Neal Smatresk isn’t leaving C-USA

[Jonnyeagle]

Look at this letter from him signed from him.  He is in cahoots with Judy on this thing.  It is stupid.  He should be doing backroom deals not aligning himself with the worst commissioner in college football.  I am very disappointed in him.  He is a good man and has been good for athletics but this time his advisors let him down.  
 

[GrandGreen]

You really think that Dr. Smatresk is going to publicize NT's desire to change leagues when he is the current Chair of the CUSA board?

You can be sure he is pursuing all avenues that would benefit UNT.

[untjim1995]

8 minutes ago, Jonnyeagle said:

Look at this letter from him signed from him.  He is in cahoots with Judy on this thing.  It is stupid.  He should be doing backroom deals not aligning himself with the worst commissioner in college football.  I am very disappointed in him.  He is a good man and has been good for athletics but this time his advisors let him down.  
 

You can’t make someone want you in their circle…the AAC doesn’t want two DFW teams. The MWC thought they were gonna get Big XII Texas teams. Now, they look at what’s left and don’t want anyone. Getting a school that doesn’t average 20k in attendance doesn’t catch anyone’s attention. Then follow up with a program that had averaged 4 wins a year since 1995.

Look, I’ve wanted MWC membership since 2011 when TCU left. It stings that they don’t want us and we aren’t able to do anything to change that mindset. What NS is trying to do with Judy is to get regional realignment—but they know the AAC schools aren’t biting, but the SBC will. This is the best hope we have now.

[UNT Texas Hooligan]

I think the opposite. Looks like he is trying to water the grass where he is currently at just in case a move to another conference isn't made while still pursuing other opportunities for UNT.  As the chair of a conference, it's a bad look if you are openly telling said conference you are looking to leave with the school you are the current President of. 

[ColoradoEagle]

He's talking as the Chair of the Board of Directors, not as the President of UNT. 

[MeanGreenWithEnvy]

33 minutes ago, untjim1995 said:

It stings that they don’t want us and we aren’t able to do anything to change that mindset. What NS is trying to do with Judy is to get regional realignment—but they know the AAC schools aren’t biting, but the SBC will. This is the best hope we have now.

Just like respect is earned, not bought nor coerced, being a desirable conference addition for a more attractive destination conference is earned. We can talk all we want about our intangibles and our eye-catching bullet point demographics, but until we’re consistently competitive in our current conference in at least two major sports, we’re the smelly kid begging the popular kids to pick us. If we’re competitive and we draw eyeballs with our competition and start racking up signature wins on a consistent basis, no one will care how we smell.

Talking about being taken seriously in realignment by a destination conference before we start winning where we are is some real cart before the horse energy.

Edited October 13, 2021 by MeanGreenWithEnvy

[MeanGreenTexan]

15 minutes ago, ColoradoEagle said:

He's talking as the Chair of the Board of Directors, not as the President of UNT. 

Bingo.   Two different roles.

Same thing applies to you & me when we're busting our butt at work (this letter)... but keeping Indeed bookmark'd (calling Craig Thompson & other MWC member Presidents daily).

[untjim1995]

3 minutes ago, MeanGreenWithEnvy said:

Just like respect is earned, not bought nor coerced, being a desirable conference addition for a more attractive destination conference is earned. We can talk all we want about our intangibles and our eye-catching bullet point demographics, but until we’re consistently competitive in our current conference in at least two major sports, we’re the smelly kid begging the popular kids to pick us. If we’re competitive and we draw eyeballs with our competition and start racking up signature wins on a consistent basis, no one will care how we smell.

Talking about being taken seriously in realignment by a destination conference before we start winning where we are is some real cart before the horse energy.

Quite honestly, CUSA West is proving to be too hard for us. I can't imagine being in a MWC meeting and look at Denton and our program and think we could even compete there. Since 1995, we have had 6 winning seasons. 6...out of 27 seasons now. That's through 6 head coaches, three conferences, and two stadiums (not counting old Texas Stadium, either). Nobody will look at that and advocate for membership in the MWC.

[UNTLifer]

Is this really a thread title?

[Hunter Green]

54 minutes ago, untjim1995 said:

You can’t make someone want you in their circle…the AAC doesn’t want two DFW teams. The MWC thought they were gonna get Big XII Texas teams. Now, they look at what’s left and don’t want anyone. Getting a school that doesn’t average 20k in attendance doesn’t catch anyone’s attention. Then follow up with a program that had averaged 4 wins a year since 1995.

Look, I’ve wanted MWC membership since 2011 when TCU left. It stings that they don’t want us and we aren’t able to do anything to change that mindset. What NS is trying to do with Judy is to get regional realignment—but they know the AAC schools aren’t biting, but the SBC will. This is the best hope we have now.

Thank you Seth Littrell!

[Cr1028]

6 minutes ago, Hunter Green said:

Thank you Seth Littrell!

And Dan McCarney, and Todd Dodge, and Darrell Dickey, and hell Bumford too while we’re at it.

[Wag Tag]

42 minutes ago, MeanGreenWithEnvy said:

Just like respect is earned, not bought nor coerced, being a desirable conference addition for a more attractive destination conference is earned. We can talk all we want about our intangibles and our eye-catching bullet point demographics, but until we’re consistently competitive in our current conference in at least two major sports, we’re the smelly kid begging the popular kids to pick us. If we’re competitive and we draw eyeballs with our competition and start racking up signature wins on a consistent basis, no one will care how we smell.

