So sick of the crap this football program slings us

[TIgreen01]

22 hours ago, Matt from A700 said:

After Morris and Sheffield transferred, how many here were actually expecting to win? Many of us were just hoping TXST didn't handle us like they did UTSA this year or Rice in last year's First Responder Bowl.

Sure, it's the head coach's job to have his team ready to play and in position to win regardless of the adversity faced, but it's still incredible the performance Mestemaker had. Tonight was better than any game C. Morris has had since Memphis. Coastal Carolina lost their starting QB to the portal and got dog walked in their bowl game against UTSA in their own building. Yes, the loss increases our bowl futility streak to an active high, and it sucks to lose to an intrastate program in an inferior conference, but that shouldn't take away from Drew's game.

The biggest disappointment to me was how badly we were outnumbered by TXST fans. We went from packing the lower level of the Cotton Bowl to being matched ON OUR OWN SIDE. Like our team, our fans also struggle to wear green.

However, there should be optimism surrounding next season. Eric made a poor hire with his first DC obviously, but made the tough (but right) call in getting rid of him. Next year's presumed starter will be in his last year of eligibility, so no losing another 4000 yard passed before the bowl game.

If we struggle to another 6/7-win season and bowl loss with next year's schedule, I think Eric's seat should be pretty hot again.

I expected to lose, and we did.  Forget the storylines.  If UNT is ever going to get out of the shadow of itself, we have to stop making ourselves feel better after losses and focus instead on how to win.

[BigWillie]

22 minutes ago, TIgreen01 said:

I expected to lose, and we did.  Forget the storylines.  If UNT is ever going to get out of the shadow of itself, we have to stop making ourselves feel better after losses and focus instead on how to win.

This is the best way to say it. I love this post.

[BillySee58]

1 hour ago, TIgreen01 said:

I expected to lose, and we did.  Forget the storylines.  If UNT is ever going to get out of the shadow of itself, we have to stop making ourselves feel better after losses and focus instead on how to win.

58 minutes ago, BigWillie said:

This is the best way to say it. I love this post.

What if we stopped patting ourselves on the back for being disappointed at the result after losses and see if that works? Maybe that’s what’s holding us back. Being so proud that we don’t accept moral victories instead of actually figuring out how to get real victories. Everyone is always so happy to say they don’t accept moral victories on here when we lose without actually digging into the details to refute the optimism beyond a simplistic statement.

Almost every good season we have had in the last 20 years was followed by a losing season. Most of our good seasons were followed up with losing seasons. A lot of our losing streaks were preceded by wins that showed weaknesses that could be exploited by better teams (i.e. FAU this season). Some of our best winning streaks were on the heels of losses where we played tough against a good opponent, like Iowa in 2017.

All that to say, it’s not all black and white. We can and should analyze the nuances and details in between. Our HC has done nothing but churn out elite QB play from 3-star and below rated QBs for the last decade as an HC and OC, most recently evidenced by one of the most wild instances many people around college football have ever seen. We hired a DC who had a top 25 defense in the FBS and is bringing 5 starters and 2 more of his backups from that defense with him.

There are logical reasons for optimism coming out of this bowl game and acknowledging that doesn’t equate to complacency or prevent us from turning the corner as a program.

[NM Green]

My LSU buddies were talking about what we witnessed on Friday 24 hours later. As the story of DM kept unfolding on espn my friends marveled at what we had just seen. They had never ever seen that before. Didn’t think it was possible. To walk into a top tier college football game after 2 weeks of prep and ball out. It was a fun watch. He stated, “North Texas would not die.” I’ll take that fight every day. And yes I did think we were going to get blown out.

I invited two alums for the Friday afternoon affair and they couldn’t be bothered. Showed zero interest. But I took 2 SEC diehards and there they were having fun supporting our Mean Green. I’m not giddy about the loss. Rather I believe there will be lots of fireworks and cannon fodder in a few short months in DATCU.

