for a rivalry are UTSA and La Tech. Of the two, I would prefer La Tech, but I'll take either one......or even both.

So we better get with it.

Edited February 7, 2016 by SilverEagle

GrandGreen · February 7, 2016

You can't manufacture rivalries and frankly I believe it is an old concept that just doesn't work anymore. Not that there are not rivalries that mean something; OU vs UT for example, an decades old neutral site game between the historical dominate teams in two bordering states.

The important games are dictated by your conference, location, and recent significant games. Does anyone really think that designating some team as a rivalry game and creating some trophy makes that game more important than a meaningful conference game or a game against a higher ranked opponent?

SilverEagle · February 7, 2016

5 minutes ago, GrandGreen said:

You can't manufacture rivalries and frankly I believe it is an old concept that just doesn't work anymore. Not that there are not rivalries that mean something; OU vs UT for example, an decades old neutral site game between the historical dominate teams in two bordering states.

The important games are dictated by your conference, location, and recent significant games. Does anyone really think that designating some team as a rivalry game and creating some trophy makes that game more important than a meaningful conference game or a game against a higher ranked opponent?

No you can't manufacture rivalries but you can target the most likely schools to have one and give it some sort of emphasis. UTSA brought a pretty big contingent of fans to our first game with them in 2013.....including their band. I think they are interested. I think the next time we have a "significant/crucial" game with either UTSA or La Tech and the game is there, we should take the Green Brigade to the game.

Ben Gooding · February 7, 2016

As much as no one wants to admit it, Smut is our rival. They are our rival from a geographic standpoint, an academic standpoint, demographic standpoint, and just about every standpoint I could personally fathom. Many here don't want to accept that. Fewer in Dallas want to even acknowledge it, but it's real and there is nowhere to hide from it.

NM Green · February 8, 2016

I feel no connection or passion against Texas state. I think Utep and utsa and rice feel more like rivals than state. Heck I feel more passion against nmsu and Arlie state than the Bobcats.

Rivalry games to me:

1. Smu

2. Utsa but dislike them more

3. Rice

4. Utep

5. Arkie state

gmg

SilverEagle · February 8, 2016

1 hour ago, Ben Gooding said:

As much as no one wants to admit it, Smut is our rival. They are our rival from a geographic standpoint, an academic standpoint, demographic standpoint, and just about every standpoint I could personally fathom. Many here don't want to accept that. Fewer in Dallas want to even acknowledge it, but it's real and there is nowhere to hide from it.

I'll concede that you have a point IF SMU sells out their allotment of tickets for our game with them this year. But it is my belief that if we start getting the upper hand in this series SMU will buy out the contract.........football rivalry gone.

NM Green · February 8, 2016

It only matters how much you dislike that other team. Michigan state hates Michigan but osu is the big blue rival. I dislike utsa and smu regardless whether they despise losing to us or not. And they will!

gmg

SilverEagle · February 8, 2016

26 minutes ago, NM Green said:

It only matters how much you dislike that other team. Michigan state hates Michigan but osu is the big blue rival. I dislike utsa and smu regardless whether they despise losing to us or not. And they will!

gmg

And they have to play each other every year. So even though the intrastate rivalry is not as big as the interstate rivalry between Michigan and Ohio St, it's still a BIG rivalry.

50 minutes ago, NM Green said:

I feel no connection or passion against Texas state. I think Utep and utsa and rice feel more like rivals than state. Heck I feel more passion against nmsu and Arlie state than the Bobcats.

Rivalry games to me:

1. Smu

2. Utsa but dislike them more

3. Rice

4. Utep

5. Arkie state

gmg

I would have added La. Tech. They've kicked our asses the last two years, and I'm itching to make them pay for it.

Marty · February 8, 2016

SMU, UTSA, & Texas State all have players playing in the Super Bowl tonight.

brooks91 · February 8, 2016

40 minutes ago, SilverEagle said:

And they have to play each other every year. So even though the intrastate rivalry is not as big as the interstate rivalry between Michigan and Ohio St, it's still a BIG rivalry.

I would have added La. Tech. They've kicked our asses the last two years, and I'm itching to make them pay for it.

I'm from Detroit and I grew up bleeding maize and blue so looking forward to "The Game" was a huge ordeal. Texas state may be reaching but I'd love to have an actual UNT rivalry to look forward to.

And the only thing with LA tech is their relatively small enrollment. And Ruston is a small city as well so do they have fan base to support a regional rivalry? If something does emerge, I wouldn't mind making the 4 hour drive there though.

Christopher Walker · February 8, 2016

40 minutes ago, Marty said:

SMU, UTSA, & Texas State all have players playing in the Super Bowl tonight.

Double gross.

greenit · February 8, 2016

I agree with the part about large public schools. ootsa probably fits the bill. smu works just from a local standpoint because neither school has much of a following outside of the local area.

I definitely do not care for latech and enjoy beating them when we play. The trouble with them is that they are a small school with a tiny following (but then again most of CUSA has anemic fan support).

