Fan Support

[MeanGreenPOP]

No one was physically threatened! 

I simply messaged him to let him know to back off!  He was taking things a little too far with his comments.  I chose to voice this to him in a PM.  He needs to watch out what he says, and remember this is message board not a playground for name calling.

Stebo obviously thinks we are in Middle School, and still fight at the flag pole after school is out.

I was complimented though, when he thought I was going to fight him like a middle schooler, he said he thought I might be an ex-player.

Thank you that was the best compliment I have received in a long time.  I would kill to be an ex-UNT football player.

Well, I am sorry not KILL, I would hate to offend, or scare Stebo

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Whew.....I'm glad you guys wern't serious...I thought we were going to have to get Harry involved here!

[NTEagle08]

want to put even more fans in the stands, stop rolling out a boring as hell offense which ranks dead last in the NCAA. People aren't going to spend their entertainment bucks on Saturdays to watch a lousy football team stink it up with a boring offense.

[El Paso Eagle]

want to put even more fans in the stands, stop rolling out a boring as hell offense which ranks dead last in the NCAA. People aren't going to spend their entertainment bucks on Saturdays to watch a lousy football team stink it up with a boring offense.

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Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a winner. Dickey ball has proven to be the best ball played in the Sun Belt, but I believe everyone will agree that it is not the most exciting. Combine that with the typical opponent we get at home and it is not hard to understand why it has been a challenge to get new fans in the stands. Say what you will about UTEP, but even in their really bad years they played a wide-opened game – they might give up 50 or more but they were scoring 40+ a game. So even though the fans new they might not win they knew they would be entertained.

Edited October 18, 2005 by El Paso Eagle

[Guest Aquila_Viridis]

The relatively** meager (no pun intended) attendance is due to the following failures:

- no development of intense school spirit on a mass scale

- impotent marketing/promotion for games in general

- failure to create an image, through aggressive advertising and reinforcement, that North Texas/SBC games are 'big time'.

**as compared to attendance at recognized 'big-time' conference games

[PlummMeanGreen]

Although we have still only played 2 home games, we probably have one of our top 3 or 4 attendance averages of all time for this time of the football season.

We have all analyzed this till we're green in the gills, but for some reason I think all our new NT freshmen/transfers of this Fall's record-breaking enrollment want is to just come to the games and have fun. They might read some of this thread and look at each other "goo-goo" eyed.

Tailgating for many of our NT students with the circus-type atmosphere at the old practice fields are something the majority of us older and some of you younger alums never had the advantage of having in order to connect with the school, its leaders and our fellow students (who would become our fellow alums). Back in the old days for most of our students, it was show up half way thru the 1'st quarter, watch the game, then boogy. I think we need to do something extraordinary in our 3 home games in November to keep a good attendance average, but hopefully an improved product will be a big part of our doing our part.

GMG!

Edited October 19, 2005 by PlummMeanGreen

[greensteve]

I agree with Dawg, I agree with Stebo, I agree with 1855...nice post by the way.

I believe we are lucky as hell to be where we are...we had back to back ruching champs (1st time ever), we have won 4 conference championships, and we are drawing over 19,000 fans to our only 2 games this year. Do I expect that number to drop, of course, we are playing 2 days after turkey day, light attendance game---BEWARE- as for Stebos comment about our coach "not preparing for the future", not sure what you are talking about, I would like for you to please expand on that...

As for a boring offense, hell I like grinding the opponent down...let me qualify that this is a reference to the past 4 years, excluding this year...everyone wants something more exciting, throw the ball, throw the ball...why the hell would we throw the ball with a RS Frosh QB, and a suspect O Line.

I made this comment in a post earlier in the week...we have not been in the past a FOOTBALL SCHOOL...aside from a few good years in the 80's, and one good year in the 90's we have not been a program of ANY magnitude. We are building "OUR" program...and it is interesting and exciting to watch it grow and change, and develop into somthing that people (students and the community) are actually interested in...the fact that we are showing increases in attendance, and the frickin parking lot is full on Saturdays makes me proud (I'm tearing up).

