Can anyone identify UNT’s opponent in this vintage Fouts Field photograph?

[PlummMeanGreen]

...also the year we played this unknown opponent in the photo?   Thanks in advance.  
 

PS;  I wanted to guess NMSU, but I can’t remember the Aggies bringing this large a crowd in the visitors section or the end zone being that full.

Also, our Baylor game  at Fouts (which we won) the crowd was larger but Baylor fans would have been wearing green (or yellow). 

Edited December 28, 2020 by PlummMeanGreen

[UNT86]

It could be SMU in 2006. We had 25K for that one. It seems big for an SMU crowd, but it could be them.

[UNT 90 Grad]

I also think it’s SMU on  September 9, 2006.  Based on the end zone conference champ signage, it is post 2004.   UNT won that game 24-6.

I don’t remember this game, but I also see on meangreensports.com where we played Arkansas at home on September 29, 2007 and lost  38-29.  I suppose it could be that too?

[MeanGreen_MBA]

The visiting team is red. I don’t see SMU fans wearing a lot of red. Could be Arkansas or LaLa. 

[Marty]

I don't remember hosting Arkansas at home.

I'm guessing its the 2006 SMU game.

 

Edited December 28, 2020 by Marty

[jtm0097]

31 minutes ago, UNT 90 Grad said:

I also think it’s SMU on  September 9, 2006.  Based on the end zone conference champ signage, it is post 2004.   UNT won that game 24-6.

I don’t remember this game, but I also see on meangreensports.com where we played Arkansas at home on September 29, 2007 and lost  38-29.  I suppose it could be that too?

Arkansas was on the road that year 

[MeanGreen_MBA]

Did we have a big game against LaLa. It is the wrong red fro Troy

[greenb.o.g.]

I think the photograph is from the SMU game in 2006.

Have a look at the photo gallery here: https://rjy.photoshelter.com/gallery/09-09-2006-SMU/G0000oBs11Ewqe_8/C0000Q347LI0RTt0

It matches.

[greenjoe]

I would guess Houston.  We play them at Fouts not long after the formation of CUSA.

[Travis]

I feel like that photo might be photoshopped a bit. 

We never ever filled fouts like that with the endzone seats.  Got close with Baylor though. 

Edited December 28, 2020 by Travis

[Harry]

Houston?

[UNT86]

The last time we played Houston in Fouts was 1998.

U-La-La in 2005 drew 14K

U-La-La in 2008 brought 17K and again in 2010.

 

SMU in 2006 is really the only choice.

 

[PlummMeanGreen]

Yet look at the crowd in the north end zone?

[greenminer]

2 hours ago, greenb.o.g. said:

I think the photograph is from the SMU game in 2006.

Have a look at the photo gallery here: https://rjy.photoshelter.com/gallery/09-09-2006-SMU/G0000oBs11Ewqe_8/C0000Q347LI0RTt0

It matches.

 

2 hours ago, UNT86 said:

The last time we played Houston in Fouts was 1998.

U-La-La in 2005 drew 14K

U-La-La in 2008 brought 17K and again in 2010.

SMU in 2006 is really the only choice.

They don't match.  I'd like to throw another name in the mix: Arkansas State

Look at the strong presence of black/red in the band section.  SMU band unis do not have black at all, right?  LaLa unis have a ton of white.

Arkie State unis seem more in line with this, and the football unis do, too.  White w/red trims

The big conflict with ASU is the crowd size.  The 2005 game in Denton does not appear to have a crowd in line with Plum's photo.

Paging @Arkstfan for possible input.

[meanrob]

We never had a Sun Belt game with that many people in the end zone. Not even NMSU champ game. 

[3XNTGRAD]

Go to Rick Yeatts photography page and look at the 2006 SMU game. Even the same cars in the same parking spots, but a whole lot less people in the end zone seats (as someone mentioned photoshopping earlier in this thread).

https://rjy.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/09-09-2006-SMU/G0000oBs11Ewqe_8/I0000NQV3HSHZnys/C0000Q347LI0RTt0

[Primo]

beat me to it... the cars are the same... see the truck at the angle point in the lot next to frontage rd.

[meanrob]

Some fun facts from the UH game in 1998 if my memory serves me right 

We dominated the first half but only led 9-7 at halftime, UH mauled us in the second half. 
 

Dickey called a timeout when we were deep in UH territory only to get a delay of game after the timeout. 
 

At halftime the PA guy was reading off scores of other games when he read this gem “in the second quarter Houston seven, North Texas six.” Then there was a long pause and groan from those listening. I remember thinking we can’t even read off scores right. 
 

UH had a kid get hurt and we wouldn’t drive the ambulance on the field. They pushed him all the way across the field on the gurney. UH was pissed, I didn’t blame them. 
 

If my memory is failing me, feel free to correct. 
 

I remember after that game thinking we had some talent but we weren’t ready to win consistently. Also I thought Dickey’s red zone play-calling was abysmal. Field goals don’t win games like that. 

[scratch1976]

It's smu! 

[UNTLifer]

smuT doesn't travel that well to Lil' Ol' Denton.  My guess is Nichols St. (sarcasm)

[SilverEagle]

NMSU, 2002 or 2004.  They have black in their color scheme. One of those years they brought their band and dancers.

[UNT 90 Grad]

1 minute ago, SilverEagle said:

NMSU, 2002 or 2004.  They have black in their color scheme. One of those years they brought their band and dancers.

Negative.  The signage in the end zone reads “2001 2002 2003 2004 SUNBELT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS”.   This had to have been 2005 or later. 

[NorthTexasSportsNetwork]

Everyone, it’s clearly SMU and there is proof. Now does anyone have a picture of the Fouts crowd against K State in 2010? I have seen very few pictures of that game 

[Texas Stranger]

It has to be SMU 2006.  NT has dark uniforms, so it's pre-Dodge.  Given the end zone SBC championships markers, it limits us to 2005 or 2006.

[Travis]

I am trying to tell you guys.... this photo isn’t real!