What is this program missing?

meangreen2016 · 2024-11-18T17:19:28Z

It’s all just really depressing. I’m hurting for the players. I want us to be relevant but it just feels like there’s something missing every year we’re somewhat decent. The year we beat Arkansas I was thinking “finally- this is it. We’re gonna break through. Everyone will start taking us seriously. Here come the big recruits.” Then back to back heartbreaking losses. Is UNT football just doomed to be the low to mid tier punching bag for schools to beat up on?

This is my first post for multiple years in here and I’m just curious to know serious thoughts:

What are we missing? What is preventing this program from going on a Boise State/UTSA/Cincy/UCF run?
Is it just the complacency and history of losing?
Or is it more tangible like facilities/money towards recruits?

I’m afraid if we don’t figure it out we’re really going to get left in the dust with NIL taking off.
(Sorry for the long post, just processing what has turned into a disappointing season)

meangreenfaninno · 2024-11-18T17:23:25Z

Good post and the simple answer is we need football to emulate what UNT basketball is doing. UNT basketball has better recruiting, coaching and significantly more NIL support.

DentonStang · 2024-11-18T17:26:59Z

It's administrative support.

Big Z · 2024-11-18T17:48:55Z

27 minutes ago, meangreen2016 said:

It’s all just really depressing. I’m hurting for the players. I want us to be relevant but it just feels like there’s something missing every year we’re somewhat decent. The year we beat Arkansas I was thinking “finally- this is it. We’re gonna break through. Everyone will start taking us seriously. Here come the big recruits.” Then back to back heartbreaking losses. Is UNT football just doomed to be the low to mid tier punching bag for schools to beat up on?

This is my first post for multiple years in here and I’m just curious to know serious thoughts:

What are we missing? What is preventing this program from going on a Boise State/UTSA/Cincy/UCF run?
Is it just the complacency and history of losing?
Or is it more tangible like facilities/money towards recruits?

I’m afraid if we don’t figure it out we’re really going to get left in the dust with NIL taking off.
(Sorry for the long post, just processing what has turned into a disappointing season)

It takes winning and getting ranked to create any sort of momentum

MrAlien · 2024-11-18T18:50:40Z

Its all about recruiting, it takes years for a coach to develop a consistent recruiting cycle, and Morris has only had one full year of recruiting, I do think the program is going in the right direction.

Hookset · 2024-11-18T19:08:22Z

Defensive recruiting/coaches have taken a backseat to offensive recruiting/coaches. I truly hope Morris quickly figures out that defense is necessary for winning. We just can’t rely on out scoring teams.
I also hope Morris starts protecting the defense with his offensive play calls. When the defense just got off the field after a long drive by the other team, don’t be so aggressive with long passes that have us turning the ball over in less than a minute. Try to burn some clock and sustain a drive allowing the defense to rest and get adjustments from coaches.

MeanGreenTexan · 2024-11-18T19:29:17Z

2 hours ago, meangreen2016 said:

...

What are we missing? What is preventing this program from going on a Boise State/UTSA/Cincy/UCF run? ...

What's so frustrating is that we were there, on the cusp. We were THAT team. WE HAD THE MOMENTUM (starting in 2017) until Littrell's flirtations with KSSt.
The wheels fell off after that.... starting with Fine's injury in the NM Bowl game that year, then Harrell getting hired away & replaced by Bodie Reeder. The next season, the lackadaisical SL showed up and he wasn't having fun anymore. No more high energy, "Get after their asses!!". Instead, it was low energy, "we gotta do better in all 3 phases"....

Then, we fired Littrell, and rightly so, but brought in Great Value Seth Littrell to replace him, which was a bone-headed move.

Green Otaku · 2024-11-18T19:50:48Z

2 hours ago, DentonStang said:

It's administrative support.

Agree. This is the most important thing. At our level even if you have a breakout year you will be decimated by the portal and your coach leaves for a bigger paycheck. You need a department that will make the right choices and can correct mistakes when they are made. You need a department that will build long periods of sustained success, not just a year or two. You need a department that will tap into all available resources to fund the program and ensure it will be successful.

GRN-WHT · 2024-11-18T20:11:57Z

A University that produces rich, successful alumni that love sports, hate losing and are willing to spend their money to influence change in the athletic department.