To be redundant: Enjoy the journey our programs on...cheer, scream, complain, gripe, be disappointed, be overjoyed, BE AT THE GAMES!!!

All the "FOOTBALL SCHOOLS" have built their foundation...

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING OURS!!!

[FirefightnRick]

as for Stebos comment about our coach "not preparing for the future", not sure what you are talking about, I would like for you to please expand on that...

Stebo can "expand" on that, but may I as well?

The very fact that we have won 4 straight conference titles and are having such an extreme drop off in offensive production speaks for itself. One would expect some drop off, having to insert a rookie QB, losing the leader of the O line, but not to the absolute worst, statistically?

I'm not going to discuss recruiting here because of so many variables that go into it, especially one that surrounded last recruiting season. But if you watched this program the previous 7 seasons, you know we do not appear to prepare for the next season. For one, we do not blow anyone out very often in order to get back ups in the game. That's not our system nor is it our coaching philosophy to score a lot of points. Remember, our philosophy each game day is (conservative offense, control the clock, play strong defense to keep/gain field position, keep it close in the 4th and hope for a play to win the game). I see other programs trying to build leads, to put their opponents away early, then get their backups in, but I rarely see us doing it. I'm sure our coaches would love to have a blowout win every weekend as well as I'm sure they don't set out to win by 1 point every weekend. But that is how it feels to me, and if we win by 1 every weekend, that appears to be ok too, just from how I read the comments in the papers and on the radio shows and decisions made during the games.

The win over FIU last saturday was our 19th Sunbelt win of 10 points or less, out of the 27. And many of those 19 have been last second wins. And even in the other 8 wins of 11 points or more, many were "struggle till the end" wins, others which were blowouts we rarely put our backups in. Hall took nearly, if not all of the snaps against Arkansas State and Idaho last year rather than Byerly. And that is just the position(QB) that we notice most. Who knows how it's been for our D line, our DB's, our O line?

As for a boring offense, hell I like grinding the opponent down...let me qualify that this is a reference to the past 4 years, excluding this year...everyone wants something more exciting, throw the ball, throw the ball...why the hell would we throw the ball with a RS Frosh QB, and a suspect O Line.

I'm a Mean Green stockholder, have been for years, and personally I freaking hate the "Grinding it out" game plan and have for 8 years now. And I know for a fact that it hasn't excited many of you over the years either but when there has been so few in several years, wins are wins. But I wonder what the common football fan thinks of it? I think I know already. Now, I like the fact that we can grind it out at times in close games that gets us out of a jam. But not all games have to be a jam, and if that is all you do it places you in a hole against bigger, faster opponents. OUR OOC RECORD CLEARLY PROVES THIS!. It's boring as hell, and because of it, our approach is conservative, and many times conservative gets you in a jam or beat, even against lesser opponents. See (Losses against 1st & 2nd year South Florida, or against 1-A transitional teams like Troy and FAU) and (squeeker wins against 1-AA Nichols State, or Idaho who had the worst defense in the universe for several years while in the belt and this past FIU game). I dislike our philosophy and wonder how it's suppose to inspire me and others to invest in and hold out hope of our program moving up to greener pastures in the future? Look at DD's comments in the post K State game about how K State got ahead of us early and how because of that, "playing from behind puts us in a situation where we are not that kind of a ball team". I've heard this same explaination for many years, too many years. It's not much in the way of a sales pitch that would make me want to write a $40 Million dollar check. Would it for you?

Because of this hole we have now dug ourselves into with this conservative, power running game, we have NOTHING to fight LSU with. NOTHING. And our kids on defense are going to get slaughtered all night because of it. Tennessee attacked LSU in the first half of their game this year with a 335+ pound average offensive line and the best backs, WR's and QB's an SEC program could recruit, and got destroyed against the Tigers averaging 2.1 yards per carry against them. Only until they opened up the pass did they start to move the ball on them, eventually winning that game. If powerhouse programs like Tennessee, Ohio State, Michigan and others have had difficulty running a power running game, how in hell are we suppose to be affective with it against bigger opponents, which is all we should aim at. Get after the bigger boys, and the Belt games will take care of themselves.

