Is it time for RV to be inducted in the HOF?

[Jonnyeagle]

I think it may be time.  He accomplished a lot with facilities.  In some ways he is responsible for us getting into AAC.  He remains an ardent supporter of the program.  Thoughts?  Too soon?

[tmjerm]

I’m good with it.  It was past due for time for a change but he did a lot in his time here, great SBC championship run, streaky but at times great basketball, and clearly loves the university. Plenty of buts but that involves a lot with other areas of leadership and alumni apathy as well.   

[NT80]

RV was very close to another expansion of Fouts and renovating a warehouse next to Fouts to become our new Athletic Center.  Instead, in great timing, he was able to secure the former NT golf course land for Athletics when it became available. 

Then he was able to get the funding to have Apogee and the new AC built there, all for about $78 mil.   Couldn't buy a parking lot for that today.  That alone should warrant entry.  But not all were glory days.  The Benford and Dodge hires were disasters.   Are there any strictly AD's in the HOF?  I know some like Fry were combo Coach/AD.

[UNT86]

Name an AD in the 30 years before him that did as much or more.  Wren has taken us to a new level, but RV got the ball rolling from basically nothing.  We had zero for facilities.  ZERO.  

At the end, he looked tired.  I would have been tired too.

I would be leading the cheers for him if it happens.

 

[MeanGreenZen]

Absolutely. UNT athletics pre-RV vs. post-RV is unrecognizable.

RV’s mustache alone deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

[UNT Five&Dime]

Going to take a flying banner to persuade me.

[MeanGreenTexan]

When I arrived on campus in 2000, I would go hit at the driving range where we tailgate today.  Everything good we have going now, facilities-wise, was set up by RV.    And despite the atrocious record the Dodge hire brought, there was a wave of interest that came with him that propelled the building of Apogee.   

Rick Villareal absolutely needs to be enshrined.

[golfingomez]

9 hours ago, NT80 said:

RV was very close to another expansion of Fouts and renovating a warehouse next to Fouts to become our new Athletic Center.  Instead, in great timing, he was able to secure the former NT golf course land for Athletics when it became available. 

Then he was able to get the funding to have Apogee and the new AC built there, all for about $78 mil.   Couldn't buy a parking lot for that today.  That alone should warrant entry.  But not all were glory days.  The Benford and Dodge hires were disasters.   Are there any strictly AD's in the HOF?  I know some like Fry were combo Coach/AD.

This is amazing... I still am baffled that we built a really good looking stadium for this cost. Apogee feels like home and he should be thanked for that

[LongJim]

Time heals all wounds?

[greenjoe]

So many members of the HOF never attend a FB or BB game.  Rick seems to always be there.  Yes.  Induct him.  

[MeanGreenTexan]

3 minutes ago, LongJim said:

Time heals all wounds?

Man, Tina Slinker and Andrew Smith are in the HOF.  Despite the mistakes, leaving RV out doesn't make sense.

[DeepGreen]

HOF for Rick V.  If not, then RV’s sweater vest should be displayed prominently at the AC.

[Jonnyeagle]

I think he needs to added.  He will always be remembered for being the architect of Apogee.  Also got us into CUSA which has now ultimately put us in the AAC as Noe Sun Belt teams were added.

[Wag Tag]

I owe a lot to RV. The new stadium made me an active alumni, before nothing! Thanks RV.

[meanJewGreen]

No tailgating without Rick V

Rick V always believed in Johnny Jones 

Helped (with students) build Apogee

Got the ball rolling in a lot of other sports

Huge ambassador for the university

 

His misses were Benford, Dodge, and the whole Mattress Mac debacle (but honestly Mattress Mac is an egomanical clown.. who does some good in Houston) but he's a huge ambassador for the university. Wren's the next level, but Rick got the train on the track

 

[drex]

Seems a no brainer to me.  

[southsideguy]

If I could get over the Benford era I would vote yes.  

[greenminer]

Just me personally, but when I see a candidate for this kind of honor and they are “on the fence” or debatable, then I say no or at least not yet.

HOF should be a no-brainer, IMO. Not “a step above old Denton” or “gosh he sure is nice and still hangs around.”

I did get an LOL from the mustache joke.

Edited March 31, 2022 by greenminer

[UNTLifer]

3 hours ago, DeepGreen said:

HOF for Rick V.  If not, then RV’s sweater vest should be displayed prominently at the AC.

Beat me to it.

 

[El Paso Eagle]

Not to be disrespectful, but when you look at who we have put in our "HOF", there is no reason he should not be in there. 

[GrandGreen]

DD and Slinker are in the NT HOF, so obviously; there are no real standards for non-players. other than longevity   If winning percentage or openly disparaging NT, don't disqualify anyone; what does?

I would vote in RV, despite him being almost totally unqualified for the job when he was employed.  He was a big factor in NT athletics for a long time. 

[Quoner]

3 hours ago, greenminer said:

Just me personally, but when I see a candidate for this kind of honor and they are “on the fence” or debatable, then I say no or at least not yet.

HOF should be a no-brainer, IMO. Not “a step above old Denton” or “gosh he sure is nice and still hangs around.”

I did get an LOL from the mustache joke.

Ya'll know he got paid pretty well every two weeks while he worked here, right?

[meanrob]

No comment 

[Rudy]

6 hours ago, LongJim said:

Time heals all wounds?

Tell that to Mattress Mac...

[ttunt1970]

For all of youngsters I've been watching NORTH TEXAS athletics for 55 years and Rick V brought so much to the school as far    as upgrading facilities, tailgating, and student involvement since Hayden was here. As far his hires Dodge and the idiot women's basketball coach was sort of forced on him by Batille(sp), Jones  was a home run. All the above being said Wren is taking it to the next level, but Rick got it rolling in the right direction. Yes I vote for him HOF. There I've vented