Big Z · 2024-11-18T20:15:38Z

2 minutes ago, GRN-WHT said:

A University that produces rich, successful alumni that love sports, hate losing and are willing to spend their money to influence change in the athletic department.

image.jpeg.8f1e23e9dbd088e1af9671c05748a616.jpeg

gangrene · 2024-11-18T20:48:13Z

Honestly, what we are missing is a billionaire donor. While we have a large alumni base, the majority donate $0 and we don't have enough big donors to make a significant impact. I hate seeing that school we made fun of for buying their way into a P5 now possibly buying their way into a playoff spot.

DentonLurker · 2024-11-18T21:31:09Z

39 minutes ago, gangrene said:

Honestly, what we are missing is a billionaire donor.

Agreed. We need a Boone Pickens. One person who can just write a check for some of the pet projects of the department like the Athletic Center expansion, Softball upgrade, new football locker room/lounge, new basketball arena, etc.

emmitt01 · 2024-11-18T21:35:41Z

45 minutes ago, gangrene said:

Honestly, what we are missing is a billionaire donor. While we have a large alumni base, the majority donate $0 and we don't have enough big donors to make a significant impact. I hate seeing that school we made fun of for buying their way into a P5 now possibly buying their way into a playoff spot.

Who is the billionaire donor at Boise State?

At UCF?

At Cincinnati?

At Tulane?

MeanGreenTexan · 2024-11-18T21:57:21Z

1 hour ago, gangrene said:

Honestly, what we are missing is a billionaire donor. ...

We already have one, and he gives a ton.

Got any other options/quick fixes?

keith · 2024-11-18T22:01:35Z

Right now, on the coaching front, we are missing everything except a running backs coach.

Cougar King · 2024-11-18T22:08:57Z

Simple. UNT has never won the conference and doesn't have a signature win that captured the nation attention. No 2-10 Arkansas doesn't count.

UNT also needs a Heisman Candidate to be the face of the team. It was ALMOST there with Mason Fine but it was squandered, opportunity after opportunity keep being missed.

Until UNT has a marketable face of the team, actually take down P4 opponents and win the conference, the same story will keep repeating itself.

UCF had Blake Bortles take them to the Fiesta Bowl and a big run followed by Milton McKenzie beating Auburn.

Boise had Kellen Moore, Jared Zanbranski and others followed with wins over Oregon, Georgia, Oklahoma, etc.

Cincinatti had a 14-0 run to the Sugar Bowl followed by back to back undefeated runs with Desmond Ridder.

Houston had a great 2011 run with Case Keenum where we beat UCLA and Penn State in a January Bowl Game. In 2009 we beat #5 Oklahoma State and Texas Tech back to back.

In 2015 with Greg Ward Jr, we went 13-1, beat Louisville, Vanderbilt, ranked Navy, ranked Memphis, ranked Temple in the AAC Championship and Florida State in the Peach Bowl

2016, we had Ward back and Ed Oliver and beat Top 5 Oklahoma and Top 5 Louisville on National TV.

NorthTexan95 · 2024-11-18T22:32:03Z

IMO, the main issue is fan support. We have a very loyal core group with lots of fun things such as the canon, the Model T car, the "North Texas" chant ... but that core group is too small. Previous administrations spent decades tamping down any enthusiasm for sports at UNT, leaving it an after thought for many alumni. It would be much easier to recruit and high great coaches if we had 25k at each game and a community that really backed the teams.

Suppose we had beat Navy, went on the beat Army, and finished the year with 10 wins. I don't think that would move the needle much for next year. It would be very difficult to have enough winning seasons to slowly build a winning tradition.

Long story, short ... winning at football just isn't important to enough students and alumni.

I will agree with others that having our own Boone Pickens would be a great benefit if they could give a lot and have patience. I just don't see that person walking through the door anytime soon.

NorthTexan95 · 2024-11-18T22:36:59Z

24 minutes ago, Cougar King said:

Simple. UNT has never won the conference and doesn't have a signature win that captured the nation attention. No 2-10 Arkansas doesn't count.

UNT also needs a Heisman Candidate to be the face of the team. It was ALMOST there with Mason Fine but it was squandered, opportunity after opportunity keep being missed.

I think even if one of the seasons with Mason Fine had been an 11-1 or 12-0 season, it wouldn't have made a long term difference. We would not have enough alumni support to continue building off that.