Wouldn't all of you like to come to the stadium for once knowing that regardless of how many points put up on the board by the opponent that you know North Texas will never be completely out of it until the final tick of the clock?

That's what Boise stockholders have, that's what Marshall, and South Florida, and Central Florida stockholders have. And that's what FIU and FAU's stockholders will have very shortly once they get all their pieces of their new puzzle in. And once they do, then we can count them as two more programs that have blown right by.

As I've posted 10 times already about how it is that these other programs understand their overall mission: It's called "THIS IS AN ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS".

Rick

Edited October 19, 2005 by FirefightnRick

[Travis]

well said Rick.

[TIgreen01]

I would also add that the biggest reason attendance is up this year is b/c of Jamario Thomas. People will come out to see a marquee player who runs through defenses like they're swiss cheese. Jamario did that last year. People, who were not fans of NT, talked about Jamario last year.

Tailgating has been helping, but we've been doing it for 4 years now....this year we've got Thomas and Cobbs (and USA Today even covered that!). It is a shame what has happened to that HUGE marketing opportunity this year as we continue to underachieve.

[UNTLifer]

What's really a disappointment is that DD talked about playing Cobbs and Thomas in the same backfield back in spring ball. He also mentioned it throughout the Fall, yet other than 10 or so plays, what have they done? Again, there is no creativity to this offense.

Why would you spend the money to have a poster created and placed on the back of the pressbox or waste all of the valuable free advertising for the program that USA Today and other media outlets provided talking about Cobbs/Thomas and not capitalize on it?

[shaft]

I bet we're loosing because YOU didn't cheer hard enough.

I really don't understand the nay-sayers on this board. Is it really hard to accept that this is the best NT has ever had?

We have a coach who understands what he has to work with, and what type of recruits we can pull.

We have an AD who understands how to build a program/fan base incrementally, using the resources we have.

We're in a D1 conference that we can be competitive in.

[untgirl04]

I bet we're loosing because YOU didn't cheer hard enough.

I really don't understand the nay-sayers on this board.  Is it really hard to accept that this is the best NT has ever had? 

We have a coach who understands what he has to work with, and what type of recruits we can pull.

We have an AD who understands how to build a program/fan base incrementally, using the resources we have.

We're in a D1 conference that we can be competitive in.

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Just because this is the best we've ever had, doesn't mean it has to be the best we EVER have. I think what most people on this board believe is that we can continue to grow. We've seen some definite improvements over the past few years and no one is trying to take away from that. What's worrisome is that it's starting to stagnate. Meanwhile, we watch other teams like Boise and UTEP stepping up their programs and going places.

Would you want to flip hamburgers your entire life? No, you'd want something better for yourself. That's how many of the "nay sayers" on this board feel about North Texas. We want it to succeed and grow, and we demand much of it because we demand much from ourselves. And if that's not being a good fan, then I'll be a bad fan of North Texas.

[Eagle1855]

And if that's not being a good fan, then I'll be a bad fan of North Texas.

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You are right on! Its not being a bad fan, its not accepting mediocrity.

[MootPoint]

What's really a disappointment is that DD talked about playing Cobbs and Thomas in the same backfield back in spring ball.  He also mentioned it throughout the Fall, yet other than 10 or so plays, what have they done?  Again, there is no creativity to this offense.

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What about the fake draw!?

[Cerebus]

Stop the flaming and personal attacks.

Calling someone a dumbass, or sending someone a menacing PM is not going to work.

[PerryG2480]

It's not a question that the fan base is growing...it's a statistical fact. Our exposure overall is growing as well. Fans of other schools around the country have actually heard of us now. We're 2-3 right now on our way to what could be one of the first losing seasons in a few years...are we "fan enough" to ride it out? Are you telling me that even if we don't win another game this season (which we will), you won't be excited as hell when SMU comes to Denton next season? You thought the Tulsa crowd was good...just wait. I'm not being overly sunny here, just keeping the optimism. I am a relatively new fan compared to some of these guys, but I watched all of the home games in 99 and 2000...we've come a LONG way in just the few years since.