Analyze everything. Every win every loss every missed opportunity every rarity. 

GMG

[NorthTexasWeLove]

3 hours ago, NM Green said:

My LSU buddies were talking about what we witnessed on Friday 24 hours later. As the story of DM kept unfolding on espn my friends marveled at what we had just seen. They had never ever seen that before. Didn’t think it was possible. To walk into a top tier college football game after 2 weeks of prep and ball out. It was a fun watch. He stated, “North Texas would not die.” I’ll take that fight every day. And yes I did think we were going to get blown out.

I invited two alums for the Friday afternoon affair and they couldn’t be bothered. Showed zero interest. But I took 2 SEC diehards and there they were having fun supporting our Mean Green. I’m not giddy about the loss. Rather I believe there will be lots of fireworks and cannon fodder in a few short months in DATCU.

Analyze everything. Every win every loss every missed opportunity every rarity. 

GMG

Kyle Trask sort of did this same thing at UF. But sustained that success and made himself in an NFL draft pick. 

[MeanGreen22]

On 1/3/2025 at 7:32 PM, NTFan11 said:

I was at the game. Were yall at the game? Our fans were just sitting...no emotion, no fire...nothing. Not until the end of the game, kinda... This also makes me sick and tired, as well as mad. 

This was specific to basketball but applies here as well, but was told once by a North Texas fan that they wouldn’t stand up and cheer until the end of the game. Kinda sums of the bulk of our fanbase. 
 

Is it apathy? Is it lack of pride? Too “cool” to cheer? Idk. But I do know Texas State fans created a definite home field advantage on Friday. And don’t give me this football being a disappointment nonsense. Texas State came into the season looking at a conference championship and dark horse CFP G5 rep and ended with 7 wins instead. They still showed up and showed out. 

[NT80]

12 hours ago, TIgreen01 said:

I expected to lose, and we did.  Forget the storylines.  If UNT is ever going to get out of the shadow of itself, we have to stop making ourselves feel better after losses and focus instead on how to win.

Arizona State and $mut and every fan of a team that was an underdog in a game could say this. 

The outcome may have been expected, but it wasn't sealed until the final 30 seconds of the game.

The storylines were the best part of our game.  ESPN put an article about it on their main page.

[Big Z]

13 minutes ago, NT80 said:

Arizona State and $mut and every fan of a team that was an underdog in a game could say this. 

The outcome may have been expected, but it wasn't sealed until the final 30 seconds of the game.

The storylines were the best part of our game.  ESPN put an article about it on their main page.

[SilverEagle]

On 1/3/2025 at 7:32 PM, NTFan11 said:

I was at the game. Were yall at the game? Our fans were just sitting...no emotion, no fire...nothing. Not until the end of the game, kinda... This also makes me sick and tired, as well as mad. 

 

On 1/3/2025 at 7:35 PM, UNTLifer said:

I was at the game. We have the most uneducated fan base in America. Guy sitting behind me was telling his TX State friend that our fans were mainly family members of players and the band. Idiots like that drive me crazy. 

Our cheerleaders try to start the North Texas chant when we are on offense and our band is a shell of what it used to be. 

The Band and the Cheer staff and the Talons do not have a coordinated routine to engage the fans before or during the game. Other than the very generic "Go Mean-Green" we have no signature yell. We have no relentless signature chant, other than the very disjointed and often awkward "NORTH-TEXAS" chant. Which often ends very awkwardly.

I've told this story several times in the past, so get your "roll-eyes" emojis ready. In 1990 I was invited to participate in a focus group. Dr. Peter Lane was the person leading the group, and basically, they were trying to determine if there was any interest in North Texas getting back into D-1 football, and what concerns (if any) that the group has about this prospect. The group seemed to feel that it was a good idea and so the meeting was coming to an end. 