Talking about being taken seriously in realignment by a destination conference before we start winning where we are is some real cart before the horse energy.

Based on the independent Athletic Director Power Index we are the number one School in C- USA. 

[Hunter Green]

3 minutes ago, Wag Tag said:

Based on the independent Athletic Director Power Index we are the number one School in C- USA. 

Can you imagine if w were winning at football?  The AAC or MWC would be competing for our services.

[wardly]

41 minutes ago, Wag Tag said:

Based on the independent Athletic Director Power Index we are the number one School in C- USA. 

Now that's really sad.

[UNTLifer]

13 minutes ago, wardly said:

Now that's really sad.

It is based on much more than the football program.

[El Paso Eagle]

I am sure the Presidents of OU and Texas were 100% committed to the B12 - Until they weren't 

[untjim1995]

58 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

It is based on much more than the football program.

What is? Conference realignment is solely based on football and its TV market. Big TV markets and good football programs are all that these networks want and they are the ones organizing this stuff behind the scenes.

In true UNT fashion, we just picked the absolute worst time to be the worst team in the worst division of the worst conference in FBS. It is what is. If we somehow got an invite to the MWC, I'd truly believe that Divine Intervention occurred.

[DentonLurker]

3 hours ago, Jonnyeagle said:

Look at this letter from him signed from him.  He is in cahoots with Judy on this thing.  It is stupid.  He should be doing backroom deals not aligning himself with the worst commissioner in college football.  I am very disappointed in him.  He is a good man and has been good for athletics but this time his advisors let him down.  

Tell me you don't know anything about the politics of college athletics without telling me you don't know anything about the politics of college athletics.

[rcade]

3 hours ago, Jonnyeagle said:

Look at this letter from him signed from him.  He is in cahoots with Judy on this thing.  It is stupid.  He should be doing backroom deals not aligning himself with the worst commissioner in college football.  I am very disappointed in him.  He is a good man and has been good for athletics but this time his advisors let him down. 

I think you overestimate the sincerity of college presidents when discussing conference affiliation in football.

They are 100% loyal to their current dance partner until somebody better looking asks to cut in.

I bet there are letters from the Texas and OU presidents affirming their support for the Big 12.

[UNTLifer]

29 minutes ago, untjim1995 said:

What is? Conference realignment is solely based on football and its TV market. Big TV markets and good football programs are all that these networks want and they are the ones organizing this stuff behind the scenes.

In true UNT fashion, we just picked the absolute worst time to be the worst team in the worst division of the worst conference in FBS. It is what is. If we somehow got an invite to the MWC, I'd truly believe that Divine Intervention occurred.

The Athletic Director Power Index that was referenced in a post resulting in "wardly" making his statement.

[shaft]

Good.  We haven't been invited to go anywhere.

The same dozen posters keep writing about the MWC like they have extended an invitation.  Yet, there are no sourced articles out there, that says the MWC is even expanding.

There is also no reason to assume we would be added to the AAC.  Why add a team inside the same market as SMU?  It's seems like they would take RICE and UTSA over UNT.  RICE keeps a footprint in Houston and would be preferred by the ACC private schools.  UTSA brings a new market and doesn't have SMU working against them.

[Wag Tag]

2 hours ago, wardly said:

Now that's really sad.

 

So you know what you are talking about.

Edited October 13, 2021 by Wag Tag

[GrandGreen]

6 minutes ago, shaft said:

Good.  We haven't been invited to go anywhere.

The same dozen posters keep writing about the MWC like they have extended an invitation.  Yet, there are no sourced articles out there, that says the MWC is even expanding.

There is also no reason to assume we would be added to the AAC.  Why add a team inside the same market as SMU?  It's seems like they would take RICE and UTSA over UNT.  RICE keeps a footprint in Houston and would be preferred by the ACC private schools.  UTSA brings a new market and doesn't have SMU working against them.

There is no way to tell if NT is involved in any realignment discussions.   Your assumption that NT is not is no more valid than someone's else's guesses. 

Not sure what your definition of sourced articles are?  It is highly unlikely that any conference is going to publicly announce their expansion ambitions until they are reasonably sure that they will happen.  

There are plenty fans and/or sports media types (sources)that are prognosticating future leagues. 

[GrandGreen]

2 hours ago, wardly said:

Now that's really sad.

I give, what is sad about it?

[GrandGreen]

3 hours ago, MeanGreenWithEnvy said:

Just like respect is earned, not bought nor coerced, being a desirable conference addition for a more attractive destination conference is earned. We can talk all we want about our intangibles and our eye-catching bullet point demographics, but until we’re consistently competitive in our current conference in at least two major sports, we’re the smelly kid begging the popular kids to pick us. If we’re competitive and we draw eyeballs with our competition and start racking up signature wins on a consistent basis, no one will care how we smell.

Talking about being taken seriously in realignment by a destination conference before we start winning where we are is some real cart before the horse energy.

I guess you mean NT has to be competitive in football.  NT is certainly competitive in soccer, softball, men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball, golf

Having stated that, I think you are wrong; conference membership is decided by the Presidents not AD's or fans.  

They take a much longer term view and are a lot more interested in academics, locations, markets and potential than what the current football team is doing.