Now, on the slightly darker side of the coin...will all those fans who showed up for the Tulsa game pack the stadium again for SMU next year if we aren't coming off a bowl season? The Athletic Dept. might have to work on it, but that game will be well attended no doubt.

Lastly, did anyone catch the last few minutes of the Musers yesterday morning? Norm was transitioning in talking about Coach Dodge out in Southlake and the idea of some mid-major program picking him up as a head coach as opposed to a powerhouse program picking him up as a coordinator. Norm mentioned UL-Laf. and UL-Mon...Junior mentioned that we'd take him...that's the worst offense in the country.

[emmitt01]

Norm mentioned UL-Laf. and UL-Mon...Junior mentioned that we'd take him...that's the worst offense in the country.

Good ol' Junior Miller...the only guy I'd like to personally take an NT degree away from.

[El Paso Eagle]

I bet we're loosing because YOU didn't cheer hard enough.

I really don't understand the nay-sayers on this board.  Is it really hard to accept that this is the best NT has ever had? 

We have a coach who understands what he has to work with, and what type of recruits we can pull.

We have an AD who understands how to build a program/fan base incrementally, using the resources we have.

We're in a D1 conference that we can be competitive in.

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Shaft - it could also be said that we also miss out on some good recruits because of the style of ball we play. Even when they were ral bad UTEP puleed in some better than average QB and receivers due to the style of O they used. Again, IMO, we can try and play Dickey style "smash mounth" ball in the Sun Belt, but the OOC performance (not just the OOC records) speakes volumes.

[UNTLifer]

I bet we're loosing because YOU didn't cheer hard enough.

I really don't understand the nay-sayers on this board.  Is it really hard to accept that this is the best NT has ever had? 

We have a coach who understands what he has to work with, and what type of recruits we can pull.

We have an AD who understands how to build a program/fan base incrementally, using the resources we have.

We're in a D1 conference that we can be competitive in.

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It is losing, not loosing.

Nay-sayer? No, I just want to see us to continue to improve. Right now it appears to be going the wrong direction, and DD doesn't appear to have the answers to reverse this trend.

A coach who understands what he has to work with and what type of recruits we can pull in? Sounds like DD speak has gotten into your head. Let's see, DD has a new athletic center, new practice fields, new dorms, new dining hall and drawings on the board for a new stadium. Fouts has been upgraded recently with scoreboard, new turf, new paint, etc.... What are we missing to pull in better recruits? I would say that our last few recruiting classes have been good other than not fulfilling our allotment. The talent is there, but the coaching is not.

No complaints about RV other than I would be interested in the quarterly meetings and a few other things coming about that he promised. At least RV is enthusiastic.

Your right, we are competitive in this conference, but don't you want to move up? As untgirl put it, do you want to flip hamburgers all your life?

[shaft]

Leave my spelling alone (I only have a degree from a crappy directional state school.)

Why can't you people accept incremental success?

The team has never drawn huge numbers, or top flight recruits why do people expect that to change over night?

The Belt is great becuase its regional competition, where we can be competitive. We won the Belt because we had pretty good D, and a 1000 yr RB each season.

Now we're starting to reap the rewards of 4 straight conference title, in a down-year. Why can't YOU accept the reality that things don't happen as fast for this team as YOU wish it would.

[emmitt01]

What are we missing to pull in better recruits?

1)Cozy stadium with decent to good site lines- You can find one of those in Dallas or Ft. Worth

2)Multi-million dollar athletic endowment- you can find that at several Texas schools

3)History of winning

4)Prestige among high school students

Other than that stuff, nothing.

[PlummMeanGreen]

1)Cozy stadium with decent to good site lines- You can find one of those in Dallas or Ft. Worth

2)Multi-million dollar athletic endowment- you can find that at several Texas schools

3)History of winning

4)Prestige among high school students

Other than that stuff, nothing.