At that point I asked if I could add something to the discussion. Dr. Lane reluctantly agreed. I said that when I go to North Texas games, I observe that we have a Band that shows up in the correct colored Uniform and plays their football play list along with other tunes. The cheer staff show up in their appropriately colored uniforms and proceed to do "cheer stuff".....mostly gymnastics. The football team shows up in their appropriately colored uniforms and goes about the business of trying to win a game in front of what always appears to me to be (for the most part) a somewhat disinterested and/or confused-about-their-role, crowd. 

I said that all of these aforementioned groups show up and meet the basic requirements of their roles and then leave.  There doesn't appear that there is any connection between these groups, before, during, or after the game.  I said that it looks more like a contracted event than a gathering of true fans who are celebrating our North Texas culture......whatever the hell that is. 

So here we are, 34 years later, and based on comments in this thread (and others) nothing has really changed since 1990. 

Oh, there is one change. When I visited with Dr. Cook a time or two three or four years ago, I told him that I always wondered why we didn't have a "North Texas" fanfare for the beginning of the Band's pre-game show. Like the Texas Band does.  I said that surely someone in the most outstanding school of music in the southwest could come up something as relatively simple as that. Well, Dr. Cook came through for us. Thank you, Dr. Cook!

[NT80]

1 hour ago, SilverEagle said:

I said that all of these aforementioned groups show up and meet the basic requirements of their roles and then leave.  There doesn't appear that there is any connection between these groups, before, during, or after the game.  I said that it looks more like a contracted event

It's even more that way now with most of the players being just contracted employees rather than loyal and committed to the program.

[BigWillie]

12 hours ago, BillySee58 said:

What if we stopped patting ourselves on the back for being disappointed at the result after losses and see if that works? Maybe that’s what’s holding us back. Being so proud that we don’t accept moral victories instead of actually figuring out how to get real victories. Everyone is always so happy to say they don’t accept moral victories on here when we lose without actually digging into the details to refute the optimism beyond a simplistic statement.

Almost every good season we have had in the last 20 years was followed by a losing season. Most of our good seasons were followed up with losing seasons. A lot of our losing streaks were preceded by wins that showed weaknesses that could be exploited by better teams (i.e. FAU this season). Some of our best winning streaks were on the heels of losses where we played tough against a good opponent, like Iowa in 2017.

All that to say, it’s not all black and white. We can and should analyze the nuances and details in between. Our HC has done nothing but churn out elite QB play from 3-star and below rated QBs for the last decade as an HC and OC, most recently evidenced by one of the most wild instances many people around college football have ever seen. We hired a DC who had a top 25 defense in the FBS and is bringing 5 starters and 2 more of his backups from that defense with him.

There are logical reasons for optimism coming out of this bowl game and acknowledging that doesn’t equate to complacency or prevent us from turning the corner as a program.

You can analyze every game to see where you can improve, and that happens on here and of course in the coaching room. As does with all other teams. 

I think the frustration point is that the "figuring out how to get real victories" hasn't happened. That's the whole point of the moral victory conversation. I love the story about Drew doing what he did. It was amazing and got us great national coverage, but just like the year we did the return heard round the world against Arkansas, what happened after that?

It's one of those things that when you have been a fan for 20 years, you stop looking at these little things that happen that don't mean a ton in the grand scheme of things.

If this was my first 5 years following this program, I might be over the moon about the DC hire and what MIGHT happen based on what I see on paper, but I have been burned too many times that way with this program. Not to mention, it happened a year too late.

I really don't like being so negative about my team, but I hate the feeling of letdown way more. 

[Coffee and TV]

1 hour ago, SilverEagle said:

At that point I asked if I could add something to the discussion. Dr. Lane reluctantly agreed. I said that when I go to North Texas games, I observe that we have a Band that shows up in the correct colored Uniform and plays their football play list along with other tunes. The cheer staff show up in their appropriately colored uniforms and proceed to do "cheer stuff".....mostly gymnastics. The football team shows up in their appropriately colored uniforms and goes about the business of trying to win a game in front of what always appears to me to be (for the most part) a somewhat disinterested and/or confused-about-their-role, crowd. 