I would put latech a close second behind ootsa in terms of conference dislike-o-meter for me.

Isn't SWTXST either first or second in terms of all time opponents we have played the most in football?

UTSA Fan · February 8, 2016

I've thought along the line mentioned above. Create a trophy, name it something appropriate, with engraved past game scores and present it to the winning coach at the end of the game. Fundraise year around and at half time of the game present equal checks to each schools athletic fund. Whoever your get shit done guy with program connections is on GMG could easily pull this off.

Ben Gooding · February 8, 2016

6 hours ago, SilverEagle said:

I'll concede that you have a point IF SMU sells out their allotment of tickets for our game with them this year. But it is my belief that if we start getting the upper hand in this series SMU will buy out the contract.........football rivalry gone.

They would be dumb to opt out of this. Dumber to not renew it at the end. This is a game that must be played annually.

Cr1028 · February 8, 2016

Based on the below that I pulled from our Facts and Records book, we had played SMU 34 times prior to 2015 which is the second most times we've played any team. The team we've played the most? Our fellow former teacher's college to the south, SWTSU-SM is the team we've played most with 37 total contests. We should eclipse that in 2018 if our series continues but we do have a history with the 'cats even though we haven't played in over 20 years. I'd much rather have played them than Portland State, Nicholls, TxSouthern, or Bethune-Cookman.

