Request To: Rick "glad To Be Green" Villareal

Cooley · July 25, 2007

Any updates, whatsoever, on the stadium plans would be appreciated Sir! The natives (which includes me) are getting restless.

Thanks in advance!

This post is reserved for AD Rick Villareal only!!! No responses from GMG posters is appreciated. For those in contact with Mr Villareal, please forward this request to him.

This request is made on behalf on an individual poster (Cooley) and is not affiliated with or sanctioned by the board administrators of GoMeanGreen.com, it affiliates and/or family members.

Cooley · July 27, 2007

I know it has been a while since I made a post on this board. Topics are all over the place but one thing I think is common. Everybody cares about the program and wants to see it continue to move forward. Everyone's idea of what that means is different and therefore everyone won't be pleased with every decision. The focus however always has been and always will be on escalating the strength and competitiveness of North Texas Athletics. It means a progression in every sport and every area. It means a constant evaluation of the priorities and making additions and changes where needed. It also means taking the heat when necessary, especially at times when all the information out there, is not all the information. Or when conversations or comments are taken in pieces rather than as a whole. Everyone not only will, but is entitled to express their opinion and I welcome that. I don't take offense to those who have issues with me or the program nor do I become laxed or comfortable when posters say we are doing a good job. It comes with the territory.
The bottom line right now is that there are a lot of good things going on in Athletics and at the University, more than is always transparent to fans or the general public. Be assured there is a concerted effort and continued support from leadership for the improvement of athletics at North Texas. That support runs from academics to facilities and everything in between. But things have be done in a way prescribed by the University and to ensure a long-lasting pattern of success. Remember it wasn't long ago that many were yelling for a change in basketball. Persistence and commitment led to a trip to the Big Dance. We may not seem to be able to move as fast as others at times but there are reasons (not excuses) for this. As an example many have talked about WKU and Central Florida and their stadium projects. At WKU, according to a reliable source, most of the dollars came from University funding for the project. Only about $5 million had to be raised privately. The same was true for much of the money on their basketball arena. That is not possible in the State of Texas. Central Florida started their stadium construction before much of the necessary money was raised. In fact I believe ground breaking took place before the naming rights were even sold. That is not saying that it is the way to do it or that we can do it. I want to make it clear is not a matter that any group is not willing to explore and support our projects. It's just the process.
And for facilities, when Cat Osterman was here to film her commercial for Under Armour she commented to their crew how nice the field and dugouts were. I can assure you that is as good or better than many schools and if you check web sites you will find that this is true. Again please express your feelings, but do we have to tear our own place down without knowing the whole story?
I know that I must continue to work every day as the Athletic Director building on strengths and improving my weaknesses, but I believe we can put our record up against many over the last six years. The fact that we have had to put into place about $20 million of facilities that most campuses already had, has improved our ability to recruit and compete. While Gender Equity studies and academics may not be important to some, left unattended they can be the impetus in breaking down the program and credibility on campus. We are not so big that these things are overshadowed by success on the field nor should they be allowed to do so. But you are all correct in that we must continue the progress that has already started. Remember we aspire to be like a lot of programs that have been around for a long, long time and have budgets far beyond that on which we operate. For instance, Texas will have a budget of over $100 million in 2007-2008 and many others will have tens of millions more than us. But that does not and will not stop us from pursuing and completing the objectives we have set for ourselves.
We have worked our schedules to play games at home rather than on the road. That has caused a decrease in revenue but it is the best interest of the program in both football and basketball. We got SMU on the schedule ffor football and have Navy this year,, Air Force in 2009 and both Rice and Kansas State in 2010, all at home. Oklahoma State comes to Denton in basketball this year. All teams (other than golf) are now playing on very good on-campus facilities. How do we continue this trend and continue to improve and add facilities? We have to get more season ticket buyers and MGC members. Both go a long way in freeing up dollars that can be used for other things. So despite your feelings about me good or bad, your position on coaches or even the uniforms we might wear, please continue to urge everyone to buy season tickets for all sports, join the MGC and when asked make a commitment to a capital project.
As I said five years ago, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Our future, if we let it be, is very bright. We need you all to get there.
GO MEAN GREEN!
Rick V.

Thank you!