I usually think pretty highly of our band but I feel like their song selection/amount has been very down this year. We were playing some midass Killers and then Texas State sparked up a very jamming/danceable kind of song a couple of minutes later and it was a pretty stark contrast. Hell, their band played Neck twice. We're bigger and better but they sounded flat and unenthused. They didn't play fly like an eagle once and that used to be their signature song. 

[BillySee58]

32 minutes ago, BigWillie said:

You can analyze every game to see where you can improve, and that happens on here and of course in the coaching room. As does with all other teams. 

I think the frustration point is that the "figuring out how to get real victories" hasn't happened. That's the whole point of the moral victory conversation. I love the story about Drew doing what he did. It was amazing and got us great national coverage, but just like the year we did the return heard round the world against Arkansas, what happened after that?

It's one of those things that when you have been a fan for 20 years, you stop looking at these little things that happen that don't mean a ton in the grand scheme of things.

If this was my first 5 years following this program, I might be over the moon about the DC hire and what MIGHT happen based on what I see on paper, but I have been burned too many times that way with this program. Not to mention, it happened a year too late.

I really don't like being so negative about my team, but I hate the feeling of letdown way more. 

I get all that. I think in the end it doesn’t matter if we feel optimistic after losses or come on here and talk about how we much we suck. I don’t think either approach changes our situation.

The fact that we fired Littrell after a conference championship game loss indicates that we have bigger aspirations. Definitely not the move a complacent program or fanbase makes. Morris has to win something significant here or he’ll be let go. There is reason to think he can but whether you feel like he can or he can’t, we don’t have to worry about him being judged by something other than results.

[BigWillie]

34 minutes ago, BillySee58 said:

I get all that. I think in the end it doesn’t matter if we feel optimistic after losses or come on here and talk about how we much we suck. I don’t think either approach changes our situation.

The fact that we fired Littrell after a conference championship game loss indicates that we have bigger aspirations. Definitely not the move a complacent program or fanbase makes. Morris has to win something significant here or he’ll be let go. There is reason to think he can but whether you feel like he can or he can’t, we don’t have to worry about him being judged by something other than results.

Exactly, isn't that the point of the forum? To express all parts of the equation? Mechanical and otherwise. Sometimes it can just be an outlet valve for those who feel the same way.

Second part I agree with. I am not one of those complaining about the moves of the AD. IMO, jury is still out on Morris, but most of the jurors are swaying the wrong way as of today. Next year is make or break for me. Getting to a conference championship is minimum.

[Meangreen Fight]

3 hours ago, BillySee58 said:

The fact that we fired Littrell after a conference championship game loss indicates that we have bigger aspirations.

I just disagree that dismissal was unavoidable if they didn’t want attendance to drop and frustration to grow.  I think the administration was more than comfortable with mediocrity because beating a pass happy dome UTSA team in cold windy wet weather should not have gotten Seth another season.  His swan song season was very predictable based on his past performance and retaining a mediocre starting quarterback.  🤷🏽‍♂️He should have never gotten 2 contract extension without winning a bowl game or conference championship.  It wasn’t his 4 season, it was his 7th.  Stagnation at that point going into a slightly tougher AAC conference would have been regression in when it comes to wins and losses.   

Making the conference championship game in a conference without divisions is not 100% in your team’s control when you don’t play every team in your conference.   A regular season win total of 9 is a realistically achievable goal that can’t be thrown off by 2 AAC teams not on your schedule having great years.  That is what sucks about super conferences and why all FBS fans should hate them.

[NT93]

3 hours ago, BigWillie said:

IMO, jury is still out on Morris, but most of the jurors are swaying the wrong way as of today. Next year is make or break for me. Getting to a conference championship is minimum.