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Now you mean a school should be able to recruit and beat most OOC teams even if those OOC teams have most or all those key amenities and NORTH TEXAS does not?

GMG!

[FirefightnRick]

Shaft - it could also be said that we also miss out on some good recruits because of the style of ball we play.

Absolutely true. Handing off isn't going to get a kid to the NFL which all the top QB's look at. But there are others who would come if asked I have to believe. And there is no doubt there are concerns about the depth at QB this year. Yes Andrew's death was untimely, but Byerly's failing was not that much of a surprise and many expected Meager to push him really hard for the starting job. But when discussing depth at the QB position and talking about how hard it is for us to recruit due to our situation regionally or to the style of play, keep in mind Southlake Carrol's Chase Wassom went to Texas State in '04 because of a lack of offers, Chandler Dane, from Decatur, who finish just short of passing for 10,000 yards in his career had to walk on at Baylor due to a lack of offers this year. Wassom had to start against Baylor last year due to an injury to Nealy and nearly lead the Bobcats to a win in Waco.

It's no knock on any of our QB's, but when talking about our lack of opportunities to recruit quality talent, here were two top QB's from schools only minutes away from Denton that we did not recruit.

Rick

[gangrene]

Absolutely true.  Handing off isn't going to get a kid to the NFL which all the top QB's look at.  But there are others who would come if asked I have to believe. And there is no doubt there are concerns about the depth at QB this year.  Yes Andrew's death was untimely, but Byerly's failing was not that much of a surprise and many expected Meager to push him really hard for the starting job.  But when discussing depth at the QB position and talking about how hard it is for us to recruit due to our situation regionally or to the style of play, keep in mind Southlake Carrol's Chase Wassom went to Texas State in '04 because of a lack of offers, Chandler Dane, from Decatur, who finish just short of passing for 10,000 yards in his career had to walk on at Baylor due to a lack of offers this year.  Wassom had to start against Baylor last year  due to an injury to Nealy and nearly lead the Bobcats to a win in Waco. 

It's no knock on any of our QB's, but when talking about our lack of opportunities to recruit quality talent, here were two top QB's from schools only minutes away from Denton that we did not recruit. 

Rick

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I agree wholeheartedly. And for every two of these kids we know about, I'm sure there are countless others out there that we're missing as well.

While it's true our offensive gameplan won't excite many QBs, blocking for two national rushing champions ought to be an enticing situation for O lineman.

[dentUNiTe]

I hate to throw gasoline on this bonfire, but what the heck, since the (recent) subject is recruiting.......

One of my best friends (a UNT alum) was, through spring of 2004, head football coach at Arlington Grace Prep HS...he has since moved to Illinois.

But while coach at Grace, he had several players he thought could play for the Mean Green. He always called the athletic dept. when he had a possible recruit for us. The last one he called them about was a smallish RB who he thought would be a star for the Mean Green. But he never even recieved a return call. That player's name is Justin Forsett (sp?).....he now splits time at RB for the UCal Bears, and he's damn good.

I know at least one other player my friend called UNT about, when he was at Tyler St. Christian in Dallas -- Jacoby Reinhart, who ended up at SMU, and then the Cardinals of the NFL......once again, no return call. There were different people in charge then, I should add, but it frustrated my buddy to no end watching Coby start at SMU as a freshman, become a star, then go to the NFL.

After Forsett, he said he'd never call them again and griped that even an alum can't get a return call. He knows I'm a life-long fan, so he asked me what's the deal? The only answer I could come up with was that we are deep at RB.

I guess the point is that, like Rick pointed out, we seem to miss on OBVIOUS recruiting opportunities. I wonder every year if there aren't a COUPLE of players from Denton that couldn't play for UNT, not the studs, but the overlooked FOOTBALL PLAYER type guys......seems it would help attendance to get some locals....not to mention the hundreds from the Dallas area.

3 years ago I thought we had the recruiting thing down, I loved what was happening....now I am not so sure....