OPPONENT W L T LASTMEETING SCORE

Abilene Christian 15 8 1 1994 48-0

Air Force 0 1 0 2003 21-34

Akron 0 2 0 2006 13-33

Alabama 0 4 0 2011 0-41

Alcorn State 1 0 0 1990 20-7

Angelo State 1 0 0 1984 7-3

Arizona 0 1 0 2002 9-14

Arizona State 1 4 0 1998 15-34

Arkansas 0 9 0 2007 7-66

Ark.-Monticello 2 0 0 1941 60-0

Arkansas State 8 14 0 2012 19-37

Army 0 4 0 2010 0-24

Auburn 0 1 0 1981 0-20

Austin College 10 5 1 1946 14-0

Ball State 2 0 0 2013 34-27

Baylor 1 11 0 2004 14-37

Boise State 3 3 0 2000 0-59

Bowling Green 0 1 0 1964 7-21

BYU 2 3 0 1980 23-41

Burleson College 4 2 0 1922 13-9

Cal Poly-Pomona 2 0 0 1976 21-10

Cincinnati 9 7 1 2002 24-19

Clemson 0 1 0 2010 10-35

Colorado 0 1 0 2004 21-52

Colorado State 2 1 0 2001 20-45

Dallas University 3 2 0 1919 87-6

Daniel Baker Col. 3 0 0 1931 32-13

Dayton 0 1 0 1952 14-20

Decatur Baptist 11 0 0 1929 97-0

Drake 10 4 1 1976 63-0

East Carolina 0 1 0 1979 16-49

East Texas State 19 6 1 1951 48-7

E. Washington 1 0 1 1988 51-0

Emporia State 1 0 1 1955 62-0

Florida 1 0 0 1947 20-12

Florida Atlantic 4 6 0 2014 31-10

FIU 3 5 0 2014 17-14

Florida State 0 2 0 1977 14-35

Fresno State 2 0 0 1951 62-0

Georgia 0 1 0 2013 21-45

Hardin-Simmons 11 8 1 1963 18-12

Houston 7 7 0 2012 21-44

Howard Payne 2 1 0 1949 34-14

Idaho State 1 0 0 1995 41-38

Idaho 6 4 0 2013 40-6

Illinois State 1 0 0 1996 20-14

Indiana 1 1 0 2014 49-24

Kansas 0 3 0 1998 13-24

Kansas State 1 6 0 2012 21-35

Kentucky 0 3 0 1984 7-31

Lamar 4 2 0 1986 33-13

Long Beach State 0 2 1 1974 19-35

LSU 0 5 0 2012 14-41

Louisiana-Lafayette 9 8 0 2012 30-23

Louisiana Tech 6 7 0 2014 21-42

Louisville 10 7 0 1995 14-57

Marshall 0 1 0 1988 0-7

McMurray 4 2 2 1957 14-7

McNeese State 6 5 1 1994 38-17

Memphis 4 15 0 1980 29-10

Meridian 2 1 0 1920 41-0

Miami (Fla.) 0 1 0 1980 8-26

Midwestern 7 1 1 1956 14-7

Missouri 0 1 0 1995 7-28

Montana 0 1 0 1994 17-21

Murray State 1 0 0 1989 28-14

Middle Tenn. 8 5 0 2013 34-7

Mississippi 0 4 0 1956 0-45

Mississippi State 2 6 0 1978 5-17

Missouri State 2 1 1 1994 26-20

Nicholls State 6 0 0 2014 77-3

Navy 0 1 0 2007 62-74

Nebraska 0 1 0 1993 14-76

Nevada 2 9 0 1999 28-41

New Mexico 1 1 0 1983 18-8

New Mexico St. 22 9 2 2004 36-26

North Dakota 1 0 0 1952 55-0

Northwestern St 4 6 0 1994 28-25

N. Illlinois 1 0 0 1996 24-21

N. Michigan 1 0 0 1968 17-3

Ohio 0 2 0 2013 21-27

Oklahoma 0 7 0 2007 10-79

Oklahoma Baptist 1 0 0 1920 29-0

Oklahoma City . 1 1 0 1949 26-7

Oklahoma State 1 10 0 1994 34-36

Oregon State 1 1 0 1997 7-33

Pacific 1 1 0 1951 0-34

Parsons College 1 0 0 1965 26-7

Pittsburg State 1 0 0 1938 28-0

Rice 2 3 0 2014 21-41

Richmond 2 6 0 1982 22-13

Sam Houston State 19 11 1 1994 21-16

Samford 1 0 0 2000 14-6

San Diego State 1 6 0 1975 12-30

San Jose State 1 2 1 1981 16-28

SE Oklahoma 4 1 1 1920 47-0

Southern Illinois 4 0 0 1967 37-0

Southern Miss 4 5 0 2014 20-30

SMU 5 28 1 2014 43-6

SW Oklahoma 1 0 0 1950 76-6

South Alabama 1 0 0 2012 24-14

South Florida 0 2 0 2002 17-24

Southwestern 5 2 2 1938 27-6

Stephen F. Austin 23 3 3 1994 33-33

Sul Ross St. 1 0 0 1951 62-6

Tampa 1 2 0 1970 7-18

Tarleton State 1 2 0 1921 0-13

Tennessee 1 0 0 1975 21-14

Tenn-Chattanooga 5 3 0 1966 42-7

Terrell Academy 0 1 0 1914 0-6

Texas 0 10 0 2014 7-38

Texas A&M 0 7 0 1998 9-28

TCU 2 16 0 2002 10-16

Texas State 28 6 3 1994 27-14

Texas Southern 1 0 0 2012 34-7

Texas Tech 4 4 0 2001 14-42

Thorp Springs 1 0 0 1916 48-0

Trinity 16 9 2 1957 13-26

Troy 2 8 0 2012 7-14

Tulane 0 1 0 2013 21-24

Tulsa 7 17 0 2013 42-10

UAB 0 2 0 2014 56-21

ULM 13 16 0 2012 16-42

UNLV 1 4 0 2014 36-14

UTA 11 4 1 1985 23-20

UTEP 14 6 3 2014 17-35

UTSA 0 2 0 2014 34-27

Utah State 3 4 0 2004 31-23

Vanderbilt 0 2 0 1997 12-29

Weber State 1 1 0 1971 0-20

Wesley College 1 0 0 1921 33-6

Western Kentucky 4 2 0 2012 24-25

West Texas State 17 6 0 1983 32-3

Wichita State 11 5 1 1974 10-10

Youngstown 2 0 0 1957 68-13

UNT90 · February 8, 2016

13 hours ago, SilverEagle said:

I'll concede that you have a point IF SMU sells out their allotment of tickets for our game with them this year. But it is my belief that if we start getting the upper hand in this series SMU will buy out the contract.........football rivalry gone.

SMU will opt out (they don't have to buy out) after year 4. SMU will never bring more than a couple of hundred fans to UNT because their fan base doesnt care about a game with UNT, and never will. One way rivalry.

I'll be happy to see them go. They bring little as an opponent and give this AD an excuse to not work hard in scheduling opponents.

Aldo · February 8, 2016

We should think about winning some games first

MeanGreenTexan · February 8, 2016

I'm all for an I-35 rivalry or two. Just let me know when the Longhorns and/or Sooners are on board.

GrandGreen · February 8, 2016

1 hour ago, UNT90 said:

SMU will opt out (they don't have to buy out) after year 4. SMU will never bring more than a couple of hundred fans to UNT because their fan base doesnt care about a game with UNT, and never will. One way rivalry.

I'll be happy to see them go. They bring little as an opponent and give this AD an excuse to not work hard in scheduling opponents.

I bet they have a much larger turnout this year than the last game in Denton which was at most a couple of hundred. If they can't bring a couple of thousand thirty something miles for their opening game against anyone, then they have a lot more problems than NT.

HarringtonFishSmeller · February 8, 2016

The three teams we've played the most in our history are Texas State, New Mexico State, and SMU.

I'd welcome an annual game with Texas State and an every other year with NMSU. I'm happy with the SMU series. If you can't admit that it gets your blood pumping more than the prospect of a match up with Old Dominion, you're.... I can't think of the proper derogatory word to insert there.

UNT90 · February 8, 2016

6 minutes ago, GrandGreen said:

I bet they have a much larger turnout this year than the last game in Denton which was at most a couple of hundred. If they can't bring a couple of thousand thirty something miles for their opening game against anyone, then they have a lot more problems than NT.

They don't care about a game with UNT. They play in the heart of Dallas and can't get 20k to home games even when they are better than average.

No one is driving to Denton to see SMU play an opponent the fans don't care about, other than players parents, band members, and band member parents.

Hide and watch.