I know I probably come across as being a big fan of EM, but I’m actually one of the jurors swaying the wrong way.  I was okay with him being hired, but many of the in-game decisions have soured me to some degree.  I currently support him (ie: hope he is successful here), but the rope is a lot shorter.

[BillySee58]

47 minutes ago, Meangreen Fight said:

I just disagree that dismissal was unavoidable if they didn’t want attendance to drop and frustration to grow.  I think the administration was more than comfortable with mediocrity because beating a pass happy dome UTSA team in cold windy wet weather should not have gotten Seth another season.  His swan song season was very predictable based on his past performance and retaining a mediocre starting quarterback.  🤷🏽‍♂️He should have never gotten 2 contract extension without winning a bowl game or conference championship.  It wasn’t his 4 season, it was his 7th.  Stagnation at that point going into a slightly tougher AAC conference would have been regression in when it comes to wins and losses.   

Making the conference championship game in a conference without divisions is not 100% in your team’s control when you don’t play every team in your conference.   A regular season win total of 9 is a realistically achievable goal that can’t be thrown off by 2 AAC teams not on your schedule having great years.  That is what sucks about super conferences and why all FBS fans should hate them.

Sure. And that’s part of my point. I think our fanbase has standards that forced the Littrell dismissal. My original point was in response to the “If UNT is ever going to get out of the shadow of itself, we have to stop making ourselves feel better after losses and focus instead on how to win.” 

I just don’t think that’s what us holding us back, as evidenced by the hypothetical backlash you mentioned that was waiting had they kept Littrell after that 7-win season.

[Big Z]

3 minutes ago, BillySee58 said:

Sure. And that’s part of my point. I think our fanbase has standards that forced the Littrell dismissal. My original point was in response to the “If UNT is ever going to get out of the shadow of itself, we have to stop making ourselves feel better after losses and focus instead on how to win.” 

I just don’t think that’s what us holding us back, as evidenced by the hypothetical backlash you mentioned that was waiting had they kept Littrell after that 7-win season.

Spot on 

[3_n_out]

On 1/3/2025 at 8:47 PM, Green Otaku said:

I always thought we should chant "Go Mean Green" on kickoffs.

Make noise before the kick: "Ooooooooooooooohhh"

*kick*

"Go Mean Green!"

 

And when EM foolishly goes for it on 4th down and fails, we can all yell…Womp Womp!!!

[NM Green]

So it’s Jared right? He can make it happen.

Meaning he has the power to assemble Talons, Maniacs and Green Brigade Leadership this month to plan for the creation and execution of the DATCU Energy Experience this fall. 

I would think our band would learn from other bands that out excite them. But they don’t. They don’t copy them, try offshoot efforts of them…I see nuances which can be cool but I’m talking about a full in game production transformation. Which needs to include: Pregame March. Pregame field sets. Stand music sets. Chant alignment at the quarters and kickoff. Big 3rd quarter close. There is power in numbers and their efforts could ignite the alumni side.

We need coordinated chants like TSU’s eat em up eat em up go cats go or something like that. I also miss Fky Like An Eagle Go Green Go White…

We used to have an awesome 3rd down Green Brigade set always played at the right time and only on that down.

I’m not meaning to come down on the GB because this is a leadership focus. But the time is now. Season is over. All amazing performances have terrifically designed practices, rituals and coordinated forces behind them. 

Jared may even consider a Fan Council to help with idea generation, program research, connection support…give council members a 2 year term and they collaborate monthly with feedback to the athletic board regularly. That would be 6-7 Council meetings to spawn community, dormant alumni, and student engagement before opening day. 

Let’s get some things going then we can talk about that cool Rangerette type crew for the stands down the line. See TSU, Alabama, Auburn most programs in the SEC. First things first.

GMG

[Big Z]

26 minutes ago, NM Green said:

So it’s Jared right? He can make it happen.

Meaning he has the power to assemble Talons, Maniacs and Green Brigade Leadership this month to plan for the creation and execution of the DATCU Energy Experience this fall. 

I would think our band would learn from other bands that out excite them. But they don’t. They don’t copy them, try offshoot efforts of them…I see nuances which can be cool but I’m talking about a full in game production transformation. Which needs to include: Pregame March. Pregame field sets. Stand music sets. Chant alignment at the quarters and kickoff. Big 3rd quarter close. There is power in numbers and their efforts could ignite the alumni side.

We need coordinated chants like TSU’s eat em up eat em up go cats go or something like that. I also miss Fky Like An Eagle Go Green Go White…

We used to have an awesome 3rd down Green Brigade set always played at the right time and only on that down.

I’m not meaning to come down on the GB because this is a leadership focus. But the time is now. Season is over. All amazing performances have terrifically designed practices, rituals and coordinated forces behind them. 

Jared may even consider a Fan Council to help with idea generation, program research, connection support…give council members a 2 year term and they collaborate monthly with feedback to the athletic board regularly. That would be 6-7 Council meetings to spawn community, dormant alumni, and student engagement before opening day. 

Let’s get some things going then we can talk about that cool Rangerette type crew for the stands down the line. See TSU, Alabama, Auburn most programs in the SEC. First things first.

GMG

Sounds like we already a need a new AD

[MeanGreen22]

59 minutes ago, NM Green said:

I would think our band would learn from other bands that out excite them. But they don’t. They don’t copy them, try offshoot efforts of them…I see nuances which can be cool but I’m talking about a full in game production transformation.

FWIW, you can tell the band members are absolutely having a great time doing what they do. I just wish that would translate to more fan engagement. 

[DentonLurker]

2 minutes ago, MeanGreen22 said:

FWIW, you can tell the band members are absolutely having a great time doing what they do. I just wish that would translate to more fan engagement. 

But don’t you think they’d love it more if they were actually doing things fans care to engage with. I’ve said it before and will continue to. When you see other bands and what they do compared to the GB, the GB is just kind of boring. Worth noting, this is not a knock on anyone’s talent.

[MeanGreen22]

8 minutes ago, DentonLurker said:

But don’t you think they’d love it more if they were actually doing things fans care to engage with. I’ve said it before and will continue to. When you see other bands and what they do compared to the GB, the GB is just kind of boring. Worth noting, this is not a knock on anyone’s talent.

Oh absolutely. I wanted to make note that the kids have a blast playing at the games and they themselves are not just phoning it in. Band leadership are the ones that need to step up and drive better fan engagement/excitement. 

[SilverEagle]

9 hours ago, NM Green said:

So it’s Jared right? He can make it happen.

Meaning he has the power to assemble Talons, Maniacs and Green Brigade Leadership this month to plan for the creation and execution of the DATCU Energy Experience this fall. 

I would think our band would learn from other bands that out excite them. But they don’t. They don’t copy them, try offshoot efforts of them…I see nuances which can be cool but I’m talking about a full in game production transformation. Which needs to include: Pregame March. Pregame field sets. Stand music sets. Chant alignment at the quarters and kickoff. Big 3rd quarter close. There is power in numbers and their efforts could ignite the alumni side.

We need coordinated chants like TSU’s eat em up eat em up go cats go or something like that. I also miss Fky Like An Eagle Go Green Go White…

We used to have an awesome 3rd down Green Brigade set always played at the right time and only on that down.

I’m not meaning to come down on the GB because this is a leadership focus. But the time is now. Season is over. All amazing performances have terrifically designed practices, rituals and coordinated forces behind them. 

Jared may even consider a Fan Council to help with idea generation, program research, connection support…give council members a 2 year term and they collaborate monthly with feedback to the athletic board regularly. That would be 6-7 Council meetings to spawn community, dormant alumni, and student engagement before opening day. 

Let’s get some things going then we can talk about that cool Rangerette type crew for the stands down the line. See TSU, Alabama, Auburn most programs in the SEC. First things first.

GMG

??? Where is this article/discussion located?